Counting of reference signal resource

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatuses, methods, and computer readable storage medium for counting of reference signal resources. In a method, a first apparatus receives a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI- RS) resource. Using the CSI-RS resource, the first apparatus performs measurements for a CSI-RS. Based on the measurements, the first apparatus transmits the first CSI report using the CSI-RS resource. The CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the transmission of the first CSI report.

Description

COUNTING OF REFERENCE SIGNAL RESOURCECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, India Provisional Application No. 202341065557, filed Sept. 29, 2023, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.FIELDS

[0002] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to apparatuses, methods, and computer readable storage medium for counting of reference signal resources.BACKGROUND

[0003] The channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resources for channel state information (CSI) reporting may be configured in three different ways including periodic CSI-RS, semi-persistent CSI-RS, and aperiodic CSI-RS. Specific user equipment (UE) capabilities may provide a network device (such as gNB) indication of support of the UE for simultaneous active Non-Zero Power CSI-RS (NZP-CSI-RS) resources per component carrier (CC), as well as an aggregate limit over all component carriers when carrier aggregation (CA) is applied. The UE may report low values per CC, and with the CA the aggregate limit across all CCs may further limit what the UE can be configured with a given CC. When counting active NZP-CSI-RS resources, a same NZP-CSI-RS resource used in multiple CSI reporting configurations may be counted as multiple active CSI-RS resources, so that a smaller number of different NZP-CSI-RS resources can be supported by the UE. Therefore, there is a need for a more optimal resource counting to improve network performance without needing to increase the requirement for UEs to support simultaneously active NZP-CSI-RS resources.SUMMARY

[0004] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, thefirst configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; perform, using the CSI-RS resource, measurements for a CSI-RS; and transmit, based on the measurements, a first CSI report of the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI- RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the transmission of the first CSI report.

[0005] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; transmit a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource; and receive a first CSI report of the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the reception of the first CSI report.

[0006] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI- RS) resource; performing, using the CSI-RS resource, measurements for a CSI-RS; and transmitting, based on the measurements, a first CSI report of the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the transmission of the first CSI report.

[0007] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: transmitting, to a first apparatus, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; transmitting a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource; and receiving a first CSI report of the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the reception of the first CSI report.

[0008] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises means for receiving a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state informationreference signal (CSI-RS) resource; means for performing, using the CSI-RS resource, measurements for a CSI-RS; and means for transmitting, based on the measurements, a first CSI report of the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the transmission of the first CSI report.

[0009] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; means for transmitting a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource; and means for receiving a first CSI report of the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the reception of the first CSI report.

[0010] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the third aspect.

[0011] In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0012] In a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; and receive a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of a reference time duration after the reception of the CSI-RS.

[0013] In a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state informationreference signal (CSI-RS) resource; and transmit a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of a reference time duration after the reception of the CSI-RS.

[0014] In an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI- RS) resource; and receiving a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of a reference time duration after the reception of the CSI-RS.

[0015] In a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: transmitting, to a first apparatus, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; and transmitting a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of a reference time duration after the reception of the CSI-RS.

[0016] In a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises means for receiving a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; and means for receiving a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of a reference time duration after the reception of the CSI-RS.

[0017] In a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; and means for transmitting a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of a reference time duration after the reception of the CSI-RS.

[0018] In a fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the eleventh aspect.

[0019] In a sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the twelfth aspect.

[0020] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates example CSI-RS resources configured to a UE during the RRC configuration;

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates example CSI-RS resources configured to a UE during the RRC configuration;

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a signaling diagram for an example communication process in the communication environment according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates an example diagram of CSI-RS slots with an indication of a periodic CSI-RS and a periodic CSI-RS report;

[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates a signaling flow for an example communication process in the communication environment according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates an example diagram of CSI-RS slots with an indication of a periodic CSI-RS and a periodic CSI-RS report;

[0029] FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at the first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of an example method implemented at the second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart of another example method implemented at the first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 11 illustrates a flowchart of another example method implemented at the second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 12 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0034] FIG. 13 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0035] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0037] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0038] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it issubmitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0039] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,”..., etc. in front of noun(s) and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another and they do not limit the order of the noun(s). For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0040] As used herein, “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.

