Beamforming configuration

Abstract

Inter-alia, a method is disclosed comprising: receiving communication, from a network entity, using analog or hybrid beamforming in a bandwidth; receiving, from the network entity, a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth; applying the beamforming configuration for receiving communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth. Further, a respective apparatus is disclosed, as well as a network entity and core network entity and respective methods performed by the same.

Description

[0001] BEAMFORMING CONFIGURATION

[0002] FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

[0003] The following disclosure relates to the field of communication technology, in particular communication networks, in particular wireless communication networks. The disclosure may for example relate to an apparatus and a network entity that can be used for Ultra Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC) or other types of wireless communications.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] In 5G systems and modern communication technologies in general, digital beamforming provides for reliable and robust communication compared to analog and low rank hybrid beamforming. However, digital beamforming requires a large number of expensive components such as analog to digital converters (ADCs) and digital to analog converters (DACs). The ADCs and DACs have a high-power consumption and produce a lot of raw data that needs to be processed.

[0006] SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0007] Example aspects and embodiments may enable utilization of a heterogeneous rank across the bandwidth, a different number of Radio Frequency (RF) circuits or chains operating in different portions of the bandwidth. It may enable decreased power consumption at lower cost compared to full digital beamforming, while maintaining about the same performance, in particular in a multi-user setting (e.g. multiple (receiver) apparatuses being connected to a network entity). For instance, any example of the present disclosure may enable and / or improve throughput and reliability of UE data transmission and / or may allow for enhanced signaling, in particular in a 6G context.

[0008] According to a first example aspect, an apparatus is disclosed comprising: means for receiving communication (e.g. data or control information), from a network entity (e.g. gNB), using analog or hybrid beamforming in a bandwidth; means for receiving (e.g. during receiving communication using analog or hybrid beamforming), from the network entity, a beamforming configuration (e.g. in an RRC message) comprising configuration information specific for at least one (e.g. a) sub-section of the bandwidth (e.g. additionally and in particular distinct from configuration information for the bandwidth. For instance, in a specific field in addition to a field indicating configuration information for the bandwidth), a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth; means for applying the beamforming configuration for receiving communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth (e.g. based on the beamforming configuration).

[0009] The apparatus may for instance be or comprise a mobile entity (e.g., a mobile telecommunication device or a mobile phone or a user equipment (UE) or a terminal device).

[0010] According to a second example aspect, a network entity (e.g. a RAN node or a gNB) is disclosed comprising: means for transmitting communication, to an apparatus (e.g. UE), in a bandwidth; means for receiving (e.g. from the apparatus or a core network entity) a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the apparatus; means for determining, based on the capability indicator (and optionally based on further parameters, such as load of the network, traffic profile of e.g. other apparatuses, etc.), a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one subsection of the bandwidth, a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth; means for transmitting, to the apparatus, the beamforming configuration; means for transmitting, to the apparatus, communication exploiting the beamforming configuration (e.g. by transmitting preferentially in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth).

[0011] The network entity, in particular the network entity according to the second example aspect, may for instance be or comprise a Radio Access Network (RAN) node (such as a gNB) or part thereof.

[0012] According to a third example aspect, a core network entity is disclosed comprising: means for receiving, from a network entity, a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of an apparatus; means for storing the capability indicator; means for providing, to the network entity or another network entity, the capability indicator, in response to receiving a respective request from the respective network entity.

[0013] The core network entity, in particular the core network entity according to the third example aspect, may for instance be or comprise a server, server cloud, a system of servers or part thereof.

[0014] The apparatus, network entity or core network entity according to any aspect may comprise at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform the specified steps.

[0015] The means of the apparatus, network entity or core network entity may be implemented in hardware and / or software. They may comprise for instance at least one processor for executing processor instructions for performing the required functions, at least one memory storing the instructions, or both. Alternatively, they could comprise for instance circuitry that is designed or configured to implement the required functions, for instance implemented in a chipset or a chip, like an integrated circuit. In general, the means may comprise for instance one or more processing means or processors.

[0016] The apparatus, network entity or core network entity according to any aspect may comprise at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus, network entity or core network entity at least to perform the specified steps or the steps of a method according to any example aspect. For instance, the apparatus according to the first example aspect may be an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving communication, from a network entity, using analog or hybrid beamforming in a bandwidth; receiving, from the network entity, a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth; applying the beamforming configuration for receiving communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth.

[0017] As used in this application, the term "circuitry" may refer to one or more or all of the following:

[0018] (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in e.g. analog and / or digital circuitry) and

[0019] (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):

[0020] (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and

[0021] (ii) any portions of hardware processor (s) with software (including digital signal processor (s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and

[0022] (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation."

[0023] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device. According to a fourth example aspect, a method is disclosed, the method comprising: receiving communication, from a network entity, using analog or hybrid beamforming in a bandwidth; receiving, from the network entity, a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth; applying the beamforming configuration for receiving communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth.

[0024] The method according to the fourth example aspect may comprise the steps the apparatus of the first example aspect is configured to perform or has means for. The method may for instance be carried out, performed and / or controlled by an / the apparatus (according to the first example aspect), for instance a mobile entity (e.g., a mobile telecommunication device or a mobile phone or a user equipment or a terminal device).

[0025] According to a fifth example aspect, a method is disclosed, the method comprising: transmitting communication, to an apparatus, in a bandwidth; receiving a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the apparatus; determining, based on the capability indicator a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth; transmitting, to the apparatus, the beamforming configuration; transmitting, to the apparatus, communication exploiting the beamforming configuration.

[0026] The method according to the fifth example aspect may comprise the steps the network entity of the second example aspect is configured to perform or has means for. The method may for instance be carried out, performed and / or controlled by an / the network entity (according to the second example aspect), for instance a gNB, a RAN node, a base station, or part thereof.

[0027] According to a sixth example aspect, a method is disclosed, the method comprising: receiving, from a network entity, a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of an apparatus; storing the capability indicator; providing, to the network entity or another network entity, the capability indicator, in response to receiving a respective request from the respective network entity.

[0028] The method according to the sixth example aspect may comprise the steps the core network entity of the third example aspect is configured to perform or has means for. The method may for instance be carried out, performed and / or controlled by an / the core network entity (according to the third example aspect), for instance a server, a system of servers, a server cloud, or part thereof.

[0029] According to a further example aspect, a system is disclosed, the comprising at least one apparatus according to the first aspect, a network entity according to the second aspect (e.g. providing a serving cell for the apparatus), and a core network entity according to third aspect. The system may carry out, perform and / or be configured to perform the method of any, some, or all of the third, fourth, or fifth example aspect.

[0030] According to a further example aspect, a computer program product is disclosed, the computer program product when executed by a processor of an apparatus causing said apparatus to perform a method according to any example aspect, e.g. at least one of the fourth, fifth, or sixth example aspect.

[0031] According to a further example aspect, an apparatus is disclosed, configured to carry out, perform and / or control or comprising respective means for performing and / or controlling the method according to the first example aspect. According to a further example aspect, an apparatus is disclosed comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform the method according to the first example aspect.

[0032] According to a further example aspect, a network entity is disclosed, configured to carry out, perform and / or control or comprising respective means for performing and / or controlling the method according to the second example aspect. According to a further example aspect, a network entity is disclosed comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network entity at least to perform the method according to the second example aspect.

[0033] According to a further example aspect, a core network entity is disclosed, configured to carry out, perform and / or control or comprising respective means for performing and / or controlling the method according to the third example aspect. According to a further example aspect, a core network entity is disclosed comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the core network entity at least to perform the method according to the third example aspect.

[0034] The disclosed apparatus, network entity or core network entity according to any aspect may comprise only the disclosed components, for instance means, processor, memory, or may further comprise one or more additional components.

[0035] According to a further example aspect, a computer program is disclosed, the computer program when executed by a processor causing an apparatus, for instance a server, to perform and / or control the actions of the method according to any example aspect, e.g. at least one of the fourth, fifth, or sixth example aspect. According to a further example aspect, a computer readable storage medium (e.g. tangible and / or non- transitory) is disclosed, the computer readable storage medium comprising at least one of the disclosed computer program products or computer programs.

[0036] Any disclosure herein relating to any example aspect is to be understood to be equally disclosed with respect to any subject-matter according to the respective example aspect, e.g. relating to an apparatus, a method, a computer program, and a computer-readable medium. Thus, for instance, the disclosure of a method step shall also be considered as a disclosure of means for performing and / or causing to perform the respective method step. Likewise, the disclosure of means for performing and / or causing to perform a method step shall also be considered as a disclosure of the method step itself. The same holds for any passage describing at least one processor; and at least one memory including instructions; the at least one memory and the instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause an apparatus, network device, or core network device at least to perform a step.

[0037] In the following, example features and example embodiments of all aspects will be described in further detail.

[0038] The bandwidth may be a (e.g. the full) frequency range in which an apparatus may receive communication. A sub-section of the bandwidth may be less than the full bandwidth, e.g. half of the bandwidth, a quarter of the bandwidth, 1 / 8, of the bandwidth etc.

[0039] After an apparatus established communication (e.g. via performing a random access procedure) with a network entity it may receive communication, such as data or control signals, from the network entity.

[0040] Analog beamforming, may comprise adding (high-frequency) antenna signals by phase-correct superposition to form a signal which may subsequently be converted (e.g. digitized) by an analog-to- digital converter. The directional characteristic of the antenna array may then be fixed to (only) one spatial stream.

[0041] Digital beamforming may comprise modifying radiation characteristics of an antenna array by software- defined phase shifts and amplitude scaling for individual antenna element of the antenna array. In digital beamforming, each individual antenna element of the antenna elements (or antenna groups of a larger antenna array) may receive its own signal processing and digitization, e.g. each antenna element may be connected with a digital beamforming chain, so that e.g. each antenna element is connected with an individual analog-to-digital converter. The received signal may be converted with its amplitude as well as with its phase position. A subsequent summation may be performed digitally e.g. after a virtual phase shift and amplitude scaling. This may allow for (simultaneous) multi directional characteristic of the antenna array, e.g. antenna pattern simultaneously. Beamforming may be analog beamforming if e.g. only one Radio Frequency (RF) chain is used on the full bandwidth. The beamforming may be hybrid beamforming if a plurality of RF chains are used on the full bandwidth. Hybrid beamforming may combine analog beamforming, along with a digital precoding.

[0042] A beamforming configuration may comprise at least one configuration for digital beamforming (e.g. a configuration for a digital beamforming chain) and at least one configuration for analog or hybrid beamforming (e.g. a configuration for an analog or hybrid beamforming chain) .A beamforming configuration (or a configuration for digital beamforming comprised in the beamforming configuration) may comprise information enabling the apparatus to apply digital beamforming to communication received in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, such information may e.g. be information on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth (e.g. at least one frequency range within the bandwidth) and / or a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming and / or an indication of at least one resource block (e.g. several resource blocks which may be received via the sub-section of the bandwidth) on which at least one digital beamforming chain (e.g. the number of digital beamforming chains) is supposed to operate.

