User equipments, base stations, and communication methods

Abstract

A method performed by a user equipment (UE) is described. The method includes receiving, from a base station, a report configuration, the report configuration indicating a configuration of one resource set for channel measurement, wherein the configuration of the one resource set includes a list of a plurality of entries and each entry indicates a reference signal (RS) resource in the one resource set; measuring RSRP on each RS resource in the one resource set; selecting, based on the measured RSRPs, TV RS resources from the one resource set to report; determining a resource indicator for a resource set within the TV RS resources where an RSRP value associated with the RS resource is a largest measured RSRP value; computing N - 1 differential RSRP values for remaining N- 1 RS resources with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value; and generating a report for transmission in an order of the resource indicator, a bitmap, the RSRP value, and the N - 1 differential RSRP values, wherein the bitmap indicates remaining TV - 1 RS resources, and the N - 1 differential RSRP values are arranged in the report according to an ascending order of entry numbers of the TV - 1 RS resources in the list.

Description

[DESCRIPTION][Title of Invention]USER EQUIPMENTS, BASE STATIONS, AND COMMUNICATION METHODS [Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a user equipment, a base station, and a communication method.[Background Art]

[0002] At present, as a radio access system and a radio network technology aimed for the fifth-generation (5G) cellular system and the sixth-generation (6G) cellular system, technical investigation and standard development are being conducted, as extended standards of Long Term Evolution (LTE), on LTE- Advanced Pro (LTE- A Pro) and New Radio technology (NR) in The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

[0003] In the fifth-generation cellular system, three services of enhanced Mobile BroadBand (eMBB) to achieve high-speed and large-volume transmission, UltraReliable and Low Latency Communication (URLLC) to achieve low-latency and high- reliability communication, and massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) to allow connection of a large number of machine type devices such as Internet of Things (loT) have been demanded as assumed scenarios.

[0004] Additionally, 3GPP has been actively engaging in Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML) initiatives. The integration of AI / ML into 3GPP’s development of 5G and 6G wireless communication standards is to facilitate the application of AI / ML technologies in commercial cellular system. However, how to enable supporting of AI / ML in 5G and 6G wireless communication standards has not been well discussed, with offering limited flexibility and the efficiency for the whole wireless communication system. As illustrated by this discussion, systems and methods according to the present invention, effectively enabling the support of AI / ML functionality, may improve the communication flexibility and efficiency and may be beneficial.[Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0005] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of one or more base stations and one or more user equipments (UEs) in which systems and methods for reporting measurement results may be implemented;

[0006] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating one example 200 of a resource grid;

[0007] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating one example 300 of common resource block grid, carrier configuration and BWP configuration by a UE 102 and a base station 160;

[0008] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating one 400 example of functional framework for AI / ML for NR air interface by a UE 102 and a base station 160;

[0009] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating one 500 example of downlink beam prediction by a base station 160;

[0010] Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating one implementation of a method 600 for reporting measurement results by a UE 102;

[0011] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating one 700 example of mapping order of fields of one report by a UE 102 and a base station 160;

[0012] Figure 8 is a flow diagram illustrating another implementation of a method 800 for reporting measurement results by a UE 102;

[0013] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating another 900 example of mapping order of fields of one report by a UE 102 and a base station 160;

[0014] Figure 10 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a UE;

[0015] Figure 11 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a base station;[Description of Embodiments]

[0016] A user equipment (UE) is described. The UE includes reception unit configure to receive, from a base station, a report configuration, the report configuration indicating a configuration of one resource set for channel measurement, wherein the configuration of the one resource set includes a list of a plurality of entries and each entry indicates a reference signal (RS) resource in the one resource set, and to measure RSRP on each RS resource in the one resource set; and control unit configured to select, based on the measured RSRPs, N RS resources from the one resource set to report, to determine a resource indicator for a RS resource within the N RS resources where an RSRP value associated with the RS resource is a largest measured RSRP value, to compute N - 1 differential RSRP values for remaining N - 1 RS resources with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value, and to generate a report for transmission in an order of the resource indicator, a bitmap, the RSRP value, and the N - 1 differential RSRP values, wherein the bitmap indicates remaining N - 1 RS resources, the N - 1differential RSRP values are arranged in the report according to an ascending order of entry numbers of the N- 1 RS resources in the list.

[0017] A base station is described. The base station includes transmission unit configured to transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a report configuration, the report configuration indicating a configuration of one resource set for channel measurement, wherein the configuration of the one resource set includes a list of a plurality of entries and each entry indicates a reference signal (RS) resource in the one resource set; reception unit configured to receive, from the UE, a report; and control unit configured to determine that the report is generated by the UE in an order of a resource indicator, a bitmap, a RSRP value, and N - 1 differential RSRP values, wherein the resource indicator indicates a RS resource, the RSRP is a largest measured RSRP value associated with the RS resource indicated by the resource indicator, the bitmap indicates N - 1 RS resources, the N - 1 differential RSRP values are arranged in the report according to an ascending order of entry numbers of the indicated N - 1 RS resources in the list.

[0018] A communication method performed by a user equipment (UE) is described. The method includes receiving from a base station, a report configuration, the report configuration indicating a configuration of one resource set for channel measurement, wherein the configuration of the one resource set includes a list of a plurality of entries and each entry indicates a reference signal (RS) resource in the one resource set; measuring RSRP on each RS resource in the one resources; selecting, based on the measured RSRPs, N RS resources from the one resource set to report; determining a resource indicator for a resource set within the N RS resources where an RSRP value associated with the RS resource is a largest measured RSRP value; computing N - 1 differential RSRP values for remaining N - 1 RS resources with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value; and generating a report for transmission in an order of the resource indicator, a bitmap, the RSRP value, and the N - 1 differential RSRP values, wherein the bitmap indicates remaining N - 1 RS resources, and the N - 1 differential RSRP values are arranged in the report according to an ascending order of entry numbers of the A- 1 RS resources in the list.

[0019] 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is the name given to a project to improve the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile phone or device standard to cope with future requirements. In one aspect, UMTS has been modified toprovide support and specification for the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN). 3GPP NR (New Radio) is the name given to a project to improve the LTE mobile phone or device standard to cope with future requirements. In one aspect, LTE has been modified to provide support and specification (TS 38.331, 38.321, 38.300, 37.340, 38.211, 38.212, 38.213, 38.214, etc.) for the New Radio Access (NR) and Next generation - Radio Access Network (NG-RAN).

[0020] At least some aspects of the systems and methods disclosed herein may be described in relation to the 3GPP LTE, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Advanced Pro, New Radio Access (NR), and other 3G / 4G / 5G standards (e.g., 3GPP Releases 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and / or 18, and / or Narrow Band-Internet of Things (NB-IoT)). However, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited in this regard. At least some aspects of the systems and methods disclosed herein may be utilized in other types of wireless communication systems.