[0041] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0042] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0043] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) withsoftware / firmware and(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(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.

[0044] 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.

[0045] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0046] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0047] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be usedinterchangeably.

[0048] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other combination of the time, frequency, space and / or code domain resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, unless explicitly stated, a resource in both frequency domain and time domain will be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0049] As mentioned above, the channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resources for channel state information (CSI) reporting may be configured in three different ways including periodic CSI-RS, semi-persistent CSI-RS, and aperiodic CSI-RS. For aperiodic CSI reporting the way the active NZP-CSI-RS resources are counted is from the end of the triggering DCI that initiates the aperiodic CSI reporting procedure to the end of CSI report transmission. However, for periodic and semi-persistent CSI reporting a NZP-CSI-RS resource is considered active all the time when the CSI reporting using the NZP-CSI-RS is active and it is going that the repeating process of periodic NZP-CSI-RS is measured and the CSI measurement results are periodically reported. In addition, when the same NZP-CSI-RS resource is used in multiple CSI reporting configurations then that one resource is counted as multiple active CSI-RS resources according to the rules of each CSI reporting configuration. Eliminating these active NZP-CSI-RS counting inefficiencies would allow for a larger number of CSI-RS configurations while not actually requiring the UE to process any more CSI-RSs simultaneously.

[0050] For CSI, a parameter maxNumberSimultaneousNZP-CSI-RS-PerCC indicates the maximum number of simultaneous CSI-RS-resources per CC the UE has been designed to support. In capability signaling, a parameter maxNumberSimultaneousNZP- CSI-RS-ActBWP-AllCC indicates the maximum number of simultaneous CSI-RS resources (for example, irrespective of the associated codebook type) in active bandwidth parts (BWPs) across all CCs, and across the master cell group (MCG) and the secondary cell group (SCG) in case of new radio dual connectivity (NR-DC).

[0051] FIG. 1 illustrates example CSI-RS resources configured to a UE during the RRC configuration. As shown in FIG. 1, a UE 102 is configured with N periodic CSI-RS resources during RRC configuration, the N CSI-RS resources repeating after every certain periodicity, say in time instances 104, 106, 108, 110 and so on. N CSI reports 114, 116, 118, 110 and so on may be used for the N CSI-RS resources.

[0052] In this example, if an aperiodic CSI-RS is needed to be sent to the UE 102, for example, with an intention of obtaining quick channel state information (the corresponding aperiodic CSI report not shown in the figure), then the UE 102 may need to measure another N CSI-RS for an aperiodic CSI-RS 112. Therefore, the total number of CSI-RS resources is 2N. However, the maximum number of CSI-RS resources that can be supported by the UE 102 is only N. Even though the occasion for receiving the CSI- RS based on the periodic configuration may not be timing-wise anywhere near the transmission of the aperiodic CSI-RS 112, the N CSI-RS resources that could be transmitted to the UE 102 for measuring are already blocked for the periodic CSI-RS. Because the UE 102 may not support 2N NZP CSI-RS resources simultaneously, it cannot support sending an instant aperiodic CSI report when needed.

[0053] An issue is that there is not enough room for more reference signal resources within the indicated budget of active NZP CSI-RS resources indicated by the UE’s capability. To this end, a better way to count for the reference signal resources is needed. Some embodiments of the present disclosure propose a solution for counting the reference signal resources.

[0054] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure propose a scheme for counting reference signal resources. With this scheme, a first configuration for a CSI report is received by a first apparatus from a second apparatus. The first configuration may indicate a CSI-RS resource based on which the first apparatus may perform measurements for a CSI-RS. The CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the transmission of the first CSI report. Then, the CSI report may be transmitted by the first apparatus based on the measurements.

[0055] In this case, the first configuration indicating the CSI-RS resource may be used by the first apparatus. Because the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of thetransmission of the first CSI report limiting the time during which a CSI-RS resource is counted as active and thus there are more room for CSI-RS resources to use, thereby improving the number of CSI-RS resources that can be simultaneously in use.

