Beam management in communications

Abstract

Disclosed is a method comprising transmitting (201), by an apparatus (104) to a terminal device (100), a command requesting the terminal device (100) to operate in a selected operation mode, and receiving (207), by the apparatus (104) from the terminal device (100), information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

Description

[0001] BEAM MANAGEMENT IN COMMUNICATIONS

[0002] FIELD

[0003] The following example embodiments relate to wireless communication and beam management.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] In wireless communications, beam management may be used to optimize transmission and reception of beams. It may involve beamforming, beam selection, beam switching, and / or beam tracking.

[0006] BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0007] The scope of protection sought for various example embodiments is set out by the independent claims. The example embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments.

[0008] According to an aspect, there is provided 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: transmit, to a terminal device, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; receive, from the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

[0009] According to another aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising: means for transmitting, to a terminal device, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; receiving, from the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power. According to another aspect, there is provided a method comprising: transmitting, by an apparatus to a terminal device, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; receiving, by the apparatus from the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

[0010] According to another aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: transmit, to a terminal device, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; receive, from the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

[0011] According to another aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: transmit, to a terminal device, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; receive, from the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

[0012] According to another aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: transmit, to a terminal device, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; receive, from the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power. According to another aspect, there is provided a device comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device at least to: receive, from an apparatus, a command requesting the device to operate in a selected operation mode; perform in the selected operation mode a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the device; based on said beam prediction, report information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction.

[0013] According to another aspect, there is provided a device comprising: means for receiving, from an apparatus, a command requesting the device to operate in a selected operation mode; performing in the selected operation mode a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the device; based on said beam prediction, reporting information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction.

[0014] According to another aspect, there is provided a method comprising: receiving, by a terminal device from an apparatus, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; performing, by the terminal device in the selected operation mode, a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the terminal device; based on said beam prediction, reporting by the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction. According to another aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform at least the following: receive, from an apparatus, a command requesting the device to operate in a selected operation mode; perform in the selected operation mode a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the device; based on said beam prediction, report information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction.

[0015] According to another aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform at least the following: receive, from an apparatus, a command requesting the device to operate in a selected operation mode; perform in the selected operation mode a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the device; based on said beam prediction, report information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction.

[0016] According to another aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform at least the following: receive, from an apparatus, a command requesting the device to operate in a selected operation mode; perform in the selected operation mode a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the device; based on said beam prediction, report information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction.

[0017] LIST OF DRAWINGS

[0018] In the following, various example embodiments will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0019] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communication network;

[0020] Figure 2 illustrates an example embodiment for beam prediction;

[0021] Figures 3 to 4 illustrate various embodiments of carrying out the process of Figure 2; and

[0022] Figure 5 illustrates a block diagram of a structure of an apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0023] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The following embodiments are exemplifying. Although the specification may refer to “an”, “one”, or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations of the text, this does not necessarily mean that each reference is made to the same embodiment(s), or that a particular feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

[0025] Some example embodiments described herein may be implemented in a wireless communication network comprising a radio access network based on one or more of the following radio access technologies (RATs): Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) or any other second generation radio access technology, Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS, 3G) based on basic wideband-code division multiple access (W-CDMA), high-speed packet access (HSPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, fourth generation (4G), fifth generation (5G), 5G new radio (NR), 5G-Advanced (i.e., 3GPP NR Rel-18 and beyond), or sixth generation (6G). Some examples of radio access networks include the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) radio access network (UTRAN), the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access network (E-UTRA), or the next generation radio access network (NG-RAN). The wireless communication network may further comprise a core network, and some example embodiments may also be applied to network functions of the core network.

[0026] It should be noted that the embodiments are not restricted to the wireless communication network given as an example, but a person skilled in the art may also apply the solution to other wireless communication networks or systems provided with necessary properties. For example, some example embodiments may also be applied to a communication system based on IEEE 802.11 specifications, or a communication system based on IEEE 802.15 specifications. IEEE is an abbreviation for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

[0027] FIG. 1 depicts an example of a simplified wireless communication network showing some physical and logical entities. The connections shown in FIG. 1 may be physical connections or logical connections. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the wireless communication network may also comprise other physical and logical entities than those shown in FIG. 1.

[0028] The example embodiments described herein are not, however, restricted to the wireless communication network given as an example but a person skilled in the art may apply the example embodiments described herein to other wireless communication networks provided with necessary properties.

[0029] The example wireless communication network shown in FIG. 1 includes a radio access network (RAN) and a core network 110.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows user equipment (UE) 100, 102 configured to be in a wireless connection on one or more communication channels in a radio cell with an access node 104 of a radio access network.

[0031] The access node 104 may comprise a computing device configured to control the radio resources of the access node 104 and to be in a wireless connection with one or more UEs 100, 102. The access node 104 may also be referred to as a base station, a base transceiver station (BTS), an access point, a cell site, a network node, a radio access network node, or a RAN node. The access node 104 may be, for example, an evolved NodeB (abbreviated as eNB or eNodeB), or a next generation evolved NodeB (abbreviated as ng-eNB), or a next generation NodeB (abbreviated as gNB or gNodeB), providing the radio cell. The access node 104 may include or be coupled to transceivers. From the transceivers of the access node 104, a connection may be provided to an antenna unit that establishes a bidirectional radio link to one or more UEs 100, 102. The antenna unit may comprise an antenna or antenna element, or a plurality of antennas or antenna elements.

