Methods for signaling future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction with UE-sided ai / ML models

Abstract

Various embodiments described herein provide for methods for signaling future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction by a User Equipment in a wireless communication system. In an embodiment, the UE can, based on measurements of beams received from a first or second network node, generate a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first network node or the second network node, wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances. The UE can receive a configuration to provide the beam prediction report from the first network node, and then once the beam prediction report is determined, transmit the beam prediction report to the first network node.

Description

METHODS FOR SIGNALING FUTURE TIME INFORMATION AND BEAM INFORMATION FOR TEMPORAL BEAM PREDICTION WITH UE-SIDED AI / ML MODELS Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 575,328, filed April 5, 2025, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to methods for signaling future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction by a User Equipment in a wireless communication system. Background

[0003] In high frequency range (FR2), multiple radio-frequency (RF) beams may be used to transmit and receive signals at a gNodeB network node (gNB) and a User Equipment (UE). For each downlink (DL) beam from a gNB, there is typically an associated best UE Receive (Rx) beam for receiving signals from the DL beam. The DL beam and the associated UE Rx beam form a beam pair. The beam pair can be identified through a so-called beam management process in New Radio (NR).

[0004] A DL beam is (typically) identified by an associated DL reference signal (RS) transmitted in the beam, either periodically, semi-persistently, or aperiodically. The DL RS for the purpose can be a Synchronization Signal (SS) and Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) block (SSB) or a Channel State Information RS (CSI-RS). By measuring all the DL RSs, the UE can determine and report to the gNB the best DL beam to use for DL transmissions. The gNB can then transmit a burst of DL-RS using the reported best DL beam to let the UE evaluate candidate UE RX beams.

[0005] Although not explicitly stated in the NR specification, beam management has been divided into three procedures, schematically illustrated in Figure 1: • P-1: Purpose is to find a coarse direction for the UE using wide gNB Transmit (TX) beam covering the whole angular sector.• P-2: Purpose is to refine the gNB TX beam by doing a new beam search around the coarse direction found in P1. • P-3: Used for UE that has analog beamforming to let the UE find a suitable UE RX beam.

[0006] P-1 is expected to utilize beams with rather large beamwidths and where the beam reference signals are transmitted periodically and are shared between all UEs of the cell. Typically reference signal to use for P-1 are periodic CSI-RS or SSB. The UE then reports the N best beams to the gNB and their corresponding Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) values.

[0007] P-2 is expected to use aperiodic / or semi-persistent CSI-RS transmitted in narrow beams around the coarse direction found in P-1.

[0008] P-3 is expected to use aperiodic or semi-persistent CSI-RSs repeatedly transmitted in one narrow gNB beam. One alternative way is to let the UE determine a suitable UE RX beam based on the periodic SSB transmission. Since each SSB consists of four OFDM symbols, a maximum of four UE RX beams can be evaluated during each SSB burst transmission. One benefit of using SSB instead of CSI-RS is that no extra overhead of CSI-RS transmission is needed. Reference Signal Configurations CSI-RS

[0009] A CSI-RS is transmitted over each transmit (Tx) antenna port at the network node and for different antenna ports. The CSI-RS are multiplexed in time, frequency, and code domain such that the channel between each Tx antenna port at the network node and each receive antenna port at a UE can be measured by the UE. The time- frequency resource used for transmitting CSI-RS is referred to as a CSI-RS resource.

[0010] In NR, the CSI-RS for beam management is defined as a 1- or 2-port CSI-RS resource in a CSI-RS resource set where the field repetition is present. The following three types of CSI-RS transmissions are supported: • Periodic CSI-RS: CSI-RS is transmitted periodically in certain slots. This CSI-RS transmission is semi-statically configured using Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling with parameters such as CSI-RS resource, periodicity, and slot offset. • Semi-Persistent CSI-RS: Similar to periodic CSI-RS, resources for semi-persistent CSI-RS transmissions are semi-statically configured using RRC signaling withparameters such as periodicity and slot offset. However, unlike periodic CSI-RS, dynamic signaling is needed to activate and deactivate the CSI-RS transmission. • Aperiodic CSI-RS: This is a one-shot CSI-RS transmission that can happen in any slot. Here, one-shot means that CSI-RS transmission only happens once per trigger. The CSI-RS resources (i.e., the RE locations which consist of subcarrier locations and OFDM symbol locations) for aperiodic CSI-RS are semi-statically configured. The transmission of aperiodic CSI-RS is triggered by dynamic signaling through PDCCH using the CSI request field in uplink (UL) Downlink Control Information (DCI), in the same DCI where the UL resources for the measurement report are scheduled. Multiple aperiodic CSI-RS resources can be included in a CSI-RS resource set and the triggering of aperiodic CSI-RS is on a resource set basis. SSB

[0011] In NR, an SSB consists of a pair of synchronization signals (SSs), physical broadcast channel (PBCH), and Demodulation RS (DMRS) for PBCH. A SSB is mapped to 4 consecutive Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in the time domain and 240 contiguous subcarriers (20 RBs) in the frequency domain.

[0012] To support beamforming and beam-sweeping for SSB transmission, in NR, a cell can transmit multiple SSBs in different narrow-beams in a time multiplexed fashion. The transmission of these SSBs is confined to a half frame time interval (5 ms). It is also possible to configure a cell to transmit multiple SSBs in a single wide-beam with multiple repetitions. The design of beamforming parameters for each of the SSBs within a half frame is up to network implementation. The SSBs within a half frame are broadcast periodically from each cell. The periodicity of the half frames with SS / PBCH blocks is referred to as SSB periodicity, which is indicated by SIB1.

[0013] The maximum number of SSBs within a half frame, denoted by L, depends on the frequency band, and the time locations for these L candidate SSBs within a half frame depends on the SCS of the SSBs. The L candidate SSBs within a half frame are indexed in an ascending order in time from 0 to L-1. By successfully detecting PBCH and its associated DMRS, a UE knows the SSB index. A cell does not necessarily transmit SS / PBCH blocks in all L candidate locations in a half frame, and the resource of the un- used candidate positions can be used for the transmission of data or control signaling instead. It is up to network implementation to decide which candidate time locations toselect for SSB transmission within a half frame, and which beam to use for each SSB transmission. Measurement Resource Configurations

[0014] In NR, a UE can be configured with N≥1 CSI reporting settings (i.e., alternatively referred to as CSI-ReportConfig), M≥1 resource settings (i.e., alternatively referred to as CSI-ResourceConfig), where each CSI reporting setting is linked to one or more resource setting for channel and / or interference measurement. The CSI framework is modular, meaning that several CSI reporting settings may be associated with the same Resource Setting.

[0015] The measurement resource configurations for beam management are provided to the UE by RRC IEs CSI-ResourceConfigs. One CSI-ResourceConfig contains several Non-Zero Power (NZP)-CSI-RS-ResourceSets and / or CSI-SSB-ResourceSets.