[0021] A wireless communication device may be an electronic device used to communicate voice and / or data to a base station, which in turn may communicate with a network of devices (e.g., public switched telephone network (PSTN), the Internet, etc.). In describing systems and methods herein, a wireless communication device may alternatively be referred to as a mobile station, a UE (User Equipment), an access terminal, a subscriber station, a mobile terminal, a remote station, a user terminal, a terminal, a subscriber unit, a mobile device, a relay node, etc. Examples of wireless communication devices include cellular phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, netbooks, e-readers, wireless modems, industrial wireless sensors, video surveillance, wearables, vehicles, roadside units, infrastructure devices, etc. In 3GPP specifications, a wireless communication device is typically referred to as a UE. However, as the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the 3GPP standards, the terms “UE” and “wireless communication device” may be used interchangeably herein to mean the more general term “wireless communication device”.

[0022] In 3 GPP specifications, a base station is typically referred to as a gNB, a Node B, an eNB, a home enhanced or evolved Node B (HeNB) or some other similar terminology. As the scope of the disclosure should not be limited to 3GPP standards, the terms “base station,”, “gNB”, “Node B,” “eNB,” and “HeNB” may be usedinterchangeably herein to mean the more general term “base station.” Furthermore, one example of a “base station” is an access point. An access point may be an electronic device that provides access to a network (e.g., Local Area Network (LAN), the Internet, etc.) for wireless communication devices. The term “communication device” may be used to denote both a wireless communication device and / or a base station.

[0023] It should be noted that as used herein, a “cell” may be any communication channel that is specified by standardization or regulatory bodies to be used for International Mobile Telecommunications-Advanced (IMT-Advanced), IMT-2020 (5G) and all of it or a subset of it may be adopted by 3GPP as licensed bands (e.g., frequency bands) to be used for communication between a base station and a UE. It should also be noted that in NR, NG-RAN, E-UTRA and E-UTRAN overall description, as used herein, a “cell” may be defined as “combination of downlink and optionally uplink resources.” The linking between the carrier frequency of the downlink resources and the carrier frequency of the uplink resources may be indicated in the system information transmitted on the downlink resources.

[0024] “Configured cells” are those cells of which the UE is aware and is allowed by a base station to transmit or receive information. “Configured cell(s)” may be serving cell(s). The UE may receive system information and perform the required measurements on configured cells. “Configured cell(s)” for a radio connection may consist of a primary cell and / or no, one, or more secondary cell(s). “Activated cells” are those configured cells on which the UE is transmitting and receiving. That is, activated cells are those cells for which the UE monitors the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and in the case of a downlink transmission, those cells for which the UE decodes a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). “Deactivated cells” are those configured cells that the UE is not monitoring the transmission PDCCH. It should be noted that a “cell” may be described in terms of differing dimensions. For example, a “cell” may have temporal, spatial (e.g., geographical) and frequency characteristics.

[0025] The base stations may be connected by the NG interface to the 5G - core network (5G-CN). 5G-CN may be called as to NextGen core (NGC), or 5G core (5GC). The base stations may also be connected by the SI interface to the evolved packet core (EPC). For instance, the base stations may be connected to a NextGen (NG) mobility management function by the NG-2 interface and to the NG core User Plane (UP) functions by the NG-3 interface. The NG interface supports a many-to-many relationbetween NG mobility management functions, NG core UP functions and the base stations. The NG-2 interface is the NG interface for the control plane and the NG- 3 interface is the NG interface for the user plane. For instance, for EPC connection, the base stations may be connected to a mobility management entity (MME) by the SIMMS interface and to the serving gateway (S-GW) by the Sl-U interface. The SI interface supports a many-to-many relation between MMEs, serving gateways and the base stations. The SI -MME interface is the SI interface for the control plane and the S 1 -U interface is the S 1 interface for the user plane. The Uu interface is a radio interface between the UE and the base station for the radio protocol.

[0026] The radio protocol architecture may include the user plane and the control plane. The user plane protocol stack may include packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) and physical (PHY) layers. A DRB (Data Radio Bearer) is a radio bearer that carries user data (as opposed to control plane signaling). For example, a DRB may be mapped to the user plane protocol stack. The PDCP, RLC, MAC and PHY sublayers (terminated at the base station 460a on the network) may perform functions (e.g., header compression, ciphering, scheduling, ARQ and HARQ) for the user plane. PDCP entities are located in the PDCP sublayer. RLC entities may be located in the RLC sublayer. MAC entities may be located in the MAC sublayer. The PHY entities may be located in the PHY sublayer.

[0027] The control plane may include a control plane protocol stack. The PDCP sublayer (terminated in base station on the network side) may perform functions (e.g., ciphering and integrity protection) for the control plane. The RLC and MAC sublayers (terminated in base station on the network side) may perform the same functions as for the user plane. The Radio Resource Control (RRC) (terminated in base station on the network side) may perform the following functions. The RRC may perform broadcast functions, paging, RRC connection management, radio bearer (RB) control, mobility functions, UE measurement reporting and control. The Non-Access Stratum (NAS) control protocol (terminated in MME on the network side) may perform, among other things, evolved packet system (EPS) bearer management, authentication, evolved packet system connection management (ECM)-IDLE mobility handling, paging origination in ECM-IDLE and security control.

[0028] Signaling Radio Bearers (SRBs) are Radio Bearers (RB) that may be used only for the transmission of RRC and NAS messages. Three SRBs may be defined. SRBO may be used for RRC messages using the common control channel (CCCH) logical channel. SRB1 may be used for RRC messages (which may include a piggybacked NAS message) as well as for NAS messages prior to the establishment of SRB2, all using the dedicated control channel (DCCH) logical channel. SRB2 may be used for RRC messages which include logged measurement information as well as for NAS messages, all using the DCCH logical channel. SRB2 has a lower priority than SRB1 and may be configured by a network (e.g., base station) after security activation. A broadcast control channel (BCCH) logical channel may be used for broadcasting system information. Some of BCCH logical channel may convey system information which may be sent from the network to the UE via BCH (Broadcast Channel) transport channel. BCH may be sent on a physical broadcast channel (PBCH). Some of BCCH logical channel may convey system information which may be sent from the network to the UE via DL-SCH (Downlink Shared Channel) transport channel. Paging may be provided by using paging control channel (PCCH) logical channel.

[0029] System information may be divided into the MasterlnformationBlock (MIB) and a number of SystemlnformationB locks (SIBs).

[0030] The UE may receive one or more RRC messages from the base station to obtain RRC configurations or parameters. The RRC layer of the UE may configure RRC layer and / or lower layers (e.g., PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer) of the UE according to the RRC configurations or parameters which may be configured by the RRC messages, broadcasted system information, and so on. The base station may transmit one or more RRC messages to the UE to cause the UE to configure RRC layer and / or lower layers of the UE according to the RRC configurations or parameters which may be configured by the RRC messages, broadcasted system information, and so on.

[0031] The size of various fields in the time domain is expressed in time units Tc=l / (Z\ / maxXM) where A^iax=480><103Hz and 7Vf=4096. The constant K = Ts / Tc= 64 where Ts= l / (kfref■ Nfiref), &fref= 15 ■ 103and NfiVef= 2048.

[0032] Multiple OFDM numerologies are supported as given by Table 4.2-1 of [TS 38.211] where / / and the cyclic prefix for a bandwidth part are obtained from the higher- layer parameter subcarrierSpacing and cyclicPrefix, respectively.