[0032] The wireless connection (e.g., radio link) from a UE 100, 102 to the access node 104 may be called uplink (UL) or reverse link, and the wireless connection (e.g., radio link) from the access node 104 to the UE 100, 102 may be called downlink (DL) or forward link. A UE 100 may also communicate directly with another UE 102, and vice versa, via a wireless connection generally referred to as a sidelink (SL). It should be appreciated that the access node 104 or its functionalities may be implemented by using any node, host, server, access point or other entity suitable for providing such functionalities.

[0033] The radio access network may comprise more than one access node 104, in which case the access nodes may also be configured to communicate with one another over wired or wireless links. These links between access nodes may be used for sending and receiving control plane signaling and also for routing data from one access node to another access node.

[0034] The access node 104 may further be connected to a core network (CN) 110. The core network 110 may comprise an evolved packet core (EPC) network and / or a 5thgeneration core network (5GC). The EPC may comprise network entities, such as a serving gateway (S-GW for routing and forwarding data packets), a packet data network gateway (P-GW) for providing connectivity of UEs to external packet data networks, and / or a mobility management entity (MME). The 5GC may comprise one or more network functions, such as at least one of: an access and mobility management function (AMF) 111, a user plane function (UPF), a location management function (LMF), and / or a session management function (SMF).

[0035] The core network 110 may also be able to communicate with one or more external networks 113, such as a public switched telephone network or the Internet, or utilize services provided by them. For example, in 5G wireless communication networks, the UPF of the core network 110 may be configured to communicate with an external data network via an N6 interface. In LTE wireless communication networks, the P-GW of the core network 110 may be configured to communicate with an external data network.

[0036] It should also be understood that the distribution of functions between core network operations and access node operations may differ in future wireless communication networks compared to that of the LTE or 5G, or even be nonexistent.

[0037] The illustrated UE 100, 102 is one type of an apparatus to which resources on the air interface may be allocated and assigned. The UE 100, 102 may also be called a wireless communication device, a subscriber unit, a mobile station, a remote terminal, an access terminal, a user terminal, a terminal device, or a user device, just to mention but a few names. The UE 100, 102 may be a computing device operating with or without a subscriber identification module (SIM), including, but not limited to, the following types of computing devices: a mobile phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handset, a computing device comprising a wireless modem (e.g., an alarm or measurement device, etc.), a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a tablet, a game console, a notebook, a multimedia device, a reduced capability (RedCap) device, a wearable device (e.g., a watch, earphones or eyeglasses) with radio parts, a sensor comprising a wireless modem, or a computing device comprising a wireless modem integrated in a vehicle.

[0038] It should be appreciated that the UE 100, 102 may also be a nearly exclusive uplink-only device, of which an example may be a camera or video camera loading images or video clips to a network. The UE 100, 102 may also be a device having capability to operate in an Internet of Things (loT) network, which is a scenario in which objects may be provided with the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.

[0039] The wireless communication network may also be able to support the usage of cloud services. For example, at least part of core network operations may be carried out as a cloud service (this is depicted in FIG. 1 by “cloud” 114). The UE 100, 102 may also utilize the cloud 114. In some applications, the computation for a given UE may be carried out in the cloud 114 or in another UE.

[0040] The wireless communication network may also comprise a central control entity, such as a network management system (NMS), or the like. The NMS is a centralized suite of software and hardware used to monitor, control, and administer the network infrastructure. The NMS is responsible for a wide range of tasks such as fault management, configuration management, security management, performance management, and accounting management. The NMS enables network operators to efficiently manage and optimize network resources, ensuring that the network delivers high performance, reliability, and security.

[0041] 5G enables using multiple-input and multiple-output (M1M0) antennas in the access node 104 and / or the UE 100, 102, many more base stations or access nodes than an LTE network (a so-called small cell concept), including macro sites operating in co-operation with smaller stations and employing a variety of radio technologies depending on service needs, use cases and / or spectrum available. 5G wireless communication networks may support a wide range of use cases and related applications including video streaming, augmented reality, different ways of data sharing and various forms of machine-type applications, such as (massive) machine-type communications (mMTC), including vehicular safety, different sensors and real-time control.

[0042] In 5G wireless communication networks, access nodes and / or UEs may have multiple radio interfaces, such as below 6 gigahertz (GHz), centimeter wave (cmWave) and millimeter wave (mmWave), and also being integrable with legacy radio access technologies, such as LTE. Integration with LTE may be implemented, for example, as a system, where macro coverage may be provided by LTE, and 5G radio interface access may come from small cells by aggregation to LTE. In other words, a 5G wireless communication network may support both inter-RAT operability (such as interoperability between LTE and 5G) and inter-Rl operability (inter-radio interface operability, such as between below 6GHz, cmWave, and mmWave). 5G wireless communication networks may also apply network slicing, in which multiple independent and dedicated virtual sub-networks (network instances) may be created within the same physical infrastructure to run services that have different requirements on latency, reliability, throughput and mobility.