[0016] A UE can be configured to perform measurement on CSI-RSs. Here the RRC information element (IE) NZP-CSI-RS-ResourceSet is used. A NZP CSI-RS resource set contains the configuration of Ks ≥1 CSI-RS resources, where the configuration of each CSI-RS resource includes at least: mapping to REs, the number of antenna ports, time- domain behavior, etc. Up to 64 CSI-RS resources can be grouped to an NZP-CSI-RS- ResourceSet. A UE can also be configured to perform measurements on SSBs. Here, the RRC IE CSI-SSB-ResourceSet is used. Resource sets comprising SSB resources are defined in a similar manner.

[0017] In the case of aperiodic CSI-RS and / or aperiodic CSI reporting, the network node configures the UE with S_c CSI triggering states. Each triggering state contains the aperiodic CSI report setting to be triggered along with the associated aperiodic CSI- RS resource sets.

[0018] Periodic and semi-persistent Resource Settings can only comprise a single resource set (i.e. S=1) while S>=1 for aperiodic Resource Settings. This is because in the aperiodic case, one out of the S resource sets comprised in the Resource Setting is indicated by the aperiodic triggering state that triggers a CSI report.

[0019] The RRC IEs described above are defined in 3GPP 38.331 V18.0.0 Measurement Reporting

[0020] Three types of CSI reporting are supported in NR as follows: • Periodic CSI Reporting on Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH): CSI is reported periodically by a UE. Parameters such as periodicity and slot offset areconfigured semi-statically by higher layer RRC signaling from the network node to the UE. • Semi-Persistent CSI Reporting on Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) or PUCCH: similar to periodic CSI reporting, semi-persistent CSI reporting has a periodicity and slot offset which may be semi-statically configured. However, a dynamic trigger from network node to UE may be needed to allow the UE to begin semi-persistent CSI reporting. A dynamic trigger from network node to UE is needed to request the UE to stop the semi-persistent CSI reporting. • Aperiodic CSI Reporting on PUSCH: This type of CSI reporting involves a single- shot (i.e., one time) CSI report by a UE which is dynamically triggered by the network node using DCI. Some of the parameters related to the configuration of the aperiodic CSI report are semi-statically configured by RRC but the triggering is done dynamically via DCI.

[0021] In each CSI reporting setting, the content and time-domain behavior of the report is defined, along with the linkage to the associated Resource Settings. The CSI- ReportConfig IE comprise the following configurations: • reportConfigType o Defines the time-domain behavior, i.e. periodic CSI reporting, semi- persistent CSI reporting, or aperiodic CSI reporting, along with the periodicity and slot offset of the report for periodic CSI reporting. • reportQuantity o Defines the reported CSI parameter(s) (i.e. the CSI content), such as PMI, CQI, RI, LI (layer indicator), CRI (CSI-RS resource index) and L1-RSRP. Only a certain number of combinations are possible (e.g. ‘cri-RI-PMI-CQI’ is one possible value and ‘cri-RSRP’ is another) and each value of reportQuantity could be said to correspond to a certain CSI mode. • codebookConfig o Defines the codebook used for PMI reporting, along with possible codebook subset restriction (CBSR). Two “Types” of PMI codebook are defined in NR, Type I CSI and Type II CSI, each codebook type further has two variants each. • reportFrequencyConfigurationo Define the frequency granularity of Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI) and Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) (wideband or subband), if reported, along with the CSI reporting band, which is a subset of subbands of the bandwidth part (BWP) which the CSI corresponds to • Measurement restriction in time domain (ON / OFF) for channel and interference respectively

[0022] For beam management, a UE can be configured to report L1-RSRP for up to four different CSI-RS / SSB resource indicators. The reported RSRP value corresponding to the first (best) CRI / SSBRI requires 7 bits, using absolute values, while the others require 4 bits using encoding relative to the first. In NR release 16, the report of L1- SINR for beam management has already been supported. AI / ML Based Spatial Beam Prediction In NR

[0023] During the 3GPP meeting RAN1#109-e it was agreed to study AI / ML based spatial beam prediction (BM Case 1) for a set A of beams based on measurement results of Set B of beams. The Set B of beams could either be a subset of the Set A of beams, or the set A of beams could consist of different beams compared to the Set B of beams (for example Set A consists of narrow beams and Set B consists of wide beams). The spatial beam prediction could either be made at the NW side or at the UE side.

[0024] During the Third Generation Partnership Program (3GPP) meeting RAN1#109- e it was also agreed to study AI / ML based temporal (BM case 2) beam prediction for a Set A of beams based on measurement results of Set B of beams, where the Set A of beams and Set B of beams can be the same set of beams or different set of beams. For AI / ML based temporal beam prediction, it was also agreed that the measurement results of K (K>=1) latest measurement instances during a time window T1 of the Set B beams are used for AI / ML model input. Furthermore, it was agreed that one or more beams from the Set A beams will be used as AI / ML model output, where the AI / ML model output should be F predictions for F future time instances, where all F future time instances are located within a time window T2.

[0025] During the Third Generation Partnership Program (3GPP) meeting RAN1#115, it was also agreed to capture the following underlined description of the two sub-use cases for providing a description of the BM use case as part of the technical report (TR) 38.843 v18.0.0 (2024-01-15).

[0026] Figure 6.3.1-1 provides an example for the inference procedure for beam management for BM-Case1 and BM-Case2. Measurements based on Set B of beams are used as model input. In addition, beam ID information may be also provided as input to the AI / ML model. Based on model output (e.g., probability of each beam in Set A to be the Top-1 beam, predicted L1-RSRPs), Top-1 / N beam(s) among Set A of beams can be predicted and / or potentially with predicted L1-RSRPs (depending on the labeling). In the evaluation, for BM-Case 1, the measurements of Set B (otherwise stated) are used as model input to predict Top-1 / N beams from Set A, and for BM-Case2, the measurements from historic time instance(s) are used as model input for temporal DL beam prediction of beams from Set A. In the evaluation, the cases that Set A and Set B are different (Set B is NOT a subset of Set A), and Set B is a subset of Set A for both BM-Case1 and BM-Case2, and case that Set A and Set B are the same for BM-Case2 are considered. And the performance of DL Tx beam prediction and DL Tx-Rx beam pair prediction is evaluated.

[0027] For both BM-Case1 and BM-Case2, UE can report the prediction result to NW based on the output of a UE-side model, or NW can predict the Top-1 / N beam(s) based on the reported measurements of Set B for a NW-side model.