[0056] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure further propose another scheme for counting reference signal resources. With this scheme, a first configuration for a CSI report is received by a first apparatus from a second apparatus. The first configuration may indicate a CSI-RS resource. The first apparatus may receive a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource which is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of a reference time duration after the reception of the CSI-RS.

[0057] In this case, the first configuration indicating the CSI-RS resource may be used by the first apparatus. Because the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of a reference time duration after the reception of the CSI-RS, there are more room for CSI- RS resources to use, thereby improving the number of CSI-RS resources that can be simultaneously in use.

[0058] FIG. 2 illustrates an example communication environment 200 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented.

[0001] As shown in FIG. 2, the communication environment 200 comprises a first apparatus 210 which may operate as a terminal device such as a UE. The first apparatus 210 may communicate with a second apparatus 220 which may operate as a network device such as a gNB.

[0059] It is to be understood that the number and types of devices are shown in FIG. 2 for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitation. For example, only for illustration, the first apparatus 210 is shown to be physically separate from the second apparatus 220. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 210 may be collocated with the second apparatus 220 or physically integrated into or implemented as a part of the second apparatus 220.

[0060] In some example embodiments, a link from the second apparatus 220 to the first apparatus 210 may be referred to as a downlink, and a link from the first apparatus 210 to the second apparatus 220 may be referred to as an uplink. In DL, the second apparatus220 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter) and the first apparatus 210 is a receiving (RX) device (or a receiver). In UL, the first apparatus 210 is a TX device (or a transmitter) and the second apparatus 220 is an RX device (or a receiver).

[0061] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the first apparatus 210 operating as a terminal device, the second apparatus 220 operating as a network device. However, in some example embodiments, operations described with respect to a terminal device may be implemented at a network device or other devices, and operations described with respect to a network device may be implemented at a terminal device or other devices.

[0062] Communications in the communication environment 200 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G), and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple -Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0063] In the communication environment 200, the first apparatus 210 may receive a first configuration indicating a CSI-RS resource for a CSI report and may perform measurements for a CSI-RS using the CSI-RS resource. The CSI-RS resource may be counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the transmission of the first CSI report.

[0064] FIG. 3 illustrates example CSI-RS resources configured to a UE during the RRC configuration. As shown in FIG. 3, a UE 302 is configured with N periodic CSI-RS resources during RRC configuration, the N CSI-RS resources repeating after every certain periodicity, say at time instances 304, 306, 308, 310 and so on.

[0065] Based on the proposed scheme of the present disclosure, the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the transmission of the first CSI report. In this way, the UE 302 may not count the periodic CSI-RS as active at the time of the RRC configuration. Therefore, there is room to send an instant one-time aperiodic CSI-RS for the aperiodic CSI reporting, at the beginning before the slot where periodic CSI-RS resources are sent.

[0066] In an example, the CSI-RS resource is active from the time instant 304 to the CSI report 312, from the time instant 306 to the CSI report 314, from the time instant 308 to the CSI report 316, and from the time instant 310 to the CSI report 318. In another example, when the CSI reporting rate would be one fourth the CSI-RS transmission rate, the CSI-report 312, 314 and 316 would not be there, and only CSI report 318 would be there. In that case, a reference time that would apply to the CSI-RS resource at time instances 304, 306, 308 and 310 would be from the respective time instances to the CSI- report 318 The time duration in which the CSI-RS resource is active may depend on a comparison of a CSI reporting rate and a CSI-RS transmission rate.

[0067] Some example embodiments will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.Example Embodiment 1

[0068] FIG. 4 illustrates a signaling diagram for an example communication process 400 in the communication environment 200 according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. In the communication process 400, the proposed scheme for counting active CSI-RS resource for periodic / semi-persistent CSI reporting may mimic the way the active CSI resources are counted for aperiodic CSI reporting and should not add any burden to the UE.

[0069] As shown in FIG. 4, the second apparatus 220 may transmit (410), to the first apparatus 210, a first configuration for a first CSI report. The first configuration indicates a CSI-RS resource. Correspondingly, the first apparatus 210 may receive the first configuration.