[0043] Applying a beamforming configuration may for example be understood as an apparatus (e.g according to the first example aspect) applying the information comprised in the beamforming configuration to apply digital beamforming to communication received in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth.

[0044] The means for applying the beamforming configuration may e.g. be or comprise means for receiving communication using digital beamforming in a sub-section of the bandwidth (based on the beamforming configuration or based on the information on the sub-section of the bandwidth).

[0045] A capability indicator may for example be comprised in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, for instance the capability indicator may be a (specific) Information Element (IE), e.g. UE-NR-Capability. So, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) message may comprise for instance the capability indicator.

[0046] A capability indicator (indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the apparatus) may comprise at least one of: an analog beamforming chain indicator indicating a number of at least one analog beamforming chain (e.g. the number of analog beamforming chains the apparatus comprises that are only capable of analog beamforming); a tradable beamforming circuit indicator indicating a number of at least one tradeable beamforming circuit (e.g. the number of tradeable beamforming circuits the apparatus comprises); a tradeoff indicator / indication indicating at least one available tradeoff for the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit or tradeoff capability indicator The analog beamforming chain indicator, tradable beamforming circuit indicator, and / or tradeoff indicator (or tradeoff indication) may each be represented by a specific IE in the capability indicator. The capability indicator comprising an analog beamforming chain indicator may be an example of the frequency dependent radio capability comprising information on a number of at least one analog beamforming chain. The capability indicator comprising a tradable beamforming circuit indicator may be an example of the frequency dependent radio capability comprising information on a number of at least one tradeable beamforming circuit.

[0047] In particular, the capability indicator may comprise or indicate information about the RF capabilities of the UE, which may be contained in the rf-Parameters IE and in particular in the fields related to the MIMO and beamforming capabilities, e.g. may be located in the mimo-ParametersPerBand IE inside the BandNR IE.

[0048] The capability indicator may indicate that the apparatus is capable of performing a tradeoff, e.g. for some radio frequency circuits or chains, e.g the apparatus comprises tradeable beamforming circuits or tradeable beamforming chains. The tradeoff may be indicated by another IE, for instance analogdigitalbfcap which may be located in the mimo-ParametersPerBand IE.

[0049] The beamforming configuration being based on the capability indicator may for example be understood as a network entity obtaining (and transmitting) the beamforming configuration based on receiving the capability indicator and / or obtaining the beamforming configuration based on information comprised in the capability indicator.

[0050] A radio frequency (RF) chain or circuit may be a circuit or a cascade of electronic components (e.g. amplifier, filter, upconverter, downconverter, multiplexer, analog to digital converter etc.) for processing, e.g. received antenna signals. An RF chain may be or comprise an analog beamforming chain, which may exclusively be capable of analog beamforming. An RF chain may be or comprise a digital beamforming chain, which may be capable of digital beamforming.

[0051] A tradeable beamforming circuit may be a radio frequency circuit capable of operating either using analog beamforming on the bandwidth or using digital beamforming on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth. A tradeable beamforming circuit may be capable of analog beamforming on the (full) bandwidth or digital beamforming on a / the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth. A tradeable beamforming circuit may for instance comprise at least one analog beamforming chain or part thereof (e.g. for operating on the bandwidth) and at least one digital beamforming chain (or circuit) or part thereof (e.g. for operating on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth), the at least one digital beamforming chain or part thereof may be interconnected with the at least one analog beamforming chain or part thereof. An at least one digital and at least one analog (and / or hybrid) beamforming chain that may be comprised in the tradeable beamforming circuit may e.g. share a subset of their components (e.g. an analog-to-digital converter) that may be repurposed for operating the tradeable beamforming circuit in an analog or (partial) digital mode. A tradeable beamforming circuit may comprise at least one switch, e.g. for configuring the tradeable beamforming circuit in at least a first configuration and a second configuration or for switching between analog operation on the bandwidth and digital operation on the sub-section of the bandwidth. A tradeable beamforming circuit may comprise at least one analog filter (e.g. a low pass filter), e.g. for using a smaller sub-band without aliasing. For example, analog filters may be analog devices and may be configured for different bandwidths, but may not necessarily be capable of any arbitrary bandwidth, and rather may have a finite number of possible configurations.

[0052] An apparatus or a network entity may comprise a tradeable beamforming circuit that may be capable of analog beamforming (on the full bandwidth) or digital beamforming (on a sub-section of the bandwidth). So, a tradeable beamforming circuit may be reconfigured between performing analog beamforming and digital beamforming. A tradeable beamforming circuit may e.g. comprise at least one analog and / or hybrid beamforming circuit or chain (e.g. for operating on the (whole) bandwidth) and at least one digital beamforming circuit or chain (e.g. for each antenna and e.g. operating on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth). Therein, the digital beamforming circuit (or digital beamforming chain) may be connected to one or more antennas that are connected to the analog beamforming chain, the digital beamforming chain may be connected (substantially or at least in part) in parallel to the analog beamforming chain. The digital and analog (and / or hybrid) beamforming chain comprised in the tradeable beamforming circuit may e.g. share a subset of their components (e.g. an analog-to-digital converter) that may be repurposed for operating the tradeable beamforming circuit in an analog or (partial) digital mode.

[0053] In more detail, a tradeable beamforming circuit (or chain) (e.g. comprised in an apparatus such as a mobile device) may comprise: a plurality of downconverting means (e.g. a downconverter) for downconverting separate antenna signals; one or more analog to digital converters; and one or more multiplexing means configurable in at least a first configuration and a second configuration (e.g. via the multiplexing means comprising a respective switch) wherein when the multiplexing means is configured in the first configuration the plurality of downconverting means and the one or more analog to digital converters are configured to enable separate antenna signals to be combined to provide hybrid beamforming or analog beamforming and when the multiplexing means is configured in the second configuration the plurality of downconverting means and the one or more analog to digital converters are configured to enable separate antenna signals to be used to enable digital beamforming. The hybrid beamforming or analog beamforming may be enabled across a bandwidth of the receiver apparatus and the digital beamforming may be enabled across a sub-section / at least one sub-section of the bandwidth.

[0054] The plurality of downconverting means may comprise one or more downconverting means for downconverting combined antenna signals and in case the multiplexing means is configured in the first configuration only downconverted combined antenna signals are provided to the one or more analog to digital converters and when the multiplexing means is configured in a second configuration at least a subset of the downconverted separate antenna signals are sampled and provided to the one or more analog to digital converters.

[0055] The apparatus may comprise a plurality of analog to digital converters configured to convert the downconverted separate antenna signals such that when the multiplexing means is in the first configuration outputs of the plurality of analog to digital converters are combined to provide hybrid beamforming or analog beamforming and when the multiplexing means is in the second configuration the downconverted separate antenna signals are used to provide digital beamforming.

[0056] The multiplexing means may be configured to use at least one of time interleaving, frequency interleaving.

[0057] The one or more multiplexing means and the one or more analog to digital converters may be configured to enable the analog beamforming to be provided in parallel with the digital beamforming.

[0058] The one or more multiplexing means may be configured to enable a rank of the digital beamforming to be varied. The multiplexing means may be configured to control a rank of digital beamforming by controlling the number of separate antenna signals that are sampled.

[0059] One or more multiplexing means or multiplexers may be configured to multiplex separate antenna signals before they are provided to the plurality of downconverting means for downconverting separate antenna signals.

[0060] A tradeable beamforming circuit (or chain) (e.g. comprised in a network entity and e.g. utilized for transmitting communication exploiting the beamforming configuration) may comprise: a plurality of upconverting means for upconverting separate signals for different antennas; one or more digital to analog converters; and one or more demultiplexing means configurable in at least a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein; when the demultiplexing means is configured in the first configuration the plurality of upconverting means and the one or more digital to analog converters are configured to enable antenna signals to be combined to provide hybrid beamforming or analog beamforming and when the demultiplexing means is configured in the second configuration the plurality of upconverting means and the one or more digital to analog converters are configured to enable separate antenna signals to be used to enable digital beamforming.

[0061] The plurality of upconverting means and the one or more digital to analog converters may be configured to enable antenna signals to be combined to provide hybrid beamforming or analog beamforming and when the demultiplexing means is configured in the second configuration the plurality of upconverting means and the one or more digital to analog converters are configured to enable separate antenna signals to be used to enable digital beamforming. The one or more demultiplexing means and the one or more analog to digital converters may be configured to enable the hybrid beamforming or analog beamforming to be provided in parallel with the digital beamforming. The one or more demultiplexing means may be configured to enable a rank of the digital beamforming to be varied.

[0062] The multiplexing means may enable the apparatus or network entity to be switched between hybrid beamforming or analog beamforming and digital beamforming. The hybrid beamforming or analog beamforming may be provided across a bandwidth of the apparatus and the digital beamforming may be provided across a sub-section / at least one sub-section of the bandwidth. The rank of the digital beamforming may be up to the number of separate antenna signals, but may be below that number, which may allow for more effective resource allocation.

[0063] For instance, a tradeable beamforming circuit may be configured to operate in a certain part of the bandwidth (e.g. the sub-section of the bandwidth) with a certain rank. A tradeoff between the sub-section of the bandwidth and rank may arise from mathematical limitation of using e.g. a single ADC. For instance, if the same sample rate is to be maintained, the more antennas are used, the lower the bandwidth of the sub-section. For example, analog filters may be configured for different bandwidths, but may not necessarily be capable of any arbitrary bandwidth, and rather may have a finite number of possible configurations. This may, for example, limit the possible tradeoffs that an apparatus may implement.

[0064] A tradeoff indication may be or comprise at least one bit, each bit indicating an available (rankbandwidth) tradeoff between rank (e.g. number of parallel received signals during a communication) and a size of the at least one sub-section (e.g. a size of the sub-section) of the bandwidth (e.g. a bandwidth fraction) associated with (substantially each of) the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit. As an example, the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit may be configured based on the tradeoff indication to operate with a certain rank on a certain sub-section of the bandwidth. For instance, for each of the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit the tradeoff indication may comprise information on which tradeoffs are available for that tradeable beamforming circuit. A tradeoff indication may comprise 6, 7, or 8 bit, where e.g. the first bit indicates availability of rank 2 operation on half of the bandwidth (which may be the sub-section of the bandwidth), the second bit indicates availability of rank 4 operation on a quarter of the bandwidth, the third bit indicates availability of rank 8 operation on 1 / 8 of the bandwidth, the fifth bit indicates availability of rank 32 operation on 1 / 32 of the bandwidth, the sixth bit indicates availability of rank 64 operation on 1 / 64 of the bandwidth, the seventh bit indicates availability of rank 128 operation on 1 / 128 of the bandwidth, and / or the eight bit indicates availability of rank 256 operation on 1 / 256 of the bandwidth.