[0033] The size of various fields in the time domain may be expressed as a number of time units 7L=1 / (15000x2048) seconds. Downlink and uplink transmissions are organized into frames with duration, each consisting of ten subframes o Thenumber of consecutive OFDM symbols per subframe isEach frame is divided into two equally-sized halfframes of five subframes each with half-frame 0 consisting of subframes 0 -4 and halfframe 1 consisting of subframes 5 - 9.

[0034] For subcarrier spacing (SCS) configuration p, slots are numbered m G in increasing order within a subframe and Eincreasing order within a frame. ]\]^franie^ jsthe number ofslots per subframe for subcarrier spacing configuration p. There are consecutiveOFDM symbols in a slot where N^^b depends on the cyclic prefix as given by Tables 4.3.2-1 and 4.3.2-2 of [TS 38.211]. The start of slotin a subframe is aligned in time with the start of OFDM symbol N^^b in the same subframe. Subcarrier spacing refers to a spacing (or frequency bandwidth) between two consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. For example, the subcarrier spacing can be set to 15kHz (i.e., / z=0), 30kHz (i.e. p=l), 60kHz (i.e. p=2), 120kHz (i.e. / / =3), or 240kHz (i.e. / r=4). A resource block is defined as a number of consecutive subcarriers (e.g., 12) in the frequency domain. For a carrier with different frequency, the applicable subcarrier may be different. For example, for a carrier in a frequency rang 1, a subcarrier spacing only among a set of {15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz} is applicable. For a carrier in a frequency rang 2, a subcarrier spacing only among a set of {60kHz, 120kHz, 240kHz} is applicable. The base station may not configure an inapplicable subcarrier spacing for a carrier.

[0035] OFDM symbols in a slot can be classified as 'downlink', 'flexible', or 'uplink'. Signaling of slot formats is described in subclause 11.1 of [TS 38.213].

[0036] In a slot in a downlink frame, the UE may assume that downlink transmissions only occur in 'downlink' or 'flexible' symbols. In a slot in an uplink frame, the UE may only transmit in 'uplink' or 'flexible' symbols.

[0037] Various examples of the systems and methods disclosed herein are now described with reference to the Figures, where like reference numbers may indicate functionally similar elements. The systems and methods as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different implementations. Thus, the following more detailed description of several implementations, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit scope, as claimed, but is merely representative of the systems and methods.

[0038] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of one or more base stations 160 (e.g., eNB, gNB) and one or more user equipments (UEs) 102 in which systems and methods for reporting measurement results may be implemented. The one or more UEs 102 may communicate with one or more base stations 160 using one or more antennas 122a-n. For example, a UE 102 transmits electromagnetic signals to the base station 160 and receives electromagnetic signals from the base station 160 using the one or more antennas 122a-n. The base station 160 communicates with the UE 102 using one or more antennas 180a-n.

[0039] It should be noted that in some configurations, one or more of the UEs 102 described herein may be implemented in a single device. For example, multiple UEs 102 may be combined into a single device in some implementations. Additionally or alternatively, in some configurations, one or more of the base stations 160 described herein may be implemented in a single device. For example, multiple base stations 160 may be combined into a single device in some implementations. In the context of Figure 1, for instance, a single device may include one or more UEs 102 in accordance with the systems and methods described herein. Additionally or alternatively, one or more base stations 160 in accordance with the systems and methods described herein may be implemented as a single device or multiple devices.

[0040] The UE 102 and the base station 160 may use one or more channels 119, 121 to communicate with each other. For example, a UE 102 may transmit information or data to the base station 160 using one or more uplink (UL) channels 121 and signals. Examples of uplink channels 121 include a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), etc. Examples of uplink signals includea demodulation reference signal (DMRS) and a sounding reference signal (SRS), etc. The one or more base stations 160 may also transmit information or data to the one or more UEs 102 using one or more downlink (DL) channels 119 and signals, for instance. Examples of downlink channels 119 include a PDCCH, a PDSCH, etc. A PDCCH can be used to schedule DL transmissions on PDSCH and UL transmissions on PUSCH, where the Downlink Control Information (DCI) on PDCCH includes downlink assignment and uplink scheduling grants. The PDCCH is used for transmitting Downlink Control Information (DCI) in a case of downlink radio communication (radio communication from the base station to the UE). Here, one or more DCIs (may be referred to as DCI formats) are defined for transmission of downlink control information. Information bits are mapped to one or more fields defined in a DCI format. Examples of downlink signals include a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), a nonzero power channel state information reference signal (NZP CSI-RS), and a zero-power channel state information reference signal (ZP CSI-RS), etc. Other kinds of channels or signals may be used.

[0041] Each of the one or more UEs 102 may include one or more transceivers 118, one or more demodulators 114, one or more decoders 108, one or more encoders 150, one or more modulators 154, one or more data buffers 104 and one or more UE operations modules 124. For example, one or more reception and / or transmission paths may be implemented in the UE 102. For convenience, only a single transceiver 118, decoder 108, demodulator 114, encoder 150 and modulator 154 are illustrated in the UE 102, though multiple parallel elements (e.g., transceivers 118, decoders 108, demodulators 114, encoders 150 and modulators 154) may be implemented.

[0042] The transceiver 11 may include one or more receivers (reception units) 120 and one or more transmitters (transmission units) 158. The one or more receivers 120 may receive signals (e.g., downlink channels, downlink signals, sidelink channels, sidelink signals) from the base station 160 or from another UE 102 using one or more antennas 122a-n. For example, the receiver 120 may receive and downconvert signals to produce one or more received signals 116. The one or more received signals 116 may be provided to a demodulator 114. The one or more transmitters 158 may transmit signals (e.g., uplink channels, uplink signals, sidelink channels, sidelink signals) to the base station 160 or to another UE 102 using one or more antennas 122a-n . F or example,the one or more transmitters 158 may upconvert and transmit one or more modulated signals 156.

[0043] The demodulator 114 may demodulate the one or more received signals 116 to produce one or more demodulated signals 112. The one or more demodulated signals 112 may be provided to the decoder 108. The UE 102 may use the decoder 108 to decode signals. The decoder 108 may produce one or more decoded signals 106, 110. For example, a first UE-decoded signal 106 may comprise received payload data, which may be stored in a data buffer 104. A second UE-decoded signal 110 may comprise overhead data and / or control data. For example, the second UE-decoded signal 110 may provide data that may be used by the UE operations module 124 to perform one or more operations.

[0044] As used herein, the term “module” may mean that a particular element or component may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. However, it should be noted that any element denoted as a “module” herein may alternatively be implemented in hardware. For example, the UE operations module 124 may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of both.

[0045] In general, the UE operations module 124 may enable the UE 102 to communicate with the one or more base stations 160. The UE operations module 124 may include a UE RRC information configuration module 126. The UE operations module 124 may include a UE control module 128. In some implementations, the UE operations module 124 may include physical (PHY) entities, Medium Access Control (MAC) entities, Radio Link Control (RLC) entities, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entities, and a Radio Resource Control (RRC) entity. For example, the UE RRC information configuration module 126 may process RRC parameters for random access configurations, initial UL BWP configuration, CSI report configuration(s), and so on.

