Apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for reporting channel measurements

Abstract

An apparatus (10, 100), comprising: means (11, 15) for receiving, from a second apparatus (120), first information (502) for configuring at least one resource (503) for at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one resource is indicated, in the first information, via at least one Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state (504); means (11, 15) for receiving, from the second apparatus (120), second information (506) for configuring reporting (507) of at least one result of at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one result is reported in respective at least one reporting occasion (603); means (11, 15) for performing the at least one interference measurement using the at least one resource indicated, in the first information, via at least one TCI state, wherein the at least one interference measurement is performed in respective at least one interference measurement occasion (602_1 to 602_n), and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement comprises: determining a plurality of interference measurement occasions (602) that occurs prior to the at least one reporting occasion (603), and performing one of the following: measuring an interference measurement result during an interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions (602), measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions (602) and selecting an interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting, or measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions (602) and evaluating an interference measurement result based at least in part on the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting; and means (11, 15) for reporting the interference measurement result, wherein the reporting is based at least in part on the second information (506).

Description

[0001] TITLE

[0002] APPARATUSES, METHODS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAMS FOR REPORTING

[0003] CHANNEL MEASUREMENTS

[0004] TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0005] Examples of the disclosure relate to apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for reporting channel measurements. Some examples relate to apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for Channel State Information, CSI, reporting. Some examples relate to apparatuses, methods, and computer programs for reporting interference measurements.

[0006] BACKGROUND

[0007] Conventional apparatuses and procedures for reporting channel measurements are not always optimal. In some circumstances, it may be desirable to provide improved apparatuses, method and computer programs for reporting channel measurements.

[0008] BRIEF SUMMARY

[0009] The invention is defined in the independent claims.

[0010] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there are provided examples as claimed in the appended claims. Any examples and features described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention.

[0011] According to at least some examples of the disclosure there is provided an apparatus comprising: means for receiving, from a second apparatus, first information for configuring at least one resource for at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one resource is indicated, in the first information, via at least one Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state; means for receiving, from the second apparatus, second information for configuring reporting of at least one result of at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one result is reported in respective at least one reporting occasion; means for performing the at least one interference measurement using the at least one resource indicated, in the first information, via at least one TCI state, wherein the at least one interference measurement is performed in respective at least one interference measurement occasion, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement comprises: determining a plurality of interference measurement occasions that occurs prior to the at least one reporting occasion, and performing one of the following: measuring an interference measurement result during an interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions, measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and selecting an interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting, or measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and evaluating an interference measurement result based at least in part on the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting; and means for reporting the interference measurement result, wherein the reporting is based at least in part on the second information.

[0012] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a method comprising: receiving, at an apparatus from a second apparatus, first information for configuring at least one resource for at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one resource is indicated, in the first information, via at least one Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state; receiving, at the apparatus from the second apparatus, second information for configuring reporting of at least one result of at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one result is reported in respective at least one reporting occasion; performing, at the apparatus, the at least one interference measurement using the at least one resource indicated, in the first information, via at least one TCI state, wherein the at least one interference measurement is performed in respective at least one interference measurement occasion, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement comprises: determining a plurality of interference measurement occasions that occurs prior to the at least one reporting occasion, and performing one of the following: measuring an interference measurement result during an interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions, measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and selecting an interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting, or measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and evaluating an interference measurement result based at least in part on the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting; and reporting, by the apparatus, the interference measurement result, wherein the reporting is based at least in part on the second information.

[0013] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform the above-mentioned method.

[0014] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receive, from a second apparatus, first information for configuring at least one resource for at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one resource is indicated, in the first information, via at least one Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state; receive, from the second apparatus, second information for configuring reporting of at least one result of at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one result is reported in respective at least one reporting occasion; perform the at least one interference measurement using the at least one resource indicated, in the first information, via at least one TCI state, wherein the at least one interference measurement is performed in respective at least one interference measurement occasion, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement comprises: determining a plurality of interference measurement occasions that occurs prior to the at least one reporting occasion, and performing one of the following: measuring an interference measurement result during an interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions, measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and selecting an interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting, or measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and evaluating an interference measurement result based at least in part on the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting; and report the interference measurement result, wherein the reporting is based at least in part on the second information.

[0015] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, causes the apparatus to perform at least the following: receive, from a second apparatus, first information for configuring at least one resource for at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one resource is indicated, in the first information, via at least one Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state; receive, from the second apparatus, second information for configuring reporting of at least one result of at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one result is reported in respective at least one reporting occasion; perform the at least one interference measurement using the at least one resource indicated, in the first information, via at least one TCI state, wherein the at least one interference measurement is performed in respective at least one interference measurement occasion, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement comprises: determining a plurality of interference measurement occasions that occurs prior to the at least one reporting occasion, and performing one of the following: measuring an interference measurement result during an interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions, measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and selecting an interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting, or measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and evaluating an interference measurement result based at least in part on the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting; and report the interference measurement result, wherein the reporting is based at least in part on the second information.

[0016] The following portion of this ‘Brief Summary’ section describes various features that can be features of any of the examples described in the foregoing portion of the ‘Brief Summary’ section mutatis mutandis. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function, or any instructions stored in at least one memory that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to perform that function.

[0017] In some but not necessarily all examples, the interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions is selected from the plurality of interference measurement occasions based at least in part on a time of the at least one reporting occasion.

[0018] In some but not necessarily all examples, the selecting of the interference measurement occasion from the plurality of interference measurement occasions comprises selecting the interference measurement occasion that is temporally closest to the at least one reporting occasion.

[0019] In some but not necessarily all examples, the selecting of the interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results is based at least in part on a value of the interference measurement result.

[0020] In some but not necessarily all examples, the selecting of the interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results comprises selecting the interference measurement result that has the highest value.

[0021] In some but not necessarily all examples, the evaluating of the interference measurement result based on the plurality of interference measurement results comprises evaluating an average of the plurality of interference measurement results.

[0022] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving, from the second apparatus, a request to perform at least one interference measurement, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement is responsive at least in part to the received request.

[0023] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus is configured with a set of TCI states, and wherein the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information is a subset of the set of TCI states.

[0024] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus is configured with a set of resources for the set of TCI states, and wherein the at least one resource for performing the at least one interference measurement is determined based at least in part on one of the set of resources for the set of TCI states.

[0025] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus further comprises means for determining the at least one resource for performing the at least one interference measurement, wherein the determining comprises determining, from the set of resources for the set of TCI states, at least one resource that is associated with at least one of the TCI states indicated in the first information or in the second information.

[0026] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information is associated with at least one reference signal, and wherein the at least one interference measurement is performed on at least one channel, wherein the at least one channel is determined based at least in part on one of the at least one reference signals associated with the at least one TCI state.

[0027] In some but not necessarily all examples, the first information comprises at least one of the following: interference measurement resource configuration; a set of TCI state identifiers, IDs; an indicator for indicating whether the first information comprises a set of TCI state IDs; or a plurality of sets of resources for interference measurements, and wherein each set of resources for interference measurements is assigned an identifier.

[0028] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information comprises at least one of the following: at least one TCI state ID for a downlink TCI state, at least one TCI state ID for an uplink TCI state, or at least one TCI state ID for a joint downlink and uplink TCI state.

[0029] In some but not necessarily all examples, the second information comprises at least one of the following: interference measurement reporting configuration; at least one indication of at least one TCI state; a reference to the first information; at least one identifier for identifying at least one of a plurality of sets of resources for interference measurements indicated in the first information; an indicator for indicating whether the second information comprises a reference to resources for interference measurements, wherein the resources for interference measurements are indicated via TCI states; a plurality of reporting configurations, and wherein each reporting configuration of the plurality of reporting configurations is assigned an identifier; an indication of a type of measurement to be performed; an indication of a number of TCI states to be reported; or an indication of an interference measurement resource for a TCI State ID.