[0065] Configuring the apparatus to receive communication using digital beamforming in the sub-section / at least one sub-section of the bandwidth using the number of tradeable beamforming circuits (or chains) to be used may e.g. be the apparatus comprising means for receiving communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in the sub-section / at least one sub-section of the bandwidth using the number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used.

[0066] Configuring the apparatus to operate the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit on the at least one resource block may e.g. be the apparatus comprising means for to operating the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit on the at least one resource block.

[0067] Configuring the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit according to the tradeoff to be used for a tradeable beamforming circuit may e.g. be the apparatus comprising means for configuring the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit according to the tradeoff to be used for a tradeable beamforming circuit. For instance, the tradeable beamforming circuit may be configured to operate to a certain extend using digital beamforming. For instance, the sub-section of the bandwidth on which digital beamforming is used may be increased, at the cost of utilizing a lower rank for that sub-section of the bandwidth or vice versa.

[0068] A configuration update may be received in a DCI. Modifying the applying the beamforming configuration according to the configuration update may be or comprise applying the beamforming configuration for receiving communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in a sub-section / the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth based on the configuration update. The configuration update may supersede part of or the whole beamforming configuration provided earlier. It may allow for adapting the exchange of communication for changing radio channel conditions, e.g. different multipath components due to apparatus mobility.

[0069] A configuration update may comprise at least one of: a sub-section indicator indicating the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth (e.g. as an example of information on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; an indicator (or indication) of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus.

[0070] The sub-section indicator and / or the indicator of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used may be represented by specific IES e.g. in a DCI or RRC message. Exploiting the beamforming configuration may e.g. be or comprise transmitting preferentially in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth or reserving the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth for (fast and reliable) re-transmissions (which may allow e.g. to prevent head of line blocking).

[0071] Transmitting communication preferentially in the sub-section or in the at least one subsection of the bandwidth may be understood as the network entity transmitting (or scheduling) transmission of communication (e.g. data or control signals e.g. in specific resource blocks) in the sub-section / the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth and (only) in case there is more communication to be transmitted than resources (e.g. resource blocks) available in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, transmitting the more communication in the remaining part of the bandwidth.

[0072] According to an example of the first example aspect, the apparatus further comprising: means for transmitting, to the network entity, a capability indicator (e.g. an information element in an RRC message) indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the apparatus with respect to digital beamforming (e.g. wherein the beamforming configuration is based on the capability indicator).

[0073] According to an example of the first example aspect, the apparatus further comprising: at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, wherein a tradeable beamforming circuit is a radio frequency circuit capable of operating either using analog beamforming on the bandwidth or using digital beamforming on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; means for determining a number of the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises: information on the number of the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit.

[0074] According to an example of the first example aspect, the apparatus further comprising: at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, wherein a tradeable beamforming circuit is a radio frequency circuit capable of operating either using analog beamforming on the bandwidth or using digital beamforming on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; means for determining at least one available tradeoff between a rank (e.g. number of parallel received (antenna) signals during a communication) and a size of the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth for at least one of the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises: a tradeoff indication indicating the at least one available tradeoff for the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit.

[0075] According to an example of the first example aspect, the apparatus further comprising: at least one analog beamforming chain; means for determining a number of the at least one analog beamforming chain; wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises: information on the number of the at least one analog beamforming chain.

[0076] According to an example of the first example aspect, the apparatus further comprising: means for receiving, from the network entity, a request for the capability indicator, wherein the transmitting the capability indicator is carried out based on (e.g. in response to) receiving the request.

[0077] According to an example of the first example aspect, the apparatus further comprising: at least one tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the beamforming configuration further comprises: an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration comprises configuring the apparatus to receive communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth using the number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used.

[0078] According to an example of the first example aspect, the apparatus further comprising: at least one tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the beamforming configuration further comprises: an indicator (e.g. an information element) of the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth (e.g. at least one resource block or e.g. several resource blocks which may be received via the sub-section of the bandwidth) on which (the) at least one tradeable beamforming circuit (e.g. the number of tradeable beamforming circuits) is supposed to operate; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration comprises configuring the apparatus to operate the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth (e.g. on the at least one resource block).

[0079] According to an example of the first example aspect, the apparatus further comprising: at least one tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the beamforming configuration further comprises: an indication indicating a tradeoff to be used for a tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration comprises configuring the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit according to the tradeoff to be used for the tradeable beamforming circuit.

[0080] According to an example of the first example aspect, the apparatus further comprising: means for, during applying the beamforming configuration, receiving, from the network entity, a configuration update (e.g. in DCI); wherein the applying the beamforming configuration is modified according to the configuration update. According to an example of the first example aspect, the configuration update comprises at least one of: information on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, in particular at least one frequency range within the bandwidth; an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; an indication of at least one resource block on which at least one tradeable beamforming circuit is supposed to operate; an indication of a modulation and coding scheme to be used for the digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; or an indication of a rank or a number of layers to be used by at least one tradeable beamforming circuit comprised in (or comprised by) the apparatus.

[0081] The configuration update may comprise further indications or information relevant for the beamforming configuration.

[0082] According to an example of the second example aspect, the frequency dependent radio capability comprises at least one of: information on a number of at least one analog beamforming chain (comprised by the apparatus); information on a number of at least one tradeable beamforming circuit (comprised by the apparatus); a tradeoff indication indicating at least one available tradeoff for the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit.

[0083] Optionally the network entity further comprising: means for transmitting, to the apparatus, a request for a capability indicator, wherein the receiving the capability indicator is in response to transmitting the request.

[0084] According to an example of the second example aspect, the beamforming configuration further comprises at least one of: an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; wherein the number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used is in particular smaller or equal to a number of at least one tradeable beamforming circuit (comprised in the apparatus), wherein a tradeable beamforming circuit is a radio frequency circuit capable of operating either using analog beamforming on the bandwidth or using digital beamforming on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; an indicator of the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth (e.g. at least one resource block or e.g. several resource blocks which may be received via the sub-section of the bandwidth) on which at least one tradeable beamforming circuit (e.g. the number of tradeable beamforming circuits) is supposed to operate; an indication indicating a tradeoff to be used for a tradeable beamforming circuit (comprised in the apparatus); wherein in particular the tradeoff to be used is selected from at least one available tradeoff for the tradeable beamforming circuit (e.g. comprised in the frequency dependent radio capability).

[0085] According to an example of the second example aspect, the network entity further comprising: means for, during transmitting communication exploiting the beamforming configuration or transmitting communication preferentially in the sub-section of the bandwidth, determining, based on the capability indicator (and e.g. based on current radio channel condition of a radio channel used for transmitting the communication), a configuration update (e.g. for adapting to changed radio channel conditions); means for transmitting, to the apparatus, the configuration update (e.g. in DCI).

[0086] According to an example of the second example aspect, the configuration update comprises at least one of: information on the sub-section of the bandwidth, in particular at least one frequency range within the bandwidth an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; an indication of at least one resource block on which at least one tradeable beamforming circuit is supposed to operate; an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; an indication of a modulation and coding scheme to be used for the digital beamforming in the sub-section of the bandwidth; an indication of a rank or a number of layers to be used by at least one tradeable beamforming circuit comprised in the apparatus.

[0087] According to an example of the second example aspect, the network entity further comprising: means for transmitting, to a core network entity, the capability indicator; means for receiving, from the core network entity, in response to transmitting the capability indicator, support information on at least one of a network load, an apparatus resource requirement or on at least one quality requirement for the apparatus; wherein the determining the beamforming configuration or, if applicable, the configuration update, is further based on the support information.

[0088] According to an example of the second example aspect, the network entity further comprising: means for transmitting communication, to a second apparatus (e.g. UE), in the bandwidth; means for receiving (e.g. from the second apparatus or the core network entity) a second capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the second apparatus; means for determining, based on the second capability indicator, a second beamforming configuration comprising information on a second sub-section of the bandwidth, wherein the second sub-section of the bandwidth is essentially distinct from the sub-section of the bandwidth; means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, the second beamforming configuration; means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, communication exploiting the second beamforming configuration (e.g. transmitting preferentially in the second sub-section of the bandwidth).

[0089] The second apparatus may be an apparatus according to the first example aspect.

[0090] According to an example of the third example aspect, the core network entity further comprising: means for obtaining, in response to receiving the capability indicator, support information on at least one of a network load, an apparatus resource requirement or on at least one quality (e.g. Quality of Service) requirement for the apparatus; means for transmitting, to the network entity, the support information.

[0091] According to an example of the third example aspect, the core network entity further comprising: means for, upon receiving the capability indicator, providing data bearers with a quality indicator (e.g. Quality of Service indicator) indicating a capability of the apparatus for using digital beamforming in a sub-section of a bandwidth (e.g. thereby indicating high throughput and low latency communication capability).

[0092] For instance, a data bearer may be provided with a quality indicator that can be mapped to the sub-section of the bandwidth (for digital beamforming) by the gNB. For instance, if an apparatus receives information on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, which may allow for high throughput and low latency, the data bearer may be set up based on the appropriate quality indicator for transmissions in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth. E.g. the quality indicator corresponding to the high throughput and low latency may be selected for a data bearer to be mapped to that sub-section of the bandwidth.

[0093] According to an example of the fourth example aspect, the method further comprising: transmitting, to the network entity, a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the apparatus with respect to digital beamforming (e.g. wherein the beamforming configuration is based on the capability indicator).

[0094] According to an example of the fourth example aspect, the method further comprising: determining a number of the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, the apparatus comprising at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, wherein a tradeable beamforming circuit is a radio frequency circuit capable of operating either using analog beamforming on the bandwidth or using digital beamforming on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; and wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises: information on the number of the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit.

[0095] According to an example of the fourth example aspect, the method further comprising: determining at least one available tradeoff between a rank and a size of the at least one subsection of the bandwidth for at least one of the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, the apparatus comprising at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, wherein a tradeable beamforming circuit is a radio frequency circuit capable of operating either using analog beamforming on the bandwidth or using digital beamforming on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises: a tradeoff indication indicating the at least one available tradeoff for the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit.

[0096] According to an example of the fourth example aspect, the method further comprising: determining a number of the at least one analog beamforming chain, the apparatus comprising at least one analog beamforming chain; wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises: information on the number of the at least one analog beamforming chain.

[0097] According to an example of the fourth example aspect, the method further comprising: receiving, from the network entity, a request for the capability indicator, wherein the transmitting the capability indicator is carried out based on receiving the request.

