Channel state information reporting

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are related to efficient and flexible CSI reporting. A method comprising: at a first apparatus, obtain a list of channel state information (CSI) report types, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; select at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied; and transmit, to a second apparatus, indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU).

Description

CHANNEL STATE INFORMATION REPORTINGCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, Finland Application No. 20245160, filed February 14, 2024, the contents of which are hereby included by reference in their entirety.FIELD

[0002] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for efficient and flexible channel state information (CSI) reporting.BACKGROUND

[0003] Channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) can be used for synchronization in the connected state, channel state information (CSI) measurement, radio resource management (RRM) measurement, radio link monitoring, beam failure detection, beam management, automatic gain control (AGC) and the like. There exists a need for further improvements in measurement and reporting of CSI-RS.SUMMARY

[0004] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: obtain a list of channel state information (CSI) report types, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; select at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied; and transmit, to a second apparatus, indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU).

[0005] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: determine a list of channel state information (CSI) report types for a first apparatus, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSIreport type; and receive, from the first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one selected CSI report type of the list of CSI report types using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU), the at least one CSI report type being selected based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied.

[0006] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: obtaining a list of channel state information (CSI) report types, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; selecting at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied; and transmitting, to a second apparatus, indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU).

[0007] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: determining a list of channel state information (CSI) report types for a first apparatus, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; and receiving, from the first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one selected CSI report type of the list of CSI report types using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU), the at least one CSI report type being selected based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied.

[0008] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises means for obtaining a list of channel state information (CSI) report types, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; means for selecting at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied; and means for transmitting, to a second apparatus, indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU).

[0009] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises means for determining a list of channel state information (CSI) report types for a first apparatus, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; and means for receiving, from the first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one selected CSI report type of the list of CSI report types using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU), the at least one CSI report type being selected based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied.

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

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

[0012] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0015] FIG. 2 illustrates a signaling flow of CSI reporting in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 3 illustrates an example structure of indicating the selected CSI report type as well as reporting corresponding CSI report in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate flowcharts of some high-level aspects of CSI reporting processes in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0022] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various mannersother than the ones described below.

[0024] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0025] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0026] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,”... , etc. in front of noun(s) and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another and they do not limit the order of the noun(s). For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0027] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0028] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0029] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0030] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and(c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0031] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0032] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-loT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosureto only the aforementioned system.

[0033] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0034] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0035] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer toany resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other combination of the time, frequency, space and / or code domain resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, unless explicitly stated, a resource in both frequency domain and time domain will be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example communication environment 100 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. In the communication environment 100, a plurality of communication devices, including a terminal device 110 and a network device 120, can communicate with each other.

[0037] In the example of FIG. 1 , the terminal device 110 may be a UE and the network device 120 may be a base station serving the UE. The serving area of the network device 120 may be called a cell 102.

[0038] It is to be understood that the number of devices and their connections shown in FIG. 1 are only for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitation. The communication environment 100 may include any suitable number of devices configured to implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. Although not shown, it would be appreciated that one or more additional devices may be located in the cell 102, and one or more additional cells may be deployed in the communication environment 100. It is noted that although illustrated as a network device, the network device 120 may be another device than a network device. Although illustrated as a terminal device, the terminal device 110 may be another device than a terminal device.

[0039] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the terminal device 110 operating as a UE and the network device 120 operating as a base station. However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with a terminal device may be implemented at a network device or other device, and operations described in connection with a network device may be implemented at a terminal device or other device.

[0040] In some example embodiments, a link from the network device 120 to the terminal device 110 is referred to as a downlink (DL), while a link from the terminal device 110 to the network device 120 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the network device 120 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter) and the terminal device 110 is a receiving (RX) device (or a receiver). In UL, the terminal device 110 is a TX device (or atransmitter) and the network device 120 is a RX device (or a receiver).

[0041] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G), and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s- OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0042] A CSI-RS is transmitted from a network device to a terminal device, e.g., UE. The terminal device may measure the CSI-RS and transmit a CSI report to the network device.

[0043] The CSI-RS reference signals are UE-specifically configured in radio resource control (RRC) signaling. However, CSI-RS reference signals can be shared among many terminal devices, i.e., more than one UE are configured to receive the same resource elements (RE).

[0044] In general, in order to save on DL resources, the network device would try to use cell-specific or group-specific CSI-RS resources. The worst case of DL overhead is with UE specific CSI-RS where the DL overhead increases linearly with the number of terminal devices in the cell.

[0045] CSI-RS has many functions in NR, including but not limited to, CSI-RS for DL CSI acquisition, CSI-RS for beam management (BM) (based on layer 1-reference signal received power (L1-RSRP)), CSI-RS for tracking (TRS), UL CSI acquisition in reciprocitybased UL precoding.

[0046] In some applications (e.g., CSI-RS for BM), CSI-RS are spatially beamformed into different directions.

[0047] In general, a terminal device can be configured with up to 48 report configurations (CSI-ReportConfig) per component carrier (CC) I 4 per bandwidth part (BWP)

[0048] One CSI resource config within one report configuration can be configured with up to 16 resource sets (aperiodic CSI) and one resource set (otherwise).

[0049] In each CSI resource set up to 64 None-Zero Power (NZP) CSI-RS resourcesand one NZP-CSI-RS resource up to 32 antenna ports.

[0050] For CSI acquisition, the terminal device is configured also with a codebook type. Given the measured channel across a CSI-RS resource, the terminal device can choose a favourite codeword from the specified codebook, i.e. , precoding matrix indicator (PMI), along with channel quality indicator (CQI), rank indicator (Rl). The terminal device can also be configured to measure several CSI-RS resources (up to 8) within a resource set and report the favourite resource, CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI), along with PMI, CQI and Rl which corresponds to that selected resource.

[0051] In the time domain, a CSI-RS resource may start at any OFDM symbol of a slot, and it spans one, two, or four OFDM symbols depending on the number of ports configured.

