Power headroom for communications

Abstract

A set of pathlosses associated with a set of nodes can be determined. A representative pathloss can be determined from the set of pathlosses. A determination can be made that a change in the representative pathloss is more than a threshold from a previous pathloss corresponding to a previous transmission of a previous Power Headroom Report (PHR). A PHR can be triggered based on the change in the representative pathloss being more than the threshold from the previous pathloss. A power headroom can be calculated for the triggered PHR. The calculated power headroom can be transmitted in the triggered PHR.

Description

Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 1 POWER HEADROOM COMMUNICATIONS RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 572,439, filed 01 April 2024, entitled “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR POWER HEADROOM DETERMINATION FOR COOPERATIVE COMMUNICATIONS,” the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and more specifically to power headroom determination for cooperative communications. BACKGROUND

[0003] A wireless communications system may include one or multiple network communication devices, which may be otherwise known as network equipment (NE), supporting wireless communications for one or multiple user communication devices, which may be otherwise known as user equipment (UE), or other suitable terminology. The wireless communications system may support wireless communications with one or multiple user communication devices by utilizing resources of the wireless communication system (e.g., time resources (e.g., symbols, slots, subframes, frames, or the like) or frequency resources (e.g., subcarriers, carriers, or the like)). Additionally, the wireless communications system may support wireless communications across various radio access technologies including third generation (3G) radio access technology, fourth generation (4G) radio access technology, fifth generation (5G) radio access technology, among other suitable radio access technologies beyond 5G (e.g., sixth generation (6G)). SUMMARY

[0004] An article “a” before an element is unrestricted and understood to refer to “at least one” of those elements or “one or more” of those elements. The terms “a,” “at least one,” “one Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 2 or more,” and “at least one of one or more” be interchangeable. As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of” or “one or more of” or “one or both of”) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an example step that is described as “based on condition A” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manner as the phrase “based at least in part on”. Further, as used herein, including in the claims, a “set” may include one or more elements.

[0005] A UE for wireless communication is described. The UE may be configured to, capable of, or operable to perform one or more operations as described herein. For example, the UE may be configured to, capable of, or operable to determine a set of pathlosses associated with a set of nodes; determine a representative pathloss from the set of pathlosses; determine that a change in the representative pathloss is more than a threshold from a previous pathloss corresponding to a previous transmission of a previous Power Headroom Report (PHR); trigger a PHR based on the change in the representative pathloss being more than the threshold from the previous pathloss; calculate a power headroom for the triggered PHR; and transmit the calculated power headroom in the triggered PHR.

[0006] A processor (e.g., a standalone processor chipset, or a component of a UE) for wireless communication is described. The processor may be configured to, capable of, or operable to perform one or more operations as described herein. For example, the processor may be configured to, capable of, or operable to determine a set of pathlosses associated with a set of nodes; determine a representative pathloss from the set of pathlosses; determine that a change in the representative pathloss is more than a threshold from a previous pathloss corresponding to a previous transmission of a previous Power Headroom Report (PHR); trigger a PHR based on the change in the representative pathloss being more than the threshold from the previous pathloss; calculate a power headroom for the triggered PHR; and transmit the calculated power headroom in the triggered PHR. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 3

[0007] A method performed or by a UE for wireless communication is described. The method may include determining a set of pathlosses associated with a set of nodes; determining a representative pathloss from the set of pathlosses; determining that a change in the representative pathloss is more than a threshold from a previous pathloss corresponding to a previous transmission of a previous Power Headroom Report (PHR); triggering a PHR based on the change in the representative pathloss being more than the threshold from the previous pathloss; calculating a power headroom for the triggered PHR; and transmitting the calculated power headroom in the triggered PHR.

[0008] In some implementations of the UE, the processor, and the method described herein, the UE includes a UE node in the set of nodes or a UE in a group of node devices of a Virtual UE (VUE).

[0009] In some implementations of the UE, the processor, and the method described herein, the UE, the processor, and the method may further be configured to, capable of, operable to, performed to, or performable to determine the set of nodes, where nodes in the set of nodes are registered with a Virtual UE (VUE).

[0010] In some implementations of the UE, the processor, and the method described herein, a pathloss of associated with a node of the set of nodes is defined as a reduction in power of a network node radio signal received at the node from a different node.

[0011] In some implementations of the UE, the processor, and the method described herein, the PHR is triggered based at least in part on: the representative pathloss changing more than the threshold from the previous pathloss transmitted in the previous transmission of the previous PHR; and a PHR prohibit timer corresponding to the set of nodes has expired.

[0012] In some implementations of the UE, the processor, and the method described herein, the representative pathloss includes a smallest pathloss within the set of pathlosses.

[0013] In some implementations of the UE, the processor, and the method described herein, the change of the representative pathloss is between: a present pathloss measured on a current pathloss reference; and the previous pathloss measured at a transmission time of the previous transmission of the previous PHR on a previous pathloss reference, irrespective of whether the Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 4 current pathloss reference has changed since previous pathloss reference, and irrespective of whether a node identifier (node-ID) of a corresponding node-to-gNB link has changed since the previous pathloss reference.

[0014] In some implementations of the UE, the processor, and the method described herein, a node of the set of nodes includes a PHR periodic timer associated with a Virtual UE (VUE) PHR, and does not have a PHR periodic timer associated with non-VUE related communications.

[0015] In some implementations of the UE, the processor, and the method described herein, the PHR includes a Maximum Permissible Exposure Power Management Maximum Power Reduction (MPE P-MPR) that indicates a power back-off value for the set of nodes due to a change in a total number of nodes in the set of nodes; and the at least one processor is operable to cause the UE to determine MPE P-MPR table entries based on a reported power class of the set of nodes or based on the total number of nodes.

[0016] In some implementations of the UE, the processor, and the method described herein, the set of nodes includes a Virtual UE (VUE), and the UE, the processor, and the method may further be configured to, capable of, operable to, performed to, or performable to receive Downlink Control Information (DCI) for uplink transmissions associated with the VUE, the DCI including a Transmit Power Control (TPC) command; ignore the TPC command; determine a TPC command based at least in part on internal VUE communication between the set of nodes; and calculate the power headroom for the triggered PHR based at least in part on the determined TPC command.

[0017] In some implementations of the UE, the processor, and the method described herein, the UE, the processor, and the method may further be configured to, capable of, operable to, performed to, or performable to send a PHR report to a Virtual UE (VUE) controller of the set of nodes based at least in part on a Transmit Power Control (TPC) command not being applied.

[0018] In some implementations of the UE, the processor, and the method described herein, the UE, the processor, and the method may further be configured to, capable of, operable to, performed to, or performable to determine an allocation of at least one Transmit Power Control Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 5 (TPC) command applicable to each node of set of nodes such that a function of PHR values of the set of nodes is maximized.

[0019] An NE (e.g., a base station) for wireless communication is described. The NE may be configured to, capable of, or operable to perform one or more operations as described herein. For example, the NE may be configured to, capable of, or operable to receive a Power Headroom Report (PHR) including a calculated power headroom for a set of nodes, where the calculated power headroom is based on a representative pathloss of a set of pathlosses associated with the set of nodes.

[0020] A processor (e.g., a standalone processor chipset, or a component of a NE) for wireless communication is described. The processor may be configured to, capable of, or operable to perform one or more operations as described herein. For example, the processor may be configured to, capable of, or operable to receive a Power Headroom Report (PHR) including a calculated power headroom for a set of nodes, where the calculated power headroom is based on a representative pathloss of a set of pathlosses associated with the set of nodes.

[0021] A method performed or performable by an NE (e.g., a base station) for wireless communication is described. The method may include receiving a Power Headroom Report (PHR) including a calculated power headroom for a set of nodes, where the calculated power headroom is based on a representative pathloss of a set of pathlosses associated with the set of nodes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to describe the manner in which advantages and features of the disclosure can be obtained, a description of the disclosure is rendered by reference to specific implementations thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. These drawings depict example implementations of the disclosure and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope. The drawings may have been simplified for clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 6

[0023] Figure 1 illustrates an example of wireless communications system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0024] Figure 2 is an example illustration of a system of device cooperation in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0025] Figure 3 is an example illustration of a system of device cooperation in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0027] Figure 5 illustrates an example of a UE in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0028] Figure 6 illustrates an example of a processor in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0029] Figure 7 illustrates an example of a NE in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure;

[0030] Figure 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure; and

[0031] Figure 9 illustrates a flowchart of a method in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] UE cooperation can offer several benefits including traffic offload, capacity improvement, power saving, and distributed processing. One approach to UE cooperation can be to view a group of cooperative nodes, such as UEs and other devices, as one UE, from the network perspective: i.e., a network sees a single device being served on user and control planes. The group of cooperative nodes viewed as one UE can be referred to as a virtual UE (VUE). Such cooperation can occur using device-to-device (D2D) communications amongst Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 7 nearby devices. Unfortunately, PHR and determination mechanisms are not available for a VUE including multiple cooperating nodes.

[0033] At least some implementations can provide for PHR triggering and determination mechanisms for a VUE including multiple cooperating nodes. For example, according to some implementations, a PHR is triggered if a best pathloss of a set of cooperating nodes forming a VUE changes more than a threshold. According to a possible implementation, a PHR is triggered for a VUE when a best (across nodes of VUE) pathloss (from a gNB, such as a base station, to a node) has changed more than a certain number of dBs.

[0034] According to a possible implementation, an intra-VUE node receiving a downlink control information (DCI) command for uplink (UL) transmissions associated with the VUE ignores a transmit power control (TPC) command in the DCI and determines the applicable TPC from the VUE internal communication. The node sends a PHR report to a VUE controller assuming no TPC command is applied and the VUE controller determines the applicable TPC command for the node. The VUE determines the applicable TPC commands such that a VUE- PHR determined according to node PHRs updated based on the applicable TPC commands is the largest possible. The VUE sends the VUE-PHR to the network.

[0035] According to a possible implementation, an intra-VUE node is configured with two TPC tables: 1. Applicable to DCI commands, and 2. Applicable to commands received by VUE (e.g., VUE controller). According to some implementations, a VUE finds an optimal allocation of TPC commands applicable to intra-VUE nodes that maximizes a function of node PHRs. According to some implementations, a VUE determines MPE P-MPR table entries based on VUE’s reported power class and / or number of cooperating nodes. According to a possible implementation, the VUE determines MPE P-MPR table entries based on its reported power class or number of cooperating nodes.