[0098] According to an example of the fourth example aspect, the beamforming configuration further comprises: an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration comprises configuring the apparatus to receive communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth using the number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used.

[0099] According to an example of the fourth example aspect, the beamforming configuration further comprises: an indicator of the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth on which at least one tradeable beamforming circuit is supposed to operate; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration comprises configuring the apparatus to operate the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth.

[0100] According to an example of the fourth example aspect, the beamforming configuration further comprises: an indication indicating a tradeoff to be used for a tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration comprises configuring the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit according to the tradeoff to be used for the tradeable beamforming circuit.

[0101] According to an example of the fourth example aspect, the method further comprising: during applying the beamforming configuration, receiving, from the network entity, a configuration update; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration is modified according to the configuration update.

[0102] According to an example of the fourth example aspect, the configuration update comprises at least one of: information on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, in particular at least one frequency range within the bandwidth; an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus.

[0103] According to an example of the fifth example aspect, the frequency dependent radio capability comprises at least one of: information on a number of at least one analog beamforming chain: information on a number of at least one tradeable beamforming circuit: a tradeoff indication indicating at least one available tradeoff for the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit.

[0104] According to an example of the fifth example aspect, the beamforming configuration further comprises at least one of: an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; wherein the number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used is in particular smaller or equal to a number of at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, wherein a tradeable beamforming circuit is a radio frequency circuit capable of operating either using analog beamforming on the bandwidth or using digital beamforming on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; an indicator of the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth on which at least one tradeable beamforming circuit is supposed to operate an indication indicating a tradeoff to be used for a tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein in particular the tradeoff to be used is selected from at least one available tradeoff for the tradeable beamforming circuit. According to an example of the fifth example aspect, the method further comprising: during transmitting communication exploiting the beamforming configuration (e.g. transmitting preferentially in the sub-section of the bandwidth), determining, based on the capability indicator, a configuration update; transmitting, to the apparatus, the configuration update.

[0105] According to an example of the fifth example aspect, the configuration update comprises at least one of: information on the sub-section of the bandwidth, in particular at least one frequency range within the bandwidth an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus.

[0106] According to an example of the fifth example aspect, the method further comprising: transmitting, to a core network entity, the capability indicator; receiving, from the core network entity, in response to transmitting the capability indicator, support information on at least one of a network load, an apparatus resource requirement or on at least one quality requirement for the apparatus; wherein the determining the beamforming configuration or, if applicable, the configuration update, is further based on the support information.

[0107] According to an example of the fifth example aspect, the method further comprising: transmitting communication, to a second apparatus, in the bandwidth; receiving a second capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the second apparatus; determining, based on the second capability indicator, a second beamforming configuration comprising information on a second sub-section of the bandwidth, wherein the second subsection of the bandwidth is essentially distinct from the sub-section of the bandwidth; transmitting, to the second apparatus, the second beamforming configuration; transmitting, to the second apparatus, communication exploiting the second beamforming configuration (e.g. transmitting preferentially in the second sub-section of the bandwidth).

[0108] According to an example of the sixth example aspect, the method further comprising: obtaining, in response to receiving the capability indicator, support information on at least one of a network load, an apparatus resource requirement or on at least one quality requirement for the apparatus; transmitting, to the network entity, the support information. According to an example of the sixth example aspect, the method further comprising: upon receiving the capability indicator, providing data bearers with a quality indicator indicating a capability of the apparatus for using digital beamforming in a sub-section of a bandwidth.

[0109] The features and example embodiments described above may equally pertain to the different aspects, for instance a means for performing a method step may equally disclose said method step and vice versa, e.g. a method step described relating to the fourth example aspect may equally disclose a respective means for performing this method step by an apparatus according to the first example aspect and vice versa; a method step described relating to the fifth example aspect may equally disclose a respective means for performing this method step by a network entity according to the second example aspect and vice versa; a method step described relating to the sixth example aspect may equally disclose a respective means for performing this method step by a core network entity according to the third example aspect and vice versa.

[0110] It is to be understood that the presentation in this section is merely by way of examples and non-limiting.

[0111] Other features will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not drawn to scale and that they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

[0112] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0113] The drawings show:

[0114] Fig. la a schematic drawing showing an example receiver architecture implementing an analog beamforming chain and a tradeable beamforming circuit;

[0115] Fig. lb a schematic drawing showing an example tradeable beamforming circuit;

[0116] Fig. lc a schematic drawing showing an example analog beamforming chain;

[0117] Fig. 2 a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method according to the fourth example aspect;

[0118] Fig. 3 a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method according to the fifth example aspect;

[0119] Fig. 4 a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method according to the sixth example aspect;

[0120] Fig. 5a an example resource grid; Fig. 5b an example resource grid, e.g. as an example of a frequency selective resource allocation;

[0121] Fig. 5c an example resource grid, e.g. as an example of a case where a network entity has to transmit more data / communication than resources available in the at least one subsection of the bandwidth;

[0122] Fig. 6a an example graph illustrating an example of a relative achievable system throughput;

[0123] Fig. 6b an example graph illustrating an example of a relative average user data rate;

[0124] Fig. 7 a message sequence chart showing an example embodiment of a method according to the fourth, fifth, and sixth example aspect;

[0125] Fig. 8 a message sequence chart showing an example of a method according to the fourth, fifth, and sixth example aspect;

[0126] Fig. 9 a schematic block diagram of an example of an apparatus according to the first aspect and / or an example embodiment of network note according to the second and / or third example aspect;

[0127] Fig. 10 a schematic illustration of examples of (tangible and / or non- transitory) computer-readable storage media.

[0128] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLES

[0129] The following description serves to deepen the understanding and shall be understood to complement and be read together with the description as provided in the above summary section of this specification. Some aspects may have a different terminology than e.g. provided in the description above. The skilled person will nevertheless understand that those terms refer to the same subject-matter, e.g. by being more specific.

[0130] Fig. la shows a schematic drawing showing an example receiver architecture implementing an analog beamforming chain (e.g. as depicted separately in Fig. lc) and a tradeable beamforming circuit (e.g. as depicted separately in Fig. lb). A tradeable beamforming circuit may combine digital and analog beamforming chains into a single architecture, which may allow to reap the benefits of the digital beamforming chain while also allowing the use of the analog beamforming chain for decoding control channels (or reference symbols / signals) as well as data that might be spread out in bands other than the ones where the digital beamforming might be configured to operate in. This architecture may enable digital multiple input multiple output (MIMO) on part (a sub-section) of the bandwidth. This architecture may be exploited by the BS notifying (e.g. via a beamforming configuration or a configuration update) the UE that different RBs are allocated with different ranks and modulation and coding schemes (MCS). For this, specific lEs may be specified (e.g. in the beamforming configuration or a configuration update). These lEs may be added to a RRC reconfiguration message (e.g. comprising the beamforming configuration) and a DCI message (e.g. comprising the configuration update) and may notify the UE of the MCS, rank (layer) and the number of digital beamforming chains to be used (e.g. configure tradeable beamforming circuits accordingly to provide that number). An according IE composition may be added to the BWP parameters of the RRC reconfiguration message. Further, respective IES may be added to the DCI message to specify the rank (layer), MCS and the ability to reconfigure. This may e.g. allow for allocation of different rank to different RBs and may allow for reducing overhead.

[0131] Furthermore, IEs may be added to a UE capability information sent in RRC signaling (e.g. via a capability indicator) to notify the BS of the capability of the UE (e.g. that the UE comprises tradeable beamforming circuits). For this, an IE composition may be added to the RF (MIMO) parameters of the UE capability information which may be sent in the RRC signaling to the base station. In terms of exploiting the beamforming configuration, performance may be maximized, by allocations that are narrow in frequency (e.g. using a narrow sub-section of the bandwidth) and longer in time. Adding these IEs may enhance utilizing the use of digital beamforming in a sub-band of the full transmission bandwidth over the wideband analog beamforming.

[0132] The architecture presented in Fig. la may allow using both a wideband analog and a narrowband digital beamforming chain, wherein the digital beamforming can be configured to operate on a specific sub-band (sub-section) within the full receiver band (bandwidth). This may allow for utilizing in said sub-band the full spatial diversity, thus combating any untoward channel effects, such as fading, and allowing for faithful transmission, while at the same time not wasting analog to digital converter (ADC) samples to acquire unused resource blocks (RBs), as may be done in analog beamforming.

[0133] The tradeable beamforming circuit depicted in Fig. la (shown e.g. separately in Fig. lb) comprises N antennas connected via a certain number of analog beamforming chains (in the dashed rectangle marked "Analog"), which operate on the full bandwidth (BA) of the system. In particular, the signal from each antenna (101) in this example is amplified by a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), phase shifted (105) and then added together (103) in the analog domain. Subsequently, the combined signal is downconverted (107) and digitized by a single (high-speed) ADC 111M. On top of the analog beamforming system, for each antenna 101 an additional dedicated Radio Frequency (RF) chain (in the dashed rectangle marked "Digital") that has a narrower bandwidth is provided. In particular, the signal from each antenna may be extracted after the front-end LNAs, individually downconverted to baseband and filtered with a Low Pass Filter (LPF). The one or more ADCs formerly used for one of the analog beamforming chains may be repurposed and (all) the low bandwidth individual antenna signals may be multiplexed into that ADC to obtain a low bandwidth digital beamforming chain. In this way, the samples of the ADC may be allocated to acquire a smaller part of the bandwidth with higher rank (a tradeoff). In an example, the tradeable beamforming circuit may comprise two RF chains, one analog and one digital beamforming chain. Also, it is noted that the mixers that may belong to the digital beamforming chain do not need to be fed with the same Local Oscillator (LO) frequency of the analog beamforming, therefore it may be assumed that the center frequency of the digital beamforming part is anywhere within or outside the band of the analog beamforming. The example of Fig. la shows a radio Frequency (RF) circuit (or chain) of an apparatus 100. Examples of the disclosure could be provided on any number of RF chains within an apparatus 100. The example RF circuit includes a tradeable beamforming circuit (comprising the components shown separately in Fig. lb) and an analog beamforming chain (comprising the components shown separately Fig. lc), in particular ADC Illi, downconverter 107i, adders 103, and phase shifters 105i,i - 105N,I may only be part of the analog beamforming part, low noise amplifiers 104 and antennas 101 may be shared between the analog and tradable beamforming part, and the remaining components (e.g. switch 120, downconverter 1072, phase shifters 1052, i - 1052, N, multiplexer 119, second downconverters 117, ADC 111M, low pass filters 118) may be part of the tradable beamforming part. The example tradeable beamforming circuit may be switched between analog operation (e.g. switch 120 in Position A) and digital operation (e.g. switch 120 in position B). The multiplexer 119 may be configured to multiplex a different number of (e.g. downconverted and filtered) antenna signals to ADC 111M. The filters 118 may be configured according to the sub-section of the bandwidth. As another example, phase shifters 105i,i - 105N,I, may be shared between the tradeable beamforming circuit and the analog beamforming chain, so that phase shifters 1051,2 - 105N,2 may be omitted.