[0052] Likewise, the UE measurement reporting of CSI can be also operated with periodic, semi-persistent (SP), or aperiodic manner, which is so-called report types in NR report configuration. However, there are certain limitations, based on which the UE periodic report can operate only based on the configured periodic CSI-RS resource-set, the UE semi-persistent report can operate based on both configured periodic and semi- persistent CSI-RS resource-set, and finally the UE aperiodic report can operate based on all periodic, semi-persistent, and aperiodic CSI-RS resource-set. In short, the periodic CSI-RS resources can be used to generate any report type; the semi-persistent and periodic CSI-RS resources can be used to generate semi-persistent CSI reports; and the aperiodic CSI-RS can only be utilized only to generate the aperiodic report.

[0053] Considering the frequency-granularity, the CSI report setting also defines which part of the bandwidth the CSI should correspond to, and in addition, what granularity in frequency the CSI should have. To accomplish this, the bandwidth of a bandwidth part (BWP) is divided into a number of subbands.

[0054] All CSI-RS resources within one set are configured with same density and same nrofPorts, except for the NZP CSI-RS resources used for interference measurement.

[0055] For semi-persistent and aperiodic CSI-RS, the actual triggering of CSI-RS transmission is per CSI-RS resource-set via either media access control (MAC) control element (MAC CE) or downlink control information (DCI). And a resource set can be used as part of UE report configurations describing what to be measured and, correspondingly, which measurement reporting are to be done by the UE. Specifically, if a CSI-RS resource-set is configured as “aperiodic” by RRC, the CSI-RS resource set configuration includes a slot offset, aperiodicTriggeringOffset which defines the time interval between the triggering DCI and the CSI-RS transmission.

[0056] For A-CSI reporting, up to 16 different reporting settings can be triggered with single DCI (e.g. for multiple component carriers) while SP-CSI reporting can trigger onlyone report setting with a single DCL In order to trigger several SP-CSI reports (each in different slots), multiple DCIs are needed.

[0057] For Type I and Type II CSI feedback on physical uplink shared channel (PLISCH), a CSI report comprises of two parts, i.e. , Part 1 and Part 2. Part 1 has a fixed payload size and is used to identify the number of information bits in Part 2. Part 1 shall be transmitted in its entirety before Part 2.

[0058] For Type I CSI feedback, Part 1 contains Rank Indicator (Rl) (if reported), CRI (if reported), CQI for the first codeword. Part 2 contains PMI (if reported), Layer Indicator (LI) (if reported), and contains the CQI for the second codeword when Rl (if reported) is larger than 4.

[0059] For Type II CSI feedback, Part 1 contains Rl (if reported), CQI, and an indication of the number of non-zero wideband amplitude coefficients per layer for the Type II CSI (see sub-clause 5.2.2). The fields of Part 1 - Rl (if reported), CQI, and the indication of the number of non-zero wideband amplitude coefficients for each layer - are separately encoded. Part 2 contains the PMI of the Type II CSI. Part 1 and 2 are separately encoded.

[0060] It is note that the precoder matrices W in Type-I and Rel-15 Type-ll codebooks can be described as being decomposed into two matrix factors which are each matrix factor such that W(h, i2) = Wi(ii) W2O2), where W1 is the precoder matrix targeting the long-term channel which is selected on a wide-band basis while W2 targets the short- term / frequency-selective properties of the channel and can be reported on a per- subband basis.

[0061] Beam reporting is a special case of CSI reporting. Rel-15 provide supports for both UE non-group and group-based beam reporting schemes. The network can configure up to four CRIs I beams with L1-RSRP values to be reported (via physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or PUSCH).

[0062] The MAC subheader for DL-shared channel (DL-SCH) and UL-shared channel (UL-SCH) may consist of the following fields:- LCID: The Logical Channel ID field identifies the logical channel instance of the corresponding MAC SDU or the type of the corresponding MAC CE or padding as described in Tables 6.2.1-1 and 6.2.1-2 for the DL-SCH and UL-SCH respectively. There is one LCID field per MAC subheader. The LCID field size is 6 bits. If the LCID field is set to 34, one additional octet is present in the MAC subheader containing the eLCID field and follow the octet containing LCID field. If the LCID field is set to 33, two additional octets are present in the MAC subheader containing the eLCID field and these two additional octets follow the octet containing LCID field.- eLCID: The extended Logical Channel ID field identifies the logical channelinstance of the corresponding MAC SDU as described in tables 6.2.1 -1a, 6.2.1 -1 b, 6.2.1- 2a and 6.2.1-2b for the DL-SCH and LIL-SCH respectively. The size of the eLCID field is either 8 bits or 16 bits.- L: The Length field indicates the length of the corresponding MAC SDU or variable-sized MAC CE in bytes. There is one L field per MAC subheader except for subheaders corresponding to fixed-sized MAC CEs, padding, and MAC SDUs containing UL CCCH. The size of the L field is indicated by the F field.- F: The Format field indicates the size of the Length field. There is one F field per MAC subheader except for subheaders corresponding to fixed-sized MAC CEs, padding, and MAC SDUs containing UL CCCH. The size of the F field is 1 bit. The value 0 indicates 8 bits of the Length field. The value 1 indicates 16 bits of the Length field.- R: Reserved bit, set to 0.

