User equipment initiated beam reporting based on aperiodic downlink reference signals

Abstract

Embodiments include methods for a user equipment (UE). Such methods include receiving, from a radio access network (RAN) node, a configuration of an aperiodic (AP) trigger state for UE- initiated beam reporting. The AP trigger state configuration includes or indicates the following: two or more channel state information (CSI) report configurations, with each CSI report configuration associated with one or more CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) resource sets for measurement; and one or more trigger events / conditions for UE-initiated beam reporting. Such methods include receiving, from the RAN node, a control message activating the AP trigger state configuration and, in response to the control message, performing measurements on the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the CSI report configurations and monitoring the measurements for the trigger events / conditions. Such methods include, based on detecting at least one of the trigger events / conditions, transmitting to the RAN node a UE-initiated beam report including results of the measurements. Figure 8 is selected for publication.

Description

[0001] USER EQUIPMENT INITIATED BEAM REPORTING BASED ON APERIODIC DOWNLINK REFERENCE SIGNALS

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication networks, and more specifically to techniques for user equipment (UEs) to report to a radio access network (RAN) node measurements by the UE of downlink (DL) beams transmitted by the RAN node, particularly aperiodic DL beams.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Currently the fifth generation (5G) of cellular systems is being standardized within the Third-Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). 5G is developed for maximum flexibility to support multiple and substantially different use cases. These include enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), machine type communications (MTC), ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC), side-link device-to-device (D2D), and several other use cases. NR was initially specified in 3GPP Release 15 (Rel-15) and continues to evolve through subsequent releases.

[0006] Figure 1 illustrates a high-level view of an exemplary 5G network architecture, consisting of a Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN, 199) and a 5G Core (5GC, 198). As shown in the figure, the NG-RAN can include gNBs (e.g., 110a, b) and ng-eNBs (e.g., 120a, b) that are interconnected with each other via respective Xn interfaces. The gNBs and ng-eNBs are also connected via NG interfaces to the 5GC, more specifically to AMFs ( e.g., 130a, b) via respective NG-C interfaces and to UPFs (e.g., 140a, b) via respective NG-U interfaces. Moreover, the AMFs can communicate with one or more policy control functions (PCFs, e.g., 150a,b) and network exposure functions (NEFs, e.g., 160a,b).

[0007] The radio technology for the NG-RAN is often referred to as “New Radio” (NR). Each of the gNBs can support the NR radio interface including frequency division duplexing (FDD), time division duplexing (TDD), or a combination thereof. Each of ng-eNBs can support the fourth generation (4G) Long-Term Evolution (LTE) radio interface. Each of the gNBs and ng-eNBs can serve a geographic coverage area including one or more cells (e.g., l l la-b and 121a-b). Depending on the cell in which it is located, UEs (e.g., 105) can communicate with the gNB or ng-eNB serving that cell via the NR or LTE radio interface, respectively. Although Figure 1 shows gNBs and ng-eNBs separately, it is also possible that a single NG-RAN node provides both LTE and NR functionality.

[0008] NG RAN logical nodes (e.g., gNBs 1 lOa-b) may include a Central Unit (CU) and one or more Distributed Units (DUs). CUs are logical nodes that host higher-layer protocols and perform various gNB functions such controlling the operation of DUs. DUs are decentralized logical nodes that host lower layer protocols and can include, depending on the functional split option, various subsets of the gNB functions. A CU connects to one or more associated DUs over respective Fl logical interfaces. Each CU and DU can include various circuitry needed to perform their respective functions, including processing circuitry, communication interface circuitry (e.g., transceivers), and power supply circuitry.

[0009] In addition to providing coverage via cells as in LTE, an NG-RAN also provide coverage via “beams.” In general, a downlink (DL, i.e., network to UE) “beam” is a coverage area of a network-transmitted reference signal (RS) that may be measured or monitored by a UE. In NR, for example, RS can include any of the following: synchronization signal / PBCH block (SSB), channel state information RS (CSI-RS), tertiary reference signals (or any other sync signal), positioning RS (PRS), demodulation RS (DMRS), phase-tracking reference signals (PTRS), etc. In general, SSB is available to all UEs regardless of the state of their connection with the network, while other RS (e.g., CSI-RS, DM-RS, PTRS) are associated with specific UEs that have a network connection.

[0010] 5G / NR networks are expected to operate at higher frequencies such as 5-60 GHz, which are typically referred to as “millimeter wave” or “mmW” for short. Such systems are also expected to utilize a variety of multi-antenna technology (e.g., antenna arrays) at the transmitter, the receiver, or both. In general, multi-antenna technology can include a plurality of antennas in combination with advanced signal processing techniques.

[0011] This arrangement may be used for “beamforming” to shape or form a specific transmit or receive coverage area (i.e., beam). A transmit or receive beamformer can determine an appropriate weight for each antenna element in a corresponding transmit or receive antenna array so as to produce one or more beams, with each beam covering a particular range of azimuth and elevation relative to the antenna array. A general goal of beamforming is to improve signal -to-interference- plus-noise ratio (SINR) of received signals and, ultimately, system capacity and / or coverage. This may be done, for example, by maximizing an overall antenna gain in the direction of the target receiver or transmitter and / or by setting “nulls” in directions of dominant interfering signals.

[0012] At mmW frequencies, each beam may be optimal only within a small area and performance outside the optimal beam area deteriorates quickly. Hence, frequent and fast beam switching is often needed to maintain satisfactory performance for a UE at mmW frequencies. To support DL beam switching, a serving RAN node transmits downlink control information (DCI) that contains a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state informing a UE which network DL beam is used for DL data transmission so that the UE can adjust its corresponding receive beam accordingly. To facilitate beam management operations such as beam switching, a serving RAN node may configure a UE to measure and report layer one reference received signal power (Ll-RSRP) or layer one signal to interference plus noise ratio (Ll-SINR) for multiple SSB beams. Based on the report(s), the serving RAN node can decide whether it is better to switch to a different SSB beam for serving the UE. Similarly, the serving RAN node may also be able to provide a set of narrower CSI-RS beams with higher gains. As such, the serving RAN node may transmit and configured the UE to measure and report Ll-RSRP or Ll-SINR for multiple CSLRS beams. Based on the report(s), the serving RAN node can decide whether it is better to switch to a different CSI- RS beam for serving the UE.

[0013] These UE measurements are often referred to as Channel State Information (CSI) measurements, which are configured by CSI measurement configurations typically provided via an RRCReconfiguration messages. Each CSI measurement configuration explicitly identifies a set of DL-RS (e.g., SSB, CSI-RS) to be measured by the UE in a serving cell. The serving RAN node may also provide a CSI reporting configuration that explicitly configures the UE’s reporting of the CSI measurements. For example, the configured reporting can be periodic, semi- persistent, or aperiodic. CSI measurements are configured on a per-serving cell basis, but a UE may be configured to report CSI measurements of one serving cell via another serving cell.

[0014] SUMMARY

[0015] Although conventional UE beam measurement and reporting is RAN-initiated, a work item for 3GPP Rel-19 is UE-initiated beam reporting, which is intended to reduce beam reporting overhead and / or latency. However, UE-initiated beam reporting has some problems, issues, and / or difficulties, particularly for aperiodic DL-RS.

[0016] For example, a serving RAN node may use a few semi-wide beams to transmit the SSBs periodically but many (e.g., 12 or more) narrow CSI-RS beams within each SSB beam. Periodic transmission of CSI-RS in these narrow beams is overhead since these resources cannot be used for other purposes, such as data transmission. Thus, CSI-RS are often transmitted aperiodically when a UE is known to be in a particular semi-wide SSB beam. However, existing CSI reporting configurations may require the UE to measure and report on overlapping semi-wide and aperiodic narrow beams separately, which is contrary to the goal of reduced beam reporting overhead for UE-initiated techniques.

[0017] An object of embodiments of the present disclosure is to improve UE-initiated beam reporting in RANs, thereby providing, enabling, and / or facilitating solutions to exemplary problems summarized above and described in more detail below.

[0018] Some embodiments include methods (e.g., procedures) for a UE configured to support beam measurement and reporting in a RAN (e.g., NG-RAN).

[0019] These exemplary methods include receiving, from s serving RAN node, a configuration of an aperiodic (AP) trigger state for UE-initiated beam reporting. The AP trigger state configuration includes or indicates the following:

[0020] • two or more channel state information (CSI) report configurations, with each CSI report configuration being associated with one or more CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) resource sets for measurement; and

[0021] • one or more trigger events or conditions for UE-initiated beam reporting;

[0022] These exemplary methods also include receiving, from the serving RAN node, a control message that activates the AP trigger state configuration. These exemplary methods also include, in response to the control message, performing measurements on the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the CSI report configurations and monitoring the performed measurements for the one or more trigger events or conditions. These exemplary methods also include, based on detecting at least one of the trigger events or conditions (i.e., based on the monitoring), transmitting to the serving RAN node a UE-initiated beam report including results of the measurements performed.

[0023] Other embodiments include exemplary methods (e.g., procedures) for a RAN node (e.g., gNB) configured to facilitate beam measurement and reporting by UEs. These embodiments are generally complementary to UE embodiments summarized above.

[0024] These exemplary methods include sending, to a UE, a configuration of an AP trigger state for UE-initiated beam reporting. The AP trigger state configuration includes or indicates the following:

[0025] • two or more CSI report configurations, with each CSI report configuration being associated with one or more CSI-RS resource sets for measurement; and

[0026] • one or more trigger events or conditions for UE-initiated beam reporting;

[0027] These exemplary methods also include sending to the UE a control message that activates the AP trigger state configuration. These exemplary methods also include, based on UE detection of at least one of the trigger events or conditions, receiving from the UE a UE-initiated beam report including results of the measurements performed by the UE on the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the CSI report configurations.

[0028] In some embodiments, these exemplary methods also includes performing one or more of the following based on the UE-initiated beam report:

[0029] • switching the UE’ s serving beam;

[0030] • adding one or more beams to, or removing one or more beams from, the UE’s activated beams; and • adding one or more beams to, or removing one or more beams from, non-activated beams to be measured by the UE.

[0031] The following summary applies to both UE and RAN node embodiments summarized above. In some embodiments, each CSI report configuration identifies the associated one or more CSI-RS resource sets based on respective CSI-RS resource set identifiers (IDs). In some of these embodiments, each CSI-RS resource set includes one or more CSI-RS resources on which the measurements are performed.

[0032] In some variants of these embodiments, the CSI-RS resources of each CSI-RS resource set are associated with respective narrow beams having coverage areas within one or more wide beams associated with respective transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states. In some further variants, each of one or more wide beams are associated with one of the following: a TCI state that is activated and currently being used for downlink (DL) transmission to the UE, or a TCI state that is activated but currently unused.

[0033] In some variants of these embodiments, each of the one or more trigger events or conditions is one of the following:

[0034] • a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a first threshold;

[0035] • a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than a second threshold;

[0036] • a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a second measurement by at least a third threshold; or

[0037] • a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than the second measurement by at least a fourth threshold.

[0038] In some further variants, the AP trigger state configuration also includes or indicates one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth thresholds. In some further variants, the second measurement is one of the following: a previous measurement of the same CSI-RS resource, a most recently reported measurement associated with a same report ID, or a highest measurement of a CSI-RS resource within a previous time window.