[0028] It is noted that as a beam is something that is formed on the NW side the UE can only measure the result of this. This can for example be that the narrow beams are measured by CSI-RS resources and the wide beams are measured by SSBs at the UE side. This would be how the UE could see the beams. Set B is different from Set A

[0029] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic example of the Set A of beams and the Set B of beams. The top illustration shows all the narrow gNB beams, which constitutes the Set A of beams, and the lower illustrations shows all the wide gNB beams, which constitutes the Set B of beams. Set B is a subset of Set A

[0030] Figure 3 illustrates another example of the Set A of beams and the Set B of beams, wherein Set A contains narrow gNB beams and set B is subset of Set A containing some narrows beams from the gNB. Rel-19 Status

[0031] In RAN1#116, it was decided that the UE can report Top-K beams to the NW, according to the agreement below. It is for further study the exact number of K.Agreement For UE-sided model, at least for BM-Case1, for content in the report of inference results, support • Opt 1: Beam information on predicted Top K beam(s) among a set of beams • Opt 2: Beam information on predicted Top K beam(s) among a set of beams and RSRP of predicted Top K beam(s) among a set of beams • At least K=1 and more, FFS on max value • FFS on beam information • FFS on the definition of predicted Top K beam(s) • FFS on definition of reported RSRP when applicable • FFS on other information in the report with potential down selection among the following options: • Opt 3: Beam information on predicted Top K beam(s) among a set of beams and probability information of predicted Top K beam(s) among a set of beams o FFS on the quantization method of probability information o Probability information is the probability of the beam to be the Top 1 or Top K beam • Opt 4: Beam information on predicted Top K beam(s) among a set of beams, RSRP of predicted Top K beam(s) among a set of beams, and confidence information of the RSRP o FFS on definition of reported RSRP o FFS on the definition and quantization method of confidence information • Other options are not precluded. Summary

[0032] Various embodiments described herein provide for methods for signaling future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction by a User Equipment in a wireless communication system. In an embodiment, the UE can, based on measurements of beams received from a first or second network node, generate a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first network node or the second network node, wherein the beam prediction reportcomprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances. The UE can receive a configuration to provide the beam prediction report from the first network node, and then once the beam prediction report is determined, transmit the beam prediction report to the first network node.

[0033] In an embodiment, a method performed by a UE is provided for signaling at least one of future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction. The method includes receiving a configuration from a first network node to transmit a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first network node or a second network node, wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances. The method also include transmitting the beam prediction report to the first network node.

[0034] In an embodiment, the one or more indications of the one or more beams for each future time instance included in the beam prediction report are different for different future time instances in the beam prediction report.

[0035] In an embodiment, a first indication of the one or more beams for a first future time instance in the beam prediction report differs from a second indication of the one or more beams for a second future time instance.

[0036] In an embodiment, a plurality of indications of the one or more indications in the beam prediction report differ from different future time instances that are included in the beam prediction report.

[0037] In an embodiment, the one or more indications associated to the one or more beams are one or more Synchronization Signal (SS) Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) Block Resource Indicators (SSBRIs).

[0038] In an embodiment, the one or more beams comprise one or more of beams of a cell; reference Signals; synchronization Signal Blocks; spatial filters; channel State Information Reference Signals; serving cells; neighbor cells; or candidate cells.

[0039] In an embodiment, the beam prediction report corresponds to a Channel State Information Report that includes at least one beam identifier and time-domain prediction information of a future time instance.

[0040] In an embodiment, time-domain prediction information comprises a predicted value of a Layer 1 Reference Signal Received Power (L1-RSRP) for at least one future time instance.

[0041] In an embodiment, the configuration comprises one or more of an indication of a maximum number of beam indications per future time instance; a number of future time instances; an interval between future time instances; a time domain prediction window; an indication of the first set of beams; and an indication of a second set of beams.

[0042] In an embodiment, the configuration comprises an indication of a same number of beams per future instance or a different number of beams per future instance.

[0043] In an embodiment, the method further includes providing, to the first network node, assistance information comprising one or more of: an indication of a maximum number of beam indications per time instance; a number of future time instances; an interval between future time instances; a time domain prediction window; an indication of the first set of beams; and an indication of a second set of beams.

[0044] In an embodiment, the method further comprises determining the beam prediction report based on measurements associated with a first set of beams.

[0045] In an embodiment, the configuration comprises at least one Non-Zero Power (NZP) Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) resource set as part of a CSI-RS resource set configuration for configuring a second set of beams.

[0046] In an embodiment, the configuration comprises a number of predicted beams corresponding to a number of future time instances.

[0047] In an embodiment, the number of predicted beams corresponding to a first future time instance of the number of future time instances is different from the number of predicted beams corresponding to a second future time instance.

[0048] In an embodiment, the beam prediction report comprises an indicator indicating that a beam at a particular future time instance is predicted to have a L1- RSRP above a predefined threshold.

[0049] In an embodiment, a UE is provided for signaling at least one of future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction. The UE includes a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to receive a configuration from a first network node to transmit a beam prediction report comprising time-domainprediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first network node or a second network node, wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances and transmit the beam prediction report to the first network node. In an embodiment, the processing circuitry can also be configured to perform any of the embodiments described above.

[0050] In an embodiment, a method performed by a first network node for signaling at least one of future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction is provided. The method includes providing to a UE a configuration to transmit a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first network node or a second network node, wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated with the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances. The method also includes receiving the beam prediction report from the UE.

[0051] In an embodiment, the method further includes receiving, from the UE, assistance information comprising one or more of: an indication of a maximum number of beam indications per time instance; a number of future time instances; an interval between future time instances; a time domain prediction window; an indication of the first set of beams; and an indication of a second set of beams.

[0052] In an embodiment, a first network node is provided for signaling at least one of future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction, the first network node comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to receive a configuration from a first network node to transmit a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first network node or a second network node, wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances and transmit the beam prediction report to the first network node.

[0053] In an embodiment the processing circuitry can also receive, from the UE, assistance information comprising one or more of: an indication of a maximum number of beam indications per time instance; a number of future time instances; an intervalbetween future time instances; a time domain prediction window; an indication of the first set of beams; and an indication of a second set of beams. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0054] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of the disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

[0055] Figure 1 illustrates an example of beam management according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0056] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a first set of beams and a second set of beams according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0057] Figure 3 illustrates another example of a first set of beams and a second set of beams according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0058] Figure 4 illustrates an example of a beam prediction report according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0059] Figure 5 illustrates an example of a message sequence chart of a method for signaling future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0060] Figure 6 illustrates one example of a cellular communications system in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

[0061] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0062] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates a virtualized embodiment of the network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0063] Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram of the network node according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0064] Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0065] Figure 11 is a schematic block diagram of the wireless communication device according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure.Detailed Description

[0066] Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein, the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

[0067] Network Node: As used herein, a “network node” is any node in a Radio Access Network (RAN) of a cellular communications network that operates to wirelessly transmit and / or receive signals. Some examples of a radio access node include, but are not limited to, a base station (e.g., a New Radio (NR) base station (gNB) in a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Fifth Generation (5G) NR network or an enhanced or evolved Node B (eNB) in a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) network), a high-power or macro base station, a low-power base station (e.g., a micro base station, a pico base station, a home eNB, or the like), a relay node, a network node that implements part of the functionality of a base station (e.g., a network node that implements a gNB Central Unit (gNB-CU) or a network node that implements a gNB Distributed Unit (gNB-DU)) or a network node that implements part of the functionality of some other type of radio access node.

[0068] User Equipment (UE) Device: One type of communication device is a User Equipment device, which may be any type of wireless device that has access to (i.e., is served by) a wireless network (e.g., a cellular network). Some examples of a wireless communication device include, but are not limited to; a UE in a 3GPP network, a Machine Type Communication (MTC) device, and an Internet of Things (IoT) device. Such wireless communication devices may be, or may be integrated into, a mobile phone, smart phone, sensor device, meter, vehicle, household appliance, medical appliance, media player, camera, or any type of consumer electronic, for instance, but not limited to, a television, radio, lighting arrangement, tablet computer, laptop, or PC. The wireless communication device may be a portable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or vehicle-mounted mobile device, enabled to communicate voice and / or data via a wireless connection.