[0063] The corresponding objectives in Rel-19 MIMO scope are as below.1 . Specify enhancement to facilitate UE-initiated / event-driven beam management for reducing overhead and / or latency, assuming the unified TCI while leveraging (as much as possible) legacy CSI measurement and reporting configuration frameworks, targeting FR2 and single-transmission-reception point (sTRP) with intra- and inter-cell beam management; a. UL signaling content(s) (and procedure(s) as required) for UE-initiated / event- driven beam reporting facilitating fast beam switching; b. UL signaling medium / container considering the UE-initiated / event-driven nature of the UL transmission, designed primarily for the purpose of beam reporting.2. Specify CSI support for up to 128 CSI-RS ports, targeting FR1 a. Type-I codebook refinement supporting up to a total of 128 CSI-RS ports across all resources, assuming legacy CSI-RS resources (with up to 32 CSI- RS ports per resource), based on extension of legacy codebooks; b. Type-ll codebook refinement supporting up to a total of 128 CSI-RS ports across all resources, assuming legacy CSI-RS resources (with up to 32 CSI- RS ports per resource), based on extension of legacy codebooks, without modifying any codebook parameter other than introducing additional values for the number of ports codebook parameter(s); c. Extension of CRI(s)-based CSI reporting (CQI / PMI / RI calculated per CRI for >1 CRIs) for hybrid beamforming supporting up to a total of 128 CSI-RS portsacross all resources, with up to 32 CSI-RS ports per resource, without new codebook design.3. Specify UE reporting enhancement for CJT deployments under non-ideal synchronization and backhaul, targeting FR1 , both FDD and TDD, a. Inter-TRP time misalignment and frequency / phase offset measurement and reporting, assuming legacy CSI-RS design, with stand-alone aperiodic reporting on PUSCH.4. Specify non-coherent UL codebook to facilitate 3-antenna-port codebook-based transmissions, without enhancement on UL full power transmission and without enhancement on SRS resource,Note: UL full power transmission mode 1 and 2 are not supported.5. Specify enhancement for asymmetric DL sTRP / UL multi-TRP (mTRP) deployment scenarios, assuming intra-band intra-DU non-co-located mTRP scenarios, without changing existing cell definition or defining a new cell (e.g. UL-only cell), assuming the Rel-17 / 18 unified TCI framework and fully reusing the legacy QCL / UL spatial relation rules, targeting FR1 and FR2, a. Two closed-loop PC adjustment states for SRS, both separate from PUSCH; and pathloss offset configurations for pathloss calculation to UL TRP(s), when the pathloss RS is from DL sTRP.

[0064] As can be seen from the previous section, Rel-19 MIMO scope includes CSI related objectives. In the present disclosure, it mainly focuses on how to improve the CSI framework considering at least some of those objectives / cases, such as CSI support for up to 128 CSI-RS ports (e.g., considering Type I, Type II), CJT (coherent joint transmission), and / or UE centric reporting, mainly from overhead and latency perspectives. And in such a way to make the CSI reporting more flexible. It would be appreciated that the present disclosure is not restricted to those objectives / cases and could be relevant for other objectives / cases such as enhancements on existing features or some new features.

[0065] Specifically, for example, for the specified TDCP (time domain channel properties) reporting specified in Rel-18, latency could be an issue because the network device needs to trigger a TDCP report, a terminal device then measures one or more TRS sets and reports the time correlation measurements back to the network device. The network device uses the TDCP report to determine, for example, based on a threshold, whether Type-I or Type-ll CSI should be triggered / activated, as Type-I is typically preferable to Type-ll in high Doppler (high mobility). The latency of thismechanism can be significantly shortened if a terminal device could determine when the Doppler characteristics of the channel have changed such that a TDCP report should be triggered. Also, based on legacy CSI framework design, CSI reporting may incur big overhead, depending on how frequent the CSI reporting (such as in case of periodic and semi-persistent reporting) or depending on the CSI type / granularity (such as in case of Type II codebook is heavier than Type I codebook) . One example of overhead reduction is the possibility for a terminal device to report more frequently only part of a CSI report, for example the combination coefficients of W2 of a PMI, which capture the fast fading component of the channel, and omit other components, like W1 and / or Wf, which contain the spatial-domain and frequency-domain basis vectors, respectively, which do not change as fast, as they represent the dominant angles and delays of the channel.

[0066] In accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a solution for efficient and flexible CSI reporting. In this solution, a first apparatus, e.g., a terminal device, obtains a list of channel state information (CSI) report types, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type. The first apparatus can select at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied, and then transmit, to a second apparatus, e.g., a network device, indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU). The CSI reporting between the first apparatus and the second apparatus may be performed based on the at least one selected CSI report type. The at least one condition may be related to CSI reporting overhead and / or latency.

[0067] This solution provides an enhanced CSI report framework, mainly from overhead and latency perspectives. It supports flexible CSI report framework, which allows less complicated CSI report configurations etc.

[0068] Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0069] FIG. 2 illustrates a signaling flow 300 of CSI reporting in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purposes of discussion, the signaling flow 200 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 1. The signaling flow 200 may involve the terminal device 110 and the network device 120 in FIG. 1.

[0070] In the signaling flow 200, the terminal device 110 obtains (205) a list of CSI report types which comprises at least one CSI report type. The list of CSI reports include CSI report type(s) that are selectable for reporting by the terminal device 110.

[0071] In some example embodiments, the terminal device 110 may receive, from the network device 120, configuration information indicating the list of CSI report types. In some example embodiments, the terminal device 110 may obtain the list of CSI reporttypes based on specifications or in any other ways such as based at least partially on implementation.

[0072] The terminal device 110 selects (210) at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied. Among the list of CSI reports, the terminal device 110 may selects at least one CSI report type, of the list of CSI report types, for which the terminal device provides corresponding at least one CSI report.

[0073] The terminal device 110 transmits (215), to the network device 120, indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU), also referred to as subPDll. In example embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminal device 110 sends indication indicative of the selected at least one CSI report type using at least one subPDll. In some other example embodiments, the terminal device 110 may transmit the indication information using uplink control information (UCI), on PLICCH or PLISCH, or any other suitable signaling.

[0074] At the side of the network device 120, the network device 120 also determines (220) the list of CSI report types for the terminal device 110. Then after the network device 120 receives (225) the indication information from the terminal device 110 using at least one sub PDU (or UCI, etc.), the network device 120 can determine that at least one selected CSI report type that is selected from the list of CSI report types. In addition, the network device 120 may implicitly determine that the at least one CSI report type is selected based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied at the side of the terminal device 110.