[0043] In one embodiment, an access node 104 may comprise: a radio unit (RU) comprising a radio transceiver (TRX), i.e., a transmitter (Tx) and a receiver (Rx); one or more distributed units (DUs) 105 that may be used for the so-called Layer 1 (LI) processing and real-time Layer 2 (L2) processing; and a central unit (CU) 108 (also known as a centralized unit) that may be used for non-real-time L2 and Layer 3 (L3) processing. The CU 108 may be connected to the one or more DUs 105 for example via an Fl interface. Such an embodiment of the access node 104 may enable the centralization of CUs relative to the cell sites and DUs, whereas DUs may be more distributed and may even remain at cell sites. The CU and DU together may also be referred to as baseband or a baseband unit (BBU). The CU and DU may also be comprised in a radio access point (RAP).

[0044] The CU 108 may be a logical node hosting radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) and / or packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), of the NR protocol stack for an access node 104. The CU 108 may comprise a control plane (CU-CP), which may be a logical node hosting the RRC and the control plane part of the PDCP protocol of the NR protocol stack for the access node 104. The CU 108 may further comprise a user plane (CU-UP), which may be a logical node hosting the user plane part of the PDCP protocol and the SDAP protocol of the CU for the access node 104.

[0045] The DU 105 may be a logical node hosting radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) and / or physical (PHY) layers of the NR protocol stack for the access node 104. The operations of the DU 105 may be at least partly controlled by the CU 108. It should also be understood that the distribution of functions between the DU 105 and the CU 108 may vary depending on the implementation.

[0046] Cloud computing systems may also be used to provide the CU 108 and / or DU 105. A CU provided by a cloud computing system may be referred to as a virtualized CU (vCU). In addition to the vCU, there may also be a virtualized DU (vDU) provided by a cloud computing system. Furthermore, there may also be a combination, where the DU may be implemented on so-called bare metal solutions, for example application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or customer-specific standard product (CSSP) system-on-a-chip (SoC).

[0047] Edge cloud may be brought into the radio access network by utilizing network function virtualization (NFV) and software defined networking (SDN). Using edge cloud may mean access node operations to be carried out, at least partly, in a computing system operationally coupled to a remote radio head (RRH) or a radio unit (RU) of an access node 104. It is also possible that access node operations may be performed on a distributed computing system or a cloud computing system located at the access node 104. Application of cloud RAN architecture enables RAN real-time functions being carried out at the radio access network (e.g., in a DU 105), and non-real-time functions being carried out in a centralized manner (e.g., in a CU 108).

[0048] 5G (or new radio, NR) wireless communication networks may support multiple hierarchies, where multi-access edge computing (MEC) servers may be placed between the core network 110 and the access node 104. It should be appreciated that MEC may be applied in LTE wireless communication networks as well.

[0049] A 5G wireless communication network (“5G network”) may also comprise a non-terrestrial communication network, such as a satellite communication network, to enhance or complement the coverage of the 5G radio access network. For example, satellite communication may support the transfer of data between the 5G radio access network and the core network 110, enabling more extensive network coverage. Possible use cases may include: providing service continuity for machine-to-machine (M2M) or Internet of Things (loT) devices or for passengers on board of vehicles, or ensuring service availability for critical communications, and future railway, maritime, or aeronautical communications. Satellite communication may utilize geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite systems, but also low earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems, in particular mega-constellations (i.e., systems in which hundreds of (nano) satellites are deployed). A given satellite 106 in the mega-constellation may cover several satellite-enabled network entities that create on-ground cells. The on-ground cells may be created through an on-ground relay access node or by an access node located on-ground or in a satellite.

[0050] It is obvious for a person skilled in the art that the access node 104 depicted in FIG. 1 is just an example of a part of a radio access network, and in practice the radio access network may comprise a plurality of access nodes 104, the UEs 100, 102 may have access to a plurality of radio cells, and the radio access network may also comprise other apparatuses, such as physical layer relay access nodes or other entities. At least one of the access nodes may be a Home eNodeB or a Home gNodeB. A Home gNodeB or a Home eNodeB is a type of access node that may be used to provide indoor coverage inside a home, office, or other indoor environment.

[0051] Additionally, in a geographical area of a radio access network, a plurality of different kinds of radio cells as well as a plurality of radio cells may be provided. Radio cells may be macro cells (or umbrella cells) which may be large cells having a diameter of up to tens of kilometers, or smaller cells such as micro-, femto- or picocells. The access node(s) 104 of FIG. 1 may provide any kind of these cells. A cellular radio network may be implemented as a multilayer access networks including several kinds of radio cells. In multilayer access networks, one access node may provide one kind of a radio cell or radio cells, and thus a plurality of access nodes may be needed to provide such a multilayer access network.

