CSI PREDICTION USING CSI-RSs WITH DIFFERENT TIME DOMAIN BEHAVIORS

Abstract

Systems and methods related to Channel State Information (CSI) or Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI) prediction using CSI Reference Signals (CSI-RSs) with different time domain behaviors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a User Equipment (UE) comprises receiving, from a network node, information that configures the UE with at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction and performing channel measurements on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource. The method further comprises receiving a Downlink Control Information (DCI) from the network node, that triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, and performing channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources. The method further comprises performing CSI or PMI prediction based on a combination of the channel measurements and reporting the predicted CSI or PMI to the network node.

Description

CSI PREDICTION USING CSI-RSs WITH DIFFERENT TIME DOMAIN BEHAVIORSRELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 575,303, filed April 5, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to Channel State Information (CSI) prediction in a cellular communications system.BACKGROUND

[0003] Multi-antenna techniques can significantly increase the data rates and reliability of a wireless communication system. The performance is in particular improved if both the transmitter and the receiver are equipped with multiple antennas, which results in a Multiple- Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) communication channel. Such systems and / or related techniques are commonly referred to as MIMO.

[0004] A core component of the Fifth Generation (5G) wireless network or New Radio (NR) is the support of MIMO antenna deployments and MIMO related techniques such as spatial multiplexing. Spatial multiplexing can be used to increase data rates in favorable channel conditions. Figure 1 shows an example of spatial multiplexing. An information carrying symbol vector s is multiplied by an TVT X r precoding matrix or precoder IV, which serves to distribute the transmit energy in a subspace of the AT dimensional vector space. The precoding matrix is typically selected from a codebook of possible precoding matrices, and typically indicated by means of a Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI), which specifies a unique precoding matrix in the codebook for a given number of symbol streams. The r symbols in s each correspond to a MIMO layer and r is referred to as the transmission rank, which equals to the number of columns of the precoder IV In this way, spatial multiplexing is achieved since multiple symbols can be transmitted simultaneously over the same time / frequency Resource Element (RE). The number of symbols r is typically adapted to suit the current channel properties.

[0005] NR uses Orthogonal Division Multiplexing (OFDM) in downlink. The received AR X 1 vector ynat a User Equipment (UE) on a certain RE can be expressed as yn= HnWsn+ enwhere e« is a receiver noise / interference vector. The precoder IV can be constant over frequency (i.e., wideband), or frequency selective (i.e., per subband).

[0006] The precoder IV is chosen to match the characteristics of the ARXAT MIMO channel matrix Hn, resulting in so-called channel dependent precoding. This is also commonly referred to as closed-loop precoding.

[0007] In closed-loop precoding, the UE feeds back recommendations on a suitable precoder to the next generation NodeB (gNB) in the form of a PMI based on downlink channel measurements. For that purpose, the UE is configured with a Channel State Information (CSI) report configuration including CSI Reference Signals (CSI-RS) for channel measurements and a codebook of candidate precoders. In addition to precoders, the feedback may also include a Rank Indicator (RI) and one or two Channel Quality Indicators (CQIs). RI, PMI, and CQI are part of a CSI feedback. In NR, CSI feedback can be either wideband, where one CSI is reported for the entire channel bandwidth, or frequency-selective, where one CSI is reported for each subband, which is defined as a number of contiguous Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs) ranging between 4-32 PRBs depending on the Bandwidth Part (BWP) size.

[0008] Given the CSI feedback from the UE, the gNB determines the transmission parameters it wishes to use to transmit to the UE, including the precoding matrix, transmission rank, and Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS).

[0009] Two-dimensional antenna arrays are widely used, and such antenna arrays can be described by a number of antenna ports, N17in a first dimension (e.g., the horizontal dimension), a number of antenna ports, N2, in the second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension (e.g., the vertical dimension), and a number of polarizations Np. The total number of antenna ports is thus N = N1N2Np. The concept of an antenna port is non-limiting in the sense that it can refer to any virtualization (e.g., linear mapping) to the physical antenna elements. For example, pairs of physical antenna elements could be fed the same signal, and hence share the same virtualized antenna port.

[0010] An example of a 4x4 (i.e.,x N2,) array with dual-polarized antenna elements (i.e.,Np= 2) is illustrated below in Figure 2.

[0011] Precoding may be interpreted as multiplying the signal to be transmitted a set of beamforming weights on the antenna ports prior to transmission. A typical approach is to tailor the precoder to the antenna form factor, i.e., taking into account NltN2and Npwhen designing the precoder codebook.

[0012] For CSI measurement and feedback, CSI-RS are defined. A CSI-RS is transmitted on an antenna port at the gNB and is used by a UE to measure downlink channel between theantenna port and each of the UE’s receive antenna ports. The transmit antenna ports are also referred to as CSI-RS ports. The supported number of CSI-RS ports in NR are { 1,2,4,8,12,16,24,32}. By measuring the received CSI-RS, a UE can estimate the channel that the CSI-RS is traversing, including the radio propagation channel and antenna gains. The CSI- RS for the above purpose is also referred to as Non-Zero Power (NZP) CSI-RS.

[0013] CSI-RS can be configured to be transmitted in certain REs in a slot and certain slots. Figure 3 shows an example of CSI-RS REs for 12 antenna ports, where 1 RE per RB per port is shown.

[0014] In addition, Interference Measurement Resource (IMR) is also defined in NR for a UE to measure interference. An IMR resource contains 4 REs, either 4 adjacent RE in frequency in the same OFDM symbol or 2 by 2 adjacent REs in both time and frequency in a slot. By measuring both the channel based on NZP CSI-RS and the interference based on an IMR, a UE can estimate the effective channel and noise plus interference to determine the CSI. Furthermore, a UE in NR may be configured to measure interference based on one or multiple NZP CSI-RS resource.

[0015] In NR, a UE can be configured with multiple CSI reporting settings and multiple CSI- RS resource settings. Each resource setting can contain multiple resource sets, and each resource set can contain up to 8 CSI-RS resources. For each CSI reporting setting, a UE feeds back a CSI report. Each CSI reporting setting contains at least the following information:• A CSI-RS resource setting for channel measurement• An IMR resource set for interference measurement• Optionally, a CSI-RS resource set for interference measurement• Time-domain behavior, i.e., periodic, semi-persistent, or aperiodic reporting• Frequency granularity, i.e., wideband or subband• CSI parameters to be reported such as RI, PMI, CQI, and CSI-RS Resource Indicator (CRI) in case of multiple CSI-RS resources in a resource set• Codebook types, i.e., type I or II, and codebook subset restriction• Measurement restriction• Subband size. One out of two possible subband sizes is indicated, the value range depends on the bandwidth of the BWP. One CQI / PMI (if configured for subband reporting) is fed back per subband).

[0016] In NR, CSI-AperiodicTriggerState is configured in order to trigger aperiodic CSI reports. The CSI-AperiodicTriggerList IE is defined in 3GPP TS 38.331 V17.2.0 as follows. There is list of trigger states which may include up to 128 of CSI-AperiodicTrigger States. Eachtrigger state may include up to 16 CSI-AssociatedReportConfiglnfo. Each CSI- AssociatedReportConfiglnfo contains a reportconfig id which associates it to a CSI- Reportconfig. UE may have up to 48 different reportconfigs configured. Each Reportconfig includes codebookConfig as a field.

[0017] A common type of precoding is to use a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT)-precoder, where the precoder vector used to precode a single-layer transmission using a single-polarized Uniform Linear Array (ULA) with N antennas is defined aswhere k = 0,1, ... ON — 1 is the precoder index and 0 is an integer oversampling factor. ukis also referred to as a one dimension (1-D) DFT beam with beam index k. If ULA is along the horizontal dimension, each DFT beam points to an azimuth direction. If ULA is along the vertical dimension, each DFT beam points to an elevation direction. Each precoder corresponds to a DFT beam.

[0018] A corresponding precoder vector for a two-dimensional Uniform Planar Array (UP A) with N antenna ports in one dimension and N2antenna ports in another dimension can be created by taking the Kronecker product of two precoder vectors as w2D(k, l) = vkii= uM®uu,each of the two dimensions, and and O2are the over sampling factors in the two dimensions associated with N and N2, respectively. vkis also referred to a two-dimension (2-D) DFT beam characterized by two beam indices (fc, Z), one in each dimension. Each precoder corresponds to a 2D DFT beam.

[0019] Extending the DFT precoder for a dual-polarized UPA may then be done aswhere e7^ is a co-phasing factor that may be selected from M-PSK alphabet such as QPK with

[0020] A precoder matrix W2D,DP for multi-layer transmission may be created by appending columns ofDFT precoder vectors as 2D,DP=[W2D,DP (fcl, Zl, 01) W2D,Dp (k2> 2) " ■w2D,Dp ( r> ^r> r) where r is the number of transmission layers. Such DFT-based precoders are used for instance in NR Type I CSI feedback, where each layer is associated with 2D DFT beam.

[0021] With Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO), two or more users in the same cell are coscheduled on a same time-frequency resource. That is, multiple data streams are transmitted to different UEs at the same time-frequency resource and each UE may be allocated with one or more layers. By transmitting several streams simultaneously, the capacity of the system can be increased.

[0022] To avoid across UE or layer interference, Zero-Forcing (ZF) type of precoders may be used in which the feedback precoders associated with all co-scheduled UEs in a same time frequency resource are used together to generate a set of new orthogonal precoders. This requires each of the feedback precoders to be a good representation of underlying channel. However, a single DFT beam is generally not a good representation of a layer under multipath channel as each layer may be transmitted over multiple paths each corresponding to a DFT beam.

[0023] To improve the above single DFT beam based precoder, type II codebook based CSI feedback was introduced in NR Rel-15 and further enhanced in NR Rel-16. The basic concept is that due to multipath propagation, each layer may contain more than one DFT beam. Hence a better precoder may be created by combining multiple DFT beams for each layer and the UE feeds back both the multiple DFT beams and the combining coefficients.

[0024] Type-II CSI codebook was introduced in Rel-15 NR (specified in Clause 5.2.2.2.3 of 3GPP TS 38.214 V18.1.0) to enable a UE to report a richer CSI compared to Type-I feedback (specified in Clause 5.2.2.2.1 of 3GPP TS 38.214) to enable MU-MIMO precoding. In essence, the Type-II CSI feedback consists of information on linearly combining multiple DFT beams for each layer with subband granularity. Type-II CSI feedback outperforms Type-I CSI feedback in system-level performance. However, Type-II CSI report specified in Rel-15 NR suffers from a large overhead due to the subband reporting. To overcome the issue of large overhead of Type II, enhanced Type II (eType-II) CSI codebook was introduced in Rel-16 (specified in Clause 5.2.2.2.5 of 3GPP TS 38.214), where the correlation between the subbands is exploited and compression along the frequency domain is applied.

[0025] Along with the Type-II and eType-II codebooks, NR also supports their Port Selection (PS) variants, Type-II PS codebook and eType-II PS codebook, respectively, where the UEs measure beamformed CSI-RS ports instead of non-beamformed CSI-RS and select a subsetof ports. The PS variants are intended for reciprocity-based operation, typically in Time Division Duplexing (TDD) deployments, since the network may already know a good set of Spatial Domain (SD) bases for precoding the CSI-RS. In Rel-17, the Rel-16 eType-II PS codebook (specified in Clause 5.2.2.2.6 of 3GPP TS 38.214 V18.1.0) was further enhanced to support Frequency Domain Duplexing (FDD) scenarios with partial reciprocity where the network can estimate a good set of SD bases and delay difference between them. In Rel-17 further enhanced Type-II PS codebook (or feType-II PS specified in Clause 5.2.2.2.7 of 3GPP TS 38.214) the UEs measure beamformed and delay compensated CSI-RS, and report phase related information that the network cannot estimate due to partial reciprocity.