[0030] In some but not necessarily all examples, the second information is received, at least in part, via one or more of the following:

[0031] Radio Resource Control, RRC, signalling, or

[0032] Medium Access Control, MAC, signalling.

[0033] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving, from the second apparatus, an indication to activate the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement is based at least in part on the indication.

[0034] In some but not necessarily all examples, the indication comprises at least one of the following: a Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE; an indication of the at least one resource for at least one interference measurement of the first information; or an indication of the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information.

[0035] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus further comprises means for determining the at least resource for performing the at least one interference measurement thereon, wherein the determining is based at least in part on one or more of the following: the first information; the second information; or one or more activated TCI states.

[0036] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus further comprises means for receiving, from the second apparatus, an indication of at least one of the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement is based at least in part on the indication. In some but not necessarily all examples, the indication is received via Downlink Control Information, DCI.

[0037] In some but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus is configured with a mapping of at least one codepoint to the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information, and wherein the indication comprises the at least one codepoint.

[0038] In some but not necessarily all examples, the at least one result of the at least one interference measurement is reported via one or more of the following:

[0039] Medium Access Control, MAC, signalling;

[0040] Uplink Control Information, UCI; a Physical Uplink Shared Channel, PUSCH; or Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH.

[0041] According to various, but not necessarily all, examples of the disclosure there is provided: an apparatus, a module, circuitry, a chipset comprising processing circuitry, a device and / or a system configured to (or comprising means for) perform(ing) at least a part of one or more methods described herein.

[0042] The description herein of a function and / or action should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function and / or action. Functions and / or actions described herein can be performed in any suitable way using any suitable method.

[0043] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided examples as claimed in the appended claims.

[0044] While the above examples of the disclosure and optional features are described separately, it is to be understood that their provision in all possible combinations and permutations is contained within the disclosure. It is to be understood that various examples of the disclosure can comprise any or all the features described in respect of other examples of the disclosure, and vice versa. Also, it is to be appreciated that any one or more or all the features, in any combination, may be implemented by / comprised in / performable by an apparatus, a method, and / or computer program instructions as desired, and as appropriate. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function. BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0045] Some examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0046] FIG. 1 shows an example of the subject matter described herein;

[0047] FIG. 2 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0048] FIG. 3 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0049] FIG. 4 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0050] FIG. 5 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0051] FIG. 6 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0052] FIG. 7 shows another example of the subject matter described herein;

[0053] FIG. 8 shows another example of the subject matter described herein; and

[0054] FIG. 9 shows another example of the subject matter described herein.

[0055] The figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and views of the figures can be shown schematically or exaggerated in scale in the interest of clarity and conciseness.

[0056] For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures can be exaggerated relative to other elements to aid explication. Similar reference numerals are used in the figures to designate similar features. For clarity, all reference numerals are not necessarily displayed in all figures.

[0057] ABBREVIATIONS / DEFINITIONS

[0058] 3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project

[0059] 5G 5th Generation

[0060] BS Base Station

[0061] BWP Bandwidth Part

[0062] CE Control Element

[0063] CQI Channel Quality Indicator

[0064] CSI Channel State Information

[0065] DL Downlink gNB Next generation NodeB, 5G / NR base station

[0066] MAC Medium Access Control

[0067] NE Network Entity NR New Radio

[0068] NW Network

[0069] PMI Precoding Matrix Indicator

[0070] RAN Radio Access Network

[0071] RRC Radio Resource Control

[0072] Rx Receive / Receiver

[0073] RSRP Reference Signal Received Power

[0074] SINR Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio

[0075] TCI Transmission Configuration Indicator

[0076] TRP Transmission / Reception Point

[0077] Tx Transmit / transmitter

[0078] UE User Equipment

[0079] UL Uplink

[0080] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0081] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an example of a network 100 suitable for use with examples of the present disclosure. The network (which may be referred to as NW) comprises a plurality of network entities (which may be referred to as NEs), including:

[0082] • terminal apparatuses 110 (which may be referred to as terminal nodes or User Equipment, UE),

[0083] • access apparatuses 120 (which may be referred to as access nodes, gNodeBs, gNBs, or Base Stations, BSs),

[0084] • one or more core network apparatuses 130 (which may be referred to as core nodes, core functions, core entities or core network entities).

[0085] The terminal nodes 110 and access nodes 120 communicate with each other. The one or more core network nodes 130 may, in some but not necessarily all examples, communicate with each other. The one or more access nodes 120 may, in some but not necessarily all examples, communicate with each other.

[0086] The network 100, in the example illustrated in FIG. 1 , comprises a radio telecommunications network in which at least some of the terminal nodes 110 and access nodes 120 communicate with each other using transmission / reception of radio waves. In this regard, the network 100 comprises a Radio Access Network, RAN, such as a cellular network comprising a plurality of cells 122 each served by an access node 120. The access nodes 120 comprise cellular radio transceivers. The terminal nodes 110 comprise cellular radio transceivers.

[0087] In the example illustrated and discussed below, the network 100 is a New Radio, NR, network of the Third Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, and its fifth generation, 5G, New Radio, NR, technology. In other examples, the network 100 may be a network beyond 5G, for example a next generation (i.e. sixth generation, 6G) Radio Network that is currently under development (i.e. an evolution of the NR network and its 5G technology).

[0088] The interfaces between the terminal nodes 110 and the access nodes 120 are radio interfaces 124 (e.g., llu interfaces). The interfaces between the access nodes 120 and one or more core nodes 130 are backhaul interfaces 128 (e.g., S1 and / or Next Generation, NG, interfaces).

[0089] Depending on the exact deployment scenario, the access nodes 120 may be RAN nodes such as NG-RAN nodes. NG-RAN nodes may be gNodeBs, gNBs, that provide NG user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE. The gNBs are connected by means of NG interfaces to a 5G Core (5GC), not least for example to an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF, by means of an NG Control Plane, NG-C, interface and to a User Plane Function, UPF, by means of an NG User Plane, NG-U, interface.

[0090] The access nodes 120 may be interconnected with each other by means of Xn interfaces 126.

[0091] The cellular network 100 may be configured to operate in licensed frequency bands, or unlicensed frequency bands (not least such as: unlicensed bands that rely upon a transmitting device to sense the radio resources / medium before commencing transmission, such as via a Listen Before Talk, LBT, procedure; and a 60GHz unlicensed band where beamforming may be required to achieve required coverage).

[0092] The access nodes 120 may be deployed in an NG standalone operation / scenario. The access nodes 120 may be deployed in a NG non-standalone operation / scenario. The access nodes 120 may be deployed in a Carrier Aggregation, CA, operation / scenario. The access nodes 120 may be deployed in a Dual Connectivity, DC, operation / scenario, i.e., Multi Radio Access Technology - Dual Connectivity, MR-DC, or NR-DC. The access nodes 120 may be deployed in a Multi Connectivity, MC, operation / scenario. In such non-standalone / dual connectivity deployments, the access nodes 120 may be interconnected to each other by means of X2 or Xn interfaces, and connected to an Evolved Packet Core, EPC, by means of an S1 interface or to the 5GC by means of a NG interface.

[0093] A terminal node 110, in addition to being capable of communicating (i.e. with other terminal nodes) via access nodes 120 of the network 100, may also be capable of and configured to communicate directly with one or more other terminal nodes. In this regard, the terminal node may be capable of and configured to perform device-to-device, D2D, communication - which may be referred to as Sidelink, SL, communication. Such D2D / SL communication may use a PC5 interface. PC5 refers to a reference point where the terminal node communicates directly with another terminal node over a direct channel (i.e. communication via an access node is not required). D2D communications may be short- range, network-less, direct communications. SL in New Radio (NR) is defined in 3GPP’s release 16 of 5G NR.