[0069] Note that the description given herein focuses on a 3GPP cellular communications system and, as such, 3GPP terminology or terminology similar to 3GPPterminology is oftentimes used. However, the concepts disclosed herein are not limited to a 3GPP system.

[0070] Note that, in the description herein, reference may be made to the term “cell”; however, particularly with respect to 5G NR concepts, beams may be used instead of cells and, as such, it is important to note that the concepts described herein are equally applicable to both cells and beams.

[0071] There currently exist certain challenge(s). For time domain based beam prediction predicting beams for future time instances, the accuracy of the prediction may generally vary for these future time instances. For instance, the further away the future time instance is, the less accurate the prediction may be (i.e., it may become harder to ensure accurate prediction as we try to predict further into the future). This was also shown in the results conducted in the Rel-18 study item, captured in 38.843 and associated appendix. For example, in 3GPP TR 38.843, results showed a Top-1 prediction accuracy of 86.41 % for a 40ms future time instance, while a degradation to 83.47% prediction accuracy when predicting 160ms into the future. Hence, for time domain based beam prediction, how to ensure that the predicted beams into future time instances are reliable is an open problem to solve.

[0072] Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to the aforementioned or other challenges. Various embodiments described herein provide for methods for signaling future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction by a User Equipment in a wireless communication system. In an embodiment, the UE can, based on measurements of beams received from a first or second network node, generate a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first network node or the second network node, wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances. The UE can receive a configuration to provide the beam prediction report from the first network node, and then once the beam prediction report is determined, transmit the beam prediction report to the first network node.

[0073] Beams in the above may refer to beams of a cell, Reference Signals (RSs), Synchronization Signal Blocks (SSBs), spatial filters, Channel State Information RS (CSI-RS), serving cell; neighbor cell; or candidate cells.

[0074] The beam prediction report may correspond to a CSI report / Uplink Control Information (UCI) which includes at least one beam identifier (e.g. an SSB index, a CSI-RS resource identifier, an SSB resource indicator associated to an instance of a resource configuration and an SSB index of a serving cell, an SSB resource indicator associated to an instance of a resource configuration and an SSB index of a neighbor cell) and possibly one associated time-domain prediction information e.g. a predicted value of a Layer 1 Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) for at least one future time instance. In one option, the UE includes in the beam prediction report a beam identifier (associated to a future time instance) when that beam is likely a ‘good beam’ in that future time instance (e.g. a beam whose L1 RSRP is above a threshold. The configuration may include one or more of the following: • An indication of the maximum number of beam indications per time instance. • Number of future time instances • Interval between future time instances • Time domain prediction window • An indication of set A • An indication of set B

[0075] Also, include separate set of embodiments for the UE providing assistance information to the network on one or more of the following: • An indication of the maximum number of beam indications per time instance. • Number of future time instances • Interval between future time instances • Time domain prediction window • An indication of set A • An indication of set B

[0076] Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s). With the proposed techniques disclosed herein, it can be ensured that the predicted beams into future time instances are reliable for time domain based beam prediction. In some embodiments, different beams that meet a certain prediction accuracy for different future time instances can be reported by the UE to ensure sufficient reliability for future time instances that are farther away into the future. In some further embodiments, different number of beams that meet a certain predictionaccuracy for different future time instances can be reported by the UE to ensure sufficient reliability for future time instances that are farther away into the future.

[0077] Figure 4 shows an illustration of a general embodiment related to the disclosure. A UE is configured by the gNodeB (gNB) to perform measurement on one or more reference signals (e.g. SSBs and / or CSI-RS resources and / or Mobility Reference Signals (MRSs)) corresponding to different beams in Set B of beams and send a beam prediction report to the gNB. In the figure, the beam prediction report is transmitted by the UE to the gNB at time ^^. As part of the beam prediction report, the UE includes information on one or more predicted beams for up to ^ future time instances (e.g. possibly indicated in the configuration for the beam prediction report) denoted as^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^. Generally, the accuracy of the prediction may vary for these futureFor instance, the further away the future time instance is from time ^^,the less accurate the prediction may be (i.e., it may become harder to ensure accurate prediction as we try to predict further into the future). This was also shown in the results conducted in the Rel-18 study item, captured in TR 38.843 and associated appendix. For example, in 3GPP TR 38.843, results showed a Top-1 prediction accuracy of 86.41 % for a 40ms future time instance, while a degradation to 83.47% prediction accuracy when predicting 160ms into the future.

[0078] Due to this reason, in one embodiment, the UE reports beam information corresponding to a different number of beams for each future time instance. That is, the UE reports the following: • for future time instance ^^, beam information for ^^predicted beams from Set A of beams; • for future time instance ^^, beam information for ^^predicted beams from Set A of beams; • for future time instance ^^^^, beam information for ^^^^predicted beams from Set A of beams; • for future time instance ^^, beam information for ^^predicted beams from Set A of beams;

[0079] In another embodiment, the UE reports different beam information for each future time instance e.g. different indications of what would be good beam(s) for a given time instance. That is, the UE reports the following:• for future time instance ^^, beam information for a first subset of beams from Set A of beams e.g. beam 3; • for future time instance ^^, beam information for a second subset of beams from Set A of beams (possibly different from the first subset, and possibly overlapping) e.g. e.g. beam 3, beam 4, beam 1; • for future time instance ^^^^, beam information for a (N-1)-th subset of beams from Set A of beams (possibly different from the other subset(s), and possibly overlapping) e.g. e.g. beam 3, beam 4, beam 9, …; • for future time instance ^^, beam information for a N-th subset of beams from Set A of beams (possibly different from the other subset(s), and possibly overlapping).

[0080] In the above, the times ^^, ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ may be defined in units of any oneor more of subframe number, slot number, symbol index, or any other unitrepresenting a time index

[0081] In further embodiments below, we provide various embodiments forsignaling / acquiring information related to ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ and information related to^^, ^^, ... , ^^^^, ^^.Signaling from gNB to UE

[0082] In one embodiment, the UE receives configuration from the gNB of at least one NZP CSI-RS resource set as part of a first CSI resource configuration to be used for measuring a set B of beams. If there are multiple set B of beams, then multiple NZP CSI-RS resource sets may be configured as part of the first CSI resource configuration. Information related to the first CSI resource configuration containing the at least one NZP CSI-RS resource set is configured as the channel measurement resources in a CSI reporting configuration used for configuring the beam prediction report.

[0083] In another embodiment, the UE receives configuration from the gNB of at least one NZP CSI-RS resource set as part of a second CSI resource configuration for configuring a set A of beams. If there are multiple sets A of beams, then multiple NZP CSI-RS resource sets may be configured as part of the second CSI resource configuration. Information related to the second CSI resource configuration containing the at least one NZP CSI-RS resource set is configured as the prediction set / resources in the CSI reporting configuration used for configuring the beam prediction report.