[0070] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 220 transmits a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource. In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource may comprise at least one CSI-RS time period. In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource maybe counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration from a start time of a starting CSI-RS time period of the at least one CSI-RS time period to an end time of a target CSI- RS time period. The first CSI report is transmitted in the target CSI-RS time period. In some example embodiments, the time period comprises a slot.

[0071] In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource may comprise at least one of: a periodic CSI-RS resource, a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, or an aperiodic CSI- RS resource.

[0072] Then, the first apparatus 210 may perform (420), using the CSI-RS resource, measurements for a CSI-RS. The CSI-RS resource may be counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the reception of the first CSI report. FIG. 5 illustrates an example diagram of CSI-RS slots with an indication of a periodic CSI-RS and a periodic CSI-RS report. As shown in FIG. 5, a periodic CSI-RS resource (for example, a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource) indicated as P-C 502 may be counted as an active resource starting from the start of the CSI-RS slot 510 and ending at the end of the CSI report 520. For example, the CSI-RS resource may be counted as active from the start of the slot in which the periodic CSI-RS resource is received by the UE until the slot in which the corresponding CSI report is sent, just as it is done for aperiodic CSI-RS resources. In an example, once UE sends the corresponding CSI report, the UE should consider that CSI-RS resource as inactive.

[0073] In another example, semi-persistent CSI reporting for a UE may be activated through a MAC-CE. However, the UE may count a CSI-RS resource as active only from the start of the slot in which the semi-persistent CSI-RS resource is received by the UE until the slot in which corresponding CSI report is sent, just as it is done for aperiodic CSI-RS resources.

[0074] The first apparatus 210 may transmit (425), based on the measurements, the first CSI report of the CSI-RS resource. The first CSI report may comprise the measurement on the CSI-RS resource. Correspondingly, the second apparatus 220 may receive (430) the first CSI report in the CSI-RS resource.Example Embodiment 2

[0075] Some embodiments of the present disclosure further provide a solution for counting the CSI-RS resource through counting CSI-RS processing time for each CSI-RS.

[0076] FIG. 6 illustrates a signaling flow 600 for an example communication process in the communication environment 200 according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purposes of discussion, the signaling flow 600 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 2. This communication process may be specific to the actual CSI-RS transmission and reduces the time a CSI-RS resource is counted as active even further.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 6, the second apparatus 220 may transmit (610), to the first apparatus 210, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report. The first configuration may indicate a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource. Correspondingly, the first apparatus 210 may receive (615) the first configuration.

[0078] Then, the second apparatus 220 may transmit(620) a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource. Correspondingly, the first apparatus 210 may receive (625) the CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource.

[0079] The CSI-RS resource may be counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of a reference time duration after the reception of the CSI-RS. In some example embodiments, the reference time duration may comprise a duration of a CSI computation time and / or a predetermined number of time periods. In some example embodiments, the time period may comprise a slot. For example, the predetermined number of time periods may be a fixed number of slots.

[0080] FIG. 7 illustrates an example diagram of CSI-RS slots with an indication of a periodic CSI-RS resource and a periodic CSI report. As shown in FIG. 7, the periodic CSI-RS resource is counted as an active resource from the start of the CSI-RS slot 710 until the end of CSI computation time 740. For example, the UE should be provided with the periodic CSI-RS configuration as a part of the RRC, and the UE should count the CSI- RS resource as the active resource only from the start of the slot in which the periodic CSI-RS resource is received by the UE and consider the resource as the active resource for the duration of a CSI computation delay 730, which may be rounded up to full slots.

[0081] In an example, semi-persistent CSI reporting for a UE may be activated through MAC-CE. However, the UE may count a CSI-RS resource as an active resource only from the start of the slot in which the semi-persistent CSI-RS resource is received by the UEand consider the resource as active for the duration of CSI computation delay, which may be rounded up to full slots.

[0082] The proposed scheme may be generalized to apply to multiple types of the CSI- RS rather than periodic CSI (P-CSI) or semi-persistent CSI (SP-CSI). In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource may comprise at least one of: a periodic CSI-RS resource, a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, or an aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

[0083] For UEs that treat CSI-RS resources as activated / inactivated, a gNB may make efficient use of MIMO. For example, the gNB may send an aperiodic CSI-RS when the periodic CSI-RS on the same CC is not active as proposed, even if the total resources of aperiodic CSI-RS and periodic CSI-RS would exceed the UE’s per-CC maximum limit number, because the aperiodic CSI-RS and periodic CSI-RS would not be active at the same time.