[0036] Implementations can provide for PHR triggering, and determination mechanisms for a VUE including multiple cooperating nodes. In an example, a best pathloss of cooperating nodes can be used for determination of PHR triggering. In a related example, a VUE-PHR is determined by finding an optimal allocation of TPC commands to maximize a function of node Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 8 PHRs. In a related example, MPE P-MPR entries are determined based on VUE’s reported power class or number of cooperating nodes.

[0037] In a non-VUE case, there may be one pathloss (from the base station to the non- VUE) to be checked for PHR triggering. According to some implementations, in a VUE case, the best pathloss (among a set of pathlosses, each pathloss is from the base station to an intra- VUE) of the VUE can be used for checking if PHR is to be triggered. Also, in non-VUE case, once a UE gets a DCI, it applies the indicated TPC command. According to at least some implementations, once an internal node receives a DCI in a VUE case, it does not apply the TPC command, and an applicable TPC command is determined by the VUE.

[0038] Aspects of the present disclosure are described in the context of a wireless communications system.

[0039] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a wireless communications system 100 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system 100 may include one or more NE 102, one or more UE 104, and a network 106. The wireless communications system 100 may support various radio access technologies. In some implementations, the wireless communications system 100 may be a fourth generation (4G) network, such as a long-term evolution (LTE) network or an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network. In some other implementations, the wireless communications system 100 may be a new radio (NR) network, such as a 5G network, a 5G-Advanced (5G-A) network, or a 5G ultrawideband (5G-UWB) network. In other implementations, the wireless communications system 100 may be one of, or a combination of, a 4G network, a 5G network, a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)-based network, one or more of a future generation network (6G, etc.), and / or one or more of any other suitable radio access technology, wireless access technology, and / or wired access technology, including Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, a Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN), a satellite communications network, high-altitude platform network, the Internet, and / or other communications networks. The wireless communications system 100 may support radio access technologies beyond 5G, for example, 6G. Additionally, the wireless communications system 100 may support various multiple access technologies, such as time Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 9 division multiple access (TDMA), frequency multiple access (FDMA), code division multiple access (CDMA), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), etc.

[0040] The one or more NE 102 may be dispersed throughout a geographic region to form the wireless communications system 100. One or more of the NE 102 described herein may be or include or may be referred to as a network node, a base station, a network element, a network function, a network entity, a radio access network (RAN), a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB), a next-generation NodeB (gNB), an access point, a transmission-reception point (TRP), or other suitable terminology. An NE 102 and a UE 104 may communicate via a communication link, which may be a wireless or wired connection. For example, an NE 102 and a UE 104 may perform wireless communication (e.g., receive signaling, transmit signaling) over a Uu interface.

[0041] An NE 102 may provide a geographic coverage area for which the NE 102 may support services for one or more UEs 104 within the geographic coverage area. For example, an NE 102 and a UE 104 may support wireless communication of signals related to services (e.g., voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, etc.) according to one or multiple radio access technologies. In some implementations, an NE 102 may be moveable, for example, a satellite associated with a non-terrestrial network (NTN). In some implementations, different geographic coverage areas associated with the same or different radio access technologies may overlap, but the different geographic coverage areas may be associated with different NEs 102.

[0042] The one or more UE 104 may be dispersed throughout a geographic region of the wireless communications system 100. A UE 104 may include or may be referred to as a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, a subscriber device, a transmitter device, a receiver device, or some other suitable terminology. In some implementations, the UE 104 may be referred to as a unit, a station, a terminal, or a client, among other examples. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE 104 may be referred to as an Internet-of-Things (IoT) device, an Internet-of-Everything (IoE) device, or machine-type communication (MTC) device, among other examples.

[0043] A UE 104 may be able to support wireless communication directly with other UEs 104 over a communication link. For example, a UE 104 may support wireless communication Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 10 directly with another UE 104 over a D2D link. In some implementations, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) deployments, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) deployments, or cellular-V2X deployments, the communication link may be referred to as a sidelink. For example, a UE 104 may support wireless communication directly with another UE 104 over a PC5 interface.

[0044] An NE 102 may support communications with the network 106, or with another NE 102, or both. For example, an NE 102 may interface with another NE 102 or the network 106 through one or more backhaul links (e.g., S1, N2, N2, or network interface). In some implementations, the NE 102 may communicate with each other directly. In some other implementations, the NE 102 may communicate with each other or indirectly (e.g., via the network 106). In some implementations, one or more NE 102 may include subcomponents, such as an access network entity, which may be an example of an access node controller (ANC). An ANC may communicate with the one or more UEs 104 through one or more other access network transmission entities, which may be referred to as a radio heads, smart radio heads, or TRPs.

[0045] The network 106 may support user authentication, access authorization, tracking, connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The network 106 may be an evolved packet core (EPC), or a 5G core (5GC), which may include a control plane entity that manages access and mobility (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME), an access and mobility management functions (AMF)) and a user plane entity that routes packets or interconnects to external networks (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW), a packet data network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or a user plane function (UPF)). In some implementations, the control plane entity may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions, such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management (e.g., data bearers, signal bearers, etc.) for the one or more UEs 104 served by the one or more NE 102 associated with the network 106.

[0046] The network 106 may communicate with a packet data network over one or more backhaul links (e.g., via an S1, N2, N2, or another network interface). The packet data network may include an application server. In some implementations, one or more UEs 104 may communicate with the application server. A UE 104 may establish a session (e.g., a protocol Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 11 data unit (PDU) session, or the like) with the 106 via an NE 102. The network 106 may route traffic (e.g., control information, data, and the like) between the UE 104 and the application server using the established session (e.g., the established PDU session). The PDU session may be an example of a logical connection between the UE 104 and the network 106 (e.g., one or more network functions of the network 106).

[0047] In the wireless communications system 100, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may use resources of the wireless communications system 100 (e.g., time resources (e.g., symbols, slots, subframes, frames, or the like) or frequency resources (e.g., subcarriers, carriers)) to perform various operations (e.g., wireless communications). In some implementations, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support different resource structures. For example, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support different frame structures. In some implementations, such as in 4G, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support a single frame structure. In some other implementations, such as in 5G and among other suitable radio access technologies, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support various frame structures (i.e., multiple frame structures). The NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may support various frame structures based on one or more numerologies.

[0048] One or more numerologies may be supported in the wireless communications system 100, and a numerology may include a subcarrier spacing and a cyclic prefix. A first numerology (e.g., ^=0) may be associated with a first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix. In some implementations, the first numerology (e.g., ^=0) associated with the first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) may utilize one slot per subframe. A second numerology (e.g., ^=1) may be associated with a second subcarrier spacing (e.g., 30 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix. A third numerology (e.g., ^=2) may be associated with a third subcarrier spacing (e.g., 60 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix or an extended cyclic prefix. A fourth numerology (e.g., ^=3) may be associated with a fourth subcarrier spacing (e.g., 120 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix. A fifth numerology (e.g., ^=4) may be associated with a fifth subcarrier spacing (e.g., 240 kHz) and a normal cyclic prefix.

[0049] A time interval of a resource (e.g., a communication resource) may be organized according to frames (also referred to as radio frames). Each frame may have a duration, for example, a 10 millisecond (ms) duration. In some implementations, each frame may include Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 12 multiple subframes. For example, each frame include 10 subframes, and each subframe may have a duration, for example, a 1 ms duration. In some implementations, each frame may have the same duration. In some implementations, each subframe of a frame may have the same duration.

[0050] Additionally, or alternatively, a time interval of a resource (e.g., a communication resource) may be organized according to slots. For example, a subframe may include a number (e.g., quantity) of slots. The number of slots in each subframe may also depend on the one or more numerologies supported in the wireless communications system 100. For instance, the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth numerologies (i.e., ^=0, ^=1, ^=2, ^=3, ^=4) associated with respective subcarrier spacings of 15 kHz, 30 kHz, 60 kHz, 120 kHz, and 240 kHz may utilize a single slot per subframe, two slots per subframe, four slots per subframe, eight slots per subframe, and 16 slots per subframe, respectively. Each slot may include a number (e.g., quantity) of symbols (e.g., OFDM symbols). In some implementations, the number (e.g., quantity) of slots for a subframe may depend on a numerology. For a normal cyclic prefix, a slot may include 14 symbols. For an extended cyclic prefix (e.g., applicable for 60 kHz subcarrier spacing), a slot may include 12 symbols. The relationship between the number of symbols per slot, the number of slots per subframe, and the number of slots per frame for a normal cyclic prefix and an extended cyclic prefix may depend on a numerology. It should be understood that reference to a first numerology (e.g., ^=0) associated with a first subcarrier spacing (e.g., 15 kHz) may be used interchangeably between subframes and slots.

[0051] In the wireless communications system 100, an electromagnetic (EM) spectrum may be split, based on frequency or wavelength, into various classes, frequency bands, frequency channels, etc. By way of example, the wireless communications system 100 may support one or multiple operating frequency bands, such as frequency range designations FR1 (410 MHz – 7.125 GHz), FR2 (24.25 GHz – 52.6 GHz), FR3 (7.125 GHz – 24.25 GHz), FR4 (52.6 GHz – 114.25 GHz), FR4a or FR4-1 (52.6 GHz – 71 GHz), and FR5 (114.25 GHz – 300 GHz). In some implementations, the NEs 102 and the UEs 104 may perform wireless communications over one or more of the operating frequency bands. In some implementations, FR1 may be used by the NEs 102 and the UEs 104, among other equipment or devices for cellular Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 13 communications traffic (e.g., control data, etc.). For example, communications traffic can include user data, control information, and other communications traffic. The control information can be used for establishing and controlling communications that transmit and receive the user data, such as in packets, in physical shared channels, in data regions of subframes, and in other communications.

[0052] In some implementations, FR2 may be used by the NEs 102 and the UEs 104, among other equipment or devices for short-range, high data rate capabilities.

[0053] FR1 may be associated with one or multiple numerologies (e.g., at least three numerologies). For example, FR1 may be associated with a first numerology (e.g., ^=0), which includes 15 kHz subcarrier spacing; a second numerology (e.g., ^=1), which includes 30 kHz subcarrier spacing; and a third numerology (e.g., ^=2), which includes 60 kHz subcarrier spacing. FR2 may be associated with one or multiple numerologies (e.g., at least 2 numerologies). For example, FR2 may be associated with a third numerology (e.g., ^=2), which includes 60 kHz subcarrier spacing; and a fourth numerology (e.g., ^=3), which includes 120 kHz subcarrier spacing.

[0054] A list of at least some abbreviations above and at least some other abbreviations relevant to at least some implementations of the present disclosure is provided at the end of this detailed description for ease of reference.