[0084] In a special case of the above embodiments, the first CSI resource configuration and the second CSI resource configuration are the same (i.e., the set A of beams and the set B of beams are configured as different NZP CSI-RS resource sets in the same CSI resource configuration). In this special case, the same CSI resource configuration is configured as both the channel measurement resources and the prediction set / resources.

[0085] In another embodiment, the UE receives from the gNB configuration of thefuture times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ as part of a CSI reporting configuration. The following aresome embodiments related to configuration of future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^:• In one embodiment, the slots times^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ are configured as offsets from the the beamis reported by the UE. Referring to the example of Figure 4, time ^^ is configured as ^, time ^^ is configured as ^ + ^^, …., time ^^^^ isas ^ + ^^ + ^^ + ⋯ + ^^^^, and time ^^ is configured as ^ + ^^ + ^^ +⋯ + ^^^^. In a special case of this embodiment, values of ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^ are thesame. •In another variant of this embodiment, the future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ areconfigured as a list of integer offsets from the time inthe beam prediction report is reported by the UE. • In another variant of this embodiment, the slots corresponding to future times are configured via parameters ^, ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^. That is, the gNB configures theUE with parameters ^, ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, and the UE determines the time ^^ as ^^ +^, time ^^ as ^^ + ^ + ^^, …., time ^^^^ as ^ + ^^ + ^^ + ⋯ + ^^^^,time ^^ as^ + ^^ + ^^ + ⋯ + ^^^^ + ^^^^. In a special case of this embodiment, values of^^, ^^, … , ^^^^ are the same (i.e., ^^ = ^^ = ⋯ = ^^^^ = ^). In this specialcase, the gNB configures the UE with parameters, ^, ^^, and ^. Then, the UE determines the time ^^ as ^^ + ^, time ^^ as ^^ + ^ + ^, …., time ^^^^ as ^ +^^ − 2^^, and timeas ^ + ^^ − 1^^.

[0086] In another embodiment, the UE receives from the gNB configuration of thenumber of predicted beams ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ corresponding to the future times^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ as part ofconfiguration. The following are someto configuration of the number of predicted beams^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ corresponding to the future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^:• In one variant of this embodiment, the number of predicted beams ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ corresponding to the future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ areconfigured as a list of integers. • In another variant of the embodiment, the same numberbeams may correspond to multiple future times. For instance, a first number of predicted beams ^^ may correspond to a first subset of future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^ (where ^ <^^, and a second number of predicted beams ^^may to a second subset of future times ^^^^, ^^^^, … , ^^^^, ^^. In this case, receiveconfiguration of the first number of predicted beams ^^along with the start time and end time of the first subset of future times (i.e., ^^which is the start time of the first subset and ^^which is the end time of the first subset). Similarly, the UE may receive configuration of the second number of predicted beams ^^along with the start time and end time of the second subset of future times (i.e., ^^^^which is the start time of the second subset and ^^which is the end time of the second subset).

[0087] In another embodiment, the UE includes in the report for a given future time instance ‘k’, beam information for beams which are likely to be ‘good’ beams at that time instance ‘k’. A good beam in that context may be defined as a beam for with a measurement prediction at instance ‘k’ (e.g. predicted L1 RSRP) is above a measurement threshold (e.g. RSRPR_Threshold). The UE may obtain, as an output of an AI / ML model for time-domain prediction of beam(s) the predicted measurement values for the future time instance ‘k’, compare with the measurement threshold and only include beam information (e.g. SSB indexes, beam identifiers, CSI-RS resource identifiers, SSBRI value(s), CSIRI value(s)) for the beams with predicted measurements above that threshold. The UE may be configured with the measurement threshold value e.g. as part of the reporting configuration.

[0088] In one option, related to the previous embodiment, the UE includes in the report for a given future time instance ‘k’, beam information for beams which are likely to be ‘good’ beams at that time instance ‘k’, wherein being likely to be ‘good’ comprises the measurement prediction of the beam being above a likelihood threshold e.g. 85% (or 0.85). In that sense, the UE only includes beam information for the future time instance ‘k’ when the beam has a measurement prediction above the measurement threshold with a likelihood above the likelihood threshold. In one sub-option, the UE hasa single likelihood threshold value for the different time instances, and that value may be configured in the reporting configuration. In another sub-option, the UE may receive multiple likelihood threshold value(s), so that there may be different values for different time instances k and k+1. UE sending assistance information to the gNB

[0089] In one embodiment, the UE sends to the gNB information about its preferredfuture times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ as part of a UE assistance information. The following aresome embodiments related to UE assistance information on future times^^, ^^, … ,• In one variant of this embodiment, the slots corresponding to future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ are signaled as offsets from the time in which the beamis reported by the UE. Referring to the example of Figure 4, time ^^ is signaled as ^, time ^^ is signaled as ^ + ^^, …., time ^^^^ is signaled as^ ++ ^^ + ⋯ + ^^^^, and time ^^ is signaled as ^ + ^^ + ^^ + ⋯ + ^^^^. In aspecial case of this embodiment, values of ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^ are the same.• In another variant of this embodiment, the future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ aresignaled as a list of integer offsets from the time inprediction report is reported by the UE. • In another variant of this embodiment, the slots corresponding to future times are signaled via parameters ^, ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^. That is, the UE signals to the gNBthe parameters ^, ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, and the gNB determines the UE’s preferredfuture time ^^ as ^^ + ^, time ^^ as ^^ + ^ + ^^, …., time ^^^^ as ^ + ^^ + ^^ +⋯ + ^^^^,as ^ + ^^ + ^^ + ⋯ + ^^^^ + ^^^^. In a special case ofthis embodiment, values of ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^ are the same (i.e., ^^ = ^^ = ⋯ =^^^^ = ^). In this special case, the UE signals to the gNB its preferredparameters, ^, ^^, and ^. Then, the gNB determines the UE’s preferred future time ^^ as ^^ + ^, time ^^ as ^^ + ^ + ^, …., time ^^^^ as ^ + ^^ − 2^^, and time^^

[0090] One aspect of this embodiment is that the value of ^^can be determined by the UE based on when it can reliably perform accurate predictions. For example, in case the UE cannot find the best beam with a certain likelihood value with a maximum number of K_max beams, the UE will refrain from indicating such ^^value. The value of K_max and the likelihood value could in one embodiment be NW configured.

[0091] In another embodiment, the UE signals to the gNB information on the numberof predicted beams ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ corresponding to the future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^as part of a UE assistance information. The following are some embodiments related tosignaling of the number of predicted beams ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ corresponding to thefuture times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^:• In one variant of this embodiment, the number of predicted beams ^^,…, to the future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ are signaledas a list of integers.• In another variant of the embodiment, the same number beams may correspond to multiple future times. For instance, a first number of predicted beams ^^ may correspond to a first subset of future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^ (where ^ <^^, and a second number of predicted beams ^^may a secondsubset of future times ^^^^, ^^^^, … , ^^^^, ^^. In this case, the UE may signal tothe gNB the first number of predicted beams ^^along with the start time and end time of the first subset of future times (i.e., ^^which is the start time of the first subset and ^^which is the end time of the first subset). Similarly, the UE may signal to the gNB the second number of predicted beams ^^along with the start time and end time of the second subset of future times (i.e., ^^^^which is the start time of the second subset and ^^which is the end time of the second subset). • In another variant of this embodiment, the number of predicted beams K_1,K_2,…,K_(N-1),K_N corresponding to the future times t_1,t_2,…,t_(N-1),t_N are signaled as an incremental list, with a starting value and an incremental value. For example, K1=3, and incremental value of 2 implies that K2=5,K3=7,..K4=9,… etc.