[0052] For fulfilling the need for improving performance of radio access networks, the concept of “plug-and-play” access nodes may be introduced. A radio access network, which may be able to use “plug-and-play” access nodes, may include, in addition to Home eNodeBs or Home gNodeBs, a Home Node B gateway (HNB-GW) (not shown in FIG. 1). An HNB-GW, which may be installed within an operator’s radio access network, may aggregate traffic from a large number of Home eNodeBs or Home gNodeBs back to a core network 110 of the operator.

[0053] Some example embodiments are described below using principles and terminology of 5G radio access technology without limiting the example embodiments to 5G radio access technology, however.

[0054] To support Al / ML-enabled radio interface for cellular systems, Al / ML- based beam management targets spatial beam prediction and / or time beam prediction for overhead and latency reduction. Al / ML (artificial intelligence / machine learning) may improve performance of air-interface functions. An aim is to enable Al / ML techniques for the air interface. NW (network) side and / or UE (user equipment) side model training as well as model inference may be applied for Al / ML beam management. Beam management may be used for spatial beam prediction and / or time beam prediction. The spatial beam prediction enables predicting best Tx / Rx beams in different spatial locations. The timedomain beam prediction enables to predict a most likely beam to be used for next time instants, e.g., beam prediction in the spatial domain.

[0055] Artificial intelligence (Al) / machine learning (ML) for air-interface may be utilized for aspects such as enhanced performance, reduced complexity, CS1 feedback enhancement, overhead reduction, improved accuracy, beam management, beam prediction, e.g., beam prediction in time and / or spatial domain for overhead and latency reduction, beam selection, accuracy improvement, positioning accuracy enhancements for different scenarios including, e.g., those with heavy NLOS conditions, and / or support for gNB-UE collaboration.

[0056] Metrics / KPls that may be used for evaluation of beam management inference performance or beam prediction requirements / tests include RSRP accuracy, beam prediction accuracy (Top-1(%), Top-K(%)), successful rate for correct beam prediction which is considered as maximum RSRP among Top-K predicted beams is larger than the RSRP of the strongest beam - x dB, where related measurement accuracy may be considered to determine x, and / or overhead / latency reduction.

[0057] The test mechanism for beam ID prediction impacts on user equipment - test equipment interface, and on low overhead testing mechanism. For NW side and / or UE side model training as well as the model inference for Al / ML beam management, KPIs of the testing of the output of AI / ML model / functionality training / inference may be defined. For AI / ML beam management, the KPIs according to beam prediction accuracy may be Top-1(%) and Top-K / 1(%) and RSRP prediction. When the UE runs inference or training for Al / ML RSRP and beam ID prediction in spatial domain and / or time domain, the network (NW) or test equipment (TE) is able to test the prediction accuracy of RSRP and beam IDs and with overhead reduction as side conditions well. The test mechanism may be for Top-1(%) and Top-K(%) beam ID and RSRP prediction, with overhead reduction in reporting mechanism. The testing mechanism may some impacts on the interface between the UE and the Test Equipment (TEJ / NW in order to verify and validate beam prediction and RSRP prediction with KPI from the agreement.

[0058] FIG. 2 illustrates a signal flow diagram according to an example embodiment.

[0059] Referring to FIG. 2, at 201, an apparatus such as a TE / NW 104 transmits to a terminal device such as a user equipment UE 100, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode. The selected operation mode may be at least one of: AI / ML based beam management mode, an AI / ML positioning mode, or an AI / ML CSI compression mode. At 202, the terminal device may transmit to the apparatus, a confirmation indication, confirming activation of the selected operation mode in the terminal device. At 203, the apparatus may receive from the terminal device, the confirmation indication 202, confirming activation of the selected operation mode in the terminal device. At 204, the apparatus may transmit to the terminal device, a configuration configuring the terminal device to report information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, or on Top-1 and Top-K predicted beams, including the corresponding beam identification and optionally the corresponding reference signal received power. Further at 204, the apparatus may transmit to the terminal device, a configuration configuring the terminal device to report, simultaneously with the information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, information on a strongest beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power; or the apparatus may derive, at 203 or 207, a theoretical value of the strongest beam. At 205, the terminal device may receive the configuration indication 204, and performs in the selected operation mode, a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the terminal device. At

[0060] 206, based on said beam prediction, the terminal device reports information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, or on the Top-1 and Top-K strongest predicted beams, including the corresponding beam identification and optionally the corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction. Further at 206, the terminal device may report to the apparatus, information on or relating to a strongest beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power. At 207, the apparatus receives from the terminal device, the information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, or on the Top-1 and Top-K strongest predicted beams, including the corresponding beam identification and optionally the corresponding reference signal received power. Further at 207, the apparatus may receive from the terminal device, information on a strongest beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power. Further at 207, the apparatus may determine whether or not a strongest beam is the Top-1 strongest predicted beam. Further at