[0134] The example (receiver) apparatus 100 (or the tradeable beamforming circuit comprised in the apparatus 100) comprises a plurality of antennas 101 and a plurality of low noise amplifiers 104. In this example, the apparatus 100 (or the tradeable beamforming circuit comprised in the apparatus 100) comprises N antennas 101 and N low noise amplifiers 104. N can be any whole number that is equal to or greater than two. In the example of Fig. la the number of low noise amplifiers 104 is the same as the number of antennas 101 so that each of the antenna signals from the respective antennas 101 can be amplified separately.

[0135] The example apparatus (or the tradeable beamforming circuit comprised in the apparatus) also comprises a plurality of phase shifters 105. The phase shifters can comprise any means or circuitry that can be configured to add a delay into the signals from the antennas 101. In this example the apparatus 100 comprises N phase shifters 105. In the example of Fig. la the number of phase shifters 105 is the same as the number of antennas 101 so that each of the antenna signals from the respective antennas 101 can be phase shifted separately. So, in the example of Fig. la each antenna 101 is connected to a different phase shifter 105, e.g. rather than being connected to a single phase shifter providing multiple outputs.

[0136] The apparatus 100 (or respectively the tradeable beamforming circuit comprised in the apparatus 100) also comprises a plurality of adders 103 and a plurality of first downconverters 107.

[0137] In this example there are two adders 103 and a first downconverters 107. The two adders 103 are configured to add the phase shifted antenna signals. The added antenna signals are provided as an input to the first downconverter 107. The first downconverter 107 can comprise mixers and local oscillators. It also comprises M ADCs 111, where M in this example is two. ADC Illi is configured to convert the signals from the first downconverter 107. Further, a multiplexer 119 and switch 120 is provided between at least one of the downconverters 117 and an ADC 111M.

[0138] The apparatus 100 (or respectively the tradeable beamforming circuit comprised in the apparatus 100) also comprises a plurality of second downconverters 117. In this example the receiver apparatus 100 comprises N-l second downconverters 117. In other examples the receiver apparatus 100 could comprise any number between 1 and N-l second downconverters 117. In other examples, other numbers of second downconverters 117 could be used. The second downconverters 117 can comprise mixers and local oscillators. The local oscillators that are used to provide input signals for the mixers in the second downconverters 117 can be different to the local oscillators that are used to provide the input signals for the mixers in the (first) downconverter 107. The local oscillators that are used to provide input signals for the mixers in the second downconverters 117 can provide an input signal at a different frequency to the local oscillators that are used to provide the input signals for the mixers in the first downconverter 107. The second downconverters 117 are configured to receive separate antenna signals as an input. That is, the second downconverters 117 do not receive added antenna signals.

[0139] The receiver apparatus 100 (or respectively the tradeable beamforming circuit comprised in the apparatus 100) also comprises a plurality of low pass filters 118, in this example N-l low pass filters 108. The receiver apparatus 100 comprises the same number of low pass filters 118 as second downconverters 117.

[0140] The multiplexer 119 is provided between the second downconverters 117 and the ADC 111M. In this the multiplexer 119 is a time domain multiplexer. Other types of multiplexers 119, such as but not limited to frequency domain multiplexers, could be used in other examples of the disclosure. In this example switch 120 is shown separately from multiplexer 119, but it could also be included in the multiplexer 119.

[0141] In the example of Fig. la only one multiplexer 119 is shown however more than one multiplexer 119 could be provided in other examples of the disclosure.

[0142] The multiplexer 119 and switch 120 can be configured into a first configuration so as to cause the receiver apparatus 100 to provide hybrid beamforming across the whole bandwidth. In this configuration the receiver apparatus 100 provides a hybrid beamforming system with N antennas and rank M.

[0143] The multiplexer 119 and switch 120 can also be configured into a second configuration so as to cause the receiver apparatus 100 to provide high rank digital beamforming across a sub-section of the bandwidth. In the second position the multiplexer 119 can be configured to enable one of the K antennas in the subset of all of the N antennas to be sampled for every sample of the ADC 111M. In the example of Fig. la each of the K antennas 101 in the sub-set of antennas 101 are sampled every K samples of the ADC 111M. This may enable the ADC 111M to support 1 / K of the bandwidth of the apparatus 100. The sub-section of the bandwidth that is digitalized by this ADC 111M, will also be digitalized by the M-l ADCs 111 such as ADC Illi in Fig. 2 that perform hybrid beamforming. This therefore enables the apparatus 100 to provide rank K+M-l digital beamforming when the multiplexer 119 and switch 120 are in the second configuration.

[0144] In the example of Fig. 2 only one ADC Illi is shown as being used for hybrid beamforming. The number of ADCs Illi can be M-l. If M is greater than two more than one ADC Illi that is used for hybrid beamforming could be provided. This provides a rank M-l system that be provided on the full bandwidth of the receiver apparatus. The M-l system can be provided in parallel with the high rank low bandwidth beamforming.

[0145] As an example, an apparatus 100 with 300Mhz bandwidth, N=64 and M=4 would be a rank 4 system without examples of the disclosure. However, the additional second downconverters 117 and the multiplexer 119 can enable the apparatus 100 to be switched to a rank 3 system with a 300Mhz bandwidth and a rank 16 system with a 23Mhz bandwidth by setting K = 13.

[0146] In some examples different local oscillator signals with different frequencies can be used for the second downconverters 117 compared to the (first) downconverters 107. This can enable the receiver apparatus 100 to be configured to provide a rank K+M-l beamforming on any part of the hybrid system bandwidth, or a rank K beamforming outside that bandwidth.

[0147] The multiplexing of the ADC 111M can be done in the time domain or in the frequency domain. To enable the multiplexing to be done in the frequency domain each of the mixers in the second downconverters 117 can use a different frequency for the local oscillator. In such examples a band pass filter could be use instead of a low pass filter. Once the signals have been converted by the ADC 111M the signals from each antenna 101 can be filtered and further downconverted in the digital domain. The further downconversion can bring all of the antenna signals to the same baseband frequency. In such examples the different local oscillators for the different down converters can be generated by phase locked loops from the same base lock. This can provide a predictable phase shift between the different local oscillators. The apparatus 100 can be configured so that different phase shifts can be compensated for in the digital domain.

[0148] The tradeable beamforming circuit may enable to provide a communication system that is both wideband, e.g. to support high data rates when necessary, and high rank. In particular, for a base station (BS) having digital beamforming capabilities, and e.g. in a multi-user setting, user equipments having tradeable beamforming circuit(s), e.g. as shown in Fig. la, lb may allow for:

[0149] Each user equipment (UE) being indicated about the part of the bandwidth where it operates digital beamforming with one or more of the trade-off enabled radio frequency (RF) chains (as an example of tradeable beamforming circuits)

[0150] At the scheduling phase, the BS may assign to that user preferentially the resource blocks (RBs) where it can operate with digital beamforming.

[0151] Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a method 200 according to the fourth example aspect. The example method may be performed or carried out by an apparatus, e.g. a user device or user equipment, and comprises: receiving 201 communication, from a network entity, using analog or hybrid beamforming in a bandwidth; receiving 202, from the network entity, a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth; applying 203 the beamforming configuration for receiving communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth.

[0152] Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a method 300 according to the fifth example aspect. The example method may be performed or carried out by a network entity, e.g. a RAN node or gNB, and comprises: transmitting 301 communication, to an apparatus, in a bandwidth; receiving 302 a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the apparatus; determining 303, based on the capability indicator a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth; transmitting 304, to the apparatus, the beamforming configuration; transmitting 305, to the apparatus, communication exploiting the beamforming configuration.

[0153] Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing an example embodiment of a method 400 according to the sixth example aspect. The example method may be performed or carried out by a core network entity, e.g. a server, and comprises: receiving 401, from a network entity, a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of an apparatus; storing 402 the capability indicator; providing 403, to the network entity or another network entity, the capability indicator, in response to receiving a respective request from the respective network entity.

[0154] Fig. 5a illustrates an example resource grid. The horizontal axis represents time, the vertical axis is frequency and the squares represent the Resource Blocks (RBs) that can be assigned to users (for example UE1, UE2, UE3). A resource element having vertical lines may be assigned to UE1. A cross stripped resource element may be assigned to UE2. A dashed resource element may be assigned to UE3. Fig. 5a may present an example resource allocation without exploiting the capabilities tradeable beamforming circuits. While the data for any given UE may reside on a specific set of RBs, the strategy here is to look at all the RBs for the data of the UE under observation. For example, in Fig. 5a if UE1 is considered (squares with vertical lines), the data is basically located for time slots 0 to 3 in RBs 4 and 5, for time slots 4 to 7 on RBs 2 and 3, and finally for time slots 8 to 14 on RBs 8 and 9. However, to demodulate the data on these RBs, with in this beamforming approach the UE may have to receive the signal at all RBs. This may be said to be equivalent to throwing away whatever information is received on 81.3% of the time-frequency resources, i.e., wastage of those resources.

[0155] Fig. 5b shows an example resource grid, e.g. as an example of a frequency selective resource allocation that may be enabled by using tradeable beamforming circuits. In this example, using a narrowband digital beamforming chain (of a tradeable beamforming circuit), it may be possible to utilize the full spatial diversity on a limited set of RBs. This however may require allocating each specific user (UE) to utilize RBs within its digital beamforming sub-band. An example of such a resource allocation map is provided in Fig. 5b. UE1 has the same number of time-frequency blocks allocated to it as in Fig. 5a. In this case, UE1 gets RBs 4 and 5 for all time slots barring only RB 5 in time slots 2 and 7. As the frequency allocation is localized, UE1 may perform digital beamforming on just the frequency band occupied by RBs 4 and 5. This may allow for full spatial diversity usage, capacity gains as well as reducing the number of resource elements that the beamforming chain has to look at for demodulating the data meant for the user. This consequently leads to a wastage of only 6.7% as compared to 81.3% in the case of Fig.5a.

[0156] Fig. 5b also illustrates the use of the disclosed architecture for communication in a multi-user setting. The network entity, e.g. the base station may be equipped with a fully digital (or at least high rank) architecture capable of fully exploiting the rank of the channel. The UEs may be equipped with the disclosed architecture (digital beamforming circuits), which may be capable of exploiting the full channel rank in the digital beamforming part (sub-section) of the bandwidth. Recalling the resource allocation example shown in Fig. 5a, UE1 may potentially benefit from having the digital beamforming in the central RBs for the four slots, i.e., RBs 2 and 3 for the following 4 slots, and the top RBs for the rest of the time. This may however be impractical, as it may require re-configuring the LO of the digital chains. Such reconfiguration may take from tens of [is to some ms. Hence, at the time of connection the BS may inform (e.g. via a beamforming configuration) the UE whether to use the second RF chain for digital beamforming, and on which part of the band. Subsequently, at the time of MAC scheduling, the BS may preferentially schedule each UE on the frequency where it performs digital beamforming.