[0094] In the example of FIG. 1 the core node 130 is shown as a single entity. In some examples the core node 130 could be distributed across a plurality of entities. For example, the core node 130 could be cloud based or distributed in any other suitable manner. The core node / core entities may provide one or more functions, not least such as: User Plane Function UPF, Session Management Function SMF, Policy Control Function PCF, and Application Function AF.

[0095] The access nodes 120 are network elements in the network responsible for radio transmission and reception in one or more cells 122 to or from the terminal nodes 110. The access nodes 120 are the network termination of a radio link. Each access node may be a Transmission / Reception Point, TRP, or may host one or more TRPs.

[0096] An access node 120 may be implemented as a single network equipment, or have a split architecture that is disaggregated / distributed over two or more access nodes, such as a Central Unit, CU, a Distributed Unit, DU, a Remote Radio Head-end, RRH, using different functional-split architectures and different interfaces.

[0097] The terminal nodes 110 are network elements in the network that terminate the user side of the radio link. They are devices allowing access to network services. Terminal node 110 functionalities may be performed also by Mobile Termination, MT, part of an Integrated Access and Backhaul, IAB, node. The terminal nodes 110 may be referred to as User Equipment, UE, mobile equipment, mobile terminals, or mobile stations.

[0098] The term ‘User Equipment’ may be used to designate mobile equipment comprising means, such as a smart card, for authentication / encryption etc. such as a Subscriber Identity Module, SIM. A SIM / SIM card can be a memory chip, a module, or a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM). In some examples, the term ‘User Equipment’ can be used to designate a location / position tag, a hyper / smart, a hyper / smart sensor, or a mobile equipment comprising circuitry embedded as part of the user equipment for authentication / encryption such as a software SIM.

[0099] In the following description, a terminal node may be referred to simply as UE 110.

[0100] In the following description, an access apparatus / access node to a RAN (e.g. a cellular network not least such as a 5G or 6G next generation RAN) may be referred to interchangeably as BS 120 or gNB 120.

[0101] There now follows a brief discussion of a framework for reporting channel measurements, in particular CSI reporting.

[0102] 3GPP has defined Layer 1, L1 , reporting in Release 15 (and onwards ) as well as for Release 18 Low-Layer Triggered Mobility, LTM, as part of a CSI reporting framework (as defined in Technical Specification, TS, 38.214, V18.1.0, see not least 5.2).

[0103] TS, 38.214, V18.1.0, 5.2.1.1 defines reporting settings for configuring a UE’s reporting of CSI measurements. Each reporting setting (e.g. CSI-ReportConfig) is associated with / refers to resource settings. TS, 38.214, V18.1.0, 5.2.1.2 defines resource settings (e.g. CSI-ResourceConfig) for configuring CSI resources for the UE to use to perform CSI measurements.

[0104] Each CSI Resource Setting CSI-ResourceConfig contains a configuration of a list of S>1 CSI Resource Sets (given by higher layer parameter csi-RS-ResourceSetList), where the list is comprised of references to either or both of NZP CSI-RS resource set(s) and SS / PBCH block set(s) or the list is comprised of references to CSI-IM resource set(s). The information element, IE, CS!-ResourceConfig^\nQS a group of one or more: NZP- CSI-RS-ResourceSe t, CSI-IM-ResourceSe t a n d / o r CS / SSB-ResourceSe t.

[0105] The CSI reporting framework in L1 is separated from the unified TCI state framework. The CSI framework is used for reporting measurements on downlink reference signals. The TCI state framework is used for indicating quasi-colocation, QCL, references for downlink signals and channels, as well as uplink signals and channels. The IE TCI-State associates one or two DL reference signals with a corresponding QCL type.

[0106] As will be set out and described in further detail below, certain examples of the present disclosure seek to provide an enhanced framework for reporting channel measurements (e.g. an enhanced CSI reporting framework) wherein:

[0107] - a resource configuration (e.g. CSI resource configuration) for channel measurement (e.g. CSI measurement) is provided to a UE by a configuration of TCI state identifiers, IDs, by reference to an existing or other configured list of TCI states (whereupon the UE can determine resource(s) to be used for channel measurement based on a TCI state ID. The TCI state ID itself refers to a TCI state configuration which, in turn, provides a measurement Reference Signal, RS, that the UE uses for channel measurement)

[0108] - a reporting configuration, which is associated with the resource configuration, is provided to the UE for configuring the reporting of the measurement of the reference signal associated with the TCI State

[0109] - a reporting format may include a TCI state resource indicator and the reported measurement quantity may be based on the CSI resource configuration of TCI state IDs.

[0110] Advantageously, such a CSI reporting framework may leverage the TCI state framework, as well as existing configurations (e.g. of configured TCI states), for performing channel measurements and reporting (such as CSI measurements and reporting).

[0111] Also, advantageously, such a TCI-based CSI reporting framework may allow a dynamic CSI reporting switch from a single-TRP to multi-TRP, single panel to multi-panel. This can be done since a TCI state codeword (which may be used to activate certain TCI states for measurement and reporting) may have TCI state for single-TRP or multiple TCI states for multi-TRP. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates an example of a procedure 200 and a signalling framework, between a first apparatus (in this example UE 110) and a second apparatus (in this example a BS 120), for supporting the procedure.

[0112] The signalling diagram of FIG. 2 (and also of FIG. 5 below) can be considered to illustrate a plurality of methods, in the sense that each signalling diagram can be considered to illustrate one or more actions, processes or procedures performed by / at a plurality of actors / entities, e.g. UE 110 and BS 120 (and, in some implementations employing the use of sidelink communications and transmissions, a UE and a further UE). The signalling diagrams can therefore be considered to illustrate a plurality of individual methods performed by each respective individual actor / entity of the plurality of the actors / entities.

[0113] In block 201, the UE 110 receives, from the BS 120, first information 202 for configuring resource(s) 203 for channel measurement(s). The resources are indicated, in the first information, via one or more Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, states 204.

[0114] In this regard, the UE may receive a CSI resource configuration comprising TCI state IDs configured in a list of TCI States (by RRC, or RRC + MAC CE).

[0115] The first information (which may be referred to herein “resource configuration (TCI for CSI)” or simply “TCI for CSI”), may comprise at least one of the following: a resource setting such as a CSI resource configuration; a set or list of TCI state identifiers, IDs; an indicator for indicating whether the first information comprises a set of TCI state IDs; or a plurality of sets of resources for channel measurements, and wherein each set of resources for channel measurements is assigned its own identifier (e.g. a CSI resource configuration ID).

[0116] The UE may be configured (e.g. via Radio Resource Control, RRC) with a set of TCI states, and the TCI state(s) 204 indicated in the first information may be a subset of the set of configured TCI states.

[0117] The UE may be configured with a set of resources for the set of TCI states (i.e. TCI state resources), and the channel measurement resource(s) 203 may be determined based at least in part on one of the configured set of resources for the set of TCI states. The TCI states indicated in the first information may comprise at least one of the following: one or more TCI state IDs for downlink TCI states, one or more TCI state IDs for uplink TCI states, or one or more TCI state IDs for joint downlink and uplink TCI states.

[0118] In block 205, the UE receives, from the BS, second information 206 for configuring reporting of channel measurement result(s). The second information (which in some examples may be a reporting setting such as a CSI reporting configuration) may comprise a reporting configuration 207.

[0119] In this regard, the UE may receive a CSI reporting configuration 207 (by RRC, or MAC CE) referencing a CSI resource configuration with TCI state IDs.