[0061] 207, the apparatus may perform a beam prediction test based on whether or not the strongest beam is the Top-1 strongest predicted beam. If the strongest beam is not the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, the apparatus may define that the beam prediction test is failed, and if the strongest beam is the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, the apparatus may compare a strongest beam reference signal received power with a predicted strongest beam reference signal received power, wherein if based on the comparing, a difference between the strongest beam reference signal received power and the predicted strongest beam reference signal received power is within a tolerance range, the apparatus may define that the beam prediction test is passed, and if, based on the comparing, a difference between the strongest beam reference signal received power and the predicted strongest beam reference signal received power is outside the tolerance range, the apparatus may define that the beam prediction test is failed. FIG. 3 illustrates a flow chart according to an example embodiment of a method performed by an apparatus 9800 depicted in FIG. 5. For example, the apparatus 9800 may be, or comprise, or be comprised in, a radio access network node 104, 104B, 104C or a distributed unit 105, 105B or a central unit 108, 108B, or an access and mobility management function (AMF) of the core network 110 or a network function virtualization infrastructure, or a user equipment 100, 102. For example, the apparatus 9800 may be, or comprise, or be comprised in, a TE / NW (test equipment / network).

[0062] Referring to FIG. 3, in block 501, the apparatus such as a TE / NW transmits to a terminal device such as a user equipment UE, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode. The selected operation mode may be at least one of: Al / ML based beam management mode, an Al / ML positioning mode, or an Al / ML CS1 compression mode. At 502, the apparatus may receive from the terminal device, a confirmation indication confirming activation of the selected operation mode in the terminal device. At 504, the apparatus may transmit to the terminal device, a configuration configuring the terminal device to report the information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including the corresponding beam identification and optionally the corresponding reference signal received power. Further at 504, the apparatus may transmit to the terminal device, a configuration configuring the terminal device to report, simultaneously with the information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, information on a strongest beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power; or the apparatus may, at 503, 504, 505 or 506, derive a theoretical value of the strongest beam. At 505, the apparatus receives from the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power. Further at 505, the apparatus receives from the terminal device, information on a strongest beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power. At 506, the apparatus may determine whether or not a strongest beam is the Top-1 strongest predicted beam. Further at 506, the apparatus may perform a beam prediction test based on whether or not a strongest beam is the Top-1 strongest predicted beam. If the strongest beam is not the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, the apparatus may define that the beam prediction testis failed, and if the strongest beam is the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, the apparatus may compare a strongest beam reference signal received power with a predicted strongest beam reference signal received power, wherein if, based on the comparing, a difference between the strongest beam reference signal received power and the predicted strongest beam reference signal received power is within a tolerance range, the apparatus may define that the beam prediction test is passed, and if, based on the comparing, a difference between the strongest beam reference signal received power and the predicted strongestbeam reference signal received power is outside the tolerance range, the apparatus may define that the beam prediction test is failed.

[0063] In one embodiment the apparatus such as a TE / NW, is configured to or comprises means for performing the method.

[0064] FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart according to an example embodiment of a method performed by an apparatus 9800 depicted in FIG. 5, or a user equipment 100, 102. For example, the apparatus 9800 may be, or comprise, or be comprised in, a user equipment 100, 102 or terminal device.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 4, in block 601, the terminal device from an apparatus such as a TE / NW, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode. The selected operation mode may be at least one of: AI / ML based beam management mode, an AI / ML positioning mode, or an AI / ML CSI compression mode. At 602, the terminal device may transmit to the apparatus, a confirmation indication confirming activation of the selected operation mode in the terminal device. At 603, the terminal device may receive from the apparatus, a configuration configuring the terminal device to report the information on the Top- 1 strongest predicted beam, including the corresponding beam identification and optionally the corresponding reference signal received power. Further at 603, the terminal device may receive from the apparatus, a configuration configuring the terminal device to report, simultaneously with the information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, information on a strongest beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power. At 604, the terminal device performs in the selected operation mode, a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the terminal device. At 605, based on said beam prediction, the terminal device reports information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction. Further at 605, the terminal device may report to the apparatus, information on a strongest beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

[0066] In one embodiment the terminal device such as a user equipment, is configured to or comprises means for performing the method.

[0067] Thus to ensure that the mode of operation at the UE side is known at the TE / NW side, a command 201 may be sent from the TE / NW to the UE to work in a specific mode. For instance, the TE / NW may send a command 201 to the UE to enable Al / ML based beam management mode. The UE may then confirm 202 the activation of the requested mode. The TE / NW may then configure 204 the UE to report strongest measured beam(s) and predicted beam(s) simultaneously. A theoretical value of the strongest beam may already be known at the TE / NW. It may be derived from the configuration of the test setup. The UE may start beam prediction 205 using a subset of beams configured by the TE / NW. The UE may report 206 strongest measured beam(s) and Top-1, or Top-l / Top-K, strongest predicted beam(s), including beam ID(s) and optionally RSRP(s), to the TE / NW. Finally, TE / NW may verify if the strongest beam ID is one of the Top-1 predicted beam.