[0046] For a UE which is capable of implementing operations of AI / ML models and / or AI / ML functionalities, the UE operations module 124 may implement functions of Data Collection, Model Training, Management, Inference, and / or model storage.

[0047] The UE control module 128 may determine, based on CSI report configuration, to generate a report including one, more or all of one or more resource indicators, bitmap, one or more RSRP values, one or more differential RSRP values. The UE control module 128 may also determine the order of the one, more or all of oneor more resource indicators, bitmap, one or more RSRP values, one or more differential RSRP values to be reported in a report.

[0048] The UE operations module 124 may provide information 148 to the one or more receivers 120. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform the receiver(s) 120 when or when not to receive transmissions based on the Radio Resource Control (RRC) message (e.g., broadcasted system information, RRC reconfiguration message), MAC control element, SCI (Sidelink Control Information) and / or the DCI (Downlink Control Information). The UE operations module 124 may provide information 148, including the PDCCH monitoring occasions, DCI format size, PSCCH monitoring occasions and SCI format size, to the one or more receivers 120. The UE operation module 124 may inform the receiver(s) 120 when or where to receive / monitor the PDCCH candidate for DCI formats and / or the PSCCH candidate for SCI formats.

[0049] The UE operations module 124 may provide information 138 to the demodulator 114. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform the demodulator 114 of a modulation pattern anticipated for transmissions from the base station 160.

[0050] The UE operations module 124 may provide information 136 to the decoder 108. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform the decoder 108 of an anticipated encoding for transmissions from the base station 160. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform the decoder 108 of an anticipated PDCCH candidate encoding with which DCI size for transmissions from the base station 160.

[0051] The UE operations module 124 may provide information 142 to the encoder 150. The information 142 may include data to be encoded and / or instructions for encoding. For example, the UE operations module 124 may instruct the encoder 150 to encode transmission data 146 and / or other information 142.

[0052] The encoder 150 may encode transmission data 146 and / or other information 142 provided by the UE operations module 124. For example, encoding the data 146 and / or other information 142 may involve error detection and / or correction coding, mapping data to space, time and / or frequency resources for transmission, multiplexing, etc. The encoder 150 may provide encoded data 152 to the modulator 154.

[0053] The UE operations module 124 may provide information 144 to the modulator 154. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform the modulator154 of a modulation type (e.g., constellation mapping) to be used for transmissions to the base station 160. The modulator 1 4 may modulate the encoded data 152 to provide one or more modulated signals 156 to the one or more transmitters 158.

[0054] The UE operations module 124 may provide information 140 to the one or more transmitters 158. This information 140 may include instructions for the one or more transmitters 158. For example, the UE operations module 124 may instruct the one or more transmitters 158 when to transmit a signal to the base station 160. The one or more transmitters 158 may upconvert and transmit the modulated signal(s) 156 to one or more base stations 160.

[0055] The base station 160 may include one or more transceivers 176, one or more demodulators 172, one or more decoders 166, one or more encoders 109, one or more modulators 113, one or more data buffers 162 and one or more base station operations modules 182. For example, one or more reception and / or transmission paths may be implemented in a base station 160. For convenience, only a single transceiver 176, decoder 166, demodulator 172, encoder 109 and modulator 113 are illustrated in the base station 160, though multiple parallel elements (e.g., transceivers 176, decoders 166, demodulators 172, encoders 109 and modulators 113) may be implemented.

[0056] The transceiver 176 may include one or more receivers (reception units) 178 and one or more transmitters (transmission units) 117. The one or more receivers 178 may receive signals (e.g., uplink channels, uplink signals) from the UE 102 using one or more antennas 180a-n. For example, the receiver 178 may receive and downconvert signals to produce one or more received signals 174. The one or more received signals 174 may be provided to a demodulator 172. The one or more transmitters 117 may transmit signals (e.g., downlink channels, downlink signals) to the UE 102 using one or more antennas 180a-n. For example, the one or more transmitters 117 may upconvert and transmit one or more modulated signals 115.

[0057] The demodulator 172 may demodulate the one or more received signals 174 to produce one or more demodulated signals 170. The one or more demodulated signals 170 may be provided to the decoder 166. The base station 160 may use the decoder 166 to decode signals. The decoder 166 may produce one or more decoded signals 164, 1 8. For example, a first base station-decoded signal 164 may comprise received payload data, which may be stored in a data buffer 162. A second base station-decoded signal 168 may comprise overhead data and / or control data. For example, the second basestation-decoded signal 168 may provide data (e.g., PUSCH transmission data) that may be used by the base station operations module 182 to perform one or more operations.

[0058] In general, the base station operations module 182 may enable the base station 160 to communicate with the one or more UEs 102. The base station operations module 182 may include a base station RRC information configuration module 194. The base station operations module 182 may include a base station control module 196 (or a base station processing module 196). The base station operations module 182 may include PHY entities, MAC entities, RLC entities, PDCP entities, and an RRC entity.

[0059] For a base station which is capable of implementing operations of AI / ML models and / or AI / ML functionalities, the base station operation 182 may implement functions of Data Collection, Model Training, Management, Inference, and / or model storage.

[0060] The base station control module 196 may determine, for respective UE, CSI report configuration and input the information to the base station RRC information configuration module 194. The base station control module 196 may determine order of the one, more or all of one or more resource indicators, bitmap, one or more RSRP values, one or more differential RSRP values received in a report from a UE.

[0061] The base station operations module 182 may provide the benefit of performing PDCCH candidate search and monitoring efficiently. The base station operations module 182 may provide information 190 to the one or more receivers 178. For example, the base station operations module 182 may inform the receiver(s) 178 when or when not to receive transmissions based on the RRC message (e.g., broadcasted system information, RRC reconfiguration message), MAC control element, and / or the DCI (Downlink Control Information).

[0062] The base station operations module 182 may provide information 188 to the demodulator 172. For example, the base station operations module 182 may inform the demodulator 172 of a modulation pattern anticipated for transmissions from the UE(s) 102.

[0063] The base station operations module 182 may provide information 186 to the decoder 166. For example, the base station operations module 182 may inform the decoder 166 of an anticipated encoding for transmissions from the UE(s) 102.

[0064] The base station operations module 182 may provide information 101 to the encoder 109. The information 101 may include data to be encoded and / or instructionsfor encoding. For example, the base station operations module 182 may instruct the encoder 109 to encode transmission data 105 and / or other information 101.

[0065] In general, the base station operations module 182 may enable the base station 160 to communicate with one or more network nodes (e.g., a NG mobility management function, a NG core UP functions, a mobility management entity (MME), serving gateway (S-GW), gNBs). The base station operations module 182 may also generate a RRC reconfiguration message to be signaled to the UE 102.

[0066] The encoder 109 may encode transmission data 105 and / or other information 101 provided by the base station operations module 182. For example, encoding the data 105 and / or other information 101 may involve error detection and / or correction coding, mapping data to space, time and / or frequency resources for transmission, multiplexing, etc. The encoder 109 may provide encoded data 111 to the modulator 113. The transmission data 105 may include network data to be relayed to the UE 102.