[0120] The second information may comprise at least one of the following: a reporting setting such as a CSI reporting configuration; at least one indication of at least one TCI state; a reference to the first information; at least one identifier (e.g. a CSI resource configuration ID) for identifying at least one of a plurality of sets of resources for channel measurements indicated in the first information; an indicator for indicating whether the second information comprises a reference to resources for channel measurements, wherein the resources for channel measurements are indicated via TCI states; a plurality of reporting configurations, and wherein reporting configuration is assigned an identifier (e.g. a CSI reporting configuration ID); an indication of a type of measurement to be performed (e.g. an indication of quantity to be measured: Reference Signal Received Power, RSRP; Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio, SINR; Channel Quality Indicator, CQI; Precoding Matrix Indicator, PMI etc); an indication of a number of TCI states to be reported; or an indication of a channel measurement resource for a TCI State ID (e.g.: a QCL reference RS 1 , a QCL reference RS 2, a configured measurement RS in the indicated TCI state, a QCL source RS of the RS 1 or RS 2). The second information may be received by the UE, at least in part, via RRC signalling and / or Medium Access Control, MAC, signalling.

[0121] The UE may receive, from the BS, an indication (which may be received via Medium Access Control, MAC signalling) to activate at least one of the one or more TCI states indicated in the first information. Responsive to which, the UE may (in block 208) perform channel measurement(s) using one of the resources, indicated via TCI states in the first information, that is associated with the activated TCI state. The indication may comprise at least one of the following: a Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE; an indication (e.g. a CSI resource configuration ID) of the one or more resources for one or more channel measurements of the first information; or an indication (e.g. a bit map of TCI State IDs) of at least one of the one or more TCI states indicated in the first information.

[0122] The UE may receive, from the BS, an indication (which may be received via Downlink Control Information, DCI) of a particular TCI state of the TCI states indicated in the first information. Responsive to which, the UE may (in block 208) perform channel measurement(s) using one of the resources, indicated via TCI states in the first information, that is associated with the indicated particular TCI state. The indication may comprise a codepoint, wherein the UE has been previously configured with a mapping of codepoints to various of the TCI states indicated in the first information.

[0123] In block 208, the UE performs channel measurement(s) using the resource(s) indicated, in the first information, via TCI state(s).

[0124] In this regard, the UE may, responsive to receipt of the second information in block 205, perform CSI measurements using CSI resources indicated, via TCI states, in the CSI resource configuration received in the first information in block 201. In this regard, the UE may perform CSI measurements on a configured resource that is included or associated with a TCI State that corresponds to one of the TCI state IDs listed in the CSI resource configuration.

[0125] The UE may determine one or more particular channel measurement resource(s) it is to use to perform channel measurement(s) thereon, wherein the determination is based at least in part on one or more of the following: the first information; the second information; or one or more activated TCI states.

[0126] The UE may determine one or more particular channel measurement resource(s) it is to use in performing channel measurement(s) based at least in part by determining / selecting, from a set of resources for a set of TCI states that the UE has been configured with, at least one resource that is associated with / corresponds to at least one TCI state indicated in either the first information or in the second information.

[0127] Each of the TCI states 204 indicated in the first information may be associated with a reference signal. The channel measurement(s) may be performed on at least one channel, wherein the at least one channel is determined based at least in part on the reference signal associated with a particular TCI state.

[0128] In block 209, the UE reports the result(s) of the channel measurement(s), wherein the reporting is based at least in part on the second information. In this regard, in some examples, the UE may report CSI measurements in accordance with a CSI reporting configuration received in block 205. In this regard, the UE may report measurement result(s) associated with at least one of the TCI state IDs listed in the CSI resource configuration.

[0129] The channel measurement result(s) may be reported via one or more of the following:

[0130] MAC signalling;

[0131] Uplink Control Information, UCI; a Physical Uplink Shared Channel, PUSCH; or a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH.

[0132] FIG. 3 schematically shows an example of a first option for CSI resource configurations / “TCI for CSI” 203.

[0133] In the example of the first option of FIG. 3, a UE is configured with a TCI state list 301 (e.g. via RRC and which comprises a set of N TCI state IDs of N TCI states) for CSI resource configuration. The CSI resources for a particular CSI resource configuration are indicated via references to a subset of the TCI states of the TCI State list 301 . A CSI resource configuration in which CSI resources are indicated via TCI states may be referred to herein as “TCI for CSI”. The TCI for CSI may be a dedicated list of TCI states of TCI states IDs listed in downlink (or joint) TCI states and / or uplink TCI states. Each list can be referred to with its own resource configuration identifier i.e. CSI resource config ID.

[0134] In the example of FIG. 3, a first CSI resource configuration 203_1 (having resource configuration identifier 302_1 , namely CSI resource config ID 1) has M entries that indicate a first set of CSI resources via reference to a first subset 204_1 of M of the N TCI states of the TCI State list 301. A KthCSI resource configuration 203_K (having resource configuration identifier 302_K, namely CSI resource config ID K) has L entries that indicate a Kthset of CSI resources via reference to a Kthsubset 204_K of L of the N TCI states of the TCI State list 301 .

[0135] FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of a second option for CSI resource configurations / “TCI for CSI” 203.

[0136] In the example of the second option of FIG. 4, the CSI resource configuration 203_1 comprises or consists of a set of TCI states 204_1 that are activated by MAC CE 401 for CSI measurement(s).

[0137] One or more, or all, of the TCI states of the set of TCI states 204_1 of a CSI resource configuration 203_1 can be selectively activated 402 by MAC CE 401 for CSI measurement for the particular CSI resource configuration. The TCI state IDs (of the set of TCI state IDs 204_1 of the CSI resource configuration 203_1) that are activated by the MAC CE are considered by the UE as active for measurements (and reporting).

[0138] In one example, the MAC CE format comprises a field referring to a particular CSI resource config ID (with resource list type TCI). This provides an indication of a selection of a particular CSI resource configuration.

[0139] In one example, the MAC CE format comprises a field indicating a bit map of TCI state IDs active for the measurements. This provides an indication of a selection of a subset of one or more TCI state IDs of a set of TCI state IDs a particular CSI resource configuration. In a third option (not shown in the figures) for CSI resource configurations / “TCI for CSI”, the CSI resource configuration / TCI for CSI comprises or consists of one or more TCI States that are indicated by DCI.

[0140] The one or more TCI state IDs of a CSI resource configuration that are indicated by DCI are considered by the UE as active for measurements (and reporting).

[0141] In some examples, DCI can indicate a set of TCI state IDs by codepoint which maps to a particular CSI resource configuration.

[0142] For example, a codepoint value e.g. 00 or 01 etc., can map to specific resource configuration ID. For instance:

[0143] 00 -> CSI resource config 1

[0144] 01 -> CSI resource config 2

[0145] 10 -> CSI resource config K

[0146] 11 -> null (no resource config)

[0147] In some examples, DCI can indicate a set of TCI state IDs by codepoint which maps to a particular CSI resource configuration, wherein TCI state IDs from the indication particular CSI resource configuration can then be activated for CSI reporting by a MAC CE.

[0148] The mapping of codepoint may be configured using RRC signaling. The mapping between codepoint and CSI resource configuration can be configured separately, i.e. the mapping part of a reporting configuration, or a CSI resource configuration.

[0149] In some examples, any combination of above options can be used.

[0150] In some examples, the CSI resource config (or similar parameter in 6G and beyond) may comprise an indication whether the resource set list lists TCI state IDs.

[0151] RRC configuration of TCI for CSI reporting

[0152] In some examples, the CSI reporting config uration(s) can be configured by RRC.

[0153] Each CSI reporting configuration may comprise at least one of the following fields: - a reference to the resource set list that lists TCI state IDs associated with the respective reporting configuration (e.g. reference to the CSI reporting configuration associated with the CSI reporting configuration)

[0154] - a reporting quantity (e.g. RSRP, SINR, CQI, PMI, etc.)

[0155] - a number of TCI states to be reported an indication of channel measurement resource (e.g. a particular measurement reference signal [this may be done since a TCI state information element may comprise other reference signals]) in the TCI State ID, e.g. at least one of: o a QCL reference RS 1 o a QCL reference RS 2 o a Configured (channel) measurement RS in the TCI state o a Configured (channel) n-port measurement RS in the TCI state (e.g. 2- port or 4-port) o a QCL source RS of the RS1 or RS2 o or alternatively a measurement resource indication may be included in the CSI resource configuration itself.