[0039] In some variants of these embodiments, each CSI-RS resource is associated with a CSI- RS resource ID (CRI) that is unique among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes one or more of the following, for each of the results included: a CSI-RS resource set ID, and a CRI.

[0040] In some variants of these embodiments, each CRI is a codepoint in a bitfield of a number of bits, with the number being based on one or more of the following: a total number of CSI-RS resources in all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state, and the at least one trigger event that was detected. In some embodiments, each CSI report configuration also indicates a measurement quantity to be reported in a UE-initiated beam report, and the results in the UE-initiated beam report are provided in the measurement quantities indicated by the two or more CSI report configurations. In some of these embodiments, the two or more CSI report configurations indicate a same measurement quantity, which is one of the following: layer-1 reference signal received power (Ll-RSRP), or layer-1 signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (Ll-SINR).

[0041] In some embodiments, the two or more CSI report configurations include respective report IDs, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes at least one of the report IDs included in the CSI report configurations. In some embodiments, the one or more trigger events or conditions are indicated by respective event IDs, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes the at least one event ID corresponding to the detected at least one trigger event or condition. In some of these embodiments, the one or more trigger events or conditions are a single trigger event or condition indicated by a single event ID, which is associated with all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

[0042] In some embodiments, the results in the UE-initiated beam report are for measurements performed on CSI-RS resource sets in multiple DL time slots. In some embodiments, the results in the UE-initiated beam report include one of the following:

[0043] • up to a maximum number of results for each of the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations; or

[0044] • up to a maximum number of results from among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

[0045] Other embodiments and variants of the exemplary methods summarized above are described herein. Other embodiments include UEs (e.g., wireless devices) and RAN nodes (e.g., base stations, eNBs, gNBs, ng-eNBs, etc., or components thereof) configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the exemplary methods described herein. Other embodiments include non-transitory, computer-readable media storing program instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, configure such UEs or RAN nodes to perform operations corresponding to any of the exemplary methods described herein.

[0046] These and other embodiments described herein may provide various benefits and / or advantages. For example, embodiments may facilitate UE-initiated beam measurement and reporting for aperiodic DL-RS with low reporting overhead. As a more specific example, UE- initiated beam management reporting may be condensed into a single report. Embodiments may enable a UE to evaluate event triggering conditions over multiple CSI-RS resource sets in different slots, which may be needed when there are large number of CSI-RS beams. Similarly, embodiments may enable a UE to send a single beam report for multiple CSI-RS resource sets in one or more slots. At a higher level, embodiments may facilitate improved UE-initiated beam reporting, which is expected to be of increased importance for 6G and beyond.

[0047] These and other objects, features, and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following Detailed Description in view of the Drawings briefly described below.

[0048] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] Figure 1 shows a high-level views of an exemplary 5G / NR network architecture.

[0050] Figure 2 shows an exemplary configuration of NR user plane (UP) and control plane (CP) protocol stacks.

[0051] Figure 3 shows an ASN.l data structure for an exemplary CSI-MeasConfig information element (IE).

[0052] Figure 4 shows an ASN.l data structure for an exemplary CSI-ReportConfig IE.

[0053] Figure 5 shows an ASN.l data structure for an exemplary TCI-State IE.

[0054] Figure 6 shows an example of two-dimensional (2D) hierarchical beam management.

[0055] Figures 7A-C illustrate UE-initiated beam reporting based on triggering conditions associated with multiple AP CSI-RS resource sets in multiple DL slots, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0056] Figure 8 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary method for a UE (e.g., wireless device), according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0057] Figure 9 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary method for a RAN node (e.g., base station, eNB, gNB, ng-eNB, etc.), according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0058] Figure 10 shows a communication system according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0059] Figure 11 shows a UE according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0060] Figure 12 shows a network node according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0061] Figure 13 shows a block diagram of a virtualization environment in which various embodiments of the present disclosure may be virtualized.

[0062] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein, the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art. In general, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning to a person of ordinary skill in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is expressly defined and / or implied from the context of use. All references to a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise or clearly implied from the context of use. The operations of any methods and / or procedures disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless an operation is explicitly described as following or preceding another operation and / or where it is implicit that an operation must follow or precede another operation. Any feature of any embodiment disclosed herein can apply to any other disclosed embodiment, as appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any embodiment described herein can apply to any other disclosed embodiment, as appropriate.

[0064] Furthermore, the following terms are used throughout the description given below:

[0065] • Radio Access Node: As used herein, a “radio access node” (or equivalently “radio network node,” “radio access network node,” or “RAN node”) can be any node in a radio access network (RAN) that operates to wirelessly transmit and / or receive signals. Some examples of a radio access node include, but are not limited to, a base station (c.g, gNB in a 3 GPP 5G / NR network or an enhanced or eNB in a 3GPP LTE network), base station distributed components (e.g., CU and DU), a high-power or macro base station, a low-power base station (e.g., micro, pico, femto, or home base station, or the like), an integrated access backhaul (IAB) node, a transmission point (TP), a transmission reception point (TRP), a remote radio unit (RRU or RRH), and a relay node.

[0066] • Core Network Node: As used herein, a “core network node” is any type of node in a core network. Some examples of a core network node include, e.g., a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a serving gateway (SGW), a PDN Gateway (P-GW), a Policy and Charging Rules Function (PCRF), an access and mobility management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF), a user plane function (UPF), a Charging Function (CHF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), an Authentication Server Function (AUSF), a location management function (LMF), or the like.

[0067] • Wireless Device: As used herein, a “wireless device” (or “WD” for short) is any type of device that is capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and / or other wireless devices. Communicating wirelessly can involve transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and / or other types of signals suitable for conveying information through air. Unless otherwise noted, the term “wireless device” is used interchangeably herein with the term “user equipment” (or “UE” for short), with both of these terms having a different meaning than the term “network node”.

[0068] • Radio Node: As used herein, a “radio node” can be either a “radio access node” (or equivalent term) or a “wireless device.”

[0069] • Network Node: As used herein, a “network node” is any node that is either part of the radio access network (c.g, a radio access node or equivalent term) or of the core network (c.g, a core network node discussed above) of a cellular communications network. Functionally, a network node is equipment capable, configured, arranged, and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a wireless device and / or with other network nodes or equipment in the cellular communications network, to enable and / or provide wireless access to the wireless device, and / or to perform other functions (e.g., administration) in the cellular communications network.

[0070] • Node: As used herein, the term “node” (without prefix) can be any type of node that can in or with a wireless network (including RAN and / or core network), including a radio access node (or equivalent term), core network node, or wireless device. However, the term “node” may be limited to a particular type (e.g., radio access node, IAB node) based on its specific characteristics in any given context.

[0071] The above definitions are not meant to be exclusive. In other words, various ones of the above terms may be explained and / or described elsewhere in the present disclosure using the same or similar terminology. Nevertheless, to the extent that such other explanations and / or descriptions conflict with the above definitions, the above definitions should control.

[0072] Note that the description given herein focuses on a 3 GPP cellular communications system and, as such, 3GPP terminology or terminology similar to 3GPP terminology is oftentimes used. However, the concepts disclosed herein are not limited to a 3GPP system and can be applied to any communication system that may benefit from them.

[0073] Figure 2 shows an exemplary configuration of NR user plane (UP) and control plane (CP) protocol stacks between a UE (210), a gNB (220), and an AMF (230), such as those shown in Figures 1-2. The Physical (PHY), Medium Access Control (MAC), Radio Link Control (RLC), and Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layers between the UE and the gNB are common to UP and CP. PDCP provides ciphering / deciphering, integrity protection, sequence numbering, reordering, and duplicate detection for both CP and UP. In addition, PDCP provides header compression and retransmission for UP data.

[0074] On the UP side, Internet protocol (IP) packets arrive to PDCP as service data units (SDUs), and PDCP creates protocol data units (PDUs) to deliver to RLC. The Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer handles quality-of-service (QoS) including mapping between QoS flows and Data Radio Bearers (DRBs) and marking QoS flow identifiers (QFI) in UL and DL packets.

[0075] When each IP packet arrives, PDCP starts a discard timer. When this timer expires, PDCP discards the associated SDU and the corresponding PDU. If the PDU was delivered to RLC, PDCP also indicates the discard to RLC. The RLC layer transfers PDCP PDUs to the MAC through logical channels (LCH). RLC provides error detection / correction, concatenation, segmentation / reassembly, sequence numbering, reordering of data transferred to / from the upper layers. If RLC receives a discard indication from associated with a PDCP PDU, it will discard the corresponding RLC SDU (or any segment thereof) if it has not been sent to lower layers.

[0076] MAC provides mapping between LCHs and PHY transport channels, LCH prioritization, multiplexing into or demultiplexing from transport blocks (TBs), hybrid ARQ (HARQ) error correction, and dynamic scheduling (in gNB). PHY provides transport channel services to MAC and handles transfer over the NR radio interface, e.g., via modulation, coding, antenna mapping, and beam forming.

[0077] On the CP side, the non-access stratum (NAS) layer between UE and AMF handles UE / gNB authentication, mobility management, and security control. RRC sits below NAS in the UE but terminates in the gNB rather than the AMF. RRC controls communications between UE and gNB at the radio interface as well as the mobility of a UE between cells in the NG-RAN. RRC also broadcasts system information (SI) and performs establishment, configuration, maintenance, and release of DRBs and Signaling Radio Bearers (SRBs) and used by UEs. Additionally, RRC controls addition, modification, and release of carrier aggregation (CA) and dual -connectivity (DC) configurations for UEs, and performs various security functions such as key management.

[0078] After a UE is powered ON it will be in the RRCJCDLE state until an RRC connection is established with the network, at which time the UE will transition to RRC CONNECTED state e.g., where data transfer can occur). The UE returns to RRC IDLE after the connection with the network is released. In RRC IDLE state, the UE’s radio is active on a discontinuous reception (DRX) schedule configured by upper layers. During DRX active periods (also referred to as “DRX On durations”), an RRC IDLE UE receives SI broadcast in the cell where the UE is camping, performs measurements of neighbor cells to support cell reselection, and monitors a paging channel on PDCCH for pages from 5GC via gNB. An NR UE in RRC IDLE state is not known to the gNB serving the cell where the UE is camping. However, NR RRC includes an RRC_INACTIVE state in which a UE is known (e.g., via UE context) by the serving gNB. RRC INACTIVE has some properties similar to a “suspended” condition used in LTE. Beam management was introduced in 3GPP Rel-15. In the DL, a RAN node (e.g., gNB) performs beam sweeping in a serving cell by periodically transmitting SSBs sequentially in different DL beams. Each SSB is associated with a different index, with a one to one correspondence between SSB indices and SSB beams. A UE monitors SSB beams in a cell and selects one for initial access to the cell.

[0079] After initial access, the serving RAN node may configure the UE to measure and report Ll-RSRP and / or Ll-SINR for multiple SSB beams. For example, the UE may be configured to report the N>1 best L1-RSRP / L1-SINR and the associated SSB indices. Based on the report(s), the serving RAN node can decide whether it is better to switch to a different SSB beam for serving the UE.

[0080] Similarly, the serving RAN node may also be able to provide a set of narrower CSLRS beams with higher gains. As such, the serving RAN node may transmit and configured the UE to measure and report Ll-RSRP or Ll-SINR for multiple CSLRS beams. Based on the report(s), the serving RAN node can decide whether to switch from an SSB beam to a CSI-RS beam (or to a different CSI-RS beam) for serving the UE.