[0055] Figure 2 is an example illustration of a system 200 of device cooperation in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The system 200 can be part of the wireless communication system 100 of Figure 1. The system includes devices 210, such as devices 210a through 210d, which can include at least one UE 104, and which can form a VUE 220. The system also includes a gNB 230, such as an NE 102. At least one of the devices 210, such as the device 210a, can be a gateway UE (GUE). The VUE 220 can be formed by a set of devices 210 that cooperate. The GUE 210a connects the VUE 220 to a network, such as via the gNB 230. There can be one or multiple GUEs of the devices 210, and each device 210 may have direct connections to gNB 230. At least a subset of the devices 210 within the VUE 220 can communicate with each other via D2D links 240. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 14

[0056] Figure 3 is an example a system 300 of device cooperation in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The system 300 can be part of the wireless communication system 100 of Figure 1. The system includes devices 210, such as devices 210a through 201c, which can include at least one UE 104, and which can form a VUE 220. The system 300 also includes a gNB 230, such as an NE 102. The VUE 220 can be formed by at least a set of devices 210 that cooperate. At least some or all of the devices 210 associated with the VUE 220 can have connections to gNB at a time instance. Data communication can be between the devices 210 and the gNB 230 and some of the intra-VUE devices 210 can assist such communication via D2D links 240. Various other configurations of a VUE 220 including multiple cooperating devices 210 are possible, such as variations of combinations of the system 200 and the system 300.

[0057] In an example VUE setup, multiple devices can collaborate to transmit data. Such collaboration can result in higher capability (due to aggregation of multiple devices) for the VUE considering the gNB treats the VUE as a single UE.

[0058] Power headroom reporting is a useful mechanism in 5G, allowing a UE to inform a network about its available transmit power. This information is useful for the gNB to efficiently manage resources and allocate power levels, which can lead to better network performance and user experience.

[0059] At least some implementations provide PHR triggering and calculation mechanisms associated with a VUE’s physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmissions. Since the VUE includes multiple cooperating nodes, such as the devices 210, there can be multiple connections from the VUE to a gNB, such as the gNB 230. A PHR can be triggered once a pathloss has changed more than a threshold since the last reported PHR. For the case of VUE with multiple pathlosses, implementations can determine a representative pathloss from the pathlosses of the set of cooperating nodes, such as the devices 210, to be used for checking if a PHR is to be triggered.

[0060] This disclosure also provides mechanisms to determine a PHR for the VUE based on PHRs communicated to a VUE controller (e.g., a GUE, a combination of devices in the VUE, or elsewhere in a VUE or on a network / cloud) by the set of cooperating nodes. The TPC Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 15 command can be ignored in the calculation communicated PHRs. The VUE controller assigns a TPC command according to a potentially new TPC table to each node of the set of cooperating nodes such that a function of communicated PHRs is maximized.

[0061] In addition, since the VUE includes multiple cooperating nodes, some of those nodes may not be available at least for a period of time for cooperation. In such a case, the VUE can report such a change to the network e.g., via a power backoff value in a PHR report. The range of power backoff value can depend on the number of cooperating nodes and / or the reported power class, and therefore a new table can be used for indication of different power backoff values. The table entries can be determined based on the number of cooperating nodes and / or the reported power class.

[0062] 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 38.101 version 18.4.0 is hereby incorporated by reference. The UE power classes provided in TS 38.101 define the maximum UE output power (in dBm) for any transmission bandwidth within the channel bandwidth of an NR carrier unless otherwise stated. The period of measurement can be at least one subframe (1ms).

[0063] 3GPP TS 38.213 version 18.10 is also hereby incorporated by reference. If a UE transmits a PUSCH on active UL bandwidth part (BWP) ^ of carrier ^ of serving cell ^ using parameter set configuration with index ^ and PUSCH power control adjustment state with index ^, the UE determines the PUSCH transmission power ^PUSCH,^,^,^(^, ^, ^^, ^) in PUSCH transmission occasion ^ in TS 38.213 as:^ ^PCMAX, f , c( i ), ^ ^ l) = min ^ ^ l )^^- ^CMAX,^,^^^^is the UE configured maximum output power defined in [TS 38.101-1], [TS 38.101-2] and [TS 38.101-3] for carrier ^ of serving cell ^ in PUSCH transmission occasion ^. - ^O_PUSCH,^,^,^^^^ is a parameter composed of the sum of a component ^O_NOMINAL,PUSCH,^,^^^^ and a component ^O_UE_PUSCH,^,^,^^^^ where ^ ∈ ^0,1, … , ^ − 1^.Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 16 - For ^^,^,^^^^•for ^ ∈ ^^, a set of ^^,^,^^^^ values are provided by a set of alpha in P0-PUSCH-AlphaSet indicated by a respective set of p0-PUSCH-AlphaSetId for active UL BWP ^ of carrier ^ of serving cell ^ - ^^^^,!^",^#,^^^^is the bandwidth of the PUSCH resource assignment expressed in number of resource blocks for PUSCH transmission occasion ^ on active UL BWP ^ of carrier ^ of serving cell ^ and ^ is a SCS configuration defined in [TS 38.211] - ^$^,^,^^^%^ is a downlink pathloss estimate in dB calculated by the UE using reference signal (RS) index ^%for the active downlink (DL) BWP, as described in clause 12, of carrier ^ of serving cell ^ -∆'(,^,^,^^^^ = 10^*+,- .^2^^^0⋅23 − 1^ ⋅ 4^ !"#566789 : for ;< = 1.25 and ∆'(,^,^,^^^^ = 0 for^ of each carrier ^serving cell ^. If the PUSCH transmission is over more than one layer [6, TS 38.214], ∆'(,^,^,^^^^ = 0. BPRE and 4^ !"#566789 , for active UL BWP ^ of each carrier ^ and eachserving cell ^, are computed as below For the PUSCH power control adjustment state ^^,^,^^^, ^^ for active UL BWP ^ of carrier ^of serving cell ^ in PUSCH transmission occasion ^ -C^ !"#,^,^,^^^, ^^ is a TPC command value included in a DCI format that schedules theoccasion ^ on active UL BWP ^ of carrier ^ of serving cell ^ or jointly coded with other TPC commands in a DCI format 2_2 with cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled by TPC-PUSCH-radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) -^^,^,^^^, ^^ = ^^,^,^^^ − ^-, ^^ + ∑C^GH^I, C^ ^F, ^^ is the PUSCH power controlcell ^ and PUSCH transmission occasion ^ if the UE is not provided tpc-Accumulation, where - The C^ !"#,^,^,^values are given in Table 7.1.1-1 Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 17 -command values in a set LM of TPCthe UE receives between−− transmission occasion ^ − ^- and;^ !"#^^^ symbols before PUSCH transmission occasion ^ on active UL BWP ^ of carrier ^ of serving cell ^ for PUSCH power control adjustment state ^, where ^- > 0is the smallest integer for which ;^ !"#^^ − ^-^ symbols before PUSCHtransmission occasion ^ − ^- is earlier than ;^ !"#^^^ symbols before PUSCHtransmission occasion ^ - If a PUSCH transmission is scheduled by a DCI format, ;^ !"#^^^is a number of symbols for active UL BWP ^ of carrier ^ of serving cell ^ after a last symbol of a corresponding PDCCH reception and before a first symbol of the PUSCH transmission - If a PUSCH transmission is configured by ConfiguredGrantConfig, ;^ !"#^^^ is a number of ;^ !"#,OPQsymbols equal to the product of a number of symbols per slot, R77SU5O9T , and the minimum of the values provided by k2 in PUSCH- ConfigCommon for active UL BWP ^ of carrier ^ of serving cell ^ - If the first symbol of the PUSCH transmission occasion occurs within VWX5Y,Zafter a last symbol of a CORESET where the UE detects the DCI format providing the TPC command, the UE may postpone the application of the TPC command until the above condition is not valid. VWX5Y,Zis the PUSCH preparation time for the corresponding UE processing capability [6, TS 38.214] assuming ^Z,, = 0, and ^ corresponds to the smallest SCS configurationbetween the SCS configuration of the PDCCH carrying the DCI format and the SCS configuration of the PUSCH. - If the UE has reached maximum power for active UL BWP ^ of carrier ^ of serving cell ^ at PUSCH transmission occasion ^ − ^- and ∑C^GH^I,JK- C^ !"#,^,^,^^F, ^^ ≥ 0 ,then ^^,^,^^^, ^^ = ^^,^,^^^ − ^-, ^^Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 18 - If UE has reached minimum for active UL BWP ^ of carrier ^ of serving cell ^ at PUSCH transmission occasion ^ − ^- and ∑C^GH^I,JK- C^ !"#,^,^,^^F, ^^ ≤ 0 ,then ^^,^,^^^, ^^ = ^^,^,^^^ − ^-, ^^- APUSCH power control adjustment state ^ for active UL BWP ^ of carrier ^ of serving cell ^ to ^^,^,^^], ^^ = 0, ] = 0,1, … , ^- If a configuration for a corresponding ^̂ _`a_bcd ,^,^,^^^^ value is provided byhigher layers- If a configuration for a corresponding ^^,^,^^^^ value is provided by higher layers where ^ is determined from the value of ^ as -If ^ > 1 and the UE is provided higher SRI-PUSCH-PowerControl, ^ is thesri-PUSCH-ClosedLoopIndex value(s) configured in any SRI-PUSCH- PowerControl with the sri-P0-PUSCH-AlphaSetId value corresponding to ^ -If ^ > 1 and the UE is not provided SRI-PUSCH-PowerControl or ^ = 0, ^ =1 if ^̂ _`a_bcd ,^,^,^^^^ and ^^,^,^^^^ are provided by the second ^0 −^f^gh − i^jℎl^mn in j0 − i^jℎl^mnq; otherwise, ^ = 0- If ^ = 1,- ^ is provided by the value of powerControlLoopToUse if ^̂ _`a_bcd ,^,^,^^1^and ^^,^,^^1^ are provided by p0-PUSCH-Alpha in- ^ is provided by the value of powerControlLoopToUse2 if ^̂ ,^,^,^^1^ and ^^,^,^^1^ are provided by p0-PUSCH-Alpha2 inAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 19 -^^,^,^^^, ^^ = C^ !"#,^,^,^^^, ^^ is the power control adjustment state for activeUL BWP ^ of carrier ^ of serving cell ^ and PUSCH transmission occasion i if the UE is provided tpc-Accumulation, where - C^ !"#,^,^,^absolute values are given in Table 7.1.1-1 If the UE transmits a PUSCH associated with the first RS resource index ^%, the UE applies the first ^O_UE_PUSCH,^,^,^^^^ value, the first ^^,^,^^^^ value, and ^^,^,^^^, ^^ fordetermining ^PUSCH,^,^,^^^, ^, ^% , ^^. If the UE transmits a PUSCH thesecond RS resource ^%, the UE applies the second ^O_UE_PUSCH,^,^,^^^^ value, thesecond ^^,^,^^^^ value, and ^^,^,^^^, ^^ or ^^,^,^^^, 0^ if twoPUSCH-PC-AdjustmentStates is provided or not provided, respectively, for determining ^PUSCH,^,^,^^^, ^, ^%, ^^.once a VUE is formed, the VUE can send a message to a gNB indicating that the VUE is formed (e.g., by a random access channel (RACH) indicating a VUE identifier (VUE-ID)). The gNB sends a VUE capability inquiry to the VUE and receives corresponding capabilities that are applicable to the VUE. The VUE can use assistance information to update gNB regarding some capabilities / situations (e.g., VUE power class change).