[0156] In some examples, a CSI reporting configuration associated with a TCI state ID may also include an indication of one or more interference measurement resources (e.g. specific measurement resources that are to be used for interference measurement, such as measuring an interference component for e.g. a SINR measurement). Such resources may share the same or a different physical cell IDs

[0157] MAC CE configuration of TCI for CSI

[0158] In some examples, the CSI reporting configuration may be configured by a MAC CE (NW to UE).

[0159] In some examples, the MAC CE may include a reporting configuration ID.

[0160] In some examples, the MAC CE may include a reporting configuration ID or a MAC CE identifier (Logical Channel Identifier, LCID) that indicates that the MAC CE configures the reporting of TCI states and that the TCI State IDs refer to a list of TCI State IDs configured by RRC for CSI reporting of:

[0161] - a list of TCI states that are activated for the reporting, and associated with the specific reporting configuration ID in the same MAC CE, an indication of measurement quantity e.g. RSRP.

[0162] In some examples, the configuration may be a combination of RRC and MAC in such a manner that one or more parameters may be provided by the RRC and rest by the MAC CE.

[0163] In some examples, the UE may be configured to report using a MAC CE wherein:

[0164] - the MAC CE report format includes a reporting configuration identifier

[0165] - the measurement resources are determined based on the RRC / MAC CE configuration

[0166] - the listed identifiers are the TCI State IDs associated with CSI reporting.

[0167] In some examples, the CSI reporting configuration may comprise a configuration wherein the reporting configuration is implicit based on the activated TCI states (for beam indication). The reporting configuration may determine the reported resources based on the activated TCI state IDs.

[0168] In some examples, the CSI reporting is performed using MAC CE.

[0169] In some examples, the CSI reporting is performed using UCI (e.g. on PLISCH or PLICCH)

[0170] In some examples, the resource indicator is derived based on the TCI state IDs listed in the CSI measurement configuration.

[0171] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an example of a procedure 500 and a signalling framework, between a first apparatus (in this example UE 110) and a second apparatus (in this example a BS 120), for supporting the procedure.

[0172] Certain aspects, features and functionality of the procedure 500 are similar to certain aspects, features and functionality of the procedure 200 of FIG.2 as well as various of the other features and functionality described above. Hence, certain aspects, features and functionality of the procedure 200, as well as various of the other features and functionality described above, may be relevant mutatis mutandis to the procedure 500 and shall not be repeated / reiterated in detail. In block 501 , the UE 110 receives, from the BS 120, first information 502 for configuring resource(s) 503 for interference measurement(s). The resources are indicated, in the first information, via one or more Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, states 504.

[0173] In this regard, the UE may receive an interference resource configuration comprising TCI state IDs configured in a list of TCI States (by RRC, or RRC + MAC CE).

[0174] In block 505, the UE receives, from the BS, second information 506 for configuring reporting of interference measurement result(s). The second information may comprise of a reporting setting such as an interference reporting configuration 507. The interference reporting configuration configures the reporting of at least one interference measurement result such that at least one measurement result is reported in a reporting occasion (e.g. reporting occasion 603 as illustrated and discussed further below in FIG. 6).

[0175] The UE may receive, from the BS, a request to perform an interference measurement (not shown in FIG. 7). The UE may perform the interference measurement responsive, at least in part, to the received request.

[0176] In block 508, the UE performs one or more interference measurements using the resource(s) indicated, in the first information, via TCI state(s). The one or more interference measurements are performed in respective one or more interference measurement occasions (e.g. interference measurement occasions 601 as illustrated and discussed further below in FIG. 6) to measure / evaluate one or more interference measurement results. Details of block 508’s performance of interference measurements are illustrated and discussed further below with respect to FIG. 7.

[0177] In block 509, the UE reports the interference measurement result that is measured / evaluated / selected in block 508. The reporting is conditional at least in part on the second information.

[0178] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a time / frequency diagram showing a set / plurality of interference measurement occasions 601_1 - 602_n (in which interference measurements are performed to measure / evaluate interference measurement results) and a reporting occasion 603 (in which an interference measurement result is reported). FIG. 6 also shows a DCI 601. As indicated in the figure, each of the set / plurality of interference measurement occasions 602 are prior to the reporting occasion 603.

[0179] FIG. 7 schematically illustrates further detail of block 508’s performance of interference measurements, and in particular the selection / evaluation of an interference measurement result that is to be reported (in block 509) in a reporting occasion.

[0180] As will be set out below, in effect, the interference measurement result that is reported in block 509 may be determined via one of 3 options.

[0181] In block 701 , a determination is made where is a set 602 of a plurality of interference measurement occasions that occurs prior a reporting occasion 603.

[0182] Responsive to determining that there is such a set 602 interference measurement occasions that occurs prior a reporting occasion 603, one of the following 3 options may be performed.

[0183] Option a)

[0184] In block 702_a_1, the UE selects one of the interference measurement occasions from the set of interference measurement occasions.

[0185] The selection of the interference measurement occasion may be based at least in part on a time of the at least one reporting occasion. For instance, the interference measurement occasion selected may be one that is the closest in time to the reporting occasion. For instance, with regards to FIG. 6, the interference measurement occasion 602_n, which is closest in the time domain to the reporting occasion 603, may be selected.

[0186] In block 702_a_2, the UE measures an interference measurement result during the selected interference measurement occasion.

[0187] The interference measurement result measured during the selected interference measurement occasion is then reported (in block 509 of FIG. 5) in the reporting occasion 603. In block 702_b_1 , the UE performs an interference measurement in each of the plural interference measurement occasions so as to measure a plurality of interference measurement results (for each respective interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions).

[0188] In block 702_b_2, the UE selects, for reporting, an interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results.

[0189] The selection of the interference measurement result may be based at least in part on a value of the interference measurement result. For instance, the interference measurement result selected may be one that has the highest value from amongst the plurality of measurement results.

[0190] The selected interference measurement result is then reported (in block 509 of FIG. 5) in the reporting occasion 603.

[0191] In block 702_c_1 (similar to block 702_b_1), the UE performs an interference measurement in each of the plural interference measurement occasions so as to measure a plurality of interference measurement results (for each respective interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions).

[0192] In block 702_c_2, the UE evaluates, for reporting, an interference measurement result based on the plurality of interference measurement results.

[0193] The evaluation of the interference measurement result may comprise evaluating an average of the plurality of interference measurement results and using the average as the interference measurement result to be reported.

[0194] The evaluated interference measurement result is then reported (in block 509 of FIG. 5) in the reporting occasion 603.

[0195] One example implementation may be as follows. A UE determines that it has been configured with interference measurement and reporting, and the TCI state IDs for CSI reporting includes an IM (interference measurement) resource.

[0196] The UE is configured to report a quantity including interference component (e.g. CQI / SINR).

[0197] The UE determines, upon request from its serving cell, to measure interference on the resource provided in the TCI state of an indicated TCI state ID.

[0198] If the UE determines that there are plurality of interference measurement occasions (e.g. within a window / pre-determined time period) prior to the reporting occasions, the UE either: a) selects one interference measurement occasion (e.g. which is closest, in time, to the reporting occasions) and measures interference on the selected interference measurement occasion, b) measures interference on all interference measurement occasions (or a subset of interference measurement occasions) and selects the highest measured interference of the interference measurement occasions that it measured c) measures interference on all interference measurement occasions (or a subset of interference measurement occasions) and averages the interference over the all (or subset of) interference measurement occasions.

[0199] The UE computes CQI based on the interference measurement (and the RSRP measurement).