[0081] These UE measurements are often referred to as CSI measurements, which are configured by CSI measurement configurations typically provided via an RRCReconfiguration message. Each CSI measurement configuration explicitly identifies a set of DL-RS (e.g., SSB, CSLRS) to be measured by the UE in a serving cell. The serving RAN node may also provide a CSI reporting configuration that explicitly configures the UE’s reporting of the CSI measurements. For example, the configured reporting can be periodic, semi-persistent, or aperiodic. CSI measurements are configured on a per-serving cell basis, but a UE may be configured to report CSI measurements of one serving cell via another serving cell.

[0082] Figure 3 shows an ASN.l data structure for an exemplary RRC CSI-MeasConfig information element (IE), based on which a serving RAN node configures CSI measurements by a UE. In particular, the RAN node indicates one or more explicit lists of CSI resources to be measured in a particular serving cell, such as in the nzp-CSI-RS-ResourceSetToAddModList field and / or in the csi-SSB-ResourceSetToAddModList field. The CSI-MeasConfig IE is provided on a per-serving cell basis.

[0083] The CSI-MeasConfig IE also associates the configured CSI measurements with reporting configurations using the csi-ReportConfigToAddModList field, which includes a list of CSI- ReportConfig IES. Figure 4 shows an ASN.l data structure for an exemplary CSI-ReportConfig IE. The reportConfigType field of this IE specifies the particular type of reporting to be used, which may be periodic, semi -persistent (on PUCCH or PUSCH), or aperiodic. This field also specifies time-domain reporting behavior, such as in which timeslots to report. Note that a semi -persistent or aperiodic report may be triggered by the RAN node by sending the UE downlink control information (DCI) including a CSI request field, specifically in the serving cell in which the UE received the CSI-ReportConfig IE. For aperiodic CSI reporting, a UE is also configured with a list of aperiodic CSI trigger states, each associated with one or more CSI report configurations. If multiple RS (NZP CSI-RS or SSB) resource sets are configured in a CSI measurement configuration associated with a CSI reporting configuration, one resource set is selected in the corresponding trigger state.

[0084] UE CSI reports assist a serving RAN node’s beam management operations, such as activation, deactivation, and / or switching of beams used to transmit DL data channels (e.g., PDSCH) and / or control channels (e.g., PDCCH) to the UE (or a beam switching). In this context, beams may also be referred to as Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) states. For example, PDSCH may be transmitted to a UE from multiple transmission reception points (TRPs) that may be located in different physical locations and have different beams.

[0085] To facilitate receiving PDSCH from different TRPs or beams, a UE may be configured with multiple TCI states. Each TCI state including quasi -colocation (QCL) information that the UE can use to receive a target RS. In particular, a TCI state may define a QCL source RS, such that the TCI state itself may be referred to as a QCL source.

[0086] Two DL RS have a QCL relation when the respective antenna ports on which they are transmitted are configured such that the large-scale properties of a channel over which the RS on one antenna port is conveyed can be inferred from the channel over which a RS on the other antenna port is conveyed. Such large-scale properties may include one or more of delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average gain, average delay, and spatial Rx parameters. Since the channel is estimated using a RS, two RS may also be referred to as QCL or having a QCL relation.

[0087] Figure 5 shows an ASN. l data structure for an exemplary RRC TCI-State IE, by which a RAN node can configure a TCI state for a UE. The RAN node can indicate to a UE that two antenna ports are QCL with respect to a certain parameter. Using the qcl-Type field in the TCI- State IE, four types of QCL relations between a source RS and target RS may be indicated by a RAN node:

[0088] • Type A: {Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread}

[0089] • Type B: {Doppler shift, Doppler spread}

[0090] • Type C: {average delay, Doppler shift}

[0091] • Type D: {Spatial Rx parameter}

[0092] QCL type D was introduced to facilitate beam management with analog beamforming and is known as spatial QCL. Given this configuration, the UE can estimate that parameter based on one of the antenna ports (e.g., source) and use that estimate when receiving the other antenna port (e.g., target).

[0093] A subset of a UE’s configured TCI states may be activated by a MAC control element (CE) from the serving RAN node. The RAN node may dynamically select from the UE’s activated TCI states and indicate those to the UE in a DCI that schedules PDSCH transmission in the corresponding TRP(s) / beam(s). Each codepoint of the DCI’s TCI field can indicate either one or two TCI states. A codepoint indicating one TCI state is used when transmitting PDSCH from a single TRP / beam while a codepoint indicating two TCI states is used when transmitting PDSCH from two TRPs / beams. Note that this arrangement may be extended to more than two TRPs / beams.

[0094] Although conventional UE beam measurement and reporting is RAN-initiated, a work item for 3GPP Rel-19 is UE-initiated beam reporting, which is intended to reduce beam reporting overhead and / or latency. Such UE-initiated processes are expected to become more important in sixth-generation (6G) networks. However, UE-initiated beam reporting has some problems, issues, and / or difficulties, particularly for aperiodic DL-RS (e.g., SSB, CSI-RS).

[0095] For example, a serving RAN node may use a few semi-wide beams to transmit the SSBs periodically but many (e.g., 12 or more) narrow CSI-RS beams within each SSB beam. Periodic transmission of CSI-RS in these narrow beams may result in significant overhead that cannot be used for other purposes, such as data transmission. Thus, CSI-RS are often transmitted aperiodically when a UE is known to be in a particular semi-wide SSB beam.

[0096] UE beam reporting may be initiated by UE detection of various beam reporting trigger events. For example, 3GPP has defined the following non-exclusive list of trigger events for UE- initiated beam reporting:

[0097] • Event- 1 : Quality of the current beam is worse than a certain threshold.

[0098] • Event-2: Quality of at least one new beam, such as Ll-RSRP, becomes a threshold value better than the current beam.

[0099] • Event-3 : Quality of a new beam is better than a certain threshold.

[0100] • Event-4: Quality of the current beam is worse than a threshold 1, and quality of at least one new beam is better than a threshold 2.

[0101] It is expected that these events apply to measurements of both SSB beams and CSI-RS beams.

[0102] Figure 6 shows an exemplary arrangement of two-dimensional (2D) hierarchical beam management, where narrow CSI-RS beams in the bottom 2D grid are overlaid with wide SSB beams in the top 2D grid. For example, narrow CS-RS beams 0-3 and 12-15 are overlaid with wide SSB beam WB1. The wide SSB beams are generally used to provide cell coverage to non- connected UEs, while the narrow beams have higher gain and are typically used to transmit DL channels (e g., PDCCH, PDSCH) to served UEs in RRC CONNECTED state.

[0103] The determination of a “serving beam” for PDCCH / PDSCH transmissions can be based on UE measurement of narrow beams transmitted in aperiodic (AP) CSI-RS resources. As mentioned above, the narrow beams within a wide beam only need to be sounded with CSI-RS when a UE is known to be located in the wide beam. This knowledge may be based on the TCI states activated for the UE.

[0104] Figure 6 shows various beams that are indicated, activated, or to be measured according to different shaded patterns and the legend on the right-hand side. For wide SSB beams, indicated / activated beams can be indicated / activated TCI states. For narrow CSI-RS beams, an indicated beam can be a CSI-RS associated with a DL transmission of PDCCH / PDSCH, while activated beams can be other CSI-RS resources in the same (indicated or activated) TCI state as the indicated beam but not used for the DL transmission of PDCCH / PDSCH.

[0105] A UE-initiated beam report based on SSB measurements may result in an update of the UE’s TCI states, while a UE-initiated beam report based on CSI-RS measurement may result in switching a beam used to transmit PDCCH / PDSCH. Conventional UE beam reporting techniques require the UE sending two different reports associated with a single beam sweep, one for SSB measurements and one for AP CSI-RS measurements. This is contrary to the goal of reduced beam reporting overhead for UE-initiated techniques.

[0106] Conventional reporting only allows a UE to report measurements of CSI RS resources in one CSI-RS resource set, which includes CSI-RS resources in only one slot. Since each slot contains only 14 OFDM symbols, this is insufficient for a UE to measure CSI-RS beams of a large antenna array that may have hundreds of CSI-RS beams. To overcome this limitation, conventional techniques may require complex configuration of multiple beam reports based on multiple CSI-RS resource sets with resources in different slots. This is also contrary to the goal of reduced beam reporting overhead for UE-initiated techniques.

[0107] Accordingly, embodiments of the present disclosure provide flexible and efficient techniques for low-overhead beam reporting that facilitate a single UE-initiated report for multiple events associated with multiple DL-RS resources. With these techniques, two or more CSI report configurations (each with an associated DL-RS resource set) can be configured in the same aperiodic trigger state (or event). When the two or more CSI report configurations are configured with the same report quantity, the associated DL-RS resource sets will be jointly used to determine a single trigger condition, and DL-RS resources from any or multiple of the CSI-RS resources sets can be reported by the UE in the same report. Moreover, embodiments facilitate configuring the UE with multiple trigger events simultaneously, such that a single UE- initiated beam report may be used for update of the UE’s TCI state and for switching a beam for PDCCH / PDSCH transmission to the UE.

[0108] Embodiments may provide various benefits and / or advantages. For example, embodiments may enable UE -initiated beam measurement and reporting for aperiodic (AP) DLRS with low reporting overhead. As a more specific example, UE-initiated beam management reporting may be condensed into a single report, while conventional techniques require multiple beam reports for a single UE beam sweep including SSB and AP DL-RS. Embodiments may enable a UE to evaluate an event triggering condition over multiple AP CSI-RS resource sets in different slots, which may be needed when there are large number of CSI-RS beams. Similarly, embodiments may enable a UE to send a single beam report for multiple AP CSI-RS resource sets in one or more slots. At a higher level, embodiments may facilitate improved UE-initiated beam reporting, which is expected to be of increased importance for 6G and beyond.

[0109] In the following, the terms “beam” and “resource” are used synonymously, particularly in the context of beams that contain or are associated with CSI-RS resources.

[0110] In the following description, the terms “serving beam”, “current beam,” “serving DL-RS resource”, "reference DL-RS resource", and “UE-initiated (UEI) reference DL-RS resource” may be used interchangeably. Likewise, the terms “candidate beam”, “new beam”, “different beam”, and “candidate DL-RS resource”, may be used interchangeably. However, skilled persons will recognize that similar terms may be used to impart the same meaning as these example terms.

[0111] In the following description, the terms, “DL-RS”, and “CSI-RS” may be used interchangeably. However, skilled persons will recognize that similar terms may be used to impart the same meaning as these example terms, such as in future 3 GPP specifications.

[0112] In the following description, the terms “narrow beam”, “CSI-RS beam”, and “narrow CSI- RS beam” may be used interchangeably to denote a beam that has a relatively narrow beamwidth in azimuth and elevation and carries CSI-RS (e.g., AP CSI-RS). Likewise, the terms “wide beam”, “semi-wide beam”, “SSB beam”, and “wide SSB beam” may be used interchangeably to denote a beam that has a relatively wide beamwidth in azimuth and elevation and carries SSB.

[0113] In the following description, the term “TCI state” is used to denote a QCL-related indication in accordance with existing 3GPP specifications. However, skilled persons will recognize that similar terms may be used to impart the same meaning as these example terms, such as in future 3 GPP specifications.