[0075] In some example embodiments, the indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type may be comprised in at least one media access control (MAC) subheader of the at least one sub PDU. In some example embodiments, at least one logical channel identity (LCID) or extended LCID (eLCID) is comprised in the at least one MAC subheader to indicate the at least one selected CSI report type. Specifically, at least one LCID (logical channel ID), or eLCID, which may be comprised in the MAC subheader, may be used to indicate the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0076] FIG. 3 illustrates an example structure 300 of indicating the selected CSI report type as well as reporting corresponding CSI report in a MAC sub PDU which includes MAC CE(s). FIG. 3 shows that a terminal device can indicate the selected CSI report type using LCID in the MAC subheader of the MAC sub PDU. Then the corresponding CSI report for the selected CSI report type may be indicated in the MAC CE of the MAC sub PDU.

[0077] In some example embodiments, the terminal device 110 may receive, from the network device 120, a first indication of a first maximum number of CSI report types tobe selected from the list of CSI report types. Alternatively, or in addition, the terminal device 110 may receive, from the network device 120, a second indication of a second maximum of CSI report types to be transmitted on a same MAC PDU, a same MAC sub PDU, or a same transport block (TB). For example, the network device 120 may configure (e.g., via RRC) or indicate (e.g., via MAC CE or DCI) the terminal device 110 with a (maximum) number of CSI report type that the terminal device 110 can select and / or can have corresponding CSI reports transmitted on a same MAC PDU, MAC subPDU, or TB.

[0078] In some example embodiments, among the list of CSI report types, different CSI report types may be determined based on one or more of the following: reporting periodicities, reporting nature, CSI reporting settings, PMI components, or frequency granularities. Therefore, different CSI reports may be corresponding to different reporting overheads, reporting latency, and / or the like.

[0079] In some example embodiments, the list of CSI report types comprises at least one of the following: a periodic report, a semi-persistent report, an aperiodic report, an event-based report, a predicted report, a beam report, Type I CSI report, Type II CSI report, a report for partial update of PMI components, a report for partial update of any other CSI quantity (such as channel quality indicator, rank indicator, layer indicator, RSRP, signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR), time domain related quantity, frequency domain related quantity, spatial domain related quantity), a report for wideband CSI components, a report for sub-band CSI components, a multi-TRP noncoherent joint transmission report, a single-TRP report, a number of TRPs report, a coherent joint transmission report, a time domain channel properties (TDCP) report, a report of at least one timing offset or at least one frequency offset (e.g., offset(s) between or among TRPs or cells or downlink reference signals), a multi-panel report, a capability value set index report, a panel ID report, report containing at least one cell identifier or at least one bandwidth identifier or at least one TRP identifier (such as TRP ID, control resource set (CORESET) Pool Index, physical cell ID, remote radio head ID, downlink reference signal resource set), a report for channel measurements, a report for interference measurements, a report for channel and interference measurements, a network energy saving CSI report or sub-report, a transmission configuration indicator state(s) report, a report triggered by the terminal device 110, or a report configured or triggered by the network device 120. In some examples, the at least one CSI report type may be one or more of: Type I, Type II, partial update of PMI components such as Wi, W2, Wf, semi-persistent, periodic, aperiodic, beam reporting, TDCP reporting, multi-TRP NCJT (noncoherent joint transmission) reporting, single-TRP reporting, number of TRPs reporting (for CJT (coherent joint transmission) reporting), channel measurements, interference measurements, NES (network energy saving) CSI reporting, TCI state(s),wideband CSI quantity, sub-band CSI quantity, CSI-RS index(es), TDCP (time domain channel properties) such as delay or phase.

[0080] In some example embodiments, the condition(s) used to select one or more CSI report type from the list of CSI report types may be specified or configured according to any criteria. The terminal device 110 may determine at least one CSI report type at least partially on at least one condition being met, where determining whether such at least one condition is met may be based on measurements (such as CSI or beam measurements, e.g., considering one or more CSI report elements) the terminal device has done. These conditions may be configured as part of a CSI report setting, or CSI report configuration or CSI report sub-configuration, to enable event-driven reporting, such that the network maintains some control of the conditions that make a terminal device trigger a report.

[0081] As some example, the terminal device 110 may select, from the list of CSI report types, a first CSI report type based on a satisfaction of a CSI reporting setting condition(s) that a corresponding CSI report is to be transmitted after a RRC configuration or reconfiguration, a cell activation, BWP change without waiting for a trigger by the network device 120. For example, for CSI timeline reduction, a CSI reporting setting containing a condition that the CSI (for example a CQI) should be calculated and reported after an RRC (re)configuration, cell activation, BWP change without waiting for a trigger by the network. In some example embodiments, the condition(s) may correspond to or relate to or be in response of at least one of: a CSI prediction, a beam prediction, a beam failure, a radio link failure, a panel change (at the UE), a beam blockage, a (lower layer or higher layer) mobility, a (lower layer or higher layer) handover, or a (UE) rotation

[0082] Alternatively, or in addition, the terminal device 110 may select, from the list of CSI report types, a second CSI report type corresponding to a time domain channel property (TDCP) based on a determination that a TDCP measurement differs from a previous TDCP measurement in a previous CSI report by a predetermined amount. For example, the condition is to report a TDCP measurement in a corresponding CSI report only if it differs from a previous report by a minimum amount.

[0083] Alternatively, or in addition, the terminal device 110 may select, from the list of CSI report types, a third CSI report type corresponding to a PMI component based on a determination that a value of the PMI component differs from a previous value of the PMI component in a previous CSI report by a predetermined threshold value. For example, a condition is to report certain PMI components in a corresponding CSI report, such as Wi and / or W2, only if the selected basis vectors differ by at least one vector component from the previous report.

[0084] In some further example embodiments, one or more conditions for selecting one or more CSI report type may be configured or indicated from the network device 120 or any other network entity. In some example embodiments, one or more conditions for selecting one or more CSI report type may be at least partially up to the implementations of the terminal device 110.