[0026] In all the Type-II CSI feedback variants until Rel-17, a UE is configured to report a PMI from the configured codebook type for a single CSI-RS measurement instance. The Type-II feedback contains fine CSI information and it has been observed that the system-level performance, especially when using MU-MIMO, degrades with UE mobility due to the outdating of the report. The performance loss can be recovered to some extent by reducing the CSI-RS transmission periodicity at the cost of increased DL RS overhead and UL reporting overhead.

[0027] To address the issue of aging of Type-II reports with UE mobility, the following codebooks have been specified in Rel-18:• the enhanced Type-II codebook for predicted PMI (or eTypell-predictedPMI specified in Clause 5.2.2.2.10 of 3GPP TS 38.214) and• further enhanced Type-II PS codebook for predicted PMI (feTypell-PS-predictedPMI specified in Clause 5.2.2.2.11 of 3GPP TS 38.214)

[0028] A UE is configured with K aperiodic CSI-RS resources or with a periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resource to enable multiple measurements. The multiple measurements are used by the UE to determine multiple PMIs in a future time window and pack them into a single report. In the following sections, the enhanced codebooks for predicted PMI are described in detail.

[0029] Figure 4 illustrates the concept of the Rel-18 Type-II codebooks for predicted PMI and different types of Channel Measurement Resources (CMRs). A UE is configured to measure on a burst of K aperiodic CSI-RS instances separated by m slots, illustrated in a first indicated type of hashing. Alternatively, the UE may be configured to measure the channel on a periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource with a periodicity of P slots. In Rel-18, each of the CSI-RS resource have up to 32 CSI-RS ports. The UE measures the CSI-RS ports at multiple time instances and determines N4precoders / PMIs separated by d slots, illustrated in a secondindicated type of hashing. The determination of N4precoders is up to UE implementation. The following are two possible ways the UE could determine the N4precoders:• a UE could first predict the channel for each CSI-port at the N4future time slots and compute precoders from the predicted channel; or• a UE could directly compute N4precoders from the K measurements.

[0030] The N4PMIS are packed into a single CSI report and transmitted to the network in slot n (illustrated in orange). To account for the delay between slot n where the CSI report is transmitted in an uplink (UL) resource and the slot at which the first PMI is applied to a downlink (DL) transmission, a parameter 6 is configured by the network to the UE. The UE can use this information to obtain the slot at which the first PMI will be used and design its predictor accordingly.

[0031] The Rel-18 Type-II codebook for predicted PMI is built on the design principles of Rel-16 eType-II codebook. As a consequence, the PMIs are reported through a set of Spatial Domain (SD) bases, Frequency Domain (FD) bases, and linear complex- valued combining coefficients. To pack the N4PMIs into a single report while minimizing the report overhead, a new set of bases, i.e., Doppler Domain (DD) bases are introduced to reduce the overhead of the report.

[0032] The following channel measurement resources are configurable for eTypell-predicted PMI:• K E {4, 8, 12} aperiodic CSI-RS resources, each separated by m E {1, 2} slot.• Periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource with periodicity P.

[0033] The following parameters are configurable in Rel-18 eTypell-predicted PMI Codebook according to 3GPP TS 38.214 Clause 5.2.2.2.10:• The number of DFT beams, FD basis vectors, and coefficients to be selected and reported by a UE in the CSI report are configured through a parameter combination index. The parameter combinations are listed in Table 1, where L is the number of DFT beams, v is the rank, pvdetermines the number of FD basis and / 3 determines the number of non-zero coefficients to be reported.Table 1 : Codebook parameter configurations for L, (3 and pv• The number of PMIs (PMI intervals) in the future time window, N4E {1, 2, 4, 8} o If N4= 1, PMI is reported according to the format for Rel-16 eTypell, specified in 3GPP TS 38.214 Clause 5.2.2.2.5 and Table 5.2.2.2.5-5. o If N4E {2, 4, 8], Q = 2 Doppler Domain basis are selected for compression across the slots in the future time window and PMI is reported according to 3GPP TS 38.214 Clause 5.2.2.2.10 and Table 5.2.2.2.10-2. The first DD basis (first column of the DD DFT matrix) is always selected and only the index of the second selected basis is reported. o When N4= 2, since Q = 2, the indices of the selected DD bases are not reported.• Interval between the consecutive PMIs or duration of a PMI, d. For periodic / semi- persistent CSI-RS, d = P, where P is the periodicity of the periodic / semi-persistent CSI-RS. And, for aperiodic CSI-RS, d E {1, m], where m is the separation between two CSI-RS instances.• The delay parameter, delta, 8 E {—nCSI ref, 0,1,2}. The earliest of the A4PMI slot intervals starts at slot I = n + <5, where n is the uplink slot in which CSI is reported. Here, nCSI rethe slot associated with the CSI reference resource as described in 3GPP TS 38.214 Clause 5.2.2.5.SUMMARY

[0034] Systems and methods related to Channel State Information (CSI) or Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI) prediction using CSI Reference Signals (CSI-RSs) with different time domain behaviors are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a User Equipment (UE) for CSI or PMI prediction comprises receiving, from a network node, information that configuresthe UE with at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI Reference Signal, CSI-RS, resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction and performing channel measurements on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource. The method further comprises receiving a Downlink Control Information (DCI) from the network node, wherein the DCI triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, and performing channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources. The method further comprises performing CSI or PMI prediction based on a combination of the channel measurements performed on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, thereby providing predicted CSI or PMI, and reporting the predicted CSI or PMI to the network node. In this manner, CSI-RS overhead can be kept low but, at the same time, CSI (or PMI) prediction performance can be extended to, for example, higher UE speeds.

[0035] In one embodiment, a periodicity of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI- RS resource is 20 slots or higher.

[0036] In one embodiment, each aperiodic CSI-RS instance is configured as a separate aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

[0037] In one embodiment, a number of occasions of the at least one periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is predefined.

[0038] In one embodiment, a number of occasions of the at least one periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is configured to the UE by the network node.

[0039] In one embodiment, a number of occasions of the at least one periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is signaled from the UE to the network node.

[0040] In one embodiment, a slot corresponding to a first predicted PMI is located 6 slots later than a slot in which the predicted CSI or PMI is reported. In one embodiment, a value of 6 is configured to the UE by the network node. In another embodiment, a value of 6 is a function of whether the combination of the channel measurements performed on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is used for the prediction or only channel measurements on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource are used for the prediction.

[0041] In one embodiment, different sets of parameters are configured to the UE by the network node, wherein the different sets of parameters comprise a first set of parameters to be used if the combination of the channel measurements performed on the at least one periodic orsemi-persistent CSI-RS resource and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI- RS resources is to be used for the prediction and a second set of parameters to be used if only channel measurements on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource are used for the prediction.

[0042] In one embodiment, a time separation between two consecutive aperiodic CSI-RS resources, a number of aperiodic CSI-RS resources, a number of predicted future CSIs or PMIs, a separation in slots between where the predicted CSI or PMI is reported to the network node in an uplink resource and a slot at which a first, in time, PMI is applied to a downlink transmission, and / or the time separation between adjacent predicted slots, depend on a particular Artificial Intelligence (Al) or Machine Learning (ML) model used to perform the prediction of CSI or PMI.

[0043] In one embodiment, the configured at least one periodic or semi -persistent CSI-RS resource and the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources are such that all the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources in an aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the configured at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource share a same Quasi Co-Located, QCL, type.

[0044] In one embodiment, the configured at least one periodic or semi -persistent CSI-RS resource and the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources are such that all the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in an aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the at least one periodic or semi -persistent CSI-RS resource are configured with a same bandwidth and subcarrier locations. In one embodiment, aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource are configured on same Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in the respective slots. In one embodiment, aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource are transmitted with a same power ratio to a Synchronization Signal (SS) / Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) Block (SSB) transmission power.

[0045] In one embodiment, the aperiodic CSI-RS resources form one or more aperiodic CSI- RS bursts, and the aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI- RS resource are configured on the same Resource Elements (REs) and / or on the same symbols within a Physical Resource Block (PRB) in respective slots.

[0046] In one embodiment, the aperiodic CSI-RS resources comprise an aperiodic CSI-RS burst, and an antenna port with a same port index of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in the aperiodic CSI-RS burst is the same as the antenna port with the same port index of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource.

[0047] In one embodiment, the UE performs the channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in an aperiodic CSI-RS burst and on different instances of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource.

[0048] In one embodiment, receiving the information that configures the UE with both the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource and the aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction comprises receiving first information that configures the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource and second information that configures the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, wherein both the first information and the second information are associated to a same CSI report configuration. In one embodiment, the first information is a first CSI resource configuration information element, and the second information is a second CSI resource configuration information element. In one embodiment, the UE is further configured with a time domain behavior parameter at a CSI-RS resource level that overrides a time domain behavior parameter configured in the first information and / or a time domain behavior parameter configured in the second information.

[0049] In one embodiment, a time domain behavior of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is linked to the configuration of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource. In one embodiment, the time domain behavior of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is linked to the configuration of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource such that one or more transmission occasions of aperiodic CSI-RS are determined by a time of receipt of the DCI that triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources and one or more periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS transmission occasions of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource configured in a same CSI report configuration. In one embodiment, a slot offset and / or number of repetitions of the one or more transmission occasions of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources are configured by the network node.

[0050] In one embodiment, the UE is configured by the network node with two or more CSI report configurations for two or more Al models implemented at the UE.

[0051] In one embodiment, a particular aperiodic CSI-RS resource occurs in a same slot as a particular occasion of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, and the UE performs a channel measurement of only one of the particular aperiodic CSI-RS resource and the particular occasion of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource in the same slot.

[0052] Corresponding embodiments of a UE are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a UE for CSI or PMI prediction is adapted to receive, from a network node, information that configures the UE with at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource and aperiodicCSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction and perform channel measurements on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resources. The UE is further adapted to receive a DCI from the network node, wherein the DCI triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, and perform channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources. The UE is further adapted to perform CSI or PMI prediction based on a combination of the channel measurements performed on the at least one periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resources and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, thereby providing predicted CSI or PMI and report the predicted CSI or PMI to the network node.

[0053] In one embodiment, a UE for CSI or PMI prediction comprises a communication interface comprising a transmitter and a receiver, and processing circuitry associated with the communication interface. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the UE to receive, from a network node, information that configures the UE with at least one periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction and perform channel measurements on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resources. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause the UE to receive a DCI from the network node, wherein the DCI triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, and perform channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause the UE to perform CSI or PMI prediction based on a combination of the channel measurements performed on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resources and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, thereby providing predicted CSI or PMI and report the predicted CSI or PMI to the network node.

[0054] Embodiments of a method performed by a network node are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a network node to enable CSI or PMI prediction at a UE comprises providing, to the UE (500), information that configures the UE with at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction, transmitting, to the UE, a DCI that triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, and receiving, from the UE, a CSI report comprising a predicted CSI or PMI.

[0055] Corresponding embodiments of a network node are also disclosed. In one embodiment, a network node for enabling CSI or PMI prediction at a UE is adapted to provide, to the UE, information that configures the UE with at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI- RS resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI reportfor CSI or PMI prediction, transmit, to the UE, a DCI that triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, and receive, from the UE, a CSI report comprising a predicted CSI or PMI.

[0056] In one embodiment, a network node for enabling CSI or PMI prediction at a UE comprises processing circuitry configured to cause the network node to provide, to the UE, information that configures the UE with at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction, transmit, to the UE, a DCI that triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, and receive, from the UE, a CSI report comprising a predicted CSI or PMI.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] 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.

[0058] Figure 1 shows an example of spatial multiplexing.

[0059] Figure 2 illustrates an example of a 4x4 array with dual-polarized antenna elements.

[0060] Figure 3 shows an example of Channel State Information (CSI) Reference Signal(CSI-RS) Resource Elements (REs) for twelve (12) antenna ports, where one RE per ResourceBlock (RB) per port is shown.

[0061] Figure 4 is an illustration of the 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 18 Type II codebooks for predicted Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI).