[0157] In this case, for example, the BS could instruct UE3 to perform digital beamforming in RBs 0 and 1, UE1 on 4 and 5, and UE2 on 8 and 9. It may then schedule the data according to the new resource grid in Fig. 5b. In this case, the data would fit entirely within the band where the UEs perform digital beamforming. With this allocation, the first RF chain which may operate with analog beamforming still spends 81.3% of its samples to acquire the resource blocks not filled with vertical lines, but the second RF chain, operating in digital beamforming, only acquires 30 resource elements, out of which 28 are intended for UE1, thus only wasting 6.7% of the ADC samples. However, the analog RF chain may still be used, e.g. in case there is control information (e.g. Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) and

[0158] Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH)) sent by the BS that resides outside the digital beamforming RBs (outside the sub-section of the bandwidth). Moreover, the analog RF chain may also be used in case the data does not fit within the RBs used for digital beamforming, and a part of it has to be allocated to other RBs. This is illustrated in Fig. 5c showing an example resource grid, e.g. as an example of a case where a network entity has to transmit more data / communication than resources available in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth.

[0159] Fig. 6a shows an example aggregate rate of the base station as a function of the number of UEs, and Fig. 6b shows an example average rate observed by each UE (U on the horizontal axis). Therein, the curves marked with circles represent the rate achieved using tradable beamforming circuits as disclosed above and the curves marked with x’s represent the rate achieved by only using hybrid beamforming. From Figs. 6a, 6b, it may be observed that through the capability of using digital beamforming, the system can closely follow the upper bound on the achievable throughput as well as provide a higher average user data rate, whereas the hybrid beamforming is only capable of doing the same when the number of users is low as compared to the number of resource blocks. Note that the throughput and data rate values expressed in Figs. 6a, 6b are relative to the analog beamforming. Concretely, for these simulations a resource grid with 640 RBs and 32 antennas at the receiver side was considered. Further, it was assumed that the scheduling of users is done using proportional fair method while a full buffer traffic is assumed with a significantly high traffic generation rate. It is further assumed that the relative spectral efficiency gain of the digital beamforming with respect to the wideband analog beamforming is 4 and that of the hybrid beamforming is 1.5, thus highlighting the advantages that digital beamforming offers.

[0160] For example, to signal using the disclosed architecture, specific IES in the UE capability reporting done in RRC signaling maybe specified (e.g. comprised in a capability indicator): numfixanalog chains (an analog beamforming chain indicator) may indicate the number of RF chains that can only perform analog beamforming (an information on a number of at least one analog beamforming chain) numtradablechains (a tradable beamforming circuit indicator) may indicate the number of RF chains that can be re-configured to perform digital beamforming (an information on a number of at least one tradeable beamforming circuit) tradcapab (a tradeoff indication indicating at least one available tradeoff for the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit or tradeoff capability indicator) may indicate the tradeoff that can be performed by each of the tradable RF chains. Each bit is associated with a possible trade-off, and it value states if that trade off is available or not. Some example trade-off values are listed in the table below:

[0161] Bit l Bit 2 Bit 3 Bit 4 Bit 5 Bit 6 Bit 7 Bit 8

[0162] Bandwidth fraction % U 1 / 8 1 / 16 1 / 32 1 / 64 1 / 128 1 / 256

[0163] Rank 4 8 16 32 64 128 256

[0164] For example, Bits 7 and 8 may be optional in particular for large numbers of antennas, and "tradcapab" could be shortened to 6 bits.

[0165] As an example, the following update to the RF parameters list of the UE capability information sent during RRC signaling is disclosed:

[0166] MIMO-ParametersPerBand ::= SEQUENCE { analogdigitalbfcap SEQUENCE OF ABCap OPTIONAL

[0167] }

[0168] ABCap :: = SEQUENCE { numfixanalogchains ENUMERATED, numtradablechains ENUMERATED, tradcapab BIT STRING (Size(8))

[0169] }

[0170] These added / updated IES may be sent in response to the UE capability enquiry (a request for the capability indicator) that the base station sends to the UE. The UE may then respond with the aforementioned capabilities in the UE capability information message as part of the RRC signaling. Such a capability may also be beneficial for beyond 5G and 6G networks.

[0171] As a further example, an addition to the RRC signaling from the base station to the UE (e.g. in the 3GPP standard) is disclosed so as to define the partial bandwidth on which a given UE should utilize its digital beamforming capabilities. Note that this may be provided in the RRC signaling because this can be done at the very beginning during the attach procedure and it also may provide time to the UE to set the local oscillators (LO) of the digital beamforming chains to the right frequencies, given that the LOs require time in the order of microseconds to settle down to their defined operational frequency. Specifically, the disclosed examples of added capabilities may be on the RRC reconfiguration message sent from the base station to the UE. For example as follows:

[0172] BWP-Downlink ::= SEQUENCE { bwp-Id BWP-Id, bwp-Common BWP-DownlinkCommon bwp-Dedicated BWP-DownlinkDedicated bwp-Tradchain BWP-Tradchain

[0173] BWP-Tradchain ::= SEQUENCE { genericParameters BWP, tradcapuse Bitstring(8) numtradechains Integer(l-maxTradechains) }

[0174] This modification may for example add a field to specify the bandwidth part over which the digital beamforming chains will be used. Note that, only the BWP-Downlink block is provided above, but the same process may be used for BWP-Uplink. Additionally, the bitstring "tradcapuse" may indicate the tradeoff that can be performed by each of the tradable RF chains. Each bit is associated with a possible trade-off, and its value states if that tradeoff is available or not. Some trade-off values are listed in the table below:

[0175] Bit l Bit 2 Bit 3 Bit 4 Bit 5 Bit 6 Bit 7 Bit 8

[0176] Bandwidth fraction % U 1 / 8 1 / 16 1 / 32 1 / 64 1 / 128 1 / 256

[0177] Rank 4 8 16 32 64 128 256

[0178] For example, Bits 7 and 8 may be optional in particular for large numbers of antennas, and "tradcapab" could be shortened to 6 bits. Further, for example the "numtradechains" parameter may specify the number of digital beamforming chains to be used.

[0179] Also, as an example an ability for the base station to use DCI messages (a configuration update) to be able to define the layers and MCS used when utilizing either the narrowband digital beamforming or the wideband analog / hybrid beamforming is disclosed. As a further example, also parameters may be defined to fine tune the RBs over which the narrowband digital beamforming can be used as compared to the configuration defined in the RRC reconfiguration message. Specifically, the DCI formats 0_0, 0_l, l_0 and 1_1 may optionally add the following IES:

[0180] Layers for Digital BF chains (layerDBF) : number of layers to be used by the digital beamforming RF chains

[0181] MCS to be used when using the narrowband digital beamforming (MCSdbf) : MCS used over the RBs on which digital beamforming is performed.

[0182] BWP Tradchain Reconfiguration: If a reconfiguration is required, then the Bandwidth part over which the existing digital beamforming chains in use should be reconfigured to (an information on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth).

[0183] TradChain update: : If a reconfiguration is required, Updating the number of digital beamforming chains to be used (an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus).

[0184] Such a signaling may also be beneficial for beyond 5G and 6G networks.

[0185] Fig. 7 shows a message sequence chart showing an example of a method according to the fourth, fifth, and sixth example aspect. The message sequence may for example pertain to a system comprising a UE 701, a gNB 702 and a CN 703, in which for example UE 701 transmits 713, to gNB 702, a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the apparatus with respect to digital beamforming, gNB 702 receiving the capability and transmitting 714, to CN 703, the capability indicator, and upon receiving the capability indicator, CN 703 storing the capability indicator (e.g. for further use for gNB 702 or another gNB connected to CN 703, e.g. during sub-sequent mobility). For instance, in step 711 gNB 702 may transmit a UE Capability Enquiry to UE 701; in step 712 UE 701 may check (its) Digital Beamforming capabilities; in step 713 UE 701 may transmit UE Capability Information, which may carry ABCap containing the parameter numfixanalogchains, numtradablechains and tradcapab; in step 714 gNB 702 may transmit the UE Capability Information for CN 703 to store the UE Capability Information; in step 715 UE 701 may be configured including UE configuration on Digital Beamforming by using RRC and DCI signaling

[0186] Fig. 8 shows a message sequence chart showing an example of a method according to the fourth, fifth, and sixth example aspect. UE 801 may be UE 701, gNB 802 may be gNB 702, and CN 803 may be CN 703. The message sequence of Fig. 8 may for example pertain to a system comprising a UE 801, a gNB 802 and a CN 803, in which for example gNB 802 determines (e.g. based on the capability indicator received e.g. in step 713 of Fig. 7) a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth, and transmits 814 the beamforming configuration to UE 801. UE 801 may receive 814 the beamforming configuration and apply the beamforming configuration for receiving communication, from gNB 802, using digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth. Subsequently or in parallel, gNB 802 may transmit 820, to UE 801, communication exploiting 819 the beamforming configuration. For instance, in step 811 updated UE Capability Information is transferred; in step 812 CN 803 may check network load and UE resource requirements; in step 813 gNB 813 may retrieve UE Capability information; in step 814 gNB 802 may transmit RRC reconfiguration, wherein network specifies the configuration for Digital beamforming i.e., the number of digital beamforming chains and the RBs over which they will operate; in step 815 RRC reconfiguration complete may be transmitted by UE 801; in step 816 UE configuration may be stored; in step 817 network load and UE resource requirements may be checked and the Digital beamforming settings may be reconfigured; In step 818 UE configuration may be retrieved; in step 819 DCI signaling may be performed, wherein network specifies updates to number of digital beamforming chains and the bandwidth on which it is done; in step 820 new UE configuration may be used in scheduler; and in step 821 PUSCH and PDSCH transmissions may be performed between UE 801 and gNB 802.