[0067] The base station operations module 182 may provide information 103 to the modulator 11 . This information 103 may include instructions for the modulator 113. For example, the base station operations module 182 may inform the modulator 113 of a modulation type (e.g., constellation mapping) to be used for transmissions to the UE(s) 102. The modulator 113 may modulate the encoded data 111 to provide one or more modulated signals 115 to the one or more transmitters 117.

[0068] The base station operations module 182 may provide information 192 to the one or more transmitters 117. This information 192 may include instructions for the one or more transmitters 117. For example, the base station operations module 182 may instruct the one or more transmitters 117 when to (or when not to) transmit a signal to the UE(s) 102. The base station operations module 182 may provide information 192, including the PDCCH monitoring occasions and DCI format size, to the one or more transmitters 117. The base station operation module 182 may inform the transmitter(s) 117 when or where to transmit the PDCCH candidate for DCI formats with which DCI size. The one or more transmitters 117 may upconvert and transmit the modulated signal(s) 115 to one or more UEs 102.

[0069] It should be noted that one or more of the elements or parts thereof included in the base station(s) 160 and UE(s) 102 may be implemented in hardware. For example, one or more of these elements or parts thereof may be implemented as a chip, circuitryor hardware components, etc. It should also be noted that one or more of the functions or methods described herein may be implemented in and / or performed using hardware. For example, one or more of the methods described herein may be implemented in and / or realized using a chipset, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) or integrated circuit, etc.

[0070] A base station may generate a RRC message including the one or more RRC parameters and may transmit the RRC message to a UE. A UE may receive, from a base station, a RRC message including one or more RRC parameters. In the present disclosure, the terms ‘RRC parameter(s)’, ‘RRC information element(s)’, ‘higher layer parameter(s)’ can be used interchangeably. In the present disclosure, higher layer may refer to a layer upper than the physical layer (i.e., Layer 1), for example, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, SDAP layer, RRC layer, and / or application layer.

[0071] A RRC parameter may further include one or more RRC param eter(s). In the present disclosure, a RRC message may include system information, a RRC message may include one or more RRC parameters. A RRC message may be sent on a broadcast control channel (BCCH) logical channel, a common control channel (CCCH) logical channel or a dedicated control channel (DCCH) logical channel.

[0072] In the present disclosure, a description “a UE is configured with or is provided a parameter” also implies the description “the UE may receive, from the base station, an RRC message (or information) which includes the parameter”. Likewise, the description “a base station configures the UE with or provides the UE the parameter” also implies the description “the base station may transmit, to the UE, an RRC message (or information) which includes the parameter”.

[0073] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating one example of a resource grid 200.

[0074] For each numerology (i.e., for each SCS u) and carrier, a resource grid of Ngrid / ^Nsc^ subcarriers and Nsymbsubfi'ame'l'‘ OFDM symbols is defined, starting at common resource blockindicated by higher layer signaling. There is one set of resource grids per transmission direction (uplink or downlink) with the subscript x set to DL and UL for downlink and uplink, respectively. There is one resource grid for a given antenna port p, subcarrier spacing configuration / / , and the transmission direction (downlink or uplink). When there is no risk for confusion, the subscript x may be dropped.

[0075] In the Figure 2, the resource gird 200 includes the N^df^'^NscP (202) subcarriers in the frequency domain and includes Nsymi,subfi'ame-ti(204) symbols in the time domain. In the Figure 2, as an example for illustration, the subcarrier spacing configuration / / is set to 0. That is, in the Figure 2, the number of consecutive OFDM symbols NSymbsubfi'ame,fl(204) per subframe is equal to 14.

[0076] The carrier bandwidth N&iflze^ (Ngrid,xsize,fl) for subcarrier spacing configuration / / is given by the higher-layer (RRC) parameter carrierBandwidth in the SCS-SpecificCarrier IE. The starting position Ngndstart,tifor subcarrier spacing configuration p is given by the higher-layer parameter offsetToCarrier in the SCS- SpecificCarrier IE. The frequency location of a subcarrier refers to the center frequency of that subcarrier.

[0077] In the Figure 2, for example, a value of offset is provided by the higher-layer parameter offsetToCarrier. That is, k = 12 X offset is the lowest usable subcarrier on this carrier.

[0078] Each element in the resource grid for antenna port p and subcarrier spacing configuration p is called a resource element and is uniquely identified by (k,k is the index in the frequency domain and I refers to the symbols position in the time domain relative to same reference point. The resource element consists of one subcarrier during one OFDM symbol.

[0079] A resource block is defined as A'ARR=12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. As shown in the Figure 2, a resource block 206 includes 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. Resource block can be classified as common resource block (CRB) and physical resource block (PRB).

[0080] Common resource blocks are numbered from 0 and upwards in the frequency domain for subcarrier spacing configuration p. The center of subcarrier 0 of common resource block with index 0 (i.e. CRB0) for subcarrier spacing configuration p coincides with point A. The relation between the common resource block numberncRB ’nfrequency domain and resource element (k, 1) for subcarrier spacing configuration p is given by Formula (1) ncRfl=floor(k / NScKB) where k is defined relative to the point A such that &=0 corresponds to the subcarrier centered around the point A. The function floor(A) hereinafter is floor operation to output a maximum integer not larger than the A.

[0081] Point A refers to as a common reference point. Point A coincides with subcarrier 0 (i.e., &=0) of a CRB 0 for all subcarrier spacing. Point A can be obtained from a RRC parameter offsetToPointA or a RRC parameter absoluteFrequencyPointA. The RRC parameter offsetToPointA is used for a PCell downlink and represents the frequency offset between point A and the lowest subcarrier of the lowest resource block, which has the subcarrier spacing provided by a higher-layer parameter subCarrierSpacingCommon and overlaps with the SS / PBCH block used by the UE for initial cell selection, expressed in units of resource blocks assuming 15 kHz subcarrier spacing for frequency range (FR) 1 and 60 kHz subcarrier spacing for frequency range (FR2). FR1 corresponds to a frequency range between 410MHz and 7125MHz. FR2 corresponds to a frequency range between 24250MHz and 52600MHz. The RRC parameter absoluteFrequencyPointA is used for all cased other than the PCell case and represents the frequency- location of point A expressed as in ARFCN. The frequency location of point A can be the lowest subcarrier of the carrier bandwidth ( or the actual carrier). Additionally, point A may be located outside the carrier bandwidth ( or the actual carrier).

[0082] As above mentioned, the information element (IE) SCS-SpecificCarrier provides parameters determining the location and width of the carrier bandwidth or the actual carrier. That is, a carrier (or a carrier bandwidth, or an actual carrier) is determined (identified, or defined) at least by a RRC parameter offsetToCarrier, a RRC parameter subcarrierSpacing, and a RRC parameter carrierBandwidth in the SCS- SpecificCarrier IE.

[0083] The subcarrierSpacing indicates (or defines) a subcarrier spacing of the carrier. The offsetToCarrier indicates an offset in frequency domain between point A and a lowest usable subcarrier on this carrier in number of resource blocks (e.g. CRBs) using the subcarrier spacing defined for the carrier. The carrierBandwidth indicates width of this carrier in number of resource blocks (e.g., CRBs or PRBs) using the subcarrier spacing defined for the carrier. A carrier includes at most 275 resource blocks.