[0200] The above described component blocks (e.g. of the signalling diagrams) are functional and the functions, along with the further functions / functionalities described above, can be performed by a single physical entity (such as an apparatus as is described with reference to FIG. 8 - embodied in a UE or BS). The functions described can also be implemented instructions, e.g. by a computer program (such as is described with reference to FIG. 9 - for execution by a processor of a UE or a BS).

[0201] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus 10 for performing the methods, processes, procedures and signaling described in the present disclosure and illustrated in FIGs. 2 to 7. In this regard the apparatus can perform the roles of an entity (such as: UE or BS) in the illustrated and described methods.

[0202] The component blocks of FIG. 8 are functional and the functions described can be performed by a single physical entity, not least such as a UE or BS.

[0203] The apparatus comprises a controller 11, which could be provided within a device / entity, not least such as a UE or BS.

[0204] The controller 11 can be embodied by a computing device, not least such as those mentioned above. In some, but not necessarily all examples, the apparatus can be embodied as a chip, chip set, circuitry or module, i.e. for use in any of the foregoing. As used here ‘module’ refers to a unit or apparatus that excludes certain parts / components that would be added by an end manufacturer or a user.

[0205] Implementation of the controller 11 can be as controller circuitry. The controller 11 can be implemented in hardware alone, have certain aspects in software including firmware alone or can be a combination of hardware and software (including firmware).

[0206] The controller 11 can be implemented using instructions that enable hardware functionality, for example, by using executable instructions of a computer program 14 in a general-purpose or special-purpose processor 12 that can be stored on a computer readable storage medium 13, for example memory, or disk etc, to be executed by such a processor 12.

[0207] The processor 12 is configured to read from and write to the memory 13. The processor 12 can also comprise an output interface via which data and / or commands are output by the processor 12 and an input interface via which data and / or commands are input to the processor 12. The apparatus can be coupled to or comprise one or more other components 15 (not least for example: a radio transceiver, sensors, input / output user interface elements and / or other modules / devices / components for inputting and outputting data / commands).

[0208] The memory 13 stores instructions such as a computer program 14 comprising such instructions (e.g. computer program instructions / code) that controls the operation of the apparatus 10 when loaded into the processor 12. The instructions of the computer program 14, provide the logic and routines that enables the apparatus to perform the methods, processes and procedures described in the present disclosure and illustrated in FIGs. 2 to 7. The processor 12 by reading the memory 13 is able to load and execute the computer program 14.

[0209] The instructions may be comprised in a computer program, a non-transitory computer readable medium, a computer program product, a machine readable medium. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e. tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g. RAM vs. ROM). In some but not necessarily all examples, the computer program instructions may be distributed over more than one computer program.

[0210] Although the memory 13 is illustrated as a single component / circuitry it can be implemented as one or more separate components / circuitry some or all of which can be integrated / removable and / or can provide permanent / semi-permanent / dynamic / cached storage.

[0211] Although the processor 12 is illustrated as a single component / circuitry it can be implemented as one or more separate components / circuitry some or all of which can be integrated / removable. The processor 12 can be a single core or multi-core processor.

[0212] The apparatus can include one or more components for effecting the methods, processes and procedures described in the present disclosure and illustrated in FIGs. 2 to 7. It is contemplated that the functions of these components can be combined in one or more components or performed by other components of equivalent functionality. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function.

[0213] Where a structural feature has been described, it can be replaced by means for performing one or more of the functions of the structural feature whether that function or those functions are explicitly or implicitly described.

[0214] Although examples of the apparatus have been described above in terms of comprising various components, it should be understood that the components can be embodied as or otherwise controlled by a corresponding controller or circuitry such as one or more processing elements or processors of the apparatus. In this regard, each of the components described above can be one or more of any device, means or circuitry embodied in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software that is configured to perform the corresponding functions of the respective components as described above.

[0215] The apparatus can, for example, be: a user equipment, base station or network node of a mobile cellular telecommunication system. The apparatus can be embodied by a computing device, not least such as those mentioned above. However, in some examples, the apparatus can be embodied as a chip, chip set, circuitry or module, i.e. for use in any of the foregoing.

[0216] In one example, the apparatus is embodied on a client device, a UE, a mobile cellular telephone, a hand held portable electronic device, a mobile communication device, a wearable computing device or a personal digital assistant, that can additionally provide one or more audio / text / video communication functions (for example tele-communication, video-communication, and / or text transmission (Short Message Service (SMS) / Multimedia Message Service (MMS) / emailing) functions), interactive / non-interactive viewing functions (for example web-browsing, navigation, TV / program viewing functions), music recording / playing functions (for example Moving Picture Experts Group-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3) or other format and / or (frequency modulation / amplitude modulation) radio broadcast recording / playing), downloading / sending of data functions, image capture function (for example using a (for example in-built) digital camera), and gaming functions, or any combination thereof.

[0217] In some examples (such as wherein the apparatus is provided within a UE 110), the apparatus 10 comprises: at least one processor 12; and at least one memory 13 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 12, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, first information for configuring at least one resource for at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one resource is indicated, in the first information, via at least one Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state; receive, from the second apparatus, second information for configuring reporting of at least one result of at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one result is reported in respective at least one reporting occasion; perform the at least one interference measurement using the at least one resource indicated, in the first information, via at least one TCI state, wherein the at least one interference measurement is performed in respective at least one interference measurement occasion, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement comprises: determining a plurality of interference measurement occasions that occurs prior to the at least one reporting occasion, and performing one of the following: measuring an interference measurement result during an interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions, measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and selecting an interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting, or measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and evaluating an interference measurement result based at least in part on the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting; and report the interference measurement result, wherein the reporting is based at least in part on the second information.

[0218] The above described examples find application as enabling components of: telecommunication systems; tracking systems, automotive systems; electronic systems including consumer electronic products; distributed computing systems; media systems for generating or rendering media content including audio, visual and audio visual content and mixed, mediated, virtual and / or augmented reality; personal systems including personal health systems or personal fitness systems; navigation systems; user interfaces also known as human machine interfaces; networks including cellular, non-cellular, and optical networks; ad-hoc networks; the internet; the internet of things (IOT); Vehicle-to- everything (V2X), virtualized networks; and related software and services.

[0219] The apparatus can be provided in an electronic device, for example, a mobile terminal, according to an example of the present disclosure. It should be understood, however, that a mobile terminal is merely illustrative of an electronic device that would benefit from examples of implementations of the present disclosure and, therefore, should not be taken to limit the scope of the present disclosure to the same. While in certain implementation examples, the apparatus can be provided in a mobile terminal, other types of electronic devices, such as, but not limited to: mobile communication devices, hand portable electronic devices, wearable computing devices, portable digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, mobile computers, desktop computers, televisions, gaming devices, laptop computers, cameras, video recorders, GPS devices and other types of electronic systems, can readily employ examples of the present disclosure. Furthermore, devices can readily employ examples of the present disclosure regardless of their intent to provide mobility.

[0220] FIG. 9, illustrates a computer program 14 which may be conveyed via a delivery mechanism 20. The delivery mechanism 20 can be any suitable delivery mechanism, for example, a machine readable medium, a computer-readable medium, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, a memory device, a solid-state memory, a record medium such as a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD- ROM) or a Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) or an article of manufacture that comprises or tangibly embodies the computer program 14. The delivery mechanism can be a signal configured to reliably transfer the computer program. An apparatus can receive, propagate or transmit the computer program as a computer data signal.

[0221] In certain examples of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus (e.g. UE 110), cause the apparatus to perform at least the following or for causing performing at least the following: receive, from a second apparatus, first information for configuring at least one resource for at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one resource is indicated, in the first information, via at least one Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state; receive, from the second apparatus, second information for configuring reporting of at least one result of at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one result is reported in respective at least one reporting occasion; perform the at least one interference measurement using the at least one resource indicated, in the first information, via at least one TCI state, wherein the at least one interference measurement is performed in respective at least one interference measurement occasion, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement comprises: determining a plurality of interference measurement occasions that occurs prior to the at least one reporting occasion, and performing one of the following: measuring an interference measurement result during an interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions, measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and selecting an interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting, or measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and evaluating an interference measurement result based at least in part on the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting; and report the interference measurement result, wherein the reporting is based at least in part on the second information.