[0084] In an example, gNB can send a (periodic or aperiodic) CSI-RS on one CC when the periodic CSI-RS on another CC is not active, even if the total resources of the CSI-RS on one CC and CSI-RS on the other CC would exceed the UE’s simultaneous all-CC maximum limit number, because the CSI-RS of the two CCs would not be active at the same time.

[0085] In an example, gNB can simultaneously configure multiple reporting settings for the same CSI-RS resources, without exceeding the UEs capability of maximum supported simultaneous CSI-RS resources per-CC and / or all-CC.

[0086] To help the gNB to distinguish UEs that support the proposed scheme of treating CSI-RS from UEs that don’t, the UE sends a suitably defined capability indication to the gNB. The gNB may then selectively invoke the above handling of CSI-RS only for those UEs that report the capability.Example Embodiment 3

[0087] In some example embodiments, the UEs may have the capability limit on the maximum number of CSI-RS resources that are active at any given time per-CC as well as across all CCs.

[0088] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 220 may transmit, to the first apparatus 210, a second configuration for a second CSI report. The second configuration indicates the CSI-RS resource which may be the same as the CSI-RSresource indicated by the first configuration as described above. The number of active CSI-RS resources may be determined by counting the CSI-RS resource once. Correspondingly, the first apparatus 210 may receive the second configuration.

[0089] In some example embodiments, the number of active CSI-RS ports is determined by counting CSI-RS ports within the CSI-RS resource once.

[0090] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 210 may transmit, to the second apparatus 220, an indication that the first apparatus 210 supports that the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration. Correspondingly, the second apparatus 220 may receive, from the first apparatus 210, the indication.

[0091] In an example, when a UE is configured with N (N may be an integer) CSI-RS reporting configurations at the same time such that they are using the same CSI-RS resources, then the implementation of the UE may be such that the active CSI-RS resources and the CSI-RS ports within the resource are counted only once, not N times.

[0092] On the UE side, there may be a limit on maximum number of simultaneous CSI- RS resources that can be simultaneously in use, and this number is relatively low. With the way these resources are counted for periodic CSI-RS resources, the maximum limit gets quickly reached, and there is no possibility to additionally configure any onetime aperiodic CSI-RS for the UE. This major restriction in the periodic CSI-RS is removed, hence allowing flexible network implementation.

[0093] With CA in use, when there are more CCs aggregated, there is need for more and more resources, and flexibility in configuring them. The embodiments of the present disclosure may help in scaling CA to accommodate more CCs even for UEs with low capability, thereby increasing the UE throughout. UEs will not need to support large number of CSI-RS resources for achieving the desired features.

[0094] When multiple CSI reporting configurations are used for same CSI resources, the CSI resources are counted multiple times. If the maximum limit gets reached, it is not possible to configure multiple CSI reporting configurations at same time. The embodiments of the present disclosure helps in allowing such configuration by proposing not to count the resources multiple times, when the same CSI-RS resources are used in multiple CSI reporting configurations.

[0095] With the more dynamic counting of when a CSI-RS resource is active the sameCSI-RS processing unit can be used more efficiently when a CSI-RS processing unit is not statically assigned to track a CSI-RS that may only be transmitted, for example, every 40th or every 80th slot. With the dynamic counting the same CSI-RS processing unit can be time-shared with different CSI-RS when they are separated in time

[0096] If the UE applies the same counting, placing the new counting behavior behind a new UE capability may be suggested so that the network knows. Taking TS 38.214 as an example, some example implementations of the present disclosure will be discussed below.Example Methods

[0097] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an example method 800 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 800 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 210 in FIG. 2.

[0098] At block 810, the first apparatus 210 receives a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource.

[0099] At block 820, the first apparatus 210 performs, using the CSI-RS resource, measurements for a CSI-RS.

[0100] At block 830, the first apparatus 210 transmits, based on the measurements, a first CSI report of the CSI-RS resource, the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI- RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the transmission of the first CSI report.