[0065] In this disclosure, ‘D2D’ is a general term, and can include various technologies such as sidelink, Wi-Fi, etc. for communicating between intra-VUE nodes. D2D links can be fast and reliable (as they are between nearby nodes), and hence may not incur much burden on the system (e.g., if a 3GPP-based scheme is used for D2D communication).

[0066] Implementations of this disclosure can relate to PHR for an UL data transmission. According to a possible implementation relating to PHR triggering, a VUE includes a first set of UEs, such as a first set of cooperating nodes, where a second set of UEs (including at least two UEs) that is a subset of the first set of UEs has an UL connection to the network, such as to a network node, like a gNB, access point, etc. The VUE determines whether a representative Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 20 pathloss has changed more than certain of dBs. For example, each device 210 of the system 300 can determine its pathloss using reference signals received from the gNB.

[0067] The representative path loss can be the best pathloss, such as smallest pathloss, best representative pathloss, smallest available pathloss, or other best pathloss, prior to the change; can be the best pathloss after the change; can be the best pathloss (in a last transmission and in the current transmission, pathloss measured at present time on the current pathloss reference and the pathloss measured at the transmission time of the last transmission of PHR on the pathloss reference in use at that time, irrespective of whether the pathloss reference has changed in between, and also irrespective of whether the UE-ID of the corresponding UE-to- gNB link has changed in between); can be a function (e.g., average, median, maximum, minimum) of the pathlosses; can be any pathloss corresponding to a PHR triggered when pathlosses of the second set of UEs change more than the certain number of dBs; and / or can be any other representative pathloss.

[0068] In an implementation, a PHR can or shall be triggered if any of the following events occur: phr-ProhibitTimer expires or has expired and the ‘best’ path loss has changed more than phr-Tx-PowerFactorChange dB for at least one RS used as pathloss reference for one activated Serving Cell of any medium access control (MAC) entity of which the active DL BWP is not dormant BWP since the last transmission of a PHR in this MAC entity when the MAC entity has UL resources for new transmission; where the ‘best’ path loss is the smallest path loss across the set of intra-VUE UEs which have UL connection to the gNB.

[0069] An intra-VUE UE can be configured with a phr-PeriodicTimer (T1) which can be different than a phr-PeriodicTimer (T2) for the VUE. In an implementation, a UE is not expected to have more than one phr-PeriodicTimer running. For instance, a UE that is part of a VUE, may either have T1 running or T2, but not both. Alternatively, at least one intra-VUE node has both T1 and T2 running.

[0070] In an implementation, a UE is configured with a periodic PHR timer, and once the timer expires, the UE determines whether to provide a PHR for VUE-related communications or a PHR for non-VUE-related communications; e.g., based on whether the grant associated with the PUSCH transmission carrying the PHR. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 21

[0071] According to a possible relating to PHR calculation, once a PHR is triggered for the VUE, e.g., based on the triggering condition described above, a VUE controller / anchor indicates to the intra-VUE nodes that a PHR is triggered and they act according to at least one of the following possible implementations.

[0072] Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart 400 of a method in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The method can be performed by a VUE, a VUE controller, a GUE, a set of cooperating devices, a device or subset of devices in a set of cooperating devices, or otherwise performed by a VUE. At 402, DCI can be received.

[0073] At 404, each node, such as each UE, in a set of cooperating nodes can determine P0(j), M, α(j), and PL(qd) based on DCI, where P0(j) (an open-loop transmission power) can be ^O_PUSCH,^,^,^^^^, a parameter composed of the sum of a component ^O_NOMINAL,PUSCH,^,^^^^and a component ^O_UE_PUSCH,^,^,^^^^ where ^ ∈ ^0,1, … , ^ − 1^. ^O_UE_PUSCH,^,^,^^^^ can bederived basedrules; where index ‘j’ is determined based on DCI indication or based on rules; where M is the bandwidth of the PUSCH resource assignment expressed in number of resource blocks for PUSCH transmission occasion ^ on active UL BWP ^ of carrier ^ of serving cell ^ and ^ is a subcarrier spacing (SCS) configuration defined in TS38.211; where α(j) (a fractional power control factor) is defined for ^ ∈ ^^, where a set of^^,^,^^^^values are provided by a set of alpha in P0-PUSCH-AlphaSet indicated by a respective set of p0-PUSCH-AlphaSetId for active UL BWP ^ of carrier ^ of serving cell ^; where PL(qd) is a downlink pathloss estimate in dB calculated by the UE using reference signal (RS) index ^%for the active DL BWP, as described in clause 12 of TS 38.213, of carrier ^ of serving cell ^; where index “qd” is determined based on DCI.

[0074] At 406, each node ‘i’ can compute and share its own computed PHR, PHR_ci, assuming no TPC command is applied. At 408, the VUE determines the TPC applicable to each node. At 410, each node computes PHR_i based on an updated TPC command. At 412, the VUE determines the PHR for the VUE on a serving cell based on PHR_i. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 22

[0075] For example, a VUE including N VUE nodes with an uplink connection to a gNB or cooperating in an uplink transmission in a serving cell, computes the PHR (when a PHR is triggered) for that serving cell based on intra-VUE calculated PHRs (^hxM) as follows: |}~hx = 10 log,-^H^ ∑MK, 10^^, where to compute PHR_i, node ‘i’, reports its computed PHR_ci to the VUE controller, and where PHR_ci is determined based on not applying a TPC command in DCI. Then the VUE controller informs node ‘i’, regarding an updated TPC command determined by the VUE controller, then node ‘i’ determines PHR_i based on the updated TPC command, and then the VUE, such as a VUE controller, computes PHR to be reported to the network based on the set of PHR_is. Alternatively, the VUE can determine PHR_i values based on PHR_ci and the applicable TPC command.

[0076] According to a possible implementation, instead of PHR_ci, a node may communicate parameters that a VUE controller may determine PHR_cis from. According to a possible alternative implementation, PHR_ci values can be computed assuming TPC is applied.

[0077] If a PHR_ci is negative, the VUE controller may not involve node ‘i’ in cooperative communication. If node ‘i’ is not involved in the VUE cooperative communication, the VUE can inform the network about its reduced set of cooperative nodes (e.g., its reduced power class or via maximum permitted exposure (MPE) field).

[0078] A new effective power reduction for MPE power management MPR (MPE P-MPR) table can determined based on a nominal number of cooperating nodes, where the number of cooperating nodes can be reported by the VUE to the network. The table entries can be determined based on the nominal number or based on a reported power class for the VUE.

[0079] In an implementation, the VUE assigns the TPC applicable to each node ensuring positive PHR_i for node ‘i’. If such an assignment is not possible (e.g., the TPC command is large, resulting in negative PHR_i for nodes), the VUE reports the largest possible (via TPC allocation) PHR for the VUE, PHR_vue, which can be negative. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 23

[0080] In an example, a gNB indicates, as in DCI to the VUE, to increase the transmission power by 3 dB (meaning to double the transmission power). The VUE knows the total transmission power (without TPC), then determines the TPC command applicable to each node such that the total transmission power is doubled and at the same time to the extent possible, where none of the PHR_is become negative (otherwise, the transmission power may not truly be doubled as it will be capped by the nodes operating at their PCMAX,f,c).

[0081] To ensure such an operation, new TPC tables / table entries can be defined for the VUE to indicate to intra-VUE nodes.

[0082] In an example, a node in a VUE is configured with two TPC tables, where one table is for non-VUE communications and / or applicable to DCI received form gNB and another table is for VUE-related communications. The VUE controller can send the TPC to a node to allow a node to adjust its transmission power to the gNB. Examples of the TPC tables are shown below. TPC Command Field Accumulated ^^^^^^,^,^,^ [dB] Absolute ^^^^^^,^,^,^ [dB] 0 -1 -4 1 0 -1 2 1 1 3 3 4 Table 1: Mapping of TPC Command Field in a DCI format scheduling a PUSCH transmission, or in DCI format 2_2 with CRC scrambled by TPC-PUSCH-RNTI, or in DCI format 2_3, to absolute and accumulated ^^^^^^,^,^,^ values. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 24 TPC command Field Accumulated [dB] Absolute ^^^^^^,^,^,^ [dB] 0 -3 -6 1 -2 -4 2 -1 -2 3 0 1 4 1 2 5 2 4 6 3 5 7 4 6 Table 2: Mapping of TPC Command Field in a VUE internal command, to absolute and accumulated ^^^^^^,^,^,^ values.

[0083] For a PHR determined based on a reference PUSCH transmission (virtual PHR), the VUE may not go through the above procedures, and just the intra-VUE nodes can report their virtual PHR, and the VUE computes a virtual PHR for a serving cell, such as a cell on a gNB, based on the reported virtual PHRs by the intra-VUE nodes.

[0084] In a PHR, the VUE can also report a PCMAX,f,cfor carrier f of serving cell c. To compute PCMAX,f,c, the VUE can perform the following operation: ^ ^ ^^^ ^H^^^,^,^^^Mwhere ^^^^,^,^is the UL connection to gNB (or cooperating in UL communication).

[0085] Figure 5 illustrates an example of a UE 500 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The UE 500 may include at least one processor 502, at least one memory 504, at least one controller 506, and at least one transceiver 508. The processor 502, the memory 504, the controller 506, the transceiver 508, various combinations thereof, or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of the present Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 25 disclosure as described herein. These may be coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more interfaces.

[0086] The processor 502, the memory 504, the controller 506, the transceiver 508, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure.

[0087] The processor 502 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general- purpose processor, a DSP, a central processing unit (CPU), an ASIC, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or any combination thereof). In some implementations, the processor 502 may be configured to operate the memory 504. In some other implementations, the memory 504 may be integrated into the processor 502. The processor 502 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 504 to cause the UE 500 to perform various functions of the present disclosure.