[0062] Figure 5 illustrates the operation of a User Equipment (UE) and a network node for CSI (or PMI) prediction, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0063] Figure 6 shows a first example of channel measurement based on a combination of channel measurements performed on periodic CSI-RS and aperiodic CSI-RS(s) for a CSI report for predicted PMI, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0064] Figure 7 shows a second example of channel measurement based on a combination of channel measurements performed on periodic CSI-RS and aperiodic CSI-RS(s) for a CSI report for predicted PMI, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0065] Figures 8 and 9 illustrate two examples showing combination of periodic CSI-RS and aperiodic CSI-RS being used for channel measurement for a CSI report for predicted PMI, where the configuration for aperiodic CSI reporting depends on Artificial Intelligence (Al) model deployed at the UE, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0066] Figure 10 shows an example of a communication system in accordance with some embodiments.

[0067] Figure 11 shows a UE in accordance with some embodiments.

[0068] Figure 12 shows a network node in accordance with some embodiments.

[0069] Figure 13 is a block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] The embodiments set forth below represent information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure.

[0071] Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

[0072] There currently exist certain challenge(s). In typical networks, periodic Channel State Information (CSI) Reference Signals (CSI-RS) are deployed with larger (e.g., 20 slots or more) periodicities to keep the CSI-RS overhead low. However, CSI (or Precoding Matrix Indicator (PMI)) prediction performance will be limited to only smaller User Equipment (UE) speeds when the CSI prediction is based on periodic CSI-RS with such large periodicities. How to improve CSI prediction performance when periodic CSI-RSs are deployed with practical periodicities is an open problem to solve.

[0073] Certain aspects of the disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. Systems and methods are disclosed herein in which a UE combines measurements on periodic CSI-RS and aperiodic CSI-RS to perform CSI or PMI prediction. The following details related to such combined measurements for CSI or PMI prediction are covered herein:• Details on Quasi Co-Located (QCL) assumption, bandwidth, subcarrier location and port indexing for the periodic and aperiodic CSI-RSs,• Configuration of combined aperiodic CSI-RS and periodic CSI-RS resources for channel measurement,• UE behavior when aperiodic CSI-RS and periodic CSI-RS occur in the same slot.

[0074] Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s). With embodiments of the proposed solution, the CSI-RS overhead can be keptlow but, at the same time, CSI (or PMI) prediction performance can be extended to higher UE speeds. The combined channel measurements based on periodic and aperiodic CSI-RSs allow the possibility for improved CSI (or PMI) prediction performance at higher UE speeds since they offer the UE more CSI-RS occasions to perform channel measurement compared to the case when only periodic CSI-RS is used for channel measurement. Furthermore, the CSI (or PMI) prediction with higher UE speeds can be achieved with practical periodicities of periodic CSI-RS deployed in real-world wireless networks. The teachings of certain embodiments may improve, e.g., data rate, latency, and / or power consumption.

[0075] Figure 5 illustrates the operation of a UE 500 and a network node 502 for CSI (or PMI) prediction, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Optional steps are represented by dashed lines / boxes. Note that for much of the following description, a 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) New Radio (NR) Radio Access Network (RAN) is assumed and, as such, the network node 502 is referred to a gNB and other 3 GPP NR or 5G related terminology is used. However, the present disclosure is not related to NR or 5G and may be used in other similar systems such as, e.g. ,a 6thGeneration (6G) system. As illustrated, the procedure of Figure 5 includes any one or more of the following:• Step 504: The UE 500 receives, from the network node 502, information that configures the UE 500 with both periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources and aperiodic CSI- RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction;• Step 506: The UE 500 performs channel measurements on the periodic (or semi- persistent) CSI-RS resources;• Step 508: The UE receives a Downlink Control Information (DCI) from the network node 502, wherein the DCI triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources;• Step 510: The UE 500 performs channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources;• Step 512: The UE 500 performs CSI or PMI prediction based on the combined channel measurements based on the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources and the aperiodic CSI-RS resources. In other words, the UE 500 performs CSI or PMI prediction (e.g., using an Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML) model(s)) based on the combination of the channel measurements performed on the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources) and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources;• Step 514: The UE reports the predicted CSI or PMI to the network node 502.Details regarding the steps of Figure 5 are provided below.

[0076] In a general embodiment, the UE receives (e.g., in step 504) configuration from a network node (e.g., a gNB for the following description of example embodiments) of any of the following combinations of Non-Zero Power (NZP) CSI-RS resource types for channel measurement for a CSI report for predicted PMI:• a combination of periodic CSI-RS resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resource(s), or• a combination of semi -persistent CSI-RS resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resource(s).

[0077] The periodicity Poof the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS is in the order of 20 slots or higher to keep the CSI-RS resource overhead low. In between two instances of the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS, the UE may receive a trigger for aperiodic CSI-RS burst (e.g., receives the DCI in step 508), wherein the aperiodic CSI-RS burst may contain more than one aperiodic CSI-RSs. The trigger for aperiodic CSI-RS burst is received via a DCI (e.g., an uplink (UL) DCI). In some embodiments, the trigger for aperiodic CSI-RS burst also triggers the CSI report for predicted PMI.

[0078] In the rest of the description, the embodiments are described for the case of the combination of periodic CSI-RS resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resource(s). These embodiments can be extended to the case of the combination of semi-persistent CSI-RS resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resource(s) by replacing the periodic CSI-RS with the semi-persistent CSI-RS.

[0079] Figure 6 shows a first example of channel measurement (e.g., in steps 506 and 510) based on a combination of channel measurements performed on periodic CSI-RS and aperiodic CSI-RS(s) for a CSI report for predicted PMI.• The periodic CSI-RS in the example has periodicity Po= 20 slots. Four instances of the periodic CSI-RS are shown in the figures in slots 1, 21, 41 and 61.• The DCI trigger that triggers the aperiodic CSI-RSs and the CSI report is received by the UE at slot 25. In the example, three instances of aperiodic CSI-RS are shown in slots 27, 29, and 31. In some embodiments, each aperiodic CSI-RS instance is configured as a separate aperiodic CSI-RS resource. The time separation (or time gap) between adjacent (or consecutive) aperiodic CSI-RSs, denoted by m, in the figure is configured by the gNB to the UE. In the example of Figure 6, the time gap between adjacent aperiodic CSI-RSs is m = 1 slot.• If one or more slots configured for aperiodic CSI-RS reception is not a Time Division Duplexing (TDD) downlink (DL) slot, or a TDD flexible slot where CSI-RS maps to uplink OFDM symbols, then the UE disregards this slot from measurements.• The UE performs channel measurements based on both the periodic CSI-RS (see, e.g., step 506) and the aperiodic CSI-RS(s) (see, e.g., step 510). Based on the combined measurements from both the periodic CSI-RS and the aperiodic CSI-RS(s), the UE predicts PMI for N4time instances (see, e.g., step 512). In one embodiment, how many occasions of the periodic CSI-RS are used in the combined measurements is predefined in 3GPP specifications. In another embodiment, how many occasions of the periodic CSI-RS are used in the combined measurements is configured by the network to the UE. In yet another embodiment, how many occasions of the periodic CSI-RS are used in the combined measurements is signaled from the UE to the network as part of UE capability signaling.• The CSI report is transmitted by the UE to the gNB in slot 34 (see, e.g., step 514). In the example of Figure 6, the number of slots with predicted PMIs is N4= 2. The first predicted PMI corresponds to slot 38, and the second predicted PMI corresponds to slot 58. In this example, the time separation (or time gap) between adjacent (or consecutive) predicted PMIs is the same as the periodicity of the periodic CSI-RS (i.e., time gap d between adjacent predicted PMIs is Po)- The slot corresponding to the first predicted PMI is located 8 slots later than the slot in which the CSI report is transmitted. In some embodiments, 6 is higher layer configured (e.g., via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling) to the UE from the gNB. The N4predicted PMIs will be reported by the UE to the gNB using the ‘eTypell-predicted PMI Codebook’. o In one embodiment, the value of 6 depends on whether periodic CSI-RS is used in combination of the aperiodic CSI-RSs for CSI prediction or if only periodic CSI- RS (or alternatively only aperiodic CSI-RS) are used for CSI prediction. In one example embodiment, a default value of the parameter 6 is configured in the RRC signaling associated to the periodic CSI-RS only based CSI prediction. However, when aperiodic CSI-RS is combined with periodic CSI-RS for CSI prediction, a different 6 value is configured. In this case, the DCI triggering the aperiodic CSI- RS burst and associated CSI report can override the default value of 6. o In another embodiment, two sets of RRC parameters (i.e., two sets of 6, N4, d parameters) are configured for the two kinds of CSI prediction reports generated by the following two cases:■ 1) periodic CSI-RS only based CSI prediction, and■ 2) CSI prediction based on combined measurements on periodic CSI-RS and aperiodic CSI-RS.When case 2 is triggered by DCI, the parameters in the 2nd RRC parameter set (<5, N4, d) is used for CSI prediction and corresponding reporting.

[0080] Figure 7 shows a second example of channel measurement based on a combination of channel measurements performed on periodic CSI-RS and aperiodic CSI-RS(s) for a CSI report for predicted PMI. This example is similar to the example in Figure 6 except that there are predicted PMIs in N4= 4 time instances (located at slots 38, 43, 48, and 53). Furthermore, the time separation (or time gap) between adjacent predicted PMIs is different from the periodicity of the periodic CSI-RS. The time gap d = P4in this case is configured by the gNB to the UE.

[0081] In one embodiment, one or more of the following (i) the time separation between consecutive aperiodic CSI-RSs, i.e., m, (ii) the number of aperiodic CSI RS resources, i.e.., K, (iii) the number of predicted future CSI measurements, i.e., N4, (iv) the separation in slots between where the CSI report is transmitted in a UL resource and the slot at which the first PMI is applied to the DL transmission, i.e., <5, and the time separation between adjacent predicted slots, i.e., d, depend on the Al model / prediction algorithm in the UE. The following examples exemplify the embodiment, when an Al model in the UE was trained for K input values separated by m = m slots to predict N4future CSI measurements separated by d slots, such that {K, m, N4, d] are reported by the UE to the network during the capability reporting:I. In one example illustrated in Figure 8, the Al model is such that {K, m, N4, d] ={5, 3,4, 5}. The UE reports these values to the network node. Accordingly, the network node can configure a burst of (K — 1) aperiodic CSI resources (4 resources) separated by m = 3 slots and trigger the resources such that the first aperiodic CSI resource is received at m = 3 slots from the last received periodic CSI resource (at Slot 21). This results in aperiodic resources received at Slot 24, 27, 30 and 33. Subsequently, K = 5 CSI measurements from the last received periodic resource and the aperiodic resources (i.e., from Slot 21 and Slot 24, 27, 30, 33, respectively) are given as input to the Al model to predict N4= 4 future CSI measurements (at Slot 39, 44, 49 and 54) separated by d = 5 slots. In other words, Figure 8 illustrates an example showing combination of periodic CSI-RS and aperiodic CSI-RS being used for channel measurement for a CSI report for predicted PMI, where the configuration for aperiodic CSI reporting depends on Al model deployed at the UE.II. In another example illustrated in Figure 9, the Al model is such that {K, m, N4, d] = {5, 5, 2, 5}. The UE reports these values to the network. Accordingly, the network can configure a burst of (K — 2) aperiodic CSI resources (3 resources) separated by m = 5 slots. Further, the network triggers the aperiodic resources such that they are receivedbetween two consecutive periodic CSI resources (at Slot 21 and 41), i.e., in Slot 26, 31, 36. This effectively generates 5 CSI measurements from Slot 21, 26, 31, 36, 41 with a separation of m = 5 slots, which are given as input to the Al model to predict N4= 2 future CSI measurements (at Slot 47 and 52) separated by d = m = 5 slots. In other words, Figure 9 illustrates an example showing combination of periodic CSI-RS and aperiodic CSI-RS being used for channel measurement for a CSI report for predicted PMI, where the configuration for aperiodic CSI reporting depends on Al model deployed at the UE.