[0101] In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one CSI- RS time period, and the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration from a start time of a starting CSI-RS time period of the at least one CSI- RS time period to an end time of a target CSI-RS time period, where the first CSI report is transmitted in the target CSI-RS time period.

[0102] In some example embodiments, the time period comprises a slot.

[0103] In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one of: a periodic CSI-RS resource, a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, or an aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

[0104] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 210 receives a second configuration for a second CSI report, the second configuration indicating the CSI-RS resource, wherein the number of active CSI-RS resources is determined by counting the CSI-RS resource once.

[0105] In some example embodiments, the number of active CSI-RS ports is determined by counting CSI-RS ports within the CSI-RS resource once.

[0106] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 210 transmits, to a second apparatus, an indication that the first apparatus supports that the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration.

[0107] FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of an example method 900 implemented at a second device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 900 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 220 in FIG. 2.

[0108] At block 910, the second apparatus 220 transmits, to a first apparatus, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource.

[0109] At block 920, the second apparatus 220 transmits a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource.

[0110] At block 930, the second apparatus 220 receives a first CSI report of the CSI- RS resource, the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the reception of the first CSI report.

[0111] In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one CSI- RS time period, and the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration from a start time of a starting CSI-RS time period of the at least one CSI- RS time period to an end time of a target CSI-RS time period, where the first CSI report is received in the target CSI-RS time period.

[0112] In some example embodiments, the time period comprises a slot.

[0113] In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one of: a periodic CSI-RS resource, a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, or an aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

[0114] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 220 transmits, to the first apparatus, a second configuration for a second CSI report, the second configuration indicating the CSI-RS resource, wherein the number of active CSI-RS resources isdetermined by counting the CSI-RS resource once.

[0115] In some example embodiments, the number of active CSI-RS ports is determined by counting CSI-RS ports within the CSI-RS resource once.

[0116] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 220 receives, from the first apparatus, an indication that the first apparatus supports that the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration.

[0117] FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of an example method 1000 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1000 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 210 in FIG. 2.

[0118] At block 1010, the first apparatus 210 receives a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource.

[0119] At block 1020, the first apparatus 210 receives a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource, the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of a reference time duration after the reception of the CSI-RS.

[0120] In some example embodiments, the reference time duration comprises at least one of: a duration of a CSI computation time or a predetermined number of time periods.

[0121] In some example embodiments, the time period comprises a slot.

[0122] In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one of: a periodic CSI-RS resource, a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, or an aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

[0123] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 210 receives a second configuration for a second CSI report, the second configuration indicating the CSI-RS resource, wherein the number of active CSI-RS resources is determined by counting the CSI-RS resource once.

[0124] In some example embodiments, the number of active CSI-RS ports is determined by counting CSI-RS ports within the CSI-RS resource once.

[0125] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 210 transmits, to a secondapparatus, an indication that the first apparatus supports that the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration.

[0126] FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of an example method 1100 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1100 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 220 in FIG. 2.

[0127] At block 1110, the second apparatus 220 transmits, to a first apparatus, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource.

[0128] At block 1120, the second apparatus 220 transmits a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource, the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of a reference time duration after the reception of the CSI-RS.

[0129] In some example embodiments, the reference time duration comprises at least one of: a duration of a CSI computation time or a predetermined number of time periods.

[0130] In some example embodiments, the time period comprises a slot.

[0131] In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one of: a periodic CSI-RS resource, a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, or an aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

[0132] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 220 transmits, to the first apparatus, a second configuration for a second CSI report, the second configuration indicating the CSI-RS resource, wherein the number of active CSI-RS resources is determined by counting the CSI-RS resource once.

[0133] In some example embodiments, the number of active CSI-RS ports is determined by counting CSI-RS ports within the CSI-RS resource once.

[0134] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 220 receives, from the first apparatus, an indication that the first apparatus supports that the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration.Example Apparatus, Device and Medium

[0135] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any ofthe method 800 (for example, the first apparatus 210 in FIG. 2) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 800. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first apparatus 210 in FIG. 2.