[0088] The memory 504 may include volatile or non-volatile memory. The memory 504 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code including instructions when executed by the processor 502 cause the UE 500 to perform various functions described herein. The code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such the memory 504 or another type of memory. Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0089] The controller 506 may manage input and output signals for the UE 500. The controller 506 may also manage peripherals not integrated into the UE 500. In some implementations, the controller 506 may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, WINDOWS®, or other operating systems. In some implementations, the controller 506 may be implemented as part of the processor 502. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 26

[0090] In some implementations, the UE may include at least one transceiver 508. In some other implementations, the UE 500 may have more than one transceiver 508. The transceiver 508 may represent a wireless transceiver. The transceiver 508 may also represent and / or include one or more other wireless and or wired communication interfaces, such as a network interface, a universal serial bus (USB) port, an optical transceiver, and / or any other transceiver, interface, port, communication interface, etc. The transceiver 508 may include one or more receiver chains 510, one or more transmitter chains 512, or a combination thereof.

[0091] A receiver chain 510 may be configured to receive signals (e.g., control information, data, packets) over a wireless medium. For example, the receiver chain 510 may include one or more antennas for receiving the signal over the air or wireless medium. The receiver chain 510 may include at least one amplifier (e.g., a low-noise amplifier (LNA)) configured to amplify the received signal. The receiver chain 510 may include at least one demodulator configured to demodulate the received signal and obtain the transmitted data by reversing the modulation technique applied during transmission of the signal. The receiver chain 510 may include at least one decoder for decoding the processing the demodulated signal to receive the transmitted data.

[0092] A transmitter chain 512 may be configured to generate and transmit signals (e.g., control information, data, packets). The transmitter chain 512 may include at least one modulator for modulating data onto a carrier signal, preparing the signal for transmission over a wireless medium. The at least one modulator may be configured to support one or more modulation techniques such as amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), digital modulation schemes like phase-shift keying (PSK) or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), and / or any other modulation techniques. The transmitter chain 512 may also include at least one power amplifier configured to amplify the modulated signal to an appropriate power level suitable for transmission over the wireless medium. The transmitter chain 512 may also include one or more antennas for transmitting the amplified signal into the air or wireless medium.

[0093] In some implementations, the processor 502 and the memory 504 coupled with the processor 502 may be configured to cause the UE 500 to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., executing, by the processor 502, instructions stored in the memory 504). Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 27 For example, the processor 502 may support communication at the UE 500 in accordance with the examples as disclosed herein.

[0094] According to a possible implementation, the UE 500 may be configured to support a means for power headroom determination for cooperative communications. For example, the at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to determine a set of pathlosses associated with a set of cooperating nodes. For example, cooperating nodes can receive signals, such as RSs, from a network node. The network node can also send information about the transmitted power of the RS to the cooperating node. A cooperating node can determine the pathloss based on measurements taken on a signal and the cooperating node can compare, such as determine the difference between, the transmitted power and the measured power to determine the pathloss. The cooperating node can then transmit information about the pathloss, such as in a PHR, to the network node. In an implementation, the PHR can include a power backoff for the set of cooperating nodes, for each cooperating node, or a combination thereof, along with a calculated power headroom.

[0095] According to a possible implementation, a pathloss of associated with a cooperating node of the set of cooperating nodes can be defined as a reduction in power of a network node radio signal as it propagates to the cooperating node. For example, as discussed above, the network node radio signal can be a RS (reference signal) that propagates from a network node to at least one node of the set of cooperating nodes. Each cooperating node that receives the RS can measure at least one characteristic, such as signal strength, signal power, etc., of the RS to determine the pathloss from the network node to the respective cooperating node. A higher pathloss can correspond to a lower signal strength. For example, an RS can be used as the pathloss reference for an activated serving cell and the at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to take measurements on the RS sent from a gNB to determine the pathloss from the gNB to the UE 500.

[0096] The at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to determine a representative pathloss from the set of pathlosses. The representative pathloss can be a best, such as a smallest pathloss, within the set of pathlosses. According to other implementations, the representative pathloss can be a worst pathloss, such as a largest pathloss. The Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 28 representative pathloss can also be a all or some of the pathlosses, such as an average pathloss, a mode pathloss, a median pathloss, a function that eliminates outlier pathlosses for pathloss determination, or any other function that can determine a representative pathloss.

[0097] The at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to determine a change in the representative pathloss is more than a threshold from a previous pathloss corresponding to a previous transmission of a previous PHR. The change may be more than a threshold from the previous pathloss by being above or below a threshold difference from the previous pathloss. For example, an absolute value of the change can be more than the threshold.

[0098] According to a possible implementation, the change of the representative pathloss is between a present pathloss measured at a present time on a current pathloss reference, and the previous pathloss measured at a transmission time of the previous transmission of the previous PHR on a previous pathloss reference in use at that time, irrespective of whether the current pathloss reference in use has changed since the previous pathloss reference, and also irrespective of whether a node identifier (node-ID) of a corresponding cooperating node-to- gNB link has changed since the previous pathloss reference.

[0099] For example, the pathloss variation for one cell corresponding to the change of the pathloss can be between the pathloss measured at a present time on the current pathloss reference and the pathloss measured at the transmission time of the last transmission of PHR on the pathloss reference in use at that time.

[0100] The at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to trigger a PHR based on the change in the representative pathloss being more than the threshold from the previous pathloss. According to a possible implementation, the PHR is triggered if the representative pathloss has changed more than a threshold from the previous pathloss transmitted in the previous transmission of the previous PHR, and a PHR prohibit timer corresponding to the set of cooperating nodes has expired. In an implementation, the PHR prohibit timer can be for the whole set of cooperating nodes, such as for a VUE. For example, a PHR-ProhibitTimer can set a duration during which a UE is prohibited from sending PHR reports after a particular event. The PHR-ProhibitTimer can ensure a controlled and efficient Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 29 reporting mechanism by preventing when certain events occur in quick succession. A phr-PeriodicTimer can specify the reporting periodicity for the UE's PHR transmissions. It can define an interval at which a UE should send PHR reports to the gNB. The value of PHR-PeriodicTimer can determine the duration between consecutive PHR reports. According to a possible implementation, a cooperating node of the set of cooperating nodes has a PHR periodic timer associated with a VUE PHR, and does not have a PHR periodic timer associated with non-VUE related communications.

[0101] The at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to calculate a power headroom for the triggered PHR. The at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to transmit the calculated power headroom in the triggered PHR.

[0102] According to a possible implementation, the UE 500 can be a single UE cooperating node in the set of cooperating nodes, such as in a group of node devices operating collaboratively as a VUE. In another implementation, operations of the UE 500 can represent operations of multiple UEs operating collaboratively, such as collectively, as a VUE, as a VUE controller, and / or otherwise operating collaboratively.

[0103] According to a possible implementation, the at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to determine the set of cooperating nodes. The cooperating nodes can be registered with a VUE. For example, the set of cooperating nodes can be the VUE. The cooperating nodes can be cooperating wireless device nodes, cooperating user device nodes, cooperating user equipment nodes, other cooperating nodes, and / or combinations thereof. For example, node can be a UE, a wireless communication device, a mobile device, or any other node that can act as a node of a VUE. Generally, the terms “cooperating node” and “node device,” can be used interchangeably. For example, a cooperating node is a node of the set of cooperating nodes and a node device, such as a UE, may be a cooperating node of the set of cooperating nodes. A UE may have direct communication capabilities with the gNB via 4G, 5G, 6G, and / or higher technologies. A device may or may not have direct communication capabilities with the gNB via 4G, 5G, 6G, and / or other related technologies at least for a duration of time. A node, the set of cooperating nodes, or a subset of the cooperating nodes can send at least some signals associated with a VUE identifier of the VUE to a gNB. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 30

[0104] According to a possible one master device, such as a GUE, can be the controller for the VUE. According to another possible implementation, at least some of the nodes / devices / UEs in a VUE may collaborate to act as a VUE controller to perform at least some of the operations. For example, one node device may track a prohibit timer, another may track pathlosses, another may perform the change determination, another may calculate the power headroom, etc. Also, different node devices may perform portions of each operation, may perform multiple operations, may collaborate to perform at least one of the operations, and / or may or may not contribute to performing the operations.

[0105] In one possible implementation, each node device may send the same PHR in each device’s own MAC-control element (MAC-CE) and the gNB can combine the received information. Each node device can send information, such as power headroom, in a PHR on different resources, such as in different resource blocks (RBs) and the gNB can combine the information (receptions on the different RBs). A VUE controller device can also send a packet including MAC-CE including the PHR. The VUE controller device can also send the packet to the other cooperating nodes and the other cooperating nodes can send the packet or a portion of the packet to the gNB. The packet can include the PHR. As a further example, A node device can determine the set of pathlosses associated with the set of cooperating nodes. For example, each node device in a VUE can determine its own pathloss for the set of pathlosses and communicate its determined pathloss to a VUE controller. The VUE controller can determine the set from the pathlosses received from each node device.

[0106] A node device or each node device can transmit the calculated power headroom in the triggered PHR to a network, such as to a gNB. A controller device, such as a VUE controller or other controller device, can also share various determined pathloss, change, and / or power headroom information between the cooperating nodes and at least some or all of the cooperating nodes can send a MAC-CE including the PHR to the gNB.

[0107] According to a possible implementation, at least one node of the set of cooperating nodes is configured with two TPC tables including a first TPC table to be used for non-VUE related communications, and a second TPC table for VUE-related communications within the set of cooperating nodes. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 31

[0108] According to a possible the PHR includes an MPE P-MPR that indicates a power back-off value for the set of cooperating nodes due to a change in a total number of cooperating nodes in the set of cooperating nodes (e.g., for a transmission towards network). The at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to determine MPE P-MPR table entries based on a reported power class of the set of cooperating nodes or based on the total number of cooperating nodes.

[0109] According to a possible implementation, the set of cooperating nodes is a VUE. The at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to receive DCI for uplink transmissions associated with the VUE, the DCI including a TPC command. The at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to ignore the TPC command. The at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to determine an applicable TPC command based on internal VUE communication between the set of cooperating nodes. The at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to calculate the power headroom for the triggered PHR based on the determined applicable TPC command. For example, a node of the set of cooperating nodes receives a DCI for UL transmissions associated with the VUE, ignores the TPC command in the DCI, and determines the applicable TPC from the VUE internal communication.

[0110] According to a possible implementation, the at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to send a PHR report to a VUE controller of the set of cooperating nodes assuming no TPC command is applied. For example, a node of the set of cooperating nodes can send a PHR report to a VUE controller assuming no TPC command is applied.