[0068] In one example embodiment, the TE / NW may send a command to UE to switch to Al / ML mode based functionality. The UE may send a confirmation to the NW / TE that the UE operates in Al / ML BM mode. Optionally the UE may send 202, 602 a functionality indication, e.g., an indication whether UE runs inference or training in Top-1 or Top-K DL beam management in spatial or Top-1 or Top-K DL beam management in time domain. The TE / NW may check 203, 503 the indication whether UE runs inference for RSRP and beam IDs prediction of Top-l / Top-K beam(s) in Set A. The TE / NW may send configurations to UE to measure the whole Set A. The TE / NW may send a configuration and CSI-RS resource of fixed set B beams to the UE. E.g., the UE may be configured to use 16 Set B beams to predict Top-1 64 Set A beams. The TE / NW may send the request to UE to prepare RSRP values of Top-1 strongest beam(s) of Set A beams. The TE / NW may configure the UE to report RSRP and beam IDs prediction of Top-1 beam(s) results, and configure the UE to report RSRP values of Top-1 strongest beams in Set A measurements. The theoretical value of the strongest beam may already be known at the TE / NW level. It may be derived from the configuration of the test setup. The UE may perform RSRP and beam ID(s) of Top-1 beam(s) in Set A prediction using Ll-RSRP of Set B beams as input to a neural network. The UE may report predicted RSRP and beam IDs of Top-1 beam(s) of Set A to the TE / NW. The UE may report the RSRP measurements of Top-1 beams of Set A beams to the TE / NW. The TE / NW may validate whether the predicted Top-1 beam(s) includes the strongest beam. If the strongest beam is among the predicted Top-1 beam(s), then the TE / NW may check the predicted RSRP with respect to predicted beam ID(s). If the predicted RSRP of the strongest beam matches with the RSRP of the measured strongest beam, then there is no error. If the RSRP of the predicted Top-1 beam (ID) does not match with the RSRP of the strongest beam, TE / NW may check a tolerance margin.

[0069] In one example embodiment, the TE / NW may send a command to UE to switch to AI / ML mode based functionality. The UE may send a confirmation to the NW / TE that the UE operates in AI / ML BM mode. The UE may send a functionality indication, e.g., indication whether UE runs inference or training in Top-K DL beam management in spatial or Top-K DL beam management in time domain. The TE / NW checks the indication whether UE runs inference for Top-K beam ID prediction. The NW / TE sends configurations and SSB or CSI-RS resources for measurements of fixed Set B to UE. E.g., UE may be configured to use 16 Set B beams to predict Top-1 64 Set A beams, where Set B beams is wide beam and Set A beams is narrow beams. The NW / TE may send a pointer that the configured Set B is CSI- RS or SSB. The TE / NW may send the configuration of SSB or CSI-RS resources of Set A beams. The TE / NW may configure the UE to report RSRP and beam IDs prediction of beams results, and configure UE to report RSRP value(s) of strongest beam(s) in Set A measurements. A theoretical value of the strongest beam may already be known at the TE / NW. It may be derived from the configuration of the test setup. The UE may perform RSRP and beam IDs of beam(s) in Set A prediction using Ll-RSRP of Set B beams as input to a neural network. The UE may report predicted RSRP and beam IDs of Top-1 strongest predicted beam(s) of Set A to the TE / NW. The UE may report the RSRP measurements of Top-1 strongest predicted beam(s) of Set A beams to the TE / NW. The TE / NW may validate whether the predicted Top-1 beam includes the strongest beam. If the strongest beam is among the predicted Top-1 beam. Then, the NW / TE may check the predicted RSRP with respect to predicted beam ID(s). If the predicted RSRP of the strongest beam matches with the RSRP of the measured strongest beam then, there is no error. If the RSRP of the predicted Top-1 beam (IDs) does not match with the RSRP of the Top-1 strongest beam, the TE / NW may check the tolerance margin.

[0070] The blocks, related functions, and information exchanges (messages) described above by means of FIGS. 2-4 are in no absolute chronological order, and some of them may be performed simultaneously or in an order differing from the described one. Other functions can also be executed between them or within them, and other information may be sent, and / or other rules applied. Some of the blocks or part of the blocks or one or more pieces of information can also be left out or replaced by a corresponding block or part of the block or one or more pieces of information.

[0071] 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.

[0072] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an apparatus 9800 comprising means for performing one or more of the example embodiments described above. For example, the apparatus 9800 may be, or comprise, or be comprised in, a user equipment 100, 102, a radio access network node 104, 104B, 104C or a distributed unit 105, 105B or a central unit 108, 108B, or an access and mobility management function (AMF) of the core network 110 or a network function virtualization infrastructure. For example, the apparatus 9800 may be, or comprise, or be comprised in, a TE / NW (test equipment / network).

[0073] The apparatus 9800 may comprise, for example, a circuitry or a chipset applicable for realizing one or more of the example embodiments described above. The apparatus 9800 maybe an electronic device comprising one or more electronic circuitries. The apparatus 9800 may comprise a communication control circuitry 9810 such as at least one processor, and at least one memory 9820 storing instructions 9822 which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus 9800 to carry out one or more of the example embodiments described above. Such instructions 9822 may, for example, include computer program code (software). The at least one processor and the at least one memory storing the instructions may provide the means for providing or causing the performance of any of the methods and / or blocks described above.