[0082] In any of the two embodiments above, if one or more of K slots configured for CSI- RS reception is not a TDD DL slot, or a TDD flexible slot where CSI-RS maps to uplink Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols, then the UE disregards this slot from measurements and the network is not transmitting any CSI-RS in this slot.

[0083] In any of the two embodiments above, if time domain channel measurement restriction is configured as enabled to the UE, then the UE should only use the latest periodic CSI-RS (e.g., slot 21) together with the aperiodic CSI-RS measurements. The UE shall not use any earlier periodic CSI-RS (e.g., slot 1) together with the aperiodic CSI-RS. The benefit of this is that the network can change the multi-antenna precoding vectors (i.e., the beam) or alternatively the transmission point (TRP) for the periodic CSI-RS ports from instance to instance (i.e., from slot 1 to slot 21 to slot 41).

[0084] Now, a description of some details on Quasi Co-Located (QCL), bandwidth, subcarrier location, and port indexing will be provided. In some embodiments, the UE receives configuration from the gNB (e.g., in step 504) such that all the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in the aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the periodic CSI-RS resource share the same QCL-TypeA and / or QCL-TypeC. In some cases, if applicable (e.g., in Frequency Range 2 (FR2)), the UE receives configuration from the gNB such that the all the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in the aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the periodic CSI-RS resource share the same QCL-TypeD. In one embodiment, if time domain channel measurement restriction is enabled for the periodic CSI-RS, then the QCL relation between periodic and aperiodic CSI-RS only holds between a specific resource or a specific set of periodic resources (e.g., the latest periodic CSI-RS instance before or within the aperiodic CSI-RS burst) of periodic CSI-RS occasions and the aperiodic CSI-RS.

[0085] In another embodiment, the UE receives configuration from the gNB (e.g., in step 504) such that all the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in the aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the periodic CSI-RS resource are configured with the same bandwidth and subcarrier locations. In one additional embodiment, the UE assumes aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and periodic CSI-RS resourcesare configured on same Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols in the respective slots. In one additional embodiment, the UE assumes aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and periodic CSI-RS resources are transmitted with same power ratio to the Synchronization Signal (SS) / Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) Block (SSB) transmission power.

[0086] In one additional embodiment, the UE assumes the received aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and periodic CSI-RS resources are configured on same Resource Elements (REs) and / or on same symbols within a Physical Resource Block (PRB) in respective slots.

[0087] In another embodiment, the UE assumes that the antenna port with the same port index (or alternatively if a mapping between periodic CSI-RS ports and aperiodic CSI-RS port is provided by the network to the UE) of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in the aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the periodic CSI-RS resource is the same. This ensures that the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in the aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the periodic CSI-RS resources are transmitted from the same set of antennas, using the same multi-antenna precoding vector and the UE measures multiple instances of the same channel on the aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the periodic CSI-RS resource. If time domain channel measurement restriction is enabled for the periodic CSI-RS, then the assumption of same antenna port between periodic and aperiodic CSI-RS only holds between a specific resource or a specific set of periodic resources (e.g., the latest periodic CSI- RS instance before or within the aperiodic CSI-RS burst) of periodic CSI-RS occasions and the aperiodic CSI-RS.

[0088] In another embodiment, the UE performs channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in the aperiodic CSI-RS burst and on different instances of periodic CSI-RS (i.e., a limited number of past periodic CSI-RS instances). The UE uses these measurements as input to an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-CSI prediction model (e.g., an AI / Machine Learning (ML) model or an estimator or a predictor) for generating the predicted PMIs. The N4predicted PMIs are then generated via the AI-CSI prediction model.

[0089] A description of some example embodiments related to the configuration of combined aperiodic CSI-RS resources and periodic CSI-RS for CSI with predicted PMI will now be provided. In the following description, the information elements CSI-ReportConfig, CSI- ResourceConfig, CSI-AperiodicTriggerStateList, etc. are as defined in 3GPP TS 38.331 V18.0.0. The term CSI reporting configuration may be used interchangeably with CSI-ReportConfig. The term CSI resource setting may be used interchangeably with CSI-ResourceConfig.

[0090] Since the aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the periodic CSI-RS have different time domain behavior (i.e., one aperiodic and the other periodic), in one embodiment, two different CSI- ResourceConfig (i.e., CSI resource settings or CSI resource configurations) may need to beconfigured to one CSI-Report configuration. The changes needed over 3GPP TS 38.331 V18.0.0 are as show below via bold, underlined text. This is because time domain behavior for CSI-RS is defined at the CSI-Resource Config level according to 3GPP TS 38.331 V18.0.0. The periodic CSI-RS may be configured in a NZP CSI-RS resource set configured in the CSI-ResourceConfig pointed to by the identifier resourcesForChannelMeasurement. The aperiodic CSI-RS burst corresponds to an NZP CSI-RS resource set configured in the CSI-ResourceConfig pointed to by the identifier resourcesForChannelMeasurement2.CSI-ReportConfig information element— ASNl START— TAG-CS I-REPORTCONFIG-STARTCS I-ReportConfig : : = SEQUENCE { reportConf igld GS T -Report Conf igld, carrier ServCell lndexOPTIONAL, — Need S resourcesForChannelMeasurement CS I-Re sour ceConf igld, resour cesForChannelMeasurement2 CSI-Resour ceConf igld, OPTIONAL , -- Need R csi- IM-Re sources For Interference CS I -Re sour ceConf igldOPTIONAL, — Need R nzp-CS I -RS -Re sources For Interference CS I -Re sour ceConf igldOPTIONAL, — Need R

[0091] In an alternative embodiment, an optional time domain behavior parameter (i.e., resource type parameter) may be defined at the NZP CSI-RS resource set level. This way the periodic CSI-RS and the aperiodic CSI-RS burst can be configured in two different NZP CSI-RS resource sets within the same CSI-ResourceConfig. One of the NZP CSI-RS resource sets can have the optional time domain behavior configured, wherein the optional time domain behavior parameter overrides the time domain behavior parameter configured in CSI-ResourceConfig.

[0092] In another alternative, periodic and aperiodic resources are configured within the same NZP CSI-RS resource set. In this embodiment, the time domain behavior parameter is configured at resource level (e.g., as part of CSI-RS resource configuration).

[0093] In an optional embodiment (Level A configuration), the time domain behaviour of aperiodic CSI-RS resource is linked to the configuration of periodic CSI-RS, that the transmission occasion(s) of aperiodic CSI-RS is determined by the time of DCI triggering and periodic CSI-RS transmission occasion(s) of the CSI-RS resources configured in the same CSI-ReportConfig. In one example, a time offset in number of slots can be configured in higher layer signalling to indicate the time difference between the transmission of periodic CSI-RS and the transmission of aperiodic CSI-RS. In another example, a repetition number can be configured in higher layer signalling to indicate how many periodic CSI-RS transmission occasions is followed by the aperiodic CSI-RS associated with one triggering DCI and / or CSI report.

[0094] In another optional embodiment (Level B configuration), a slot offset and / or number of repetitions between the aperiodic CSI-RS transmission occasions can be configured in higher level signalling to densify the transmission occasions of aperiodic CSI-RS.

[0095] According to the above optional embodiments, the Level A configuration of offset and repetition defines time domain behaviour of aperiodic CSI-RS in relation with periodic CSI- RS; the Level B configuration of offset and repetition configuration defines time domain behaviour of aperiodic CSI-RS in each first level repetition. Within a level A repetition, the level B time offset is related to the time difference between the aperiodic CSI-RS transmission occasions, and the second level repetition is related to the number of repetitions of aperiodic CSI-RS. In one embodiment, the level A and level B configuration can be separately or jointly configured.

[0096] In one embodiment, where there are more than one Al models / algorithms implemented in the UE, which are reported to the network, the network can configure more than one CSI-Report configuration for each of the Al model / algorithm, identified by different reportConfigld. For example, if there are two AL models A and B implemented in the UE, the network can configure two corresponding CSI-Report configuration with reportConfigld X and Y, respectively. Accordingly, each of the CSI-report configuration can contain an identifier resourcesForChannelMeasurement2 / 3 pointing to an NZP CSI-RS resource set indicating aperiodic CSI-RS burst with parameters tailored for each Al model / algorithm.• In one sub-embodiment, the different CSI-Report configuration per Al model / algorithm are defined in different CSI-AperiodicTriggerState. Accordingly, depending on the active Al model in the UE, the network can trigger the corresponding CSI report configuration through the aperiodic trigger state by the CSI request field in the DCI. o In one related embodiment, the trigger for the CSI report can contain the indication for the Al model / algorithm, the UE should use for the CSI prediction.• In another sub-embodiment, the different CSI-Report configuration for all or subset of Al model / algorithm are defined in the same CSI-AperiodicTriggerState but associated with different C l-AssociatedReportConfiglnfo. Accordingly, the network can simultaneously trigger CSI reports using all or subset of Al model / algorithm by triggering the aperiodictrigger state pointing to associated report configurations for the Al model s / algorithm. This may be useful, for example, if the CSI report for each Al model / algorithm includes the corresponding performance outcome, which can be used by the network to select one of the CSI report (out of multiple CSI report from Al model s / algorithm) for subsequent DL transmission.UE Behavior when Periodic CSI-RS and Aperiodic CSI-RSs Occur in the Same Slot

[0097] In regard to UE behavior when periodic CSI-RS and aperiodic CSI-RSs occur in the same slot, in one embodiment, if an aperiodic CSI-RS happens in the same slot as an instance of the periodic CSI-RS, the UE only measures one of the aperiodic CSI-RS or the instance of the periodic CSI-RS: In one embodiment, the UE only measures the periodic CSI-RS instance when the periodic CSI-RS instance happens in the same slot as the aperiodic CSI-RS. In an alternative embodiment, the UE only measures the aperiodic CSI-RS when the aperiodic CSI-RS happens in the same slot as the instance of the periodic CSI-RS. In yet another alternative embodiment, the UE only measures the periodic CSI-RS when the aperiodic CSI-RS happens in the same slot as the instance of the periodic CSI-RS and the UE assumes that the aperiodic CSI-RS in the aperiodic CSI-RS burst is not transmitted in this slot (in order to save CSI-RS overhead). Hence, any PDSCH mapped in this slot can use the resource elements that was previously reserved for aperiodic CSI-RS transmission.

[0098] Figure 10 shows an example of a communication system 1000 in accordance with some embodiments.

[0099] In the example, the communication system 1000 includes a telecommunication network 1002 that includes an access network 1004, such as a Radio Access Network (RAN), and a core network 1006, which includes one or more core network nodes 1008. The access network 1004 includes one or more access network nodes, such as network nodes 1010A and 1010B (one or more of which may be generally referred to as network nodes 1010), or any other similar Third Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) access nodes or non-3GPP Access Points (APs). Moreover, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, a network node is not necessarily limited to an implementation in which a radio portion and a baseband portion are supplied and integrated by a single vendor. Thus, it will be understood that network nodes include disaggregated implementations or portions thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the telecommunication network 1002 includes one or more Open-RAN (ORAN) network nodes. An ORAN network node is a node in the telecommunication network 1002 that supports an ORAN specification (e.g., a specification published by the O-RAN Alliance, or any similarorganization) and may operate alone or together with other nodes to implement one or more functionalities of any node in the telecommunication network 1002, including one or more network nodes 1010 and / or core network nodes 1008.