[0084] Physical resource blocks for subcarrier spacing configuration p are defined within a bandwidth part and numbered form 0 to NBWP.P^'^ where i is the number of the bandwidth part. The relation between the physical resource block npRf in bandwidth part (BWP) z and the common resource block ncpf is given by Formula (2) ncif = npRp1+ NBWP.ISTART’ where NBWPP5TART' is the common resource block where bandwidthpart i starts relative to common resource block 0 (CRBO). When there is no risk for confusion the index p may be dropped.

[0085] A BWP is a subset of contiguous common resource block for a given subcarrier spacing configuration / / on a given carrier. To be specific, a BWP can be identified (or defined) at least by a subcarrier spacing / / indicated by the RRC parameter subcarrierSpacing, a cyclic prefix determined by the RRC parameter cyclicPrefix, a frequency domain location, a bandwidth, an BWP index indicated by bwp-Id and so on. The locationAndBandwidth can be used to indicate the frequency domain location and bandwidth of a BWP. The value indicated by the locationAndBandwidth is interpreted as resource indicator value (RIV) corresponding to an offset (a starting resource block) 7?2?start and a length ERB in terms of contiguously resource blocks. The offset RRstan is a number of CRBs between the lowest CRB of the carrier and the lowest CRB of the BWP. The NBWP.ISTART' is given as Formula (3) NBWPASTART’A=Ocarrier+RBsiaii. The value of Ocarrier is provided by offsetTocarrier for the corresponding subcarrier spacing configuration p.

[0086] A UE 102 configured to operate in BWPs of a serving cell, is configured by higher layers for the serving cell a set of at most four BWPs in the downlink for reception. At a given time, a single downlink BWP is active. The bases station 160 may not transmit, to the UE 102, PDSCH and / or PDCCH outside the active downlink BWP. A UE 102 configured to operate in BWPs of a serving cell, is configured by higher layers for the serving cell a set of at most four BWPs for transmission. At a given time, a single uplink BWP is active. The UE 102 may not transmit to the base station 160, PUSCH or PUCCH outside the active BWP. The specific signaling (higher layers signaling) for BWP configurations are described later.

[0087] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating one example 300 of common resource block grid, carrier configuration and BWP configuration by a UE 102 and a base station 160.

[0088] Point A 301 is the lowest subcarrier of a CRBO for all subcarrier spacing configurations. The CRB grid 302 and the CRB grid 312 are corresponding to two different subcarrier spacing configurations. The CRB grid 302 is for subcarrier spacing configuration p =0 (i.e., the subcarrier spacing with 15kHz). The CRB grid 312 is for subcarrier spacing configuration p =1 (i.e., the subcarrier spacing with 30kHz).

[0089] One or more carriers are determined by respective SCS-SpecificCarrier lEs, respectively. In the Figure 3, the carrier 304 uses the subcarrier spacing configuration / / =0. And the carrier 314 uses the subcarrier spacing configuration p=\ . The starting position of the carrier 304 is given based on the value of an offset 303 (i.e.Ocarrter) indicated by an offsetToCarrier in an SCS-SpecificCarrier IE. As shown in the Figure 3, for example, the offsetToCarrier indicates the value of the offset 303 as Ocarrier =3. That is, the starting position N&iftart'^ of the carrier 304 corresponds to the CRB3 of the CRB grid 302 for subcarrier spacing configuration p=0. In the meantime, the starting position A grid ™'7'" of the carrier 314 is given based on the value of an offset 313 (i.e. Ocarrier) indicated by an offsetToCarrier in another SCS-SpecificCarrier IE. For example, the offsetToCarrier indicates the value of the offset 313 as Ocamer = 1. That is, the starting position NSndstart, / Jof the carrier 314 corresponds to the CRB1 of the CRB grid 312 for subcarrier spacing configuration p=l. A carrier using different subcarrier spacing configurations can occupy different frequency ranges.

[0090] As above-mentioned, a BWP is for a given subcarrier spacing configuration p. One or more BWPs can be configured for a same subcarrier spacing configuration p. For example, in the Figure 3, the BWP 306 is identified at least by the p=0, a frequency domain location, a bandwidth (ERB), and an BWP index (index A). The first PRB (i.e. PRB0) of a BWP is determined at least by the subcarrier spacing of the BWP, an offset derived by the locationAndBandwidth and an offset indicated by the offsetToCarrier corresponding to the subcarrier spacing of the BWP. An offset 305 (Restart) is derived as 1 by the locationAndBandwidth. According to the Formulas (2) and (3), the PRB0 of BWP 306 corresponds to CRB 4 of the CRB grid 302, and the PRB1 of BWP 306 corresponds to CRB 5 of the CRB grid 302, and so on.

[0091] Additionally, in the Figure 3, the BWP 308 is identified at least by the p=0, a frequency domain location, a bandwidth (ERB), and an BWP index (index B). For example, an offset 307 (ABstart) is derived as 6 by the locationAndBandwidth. According to the Formulas (2) and (3), the PRB0 of BWP 308 corresponds to CRB 9 of the CRB grid 302, and the PRB1 of BWP 308 corresponds to CRB 10 of the CRB grid 302, and so on.

[0092] Additionally, in the Figure 3, the BWP 316 is identified at least by the p=l, a frequency domain location, a bandwidth (ERB), and an BWP index (index C). For example, an offset 315 (J?Estart) is derived as 1 by the locationAndBandwidth. Accordingto the Formulas (2) and (3), the PRBO of BWP 316 corresponds to CRB 2 of the CRB grid 312, and the PRB1 of BWP 316 corresponds to CRB 3 of the CRB grid 312, and so on.

[0093] In the present disclosure, a BWP illustrated in the Figure 3 may refer to a DL BWP, a UL BWP, or a sidelink BWP.

[0094] As shown in the Figure 3, a carrier with the defined subcarrier spacing locate in a corresponding CRB grid with the same subcarrier spacing. A BWP with the defined subcarrier spacing locate in a corresponding CRB grid with the same subcarrier spacing as well.

[0095] A base station may transmit a RRC message including one or more RRC parameters related to BWP configuration to a UE. A UE may receive the RRC message including one or more RRC parameters related to BWP configuration from a base station. For each cell, the base station may configure at least an initial DL BWP, one initial uplink bandwidth parts (initial UL BWP) and one sidelink BWP to the UE. Furthermore, the base station may configure additional UL and DL BWPs to the UE for a cell.

[0096] SIB1, which is a cell-specific system information block (SystemlnformationBlock, SIB), may contain information relevant when evaluating if a UE is allowed to access a cell and define the scheduling of other system information. SIB1 may also contain radio resource configuration information that is common for all UEs, and barring information applied to the unified access control. The RRC parameter ServingCellConfigCommon is used to configure cell specific parameters of a UE's serving cell. The RRC parameter ServingCellConfig is used to configure (add or modify) the UE with a serving cell, which may be the SpCell or an SCell of an MCG or SCG. The RRC parameter ServingCellConfig herein are mostly UE specific but partly also cell specific.