[0187] For example, assuming that a base station (BS) has digital beamforming capabilities, and e.g. in a multiuser setting, user equipments having tradeable beamforming circuit(s), e.g. as shown in Fig. 1, may allow for:

[0188] Each user equipment (UE) may be indicated about the part of the bandwidth where it operates digital beamforming with one or more of the trade-off enabled radio frequency (RF) chains (as an example of tradeable beamforming circuits)

[0189] At the scheduling phase, the BS may assign to that user (UE) preferentially the resource blocks (RBs) where it can operate with digital beamforming

[0190] For example, IES of the UE capability information ( capability indicator) to be sent in the RRC signaling to benefit from the UE capability of digital beamforming in a sub-band of the full transmission bandwidth over the wideband analog beamforming; example UE capability indications may be:

[0191] - numfixanalogchains e.g. indicating the number of RF chains that can only perform analog beamforming;

[0192] ■ numtradablechains e.g. indicating the number of RF chains that can be re-configured to perform digital beamforming;

[0193] ■ tradcapab e.g. indicating the tradeoff that can be performed by each of the tradable RF chains. Each bit may be associated with a possible trade-off, and its value may state if that trade off is available or not.

[0194] For example, IEs may be added to the RRC reconfiguration message (e.g. comprising a beamforming configuration) and the DCI message (a configuration update) to notify the UE of the MCS, rank (layer) and the number of digital beamforming chains to be operating on after network obtained UE capability to support this operation. Example RRC parameter: Adding the optional parameter bwp-Tradchain to the BWP-Downlink block / Uplink block in the RRC reconfiguration message from gNB to UE when UE attaches the cell / gNB which may include: generic BWP Parameters, tradcapuse, numtradechains;

[0195] Example DCI parameters sent from gNB to UE to maybe start operating analog+digital beamforming at the UE: the following example IES:

[0196] ■ Layers for Digital BF chains (layerDBF) : number of layers to be used by the digital beamforming RF chains ;

[0197] - MCS to be used when using the narrowband digital beamforming (MCSdbf) : MCS used over the RBs on which digital beamforming is performed.;

[0198] BWP Tradchain Reconfiguration: If a reconfiguration is required, then the Bandwidth part over which the existing digital beamforming chains in use should be reconfigured to.;

[0199] - TradChain update: : If a reconfiguration is required, , Updating the number of digital beamforming chains to be used. ;

[0200] The following example is also disclosed:

[0201] UE sends UE beamforming capability indicator to the network to indicate the support of this proposed solution to a network node / gNB; UE receives and transmits analog+digital beamforming signals on the resources allocated / assigned by the gNB;

[0202] UE beamforming capability indications comprise: o numfixanalogchains indicates the number of RF chains that can only perform analog beamforming (the rectangle marked "analog"in Fig. 1); o numtradablechains indicates the number of RF chains that can be re-configured to perform digital beamforming (the rectangle marked "digital"in Fig. 1); o tradcapab indicates the tradeoff that can be performed by each of the tradable RF chains.

[0203] Each bit is associated with a possible trade-off, and its value states if that trade off is available or not. network node allocates resources and transmits / receives signals to / from the UE considering the analog+digital beamforming capabilities of the UE, such that resources are allocated in a narrowband digital beamforming chain; network node / gNB applies and starts the analog+digital beamforming, when the network node received a UE capability indicator from the UE to support the proposed solution;

[0204] The following example is also disclosed: gNB allocates resources and configures UE for the analog+digital beamforming when UE accesses cell / gNB and gNB starts transmission / reception according to analog+digital beamforming configuration later on. Fig. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an example embodiment of an apparatus according to the first aspect and / or an example embodiment of network note according to the second and / or third example aspect.

[0205] Apparatus or network entity 900 comprises a processor 901, program memory 902, working or main memory 903, data memory, communication interface(s) 904, and an optional user interface 905.

[0206] Apparatus 900 may for instance be configured to perform and / or control or comprise respective means (at least one of 901 to 905) for performing and / or controlling the method according to the fourth, fifth and / or sixth example aspect. Apparatus or network entity 900 may as well constitute an apparatus or network entity comprising at least one processor (901) and at least one memory (902) storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause an apparatus or network entity, e.g. apparatus or network entity 900 at least to perform and / or control the method according to all example aspects.

[0207] Processor 901 may for instance further control the memories 902 to 903, the communication interface(s) 904, the optional user interface 905.

[0208] Processor 901 may for instance execute program code stored in program memory 902, which may for instance represent a readable storage medium comprising program code that, when executed by processor 901, causes the processor 901 to perform the method according to the fourth, fifth or sixth example aspect.

[0209] Processor 901 (and also any other processor mentioned in this specification) may be a processor of any suitable type. Processor 901 may comprise but is not limited to one or more microprocessor(s), one or more processor(s) with accompanying one or more digital signal processor(s), one or more processor(s) without accompanying digital signal processor(s), one or more special-purpose computer chips, one or more field-programmable gate array(s) (FPGA(s)), one or more controller(s), one or more applicationspecific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), or one or more computer(s) / server(s). The relevant structure / hard ware has been programmed in such a way to carry out the described function. Processor 1001 may for instance be an application processor that runs an operating system.

[0210] Program memory 902 may also be included into processor 901. This memory may for instance be fixedly connected to processor 901, or be at least partially removable from processor 901, for instance in the form of a memory card or stick. Program memory 902 may for instance be non-volatile memory. It may for instance be a FLASH memory (or a part thereof), any of a ROM, PROM, EPROM and EEPROM memory (or a part thereof) or a hard disc (or a part thereof), to name but a few examples. Program memory 902 may also comprise an operating system for processor 901. Program memory 902 may also comprise a firmware for apparatus or network entity 900. Communication interface(s) 904 enable apparatus or network entity 900 to communicate with other entities, e.g. another apparatus or network entity. The communication interface(s) 904 may for instance comprise a wireless interface, e.g. a cellular radio communication interface and / or a WLAN interface) and / or wire-bound interface, e.g. an IP-based interface, for instance to communicate with entities via the Internet. Communication interface(s) may enable apparatus or network entity 900 to communicate with other entities, for instance one or more entities as comprised in a mobile communication network.

[0211] User interface 905 is optional and may comprise a display for displaying information to a user and / or an input device (e.g. a keyboard, keypad, touchpad, mouse, etc.) for receiving information from a user.

[0212] Some or all of the components of the apparatus or network entity 900 may for instance be connected via a bus. Some or all of the components of the apparatus or network entity 900 may for instance be combined into one or more modules.

[0213] An apparatus 900 may further comprise at least one of the following: a receiver, e.g. for receiving communication, from a network entity, using analog or hybrid beamforming in a bandwidth; a receiver e.g. for receiving, from the network entity, a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth; an applicator e.g. for applying the beamforming configuration for receiving communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; a transmitter e.g. for transmitting, to the network entity, a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the apparatus with respect to digital beamforming; a determiner, e.g. for determining for determining at least one available tradeoff between a rank and a size of the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth.

[0214] A network entity 900 may further comprise at least one of the following: a transmitter e.g. for transmitting communication, to an apparatus, in a bandwidth; a receiver e.g. for receiving a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the apparatus; a determiner e.g. for determining, based on the capability indicator a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; or a transmitter e.g. for transmitting, to the apparatus, the beamforming configuration.

[0215] A core network entity 900 may further comprise at least one of the following: a receiver, e.g. for receiving, from a network entity, a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of an apparatus; a storage, e.g. for storing the capability indicator; or a transmitter or provider, e.g. for providing, to the network entity or another network entity, the capability indicator, in response to receiving a respective request from the respective network entity. Fig. 10 is a schematic illustration of examples of tangible and non-transitory computer-readable storage media according to the present disclosure that may for instance be used to implement memory 902 or memory 903 of Fig. 9. To this end, Fig. 10 displays a flash memory 1000, which may for instance be soldered or bonded to a printed circuit board, a solid-state drive 1001 comprising a plurality of memory chips (e.g. Flash memory chips), a magnetic hard drive 1002, a Secure Digital (SD) card 1003, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory stick 1004, an optical storage medium 1005 (such as for instance a CD-ROM or DVD) and a magnetic storage medium 1006.

[0216] In the present specification, any presented connection in the described embodiments is to be understood in a way that the involved components are operationally coupled. Thus, the connections can be direct or indirect with any number or combination of intervening elements, and there may be merely a functional relationship between the components.

[0217] Moreover, any of the methods, processes and actions described or illustrated herein may be implemented using executable instructions in a general-purpose or special-purpose processor and stored on a computer-readable storage medium (e.g., disk, memory, or the like) to be executed by such a processor. References to a 'computer-readable storage medium’ should be understood to encompass specialized circuits such as FPGAs, ASICs, signal processing devices, and other devices.

[0218] The expression "A and / or B" is considered to comprise any one of the following three scenarios: (i) A, (ii) B, (iii) A and B. Furthermore, the article "a" is not to be understood as "one", i.e. use of the expression "an element" does not preclude that also further elements are present. The term "comprising" is to be understood in an open sense, i.e. in a way that an object that "comprises an element A" may also comprise further elements in addition to element A. Further, the term "comprising" may be limited to "consisting of", i.e. consisting of only the specified elements.

[0219] The expression "at least one of the following: " and "at least one of " and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by "and" or "or", mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0220] It will be understood that all presented embodiments are only examples, and that any feature presented for a particular example embodiment may be used with any aspect on its own or in combination with any feature presented for the same or another particular example embodiment and / or in combination with any other feature not mentioned. In particular, the example embodiments presented in this specification shall also be understood to be disclosed in all possible combinations with each other, as far as it is technically reasonable and the example embodiments are not alternatives with respect to each other. It will further be understood that any feature presented for an example embodiment in a particular category (method / apparatus / computer program / system) may also be used in a corresponding manner in an example embodiment of any other category. It should also be understood that presence of a feature in the presented example embodiments shall not necessarily mean that this feature forms an essential feature and cannot be omitted or substituted.

[0221] The statement of a feature comprises at least one of the subsequently enumerated features is not mandatory in the way that the feature comprises all subsequently enumerated features, or at least one feature of the plurality of the subsequently enumerated features. Also, a selection of the enumerated features in any combination or a selection of only one of the enumerated features is possible. The specific combination of all subsequently enumerated features may as well be considered. Also, a plurality of only one of the enumerated features may be possible.

[0222] The sequence of all method steps presented above is not mandatory, also alternative sequences may be possible. Nevertheless, the specific sequence of method steps exemplarily shown in the drawings shall be considered as one possible sequence of method steps for the respective embodiment described by the respective drawing.

[0223] The subject-matter has been described above by means of example embodiments. It should be noted that there are alternative ways and variations which are obvious to a skilled person in the art and can be implemented without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.