[0100] Examples of an ORAN network node include an Open Radio Unit (O-RU), an Open Distributed Unit (O-DU), an Open Central Unit (O-CU), including an O-CU Control Plane (O- CU-CP) or an O-CU User Plane (O-CU-UP), a RAN intelligent controller (near-real time or non- real time) hosting software or software plug-ins, such as a near-real time control application (e.g., xApp) or a non-real time control application (e.g., rApp), or any combination thereof (the adjective “open” designating support of an ORAN specification). The network node may support a specification by, for example, supporting an interface defined by the ORAN specification, such as an Al, Fl, Wl, El, E2, X2, Xn interface, an open fronthaul user plane interface, or an open fronthaul management plane interface. Moreover, an ORAN access node may be a logical node in a physical node. Furthermore, an ORAN network node may be implemented in a virtualization environment (described further below) in which one or more network functions are virtualized. For example, the virtualization environment may include an O-Cloud computing platform orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an O-2 interface defined by the O-RAN Alliance or comparable technologies. The network nodes 1010 facilitate direct or indirect connection of User Equipment (UE), such as by connecting UEs 1012A, 1012B, 1012C, and 1012D (one or more of which may be generally referred to as UEs 1012) to the core network 1006 over one or more wireless connections.

[0101] Example wireless communications over a wireless connection include transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and / or other types of signals suitable for conveying information without the use of wires, cables, or other material conductors. Moreover, in different embodiments, the communication system 1000 may include any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, UEs, and / or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and / or signals whether via wired or wireless connections. The communication system 1000 may include and / or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, radio network, and / or other similar type of system.

[0102] The UEs 1012 may be any of a wide variety of communication devices, including wireless devices arranged, configured, and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with the network nodes 1010 and other communication devices. Similarly, the network nodes 1010 are arranged, capable, configured, and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with the UEs 1012 and / or with other network nodes or equipment in the telecommunication network 1002to enable and / or provide network access, such as wireless network access, and / or to perform other functions, such as administration in the telecommunication network 1002.

[0103] In the depicted example, the core network 1006 connects the network nodes 1010 to one or more hosts, such as host 1016. These connections may be direct or indirect via one or more intermediary networks or devices. In other examples, network nodes may be directly coupled to hosts. The core network 1006 includes one more core network nodes (e.g., core network node 1008) that are structured with hardware and software components. Features of these components may be substantially similar to those described with respect to the UEs, network nodes, and / or hosts, such that the descriptions thereof are generally applicable to the corresponding components of the core network node 1008. Example core network nodes include functions of one or more of a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Subscription Identifier De-Concealing Function (SIDF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP), Network Exposure Function (NEF), and / or a User Plane Function (UPF).

[0104] The host 1016 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider other than an operator or provider of the access network 1004 and / or the telecommunication network 1002, and may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The host 1016 may host a variety of applications to provide one or more service. Examples of such applications include live and pre-recorded audio / video content, data collection services such as retrieving and compiling data on various ambient conditions detected by a plurality of UEs, analytics functionality, social media, functions for controlling or otherwise interacting with remote devices, functions for an alarm and surveillance center, or any other such function performed by a server.

[0105] As a whole, the communication system 1000 of Figure 10 enables connectivity between the UEs, network nodes, and hosts. In that sense, the communication system 1000 may be configured to operate according to predefined rules or procedures, such as specific standards that include, but are not limited to: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Long Term Evolution (LTE), and / or other suitable Second, Third, Fourth, or Fifth Generation (2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G) standards, or any applicable future generation standard (e.g., Sixth Generation (6G)); Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards (WiFi); and / or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such asthe Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave, Near Field Communication (NFC) ZigBee, LiFi, and / or any Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) standards such as LoRa and Sigfox.

[0106] In some examples, the telecommunication network 1002 is a cellular network that implements 3 GPP standardized features. Accordingly, the telecommunication network 1002 may support network slicing to provide different logical networks to different devices that are connected to the telecommunication network 1002. For example, the telecommunication network 1002 may provide Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) services to some UEs, while providing enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services to other UEs, and / or massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) / massive Internet of Things (loT) services to yet further UEs.

[0107] In some examples, the UEs 1012 are configured to transmit and / or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a UE may be designed to transmit information to the access network 1004 on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the access network 1004.Additionally, a UE may be configured for operating in single- or multi-Radio Access Technology (RAT) or multi-standard mode. For example, a UE may operate with any one or combination of WiFi, New Radio (NR), and LTE, i.e. being configured for Multi-Radio Dual Connectivity (MR-DC), such as Evolved UMTS Terrestrial RAN (E-UTRAN) NR - Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

[0108] In the example, a hub 1014 communicates with the access network 1004 to facilitate indirect communication between one or more UEs (e.g., UE 1012C and / or 1012D) and network nodes (e.g., network node 1010B). In some examples, the hub 1014 may be a controller, router, content source and analytics, or any of the other communication devices described herein regarding UEs. For example, the hub 1014 may be a broadband router enabling access to the core network 1006 for the UEs. As another example, the hub 1014 may be a controller that sends commands or instructions to one or more actuators in the UEs. Commands or instructions may be received from the UEs, network nodes 1010, or by executable code, script, process, or other instructions in the hub 1014. As another example, the hub 1014 may be a data collector that acts as temporary storage for UE data and, in some embodiments, may perform analysis or other processing of the data. As another example, the hub 1014 may be a content source. For example, for a UE that is a Virtual Reality (VR) headset, display, loudspeaker or other media delivery device, the hub 1014 may retrieve VR assets, video, audio, or other media or data related to sensory information via a network node, which the hub 1014 then provides to the UEeither directly, after performing local processing, and / or after adding additional local content. In still another example, the hub 1014 acts as a proxy server or orchestrator for the UEs, in particular if one or more of the UEs are low energy loT devices.

[0109] The hub 1014 may have a constant / persistent or intermittent connection to the network node 1010B. The hub 1014 may also allow for a different communication scheme and / or schedule between the hub 1014 and UEs (e.g., UE 1012C and / or 1012D), and between the hub 1014 and the core network 1006. In other examples, the hub 1014 is connected to the core network 1006 and / or one or more UEs via a wired connection. Moreover, the hub 1014 may be configured to connect to a Machine-to-Machine (M2M) service provider over the access network 1004 and / or to another UE over a direct connection. In some scenarios, UEs may establish a wireless connection with the network nodes 1010 while still connected via the hub 1014 via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, the hub 1014 may be a dedicated hub - that is, a hub whose primary function is to route communications to / from the UEs from / to the network node 1010B. In other embodiments, the hub 1014 may be a non-dedicated hub - that is, a device which is capable of operating to route communications between the UEs and the network node 1010B, but which is additionally capable of operating as a communication start and / or end point for certain data channels.

[0110] Figure 11 shows a UE 1100 in accordance with some embodiments. As used herein, a UE refers to a device capable, configured, arranged, and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and / or other UEs. Examples of a UE include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, mobile phone, cell phone, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone, wireless local loop phone, desktop computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), wireless camera, gaming console or device, music storage device, playback appliance, wearable terminal device, wireless endpoint, mobile station, tablet, laptop, Laptop Embedded Equipment (LEE), Laptop Mounted Equipment (LME), smart device, wireless Customer Premise Equipment (CPE), vehicle, vehicle-mounted or vehicle embedded / integrated wireless device, etc. Other examples include any UE identified by the 3GPP, including a Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) UE, a Machine Type Communication (MTC) UE, and / or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.[oni] A UE may support Device-to-Device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3 GPP standard for sidelink communication, Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC), Vehi cl e-to- Vehicle (V2V), Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I), or Vehicle- to-Everything (V2X). In other examples, a UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and / or operates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may notinitially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter).

[0112] The UE 1100 includes processing circuitry 1102 that is operatively coupled via a bus 1104 to an input / output interface 1106, a power source 1108, memory 1110, a communication interface 1112, and / or any other component, or any combination thereof. Certain UEs may utilize all or a subset of the components shown in Figure 11. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

[0113] The processing circuitry 1102 is configured to process instructions and data and may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory 1110. The processing circuitry 1102 may be implemented as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored computer programs, general purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or Digital Signal Processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuitry 1102 may include multiple Central Processing Units (CPUs).

[0114] In the example, the input / output interface 1106 may be configured to provide an interface or interfaces to an input device, output device, or one or more input and / or output devices. Examples of an output device include a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. An input device may allow a user to capture information into the UE 1100. Examples of an input device include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, a biometric sensor, etc., or any combination thereof. An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port may be used to provide an input device and an output device.

[0115] In some embodiments, the power source 1108 is structured as a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic device, or power cell, may be used. The power source 1108 may further include power circuitry for delivering power from the power source 1108 itself, and / or an external power source, to the various parts of the UE 1100 via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Delivering power may be, for example, for charging of the power source 1108. Power circuitry may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from the power source 1108 to make the power suitable for the respective components of the UE 1100 to which power is supplied.

[0116] The memory 1110 may be or be configured to include memory such as Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Programmable ROM (PROM), Erasable PROM (EPROM), Electrically EPROM (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, flash drives, and so forth. In one example, the memory 1110 includes one or more application programs 1114, such as an operating system, web browser application, a widget, gadget engine, or other application, and corresponding data 1116. The memory 1110 may store, for use by the UE 1100, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

[0117] The memory 1110 may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID), flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, High Density Digital Versatile Disc (HD- DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, Holographic Digital Data Storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini Dual In-line Memory Module (DIMM), Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as a tamper resistant module in the form of a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) including one or more Subscriber Identity Modules (SIMs), such as a Universal SIM (USIM) and / or Internet Protocol Multimedia Services Identity Module (ISIM), other memory, or any combination thereof. The UICC may for example be an embedded UICC (eUICC), integrated UICC (iUICC) or a removable UICC commonly known as a ‘SIM card.’ The memory 1110 may allow the UE 1100 to access instructions, application programs, and the like stored on transitory or non-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system, may be tangibly embodied as or in the memory 1110, which may be or comprise a device-readable storage medium.

[0118] The processing circuitry 1102 may be configured to communicate with an access network or other network using the communication interface 1112. The communicationinterface 1112 may comprise one or more communication subsystems and may include or be communicatively coupled to an antenna 1122. The communication interface 1112 may include one or more transceivers used to communicate, such as by communicating with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication (e.g., another UE or a network node in an access network). Each transceiver may include a transmitter 1118 and / or a receiver 1120 appropriate to provide network communications (e.g., optical, electrical, frequency allocations, and so forth). Moreover, the transmitter 1118 and receiver 1120 may be coupled to one or more antennas (e.g., the antenna 1122) and may share circuit components, software, or firmware, or alternatively be implemented separately.

[0119] In the illustrated embodiment, communication functions of the communication interface 1112 may include cellular communication, WiFi communication, LPWAN communication, data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short- range communications such as Bluetooth, NFC, location-based communication such as the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. Communications may be implemented according to one or more communication protocols and / or standards, such as IEEE 802.11, Code Division Multiplexing Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), GSM, LTE, NR, UMTS, WiMax, Ethernet, Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP), Synchronous Optical Networking (SONET), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), Quick User Datagram Protocol Internet Connection (QUIC), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and so forth.

[0120] Regardless of the type of sensor, a UE may provide an output of data captured by its sensors, through its communication interface 1112, via a wireless connection to a network node. Data captured by sensors of a UE can be communicated through a wireless connection to a network node via another UE. The output may be periodic (e.g., once every 15 minutes if it reports the sensed temperature), random (e.g., to even out the load from reporting from several sensors), in response to a triggering event (e.g., when moisture is detected, an alert is sent), in response to a request (e.g., a user initiated request), or a continuous stream (e.g., a live video feed of a patient).

[0121] As another example, a UE comprises an actuator, a motor, or a switch related to a communication interface configured to receive wireless input from a network node via a wireless connection. In response to the received wireless input the states of the actuator, the motor, or the switch may change. For example, the UE may comprise a motor that adjusts the control surfaces or rotors of a drone in flight according to the received input or to a robotic arm performing a medical procedure according to the received input.