[0097] The base station may configure the UE with a RRC parameter BWP- Downlink and a RRC parameter BWP -Uplink. The RRC parameter BWP -Downlink can be used to configure an additional DL BWP. The RRC parameter BWP -Uplink can be used to configure an additional UL BWP. The base station may transmit the BWP- Downlink and the BWP-Uplink which may be included in RRC parameter ServingCellConfig to the UE.

[0098] The UE may be configured by the based station, at least one initial BWP and up to 4 additional BWP(s). One of the initial BWP and the configured additional BWP(s) may be activated as an active BWP. The UE may monitor DCI format, and / or receive PDSCH in the active DL BWP. The UE may not monitor DCI format, and / or receive PDSCH in a DL BWP other than the active DL BWP. The UE may transmit PUSCH and / or PUCCH in the active UL BWP. The UE may not transmit PUSCH and / or PUCCH in a BWP other than the active UL BWP.

[0099] As above-mentioned, a UE may monitor DCI format in the active DL BWP. To be more specific, a UE may monitor a set of PDCCH candidates in one or more CORESETs on the active DL BWP on each activated serving cell configured with PDCCH monitoring according to corresponding search space set where monitoring implies decoding each PDCCH candidate according to the monitored DCI formats.

[0100] A set of PDCCH candidates for a UE to monitor is defined in terms of PDCCH search space sets. A search space set can be a CSS set or a USS set. A UE may monitor a set of PDCCH candidates in one or more of the search space sets.

[0101] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating one 400 example of fiinctional framework for AI / ML for NR air interface by a UE 102 and a base station 160.

[0102] As illustrated in the Figure 4, the AI / ML fiinctional framework for the NR air interface includes a set of core functions, including Data Collection 401, Model Training 402, Management 403, Inference 404, and model storage 405.

[0103] The Data Collection 401 is a function that provides input data to the Model Training, Management, and Inference functions. Specifically, the Data Collection 401 function may provide training data to the Model Training function. That is, the training data refers to data needed as input for the AI / ML Model Training function. The Data Collection 401 function may provide monitoring data to the Management function. That is, the monitoring data refers to data needed as input for the Management of AI / ML Models or AI / ML functionalities. The Data Collection 401 function may provide inference data to the Inference function. That is, the inference data refers to data needed as input for the AI / ML Inference function.

[0104] The Model Training function 402 is a function that performs AI / ML model training, validation, and testing which may generate model performance metrics which can be used as part of the model testing procedure. The Model Training function is also responsible for data preparation based on training data delivered by the Data Collectionfunction. In case of having a Model Storage function 405, the trained, validated, and tested AI / ML models may be delivered to the Model Storage function. Additionally, an updated version of a model may be also delivered to the Model Storage function.

[0105] The Management function 403 is a function that oversees the operation (e.g., selection / (de)activation / switching / fallback) and monitoring (e.g., performance) of AI / ML models or AI / ML functionalities. This function is also responsible for making decisions to ensure the proper inference operation based on data received from the Data Collection function and the Inference function.

[0106] The Inference function 404 is a function that provides outputs from the process of applying AI / ML models or AI / ML functionalities, using the data that is provided by the Data Collection function (i.e., Inference Data) as an input. The Inference function is also responsible for data preparation (e.g., data pre-processing and cleaning, formatting, and transformation) based on Inference Data delivered by a Data Collection function, if required.

[0107] The Model Storage 405 is a function responsible for storing trained / updated models that can be used to perform the Inference function.

[0108] In the present disclosure, the functional framework illustrated in the Figure 4 provides a general functional architecture that can be applied to both AI / ML model and AI / ML functionalities.

[0109] An AI / ML model or an AI / ML functionality needs to be developed, deployed, and managed during the entire lifecycle, i.e., AI / ML model-based life cycle management (LCM) or AI / ML functionality-based LCM.

[0110] An AI / ML model may be identified by a model ID. A model ID is a distinctive identifier for an AI / ML model. The model ID may be a logical ID. A logical AI / ML model refers to a model that is identified and assigned a model ID. The logical AI / ML model can be mapped to a physical AI / ML model by implementation. That is, a physical AI / ML model refers to an actual implementation of a logical AI / ML model.

[0111] In AI / ML model-based LCM, models are identified at the network, and the network and / or the UE may activate, deactivate, select, or switch individual AI / ML models via model ID. In the present disclosure, the AI / ML model-based LCM can be referred to as model-ID-based LCM.

[0112] An AI / ML functionality is a functionality defined within an AI / ML-enabled feature whereby AI / ML-enabled feature refers to a feature where AI / ML may be used.A UE may have one AI / ML model for one functionality or may have multiple AI / ML models for one functionality.

[0113] In AI / ML functionality-based LCM, the UE may indicate its supported functionalities by using UE capability signaling to network. Additionally, the UE may also indicate its applicable functionalities that the UE is ready to apply for model inference. Upon reception of UE capability signaling, the network may indicate activation, deactivation, fallback, and / or switching of an AI / ML functionality through signaling such as RRC signaling, MAC CE, DCI. The exact AI / ML model that underpin a given functionality might not be identified at the network.

[0114] In the present disclosure, the UE 102 and / or the base station 160 may apply the AI / ML model and / or the AI / ML functionalities for beam management such as spatial domain downlink beam prediction and / or temporal downlink beam prediction.

[0115] For spatial domain downlink beam prediction, it aims to provide good spatial domain downlink beam performance with less measurement and reference signal overhead. Spatial-domain DL transmission beam prediction is to predict one or more best or optimal beams from a Set A of beams based on measurement results of Set B of beams. In other words, a Set B consists of one or more downlink beams whose measurements are taken as model input of an AI / ML model / functionality. A Set A consists of plentiful downlink beams within which one or more downlink beams will be predicted as model output of the AI / ML model / functionality.

[0116] In the present disclosure, the input to AI / ML model / functionality for the spatial-domain or temporal downlink beam prediction may be the layer 1 reference signal received power (Ll-RSRP) measurement of beams within set B. The output from the AI / ML model / functionality is the predicted one or more optimal / best beams in Set A. The AI / ML mode training and inference can reside at the base station (network) side or the UE side. In the present disclosure, RSRP hereinafter can refer to L 1 -RSRP, unless specified otherwise.

[0117] The base station may configure one or more resource sets for the Set B such that the base station may transmit reference signals (e.g., CSI-RS or SSB) on the configured resources in the one or more resource sets with applying different spatial domain transmission filters. The UE may perform measurement on the configured resources. That is, one or more resource sets configured for the Set B may be also referred to as one or more resource sets configured for channel measurement. Therefore,the terms “one or more resource sets configured for the Set B” and “one or more resource sets configured for channel measurement” may be used interchangeably.

[0118] In the present disclosure, one resource set configured by base station for set B (or for channel measurement) may be a set of CSI-RS resources or a set of SSB resources. That is, reference signals in each resource in the set B may be transmitted by the base station with different downlink spatial domain transmission filters. A resource set configured for set B may be used by the UE to perform channel measurement on each resource in the resource set to estimate or measure RSRPs.

[0119] The base station may configure one or more resource sets for the Set A while the base station may not transmit reference signals (e.g., CSI-RS or SSB) on the configured resources in the one or more resource sets. The UE may not perform measurement on resources configured for the Set A.