[0114] As illustrated in Figure 6, multiple narrow CSI-RS beams may be overlaid with a wide SSB beam, where the narrow beams within a semi-wide beam only need to be sounded if a UE is located in that semi-wide SSB beam, i.e., in a certain TCI state. As such, it is beneficial to transmit narrow CSI-RS beams aperiodically depending on UE positions. However, according to the Rel- 19 objective for low-overhead UE-initiated beam reporting, it is beneficial to have a single UE- initiated report for multiple events associated with multiple DL-RS resources, e.g., in narrow and wide beams.

[0115] Embodiments include methods performed by a UE configured to support beam measurement and reporting in a RAN. Initially, the UE receives from its serving RAN node a configuration of an aperiodic (AP) trigger state for UE-initiated beam reporting. The AP trigger state configuration includes two or more CSI report configurations, with each CSI report configuration being associated with one or more CSI-RS resource sets for measurement. In some embodiments, each CSI report configuration may also indicate the associated one or more CSI- RS resource sets. For example, a CSI report configuration may indicate a subset of previously configured CSI-RS resource sets.

[0116] In some embodiments, the AP trigger state configuration may also indicate one or more trigger conditions or events, each of which may be assigned a unique event identifier (ID). When at least one of these conditions or events is triggered, it causes the UE to perform one or more actions (described below). An example trigger condition or event is “quality of at least one new beam, as measured by Ll-RSRP of a configured CSI-RS resource for channel measurement, becomes better than quality of a current beam by at least a threshold.” The current beam may be implicitly or explicitly associated with a TCI state currently indicated, activated, or used, or with a PDCCH / PDSCH transmission. A new beam may be implicitly or explicitly associated with a TCI state not currently indicated, activated, or used, or as not being associated with a PDCCH / PDSCH transmission.

[0117] In some embodiments, each CSI report configuration may also indicate a measurement quantity (e.g., Ll-RSPR or Ll-SINR) to be reported in a UE-initiated beam report, possibly together with a CSI-RS resource set ID and / or a CSI-RS resource ID (CRI) in which the measurement quantity was obtained. In some embodiments, each CSI report configuration may also include a report ID, which may be included by the UE in a subsequent UE-initiated beam report.

[0118] In some embodiments, the UE receives from the serving RAN node a first control message that activates the one or more CSI-RS resource sets previously configured. In some embodiments, the UE receives from the serving RAN node a second control message (e.g., DCI) that activates the previously configured AP trigger state. Based on the first control message and / or the second control message, the UE begins performing the measurements and monitoring for the one or more trigger events or conditions that were previously configured.

[0119] When the UE detects at least one of the trigger events or conditions, UE performs one or more of the following actions o sends to the serving RAN node a request for resources (e.g., scheduling request) to transmit a UE-initiated beam report with results of the measurements; o receives a grant of resources from the serving RAN node; and o transmits a UE-initiated beam report with results of the measurements, e.g., in the granted resources or in preconfigured resources.

[0120] Figures 7A-C depict an example of a UE-initiated beam report based on triggering conditions associated with multiple AP CSI-RS resource sets in multiple DL slots, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. A serving RAN node transmits PDSCH / PDCCH to the UE using an indicated TCI state and CSI-RS beam (e.g., indicated by DCI). In Figure 7A, the indicated CSI-RS beam 14 is denoted by diagonal shading, while the activated CSI-RS resources (vertical shading) are other configured CSI-RS resources associated with the indicated TCI state as CSI-RS beam 14. The indicated CSI-RS beam 14 may be referred to as the current serving beam or the reference DL-RS resource, while the activated CSI-RS beams may be referred to as candidate beams. The other CSI-RS beams to be measured (horizontal shading) are CSI-RS resources associated with other activated TCI states.

[0121] Figure 7B depicts how a single AP CSI-RS trigger can trigger reporting of CSI-RS measurement in two DL slots. The UE performs measurements of CSI-RS resource set 1 in DL slot N and of CSI-RS resource set 2 in DL slot N+l. Note that CSI-RS resource set 1 includes CSI-RS beams 1-3 and 12-14 shown in Figure 7A while CSI-RS resource set 2 includes CSI-RS beams 15-16 and 25-27 shown in Figure 7A. Based on the evaluation of a trigger condition, the UE sends a UE-initiated beam report including results of these measurements in a subsequent UL slot.

[0122] In some embodiments, the UE’s evaluation of the trigger conditions may be initiated by a dynamic trigger, such as a DCI received in DL slot N-l such as shown in Figure 7B.

[0123] Figure 7C shows an example outcome of the UE-initiated beam report. In particular, based on the UE-initiated beam report, the serving RAN node performs the following operations:

[0124] • switches the UE’s serving beam from CSI-RS beam 14 to CSI-RS beam 15;

[0125] • removes CSI-RS beam 12 from the UE’s activated beams; and

[0126] • removes CSI-RS beam 25 from and adds CSI-RS beams 4 and 28 to the UE’s other CSI- RS beams to be measured.

[0127] Upon receiving a dynamic trigger in a DCI (e.g., Figure 7B), the UE starts monitoring for the trigger events or conditions based on the CSI-RS resources of the indicated subset of CSI-RS resource sets. For example, the monitoring can include comparison of the UE’s measurements of the CSI-RS resources with one or more other measurements, such as a previous measurement of an aperiodic CSI-RS resource, a most recently reported measurement associated with the same reporting ID, a highest measurement of a CSI-RS resource within a previous time window, etc.

[0128] In some embodiments, the UE constructs a single UE-initiated beam report based on the measurements of multiple CSI-RS resource sets in multiple slots. In some embodiments, the size of the UE-initiated beam report can depend on one or more of the following: the number of CSI- RS resources in the CSI-RS resource sets for which measurements were performed, the trigger event or condition, and the configured aperiodic trigger state.

[0129] In some embodiments, the total number of reported measurements may be distributed among measured CSI-RS resource sets in various ways. For example, the UE may report measurements of the same or different numbers of CSI-RS resources from each measured CSI- RS resource set. As a specific example in the context of Figure 7, the UE may report the best four CSI resources / beams from CSI-RS resource set 1 and the best four CSI resources / beams from CSI-RS resource set 2. Alternately, the UE may report the best four CSI resources / beams from CSI-RS resource sets 1 and 2, such that the UE reports X beams from CSI-RS resource set 1 and 4-X beams from CSI-RS resources set 2, with 0 < X < 4.

[0130] In some embodiments, each UE-initiated beam report may be associated with an event ID, which is further associated with multiple CSI-RS report IDs. Each CSI-RS report ID is associated with a CSI-RS report configuration, which is mapped to one or more CSI-RS resource sets.

[0131] In some embodiments, each CSI-RS resource set may be associated with a corresponding CSI-RS report ID. When multiple CSI-RS resource sets are configured for a single trigger event or condition, and these CSI-RS resource sets are associated with a different report IDs, all these report IDs will be associated with the same event ID.

[0132] In some embodiments, a UE-initiated beam report may include one or more of the following:

[0133] • a CSI-RS resource set ID;

[0134] • a CSI-RS resource ID (CRI);

[0135] • a measurement quantity (e.g., Ll-RSRP, Ll-SINR); and

[0136] • an event ID.

[0137] In some embodiments, the UE may be configured to only report a CSI-RS resource set ID and a CRI associated with a particular event, such as an increasing or decreasing measurement quantity. Upon receiving such a report with only a CSI-RS resource set ID and a CRI, the serving RAN node infers that the particular event was detected by the UE in the CSI-RS resource identified by the CSI-RS resource set ID and the CRI.

[0138] In some of these embodiments, the CRI is a “local” index based on all the CSI-RS resources in all configured CSI-RS resource sets. The size of CRI (i.e., number of bits) thus depends on the number of CSI-RS resources across all configured CSI-RS resource sets. For instance, if there are five CSI-RS resources in CSI-RS resource set 1 and three CSI-RS resources in CSI-RS resource set 2, then a three-bit CRI is needed to identify any of these eight CSI-RS resources. Although a CSI-RS resource typically also has a global ID, the local CRI may be preferred due to its smaller size.

[0139] In some of these embodiment, CSI-RS resources may be ordered in a predefined way with respect to determining CRIs. For example, CSI-RS resources may be ordered based on increasing CSI-RS resource set ID and increasing CSI-RS resource ID within each CSI-RS resource set ID. As such, the lowest CSI-RS resource ID within the lowest CSI-RS resource set ID is associated with smallest bit value (or codepoint) of a CRI bitfield, the next lowest CSI-RS resource ID within the lowest CSI-RS resource set ID is associated with next smallest bit value (or codepoint) of the CRI bitfield, and so on. Other ordering arrangements are also possible.

[0140] In some embodiments, one UE-initiated beam report may be associated with one or more periodic and / or semi-persistent CSI-RS resource sets in addition to one or more aperiodic CSI-RS resource sets. In some embodiments, one UE-initiated beam report may be associated with multiple measurement quantities, such as both CSI-RS RSRP and SSB-RSRP.

[0141] In some embodiments, an single AP CSI-RS resource set may be transmitted in multiple slots. In such case, a UE-initiated beam report can include measurements of the AP CSI-RS resource set from multiple slots. In this case, the UE may not need to include a CSI-RS resource set ID in the beam report.

[0142] Various features of the embodiments described above correspond to various operations illustrated in Figures 8-9, which show exemplary methods (e.g., procedures) for a UE and a RAN node, respectively. In other words, various features of the operations described below correspond to various embodiments described above. Furthermore, the exemplary methods shown in Figures 8-9 can be used cooperatively to provide various benefits, advantages, and / or solutions to problems described herein. Although Figures 8-9 show specific blocks in particular orders, the operations of the exemplary methods can be performed in different orders than shown and can be combined and / or divided into blocks having different functionality than shown. Optional blocks or operations are indicated by dashed lines.

[0143] In particular, Figure 8 shows an exemplary method (e.g., procedure) for a UE configured to support beam measurement and reporting in a RAN, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The exemplary method can be performed by a UE (e.g., wireless device, loT device, etc.) such as described elsewhere herein. The exemplary method includes the operations of block 810, where the UE receives, from s serving RAN node, a configuration of an aperiodic (AP) trigger state for UE-initiated beam reporting. The AP trigger state configuration includes or indicates the following:

[0144] • two or more channel state information (CSI) report configurations, with each CSI report configuration being associated with one or more CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) resource sets for measurement; and

[0145] • one or more trigger events or conditions for UE-initiated beam reporting;

[0146] The exemplary method also includes the operations of block 820, where the UE receives, from the serving RAN node, a control message that activates the AP trigger state configuration. The exemplary method also includes the operations of block 830, where in response to the control message, the UE performs measurements on the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the CSI report configurations and monitors the performed measurements for the one or more trigger events or conditions. The exemplary method also includes the operations of blocks 835 and 860, where based on detecting at least one of the trigger events or conditions (i.e., from the monitoring in block 830), the UE transmits to the serving RAN node a UE-initiated beam report including results of the measurements performed. Figure 7B discussed above shows an illustrative example of the operations of blocks 820, 830, 835, and 860.

[0147] In some embodiments, each CSI report configuration identifies the associated one or more CSI-RS resource sets based on respective CSI-RS resource set identifiers (IDs). In some of these embodiments, each CSI-RS resource set includes one or more CSI-RS resources on which the measurements are performed.

[0148] In some variants of these embodiments, the CSI-RS resources of each CSI-RS resource set are associated with respective narrow beams having coverage areas within one or more wide beams associated with respective transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states. In some further variants, each of one or more wide beams are associated with one of the following: a TCI state that is activated and currently being used for downlink (DL) transmission to the UE (e.g., an activated TCI state indicated by a scheduling DCI), or a TCI state that is activated but currently unused (an activated TCI state that was not indicated by a scheduling DCI).