[0122] A UE, when in the form of an loT device, may be a device for use in one or more application domains, these domains comprising, but not limited to, city wearable technology, extended industrial application, and healthcare. Non-limiting examples of such an loT device are a device which is or which is embedded in: a connected refrigerator or freezer, a television, a connected lighting device, an electricity meter, a robot vacuum cleaner, a voice controlled smart speaker, a home security camera, a motion detector, a thermostat, a smoke detector, a door / window sensor, a flood / moisture sensor, an electrical door lock, a connected doorbell, an air conditioning system like a heat pump, an autonomous vehicle, a surveillance system, a weather monitoring device, a vehicle parking monitoring device, an electric vehicle charging station, a smart watch, a fitness tracker, a head-mounted display for Augmented Reality (AR) or VR, a wearable for tactile augmentation or sensory enhancement, a water sprinkler, an animal- or item-tracking device, a sensor for monitoring a plant or animal, an industrial robot, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and any kind of medical device, like a heart rate monitor or a remote controlled surgical robot. A UE in the form of an loT device comprises circuitry and / or software in dependence of the intended application of the loT device in addition to other components as described in relation to the UE 1100 shown in Figure 11.

[0123] As yet another specific example, in an loT scenario, a UE may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and / or measurements and transmits the results of such monitoring and / or measurements to another UE and / or a network node. The UE may in this case be an M2M device, which may in a 3 GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, the UE may implement the 3GPP NB-IoT standard. In other scenarios, a UE may represent a vehicle, such as a car, a bus, a truck, a ship, an airplane, or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and / or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation.

[0124] In practice, any number of UEs may be used together with respect to a single use case. For example, a first UE might be or be integrated in a drone and provide the drone’s speed information (obtained through a speed sensor) to a second UE that is a remote controller operating the drone. When the user makes changes from the remote controller, the first UE may adjust the throttle on the drone (e.g., by controlling an actuator) to increase or decrease the drone’s speed. The first and / or the second UE can also include more than one of the functionalities described above. For example, a UE might comprise the sensor and the actuator and handle communication of data for both the speed sensor and the actuators.

[0125] Figure 12 shows a network node 1200 in accordance with some embodiments. As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged, and / or operable tocommunicate directly or indirectly with a UE and / or with other network nodes or equipment in a telecommunication network. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, APs (e.g., radio APs), Base Stations (BSs) (e.g., radio BSs, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs), NR Node Bs (gNBs)), and O-RAN nodes or components of an O-RAN node (e.g., O-RU, O-DU, O- CU).

[0126] Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and so, depending on the provided amount of coverage, may be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units, distributed units (e.g., in an O-RAN access node), and / or Remote Radio Units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such RRUs may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a Distributed Antenna System (DAS).

[0127] Other examples of network nodes include multiple Transmission Point (multi-TRP) 5G access nodes, Multi -Standard Radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as Radio Network Controllers (RNCs) or BS Controllers (BSCs), Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, Multi-Cell / Multicast Coordination Entities (MCEs), Operation and Maintenance (O&M) nodes, Operations Support System (OSS) nodes, Self-Organizing Network (SON) nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., Evolved Serving Mobile Location Centers (E-SMLCs)), and / or Minimization of Drive Tests (MDTs).

[0128] The network node 1200 includes processing circuitry 1202, memory 1204, a communication interface 1206, and a power source 1208. The network node 1200 may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and an RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which the network node 1200 comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeBs. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, the network node 1200 may be configured to support multiple RATs. In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate memory 1204 for different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., a same antenna 1210 may be shared by different RATs). The network node 1200may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node 1200, for example GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, Zigbee, Z-wave, Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN), Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within the network node 1200.

[0129] The processing circuitry 1202 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, CPU, DSP, ASIC, FPGA, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software, and / or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node 1200 components, such as the memory 1204, to provide network node 1200 functionality.

[0130] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1202 includes a System on a Chip (SOC). In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1202 includes one or more of Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1212 and baseband processing circuitry 1214. In some embodiments, the RF transceiver circuitry 1212 and the baseband processing circuitry 1214 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of the RF transceiver circuitry 1212 and the baseband processing circuitry 1214 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units.

[0131] The memory 1204 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer- readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, RAM, ROM, mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD), or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and / or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device-readable, and / or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and / or instructions that may be used by the processing circuitry 1202. The memory 1204 may store any suitable instructions, data, or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, and / or other instructions capable of being executed by the processing circuitry 1202 and utilized by the network node 1200. The memory 1204 may be used to store any calculations made by the processing circuitry 1202 and / or any data received via the communication interface 1206. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1202 and the memory 1204 are integrated.

[0132] The communication interface 1206 is used in wired or wireless communication of signaling and / or data between a network node, access network, and / or UE. As illustrated, the communication interface 1206 comprises port(s) / terminal(s) 1216 to send and receive data, for example to and from a network over a wired connection. The communication interface 1206also includes radio front-end circuitry 1218 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, the antenna 1210. The radio front-end circuitry 1218 comprises filters 1220 and amplifiers 1222. The radio front-end circuitry 1218 may be connected to the antenna 1210 and the processing circuitry 1202. The radio front-end circuitry 1218 may be configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna 1210 and the processing circuitry 1202. The radio front-end circuitry 1218 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or UEs via a wireless connection. The radio front-end circuitry 1218 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of the filters 1220 and / or the amplifiers 1222. The radio signal may then be transmitted via the antenna 1210. Similarly, when receiving data, the antenna 1210 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by the radio front-end circuitry 1218. The digital data may be passed to the processing circuitry 1202. In other embodiments, the communication interface 1206 may comprise different components and / or different combinations of components.

[0133] In certain alternative embodiments, the network node 1200 does not include separate radio front-end circuitry 1218; instead, the processing circuitry 1202 includes radio front-end circuitry and is connected to the antenna 1210. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of the RF transceiver circuitry 1212 is part of the communication interface 1206. In still other embodiments, the communication interface 1206 includes the one or more ports or terminals 1216, the radio front-end circuitry 1218, and the RF transceiver circuitry 1212 as part of a radio unit (not shown), and the communication interface 1206 communicates with the baseband processing circuitry 1214, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

[0134] The antenna 1210 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and / or receive wireless signals. The antenna 1210 may be coupled to the radio front-end circuitry 1218 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and / or signals wirelessly. In certain embodiments, the antenna 1210 is separate from the network node 1200 and connectable to the network node 1200 through an interface or port.

[0135] The antenna 1210, the communication interface 1206, and / or the processing circuitry 1202 may be configured to perform any receiving operations and / or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by the network node 1200. Any information, data, and / or signals may be received from a UE, another network node, and / or any other network equipment. Similarly, the antenna 1210, the communication interface 1206, and / or the processing circuitry 1202 may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by the network node 1200. Any information, data, and / or signals may be transmitted to a UE, another network node, and / or any other network equipment.

[0136] The power source 1208 provides power to the various components of the network node 1200 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). The power source 1208 may further comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry to supply the components of the network node 1200 with power for performing the functionality described herein. For example, the network node 1200 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., the power grid or an electricity outlet) via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry of the power source 1208. As a further example, the power source 1208 may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail.

[0137] Embodiments of the network node 1200 may include additional components beyond those shown in Figure 12 for providing certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and / or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, the network node 1200 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into the network node 1200 and to allow output of information from the network node 1200. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for the network node 1200. In some embodiments providing a core network node, such as core network node 1008 of FIG. 10, some components, such as the radio front-end circuitry 1218 and the RF transceiver circuitry 1212 may be omitted.

[0138] Figure 13 is a block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment 1300 in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices, and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to any device described herein, or components thereof, and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components. Some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more Virtual Machines (VMs) implemented in one or more virtualization environments 1300 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes, such as a hardware computing device that operates as a network node, a UE, a core network node, or a host. Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node or host), then the node may be entirely virtualized. In some embodiments, the virtualization environment 1300 includes components defined by the O-RANAlliance, such as an O-Cloud environment orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an 0-2 interface. Virtualization may facilitate distributed implementations of a network node, a UE, a core network node, or a host.

[0139] Applications 1302 (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) are run in the virtualization environment 1300 to implement some of the features, functions, and / or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0140] Hardware 1304 includes processing circuitry, memory that stores software and / or instructions executable by hardware processing circuitry, and / or other hardware devices as described herein, such as a network interface, an input / output interface, and so forth. Software may be executed by the processing circuitry to instantiate one or more virtualization layers 1306 (also referred to as hypervisors or Virtual Machine Monitors (VMMs)), provide VMs 1308A and 1308B (one or more of which may be generally referred to as VMs 1308), and / or perform any of the functions, features, and / or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein. The virtualization layer 1306 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to the VMs 1308.

[0141] The VMs 1308 comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking, or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer 1306. Different embodiments of the instance of a virtual appliance 1302 may be implemented on one or more of VMs 1308, and the implementations may be made in different ways. Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as Network Function Virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers and customer premise equipment.

[0142] In the context of NFV, a VM 1308 may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of the VMs 1308, and that part of the hardware 1304 that executes that VM, be it hardware dedicated to that VM and / or hardware shared by that VM with others of the VMs, forms separate virtual network elements. Still in the context of NFV, a virtual network function is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more VMs 1308 on top of the hardware 1304 and corresponds to the application 1302.

[0143] The hardware 1304 may be implemented in a standalone network node with generic or specific components. The hardware 1304 may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, the hardware 1304 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g., such as in adata center or CPE) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration 1310, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of the applications 1302. In some embodiments, the hardware 1304 is coupled to one or more radio units that each include one or more transmitters and one or more receivers that may be coupled to one or more antennas. Radio units may communicate directly with other hardware nodes via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station. In some embodiments, some signaling can be provided with the use of a control system 1312 which may alternatively be used for communication between hardware nodes and radio units.

[0144] Although the computing devices described herein (e.g., UEs, network nodes) may include the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise computing devices with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that these computing devices may comprise any suitable combination of hardware and / or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions, and methods disclosed herein. Determining, calculating, obtaining, or similar operations described herein may be performed by processing circuitry, which may process information by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and / or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination. Moreover, while components are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, computing devices may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component, and functionality may be partitioned between separate components. For example, a communication interface may be configured to include any of the components described herein, and / or the functionality of the components may be partitioned between the processing circuitry and the communication interface. In another example, non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

[0145] In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein may be provided by processing circuitry executing instructions stored on in memory, which in certain embodiments may be a computer program product in the form of a non-transitory computer- readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by the processing circuitry without executing instructions stored on a separate ordiscrete device-readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a non-transitory computer- readable storage medium or not, the processing circuitry can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to the processing circuitry alone or to other components of the computing device, but are enjoyed by the computing device as a whole, and / or by end users and a wireless network generally.

[0146] Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modifications to the embodiments of the present disclosure. All such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein.EMBODIMENTSGroup A Embodiments

[0147] Embodiment 1 : A method performed by a User Equipment, UE, (500) for Channel State Information, CSI, or Precoding Matrix Indicator, PMI, prediction, the method comprising any one or more of the following: receiving (504), from a network node (502), information that configures the UE (500) with both periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI Reference Signal, CSI-RS, resources and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction; performing (506) channel measurements on the periodic (or semi- persistent) CSI-RS resources; receiving (508) a Downlink Control Information, DCI, from the network node(502), wherein the DCI triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources; performing (510) channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources; performing (512) CSI or PMI prediction based on a combination of the channel measurements performed on the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, thereby providing predicted CSI or PMI; reporting (514) the predicted CSI or PMI to the network node (502).

[0148] Embodiment 2: The method of embodiment 1, wherein a periodicity of the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources is 20 slots or higher.

[0149] Embodiment 3: The method of embodiment 1 or 2, wherein each aperiodic CSI-RS instance is configured as a separate aperiodic CSI-RS resource

[0150] Embodiment 4: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein a number of occasions of the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is predefined.

[0151] Embodiment 5: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein a number of occasions of the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is configured to the UE (500) by the network node (502).

[0152] Embodiment 6: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein a number of occasions of the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is signaled from the UE (500) to the network node (502).

[0153] Embodiment 7: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein a slot corresponding to a first predicted PMI is located 6 slots later than a slot in which the predicted CSI or PMI is reported.

[0154] Embodiment 8: The method of embodiment 7, wherein a value of 6 is configured to the UE (500) by the network node (502).