[0074] The processor is coupled to the memory 9820. The processor is configured to read and write data to and from the memory 9820. The memory 9820 may comprise one or more memory units. The memory units may be volatile or non-volatile. It is to be noted that there may be one or more units of non-volatile memory and one or more units of volatile memory or, alternatively, one or more units of non-volatile memory, or, alternatively, one or more units of volatile memory. Volatile memory may be for example random-access memory (RAM), dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) or synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM). Non-volatile memory may be for example read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, optical storage or magnetic storage. In general, memories may be referred to as non-transitory computer readable media. 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). The memory 9820 stores computer readable instructions that are executed by the processor. For example, non-volatile memory stores the computer readable instructions, and the processor executes the instructions using volatile memory for temporary storage of data and / or instructions.

[0075] The computer readable instructions may have been pre-stored to the memory 9820 or, alternatively or additionally, they may be received, by the apparatus, via an electromagnetic carrier signal and / or may be copied from a physical entity such as a computer program product. Execution of the computer readable instructions causes the apparatus 9800 to perform one or more of the functionalities described above.

[0076] The memory 9820 may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, flash memory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and / or removable memory. The memory may comprise a configuration database for storing configuration data, such as a current neighbour cell list, and, in some example embodiments, structures of frames used in the detected neighbour cells.

[0077] The apparatus 9800 may further comprise or be connected to a communication interface 9830, such as a radio unit, comprising hardware and / or software for realizing communication connectivity with one or more wireless communication devices according to one or more communication protocols. The communication interface 9830 comprises at least one transmitter (Tx) and at least one receiver (Rx) that may be integrated to the apparatus 9800 or that the apparatus 9800 may be connected to. The communication interface 9830 may provide means for performing some of the blocks for one or more example embodiments described above. The communication interface 9830 may comprise one or more components, such as: power amplifier, digital front end (DFE), analog- to-digital converter (ADC), digital-to-analog converter (DAC), frequency converter, (de)modulator, and / or encoder / decoder circuitries, controlled by the corresponding controlling units. The communication interface 9830 provides the apparatus with radio communication capabilities to communicate in the wireless communication network. The communication interface may, for example, provide a radio interface to one or more UEs 100, 102 or access nodes 104. The apparatus 9800 may further comprise or be connected to another interface towards a core network 110, such as the network coordinator apparatus or AMF 111, and / or to the access nodes 104 of the wireless communication network.

[0078] The apparatus 9800 may further comprise a scheduler 9840 that is configured to allocate radio resources. The scheduler 9840 may be configured along with the communication control circuitry 9810 or it may be separately configured.

[0079] It is to be noted that the apparatus 9800 may further comprise various components not illustrated in FIG. 98. The various components may be hardware components and / or software components.

[0080] In one example embodiment, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: transmit, to a terminal device, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; and receive, from the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

[0081] In one example embodiment, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: transmit, to a terminal device, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; and receive, from the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

[0082] In one example embodiment, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: transmit, to a terminal device, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; and receive, from the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

[0083] In one example embodiment, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform at least the following: receive, from an apparatus, a command requesting the device to operate in a selected operation mode; perform in the selected operation mode a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the device; and based on said beam prediction, report information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction.

[0084] In one example embodiment, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform at least the following: receive, from an apparatus, a command requesting the device to operate in a selected operation mode; perform in the selected operation mode a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the device; and based on said beam prediction, report information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction.

[0085] In one example embodiment, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform at least the following: receive, from an apparatus, a command requesting the device to operate in a selected operation mode; perform in the selected operation mode a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the device; and based on said beam prediction, report information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction.

[0086] 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) with software / 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, 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 (for example firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0087] 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.

[0088] The techniques and methods described herein may be implemented by various means. For example, these techniques may be implemented in hardware (one or more devices), firmware (one or more devices), software (one or more modules), or combinations thereof. For a hardware implementation, the apparatus(es) of example embodiments may be implemented within one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphics processing units (GPUs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof. For firmware or software, the implementation can be carried out through modules of at least one chipset (for example procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. The software codes may be stored in a memory unit and executed by processors. The memory unit may be implemented within the processor or externally to the processor. In the latter case, it can be communicatively coupled to the processor via various means, as is known in the art. Additionally, the components of the systems described herein may be rearranged and / or complemented by additional components in order to facilitate the achievements of the various aspects, etc., described with regard thereto, and they are not limited to the precise configurations set forth in the given figures, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art.

[0089] It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as technology advances, the inventive concept may be implemented in various ways within the scope of the claims. The embodiments are not limited to the example embodiments described above, but may vary within the scope of the claims. Therefore, all words and expressions should be interpreted broadly, and they are intended to illustrate, not to restrict, the embodiments.