[0092] In this embodiment, the UE can determine the values of K1,..,K_N by: • First perform one or more measurements on the sequence of Set B, and based on the model output for one or more samples of set B sequence of measurements recommend a value of K1,..,K_N. The UE can for example select the value of K_X so that with 90% likelihood the best beam is part of K_X. Note that the value of 90% could in one embodiment be configured by the NW.• Based on historical performance in the cell, a UE might have in previous sessions in one cell have reached adequate performance in finding the best (or good enough beam) for a certain sequence of K1,..KN. • Based on mobility information, for example a fast-moving UE will experience larger channel variations than a static UE, hence a fast moving UE will typically recommend larger K_1,…K_N than a static UE in the same cell. Note that even though an AI / ML model can be used to predict the future values accurately also for a moving UE, there will always be an uncertainty due to the inherent randomness on how UEs in a cell move. The mobility information could be determined via Inertial Measurement Unit, such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers. UE signaling to the gNB as part of beam prediction report

[0093] In one embodiment, the UE determines and reports to the gNB informationabout the future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ as part of beam prediction report. The followingare some embodiments related to signaling of future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^:• In one variant of this embodiment, the slotstimes ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ are signaled as offsets from the time in which the beamis reported by the UE. Referring to the example of Figure 4, time ^^ is signaled as ^, time ^^ is signaled as ^ + ^^, …., time ^^^^ is signaled as^ ++ ^^ + ⋯ + ^^^^, and time ^^ is signaled as ^ + ^^ +⋯ + ^^^^. In aspecial case of this embodiment, values of ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^ are the same.• In another variant of this embodiment, the future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ aresignaled as ^ integer offsets from the time in whichprediction report is reported by the UE. • In another variant of this embodiment, the slots corresponding to future times are signaled via parameters ^, ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^. That is, the UE signals to the gNBthe parameters ^, ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, and the gNB determines the time ^^ as ^^ + ^,time ^^ as ^^ + ^ + ^^, …., time ^^^^ as ^ + ^^ + ^^ + ⋯ + ^^^^,time ^^ as^ + ^^ + ^^ + ⋯ + ^^^^ + ^^^^. In a special case of this embodiment, values of^^, ^^, … , ^^^^ are the same (i.e., ^^ = ^^ = ⋯ = ^^^^ = ^). In this specialcase, the UE signals to the gNB the parameters, ^, ^^, and ^. Then, the gNB determines the UE’s reported future time ^^ as ^^ + ^, time ^^ as ^^ + ^ + ^, ….,time ^^^^ as ^ + ^^ − 2^^, and time ^^ ^ + ^^ − 1^^.

[0094] In another embodiment, the UE signals to the gNB information on the numberof predicted beams ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ corresponding to the future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^as part of a beam prediction report. The following are some embodiments related tosignaling of the number of predicted beams ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ corresponding to thefuture times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^:• In one variant of this embodiment, the number of predicted beams ^^,…, to the future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^^^, ^^ are signaledas a list of integers.a. In one example embodiment, the value of N is in the first part of a CSI report. The second part would first include the values of T_1,K_1, …, T_N,K_N, and secondly the beams predicted by the UE in each time instance (e.g. K_1 beams in time instance 1, etc.). b. In another example, the value of N is fixed (e.g. predetermined via NW signaling or fixed via the standard) and the number T_1, K_1,…T_N,K_N are indicated in the first part of the CSI report. • In another variant of the embodiment, the same number of predicted beams may correspond to multiple future times. For instance, a first number of predicted beams ^^ may correspond to a first subset of future times ^^, ^^, … , ^^ (where ^ <^^, and a second number of predicted beams ^^maya second subset of future times ^^^^, ^^^^, … , ^^^^, ^^. In this case, the UE may signal tothe gNB the first number of predicted beams ^^along with the start time and end time of the first subset of future times (i.e., ^^which is the start time of the first subset and ^^which is the end time of the first subset). Similarly, the UE may signal to the gNB the second number of predicted beams ^^along with the start time and end time of the second subset of future times (i.e., ^^^^which is the start time of the second subset and ^^which is the end time of the second subset).

[0095] Figure 5 illustrates an example of a message sequence chart of a method for signaling future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0096] At 508, a UE 502 may optionally provide assistance information to a first network node 504. As described above, the assistance information may include: • An indication of the maximum number of beam indications per time instance.• Number of future time instances • Interval between future time instances • Time domain prediction window • An indication of set A • An indication of set B

[0097] At 510, the first network node 504 can provide the configuration to the UE 502.

[0098] At 512-1 and 512-2 the first network 504 or the second network node 506 may send a beam to the UE 502 and based on the beams received by the UE 502, the UE 502 at step 514 can perform measurements and determine the beam prediction report.

[0099] At step 516, the beam prediction report can be transmitted to the first network node 504.

[0100] Figure 6 illustrates one example of a cellular communications system 600 in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. In the embodiments described herein, the cellular communications system 600 is a 5G system (5GS) including a Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN) and a 5G Core (5GC). In this example, the RAN includes base stations 602-1 and 602-2, which in the 5GS include NR base stations (gNBs) and optionally next generation eNBs (ng-eNBs) (e.g., LTE RAN nodes connected to the 5GC), controlling corresponding (macro) cells 604-1 and 604-2. The base stations 602-1 and 602-2 are generally referred to herein collectively as base stations 602 and individually as base station 602. Likewise, the (macro) cells 604-1 and 604-2 are generally referred to herein collectively as (macro) cells 604 and individually as (macro) cell 604. The RAN may also include a number of low power nodes 606-1 through 606-4 controlling corresponding small cells 608-1 through 608-4. The low power nodes 606-1 through 606-4 can be small base stations (such as pico or femto base stations) or RRHs, or the like. Notably, while not illustrated, one or more of the small cells 608-1 through 608-4 may alternatively be provided by the base stations 602. The low power nodes 606-1 through 606-4 are generally referred to herein collectively as low power nodes 606 and individually as low power node 606. Likewise, the small cells 608-1 through 608-4 are generally referred to herein collectively as small cells 608 and individually as small cell 608. The cellular communications system 600 also includes a core network 610, which in the 5G System (5GS) is referred to as the 5GC.The base stations 602 (and optionally the low power nodes 606) are connected to the core network 610.