[0085] In some example embodiments, at least one of the following behaviors may be configured to the terminal device 110 by the network device 120 through higher layer (such as RRC) or through MAC CE, or may be enabled / disabled by the terminal device 110 through dynamic signaling, such as MAC CE or DCI, or through semi-static signaling such as RRC. Those behaviors may include the terminal device determining / selecting at least one CSI report type, of the one or more CSI report type, for which the terminal device provides corresponding at least one CSI report; and / or the terminal device sending indication indicative of the at least one CSI report type using at least one MAC subPDll may be configured by the gNB such as through higher layer signaling (such as RRC) or through MAC CE (or even DCI). In some example embodiments, the terminal device 110 may receive, from the network device 120, configuration information indicating at least one of the following: whether the terminal device 110 is allowed to select at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types, and / or whether the terminal device 110 is allowed to transmit the indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0086] The CSI reporting between the first apparatus and the second apparatus may be performed based on the at least one selected CSI report type. Referring back to FIG. 2, the terminal device 110 may transmit (230), to the network device 120, at least one CSI report corresponding to the at least one selected CSI report type. The network device 120 receives (235) the at least one CSI report and may perform following action accordingly, depending on the measurements and the type of the CSI report.

[0087] In some example embodiments, the at least CSI report is transmitted to the network device 120 using at least one of: the at least one sub PDU (which includes the indication information, as in the example of FIG. 3), at least one MAC control element (CE) corresponding to the at least one sub PDU, at least one further MAC CE different from the at least one MAC CE, at least one further sub PDU of a PDU containing the at least one sub PDU, or in a different PDU than the PDU containing the at least one sub PDU. The at least one CSI report is reported through the at least one MAC CE or the at least one subPDU or through another MAC CE or through another subPDU(s) or even through another PDU. In some example embodiments, the CSI report is provided through at least one MAC element separately mapped on the PUSCH, or through a UCI on PUSCH or PUCCH.

[0088] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate flowcharts of some high-level aspects of CSI reporting processes in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It would be appreciated that the steps of the processes 401 , 402, and 403 are provided as examples only, and can be considered as example embodiments of those corresponding steps as described above with reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. The processes 401 , 402, and 403 are described from the perspective of the terminal device 110.

[0089] In the process 401 of FIG. 4A, at block 410, the terminal device 110 is configured with a list of CSI report types. The configuration of the list of CSI report types may be signaled from the network device 120 or may be specified in the terminal device 110.

[0090] At block 412, the terminal device 110 determines or selects at least one CSI report for which the terminal device 110 provides corresponding at least one CSI report. The determination or selection of the at least one CSI report type may be based on a determination of at least one related condition is satisfied. At block 414, the terminal device 110 sends, to the network device 120, an indication indicative of the at least one selected CSI report type using at least one MAC subPDll (e.g., using at least one LCID).

[0091] The process 402 of FIG. 4B may be considered as a specific example of the process 401 . At block 420, the terminal device 110 is configured with a list of CSI report types, which at least includes Type I CSI report and Type II CSI report. At block 422, the terminal device 110 determines or selects that Type I CSI is to be reported. Then at block 424, the terminal device 110 indicates, to the network device 120, selecting Type I for the reporting using LCID (which is contained in a MAC subheader).

[0092] The process 403 of FIG. 4C may be considered as another specific example of the process 401. At block 430, the terminal device 110 is configured with a list of CSI report types, which at least includes a type of CSI report including Wi components for Type I codebook, and a type of CSI report including W2 components for Type I codebook. At block 432, the terminal device 110 determines or selects that only W1 is to be reported. Then at block 434, the terminal device 110 indicates, to the network device 120, selecting W1 for the reporting using LCID (which is contained in a MAC subheader).

[0093] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of an example method 500 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 500 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus may be or may be comprised in the terminal device 110 in FIG. 1.

[0094] At block 510, the first apparatus obtains a list of channel state information (CSI) report types, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type.

[0095] At block 520, the first apparatus selects at least one CSI report type from thelist of CSI report types based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied.

[0096] At block 530, the first apparatus transmits, to a second apparatus, indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU).

[0097] In some example embodiments, the method 500 further comprises: transmitting, to the second apparatus, at least one CSI report corresponding to the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0098] In some example embodiments, the indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type is comprised in at least one media access control (MAC) subheader of the at least one sub PDU.

[0099] In some example embodiments, at least one logical channel identity (LCID) or extended LCID (eLCID) is comprised in the at least one MAC subheader to indicate the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0100] In some example embodiments, the method 500 further comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, at least one of the following: a first indication of a first maximum number of CSI report types to be selected from the list of CSI report types, or a second indication of a second maximum of CSI report types to be transmitted on a same MAC PDU, a same MAC sub PDU, or a same transport block (TB).

[0101] In some example embodiments, the list of CSI report types comprises at least one of CSI report types that are determined based on one or more of the following: reporting periodicities, reporting nature, CSI reporting settings, precoding matrix indicator (PMI) components, or frequency granularities.

[0102] In some example embodiments, the list of CSI report types comprises at least one of the following: a periodic report, a semi-persistent report, an aperiodic report, an event-based report, a predicted report, a beam report, Type I CSI report, Type II CSI report, a report for partial update of PMI components, a report for partial update of a CSI quantity, a report for wideband CSI components, a report for sub-band CSI components, a multi-transmission-reception point (TRP) noncoherent joint transmission report, a number of TRPs report, a single-TRP report, a coherent joint transmission report, a time domain channel properties (TDCP) report, a report of at least one timing offset or at least one frequency offset between or among TRPs or cells or downlink reference signals, a multi-panel report, a capability value set index report, a panel identifier (ID) report, a report containing at least one cell identifier or at least one bandwidth identifier or at least one TRP identifier, a report for channel measurements, a report for interference measurements, a report for channel and interference measurements, a network energy saving CSI report or sub-report, a transmission configuration indicator state(s) report, areport triggered by the first apparatus, or a report configured or triggered by the second apparatus.

[0103] In some example embodiments, the selecting comprises: selecting, from the list of CSI report types, a first CSI report type based on a satisfaction of a CSI reporting setting condition that a corresponding CSI report is to be transmitted after a radio resource control (RRC) configuration, a cell activation, BWP change without waiting for a trigger by the second apparatus; and / or selecting, from the list of CSI report types, a second CSI report type corresponding to a time domain channel property (TDCP) based on a determination that a TDCP measurement differs from a previous TDCP measurement in a previous CSI report by a predetermined amount; and / or selecting, from the list of CSI report types, a third CSI report type corresponding to a PM I component based on a determination that a value of the PMI component differs from a previous value of the PMI component in a previous CSI report by a predetermined threshold value.