Claims

Claims1. 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: transmit, to a terminal device, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; receive, from the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is being caused to: determine, whether or not a strongest beam is the Top-1 strongest predicted beam.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the apparatus is being caused to: perform a beam prediction test based on whether or not a strongest beam is the Top-1 strongest predicted beam.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein if the strongest beam identification is not the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, the apparatus is configured to define that the beam prediction test is failed, and if the strongest beam identification is the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, the apparatus is configured to compare a strongest beam reference signal received power with a predicted strongest beam reference signal received power, wherein if, based on the comparing, a difference between the strongest beam reference signal received power and the predicted strongest beam referencesignal received power is within a tolerance range, the apparatus is configured to define that the beam prediction test is passed, and if, based on the comparing, a difference between the strongest beam reference signal received power and the predicted strongest beam reference signal received power is outside the tolerance range, the apparatus is configured to define that the beam prediction test is failed.

5. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, further being caused to: receive, from the terminal device, a confirmation confirming activation of the selected operation mode in the terminal device.

6. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, being caused to: transmit, to the terminal device, a configuration configuring the terminal device to report the information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including the corresponding beam identification and optionally the corresponding reference signal received power.

7. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, further being caused to: transmit, to the terminal device, a configuration configuring the terminal device to report, simultaneously with the information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, information on a strongest beam including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power; or derive, by the apparatus, a theoretical value of the strongest beam.

8. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, further being caused to:receive, from the terminal device, information on a strongest beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

9. A device comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device at least to: receive, from an apparatus, a command requesting the device to operate in a selected operation mode; perform in the selected operation mode a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the device; based on said beam prediction, report information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction.

10. The device according to claim 9, further being caused to: transmit, to the apparatus, a confirmation confirming activation of the selected operation mode in the device.

11. The device according to claim 9 or 10, being caused to: receive, from the apparatus, a configuration configuring the device to report the information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

12. The device according to claim 6, 7 or 8, being caused to: receive, from the apparatus, a configuration configuring the device to report, simultaneously with the information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, information on a strongest beam including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

13. The device according to any preceding claim 9 to 12, further being caused to: report, to the apparatus, information on a strongest beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

14. The device according to any preceding claim 9 to 13, wherein it is a terminal device.

15. A method comprising: transmitting, by an apparatus to a terminal device, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; receiving, by the apparatus from the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: determining, by the apparatus whether or not a strongest beam is the Top-1 strongest predicted beam.

17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, the method comprising performing a beam prediction test based on whether or not a strongest beam is the Top-1 strongest predicted beam.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein if the strongest beam is not the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, the method comprises defining, by the apparatus, that the beam prediction test is failed, and if the strongest beam is the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, the method comprises comparing, by the apparatus, a strongest beam reference signalreceived power with a predicted strongest beam reference signal received power, wherein if, based on the comparing, a difference between the strongest beam reference signal received power and the predicted strongest beam reference signal received power is within a tolerance range, the method comprises defining, by the apparatus, that the beam prediction test is passed, and if, based on the comparing, a difference between the strongest beam reference signal received power and the predicted strongest beam reference signal received power is outside the tolerance range, the method comprises defining, by the apparatus, that the beam prediction test is failed.

19. The method according to any preceding claim 15 to 18, further comprising: receiving, by the apparatus from the terminal device, a confirmation confirming activation of the selected operation mode in the terminal device.

20. The method according to any preceding claim 15 or 19, comprising: transmitting, by the apparatus to the terminal device, a configuration configuring the terminal device to report the information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including the corresponding beam identification and optionally the corresponding reference signal received power.

21. The method according to any preceding claim 15 to 20, comprising: transmitting, by the apparatus to the terminal device, a configuration configuring the terminal device to report, simultaneously with the information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, information on a strongest beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power; or deriving, by the apparatus, a theoretical value of the strongest beam.

22. The method according to any preceding claim 15 to 21, further comprising: receiving, by the apparatus from the terminal device, information on a strongest beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

23. A method comprising: receiving, by a terminal device from an apparatus, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; performing, by the terminal device in the selected operation mode, a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the terminal device; based on said beam prediction, reporting by the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising: transmitting, by the terminal device to the apparatus, a confirmation confirming activation of the selected operation mode in the terminal device.

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24, comprising: receiving, by the terminal device from the apparatus, a configuration configuring the terminal device to report the information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including the corresponding beam identification and optionally the corresponding reference signal received power.

26. The method according to any preceding claim 23 to 25, comprising: receiving, by the terminal device from the apparatus, a configuration configuring the terminal device to report, simultaneously with the information on the Top-1 strongest predicted beam, information on a strongest beam, including acorresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

1. The method according to any preceding claim 23 to 26, further comprising: reporting, by the terminal device to the apparatus, information on a strongest beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

28. The apparatus, device or method according to any preceding claim, wherein the selected operation mode is at least one of: Al / ML based beam management mode, an Al / ML positioning mode, or an Al / ML CS1 compression mode.

29. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: transmit, to a terminal device, a command requesting the terminal device to operate in a selected operation mode; receive, from the terminal device, information on a Top-1 strongest predicted beam, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power.

30. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform at least the following: receive, from an apparatus, a command requesting the device to operate in a selected operation mode; perform in the selected operation mode a beam prediction using a subset of beams configured by the apparatus for the device;based on said beam prediction, report information on Top-1 strongest predicted beams, including a corresponding beam identification and optionally corresponding reference signal received power, to the apparatus for verification of the beam prediction.

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