[0149] In some variants of these embodiments, each of the one or more trigger events or conditions is one of the following:

[0150] • a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a first threshold;

[0151] • a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than a second threshold;

[0152] • a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a second measurement by at least a third threshold; or a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than the second measurement by at least a fourth threshold.

[0153] In some further variants, the AP trigger state configuration also includes or indicates one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth thresholds. For example, these thresholds may be within or outside of the two or more CSI report configurations. In some further variants, the second measurement is one of the following: a previous measurement of the same CSI-RS resource, a most recently reported measurement associated with a same report identifier (ID), or a highest measurement of a CSI-RS resource within a time window (e.g., a previous time window).

[0154] In some variants of these embodiments, each CSI-RS resource is associated with a CSI- RS resource ID (CRI) that is unique among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes one or more of the following for each of the results included: a CSI-RS resource set ID, and a CRI.

[0155] In some variants of these embodiments, each CRI is a codepoint in a bitfield of a number of bits, with the number being based on one or more of the following: a total number of CSI-RS resources in all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state, and the at least one trigger event that was detected.

[0156] In some embodiments, each CSI report configuration also indicates a measurement quantity to be reported in a UE-initiated beam report, and the results in the UE-initiated beam report are provided in the measurement quantities indicated by the two or more CSI report configurations. In some of these embodiments, the two or more CSI report configurations indicate a same measurement quantity, which is one of the following: layer-1 reference signal received power (Ll-RSRP), or layer-1 signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (Ll-SINR).

[0157] In some embodiments, the two or more CSI report configurations include respective report IDs, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes at least one of the report IDs included in the CSI report configurations. In some embodiments, the one or more trigger events or conditions are indicated by respective event IDs, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes the at least one event ID corresponding to the detected at least one trigger event or condition. In some of these embodiments, the one or more trigger events or conditions are a single trigger event or condition indicated by a single event ID, which is associated with all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

[0158] In some embodiments, the results are for measurements performed on CSI-RS resource sets in multiple DL time slots. In some embodiments, the reported results include one of the following:

[0159] • up to a maximum number of results for each of the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations; or • up to a maximum number of results from among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

[0160] In some embodiments, the exemplary method also includes the following operations, labelled with corresponding block numbers:

[0161] • (840) in response to detecting at least one of the trigger events or conditions, sending to the serving RAN node a request for resources to transmit a UE initiated beam report with results of the measurements; and

[0162] • (850) receiving a grant of uplink (UL) resources from the serving RAN node.

[0163] The UE-initiated beam report is transmitted in block 860 using the granted UL resources. In other embodiments, the UE-initiated beam report is transmitted using a pre-configured grant of UL resources.

[0164] In some embodiments, the control message is physical layer (PHY) downlink control information (DCI). In other embodiments, the control message is a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0165] In addition, Figure 9 shows an exemplary method (e.g., procedure) for a RAN node configured to facilitate beam measurement and reporting by UEs, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The exemplary method can be performed by a RAN node (e.g., base station, eNB, gNB, ng-eNB, etc., or component thereof) such as described elsewhere herein.

[0166] The exemplary method includes the operations of block 910, where the RAN node receives from the UE a configuration of an aperiodic (AP) trigger state for UE-initiated beam reporting. The AP trigger state configuration includes or indicates the following:

[0167] • two or more CSI report configurations, with each CSI report configuration being associated with one or more CSI-RS resource sets for measurement; and

[0168] • one or more trigger events or conditions for UE-initiated beam reporting;

[0169] The exemplary method also includes the operations of block 920, where the RAN node sends to the UE a control message that activates the AP trigger state configuration. The exemplary method also includes the operations of block 950, where based on UE detection of at least one of the trigger events or conditions, the RAN node receive from the UE a UE-initiated beam report including results of the measurements performed by the UE on the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the CSI report configurations. Figure 7B discussed above shows an illustrative example of the operations of blocks 920 and 950.

[0170] In some embodiments, each CSI report configuration identifies the associated one or more CSI-RS resource sets based on respective CSI-RS resource set IDs. In some of these embodiments, each CSI-RS resource set includes one or more CSI-RS resources on which the measurements are performed.

[0171] In some variants of these embodiments, the CSI-RS resources of each CSI-RS resource set are associated with respective narrow beams having coverage areas within one or more wide beams associated with respective TCI states. In some further variants, each of one or more wide beams are associated with one of the following: a TCI state that is activated and currently being used for DL transmission to the UE (e.g., an activated TCI state indicated by a scheduling DCI), or a TCI state that is activated but currently unused (e.g., an activated TCI state not indicated by a scheduling DCI).

[0172] In some variants of these embodiments, each of the one or more trigger events or conditions is one of the following:

[0173] • a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a first threshold;

[0174] • a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than a second threshold;

[0175] • a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a second measurement by at least a third threshold; or

[0176] • a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than the second measurement by at least a fourth threshold.

[0177] In some further variants, the AP trigger state configuration also includes or indicates one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth thresholds. For example, these thresholds may be within or outside of the two or more CSI report configurations. In some further variants, the second measurement is one of the following: a previous measurement of the same CSI-RS resource, a most recently reported measurement associated with a same report ID, or a highest measurement of a CSI-RS resource within a time window (e.g., a previous time window).

[0178] In some variants of these embodiments, each CSI-RS resource is associated with a CRI that is unique among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state, and the UE- initiated beam report also includes one or more of the following for each of the results included: a CSI-RS resource set ID, and a CRI.

[0179] In some variants of these embodiments, each CRI is a codepoint in a bitfield of a number of bits, with the number being based on one or more of the following: a total number of CSI-RS resources in all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state, and the at least one trigger event that was detected.

[0180] In some embodiments, each CSI report configuration also indicates a measurement quantity to be reported in a UE-initiated beam report, and the results included in the UE-initiated beam report are provided in the measurement quantities indicated by the two or more CSI report configurations. In some of these embodiments, the two or more CSI report configurations indicate a same measurement quantity, which is one of the following: Ll-RSRP, or Ll-SINR. In some embodiments, the two or more CSI report configurations include respective report IDs, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes at least one of the report IDs included in the CSI report configurations. In some embodiments, the one or more trigger events or conditions are indicated by respective event IDs, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes the at least one event ID corresponding to the detected at least one trigger event or condition. In some of these embodiments, the one or more trigger events or conditions are a single trigger event or condition indicated by a single event ID, which is associated with all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

[0181] In some embodiments, the results in the UE-initiated beam report are for measurements performed on CSI-RS resource sets in multiple DL time slots. In some embodiments, the results in the UE-initiated beam report include one of the following:

[0182] • up to a maximum number of results for each of the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations; or

[0183] • up to a maximum number of results from among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

[0184] In some embodiments, the exemplary method also includes the following operations, labelled with corresponding block numbers:

[0185] • (930) in response to UE detection of at least one of the trigger events or conditions, receiving from the UE a request for resources to transmit a UE-initiated beam report with results of the measurements; and

[0186] • (940) sending the UE a grant of UL resources.

[0187] The UE-initiated beam report is received in block 950 using the granted UL resources. In other embodiments, the UE-initiated beam report is received using a pre-configured grant of UL resources.

[0188] In some embodiments, the control message is PHY DCI. In other embodiments, the control message is a MAC CE. In some embodiments, the exemplary method also includes the operations of block 960, where the RAN node performs one or more of the following based on the UE- initiated beam report:

[0189] • switching the UE’ s serving beam;

[0190] • adding one or more beams to, or removing one or more beams from, the UE’s activated beams; and

[0191] • adding one or more beams to, or removing one or more beams from, non-activated beams to be measured by the UE.

[0192] Figure 7C discussed above shows an example outcome of the operations of block 960.

[0193] Although various embodiments are described above in terms of methods, techniques, and / or procedures, the person of ordinary skill will readily comprehend that such methods, techniques, and / or procedures can be embodied by various combinations of hardware and software in various systems, communication devices, computing devices, control devices, apparatuses, non-transitory computer-readable media, computer program products, etc.

[0194] Figure 10 shows an example of a communication system 1000 in accordance with some embodiments. In this example, communication system 1000 includes a telecommunication network 1002 that includes an access network 1004 (e.g., RAN) and a core network 1006, which includes one or more core network nodes 1008. Access network 1004 includes one or more access network nodes, such as network nodes lOlOa-b (one or more of which may be generally referred to as network nodes 1010), or any other similar 3GPP access nodes or non-3GPP access points. 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, telecommunication network 1002 includes one or more Open-RAN (ORAN) network nodes. An ORAN network node is a node in telecommunication network 1002 that supports an ORAN specification (e.g., a specification published by the O-RAN Alliance, or any similar organization) and may operate alone or together with other nodes to implement one or more functionalities of any node in telecommunication network 1002, including one or more network nodes 1010 and / or core network nodes 1008.

[0195] 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. Network nodes 1010 facilitate direct or indirect connection of UEs, such as by connecting UEs 1012a-d (one or more of which may be generally referred to as UEs 1012) to core network 1006 over one or more wireless connections.

[0196] 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, 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. 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.

[0197] UEs 1012 may be any of a wide variety of communication devices, including wireless devices arranged, configured, and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes 1010 and other communication devices. Similarly, network nodes 1010 are arranged, capable, configured, and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with UEs 1012 and / or with other network nodes or equipment in telecommunication network 1002 to enable and / or provide network access, such as wireless network access, and / or to perform other functions, such as administration in telecommunication network 1002.

[0198] In the depicted example, core network 1006 connects 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. Core network 1006 includes one or more core network nodes (e.g., 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 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).

[0199] Host 1016 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider other than an operator or provider of access network 1004 and / or telecommunication network 1002, and may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. 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.

[0200] As a whole, communication system 1000 of Figure 10 enables connectivity between the UEs, network nodes, and hosts. In that sense, the communication system 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 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G standards, or any applicable future generation standard (e.g., 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 as the 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.

[0201] In some examples, telecommunication network 1002 is a cellular network that implements 3 GPP standardized features. Accordingly, telecommunication network 1002 may support network slicing to provide different logical networks to different devices that are connected to telecommunication network 1002. For example, 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 loT services to yet further UEs.

[0202] In some examples, 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 access network 1004 on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from access network 1004. Additionally, a UE may be configured for operating in single- or multi-RAT or multi-standard mode. For example, a UE may operate with any one or combination of Wi-Fi, NR (New Radio) and LTE, i.e. being configured for multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC), such as E-UTRAN (Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) New Radio - Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

[0203] In the example, hub 1014 communicates with access network 1004 to facilitate indirect communication between one or more UEs (e.g., 1012c and / or 1012d) and network nodes (e.g., 1010b). In some examples, hub 1014 may be a controller, router, content source and analytics, or any of the other communication devices described herein regarding UEs. For example, hub 1014 may be a broadband router enabling access to core network 1006 for the UEs. As another example, 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 hub 1014. As another example, 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, hub 1014 may be a content source. For example, for a UE that is a VR headset, display, loudspeaker or other media delivery device, hub 1014 may retrieve VR assets, video, audio, or other media or data related to sensory information via a network node, which hub 1014 then provides to the UE either directly, after performing local processing, and / or after adding additional local content. In still another example, 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.