[0111] According to a possible implementation, the at least one processor 502 can be configured to cause the UE 500 to determine an allocation of at least one TPC command applicable to each cooperating node of the set of cooperating nodes such that a function of PHR values of the set of cooperating nodes is maximized. For example, the VUE can find an allocation of TPC commands applicable to each node of the set of cooperating nodes such that a function of node PHRs is maximized. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 32

[0112] Figure 6 illustrates an example processor 600 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The processor 600 may be an example of a processor configured to perform various operations in accordance with the examples described herein. The processor 600 may include at least one controller 602 configured to perform various operations in accordance with the examples described herein. The processor 600 may optionally include at least one memory 604, which may be, for example, an L1 / L2 / L3 cache. Additionally, or alternatively, the processor 600 may optionally include one or more arithmetic-logic units (ALUs) 606. One or more of these components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more interfaces (e.g., buses).

[0113] The processor 600 may be a processor chipset and include a protocol stack (e.g., a software stack) executed by the processor chipset to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, retrieving, transmitting, outputting, forwarding, storing, determining, identifying, accessing, writing, reading) in accordance with examples as described herein. The processor chipset may include one or more cores, one or more caches (e.g., memory local to or included in the processor chipset (e.g., the processor 600)) or other memory (e.g., random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM), static RAM (SRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), resistive RAM (RRAM), flash memory, phase change memory (PCM), and others).

[0114] The controller 602 may be configured to manage and coordinate various operations (e.g., signaling, receiving, obtaining, retrieving, transmitting, outputting, forwarding, storing, determining, identifying, accessing, writing, reading) of the processor 600 to cause the processor 600 to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. For example, the controller 602 may operate as a control unit of the processor 600, generating control signals that manage the operation of various components of the processor 600. These control signals include enabling or disabling functional units, selecting data paths, initiating memory access, and coordinating the timing of operations.

[0115] The controller 602 may be configured to fetch (e.g., obtain, retrieve, receive) instructions from the memory 604 and determine subsequent instruction(s) to be executed to Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 33 cause the processor 600 to support various in accordance with examples as described herein. The controller 602 may be configured to track memory addresses of instructions associated with the memory 604. The controller 602 may be configured to decode instructions to determine the operation to be performed and the operands involved. For example, the controller 602 may be configured to interpret the instruction and determine control signals to be output to other components of the processor 600 to cause the processor 600 to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, the controller 602 may be configured to manage the flow of data within the processor 600. The controller 602 may be configured to control the transfer of data between registers, ALUs, and other functional units of the processor 600.

[0116] The memory 604 may include one or more caches (e.g., memory local to or included in the processor 600 or other memory, such RAM, ROM, DRAM, SDRAM, SRAM, MRAM, flash memory, etc. In some implementations, the memory 604 may reside within or on a processor chipset (e.g., local to the processor 600). In some other implementations, the memory 604 may reside external to the processor chipset (e.g., remote to the processor 600).

[0117] The memory 604 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code including instructions that, when executed by the processor 600, cause the processor 600 to perform various functions described herein. The code may be stored in a non-transitory computer- readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. The controller 602 and / or the processor 600 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 604 to cause the processor 600 to perform various functions. For example, the processor 600 and / or the controller 602 may be coupled with or to the memory 604, the processor 600, the controller 602, and the memory 604 may be configured to perform various functions described herein. In some examples, the processor 600 may include multiple processors and the memory 604 may include multiple memories. One or more of the multiple processors may be coupled with one or more of the multiple memories, which may, individually or collectively, be configured to perform various functions herein.

[0118] The one or more ALUs 606 may be configured to support various operations in accordance with examples as described herein. In some implementations, the one or more Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 34 ALUs 606 may reside within or on a chipset (e.g., the processor 600). In some other implementations, the one or more ALUs 606 may reside external to the processor chipset (e.g., the processor 600). One or more ALUs 606 may perform one or more computations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division on data. For example, one or more ALUs 606 may receive input operands and an operation code, which determines an operation to be executed. One or more ALUs 606 be configured with a variety of logical and arithmetic circuits, including adders, subtractors, shifters, and logic gates, to process and manipulate the data according to the operation. Additionally, or alternatively, the one or more ALUs 606 may support logical operations such as AND, OR, exclusive-OR (XOR), not-OR (NOR), and not- AND (NAND), enabling the one or more ALUs 606 to handle conditional operations, comparisons, and bitwise operations.

[0119] The processor 600 may support wireless communication in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The processor 600 may be configured to or operable to support a means for power headroom determination for cooperative communications.

[0120] According to a possible implementation, the at least one controller 602 can be configured to cause the processor 600 to determine the set of cooperating nodes, where the nodes are registered with a VUE. The at least one controller 602 can be configured to cause the processor 600 to determine a set of pathlosses associated with the set of cooperating nodes. According to a possible implementation, a pathloss of associated with a cooperating node of the set of cooperating nodes is defined as a reduction in power of a network node radio signal as it propagates to the cooperating node.

[0121] The at least one controller 602 can be configured to cause the processor 600 to determine a representative pathloss from the set of pathlosses. The at least one controller 602 can be configured to cause the processor 600 to determine a change in the representative pathloss is more than a threshold from a previous pathloss corresponding to a previous transmission of a previous PHR. According to a possible implementation, the representative pathloss is a smallest pathloss within the set of pathlosses.

[0122] The at least one controller 602 can be configured to cause the processor 600 to trigger a PHR based on the change in the representative pathloss being more than the threshold Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 35 from the previous pathloss. According to a implementation, the PHR is triggered if: the representative pathloss has changed more than a threshold from the previous pathloss transmitted in the previous transmission of the previous PHR, and a PHR prohibit timer corresponding to the set of cooperating nodes has expired. According to a possible implementation, the change of the representative pathloss is between: a present pathloss measured at a present time on a current pathloss reference, and the previous pathloss measured at a transmission time of the previous transmission of the previous PHR on a previous pathloss reference in use at that time, irrespective of whether the current pathloss reference in use has changed since the previous pathloss reference, and also irrespective of whether a node-ID of a corresponding cooperating node-to-gNB link has changed since the previous pathloss reference. The at least one controller 602 can be configured to cause the processor 600 to calculate a power headroom for the triggered PHR. The at least one controller 602 can be configured to cause the processor 600 to transmit the calculated power headroom in the triggered PHR. The at least one controller 602 can be configured to cause the processor 600 to perform other described operations of the UE 500.

[0123] Figure 7 illustrates an example of an NE 700 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The NE 700 may include at least one processor 702, at least one memory 704, at least one controller 706, and at least one transceiver 708. The processor 702, the memory 704, the controller 706, the transceiver 708, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of the present disclosure as described herein. These components may be coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more interfaces.

[0124] The processor 702, the memory 704, the controller 706, the transceiver 708, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 36

[0125] The processor 702 may include hardware device (e.g., a general- purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, or any combination thereof). In some implementations, the processor 702 may be configured to operate the memory 704. In some other implementations, the memory 704 may be integrated into the processor 702. The processor 702 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in the memory 704 to cause the NE 700 to perform various functions of the present disclosure.

[0126] The memory 704 may include volatile or non-volatile memory. The memory 704 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code including instructions when executed by the processor 702 cause the NE 700 to perform various functions described herein. The code may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such the memory 704 or another type of memory. Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates the transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0127] The controller 706 may manage input and output signals for the NE 700. The controller 706 may also manage peripherals not integrated into the NE 700. In some implementations, the controller 706 may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, WINDOWS®, or other operating systems. In some implementations, the controller 706 may be implemented as part of the processor 702.

[0128] In some implementations, the NE 700 may include at least one transceiver 708. In some other implementations, the NE 700 may have more than one transceiver 708. The transceiver 708 may represent at least one wireless transceiver and may include other transceivers, such as a wired transceiver, like a network interface. The transceiver 708 may include one or more receiver chains 710, one or more transmitter chains 712, or a combination thereof.

[0129] A receiver chain 710 may be configured to receive signals (e.g., control information, data, packets) over a wireless medium. For example, the receiver chain 710 may include one or more antennas for receiving the signal over the air or wireless medium. The receiver chain 710 may include at least one amplifier (e.g., a LNA) configured to amplify the received signal. The Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 37 receiver chain 710 may include at least one configured to demodulate the received signal and obtain the transmitted data by reversing the modulation technique applied during the transmission of the signal. The receiver chain 710 may include at least one decoder for decoding the processing the demodulated signal to receive the transmitted data.

[0130] A transmitter chain 712 may be configured to generate and transmit signals (e.g., control information, data, packets). The transmitter chain 712 may include at least one modulator for modulating data onto a carrier signal, preparing the signal for transmission over a wireless medium. The at least one modulator may be configured to support one or more modulation techniques such as AM, FM, or digital modulation schemes like PSK or QAM, and / or any other modulation techniques. The transmitter chain 712 may also include at least one power amplifier configured to amplify the modulated signal to an appropriate power level suitable for transmission over the wireless medium. The transmitter chain 712 may also include one or more antennas for transmitting the amplified signal into the air or wireless medium.

[0131] In some implementations, the processor 702 and the memory 704 coupled with the processor 702 may be configured to cause the NE 700 to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., executing, by the processor 702, instructions stored in the memory 704). For example, the processor 702 may support wireless communication at the NE 700 in accordance with examples as disclosed herein.

[0132] The NE 700 may be configured to support a means for power headroom determination for cooperative communications. According to a possible implementation, the NE 700 can be a base station, a gNB, a network entity, a network controller, or any other NE. The at least one processor 702 can cause the NE 700 to communicate with at least one user equipment node of a set of cooperating nodes. The at least one processor 702 can cause the NE 700 to receive a PHR including a calculated power headroom for the set of cooperating nodes. The calculated power headroom can be based on a representative pathloss of a set of pathlosses associated with the set of cooperating nodes. According to a possible implementation, the PHR can include a power backoff value.

[0133] According to a possible implementation, the PHR is triggered based on a change in the representative pathloss being more than a threshold from a previous pathloss corresponding Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 38 to a previously received PHR. According to implementation, the at least one processor 702 can cause the NE 700 to indicate the threshold to at least one user equipment node, the at least one user equipment node can determine the threshold, the at least one user equipment node can be preconfigured with the threshold, and / or the at least one user equipment node can otherwise have the threshold available.

[0134] According to a possible implementation, the at least one processor 702 can cause the NE 700 to determine table entries of a power backoff table based on a power class reported by and for the set of cooperating nodes or based on a number of cooperating nodes associated with the set of cooperating nodes.

[0135] According to a possible implementation, the set of cooperating nodes includes a VUE. The at least one processor 702 can cause the NE 700 to configure the VUE with a period PHR timer, a PHR prohibit timer, and / or a pathloss change threshold for triggering the PHR by the VUE.