[0101] The base stations 602 and the low power nodes 606 provide service to wireless communication devices 612-1 through 612-5 in the corresponding cells 604 and 608. The wireless communication devices 612-1 through 612-5 are generally referred to herein collectively as wireless communication devices 612 and individually as wireless communication device 612. In the following description, the wireless communication devices 612 are oftentimes UEs, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0102] Figure 7 is a schematic block diagram of a network node 700 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Optional features are represented by dashed boxes. The network node 700 may be, for example, a base station 602 or 606 or a network node that implements all or part of the functionality of the base station 602 or gNB described herein or the first network node 504 or the second network node 506 as described herein. As illustrated, the network node 700 includes a control system 702 that includes one or more processors 704 (e.g., Central Processing Units (CPUs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and / or the like), memory 706, and a network interface 708. The one or more processors 704 are also referred to herein as processing circuitry. In addition, if the network node 700 is a radio access node (e.g., a base station 602, gNB, or network node that implements at least some of the functionality of the base station 602 or gNB), the network node 700 may include one or more radio units 710 that each includes one or more transmitters 712 and one or more receivers 714 coupled to one or more antennas 716. The radio units 710 may be referred to or be part of radio interface circuitry. In some embodiments, the radio unit(s) 710 is external to the control system 702 and connected to the control system 702 via, e.g., a wired connection (e.g., an optical cable). However, in some other embodiments, the radio unit(s) 710 and potentially the antenna(s) 716 are integrated together with the control system 702. The one or more processors 704 operate to provide one or more functions of the network node 700 as described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a base station 602 or gNB described herein). In some embodiments, the function(s) are implemented in software that is stored, e.g., in the memory 706 and executed by the one or more processors 704.

[0103] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates a virtualized embodiment of the network node 700 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Again, optional features are represented by dashed boxes. As used herein, a “virtualized” network node is an implementation of the network node 700 in which at least a portion of the functionality of the network node 700 is implemented as a virtual component(s) (e.g., via a virtual machine(s) executing on a physical processing node(s) in a network(s)). As illustrated, in this example, if the network node 700 is a radio access node, the network node 700 may include the control system 702 and / or the one or more radio units 710, as described above. The control system 702 may be connected to the radio unit(s) 710 via, for example, an optical cable or the like. The network node 700 includes one or more processing nodes 800 coupled to or included as part of a network(s) 802. If present, the control system 702 or the radio unit(s) are connected to the processing node(s) 800 via the network 802. Each processing node 800 includes one or more processors 804 (e.g., CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, and / or the like), memory 806, and a network interface 808.

[0104] In this example, functions 810 of the network node 700 described herein (e.g., one or more functions of a base station 602 or gNB described herein) are implemented at the one or more processing nodes 800 or distributed across the one or more processing nodes 800 and the control system 702 and / or the radio unit(s) 710 in any desired manner. In some particular embodiments, some or all of the functions 810 of the network node 700 described herein are implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in a virtual environment(s) hosted by the processing node(s) 800. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, additional signaling or communication between the processing node(s) 800 and the control system 702 is used in order to carry out at least some of the desired functions 810. Notably, in some embodiments, the control system 702 may not be included, in which case the radio unit(s) 710 communicates directly with the processing node(s) 800 via an appropriate network interface(s).

[0105] In some embodiments, a computer program including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to carry out the functionality of the network node 700 or a node (e.g., a processing node 800) implementing one or more of the functions 810 of the network node 700 in a virtual environment according to any of the embodiments described herein is provided. Insome embodiments, a carrier comprising the aforementioned computer program product is provided. The carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable medium such as memory).

[0106] Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram of the network node 700 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. The network node 700 includes one or more modules 900, each of which is implemented in software. The module(s) 900 provides the functionality of the network node 700 described herein. This discussion is equally applicable to the processing node 800 of Figure 8 where the modules 900 may be implemented at one of the processing nodes 800 or distributed across multiple processing nodes 800 and / or distributed across the processing node(s) 800 and the control system 702.

[0107] Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless communication device 612 (e.g., a UE) according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The wireless communication device 612 can perform the functionality of UE 502 as described herein As illustrated, the wireless communication device 612 includes one or more processors 1002 (e.g., CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, and / or the like), memory 1004, and one or more transceivers 1006 each including one or more transmitters 1008 and one or more receivers 1010 coupled to one or more antennas 1012. The transceiver(s) 1006 includes radio-front end circuitry connected to the antenna(s) 1012 that is configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna(s) 1012 and the processor(s) 1002, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. The processors 1002 are also referred to herein as processing circuitry. The transceivers 1006 are also referred to herein as radio circuitry. In some embodiments, the functionality of the wireless communication device 612 (or UE) described above may be fully or partially implemented in software that is, e.g., stored in the memory 1004 and executed by the processor(s) 1002. Note that the wireless communication device 612 may include additional components not illustrated in Figure 10 such as, e.g., one or more user interface components (e.g., an input / output interface including a display, buttons, a touch screen, a microphone, a speaker(s), and / or the like and / or any other components for allowing input of information into the wireless communication device 612 and / or allowing output of information from the wireless communication device 612), a power supply (e.g., a battery and associated power circuitry), etc.

[0108] In some embodiments, a computer program including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to carry out the functionality of the wireless communication device 612 according to any of the embodiments described herein is provided. In some embodiments, a carrier comprising the aforementioned computer program product is provided. The carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable medium such as memory).

[0109] Figure 11 is a schematic block diagram of the wireless communication device 612 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. The wireless communication device 612 includes one or more modules 1100, each of which is implemented in software. The module(s) 1100 provides the functionality of the wireless communication device 612 (or UE) described herein.

[0110] Any appropriate steps, methods, features, functions, or benefits disclosed herein may be performed through one or more functional units or modules of one or more virtual apparatuses. Each virtual apparatus may comprise a number of these functional units. These functional units may be implemented via processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include Digital Signal Processor (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and / or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein. In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause the respective functional unit to perform corresponding functions according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0111] While processes in the figures may show a particular order of operations performed by certain embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that such order is exemplary (e.g., alternative embodiments may perform the operations in a different order, combine certain operations, overlap certain operations, etc.).

[0112] Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure include:

[0113] Embodiment 1: A method performed by a User Equipment, UE, (502) for signaling at least one of future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction, the method comprising: receiving (510) a configuration from a first network node (504) to transmit a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first network node (504) or a second network node (506), wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances; and transmitting (516) the beam prediction report to the first network node (504).

[0114] Embodiment 2: The method of embodiment 1, wherein the one or more indications of the one or more beams for each future time instance included in the beam prediction report are different for different future time instances in the beam prediction report.

[0115] Embodiment 3: The method of embodiment 1, wherein a first indication of the one or more beams for a first future time instance in the beam prediction report differs from a second indication of the one or more beams for a second future time instance.

[0116] Embodiment 4: The method of embodiment 1, wherein a plurality of indications of the one or more indications in the beam prediction report differ from different future time instances that are included in the beam prediction report.

[0117] Embodiment 5: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein the one or more indications associated to the one or more beams are one or more Synchronization Signal, SS, Physical Broadcast Channel, PBCH, Block Resource Indicators, SSBRIs.

[0118] Embodiment 6: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 5, wherein the one or more beams comprise one or more of: beams of a cell; reference Signals; synchronization Signal Blocks; spatial filters; channel State Information Reference Signals; serving cells; neighbor cells; or candidate cells.