[0136] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for receiving a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; means for performing, using the CSI-RS resource, measurements for a CSI-RS; and means for transmitting, based on the measurements, a first CSI report of the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the transmission of the first CSI report.

[0137] In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one CSI- RS time period, and the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration from a start time of a starting CSI-RS time period of the at least one CSI- RS time period to an end time of a target CSI-RS time period, wherein the first CSI report is transmitted in the target CSI-RS time period.

[0138] In some example embodiments, the time period comprises a slot.

[0139] In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one of: a periodic CSI-RS resource, a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, or an aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

[0140] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving a second configuration for a second CSI report, the second configuration indicating the CSI-RS resource, wherein the number of active CSI-RS resources is determined by counting the CSI-RS resource once.

[0141] In some example embodiments, the number of active CSI-RS ports is determined by counting CSI-RS ports within the CSI-RS resource once.

[0142] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to a second apparatus, an indication that the first apparatus supports that the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration.

[0143] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 800 or the first apparatus 210. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the first apparatus.

[0144] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 900 (for example, the second apparatus 220 in FIG. 2 may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 900. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the second apparatus 220 in FIG. 2.

[0145] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; means for transmitting a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource; and means for receiving a first CSI report of the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the reception of the first CSI report.

[0146] In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one CSI- RS time period, and the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration from a start time of a starting CSI-RS time period of the at least one CSI- RS time period to an end time of a target CSI-RS time period, wherein the first CSI report is received in the target CSI-RS time period.

[0147] In some example embodiments, the time period comprises a slot.

[0148] In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one of: a periodic CSI-RS resource, a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, or an aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

[0149] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a second configuration for a second CSI report, the second configuration indicating the CSI-RS resource, wherein the number of active CSI- RS resources is determined by counting the CSI-RS resource once.

[0150] In some example embodiments, the number of active CSI-RS ports is determined by counting CSI-RS ports within the CSI-RS resource once.

[0151] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the first apparatus, an indication that the first apparatus supports that the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration.

[0152] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 900 or the second apparatus 220. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the second apparatus.

[0153] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 1000 (for example, the first apparatus 210 in FIG. 2 may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 1000. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first device 210 in FIG. 2.

[0154] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for receiving a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; and means for receiving a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI- RS resource to an end time of a reference time duration after the reception of the CSI-RS.

[0155] In some example embodiments, the reference time duration comprises at least one of: a duration of a CSI computation time or a predetermined number of time periods.

[0156] In some example embodiments, the time period comprises a slot.

[0157] In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one of: a periodic CSI-RS resource, a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, or an aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

[0158] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving a second configuration for a second CSI report, the second configuration indicating the CSI-RS resource, wherein the number of active CSI-RS resources isdetermined by counting the CSI-RS resource once.

[0159] In some example embodiments, the number of active CSI-RS ports is determined by counting CSI-RS ports within the CSI-RS resource once.

[0160] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to a second apparatus, an indication that the first apparatus supports that the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration.

[0161] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 1000 or the first apparatus 210. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the first apparatus.

[0162] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 1100 (for example, the second apparatus 220 in FIG. 2 may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 1100. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the second apparatus 220 in FIG. 2.

[0163] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; and means for transmitting a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of a reference time duration after the reception of the CSI-RS.

[0164] In some example embodiments, the reference time duration comprises at least one of: a duration of a CSI computation time or a predetermined number of time periods.

[0165] In some example embodiments, the time period comprises a slot.

[0166] In some example embodiments, the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one of: a periodic CSI-RS resource, a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, or an aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

[0167] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a second configuration for a second CSI report, the second configuration indicating the CSI-RS resource, wherein the number of active CSI- RS resources is determined by counting the CSI-RS resource once.

[0168] In some example embodiments, the number of active CSI-RS ports is determined by counting CSI-RS ports within the CSI-RS resource once.

[0169] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the first apparatus, an indication that the first apparatus supports that the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration.

[0170] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 1100 or the second apparatus 220. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the second apparatus.

[0171] FIG. 12 is a simplified block diagram of a device 1200 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 1200 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the first apparatus 210 or the second apparatus 220 as shown in FIG. 2. As shown, the device 1200 includes one or more processors 1210, one or more memories 1220 coupled to the processor 1210, and one or more communication modules 1240 coupled to the processor 1210.