[0224] List of abbreviations:

[0225] 3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project

[0226] 5G 5-th Generation

[0227] ADC Analog to Digital Converter

[0228] BS Base Station

[0229] DCI Downlink Control Information

[0230] DL Downlink gNB next generation NodeB

[0231] IE Information Element

[0232] LO Local Oscillators

[0233] MAC Medium Access Control

[0234] MCS Modulation and Coding scheme

[0235] MIMO Multiple Input Multiple Output

[0236] NR New Radio

[0237] PDSCH Physical Downlink shared data channel

[0238] PUSCH Physical Uplink shared data channel

[0239] RAN Radio Access Network

[0240] RB Resource Block

[0241] RF Radio Frequency RLC Radio Link Control

[0242] RRC Radio Resource Control

[0243] SCG Secondary Cell Group

[0244] SDAP Service Data Adaptation Protocol

[0245] UE User Equipment

[0246] UL Uplink

Claims

C l a i m s1. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving communication, from a network entity, using analog or hybrid beamforming in a bandwidth; means for receiving, from the network entity, a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth; means for applying the beamforming configuration for receiving communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus further comprising: means for transmitting, to the network entity, a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the apparatus with respect to digital beamforming.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, wherein a tradeable beamforming circuit is a radio frequency circuit capable of operating either using analog beamforming on the bandwidth or using digital beamforming on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; means for determining a number of the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises: information on the number of the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising: at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, wherein a tradeable beamforming circuit is a radio frequency circuit capable of operating either using analog beamforming on the bandwidth or using digital beamforming on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; means for determining at least one available tradeoff between a rank and a size of the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth for at least one of the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises: a tradeoff indication indicating the at least one available tradeoff for the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising: at least one analog beamforming chain; means for determining a number of the at least one analog beamforming chain; wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises: information on the number of the at least one analog beamforming chain.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising: means for receiving, from the network entity, a request for the capability indicator, wherein the transmitting the capability indicator is carried out based on receiving the request.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising: at least one tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the beamforming configuration further comprises: an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration comprises configuring the apparatus to receive communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth using the number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: at least one tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the beamforming configuration further comprises: an indicator of the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth on which at least one tradeable beamforming circuit is supposed to operate; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration comprises configuring the apparatus to operate the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth.

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: at least one tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the beamforming configuration further comprises: an indication indicating a tradeoff to be used for a tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration comprises configuring the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit according to the tradeoff to be used for the tradeable beamforming circuit.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising: means for, during applying the beamforming configuration, receiving, from the network entity, a configuration update; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration is modified according to the configuration update.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the configuration update comprises at least one of: information on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, in particular at least one frequency range within the bandwidth; an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus.

12. A network entity comprising: means for transmitting communication, to an apparatus, in a bandwidth; means for receiving a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the apparatus; means for determining, based on the capability indicator a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth; means for transmitting, to the apparatus, the beamforming configuration; means for transmitting, to the apparatus, communication exploiting the beamforming configuration.

13. The network entity according to claim 12, wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises at least one of: information on a number of at least one analog beamforming chain; information on a number of at least one tradeable beamforming circuit; a tradeoff indication indicating at least one available tradeoff for the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit.

14. The network entity according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the beamforming configuration further comprises at least one of: an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; wherein the number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used is in particular smaller or equal to a number of at least one tradeable beamforming circuit wherein a tradeable beamforming circuit is a radio frequency circuit capable of operating either using analog beamforming on the bandwidth or using digital beamforming on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; an indicator of the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth on which at least one tradeable beamforming circuit is supposed to operate; an indication indicating a tradeoff to be used for a tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein in particular the tradeoff to be used is selected from at least one available tradeoff for the tradeable beamforming circuit.

15. The network entity according to any one of claims 12 to 14, further comprising: means for, during transmitting communication exploiting the beamforming configuration, determining, based on the capability indicator, a configuration update; means for transmitting, to the apparatus, the configuration update.

16. The network entity according to claim 15, wherein the configuration update comprises at least one of: information on the sub-section of the bandwidth, in particular at least one frequency range within the bandwidth an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus.

17. The network entity according to any one of claims 12 to 16, further comprising: means for transmitting, to a core network entity, the capability indicator; means for receiving, from the core network entity, in response to transmitting the capability indicator, support information on at least one of a network load, an apparatus resource requirement or on at least one quality requirement for the apparatus; wherein the determining the beamforming configuration or, if applicable, the configuration update, is further based on the support information.

18. The network entity according to any one of claims 12 to 17, further comprising: means for transmitting communication, to a second apparatus, in the bandwidth; means for receiving a second capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the second apparatus; means for determining, based on the second capability indicator, a second beamforming configuration comprising information on a second sub-section of the bandwidth, wherein the second sub-section of the bandwidth is essentially distinct from the sub-section of the bandwidth; means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, the second beamforming configuration; means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, communication exploiting the second beamforming configuration.

19. A core network entity comprising: means for receiving, from a network entity, a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of an apparatus; means for storing the capability indicator; means for providing, to the network entity or another network entity, the capability indicator, in response to receiving a respective request from the respective network entity.

20. The core network entity according to claim 19 further comprising: means for obtaining, in response to receiving the capability indicator, support information on at least one of a network load, an apparatus resource requirement or on at least one quality requirement for the apparatus; means for transmitting, to the network entity, the support information.

21. The core network entity according to claim 20 further comprising: means for, upon receiving the capability indicator, providing data bearers with a quality indicator indicating a capability of the apparatus for using digital beamforming in a sub-section of a bandwidth.

22. A method, carried out by an apparatus, comprising: receiving communication, from a network entity, using analog or hybrid beamforming in a bandwidth; receiving, from the network entity, a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth; applying the beamforming configuration for receiving communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth.

23. The method according to claim 22, the method further comprising transmitting, to the network entity, a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the apparatus with respect to digital beamforming.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising: determining a number of the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, the apparatus comprising at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, wherein a tradeable beamforming circuit is a radio frequency circuit capable of operating either using analog beamforming on the bandwidth or using digital beamforming on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; and wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises: information on the number of the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit.

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24, further comprising: determining at least one available tradeoff between a rank and a size of the at least one subsection of the bandwidth for at least one of the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, the apparatus comprising at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, wherein a tradeable beamforming circuit is a radio frequency circuit capable of operating either using analog beamforming on the bandwidth or using digital beamforming on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises: a tradeoff indication indicating the at least one available tradeoff for the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit.

26. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 25, further comprising: determining a number of the at least one analog beamforming chain, the apparatus comprising at least one analog beamforming chain; wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises: information on the number of the at least one analog beamforming chain.

27. The method according to any one of claims 23 to 26, further comprising: receiving, from the network entity, a request for the capability indicator, wherein the transmitting the capability indicator is carried out based on receiving the request.

28. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 27, wherein the beamforming configuration further comprises: an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration comprises configuring the apparatus to receive communication, from the network entity, using digital beamforming in the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth using the number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used.

29. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 28, wherein the beamforming configuration further comprises: an indicator of the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth on which at least one tradeable beamforming circuit is supposed to operate; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration comprises configuring the apparatus to operate the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth.

30. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 29, wherein the beamforming configuration further comprises: an indication indicating a tradeoff to be used for a tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration comprises configuring the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit according to the tradeoff to be used for the tradeable beamforming circuit.

31. The method according to any one of claims 22 to 30, further comprising: during applying the beamforming configuration, receiving, from the network entity, a configuration update; wherein the applying the beamforming configuration is modified according to the configuration update.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the configuration update comprises at least one of: information on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, in particular at least one frequency range within the bandwidth;an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus.

33. A method, carried out by a network entity, comprising: transmitting communication, to an apparatus, in a bandwidth; receiving a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the apparatus; determining, based on the capability indicator a beamforming configuration comprising configuration information specific for at least one sub-section of the bandwidth, a sub-section of the bandwidth being less than the bandwidth; transmitting, to the apparatus, the beamforming configuration; transmitting, to the apparatus, communication exploiting the beamforming configuration.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the frequency dependent radio capability comprises at least one of: information on a number of at least one analog beamforming chain : information on a number of at least one tradeable beamforming circuit: a tradeoff indication indicating at least one available tradeoff for the at least one tradeable beamforming circuit.

35. The method according to claim 33 or 34, wherein the beamforming configuration further comprises at least one of: an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; wherein the number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used is in particular smaller or equal to a number of at least one tradeable beamforming circuit, wherein a tradeable beamforming circuit is a radio frequency circuit capable of operating either using analog beamforming on the bandwidth or using digital beamforming on the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth; an indicator of the at least one sub-section of the bandwidth on which at least one tradeable beamforming circuit is supposed to operate an indication indicating a tradeoff to be used for a tradeable beamforming circuit; wherein in particular the tradeoff to be used is selected from at least one available tradeoff for the tradeable beamforming circuit.

36. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 35, further comprising: during transmitting communication exploiting the beamforming configuration, determining, based on the capability indicator, a configuration update; transmitting, to the apparatus, the configuration update.

37. The method according to claim 36, wherein the configuration update comprises at least one of: information on the sub-section of the bandwidth, in particular at least one frequency range within the bandwidth an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus; an indication of a number of tradeable beamforming circuits to be used for the digital beamforming by the apparatus.

38. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 37, further comprising: transmitting, to a core network entity, the capability indicator; receiving, from the core network entity, in response to transmitting the capability indicator, support information on at least one of a network load, an apparatus resource requirement or on at least one quality requirement for the apparatus; wherein the determining the beamforming configuration or, if applicable, the configuration update, is further based on the support information.

39. The method according to any one of claims 33 to 38, further comprising: transmitting communication, to a second apparatus, in the bandwidth; receiving a second capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of the second apparatus; determining, based on the second capability indicator, a second beamforming configuration comprising information on a second sub-section of the bandwidth, wherein the second subsection of the bandwidth is essentially distinct from the sub-section of the bandwidth; transmitting, to the second apparatus, the second beamforming configuration; transmitting, to the second apparatus, communication exploiting the second beamforming configuration.

40. A method, carried out by a core network entity comprising: receiving, from a network entity, a capability indicator indicating a frequency dependent radio capability of an apparatus; storing the capability indicator; providing, to the network entity or another network entity, the capability indicator, in response to receiving a respective request from the respective network entity.

41. The method according to claim 40 further comprising: obtaining, in response to receiving the capability indicator, support information on at least one of a network load, an apparatus resource requirement or on at least one quality requirement for the apparatus; transmitting, to the network entity, the support information.

42. The method according to claim 41 further comprising: upon receiving the capability indicator, providing data bearers with a quality indicator indicating a capability of the apparatus for using digital beamforming in a sub-section of a bandwidth.

43. A system comprising an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, a network entity according to any one of claims 12 to 18 and a core network entity according to any one of claims 18 to 21 together performing the method according to any of the claims 22 to 42.

44. A computer program product, the computer program product when executed by a processor of an apparatus causing said apparatus to perform a method according to any of claims 22 to 42.

45. A computer program, the computer program when executed by a processor causing an apparatus to perform or control the actions of the method according any of claims 22 to 42.

46. A tangible and non-transitory storage medium comprising the computer program product according to claim 45.

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