[0119] Embodiment 7: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein the beam prediction report corresponds to a Channel State Information Report that includes at least one beam identifier and time-domain prediction information of a future time instance.

[0120] Embodiment 8: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 7, wherein time- domain prediction information comprises a predicted value of a Layer 1 Reference Signal Received Power, L1-RSRP, for at least one future time instance.

[0121] Embodiment 9: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 8, wherein the configuration comprises one or more of: an indication of a maximum number of beam indications per future time instance; a number of future time instances; an interval between future time instances; a time domain prediction window; an indication of the first set of beams; and an indication of a second set of beams.

[0122] Embodiment 10: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 8, further comprising: providing (508), to the first network node (504), assistance information comprising one or more: an indication of a maximum number of beam indications per time instance; a number of future time instances; an interval between future time instances; a time domain prediction window; an indication of the first set of beams; and an indication of a second set of beams.

[0123] Embodiment 11: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 10, further comprising: determining (514) the beam prediction report based on measurements associated with a first set of beams.

[0124] Embodiment 12: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 11, wherein the configuration comprises at least one Non-Zero Power, NZP, Channel State Information Reference Signal, CSI-RS, resource set as part of a CSI-RS resource set configuration for configuring a second set of beams.

[0125] Embodiment 13: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 12, wherein the configuration comprises a number of predicted beams corresponding to a number of future time instances.

[0126] Embodiment 14: The method of 13, wherein the number of predicted beams corresponding to a first future time instance of the number of future time instances is different from the number of predicted beams corresponding to a second future time instance.

[0127] Embodiment 15: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 14, wherein the beam prediction report comprises an indicator indicating that a beam at a particular future time instance is predicted to have a Layer 1 Reference Signal Received Power, L1-RSRP, above a predefined threshold.

[0128] Embodiment 16: A User Equipment, UE, (502) for signaling at least one of future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction, the UE (502) comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to: receive (510) a configuration from a first network node (504) to transmit a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first network node (504) or a second network node (506), wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances; and transmit (516) the beam prediction report to the first network node (504).

[0129] Embodiment 17: The UE (502) of embodiment 15, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to perform any of the methods of embodiments 2 to 15.

[0130] Embodiment 18: A method performed by a first network node (504) for signaling at least one of future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction, the method comprising: providing (510), to a User Equipment, UE, (502) a configuration to transmit a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first network node (504) or a second network node (506), wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances; and receiving (516) the beam prediction report from the UE (502).

[0131] Embodiment 19: The method of embodiment 18, further comprising: receiving (508), from the UE (502), assistance information comprising one or more: an indication of a maximum number of beam indications per time instance; a number of future time instances; an interval between future time instances; a time domain prediction window; an indication of the first set of beams; and an indication of a second set of beams.

[0132] Embodiment 20: A first network node (504) for signaling at least one of future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction, the first network node (504) comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to: providing (510), to a User Equipment, UE, (502) a configuration to transmit a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first networknode (504) or a second network node (506), wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances; and receiving (516) the beam prediction report from the UE (502).

[0133] Embodiment 21: The first network node (504) of embodiment 20, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to perform the method of embodiment 19.

Claims

Claims 1. A method performed by a User Equipment, UE, (502) for signaling at least one of future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction, the method comprising: receiving (510) a configuration from a first network node (504) to transmit a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first network node (504) or a second network node (506), wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances; and transmitting (516) the beam prediction report to the first network node (504).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more indications of the one or more beams for each future time instance included in the beam prediction report are different for different future time instances in the beam prediction report.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a first indication of the one or more beams for a first future time instance in the beam prediction report differs from a second indication of the one or more beams for a second future time instance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of indications of the one or more indications in the beam prediction report differ from different future time instances that are included in the beam prediction report.

5. The method of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the one or more indications associated to the one or more beams are one or more Synchronization Signal, SS, Physical Broadcast Channel, PBCH, Block Resource Indicators, SSBRIs.

6. The method of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the one or more beams comprise one or more of: beams of a cell; reference Signals;synchronization Signal Blocks; spatial filters; channel State Information Reference Signals; serving cells; neighbor cells; or candidate cells.

7. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the beam prediction report corresponds to a Channel State Information Report that includes at least one beam identifier and time-domain prediction information of a future time instance.

8. The method of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein time-domain prediction information comprises a predicted value of a Layer 1 Reference Signal Received Power, L1-RSRP, for at least one future time instance.

9. The method of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the configuration comprises one or more of: an indication of a maximum number of beam indications per future time instance; a number of future time instances; an interval between future time instances; a time domain prediction window; an indication of the first set of beams; and an indication of a second set of beams.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the configuration comprises an indication of a same number of beams per future instance or a different number of beams per future instance.

11. The method of any of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: providing (508), to the first network node (504), assistance information comprising one or more: an indication of a maximum number of beam indications per time instance;a number of future time instances; an interval between future time instances; a time domain prediction window; an indication of the first set of beams; and an indication of a second set of beams.

12. The method of any of claims 1 to 11, further comprising: determining (514) the beam prediction report based on measurements associated with a first set of beams.

13. The method of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the configuration comprises at least one Non-Zero Power, NZP, Channel State Information Reference Signal, CSI-RS, resource set as part of a CSI-RS resource set configuration for configuring a second set of beams.

14. The method of any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the configuration comprises a number of predicted beams corresponding to a number of future time instances.

15. The method of 14, wherein the number of predicted beams corresponding to a first future time instance of the number of future time instances is different from the number of predicted beams corresponding to a second future time instance.

16. The method of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the beam prediction report comprises an indicator indicating that a beam at a particular future time instance is predicted to have a Layer 1 Reference Signal Received Power, L1-RSRP, above a predefined threshold.

17. A User Equipment, UE, (502) for signaling at least one of future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction, the UE (502) comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to: receive (510) a configuration from a first network node (504) to transmit a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first networknode (504) or a second network node (506), wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances; and transmit (516) the beam prediction report to the first network node (504).

18. The UE (502) of claim 16, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to perform any of the methods of claims 2 to 16.

19. A method performed by a first network node (504) for signaling at least one of future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction, the method comprising: providing (510), to a User Equipment, UE, (502) a configuration to transmit a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first network node (504) or a second network node (506), wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances; and receiving (516) the beam prediction report from the UE (502).

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: receiving (508), from the UE (502), assistance information comprising one or more: an indication of a maximum number of beam indications per time instance; a number of future time instances; an interval between future time instances; a time domain prediction window; an indication of the first set of beams; and an indication of a second set of beams.

21. A first network node (504) for signaling at least one of future time information and beam information for temporal beam prediction, the first network node (504) comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to:providing (510), to a User Equipment, UE, (502) a configuration to transmit a beam prediction report comprising time-domain prediction information for one or more future time instances associated with one or more beams transmitted by the first network node (504) or a second network node (506), wherein the beam prediction report comprises one or more indications associated to the one or more beams for each future time instance of the one or more future time instances; and receiving (516) the beam prediction report from the UE (502).

22. The first network node (504) of claim 21, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to perform the method of claim 20.

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