[0172] The communication module 1240 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 1240 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 1240 may include at least one antenna.

[0173] The processor 1210 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 1200 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slavedin time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0174] The memory 1220 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 1224, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random access memory (RAM) 1222 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0175] A computer program 1230 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1210. The instructions of the program 1230 may include instructions for performing operations / acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 1230 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 1224. The processor 1210 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 1230 into the RAM 1222.

[0176] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 1230 so that the device 1200 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 11. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0177] In some example embodiments, the program 1230 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 1200 (such as in the memory 1220) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 1200. The device 1200 may load the program 1230 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 1222 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0178] FIG. 13 shows an example of the computer readable medium 1300 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 1300 has the program 1230 stored thereon.

[0179] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0180] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non- transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computerexecutable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0181] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0182] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrierinclude a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0183] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0184] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Eikewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0185] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; perform, using the CSI-RS resource, measurements for a CSI-RS; and transmit, based on the measurements, a first CSI report of the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the transmission of the first CSI report.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one CSI-RS time period, and the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration from a start time of a starting CSI-RS time period of the at least one CSI-RS time period to an end time of a target CSI-RS time period, wherein the first CSI report is transmitted in the target CSI-RS time period.

3. The first apparatus of claim 2, wherein the time period comprises a slot.

4. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-3, wherein the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one of: a periodic CSI-RS resource, a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, or an aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

5. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-4, wherein the at least one memory and theat least one processor further cause the first apparatus to: receive a second configuration for a second CSI report, the second configuration indicating the CSI-RS resource, wherein the number of active CSI-RS resources is determined by counting the CSI- RS resource once.

6. The first apparatus of claim 5, wherein the number of active CSI-RS ports is determined by counting CSI-RS ports within the CSI-RS resource once.

7. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-6, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the first apparatus to: transmit, to a second apparatus, an indication that the first apparatus supports that the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration.

8. A second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; transmit a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource; and receive a first CSI report of the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the reception of the first CSI report.

9. The second apparatus of claim 8, wherein the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one CSI-RS time period, andthe CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration from a start time of a starting CSI-RS time period of the at least one CSI-RS time period to an end time of a target CSI-RS time period of the at least one CSI-RS time period, wherein the first CSI report is received in the target CSI-RS time period.

10. The second apparatus of claim 9, wherein the time period comprises a slot.

11. The second apparatus of any of claims 8-10, wherein the CSI-RS resource comprises at least one of: a periodic CSI-RS resource, a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, or an aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

12. The second apparatus of any of claims 8-11, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the second apparatus to: transmit, to the first apparatus, a second configuration for a second CSI report, the second configuration indicating the CSI-RS resource, wherein the number of active CSI-RS resources is determined by counting the CSI- RS resource once.

13. The second apparatus of claim 12, wherein the number of active CSI-RS ports is determined by counting CSI-RS ports within the CSI-RS resource once.

14. The second apparatus of any of claims 8-13, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor further cause the second apparatus to: receive, from the first apparatus, an indication that the first apparatus supports that the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in the time duration.

15. A method comprising: receiving a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS)resource; performing, using the CSI-RS resource, measurements for a CSI-RS; and transmitting, based on the measurements, the first CSI report using the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the transmission of the first CSI report.

16. A method comprising: transmitting, to a first apparatus, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; transmitting a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource; and receiving the first CSI report in the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the reception of the first CSI report.

17. A first apparatus comprising: means for receiving a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI- RS) resource; means for performing, using the CSI-RS resource, measurements for a CSI-RS; and means for transmitting, based on the measurements, the first CSI report using the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the transmission of the first CSI report.

18. A second apparatus comprising: means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, a first configuration for a first channel state information (CSI) report, the first configuration indicating a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; means for transmitting a CSI-RS in the CSI-RS resource; and means for receiving the first CSI report in the CSI-RS resource, wherein the CSI-RS resource is counted as an active CSI-RS resource in a time duration from a start time of the CSI-RS resource to an end time of the reception of the first CSI report.

19. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus at least to perform the method of claim 15 or the method of claim 18.

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