[0136] According to a possible implementation, the at least one processor 702 can cause the NE 700 to indicate to the VUE, a PHR triggering condition to use. The PHR triggering condition can include: the PHR is triggered when at least a certain number of pathlosses in the set of pathlosses change more than a threshold from their previous pathloss values, where the certain number of pathlosses is configured by the NE 700; the PHR is triggered when a smallest pathloss in the set of pathlosses changes more than a threshold from its previous pathloss value; the PHR is triggered when a function of pathlosses in the set of pathlosses changes more than a threshold from its previous value at a time of a previous PHR; and / or any other PHR triggering condition. The at least one processor 702 can be configured to cause the NE 700 to perform other reciprocal operations on information and signals sent to and from a UE, such as the UE 500.

[0137] Figure 8 illustrates a flowchart 800 of a method in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method may be implemented by a UE, a VUE, or other device as described herein. For example, in some implementations, a UE and / or combination of devices may execute a set of instructions to control the function elements of the UE and / or combination of devices to perform the described functions. Each operation of the Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 39 flowchart 800 may be performed in with the examples described herein. In some implementations, aspects of a particular operations may be performed by a UE 500 as described with reference to Figure 5.

[0138] According to a possible implementation, the method can be performed at a UE, at a VUE, at a VUE controller, or at any other device corresponding to a set of cooperating nodes. At 802, the method can include determining a set of pathlosses associated with the set of nodes. According to a possible implementation, a pathloss associated with a cooperating node of the set of cooperating nodes is defined as a reduction in power of a network node radio signal as it propagates to the cooperating node.

[0139] At 804, the method can include determining a representative pathloss from the set of pathlosses. According to a possible implementation, the representative pathloss is a smallest pathloss within the set of pathlosses.

[0140] At 806, the method can include determining that a change in the representative pathloss is more than a threshold from a previous pathloss corresponding to a previous transmission of a previous PHR. According to a possible implementation, the change of the representative pathloss is between a present pathloss measured at a present time on a current pathloss reference and the previous pathloss measured at a transmission time of the previous transmission of the previous PHR on a previous pathloss reference in use at that time, irrespective of whether the current pathloss reference in use has changed since the previous pathloss reference, and also irrespective of whether a node-ID of a corresponding cooperating node-to-gNB link has changed since the previous pathloss reference.

[0141] At 808, the method can include triggering a PHR based on the change in the representative pathloss being more than the threshold from the previous pathloss. According to a possible implementation, the PHR is triggered if the representative pathloss has changed more than a threshold from the previous pathloss transmitted in the previous transmission of the previous PHR and a PHR prohibit timer corresponding to the set of cooperating nodes has expired. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 40

[0142] At 810, the method can include a power headroom for the triggered PHR. At 812, the method can include transmitting the calculated power headroom in the triggered PHR.

[0143] According to a possible implementation, the method can include determining the set of cooperating nodes, where the cooperating nodes in the set of cooperating nodes are registered with a VUE. According to a possible implementation, a node of the set of cooperating nodes has a PHR periodic timer associated with a VUE PHR and does not have a PHR periodic timer associated with non-VUE related communications.

[0144] According to a possible implementation, at least one node of the set of cooperating nodes is configured with two TPC tables including a first TPC table to be used for non-VUE related communications and a second TPC table for VUE-related communications within the set of cooperating nodes.

[0145] According to a possible implementation, the PHR includes a MPE P-MPR that indicates a power back-off value for the set of cooperating nodes due to a change in a total number of cooperating nodes in the set of cooperating nodes. The method can include determining MPE P-MPR table entries based on a reported power class of the set of cooperating nodes or based on the total number of cooperating nodes.

[0146] According to a possible implementation, the set of cooperating nodes includes a VUE. The method can include receiving DCI for uplink transmissions associated with the VUE, the DCI including a TPC command. The method can include ignoring the TPC command. The method can include determining an applicable TPC command based on internal VUE communication between the set of cooperating nodes. The method can include calculating the power headroom for the triggered PHR based on the determined applicable TPC command.

[0147] According to a possible implementation, the method can include sending a PHR report to a VUE controller of the set of cooperating nodes assuming no TPC command is applied. According to a possible implementation, the method can include determining an allocation of at least one TPC command applicable to each node of the set of cooperating nodes such that a function of PHR values of the set of cooperating nodes is maximized. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 41

[0148] It should be noted that the herein describes a possible implementation, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible.

[0149] Figure 9 illustrates a flowchart 900 of a method in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method may be implemented by a NE as described herein. In some implementations, the NE may execute a set of instructions to control the function elements of the NE to perform the described functions. Each operation of the flowchart 900 may be performed in accordance with the examples described herein. In some implementations, aspects of a particular operations may be performed by a NE 700 as described with reference to Figure 7.

[0150] According to a possible implementation, the network node can be a NE, a base station, a gNB, a network controller, or any other network node. At 902, the method can include communicating with at least one user equipment node of a set of nodes. At 904, the method can include receiving a PHR including a calculated power headroom for the set of nodes. The calculated power headroom can be based on a representative pathloss of a set of pathlosses associated with the set of nodes. According to a possible implementation, the PHR includes a power backoff value.

[0151] According to a possible implementation, the PHR is triggered based on a change in the representative pathloss being more than a threshold from a previous pathloss corresponding to a previously received PHR.

[0152] According to a possible implementation, the method can include determining table entries of a power backoff table based on a power class reported by and for the set of cooperating nodes or based on a number of cooperating nodes associated with the set of cooperating nodes.

[0153] According to a possible implementation, the set of cooperating nodes includes a VUE. The method can include configuring the VUE with at least one selected from a period PHR timer, a PHR prohibit timer, and a pathloss change threshold for triggering the PHR by the VUE. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 42

[0154] According to a possible the method can include indicating to the VUE, a PHR triggering condition to use. The PHR triggering condition can be: the PHR is triggered when at least a certain number of pathlosses in the set of pathlosses change more than a threshold from their previous pathloss values, where the certain number of pathlosses is configured by the network node; the PHR is triggered when a smallest pathloss in the set of pathlosses changes more than a threshold from its previous pathloss value; the PHR is triggered when a function of pathlosses in the set of pathlosses changes more than a threshold from its previous value at a time of a previous PHR; and / or any other triggering condition.

[0155] The method can include other operations performed by the NE 700 and reciprocal operations to the method discussed with reference to the flowchart 800. It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possible implementations, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible.

[0156] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method at a UE (VUE), the method can include determining a set of cooperating nodes; where the nodes are registered with the VUE. The method can include determining a set of pathlosses associated with the set of cooperating nodes. A pathloss can be defined as the reduction in the power of a radio signal as it propagates from a network node to a node of the set of cooperating nodes. The method can include determining a representative pathloss from the set of pathlosses. The method can include triggering a PHR if the representative pathloss has changed more than a threshold from the last transmission of a PHR. The method can include calculating the power headroom. The method can include transmitting the calculated power headroom to the network, such as in a PHR.

[0157] In some aspects, the power headroom report is triggered if a PHR prohibit timer expires or has expired. In some aspects, the representative pathloss is the smallest pathloss within the set of pathlosses.

[0158] In some aspects, the pathloss variation for one assessed cell assessed in the method is between the pathloss measured at a present time on the current pathloss reference and the pathloss measured at the transmission time of the last transmission of PHR on the pathloss reference in use at that time, irrespective of whether the pathloss reference has changed in Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 43 between, and also irrespective of whether ID of the corresponding cooperating node- to-gNB link has changed in between.

[0159] In some aspects, a node of the set of cooperating nodes has a PHR periodic timer associated with VUE PHR, and does not have a PHR periodic timer associated with non-VUE related communications. In some aspects, a UE is configured with two TPC tables: a first TPC table to be used for non-VUE related communications, and a second TPC table for the VUE- related communications where the VUE-related communication is performed within the VUE.

[0160] In some aspects, the PHR includes an MPE P-MPR to indicate a power back-off value for the VUE due to a change in the number of cooperating nodes, where the VUE determines MPE P-MPR table entries based on its reported power class or number of cooperating nodes.

[0161] In some aspects, a node of the set of cooperating nodes receives a DCI command for UL transmissions associated with the VUE, and ignores the TPC command in the DCI and determines the applicable TPC from the VUE internal communication.

[0162] In some aspects, a node of the set of cooperating nodes sends a PHR report to a VUE controller assuming no TPC command is applied. In some aspects, the VUE finds an allocation of TPC command applicable to each node of the set of cooperating nodes such that a function of node PHRs is maximized.

[0163] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method at a network node. The method can include: (a) Receiving a PHR associated with a VUE, where the PHR includes a power backoff value; (b) determining table entries of a power backoff table based on a reported power class by the VUE or number of cooperating nodes associated with the VUE.

[0164] The description herein is provided to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 44

[0165] At least some methods of this can be implemented on a programmed processor. However, the controllers, flowcharts, and modules may also be implemented on a general purpose or special purpose computer, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit elements, an integrated circuit, a hardware electronic or logic circuit such as a discrete element circuit, a programmable logic device, or the like. In general, any device on which resides a finite state machine capable of implementing the flowcharts shown in the figures may be used to implement the processor functions of this disclosure.

[0166] At least some implementations can improve operation of the disclosed devices. Various components of the implementations may be interchanged, added, or substituted in the other implementations. Also, all of the elements of each figure are not necessary for operation of the disclosed implementations. For example, one of ordinary skill in the art of the disclosed implementations would be enabled to make and use the teachings of the disclosure by simply employing the elements of the independent claims. Accordingly, implementations of the disclosure as set forth herein are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

[0167] An article “a” before an element is unrestricted and understood to refer to “at least one” of those elements or “one or more” of those elements. The terms “a,” “at least one,” “one or more,” and “at least one of one or more” may be interchangeable. For example, an element proceeded by "a," "an," or the like does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes the element. As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of” or “one or more of” or “one or both of”) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). For example, the phrase "at least one of," "at least one selected from the group of," or "at least one selected from" followed by a list is defined to mean one, some, or all, but not necessarily all of, the elements in the list. Also, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an example step that is described as “based on condition A” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B without departing from the scope of the present Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 45 disclosure. In other words, as used herein, “based on” shall be construed in the same manner as the phrase “based at least in part on. Further, as used herein, including in the claims, a “set” may include one or more elements.