[0204] Hub 1014 may have a constant / persistent or intermittent connection to network node 1010b. Hub 1014 may also allow for a different communication scheme and / or schedule between hub 1014 and UEs (e.g., 1012c and / or 1012d), and between hub 1014 and core network 1006. In other examples, hub 1014 is connected to core network 1006 and / or one or more UEs via a wired connection. Moreover, hub 1014 may be configured to connect to an M2M service provider over access network 1004 and / or to another UE over a direct connection. In some scenarios, UEs may establish a wireless connection with network nodes 1010 while still connected via hub 1014 via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, hub 1014 may be a dedicated hub - that is, a hub whose primary function is to route communications to / from the UEs from / to network node 1010b. In other embodiments, hub 1014 may be a non-dedicated hub - that is, a device which is capable of operating to route communications between the UEs and network node 1010b, but which is additionally capable of operating as a communication start and / or end point for certain data channels.

[0205] In some embodiments, UE 1012 may be configured to perform operations attributed to a UE in various embodiments described above, including the exemplary method (e.g., procedure) shown in Figure 8. In some embodiments, network node 1010 may be configured to perform operations attributed to a RAN node in various embodiments described above, including the exemplary method (e.g., procedure) shown in Figure 9.

[0206] Figure 11 shows a UE 1100 in accordance with some embodiments. Examples of UE 1100 include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, mobile phone, cell phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phone, wireless local loop phone, desktop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless cameras, 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 3 GPP, including a narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT) UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and / or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.

[0207] UE 1100 may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3 GPP standard for sidelink communication, Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), or vehicle-to- everything (V2X). In other examples, UE 1100 may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and / or operates the relevant device. Instead, UE 1100 may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, 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).

[0208] UE 1100 includes processing circuitry 1102 that is operatively coupled via a bus 1104 to an input / output interface 1106, a power source 1108, a 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.

[0209] 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 memory 1110. 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, processing circuitry 1102 may include multiple central processing units (CPUs).

[0210] In the example, 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 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.

[0211] In some embodiments, 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. Power source 1108 may further include power circuitry for delivering power from power source 1108 itself, and / or an external power source, to the various parts of UE 1100 via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Delivering power may be, for example, for charging power source 1108. Power circuitry may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from power source 1108 to make the power suitable for the respective components of UE 1100 to which power is supplied.

[0212] Memory 1110 may be or be configured to include memory such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, flash drives, and so forth. In one example, 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. Memory 1110 may store, for use by UE 1100, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

[0213] 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 random access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as tamper resistant module in the form of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) including one or more subscriber identity modules (SIMs), such as a USIM and / or 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 ‘SIM card.’ Memory 1110 may allow 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 memory 1110, which may be or comprise a device-readable storage medium.

[0214] Processing circuitry 1102 may be configured to communicate with an access network or other network using communication interface 1112. Communication interface 1112 may comprise one or more communication subsystems and may include or be communicatively coupled to an antenna 1122. 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, transmitter 1118 and receiver 1120 may be coupled to one or more antennas (e.g., antenna 1122) and may share circuit components, software, or firmware, or alternatively be implemented separately.

[0215] In the illustrated embodiment, communication functions of communication interface 1112 may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, LPWAN communication, data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, 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 in according to one or more communication protocols and / or standards, such as IEEE 802.11, Code Division Multiplexing Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), GSM, LTE, New Radio (NR), UMTS, WiMax, Ethernet, transmission control protocol / internet protocol (TCP / IP), synchronous optical networking (SONET), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), QUIC, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and so forth.

[0216] Regardless of the type of sensor, UE 1100 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).

[0217] As another example, UE 1100 may comprise 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, UE 1100 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.

[0218] UE 1100, when in the form of an Internet of Things (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 TV, 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 Virtual Reality (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 UE 1100 shown in Figure 11.

[0219] As yet another specific example, in an loT scenario, UE 1100 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. UE 1100 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 3 GPP NB-IoT standard. In other scenarios, UE 1100 may represent a vehicle, such as a car, a bus, a truck, a ship and an airplane, or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and / or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation.

[0220] 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. In some embodiments, UE 1100 may be configured to perform operations attributed to a UE in various embodiments described above, including the exemplary method (e.g., procedure) shown in Figure 8.

[0221] Figure 12 shows a network node 1200 in accordance with some embodiments. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, eNBs, gNBs), and 0-RAN nodes or components of an 0-RAN node (e g., O-RU, O-DU, O-CU).

[0222] 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 0-RAN access node) and / or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units 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).

[0223] 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 base station 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).

[0224] Network node 1200 includes processing circuitry 1202, memory 1204, communication interface 1206, and power source 1208. Network node 1200 may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which 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, network node 1200 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (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). Network node 1200 may 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, 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 network node 1200.

[0225] Processing circuitry 1202 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, 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 memory 1204, to provide network node 1200 functionality.

[0226] In some embodiments, processing circuitry 1202 includes a system on a chip (SOC). In some embodiments, processing circuitry 1202 includes one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1212 and baseband processing circuitry 1214. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry 1212 and 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 RF transceiver circuitry 1212 and baseband processing circuitry 1214 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units.

[0227] 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, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (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 processing circuitry 1202. 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 (collected denoted computer program 1204a, which may be in the form of a computer program product) capable of being executed by processing circuitry 1202 and utilized by network node 1200. Memory 1204 may be used to store any calculations made by processing circuitry 1202 and / or any data received via communication interface 1206. In some embodiments, processing circuitry 1202 and memory 1204 is integrated.

[0228] 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, 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. Communication interface 1206 also includes radio frontend circuitry 1218 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, antenna 1210. Radio front-end circuitry 1218 comprises filters 1220 and amplifiers 1222. Radio front-end circuitry 1218 may be connected to an antenna 1210 and processing circuitry 1202. The radio front-end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 1210 and processing circuitry 1202. 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. 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 filters 1220 and / or amplifiers 1222. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna 1210. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna 1210 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front-end circuitry 1218. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry 1202. In other embodiments, the communication interface may comprise different components and / or different combinations of components.

[0229] In certain alternative embodiments, network node 1200 does not include separate radio front-end circuitry 1218, instead, processing circuitry 1202 includes radio front-end circuitry and is connected to antenna 1210. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry 1212 is part of communication interface 1206. In still other embodiments, communication interface 1206 includes one or more ports or terminals 1216, radio front-end circuitry 1218, and RF transceiver circuitry 1212, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and communication interface 1206 communicates with baseband processing circuitry 1214, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

[0230] Antenna 1210 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and / or receive wireless signals. Antenna 1210 may be coupled to 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, antenna 1210 is separate from network node 1200 and connectable to network node 1200 through an interface or port.

[0231] Antenna 1210, communication interface 1206, and / or 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. Any information, data and / or signals may be received from a UE, another network node and / or any other network equipment. Similarly, antenna 1210, communication interface 1206, and / or processing circuitry 1202 may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by the network node. Any information, data and / or signals may be transmitted to a UE, another network node and / or any other network equipment. Power source 1208 provides power to the various components of network node 1200 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). Power source 1208 may further comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry to supply the components of network node 1200 with power for performing the functionality described herein. For example, network node 1200 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., the power grid, an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry of power source 1208. As a further example, 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.

[0232] Embodiments of 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, network node 1200 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into network node 1200 and to allow output of information from network node 1200. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node 1200.

[0233] In some embodiments, network node 1200 may be configured to perform operations attributed to a RAN node in various embodiments described above, including the exemplary method (e.g., procedure) shown in Figure 9.

[0234] 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 virtual environments 1300 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes, such as a hardware computing device that operates as a network node, UE, core network node, or 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-RAN Alliance, such as an O-Cloud environment orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an O-2 interface. 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. For example, one or more virtual nodes 1302 may be configured to perform operations attributed to a RAN node in various embodiments described above, including the exemplary method (e.g., procedure) shown in Figure 9.

[0235] Hardware 1304 includes processing circuitry, memory that stores software and / or instructions (collected denoted computer program 1304a, which may be in the form of a computer program product) executable by hardware processing circuitry, and / or other hardware devices as described herein, such as a network interface, 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. Virtualization layer 1306 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to the VMs 1308.

[0236] 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.

[0237] In the context of NFV, each 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 VM 1308, and that part of 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.

[0238] Hardware 1304 may be implemented in a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware 1304 may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware 1304 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or CPE) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration function 1310, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications 1302. In some embodiments, 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.

[0239] The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the disclosure. Various modifications and alterations to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous systems, arrangements, and procedures that, although not explicitly shown or described herein, embody the principles of the disclosure and can be thus within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Various embodiments can be used together with one another, as well as interchangeably therewith, as should be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art.

[0240] The term unit, as used herein, can have conventional meaning in the field of electronics, electrical devices and / or electronic devices and can include, for example, electrical and / or electronic circuitry, devices, modules, processors, memories, logic solid state and / or discrete devices, computer programs or instructions for carrying out respective tasks, procedures, computations, outputs, and / or displaying functions, and so on, as such as those that are described herein.

[0241] Any appropriate steps, methods, features, functions, or benefits disclosed herein may be performed through one or more functional units or modules of one or more virtual apparatuses. Each virtual apparatus may comprise a number of these functional units. These functional units may be implemented via processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include Digital Signal Processor (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and / or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein. In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause the respective functional unit to perform corresponding functions according to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. As described herein, device and / or apparatus can be represented by a semiconductor chip, a chipset, or a (hardware) module comprising such chip or chipset; this, however, does not exclude the possibility that a functionality of a device or apparatus, instead of being hardware implemented, be implemented as a software module such as a computer program or a computer program product comprising executable software code portions for execution or being run on a processor. Furthermore, functionality of a device or apparatus can be implemented by any combination of hardware and software. A device or apparatus can also be regarded as an assembly of multiple devices and / or apparatuses, whether functionally in cooperation with or independently of each other. Moreover, devices and apparatuses can be implemented in a distributed fashion throughout a system, so long as the functionality of the device or apparatus is preserved. Such and similar principles are considered as known to a skilled person.

[0242] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0243] In addition, certain terms used in the present disclosure, including the specification and drawings, can be used synonymously in certain instances (e.g., “data” and “information”). It should be understood that although such can be used synonymously herein, there may be instances when such terms are not intended to be used synonymously.

[0244] Embodiments of the techniques and apparatus described herein also include, but are not limited to, the following enumerated examples:

[0245] Al . A method for a user equipment (UE) configured to support beam measurement and reporting in a radio access network (RAN), the method comprising: receiving, from s serving RAN node, a configuration of an aperiodic (AP) trigger state for UE-initiated beam reporting, wherein the AP trigger state configuration includes or indicates the following: two or more channel state information (CSI) report configurations, with each CSI report configuration being associated with one or more CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) resource sets for measurement; and one or more trigger events or conditions for UE-initiated beam reporting; receiving, from the serving RAN node, a control message that activates the AP trigger state configuration; in response to the control message, performing measurements on the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the CSI report configurations and monitoring the performed measurements for the one or more trigger events or conditions; based on detecting at least one of the trigger events or conditions, transmitting to the serving RAN node a UE-initiated beam report including results of the measurements performed.

[0246] A2. The method of embodiment Al, wherein each CSI report configuration identifies the associated one or more CSI-RS resource sets based on respective CSI-RS resource set identifiers (IDs).

[0247] A3. The method of embodiment A2, wherein each CSI-RS resource set includes one or more CSI-RS resources on which the measurements are performed.