[0104] In some example embodiments, the method 500 further comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, configuration information indicating at least one of the following: whether the first apparatus is allowed to select at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types, or whether the first apparatus is allowed to transmit the indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0105] In some example embodiments, the at least CSI report is transmitted to the second apparatus using at least one of: the at least one sub PDU, at least one MAC control element (CE) corresponding to the at least one sub PDU, at least one further MAC CE different from the at least one MAC CE, at least one further sub PDU of a PDU containing the at least one sub PDU, or in a different PDU than the PDU containing the at least one sub PDU.

[0106] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device, and the second apparatus is or is comprised in a network device.

[0107] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an example method 600 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 600 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus. In some example embodiments, the second apparatus may be or may be comprised in the network device 120 in FIG. 1.

[0108] At block 610, the second apparatus determines a list of channel state information (CSI) report types for a first apparatus, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type.

[0109] At block 620, the second apparatus receives, from the first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one selected CSI report type of the list of CSIreport types using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU), the at least one CSI report type being selected based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied.

[0110] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: receiving, from the first apparatus, at least one CSI report corresponding to the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0111] In some example embodiments, the indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type is comprised in at least one media access control (MAC) subheader of the at least one sub PDU.

[0112] In some example embodiments, at least one logical channel identity (LCID) or extended LCID (eLCID) is comprised in the at least one MAC subheader to indicate the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0113] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, at least one of the following: a first indication of a first maximum number of CSI report types to be selected from the list of CSI report types, or a second indication of a second maximum of CSI report types to be transmitted on a same MAC PDU, a same MAC sub PDU, or a same transport block (TB).

[0114] In some example embodiments, the list of CSI report types comprises at least one of CSI report types that are determined based on one or more of the following: reporting periodicities, reporting nature, CSI reporting settings, precoding matrix indicator (PMI) components, or frequency granularities.

[0115] In some example embodiments, the list of CSI report types comprises at least one of the following: a periodic report, a semi-persistent report, an aperiodic report, an event-based report, a predicted report, a beam report, Type I CSI report, Type II CSI report, a report for partial update of PMI components, a report for partial update of a CSI quantity, a report for wideband CSI components, a report for sub-band CSI components, a multi-transmission-reception point (TRP) noncoherent joint transmission report, a number of TRPs report, a single-TRP report, a coherent joint transmission report, a time domain channel properties (TDCP) report, a report of at least one timing offset or at least one frequency offset between or among TRPs or cells or downlink reference signals, a multi-panel report, a capability value set index report, a panel identifier (ID) report, a report containing at least one cell identifier or at least one bandwidth identifier or at least one TRP identifier, a report for channel measurements, a report for interference measurements, a report for channel and interference measurements, a network energy saving CSI report or sub-report, a transmission configuration indicator state(s) report, a report triggered by the first apparatus, or a report configured or triggered by the second apparatus.

[0116] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, configuration information indicating at least one of the following: whether the second apparatus is allowed to select at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types, or whether the second apparatus is allowed to transmit the indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0117] In some example embodiments, the at least CSI report is received from the first apparatus using at least one of: the at least one sub PDU, at least one MAC control element (CE) corresponding to the at least one sub PDU, at least one further MAC CE different from the at least one MAC CE, at least one further sub PDU of a PDU containing the at least one sub PDU, or in a different PDU than the PDU containing the at least one sub PDU.

[0118] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 500 (for example, the first apparatus may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 500. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the terminal device 110 in FIG. 1.

[0119] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for obtaining a list of channel state information (CSI) report types, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; means for selecting at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied; and means for transmitting, to a second apparatus, indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU).

[0120] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, at least one CSI report corresponding to the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0121] In some example embodiments, the indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type is comprised in at least one media access control (MAC) subheader of the at least one sub PDU.

[0122] In some example embodiments, at least one logical channel identity (LCID) or extended LCID (eLCID) is comprised in the at least one MAC subheader to indicate the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0123] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the second apparatus, at least one of the following: a first indication of a first maximum number of CSI report types to be selected from the list of CSI report types, or a second indication of a second maximum of CSI report types to be transmittedon a same MAC PDU, a same MAC sub PDU, or a same transport block (TB).

[0124] In some example embodiments, the list of CSI report types comprises at least one of CSI report types that are determined based on one or more of the following: reporting periodicities, reporting nature, CSI reporting settings, precoding matrix indicator (PMI) components, or frequency granularities.

[0125] In some example embodiments, the list of CSI report types comprises at least one of the following: a periodic report, a semi-persistent report, an aperiodic report, an event-based report, a predicted report, a beam report, means for Type I CSI report, means for Type II CSI report, a report for partial update of PMI components, a report for partial update of a CSI quantity, a report for wideband CSI components, a report for subband CSI components, a multi-transmission-reception point (TRP) noncoherent joint transmission report, a number of TRPs report, a single-TRP report, a coherent joint transmission report, a time domain channel properties (TDCP) report, a report of at least one timing offset or at least one frequency offset between or among TRPs or cells or downlink reference signals, a multi-panel report, a capability value set index report, a panel identifier (ID) report, a report containing at least one cell identifier or at least one bandwidth identifier or at least one TRP identifier, a report for channel measurements, a report for interference measurements, a report for channel and interference measurements, a network energy saving CSI report or sub-report, a transmission configuration indicator state(s) report, a report triggered by the first apparatus, or a report configured or triggered by the second apparatus.