[0155] Embodiment 9: The method of embodiment 7, wherein a value of 6 is a function of whether the combination of the channel measurements performed on the periodic (or semi- persistent) CSI-RS resources and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is used for the prediction or only channel measurements on periodic (or semi- persistent) CSI-RS resources are used for the prediction.

[0156] Embodiment 10: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein different sets of parameters are configured to the UE by the network node, wherein the different sets of parameters comprise a first set of parameters to be used if the combination of the channel measurements performed on the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is to be used for the prediction and a second set of parameters to be used if only channel measurements on periodic (or semi- persistent) CSI-RS resources are used for the prediction.

[0157] Embodiment 11 : The method of any of embodiments 1 to 6, wherein any one or more of the following:• a time separation between consecutive aperiodic CSI-RSs,• a number of aperiodic CSI RS resources,• a number of predicted future CSI or PMI measurements,• a separation in slots between where the predicted CSI or PMI is reported to the network node in an uplink resource and a slot at which a first (in time) PMI is applied to a downlink transmission, and• the time separation between adjacent predicted slots, depend on a particular Artificial Intelligence, Al, or Machine Learning, ML, model used to perform the prediction of CSI or PMI.

[0158] Embodiment 12: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 11, wherein configured periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources and the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources are such that all the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources in an aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the configured periodic CSI-RS resource share a same Quasi Co-Located, QCL, type.

[0159] Embodiment 13: The method of embodiment 12, wherein a time domain channel measurement restriction is enabled for the periodic CSI-RS, and the QCL relation between the periodic and aperiodic CSI-RS only holds between a specific resource or a specific set of periodic resources (e.g., the latest periodic CSI-RS instance before or within the aperiodic CSI- RS burst) of periodic CSI-RS occasions and the aperiodic CSI-RS.

[0160] Embodiment 14: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 11, wherein configured periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources and the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources are such that all the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in a aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resource are configured with a same bandwidth and subcarrier locations.

[0161] Embodiment 15: The method of embodiment 14, wherein aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and periodic CSI-RS resources are configured on same OFDM symbols in the respective slots.

[0162] Embodiment 16: The method of embodiment 14 or 15, wherein aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and periodic CSI-RS resources are transmitted with a same power ratio to a Synchronization Signal (SS) / Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) Block (SSB) transmission power.

[0163] Embodiment 17: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein the received aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and periodic CSI-RS resources are configured on the same Resource Elements, REs, and / or on the same symbols within a Physical Resource Block, PRB, in respective slots.

[0164] Embodiment 18: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 17, wherein an antenna port with a same port index of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in the aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the periodic CSI-RS resource is the same.

[0165] Embodiment 19: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 18, wherein the UE performs the channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in an aperiodic CSI-RS burst and on different instances of periodic CSI-RS resources.

[0166] Embodiment 20: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein receiving (504) the information that configures the UE (500) with both the periodic (or semi -persistent) CSI-RS resources and the aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction comprises receiving first information (e.g., a first CSI-ResoruceConfigIE) that configures the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources and second information (e.g., a second CSI-ResoruceConfig IE) that configures the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, wherein both the first information and the second information are associated to a same CSI report configuration.

[0167] Embodiment 21 : The method of embodiment 20, wherein the UE is further configured with a time domain behavior parameter at a CSI-RS resource level that overrides a time domain behavior parameter configured in the first information and / or a time domain behavior parameter configured in the second information.

[0168] Embodiment 22: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 20, wherein a time domain behavior of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is linked to the configuration of the periodic CSI-RS resources.

[0169] Embodiment 23 : The method of embodiment 22, wherein the time domain behavior of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is linked to the configuration of the periodic CSI-RS resources such that transmission occasion(s) of aperiodic CSI-RS is determined by a time of receipt of the DCI that triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources and periodic CSI-RS transmission occasion(s) of the CSI-RS resource configured in a same CSI report configuration.

[0170] Embodiment 24: The method of embodiment 23, wherein a slot offset and / or number of repetitions of the aperiodic CSI-RS transmission occasions (e.g., the aperiodic CSI-RS resources) is configured by the network node.

[0171] Embodiment 25: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 24, wherein the UE is configured by the network node with two or more CSI report configurations for two or more Al models implemented at the UE (e.g., two or more different Al models for CSI or PMI prediction).

[0172] Embodiment 26: The method of any of embodiments 1 to 25, wherein a particular aperiodic CSI-RS resource occurs in a same slot as a particular periodic CSI-RS resource, and the UE only performs a channel measurement of only one of the particular aperiodic CSI-RS resource and the particular CSI-RS resource in the same slot.Group B Embodiments

[0173] Embodiment 27: A method performed by a network node (502) to enable Channel State Information, CSI, or Precoding Matrix Indicator, PMI, prediction at a User Equipment, UE, the method comprising any one or more of the following: providing (504), to the UE (500), information that configures the UE (500) with both periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI Reference Signal, CSI-RS, resources and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources fora CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction; performing (506) channel measurements on the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources; receiving (508) a Downlink Control Information, DCI, from the network node(502), wherein the DCI triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources; performing (510) channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources; performing (512) CSI or PMI prediction based on a combination of the channel measurements performed on the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, thereby providing predicted CSI or PMI; receiving (514), from the UE (500), a CSI report comprising a predicted CSI or PMI.

[0174] Embodiment 28: The method of embodiment 27, wherein the predicted CSI or PMI is predicted based on a combination of channel measurements performed on the periodic (or semi- persistent) CSI-RS resources and channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources.

[0175] Embodiment 29: The method of embodiment 27 or 28, wherein a periodicity of the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources is 20 slots or higher.

[0176] Embodiment 30: The method of any of embodiments 27 to 29, wherein each aperiodic CSI-RS instance is configured as a separate aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

[0177] Embodiment 31 : The method of any of embodiments 27 to 30, wherein a number of occasions of the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is predefined.

[0178] Embodiment 32: The method of any of embodiments 27 to 30, wherein a number of occasions of the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is configured to the UE (500) by the network node (502).

[0179] Embodiment 33: The method of any of embodiments 27 to 30, wherein a number of occasions of the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is signaled from the UE (500) to the network node (502).

[0180] Embodiment 34: The method of any of embodiments 27 to 33, wherein a slot corresponding to a first predicted PMI is located 6 slots later than a slot in which the predicted CSI or PMI is reported.

[0181] Embodiment 35: The method of embodiment 34, wherein a value of 6 is configured to the UE (500) by the network node (502).

[0182] Embodiment 36: The method of embodiment 34, wherein a value of 6 is a function of whether the combination of the channel measurements performed on the periodic (or semi- persistent) CSI-RS resources and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RSresources is used for the prediction or only channel measurements on periodic (or semi- persistent) CSI-RS resources are used for the prediction.

[0183] Embodiment 37: The method of any of embodiments 27 to 33, wherein different sets of parameters are configured to the UE by the network node, wherein the different sets of parameters comprise a first set of parameters to be used if the combination of the channel measurements performed on the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is to be used for the prediction and a second set of parameters to be used if only channel measurements on periodic (or semi- persistent) CSI-RS resources are used for the prediction.

[0184] Embodiment 38: The method of any of embodiments 27 to 33, wherein any one or more of the following:• a time separation between consecutive aperiodic CSI-RSs,• a number of aperiodic CSI RS resources,• a number of predicted future CSI or PMI measurements,• a separation in slots between where the predicted CSI or PMI is reported to the network node in an uplink resource and a slot at which a first (in time) PMI is applied to a downlink transmission, and• the time separation between adjacent predicted slots, depend on a particular Artificial Intelligence, Al, or Machine Learning, ML, model used at the UE to perform the prediction of CSI or PMI.

[0185] Embodiment 39: The method of any of embodiments 27 to 38, wherein configured periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources and the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources are such that all the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources in an aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the configured periodic CSI-RS resource share a same Quasi Co-Located, QCL, type.

[0186] Embodiment 40: The method of embodiment 39, wherein a time domain channel measurement restriction is enabled for the periodic CSI-RS, and the QCL relation between the periodic and aperiodic CSI-RS only holds between a specific resource or a specific set of periodic resources (e.g., the latest periodic CSI-RS instance before or within the aperiodic CSI- RS burst) of periodic CSI-RS occasions and the aperiodic CSI-RS.

[0187] Embodiment 41 : The method of any of embodiments 27 to 38, wherein configured periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources and the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources are such that all the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in a aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resource are configured with a same bandwidth and subcarrier locations.

[0188] Embodiment 42: The method of embodiment 41, wherein aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and periodic CSI-RS resources are configured on same OFDM symbols in the respective slots.

[0189] Embodiment 43: The method of embodiment 41 or 42, wherein aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and periodic CSI-RS resources are transmitted with a same power ratio to a Synchronization Signal (SS) / Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) Block (SSB) transmission power.

[0190] Embodiment 44: The method of any of embodiments 27 to 43, wherein the aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and periodic CSI-RS resources are configured on the same Resource Elements, REs, and / or on the same symbols within a Physical Resource Block, PRB, in respective slots.

[0191] Embodiment 45: The method of any of embodiments 27 to 44, wherein an antenna port with a same port index of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in the aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the periodic CSI-RS resource is the same.

[0192] Embodiment 46: The method of any of embodiments 27 to 45, wherein providing (504) the information that configures the UE (500) with both the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources and the aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction comprises providing first information (e.g., a first CSI- ResoruceConfig IE) that configures the periodic (or semi-persistent) CSI-RS resources and second information (e.g., a second CSI-ResoruceConfig IE) that configures the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, wherein both the first information and the second information are associated to a same CSI report configuration.

[0193] Embodiment 47: The method of embodiment 46, wherein the network node further configures the UE with a time domain behavior parameter at a CSI-RS resource level that overrides a time domain behavior parameter configured in the first information and / or a time domain behavior parameter configured in the second information.

[0194] Embodiment 48: The method of any of embodiments 27 to 47, wherein a time domain behavior of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is linked to the configuration of the periodic CSI-RS resources.

[0195] Embodiment 49: The method of embodiment 48, wherein the time domain behavior of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is linked to the configuration of the periodic CSI-RS resources such that transmission occasion(s) of aperiodic CSI-RS is determined by a time of receipt of the DCI that triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources and periodic CSI-RS transmission occasion(s) of the CSI-RS resource configured in a same CSI report configuration.

[0196] Embodiment 50: The method of embodiment 49, wherein a slot offset and / or number of repetitions of the aperiodic CSI-RS transmission occasions (e.g., the aperiodic CSI-RS resources) is configured by the network node.

[0197] Embodiment 51 : The method of any of embodiments 27 to 50, wherein the network node configures the UE with two or more CSI report configurations for two or more Al models implemented at the UE (e.g., two or more different Al models for CSI or PMI prediction).Group C Embodiments

[0198] Embodiment 52: A user equipment comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments; and power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the processing circuitry.

[0199] Embodiment 53: A network node comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments; power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the processing circuitry.

[0200] Embodiment 54: A user equipment (UE) comprising: an antenna configured to send and receive wireless signals; radio front-end circuitry connected to the antenna and to processing circuitry, and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuitry; the processing circuitry being configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments; an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the UE to be processed by the processing circuitry; an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the UE that has been processed by the processing circuitry; and a battery connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the UE.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method performed by a User Equipment, UE, (500) for Channel State Information, CSI, or Precoding Matrix Indicator, PMI, prediction, the method comprising: receiving (504), from a network node (502), information that configures the UE (500) with at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI Reference Signal, CSI-RS, resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction; performing (506) channel measurements on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource; receiving (508) a Downlink Control Information, DCI, from the network node (502), wherein the DCI triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources; performing (510) channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources; performing (512) CSI or PMI prediction based on a combination of the channel measurements performed on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, thereby providing predicted CSI or PMI; and reporting (514) the predicted CSI or PMI to the network node (502).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a periodicity of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource is 20 slots or higher.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein each aperiodic CSI-RS instance is configured as a separate aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

4. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein a number of occasions of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is predefined.

5. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein a number of occasions of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is configured to the UE (500) by the network node (502).

6. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein a number of occasions of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is signaledfrom the UE (500) to the network node (502).

7. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein a slot corresponding to a first predicted PMI is located 6 slots later than a slot in which the predicted CSI or PMI is reported.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a value of 6 is configured to the UE (500) by the network node (502).

9. The method of claim 7, wherein a value of 6 is a function of whether the combination of the channel measurements performed on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is used for the prediction or only channel measurements on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI- RS resource are used for the prediction.

10. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein different sets of parameters are configured to the UE by the network node, wherein the different sets of parameters comprise a first set of parameters to be used if the combination of the channel measurements performed on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is to be used for the prediction and a second set of parameters to be used if only channel measurements on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource are used for the prediction.

11. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein any one or more of the following:• a time separation between two consecutive aperiodic CSI-RS resources,• a number of aperiodic CSI-RS resources,• a number of predicted future CSIs or PMIs,• a separation in slots between where the predicted CSI or PMI is reported to the network node in an uplink resource and a slot at which a first, in time, PMI is applied to a downlink transmission, and• the time separation between adjacent predicted slots, depend on a particular Artificial Intelligence, Al, or Machine Learning, ML, model used to perform the prediction of CSI or PMI.

12. The method of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the configured at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource and the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources are such that all the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources in an aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the configured at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource share a same Quasi Co-Located, QCL, type.

13. The method of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the configured at least one periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resource and the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources are such that all the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in an aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the at least one periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resource are configured with a same bandwidth and subcarrier locations.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource are configured on same Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, OFDM, symbols in the respective slots.

15. The method of claim 13 or 14, wherein aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource are transmitted with a same power ratio to a Synchronization Signal, SS, / Physical Broadcast Channel, PBCH, Block, SSB, transmission power.

16. The method of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the aperiodic CSI-RS resources form one or more aperiodic CSI-RS bursts, and the aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource are configured on the same Resource Elements, REs, and / or on the same symbols within a Physical Resource Block, PRB, in respective slots.

17. The method of any of claims 1 to 16, wherein the aperiodic CSI-RS resources comprise an aperiodic CSI-RS burst, and an antenna port with a same port index of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in the aperiodic CSI-RS burst is the same as the antenna port with the same port index of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource.

18. The method of any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the UE performs the channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in an aperiodic CSI-RS burst and on different instances of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource.

19. The method of any of claims 1 to 18, wherein receiving (504) the information that configures the UE (500) with both the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource andthe aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction comprises receiving first information that configures the at least one periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resource and second information that configures the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, wherein both the first information and the second information are associated to a same CSI report configuration.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first information is a first CSI resource configuration information element, and the second information is a second CSI resource configuration information element.

21. The method of claim 19 or 20, wherein the UE is further configured with a time domain behavior parameter at a CSI-RS resource level that overrides a time domain behavior parameter configured in the first information and / or a time domain behavior parameter configured in the second information.

22. The method of any of claims 1 to 20, wherein a time domain behavior of the aperiodic CSI- RS resources is linked to the configuration of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the time domain behavior of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is linked to the configuration of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource such that one or more transmission occasions of aperiodic CSI-RS are determined by a time of receipt of the DCI that triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources and one or more periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS transmission occasions of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource configured in a same CSI report configuration.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein a slot offset and / or number of repetitions of the one or more transmission occasions of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources are configured by the network node.

25. The method of any of claims 1 to 24, wherein the UE is configured by the network node with two or more CSI report configurations for two or more Artificial Intelligence, Al, models implemented at the UE.

26. The method of any of claims 1 to 25, wherein a particular aperiodic CSI-RS resource occurs in a same slot as a particular occasion of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource, and the UE performs a channel measurement of only one of the particular aperiodic CSI- RS resource and the particular occasion of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource in the same slot.

27. A User Equipment, UE, (500) for Channel State Information, CSI, or Precoding Matrix Indicator, PMI, prediction, the UE (500) adapted to: receive (504), from a network node (502), information that configures the UE (500) with at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI Reference Signal, CSI-RS, resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction; perform (506) channel measurements on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI- RS resources; receive (508) a Downlink Control Information, DCI, from the network node (502), wherein the DCI triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources; perform (510) channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources; perform (512) CSI or PMI prediction based on a combination of the channel measurements performed on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resources and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, thereby providing predicted CSI or PMI; and report (514) the predicted CSI or PMI to the network node (502).

28. The UE (500) of claim 27, further adapted to perform the method of any of claims 2 to 26.

29. A User Equipment, UE, (500; 1100) for Channel State Information, CSI, or Precoding Matrix Indicator, PMI, prediction, the UE (500; 1100) comprising: a communication interface (1112) comprising a transmitter (1118) and a receiver (1120); and processing circuitry (1102) associated with the communication interface (1112), the processing circuitry (1102) configured to cause the UE (500; 1100) to: receive (504), from a network node (502), information that configures the UE (500) with at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI Reference Signal, CSI-RS, resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction;perform (506) channel measurements on the at least one periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resources; receive (508) a Downlink Control Information, DCI, from the network node (502), wherein the DCI triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources; perform (510) channel measurements on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources; perform (512) CSI or PMI prediction based on a combination of the channel measurements performed on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resources and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, thereby providing predicted CSI or PMI; and report (514) the predicted CSI or PMI to the network node (502).

30. The UE (500; 1100) of claim 29, wherein the processing circuitry (1102) is further configured to cause the UE (500; 1100) to perform the method of any of claims 2 to 26.

31. A method performed by a network node (502) to enable Channel State Information, CSI, or Precoding Matrix Indicator, PMI, prediction at a User Equipment, UE, the method comprising: providing (504), to the UE (500), information that configures the UE (500) with at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI Reference Signal, CSI-RS, resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction; transmitting (508), to the UE (500), a Downlink Control Information, DCI, that triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources; and receiving (514), from the UE (500), a CSI report comprising a predicted CSI or PMI.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the predicted CSI or PMI is predicted based on a combination of channel measurements performed on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resources and channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources.

33. The method of claim 31 or 32, wherein a periodicity of the at least one periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resources is 20 slots or higher.

34. The method of any of claims 31 to 33, wherein each aperiodic CSI-RS instance is configured as a separate aperiodic CSI-RS resource.

35. The method of any of claims 31 to 34, wherein a number of occasions of the at least oneperiodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is predefined.

36. The method of any of claims 31 to 34, wherein a number of occasions of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is configured to the UE (500) by the network node (502).

37. The method of any of claims 31 to 34, wherein a number of occasions of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource to be used for the channel measurements is signaled from the UE (500) to the network node (502).

38. The method of any of claims 31 to 37, wherein a slot corresponding to a first predicted PMI is located 6 slots later than a slot in which the predicted CSI or PMI is reported.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein a value of 6 is configured to the UE (500) by the network node (502).

40. The method of claim 38, wherein a value of 6 is a function of whether the combination of the channel measurements performed on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resources and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is used for the prediction or only channel measurements on periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resources are used for the prediction.

41. The method of any of claims 31 to 37, wherein different sets of parameters are configured to the UE by the network node, wherein the different sets of parameters comprise a first set of parameters to be used if the combination of the channel measurements performed on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resources and the channel measurements performed on the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is to be used for the prediction and a second set of parameters to be used if only channel measurements on the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resources are used for the prediction.

42. The method of any of claims 31 to 37, wherein any one or more of the following:• a time separation between two consecutive aperiodic CSI-RS resources,• a number of aperiodic CSI RS resources,• a number of predicted future CSIs or PMIs,• a separation in slots between where the predicted CSI or PMI is reported to the network node in an uplink resource and a slot at which a first, in time, PMI is applied to a downlink transmission, and• the time separation between adjacent predicted slots, depend on a particular Artificial Intelligence, Al, or Machine Learning, ML, model used at the UE to perform the prediction of CSI or PMI.

43. The method of any of claims 31 to 42, wherein the configured at least one periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resource and the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources are such that all the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources in an aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the configured periodic CSI-RS resource share a same Quasi Co-Located, QCL, type.

44. The method of any of claims 31 to 42, wherein the configured at least one periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resource and the configured aperiodic CSI-RS resources are such that all the aperiodic CSI-RS resources in an aperiodic CSI-RS burst and the at least one periodic or semi- persistent CSI-RS resource are configured with a same bandwidth and subcarrier locations.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resources are configured on same Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, OFDM, symbols in the respective slots.

46. The method of claim 44 or 45, wherein aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource are transmitted with a same power ratio to a Synchronization Signal, SS, / Physical Broadcast Channel, PBCH, Block, SSB, transmission power.

47. The method of any of claims 31 to 46, wherein the aperiodic CSI-RS resources form one or more aperiodic CSI-RS bursts, and the aperiodic CSI-RS bursts and the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource are configured on the same Resource Elements, REs, and / or on the same symbols within a Physical Resource Block, PRB, in respective slots.

48. The method of any of claims 31 to 47, wherein the aperiodic CSI-RS resources comprise an aperiodic CSI-RS burst, and an antenna port with a same port index of the aperiodic CSI-RSresources in the aperiodic CSI-RS burst is the same as the antenna port with the same port index of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource.

49. The method of any of claims 31 to 48, wherein providing (504) the information that configures the UE (500) with both the at least one periodic or semi -persistent CSI-RS resources and the aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction comprises providing first information that configures the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resources and second information that configures the aperiodic CSI-RS resources, wherein both the first information and the second information are associated to a same CSI report configuration.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the first information is a first CSI resource configuration information element, and the second information is a second CSI resource configuration information element.

51. The method of claim 49 or 50, wherein the network node further configures the UE with a time domain behavior parameter at a CSI-RS resource level that overrides a time domain behavior parameter configured in the first information and / or a time domain behavior parameter configured in the second information.

52. The method of any of claims 31 to 51, wherein a time domain behavior of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is linked to the configuration of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI- RS resource.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the time domain behavior of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources is linked to the configuration of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource such that one or more transmission occasions of aperiodic CSI-RS are determined by a time of receipt of the DCI that triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources and one or more periodic CSI-RS transmission occasions of the at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource configured in a same CSI report configuration.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein a slot offset and / or number of repetitions of the one or more transmission occasions of the aperiodic CSI-RS resources are configured by the network node.

55. The method of any of claims 31 to 54, wherein the network node configures the UE with two or more CSI report configurations for two or more Artificial Intelligence, Al, models implemented at the UE.

56. A network node (502) for enabling Channel State Information, CSI, or Precoding Matrix Indicator, PMI, prediction at a User Equipment, UE, (500), the network node (502) adapted to: provide (504), to the UE (500), information that configures the UE (500) with at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI Reference Signal, CSI-RS, resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction; transmit (508), to the UE (500), a Downlink Control Information, DCI, that triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources; and receive (514), from the UE (500), a CSI report comprising a predicted CSI or PMI.

57. The network node (502) of claim 56, further adapted to perform the method of any of claims 32 to 55.

58. A network node (502; 1200) for enabling Channel State Information, CSI, or Precoding Matrix Indicator, PMI, prediction at a User Equipment, UE, (500), the network node (502) comprising processing circuitry (1202) configured to cause the network node (502; 1200) to: provide (504), to the UE (500), information that configures the UE (500) with at least one periodic or semi-persistent CSI Reference Signal, CSI-RS, resource and aperiodic CSI-RS resources as channel measurement resources for a CSI report for CSI or PMI prediction; transmit (508), to the UE (500), a Downlink Control Information, DCI, from the network node(502), wherein the DCI triggers the aperiodic CSI-RS resources; and receive (514), from the UE (500), a CSI report comprising a predicted CSI or PMI.

59. The network node (502; 1200) of claim 58, wherein the processing circuitry (1202) is further configured to cause the network node (502; 1200) to perform the method of any of claims 32 to 55.

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