[0248] A3a. The method of embodiment A3, wherein the CSI-RS resources of each CSI-RS resource set are associated with respective narrow beams having coverage areas within one or more wide beams associated with respective TCI states.

[0249] A3b. The method of embodiment A3 a, wherein each of one or more wide beams are associated with one of the following: a TCI state that is activated and currently being used for downlink (DL) transmission to the UE, or a TCI state that is activated but currently unused.

[0250] A3c. The method of any of embodiments A3-A3b, wherein each of the one or more trigger events or conditions is one of the following: a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a first threshold; a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than a second threshold; a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a second measurement by at least a third threshold; or a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than the second measurement by at least a fourth threshold.

[0251] A3d. The method of embodiment A3c, wherein the AP trigger state configuration also includes or indicates one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth thresholds. A3e. The method of any of embodiments A3c-A3d, wherein the second measurement is one of the following: a previous measurement of the same CSI-RS resource, a most recently reported measurement associated with a same report identifier (ID), or a highest measurement of a CSI- RS resource within a previous time window.

[0252] A4. The method of any of embodiments A3-A3d, wherein each CSI-RS resource is associated with a CSI-RS resource ID (CRI) that is unique among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes one or more of the following, for each of the reported measurement results: a CSI-RS resource set ID, and a CRI.

[0253] A5. The method of any of embodiments A3-A4, wherein each CRI is a codepoint in a bitfield of a number of bits, with the number being based on one or more of the following: a total number of CSI-RS resources in all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state, and the at least one trigger event that was detected.

[0254] A6. The method of any of embodiments A1-A5, wherein each CSI report configuration also indicates a measurement quantity to be reported in a UE initiated beam report, and the reported measurement results are provided in the measurement quantities indicated by the two or more CSI report configurations.

[0255] A6a. The method of embodiment A6, wherein the two or more CSI report configurations indicate a same measurement quantity, which is one of the following: layer-1 reference signal received power (Ll-RSRP), or layer-1 signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (Ll-SINR).

[0256] A7. The method of any of embodiments Al-A6a, wherein each CSI report configuration also includes a report identifier (ID), and the UE-initiated beam report also includes at least one of the report IDs.

[0257] A8. The method of any of embodiments A1-A7, wherein the one or more trigger events or conditions are indicated by respective event identifiers (IDs), and the UE-initiated beam report also includes the at least one event ID corresponding to the detected at least one trigger event or condition. A9. The method of embodiment A8, wherein the one or more trigger events or conditions are a single trigger event or condition indicated by a single event ID, which is associated with all CSI- RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

[0258] A10. The method of any of embodiments A1-A9, wherein the reported results are for measurements performed on CSI-RS resource sets in multiple downlink (DL) time slots.

[0259] Al 1. The method of any of embodiments A1-A10, wherein the reported results include one of the following: up to a maximum number of results for each of the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations; or up to a maximum number of results from among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

[0260] A12. The method of any of embodiments Al-Al l, further comprising: in response to detecting at least one of the trigger events or conditions, sending to the serving RAN node a request for resources to transmit a UE initiated beam report with results of the measurements; and receiving a grant of uplink (UL) resources from the serving RAN node, wherein the UE-initiated beam report is transmitted using the granted UL resources.

[0261] Al 3. The method of any of embodiments Al -Al 1, wherein the UE-initiated beam report is transmitted using a pre-configured grant of uplink (UL) resources.

[0262] A14. The method of any of embodiments A1-A3, wherein the control message is one of the following: physical layer (PHY) downlink control information (DCI), or a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0263] Bl. A method for a radio access network (RAN) node configured to facilitate beam measurement and reporting by user equipment (UEs), the method comprising: sending, to a UE, a configuration of an aperiodic (AP) trigger state for UE-initiated beam reporting, wherein the AP trigger state configuration includes or indicates the following: two or more channel state information (CSI) report configurations, with each CSI report configuration being associated with one or more CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) resource sets for measurement; and one or more trigger events or conditions for UE-initiated beam reporting; sending, to the UE, a control message that activates the AP trigger state configuration; based on UE detection of at least one of the trigger events or conditions, receiving from the UE a UE-initiated beam report including results of the measurements performed by the UE on the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the CSI report configurations.

[0264] B2. The method of embodiment Bl, wherein each CSI report configuration identifies the associated one or more CSI-RS resource sets based on respective CSI-RS resource set identifiers (IDs).

[0265] B3. The method of embodiment B2, wherein each CSI-RS resource set includes one or more CSI-RS resources on which the measurements are performed.

[0266] B3a. The method of embodiment B3, wherein the CSI-RS resources of each CSI-RS resource set are associated with respective narrow beams having coverage areas within one or more wide beams associated with respective TCI states.

[0267] B3b. The method of embodiment B3a, wherein each of one or more wide beams are associated with one of the following: a TCI state that is activated and currently being used for downlink (DL) transmission to the UE, or a TCI state that is activated but currently unused.

[0268] B3c. The method of any of embodiments B3-B3b, wherein each of the one or more trigger events or conditions is one of the following: a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a first threshold; a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than a second threshold; a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a second measurement by at least a third threshold; or a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than the second measurement by at least a fourth threshold. B3d. The method of embodiment B3c, wherein the AP trigger state configuration also includes or indicates one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth thresholds.

[0269] B3e. The method of any of embodiments B3c-B3d, wherein the second measurement is one of the following: a previous measurement of the same CSI-RS resource, a most recently reported measurement associated with a same report identifier (ID), or a highest measurement of a CSI- RS resource within a previous time window.

[0270] B4. The method of any of embodiments B3-B3d, wherein each CSI-RS resource is associated with a CSI-RS resource ID (CRI) that is unique among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes one or more of the following, for each of the reported measurement results: a CSI-RS resource set ID, and a CRI.

[0271] B5. The method of any of embodiments B3-B4, wherein each CRI is a codepoint in a bitfield of a number of bits, with the number being based on one or more of the following: a total number of CSI-RS resources in all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state, and the at least one trigger event that was detected.

[0272] B6. The method of any of embodiments B1-B5, wherein each CSI report configuration also indicates a measurement quantity to be reported in a UE initiated beam report, and the reported measurement results are provided in the measurement quantities indicated by the two or more CSI report configurations.

[0273] B6a. The method of embodiment B6, wherein the two or more CSI report configurations indicate a same measurement quantity, which is one of the following: layer-1 reference signal received power (Ll-RSRP), or layer-1 signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (Ll-SINR).

[0274] B7. The method of any of embodiments Bl-B6a, wherein each CSI report configuration also includes a report identifier (ID), and the UE-initiated beam report also includes at least one of the report IDs.

[0275] B8. The method of any of embodiments B1-B7, wherein the one or more trigger events or conditions are indicated by respective event identifiers (IDs), and the UE-initiated beam report also includes the at least one event ID corresponding to the detected at least one trigger event or condition. B9. The method of embodiment B8, wherein the one or more trigger events or conditions are a single trigger event or condition indicated by a single event ID, which is associated with all CSI- RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

[0276] BIO. The method of any of embodiments B1-B9, wherein the reported results are for measurements performed on CSI-RS resource sets in multiple downlink (DL) time slots.

[0277] Bl 1. The method of any of embodiments Bl -BIO, wherein the reported results include one of the following: up to a maximum number of results for each of the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations; or up to a maximum number of results from among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

[0278] B12. The method of any of embodiments Bl-Bl 1, further comprising: in response to UE detection of at least one of the trigger events or conditions, receiving from the UE a request for resources to transmit a UE initiated beam report with results of the measurements; and sending the UE a grant of uplink (UL) resources, wherein the UE-initiated beam report is received using the granted UL resources.

[0279] B13. The method of any of embodiments Bl-Bl 1, wherein the UE-initiated beam report is transmitted using a pre-configured grant of uplink (UL) resources.

[0280] B14. The method of any of embodiments B1-B13, wherein the control message is one of the following: physical layer (PHY) downlink control information (DCI), or a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0281] B15. The method of any of embodiments B1-B14, further comprising performing one or more of the following based on the UE-initiated beam report: switching the UE’s serving beam; adding one or more beams to, or removing one or more beams from, the UE’s activated beams; and adding one or more beams to, or removing one or more beams from, non-activated beams to be measured by the UE.

[0282] Cl . A user equipment (UE) configured to support beam measurement and reporting in a radio access network (RAN), the UE comprising: communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with the serving cells; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the communication interface circuitry, whereby the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments A1-A14.

[0283] C2. A user equipment (UE) configured to support beam measurement and reporting in a radio access network (RAN), the UE being further configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments A1-A14.

[0284] C3. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a user equipment (UE) configured to support beam measurement and reporting in a radio access network (RAN), configure the UE to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments A1-A14.

[0285] C4. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a user equipment (UE) configured to support beam measurement and reporting in a radio access network (RAN), configure the UE to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments A1-A14.

[0286] DI . A radio access network (RAN) node configured to facilitate beam measurement and reporting by user equipment (UEs), the RAN node comprising: communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with UEs; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to the communication interface circuitry, whereby the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments B 1 -B 15. D2. A radio access network (RAN) node configured to facilitate beam measurement and reporting by user equipment (UEs), the RAN node being further configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments B1-B15. D3. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a radio access network (RAN) node configured to facilitate beam measurement and reporting by user equipment (UEs), configure the RAN node to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments B1-B15. D4. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of a radio access network (RAN) node configured to facilitate beam measurement and reporting by user equipment (UEs), configure the RAN node to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of embodiments B1-B15.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for a user equipment, UE, configured to support beam measurement and reporting in a radio access network, RAN, the method comprising: receiving (810), from a RAN node, a configuration of an aperiodic, AP, trigger state for UE-initiated beam reporting, wherein the AP trigger state configuration includes or indicates the following: two or more channel state information, CSI, report configurations, with each CSI report configuration being associated with one or more CSI reference signal, CSI-RS, resource sets for measurement; and one or more trigger events or conditions for UE-initiated beam reporting; receiving (820), from the RAN node, a control message that activates the AP trigger state configuration; in response to the control message, performing (830) measurements on the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the CSI report configurations and monitoring the performed measurements for the one or more trigger events or conditions; based on detecting (835) at least one of the trigger events or conditions, transmitting (860) to the RAN node a UE-initiated beam report including results of the measurements performed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: each CSI report configuration identifies the associated one or more CSI-RS resource sets based on respective CSI-RS resource set identifiers, IDs; and each CSI-RS resource set includes one or more CSI-RS resources on which the measurements are performed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein: the CSI-RS resources of each CSI-RS resource set are associated with respective narrow beams having coverage areas within one or more wide beams; and each of the one or more wide beams is associated with one of the following: a transmission configuration indicator, TCI, state that is activated and currently being used for downlink, DL, transmission to the UE; or a TCI state that is activated but currently unused.

4. The method of any of claims 2-3, wherein each of the one or more trigger events or conditions is one of the following: a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a first threshold; a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than a second threshold; a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a second measurement by at least a third threshold; or a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than the second measurement by at least a fourth threshold.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the AP trigger state configuration also includes or indicates one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth thresholds.

6. The method of any of claims 4-5, wherein the second measurement is one of the following: a previous measurement of the same CSI-RS resource, a most recently reported measurement associated with a same report ID, or a highest measurement of a CSI-RS resource within a time window.