[0126] In some example embodiments, the means for selecting comprises: means for selecting, from the list of CSI report types, a first CSI report type based on a satisfaction of a CSI reporting setting condition that a corresponding CSI report is to be transmitted after a radio resource control (RRC) configuration, a cell activation, BWP change without waiting for a trigger by the second apparatus; and / or means for selecting, from the list of CSI report types, a second CSI report type corresponding to a time domain channel property (TDCP) based on a determination that a TDCP measurement differs from a previous TDCP measurement in a previous CSI report by a predetermined amount; and / or means for selecting, from the list of CSI report types, a third CSI report type corresponding to a PMI component based on a determination that a value of the PMI component differs from a previous value of the PMI component in a previous CSI report by a predetermined threshold value.

[0127] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the second apparatus, configuration information indicating at least one of the following: whether the first apparatus is allowed to select at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types, or whether the first apparatus is allowed totransmit the indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0128] In some example embodiments, the at least CSI report is transmitted to the second apparatus using at least one of: the at least one sub PDU, at least one MAC control element (CE) corresponding to the at least one sub PDU, at least one further MAC CE different from the at least one MAC CE, at least one further sub PDU of a PDU containing the at least one sub PDU, or in a different PDU than the PDU containing the at least one sub PDU.

[0129] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device, and the second apparatus is or is comprised in a network device.

[0130] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 500 or the terminal device 110. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the first apparatus.

[0131] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 600 (for example, the second apparatus or the network device 120 in FIG.1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 600. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the network device 120 in FIG. 1.

[0132] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for determining a list of channel state information (CSI) report types for a first apparatus, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; and means for receiving, from the first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one selected CSI report type of the list of CSI report types using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU), the at least one CSI report type being selected based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied.

[0133] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the first apparatus, at least one CSI report corresponding to the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0134] In some example embodiments, the indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type is comprised in at least one media access control (MAC) subheader of the at least one sub PDU.

[0135] In some example embodiments, at least one logical channel identity (LCID) or extended LCID (eLCID) is comprised in the at least one MAC subheader to indicate the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0136] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises:means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, at least one of the following: a first indication of a first maximum number of CSI report types to be selected from the list of CSI report types, or a second indication of a second maximum of CSI report types to be transmitted on a same MAC PDU, a same MAC sub PDU, or a same transport block (TB).

[0137] In some example embodiments, the list of CSI report types comprises at least one of CSI report types that are determined based on one or more of the following: reporting periodicities, reporting nature, CSI reporting settings, precoding matrix indicator (PMI) components, or frequency granularities.

[0138] In some example embodiments, the list of CSI report types comprises at least one of the following: a periodic report, a semi-persistent report, an aperiodic report, an event-based report, a predicted report, a beam report, means for Type I CSI report, means for Type II CSI report, a report for partial update of PMI components, a report for partial update of a CSI quantity, a report for wideband CSI components, a report for subband CSI components, a multi-transmission-reception point (TRP) noncoherent joint transmission report, a number of TRPs report, a single-TRP report, a coherent joint transmission report, a time domain channel properties (TDCP) report, a report of at least one timing offset or at least one frequency offset between or among TRPs or cells or downlink reference signals, a multi-panel report, a capability value set index report, a panel identifier (ID) report, a report containing at least one cell identifier or at least one bandwidth identifier or at least one TRP identifier, a report for channel measurements, a report for interference measurements, a report for channel and interference measurements, a network energy saving CSI report or sub-report, a transmission configuration indicator state(s) report, a report triggered by the first apparatus, or a report configured or triggered by the second apparatus.

[0139] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, configuration information indicating at least one of the following: whether the second apparatus is allowed to select at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types, or whether the second apparatus is allowed to transmit the indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type.

[0140] In some example embodiments, the at least CSI report is received from the first apparatus using at least one of: the at least one sub PDU, at least one MAC control element (CE) corresponding to the at least one sub PDU, at least one further MAC CE different from the at least one MAC CE, at least one further sub PDU of a PDU containing the at least one sub PDU, or in a different PDU than the PDU containing the at least one sub PDU.

[0141] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 600 or thenetwork device 120. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the second apparatus.

[0142] FIG. 7 is a simplified block diagram of a device 700 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 700 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the terminal device 110 or the network device 120 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the device 700 includes one or more processors 710, one or more memories 720 coupled to the processor 710, and one or more communication modules 740 coupled to the processor 710.

[0143] The communication module 740 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 740 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 740 may include at least one antenna.

[0144] The processor 710 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 700 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0145] The memory 720 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 724, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random access memory (RAM) 722 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0146] A computer program 730 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 710. The instructions of the program 730 may include instructions for performing operations / acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 730 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 724. The processor 710 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 730 into the RAM 722.

[0147] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 730 so that the device 700 may perform any process of thedisclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 6. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0148] In some example embodiments, the program 730 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 700 (such as in the memory 720) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 700. The device 700 may load the program 730 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 722 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0149] FIG. 8 shows an example of the computer readable medium 800 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 800 has the program 730 stored thereon.

[0150] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0151] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0152] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0153] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0154] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0155] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0156] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the presentdisclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:1 . A first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: obtain a list of channel state information (CSI) report types, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; select at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied; and transmit, to a second apparatus, indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU).

2. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus is further caused to: transmit, to the second apparatus, at least one CSI report corresponding to the at least one selected CSI report type.

3. The first apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type is comprised in at least one media access control (MAC) subheader of the at least one sub PDU.

4. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one logical channel identity (LCID) or extended LCID (eLCID) is comprised in the at least one MAC subheader to indicate the at least one selected CSI report type.

5. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first apparatus is further caused to: receive, from the second apparatus, at least one of the following: a first indication of a first maximum number of CSI report types to be selected from the list of CSI report types, or a second indication of a second maximum of CSI report types to be transmitted on a same MAC PDU, a same MAC sub PDU, or a same transport block (TB).

6. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the list of CSI report types comprises at least one of CSI report types that are determined based on one or more of the following: reporting periodicities, reporting nature, CSI reporting settings, precoding matrix indicator (PMI) components, or frequency granularities.

7. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the list of CSI report types comprises at least one of the following: a periodic report, a semi-persistent report, an aperiodic report, an event-based report, a predicted report, a beam report,Type I CSI report,Type II CSI report, a report for partial update of PM I components, a report for partial update of a CSI quantity, a report for wideband CSI components, a report for sub-band CSI components, a multi-transmission-reception point (TRP) noncoherent joint transmission report, a single-TRP report, a coherent joint transmission report, a number of TRPs report, a time domain channel properties (TDCP) report, a report of at least one timing offset or at least one frequency offset between or among TRPs or cells or downlink reference signals, a multi-panel report, a capability value set index report, a panel identifier (ID) report, a report containing at least one cell identifier or at least one bandwidth identifier or at least one TRP identifier, a report for channel measurements, a report for interference measurements, a report for channel and interference measurements, a network energy saving CSI report or sub-report, a transmission configuration indicator state(s) report, a report triggered by the first apparatus, or a report configured or triggered by the second apparatus.

8. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: select, from the list of CSI report types, a first CSI report type based on a satisfactionof a CSI reporting setting condition that a corresponding CSI report is to be transmitted after a radio resource control (RRC) configuration, a cell activation, BWP change without waiting for a trigger by the second apparatus; and / or select, from the list of CSI report types, a second CSI report type corresponding to a time domain channel property (TDCP) based on a determination that a TDCP measurement differs from a previous TDCP measurement in a previous CSI report by a predetermined amount; and / or select, from the list of CSI report types, a third CSI report type corresponding to a PM I component based on a determination that a value of the PMI component differs from a previous value of the PMI component in a previous CSI report by a predetermined threshold value.

9. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first apparatus is further caused to: receive, from the second apparatus, configuration information indicating at least one of the following: whether the first apparatus is allowed to select at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types, or whether the first apparatus is allowed to transmit the indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type.

10. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least CSI report is transmitted to the second apparatus using at least one of: the at least one sub PDU, at least one MAC control element (CE) corresponding to the at least one sub PDU, at least one further MAC CE different from the at least one MAC CE, at least one further sub PDU of a PDU containing the at least one sub PDU, or in a different PDU than the PDU containing the at least one sub PDU.

11. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device, and the second apparatus is or is comprised in a network device.

12. A second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to:determine a list of channel state information (CSI) report types for a first apparatus, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; and receive, from the first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one selected CSI report type of the list of CSI report types using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU), the at least one CSI report type being selected based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied.

13. The second apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: receive, from the first apparatus, at least one CSI report corresponding to the at least one selected CSI report type.

14. The second apparatus of claim 12 or 13, wherein the indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type is comprised in at least one media access control (MAC) subheader of the at least one sub PDU.

15. The second apparatus of any of claims 12 to 14, wherein at least one logical channel identity (LCID) or extended LCID (eLCID) is comprised in the at least one MAC subheader to indicate the at least one selected CSI report type.

16. The second apparatus of any of claims 12 to 15, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: transmit, to the first apparatus, at least one of the following: a first indication of a first maximum number of CSI report types to be selected from the list of CSI report types, or a second indication of a second maximum of CSI report types to be transmitted on a same MAC PDU, a same MAC sub PDU, or a same transport block (TB).

17. The second apparatus of any of claims 12 to 16, wherein the list of CSI report types comprises at least one of CSI report types that are determined based on one or more of the following: reporting periodicities, reporting nature, CSI reporting settings, precoding matrix indicator (PMI) components, or frequency granularities.

18. The second apparatus of any of claims 12 to 17, wherein the list of CSI report types comprises at least one of the following: a periodic report, a semi-persistent report,an aperiodic report, an event-based report, a predicted report, a beam report,Type I CSI report,Type II CSI report, a report for partial update of PM I components, a report for partial update of a CSI quantity, a report for wideband CSI components, a report for sub-band CSI components, a multi-transmission-reception point (TRP) noncoherent joint transmission report, a single-TRP report, a coherent joint transmission report, a number of TRPs report, a time domain channel properties (TDCP) report, a report of at least one timing offset or at least one frequency offset between or among TRPs or cells or downlink reference signals, a multi-panel report, a capability value set index report, a panel identifier (ID) report, a report containing at least one cell identifier or at least one bandwidth identifier or at least one TRP identifier, a report for channel measurements, a report for interference measurements, a report for channel and interference measurements, a network energy saving CSI report or sub-report, a transmission configuration indicator state(s) report, a report triggered by the first apparatus, or a report configured or triggered by the second apparatus.

19. The second apparatus of any of claims 12 to 18, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: transmit, to the first apparatus, configuration information indicating at least one of the following: whether the second apparatus is allowed to select at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types, or whether the second apparatus is allowed to transmit the indication informationindicating the at least one selected CSI report type.

20. The second apparatus of any of claims 12 to 19, wherein the at least CSI report is received from the first apparatus using at least one of: the at least one sub PDU, at least one MAC control element (CE) corresponding to the at least one sub PDU, at least one further MAC CE different from the at least one MAC CE, at least one further sub PDU of a PDU containing the at least one sub PDU, or in a different PDU than the PDU containing the at least one sub PDU.

21. A method comprising: obtaining, by a first apparatus, a list of channel state information (CSI) report types, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; selecting at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied; and transmitting, to a second apparatus, indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU).

22. A method comprising: determining, by a second apparatus, a list of channel state information (CSI) report types for a first apparatus, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; and receiving, from the first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one selected CSI report type of the list of CSI report types using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU), the at least one CSI report type being selected based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied.

23. A first apparatus comprising: means for obtaining a list of channel state information (CSI) report types, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; means for selecting at least one CSI report type from the list of CSI report types based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied; and means for transmitting, to a second apparatus, indication information indicating the at least one selected CSI report type using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU).

24. A second apparatus comprising: means for determining a list of channel state information (CSI) report types for a firstapparatus, the list of CSI report types comprising at least one CSI report type; and means for receiving, from the first apparatus, indication information indicating at least one selected CSI report type of the list of CSI report types using at least one sub packet data unit (PDU), the at least one CSI report type being selected based at least in part on a determination of at least one condition being satisfied.

25. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus at least to perform the method of claim 21 or the method of claim 22.

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