[0222] References to ‘computer program’, ‘computer-readable storage medium’, ‘computer program product’, ‘tangibly embodied computer program’ etc. or a ‘controller’, ‘computer’, ‘processor’ etc. should be understood to encompass not only computers having different architectures such as single / multi- processor architectures and sequential (Von Neumann) / parallel architectures but also specialized circuits such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application specific circuits (ASIC), signal processing devices and other devices. References to computer program, instructions, code etc. should be understood to encompass software for a programmable processor or firmware such as, for example, the programmable content of a hardware device whether instructions for a processor, or configuration settings for a fixed-function device, gate array or programmable logic device etc.

[0223] As used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ can refer to one or more or all of the following:

[0224] (a) hardware-only circuitry implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and

[0225] (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and

[0226] (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions and

[0227] (c) hardware circuit(s) and / or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (for example firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0228] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to a particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0229] Although various examples of the present disclosure have been described in the preceding paragraphs, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set out in the claims.

[0230] The blocks illustrated in FIGs. 2 to 7 can represent actions in a method, functionality performed by an apparatus, and / or sections of instructions / code in a computer program. The illustration of a particular order to the blocks does not necessarily imply that there is a required or preferred order for the blocks and the order and arrangement of the blocks may be varied. Furthermore, it may be possible for some blocks to be omitted.

[0231] It will be understood that each block and combinations of blocks illustrated in FIGs. 2 to 7 as well as the further functionality described above, can be implemented by various means, such as hardware, firmware, and / or software including one or more computer program instructions. For example, one or more of the functions described above can be performed by a duly configured apparatus (such as an apparatus [as shown in FIG. 8] comprising means for performing the above described functionality). One or more of the functions / functionality described above can be embodied by a duly configured computer program (such as a computer program [as shown in FIG. 9] comprising computer program instructions which embody the functions / functionality described above and which can be stored by a memory storage device and performed by a processor).

[0232] As will be appreciated, any such computer program instructions can be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus (i.e. hardware) to produce a machine, such that the instructions when performed on the programmable apparatus create means for implementing the functions / functionality specified in the blocks. These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the blocks. The computer program instructions can also be loaded onto a programmable apparatus to cause a series of operational actions to be performed on the programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which are performed on the programmable apparatus provide actions for implementing the functions / functionality specified in the blocks.

[0233] Various, but not necessarily all, examples of the present disclosure can take the form of a method, an apparatus, or a computer program. Accordingly, various, but not necessarily all, examples can be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software.

[0234] Various, but not necessarily all, examples of the present disclosure are described using flowchart illustrations and schematic block diagrams. It will be understood that each block (of the flowchart illustrations and block diagrams), and combinations of blocks, can be implemented by computer program instructions of a computer program. These program instructions can be provided to one or more processor(s), processing circuitry or controller(s) such that the instructions which execute on the same create means for causing implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks, i.e. such that the method can be computer implemented. The computer program instructions can be executed by the processor(s) to cause a series of operational block / steps / actions to be performed by the processor(s) to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the processor(s) provide block / steps for implementing the functions specified in the block or blocks. Accordingly, the blocks support: combinations of means for performing the specified functions; combinations of actions for performing the specified functions; and computer program instructions / algorithm for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block, and combinations of blocks, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems which perform the specified functions or actions, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer program instructions.

[0235] Various, but not necessarily all, examples of the present disclosure provide both a method and corresponding apparatus comprising various modules, means or circuitry that provide the functionality for performing / applying the actions of the method. The modules, means or circuitry can be implemented as hardware, or can be implemented as software or firmware to be performed by a computer processor. In the case of firmware or software, examples of the present disclosure can be provided as a computer program product including a computer readable storage structure embodying computer program instructions (i.e. the software or firmware) thereon for performing by the computer processor.

[0236] Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

[0237] Features described in the preceding description can be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described.

[0238] Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions can be performable by other features whether described or not.

[0239] Although features have been described with reference to certain examples, those features can also be present in other examples whether described or not. Accordingly, features described in relation to one example / aspect of the disclosure can include any or all of the features described in relation to another example / aspect of the disclosure, and vice versa, to the extent that they are not mutually inconsistent.

[0240] The term ‘comprise’ is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X can comprise only one Y or can comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use ‘comprise’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to “comprising only one ...” or by using “consisting”.

[0241] In this description, the wording ‘connect’ and ‘communication’ and their derivatives mean operationally connected / in communication. It should be appreciated that any number or combination of intervening components can exist (including no intervening components), i.e. so as to provide direct or indirect connection / coupling / communication. Any such intervening components can include hardware and / or software components.

[0242] As used herein, the term "determine / determining" (and grammatical variants thereof) can include, not least: evaluating, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, measuring, investigating, identifying, looking up (for example, looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, "determining" can include receiving (for example, receiving information), retrieving / accessing (for example, retrieving / accessing data in a memory), obtaining and the like. Also, " determine / determining" can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, inferring and the like.

[0243] As used herein, a description of an action should also be considered to disclose enabling, and / or causing, and / or controlling that action. For example, a description of transmitting information should also be considered to disclose enabling, and / or causing, and / or controlling transmitting information. Similarly, for example, a description of an apparatus transmitting information should also be considered to disclose at least one means or controller of the apparatus enabling, and / or causing, and / or controlling the apparatus to transmit the information.”

[0244] The term “means” as used in the description and in the claims may refer to one or more individual elements configured to perform the corresponding recited functionality or functionalities, or it may refer to several elements that perform such functionality or functionalities. Furthermore, several functionalities recited in the claims may be performed by the same individual means or the same combination of means. For example performing such functionality or functionalities may be caused in an apparatus by a processor that executes instructions stored in a memory of the apparatus.

[0245] References to a parameter, or value of a parameter, should be understood to refer to “data indicative of’, “data defining” or “data representative of’ the relevant parameter / parameter value if not explicitly stated (unless the context demands otherwise). The data may be in any way indicative of the relevant parameter / parameter value, and may be directly or indirectly indicative thereof.

[0246] In this description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term ’example’ or ‘for example’, ‘can’ or ‘may’ in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some or all other examples. Thus ‘example’, ‘for example’, ‘can’ or ‘may’ refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of a sub-class of the class that includes some but not all of the instances in the class.

[0247] In this description, references to “a / an / the” [feature, element, component, means ...] are used with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning and are to be interpreted as “at least one” [feature, element, component, means ...] unless explicitly stated otherwise. That is any reference to X comprising a / the Y indicates that X can comprise only one Y or can comprise more than one Y unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. If it is intended to use ‘a’ or ‘the’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context. In some circumstances the use of ‘at least one’ or ‘one or more’ can be used to emphasise an inclusive meaning but the absence of these terms should not be taken to infer any exclusive meaning. As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0248] The presence of a feature (or combination of features) in a claim is a reference to that feature (or combination of features) itself and also to features that achieve substantially the same technical effect (equivalent features). The equivalent features include, for example, features that are variants and achieve substantially the same result in substantially the same way. The equivalent features include, for example, features that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result. In this description, reference has been made to various examples using adjectives or adjectival phrases to describe characteristics of the examples. Such a description of a characteristic in relation to an example indicates that the characteristic is present in some examples exactly as described and is present in other examples substantially as described.

[0249] In the above description, the apparatus described can alternatively or in addition comprise an apparatus which in some other examples comprises a distributed system of apparatus, for example, a client / server apparatus system. In examples where an apparatus provided forms (or a method is implemented as) a distributed system, each apparatus forming a component and / or part of the system provides (or implements) one or more features which collectively implement an example of the present disclosure. In some examples, an apparatus is re-configured by an entity other than its initial manufacturer to implement an example of the present disclosure by being provided with additional software, for example by a user downloading such software, which when executed causes the apparatus to implement an example of the present disclosure (such implementation being either entirely by the apparatus or as part of a system of apparatus as mentioned hereinabove).