[0168] The terms "comprises," "comprising," "including," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Also, the term "another" is defined as at least a second or more. The terms "including," "having," and the like, as used herein, are defined as "comprising." Terms of approximation, such as “approximately,” “near,” “substantially,” and / or other related terms, unless otherwise defined, are defined as a range within + / - 5% of the approximated element, a range within + / - 10% of the approximated element, and / or a range close enough to the approximated element to achieve an intended result. All elements of the disclosed implementations can be modified with such terms. In this document, relational terms such as "first," "second," and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.

[0169] The background section is not admitted as prior art, is written as the inventor's own understanding of the context of some implementations at the time of filing, and includes the inventor's own recognition of any problems with existing technologies and / or problems experienced in the inventor's own work.

[0170] The following abbreviations are defined for this disclosure: 3GPP: 3rd Generation Partnership Project; 5G: Fifth Generation; 5G-CRG: 5G-Cable Residential Gateway; 5G- GUTI: 5G-Global Unique Temporary Identifier; 5G-S-TMSI: 5G Short-Temporary Mobile Subscription Identifier; 5G-TMSI: 5G Temporary Mobile Subscription Identifier; ACK: Acknowledgement; A-CSI: Aperiodic CSI; AF: Application Function; AI: Artificial Intelligence ; AMF: Access and Mobility Management Function; BFD: Beam Failure Detection; BWP: Bandwidth Part; CA: Carrier Aggregation; CC: Component Carrier; CCCH SDU: Common Control Channel Service Data Unit; CCE: Control Channel Element; CDMA: Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 46 Code Division Multiple Access; CM: Management; CORESET: Control Resource Set; CRC: Cyclic Redundancy Check; CRI: CSI-RS Resource Index; C-RNTI: Cell RNTI; CSI- RS: Channel State Information Reference Signal; CSI: Channel State Information; CSS: Common Search Space; D2D: Device-to-Device; DCI: Downlink Control Information; DL: Downlink; DMRS: Demodulation Reference Signal; DRX: Discontinuous Reception; E- UTRAN: Evolved Universal Terrestrial Access Network; eNB: Enhanced NodeB; FDD: Frequency Division Duplex; FN-BRG: Fixed Network Broadband RG; FN-CRG: Fixed Network Cable RG; GCI: Global Cable identifier; GERAN: GSM EDGE Radio Access Network; GLI: Global Line Identifier; gNB: New Radio NodeB; GPSI: Generic Public Subscription Identifier; GUAMI: Global Unique AMF Identifier; GUE: Gateway UE; GUTI: Global Unique Temporary Identifier; HARQ-ACK: Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request- Acknowledgement; HST: High Speed Train; ID: Identifier; IE: Information Element; IIoT: Industrial Internet of Things; IMEI: International Mobile Equipment Identity; IMEISV: International Mobile Equipment Identity Software Version; IMSI: International Mobile Subscriber Identity; IoT: Internet of Things; I-RNTI: Inactive Radio Network Temporary Identifier; LTE: Long Term Evolution; MAC: Medium Access Control; MAC CE: Medium Access Control Control Element; MCG: Master Cell Group; MCS: Modulation and Coding Scheme; ML: Machine Learning; MPE: Maximum Permissible Exposure; MPO: MsgA PUSCH Occasion; MsgA: Message A; MsgB: Message B; MTC: Machine Type Communication; NACK: Non-Acknowledgement; NE: Network Element; NEF: Network Exposure Function; NG-RAN: Next-Generation Radio Access Network; NR: New Radio; NUL: Non-supplementary Uplink; OAM: Operations, Administration and Maintenance; OFDMA: Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access; PCell: Primary Cell ; PDCCH: Physical Downlink Control Channel; PDSCH: Physical Downlink Shared Channel; PDU: Protocol Data Unit; PEI: Permanent Equipment Identifier; PF: Paging Frame; PHR: Power Headroom Report; MPE-P-MPR: Maximum Permitted Exposure Power Management Maximum Power Reduction; P-MPR: Power Management Maximum Power Reduction; PO: Paging Occasion; PRACH: Physical Random Access Channel; PSCell: Primary Secondary Cell; PS-RNTI: Power Saving RNTI; PUCCH: Physical Uplink Control Channel; PUSCH: Physical Uplink Shared Channel; QCL: Quasi-co-location; RACH: Random Access Channel Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 47 (Procedure); RAN: Radio Access Network; Random Access Response; RG: Residential Gateway; RLF: Radio Link Failure; RLM: Radio Link Monitoring; RM: Registration Management; RNA: RAN-based Notification Area; RNTI: Radio Network Temporary Identifier; RRC: Radio Resource Control; RRM: Radio Resource Management; RS: Reference Signal; RSRP: Reference Signal Received Power; RUE: Real UE (non-virtual UE); SAR: Specific Absorption Rate; SCell: Secondary Cell; SCG: Secondary Cell Group; SCS: Subcarrier Spacing; SFI: Slot Format Indicator; SFN: Single Frequency Network; S-NSSAI: Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information; SpCell: Special Cell (i.e. a PCell of a MCG or SCG) ; SP-CSI: Semi-persistent CSI; SR: Scheduling Request; SRI: SRS Resource Indicator; SRS: Sounding Reference Signal; SPS: Semi-persistent scheduling; SS: Search space; SS / PBCH: Synchronization Signal / Physical Broadcast Channel; SSBRI: SS / PBCH Block Resource Index; SUL: Supplementary Uplink; SUPI: Subscription Permanent Identifier; TB: Transport block ; TCI: Transmission Configuration Indicator; TC-RNTI: Temporary Cell RNTI; TDD: Time Division Duplex; TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access; TMSI: Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity; TPC: Transmit Power Control; TRP: Transmission and Reception Point; UCI: Uplink Control Information; UDM: Unified Data Management; UDR: Unified Data Repository; UE: User Equipment; UL: Uplink; UPF: User Plane Function; URLLC: Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication; USS: UE-specific Search Space; VUE: Virtual UE; W-5GAN: Wireline 5G Access Network; XR: eXtended Reality Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT

Claims

Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 48 What is claimed is:

1. A user equipment (UE) for wireless communication, the UE comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and operable to cause the UE to: determine a set of pathlosses associated with a set of nodes; determine a representative pathloss from the set of pathlosses; determine that a change in the representative pathloss is more than a threshold from a previous pathloss corresponding to a previous transmission of a previous Power Headroom Report (PHR); trigger a PHR based on the change in the representative pathloss being more than the threshold from the previous pathloss; calculate a power headroom for the triggered PHR; and transmit the calculated power headroom in the triggered PHR.

2. The UE of claim 1, wherein the UE comprises a UE node in the set of nodes or a UE in a group of node devices of a Virtual UE (VUE).

3. The UE of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is operable to cause the UE to determine the set of nodes, wherein nodes in the set of nodes are registered with a Virtual UE (VUE).

4. The UE of claim 1, wherein a pathloss of associated with a node of the set of nodes is defined as a reduction in power of a network node radio signal received at the node from a different node. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 49 5. The UE of claim 1, wherein is triggered based at least in part on: the representative pathloss changing more than the threshold from the previous pathloss transmitted in the previous transmission of the previous PHR; and a PHR prohibit timer corresponding to the set of nodes has expired.

6. The UE of claim 1, wherein the representative pathloss comprises a smallest pathloss within the set of pathlosses.

7. The UE of claim 1, wherein the change of the representative pathloss is between: a present pathloss measured on a current pathloss reference; and the previous pathloss measured at a transmission time of the previous transmission of the previous PHR on a previous pathloss reference, irrespective of whether the current pathloss reference has changed since the previous pathloss reference, and irrespective of whether a node identifier (node-ID) of a corresponding node-to-gNB link has changed since the previous pathloss reference.

8. The UE of claim 1, wherein a node of the set of nodes includes a PHR periodic timer associated with a Virtual UE (VUE) PHR, and does not have a PHR periodic timer associated with non-VUE related communications.

9. The UE of claim 1, wherein at least one node of the set of nodes is configured with two Transmit Power Control (TPC) tables comprising: a first TPC table for non-Virtual UE (VUE) related communications; and a second TPC table for VUE-related communications within the set of nodes. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 50 10. The UE of claim 1, wherein: the PHR comprises a Maximum Permissible Exposure Power Management Maximum Power Reduction (MPE P-MPR) that indicates a power back-off value for the set of nodes due to a change in a total number of nodes in the set of nodes; and the at least one processor is operable to cause the UE to determine MPE P-MPR table entries based on a reported power class of the set of nodes or based on the total number of nodes.

11. The UE of claim 1, wherein: the set of nodes comprises a Virtual UE (VUE); and the at least one processor is operable to cause the UE to: receive Downlink Control Information (DCI) for uplink transmissions associated with the VUE, the DCI including a Transmit Power Control (TPC) command; ignore the TPC command; determine a TPC command based at least in part on internal VUE communication between the set of nodes; and calculate the power headroom for the triggered PHR based at least in part on the determined TPC command.

12. The UE of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is operable to cause the UE to send a PHR report to a Virtual UE (VUE) controller of the set of nodes based at least in part on a Transmit Power Control (TPC) command not being applied.

13. The UE of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is operable to cause the UE to determine an allocation of at least one Transmit Power Control (TPC) command applicable to each node of the set of nodes such that a function of PHR values of the set of nodes is maximized. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 51 14. A network equipment (NE) communication, comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and operable to cause the NE to: receive a Power Headroom Report (PHR) including a calculated power headroom for a set of nodes, where the calculated power headroom is based on a representative pathloss of a set of pathlosses associated with the set of nodes.

15. A method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: determining a set of pathlosses associated with a set of nodes; determining a representative pathloss from the set of pathlosses; determining that a change in the representative pathloss is more than a threshold from a previous pathloss corresponding to a previous transmission of a previous Power Headroom Report (PHR); triggering a PHR based on the change in the representative pathloss being more than the threshold from the previous pathloss; calculating a power headroom for the triggered PHR; and transmitting the calculated power headroom in the triggered PHR.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining the set of nodes, where nodes in the set of nodes are registered with a Virtual User Equipment (VUE).

17. The method of claim 15, wherein a pathloss associated with a node of the set of nodes is defined as a reduction in power of a network node radio signal received at the node from a different node.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the PHR is triggered based at least in part on: the representative pathloss changing more than the threshold from the previous pathloss transmitted in the previous transmission of the previous PHR; and Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCTAttorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT 52 a PHR prohibit timer corresponding set of nodes has expired.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the representative pathloss comprises a smallest pathloss within the set of pathlosses.

20. A method performed by a network equipment (NE), the method comprising: receiving a Power Headroom Report (PHR) including a calculated power headroom for a set of nodes, where the calculated power headroom is based on a representative pathloss of a set of pathlosses associated with the set of nodes. Attorney Ref. No. SMM920230283-WO-PCT

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