7. The method of any of claims 2-5, wherein: each of the CSI-RS resources is associated with a CSI-RS resource ID, CRI, that is unique among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state; and the UE-initiated beam report also includes one or more of the following for each of the results included: an associated CSI-RS resource set ID, and an associated CRI.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein each CRI is a codepoint in a bitfield of a number of bits, with the number being based on one or more of the following: a total number of CSI-RS resources in all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state, and the at least one trigger event that was detected.

9. The method of any of claims 1-8, wherein each CSI report configuration also indicates a measurement quantity to be reported in a UE-initiated beam report, and the results in the UE- initiated beam report are provided in the measurement quantities indicated by the two or more CSI report configurations.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the two or more CSI report configurations indicate a same measurement quantity, which is one of the following: layer-1 reference signal received power, Ll-RSRP; or layer-1 signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio, Ll-SINR.

11. The method of any of claims 1-10, wherein the two or more CSI report configurations include respective report identifiers, IDs, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes at least one of the report IDs included in the CSI report configurations.

12. The method of any of claims 1-11, wherein the one or more trigger events or conditions are indicated by respective event identifiers, IDs, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes the at least one event ID corresponding to the detected at least one trigger event or condition.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more trigger events or conditions are a single trigger event or condition indicated by a single event ID, which is associated with all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

14. The method of any of claims 1-13, wherein one or more of the following applies: the results in the UE-initiated beam report are for measurements performed on CSI-RS resource sets in multiple downlink, DL, time slots; and the results in the UE-initiated beam report include one of the following: up to a maximum number of results for each of the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations; or up to a maximum number of results from among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

15. The method of any of claims 1-14, further comprising: in response to detecting (835) the at least one trigger event or condition, sending (840) to the RAN node a request for resources to transmit a UE-initiated beam report with results of the measurements; and receiving (850) from the RAN node a grant of uplink, UL, resources, wherein the UE-initiated beam report is transmitted using the granted UL resources.

16. The method of any of claims 1-14, wherein the UE-initiated beam report is transmitted using a pre-configured grant of uplink, UL, resources.

17. The method of any of claims 1-16, wherein the control message is one of the following: physical layer, PHY, downlink control information, DCI; or a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE.

18. A method for a radio access network, RAN, node configured to facilitate beam measurement and reporting by user equipment, UEs, the method comprising: sending (910), to a UE, a configuration of an aperiodic, AP, trigger state for UE-initiated beam reporting, wherein the AP trigger state configuration includes or indicates the following: two or more channel state information, CSI, report configurations, with each CSI report configuration being associated with one or more CSI reference signal, CSI-RS, resource sets for measurement; and one or more trigger events or conditions for UE-initiated beam reporting; sending (920), to the UE, a control message that activates the AP trigger state configuration; and based on UE detection of at least one of the trigger events or conditions, receiving (950) from the UE a UE-initiated beam report including results of the measurements performed by the UE on the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the CSI report configurations.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein: each CSI report configuration identifies the associated one or more CSI-RS resource sets based on respective CSI-RS resource set identifiers, IDs; and each CSI-RS resource set includes one or more CSI-RS resources on which the measurements are performed.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: the CSI-RS resources of each CSI-RS resource set are associated with respective narrow beams having coverage areas within one or more wide beams; and each of the one or more wide beams is associated with one of the following: a transmission configuration indicator, TCI, state that is activated and currently being used for downlink, DL, transmission to the UE; or a TCI state that is activated but currently unused.

21. The method of any of claims 19-20, wherein each of the one or more trigger events or conditions is one of the following: a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a first threshold; a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than a second threshold; a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is greater than a second measurement by at least a third threshold; or a measurement of a CSI-RS resource is less than the second measurement by at least a fourth threshold.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the AP trigger state configuration also includes or indicates one or more of the first, second, third, and fourth thresholds.

23. The method of any of claims 21-22, wherein the second measurement is one of the following: a previous measurement of the same CSI-RS resource, a most recently reported measurement associated with a same report ID, or a highest measurement of a CSI-RS resource within a time window.

24. The method of any of claims 19-23, wherein: each CSI-RS resource is associated with a CSI-RS resource ID, CRI, that is unique among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state; and the UE-initiated beam report also includes one or more of the following for each of the results included: an associated CSI-RS resource set ID, and an associated CRI.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein each CRI is a codepoint in a bitfield of a number of bits, with the number being based on one or more of the following: a total number of CSI-RS resources in all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the AP trigger state, and the at least one trigger event that was detected.

26. The method of any of claims 18-25, wherein each CSI report configuration also indicates a measurement quantity to be reported in UE-initiated beam reports, and the results included in the UE-initiated beam report are provided in the measurement quantities indicated by the two or more CSI report configurations.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the two or more CSI report configurations indicate a same measurement quantity, which is one of the following: layer-1 reference signal received power, Ll-RSRP; or layer-1 signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio, Ll-SINR.

28. The method of any of claims 18-27, wherein the two or more CSI report configurations include respective report identifiers, IDs, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes at least one of the report IDs included in the CSI report configurations.

29. The method of any of claims 18-28, wherein the one or more trigger events or conditions are indicated by respective event identifiers, IDs, and the UE-initiated beam report also includes the at least one event ID corresponding to the detected at least one trigger event or condition.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the one or more trigger events or conditions are a single trigger event or condition indicated by a single event ID, which is associated with all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

31. The method of any of claims 18-30, wherein one or more of the following applies: the results in the UE-initiated beam report are for measurements performed on CSI-RS resource sets in multiple downlink, DL, time slots; and the results in the UE-initiated beam report include one of the following: up to a maximum number of results for each of the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations; or up to a maximum number of results from among all CSI-RS resource sets associated with the two or more CSI report configurations.

32. The method of any of claims 18-31, further comprising: in response to UE detection of at least one of the trigger events or conditions, receiving (930) from the UE a request for resources to transmit a UE-initiated beam report with results of the measurements; and sending (940) to the UE a grant of uplink, UL, resources, wherein the UE-initiated beam report is received using the granted UL resources.

33. The method of any of claims 18-32, wherein the UE-initiated beam report is received using a pre-configured grant of uplink, UL, resources.

34. The method of any of claims 18-33, wherein the control message is one of the following: physical layer, PHY, downlink control information, DCI; or a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE.

35. The method of any of claims 18-34, further comprising performing one or more of the following based on the UE-initiated beam report: switching the UE’s serving beam; adding one or more beams to, or removing one or more beams from, the UE’s activated beams; and adding one or more beams to, or removing one or more beams from, non-activated beams to be measured by the UE.

36. User equipment, UE (105, 210, 1012, 1100) configured to support beam measurement and reporting in a radio access network, RAN (199, 1004), the UE comprising: communication interface circuitry (1112) configured to communicate with RAN nodes (110, 120, 220, 1010, 1200, 1302); and processing circuitry (1102) operatively coupled to the communication interface circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to: receive, from a RAN node, a configuration of an aperiodic, AP, trigger state for UE-initiated beam reporting, wherein the AP trigger state configuration includes or indicates the following: two or more channel state information, CSI, report configurations, with each CSI report configuration being associated with one or more CSI reference signal, CSI-RS, resource sets for measurement; and one or more trigger events or conditions for UE-initiated beam reporting; receive, from the RAN node, a control message that activates the AP trigger state configuration; in response to the control message, perform measurements on the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the CSI report configurations and monitor the performed measurements for the one or more trigger events or conditions; based on detecting at least one of the trigger events or conditions, transmit to the RAN node a UE-initiated beam report including results of the measurements performed.

37. The UE of claim 36, wherein the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 2- 17.

38. User equipment, UE (105, 210, 1012, 1100) configured to support beam measurement and reporting in a radio access network, RAN (199, 1004), the UE being further configured to: receive, from a RAN node (110, 120, 220, 1010, 1200, 1302), a configuration of an aperiodic, AP, trigger state for UE-initiated beam reporting, wherein the AP trigger state configuration includes or indicates the following: two or more channel state information, CSI, report configurations, with each CSI report configuration being associated with one or more CSI reference signal, CSI-RS, resource sets for measurement; and one or more trigger events or conditions for UE-initiated beam reporting; receive, from the RAN node, a control message that activates the AP trigger state configuration; in response to the control message, perform measurements on the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the CSI report configurations and monitor the performed measurements for the one or more trigger events or conditions; based on detecting at least one of the trigger events or conditions, transmit to the RAN node a UE-initiated beam report including results of the measurements performed.

39. The UE of claim 38, being further configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 2-17.

40. Non-transitory, computer-readable medium (1110) storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry (1102) of user equipment, UE (105, 210, 1012, 1100) configured to support beam measurement and reporting in a radio access network, RAN (199, 1004), configure the UE to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 1-17.

41. Computer program product (1114) comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry (1102) of user equipment, UE (105, 210, 1012, 1100) configured to support beam measurement and reporting in a radio access network, RAN (199,1004), configure the UE to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 1- 17.

42. Radio access network, RAN, node (110, 120, 220, 1010, 1200, 1302) configured to facilitate beam measurement and reporting by user equipment, UEs (105, 210, 1012, 1100), the RAN node comprising: communication interface circuitry (1206, 1304) configured to communicate with UEs; and processing circuitry (1202, 1304) operatively coupled to the communication interface circuitry, wherein the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are configured to: send, to a UE, a configuration of an aperiodic, AP, trigger state for UE-initiated beam reporting, wherein the AP trigger state configuration includes or indicates the following: two or more channel state information, CSI, report configurations, with each CSI report configuration being associated with one or more CSI reference signal, CSI-RS, resource sets for measurement; and one or more trigger events or conditions for UE-initiated beam reporting; send, to the UE, a control message that activates the AP trigger state configuration; and based on UE detection of at least one of the trigger events or conditions, receive from the UE a UE-initiated beam report including results of the measurements performed by the UE on the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the CSI report configurations.

43. The RAN node of claim 42, wherein the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are further configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 19-35.

44. Radio access network, RAN, node (110, 120, 220, 1010, 1200, 1302) configured to facilitate beam measurement and reporting by user equipment, UEs (105, 210, 1012, 1100), the RAN node being further configured to: send, to a UE, a configuration of an aperiodic, AP, trigger state for UE-initiated beam reporting, wherein the AP trigger state configuration includes or indicates the following:two or more channel state information, CSI, report configurations, with each CSI report configuration being associated with one or more CSI reference signal, CSI-RS, resource sets for measurement; and one or more trigger events or conditions for UE-initiated beam reporting; send, to the UE, a control message that activates the AP trigger state configuration; and based on UE detection of at least one of the trigger events or conditions, receive from the UE a UE-initiated beam report including results of the measurements performed by the UE on the CSI-RS resource sets associated with the CSI report configurations.

45. The RAN node of claim 44, being further configured to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 19-35.

46. Non-transitory, computer-readable medium (1204, 1304) storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry (1202, 1304) of a radio access network, RAN, node (110, 120, 220, 1010, 1200, 1302) configured to facilitate beam measurement and reporting by user equipment, UEs (105, 210, 1012, 1100), configure the RAN node to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 18-35.

47. Computer program product (1204a, 1304a) comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry (1202, 1304) of a radio access network, RAN, node (110, 120, 220, 1010, 1200, 1302) configured to facilitate beam measurement and reporting by user equipment, UEs (105, 210, 1012, 1100), configure the RAN node to perform operations corresponding to any of the methods of claims 18-35.

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