[0250] The above description describes some examples of the present disclosure however those of ordinary skill in the art will be aware of possible alternative structures and method features which offer equivalent functionality to the specific examples of such structures and features described herein above and which for the sake of brevity and clarity have been omitted from the above description. Nonetheless, the above description should be read as implicitly including reference to such alternative structures and method features which provide equivalent functionality unless such alternative structures or method features are explicitly excluded in the above description of the examples of the present disclosure.

[0251] Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of examples of the present disclosure believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and / or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon. The examples of the present disclosure and the accompanying claims can be suitably combined in any manner apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Separate references to an “example”, “in some examples” and / or the like in the description do not necessarily refer to the same example and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and / or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For instance, a feature, structure, process, block, step, action, or the like described in one example may also be included in other examples, but is not necessarily included.

[0252] Each and every claim is incorporated as further disclosure into the specification and the claims are embodiment(s) of the present disclosure. Further, while the claims herein are provided as comprising specific dependencies, it is contemplated that any claims can depend from any other claims and that to the extent that any alternative embodiments can result from combining, integrating, and / or omitting features of the various claims and / or changing dependencies of claims, any such alternative embodiments and their equivalents are also within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus, comprising: means for receiving, from a second apparatus, first information for configuring at least one resource for at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one resource is indicated, in the first information, via at least one Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state; means for receiving, from the second apparatus, second information for configuring reporting of at least one result of at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one result is reported in respective at least one reporting occasion; means for performing the at least one interference measurement using the at least one resource indicated, in the first information, via at least one TCI state, wherein the at least one interference measurement is performed in respective at least one interference measurement occasion, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement comprises: determining a plurality of interference measurement occasions that occur prior to the at least one reporting occasion, and performing one of the following: measuring an interference measurement result during an interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions, measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and selecting an interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting, or measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and evaluating an interference measurement result based at least in part on the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting; and means for reporting the interference measurement result, wherein the reporting is based at least in part on the second information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions is selected from the plurality of interference measurement occasions based at least in part on a time of the at least one reporting occasion.

3. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the selecting of the interference measurement occasion from the plurality of interference measurement occasions comprises selecting the interference measurement occasion that is temporally closest to the at least one reporting occasion.

4. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the selecting of the interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results is based at least in part on a value of the interference measurement result.

5. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the selecting of the interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results comprises selecting the interference measurement result that has the highest value.

6. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the evaluating of the interference measurement result based on the plurality of interference measurement results comprises evaluating an average of the plurality of interference measurement results.

7. The apparatus of any previous claim, further comprising means for receiving, from the second apparatus, a request to perform at least one interference measurement, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement is responsive at least in part to the received request.

8. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the apparatus is configured with a set of TCI states, and wherein the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information is a subset of the set of TCI states.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the apparatus is configured with a set of resources for the set of TCI states, and wherein the at least one resource for performing the at least one interference measurement is determined based at least in part on one of the set of resources for the set of TCI states.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising means for determining the at least one resource for performing the at least one interference measurement, wherein the determining comprises determining, from the set of resources for the set of TCI states, at least one resource that is associated with at least one of the TCI states indicated in the first information or in the second information.

11. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information is associated with at least one reference signal, and wherein the at least one interference measurement is performed on at least one channel, wherein the at least one channel is determined based at least in part on one of the at least one reference signals associated with the at least one TCI state.

12. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the first information comprises at least one of the following: interference measurement resource configuration; a set of TCI state identifiers, IDs; an indicator for indicating whether the first information comprises a set of TCI state IDs; or a plurality of sets of resources for interference measurements, and wherein each set of resources for interference measurements is assigned an identifier.

13. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information comprises at least one of the following: at least one TCI state ID for a downlink TCI state, at least one TCI state ID for an uplink TCI state, or at least one TCI state ID for a joint downlink and uplink TCI state.

14. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the second information comprises at least one of the following: interference measurement reporting configuration; at least one indication of at least one TCI state; a reference to the first information; at least one identifier for identifying at least one of a plurality of sets of resources for interference measurements indicated in the first information;an indicator for indicating whether the second information comprises a reference to resources for interference measurements, wherein the resources for interference measurements are indicated via TCI states; a plurality of reporting configurations, and wherein each reporting configuration of the plurality of reporting configurations is assigned an identifier; an indication of a type of measurement to be performed; an indication of a number of TCI states to be reported; or an indication of an interference measurement resource for a TCI State ID.

15. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the second information is received, at least in part, via one or more of the following:Radio Resource Control, RRC, signalling, orMedium Access Control, MAC, signalling.

16. The apparatus of any previous claim, further comprising means for receiving, from the second apparatus, an indication to activate the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement is based at least in part on the indication.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the indication comprises at least one of the following: a Medium Access Control, MAC, Control Element, CE; an indication of the at least one resource for at least one interference measurement of the first information; or an indication of the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information.

18. The apparatus of any previous claim, further comprising means for determining the at least resource for performing the at least one interference measurement thereon, wherein the determining is based at least in part on one or more of the following: the first information; the second information; or one or more activated TCI states.

19. The apparatus of any previous claim, further comprising means for receiving, from the second apparatus, an indication of at least one of the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement is based at least in part on the indication.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the indication is received via Downlink Control Information, DCI.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 or 20, wherein the apparatus is configured with a mapping of at least one codepoint to the at least one TCI state indicated in the first information, and wherein the indication comprises the at least one codepoint.

22. The apparatus of any previous claim, wherein the interference measurement result is reported via one or more of the following:Medium Access Control, MAC, signalling;Uplink Control Information, UCI; a Physical Uplink Shared Channel, PUSCH; orPhysical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH.

23. A method comprising: receiving, at an apparatus from a second apparatus, first information for configuring at least one resource for at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one resource is indicated, in the first information, via at least one Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state; receiving, at the apparatus from the second apparatus, second information for configuring reporting of at least one result of at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one result is reported in respective at least one reporting occasion; performing, at the apparatus, the at least one interference measurement using the at least one resource indicated, in the first information, via at least one TCI state, wherein the at least one interference measurement is performed in respective at least one interference measurement occasion, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement comprises: determining a plurality of interference measurement occasions that occurs prior to the at least one reporting occasion, and performing one of the following:measuring an interference measurement result during an interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions, measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and selecting an interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting, or measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and evaluating an interference measurement result based at least in part on the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting; and reporting, by the apparatus, the interference measurement result, wherein the reporting is based at least in part on the second information.

24. A computer program comprising instructions, which when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform: receiving, at an apparatus from a second apparatus, first information for configuring at least one resource for at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one resource is indicated, in the first information, via at least one Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state; receiving, at the apparatus from the second apparatus, second information for configuring reporting of at least one result of at least one interference measurement, wherein the at least one result is reported in respective at least one reporting occasion; performing, at the apparatus, the at least one interference measurement using the at least one resource indicated, in the first information, via at least one TCI state, wherein the at least one interference measurement is performed in respective at least one interference measurement occasion, and wherein the performing of the at least one interference measurement comprises: determining a plurality of interference measurement occasions that occurs prior to the at least one reporting occasion, and performing one of the following: measuring an interference measurement result during an interference measurement occasion of the plurality of interference measurement occasions,measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and selecting an interference measurement result from the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting, or measuring a plurality of interference measurement results respectively during the plurality of interference measurement occasions and evaluating an interference measurement result based at least in part on the plurality of interference measurement results for reporting; and reporting, by the apparatus, the interference measurement result, wherein the reporting is based at least in part on the second information.

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