[0120] In the present disclosure, Set A and Set B may be different, i.e., Set B is NOT a subset of Set A. For example, a Set B may consist of downlink wide beams based on SSB transmission. A set A may consist of a larger number of downlink narrow beams based on CSI-RS transmission. Additionally or alternatively, Set B may be a subset of Set A. For example, the Set B may consist of a part of downlink beams in the set A.

[0121] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating one 500 example of downlink beam prediction by a base station 160. Here, the AI / ML inference takes place at the base station / network side. The base station may apply AI / ML functionalities / models for downlink beam prediction. The prediction may refer to network-side model inference. The UE is required to report Ll-RSRP measurements for one, more or all of beams within set B to base station.

[0122] The base station 160 may transmit 501, to the UE 102, reference signals (SSB or CSI-RS) on each resources configured in one or more resource sets for channel measurement. Here, the base station may use different spatial domain transmission filters to transmit the reference signals on different resources. The base station may perform downlink beam sweeping on resources configured for Set B.

[0123] The UE 102 may perform 502 channel measurement on each resource forLl-RSRP measurement.

[0124] The UE 102 may transmit 503, to the base station, the measurement report including, e.g., Ll-RSRP values and the resource indicators to which the Ll-RSRPs correspond to.

[0125] The base station may take the measurement report as inputs for the AI / ML inference function. The base station may apply 504, AI / ML models or AI / ML functionalities to predict one or more optimal downlink beams (i.e., the top K best transmit beams in the set A) for the UE based on the measurement report.

[0126] The base station may perform 505, subsequent transmissions of signals and / or channels (e.g., CSLRS, PDCCH, PDSCH) to the UE based on the predicted one or more optimal downlink beams. For example, the base station may choose a beam among the predicted one or more optimal beams and perform the subsequent transmissions with the chosen beam.

[0127] Figure 6 is a flow diagram illustrating one implementation of a method 600 for reporting measurement results by a UE 102. In the implementation, the UE 102 is configured to report measurement results to the base station 160. The UE 102 may be indicated to report all resources configured in the list. The contents of the report of the measurement results may include one resource indicator, one RSRP, one or more differential RSRPs.

[0128] The UE 102 may receive 601, from the base station 160, a report configuration. The report configuration indicates a configuration of one or more resource sets for channel measurement. The configuration of the one or more resource sets includes a list of a plurality of entries, wherein each entry indicates a resource (a resource configuration) in the one or more resource sets. That is, the configuration of the one or more resource sets can be represented as a list of entries where each entry corresponds to or indicate a specific resource such as a CSI-RS (non-zero-power (NZP) CSLRS) resource or an SSB resource. A list of entries herein refers to a list of resources (or resource sets) for channel measurement. For illustration, the total number of resources configured for channel measurement in the list can be denoted as M. That is, there are M entries in the list.

[0129] In the present disclosure, the report configuration may indicate M resources in a list for channel measurement. Additionally, in the present implementation, the report configuration may indicate UE to report all M resources in the report. In thepresent disclosure, “report a resource” may include reporting a resource indicator for the resource and / or reporting a RSRP value or a differential RSRP value for the resource.

[0130] In various implementations of the present disclosure, the report configuration may be used to configure a periodic or semi-persistent report sent on PUCCH on the cell, or to configure a semi-persistent or aperiodic report sent on PU SCH. For a periodic or semi-persistent report sent on PUCCH, a RRC parameter included in the report configuration can be used to indicate in which serving cell the report is sent. Additionally or alternatively, for a semi-persistent or aperiodic report sent on PUSCH, the report may be triggered by DCI and the cell on which the report is sent is determined by the received DCI.

[0131] In various implementations of the present disclosure, the base station may configure resources for channel measurement as NZP CSI-RS(s) or SSB(s). The base station may transmit, to the UE 102, the report configuration wherein the report configuration indicates a list of resources for channel measurement.

[0132] A resource specifically refers to a reference signal resource. Hereinafter, in various implementations of the present disclosure, a resource can be a CSI-RS (NZP CSI-RS) resource or a SSB resource. A resource set can be a CSI-RS (NZP CSI-RS) resource set or a SSB resource set. In other words, a resource set may be a set of CSI- RS resources or a set of SSB resources. A CSI-RS (NZP CSI-RS) resource is a resource where a NZP CSI-RS may be transmitted by the base station. A SSB resource is a resource where an SSB may be transmitted by the base station. The UE may be configured to measure on the CSI-RS resources or the SSB resources.

[0133] For the list, the first entry in the list corresponds to entry number 1, the second entry in the list corresponds to entry number 2, and so on. Thus, each resource in the list has an entry number based on its corresponding entry position within the list. An entry number in a list can identity a resource within the list and cannot identity a resource that is not configured in the list. The first entry in the list corresponds to the first resource in the resource set(s) indicated by the report configuration for channel measurement, the second entry in the list corresponds to the second resource in the resource set(s) indicated by the report configuration for channel measurement, and so on. In other words, entry numbers in the list implies the ordering of the resources in the list, i.e., the ordering of the resources in the one or more resources sets configured forchannel measurement. If there is only one entry in the list, the resource set indicated by the report configuration for channel measurement consists of one resource.

[0134] Additionally, in various implementations of the present disclosure, a resource can be identified by a resource identifier. For example, for a CSI-RS resource, the CSI-RS resource can be identified by a resource identifier (CSI-RS resource ID). The resource identifier (CSI-RS resource ID) may be indicated by a higher layer parameter that is included in a CSI-RS resource configuration for the CSI-RS resource. Specifically, one CSI-RS resource configuration might include a parameter, NZP-CSI- RS-ResourcelD, which is used to determine the CSI-RS resource configuration identity, i.e., the CSI resource identifier (CSI-RS resource ID). Each CSI-RS resource has its associated ID. Similarly, an SSB resource can also be identified by a resource identifier (SSB resource ID), with each SSB resource identifiable by an SSB index. These resource IDs (NZP-CSI-RS-ResourcelD or SSB index) can identity a resource configured to the UE.

[0135] It should be noted that in the present disclosure, one resource (i.e., a CSI- RS resource or an SSB resource) may consists of multiple resource elements across different symbols within one or more slots. Moreover, one resource can be periodically transmitted by the base station. In this context, one resource can also be regarded as a resource set in the present disclosure, and these two terms can be used interchangeably.

[0136] The report configuration may indicate, to the UE 102, all M resources to be reported in a report. The UE may report the AT measured resources in the report.

[0137] The base station may transmit reference signals such as CSI-RSs or SSBs on each resource in the one or more resource sets. The UE 102 may perform 602, channel measurement on each resource in the list and measure RSRP on each resource in the one or more resource set. For a resource, the UE 102 may determine its associated RSRP, i.e., the linear average of the received power on resource elements occupied by the reference signal (an NZP CSI-RS or an SSB) that is transmitted on the resource.

[0138] The UE may determine 603, based on the measured RSRPs, a largest measured RSRP value among the measured RSRP values, a resource where the largest measured RSRP is measured, and one or more differential RSRP values with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value.

[0139] In various implementations of the present disclosure, the resource with the largest measured RSRP may be represented by a resource indicator based on the entrynumber of the resource in the list. The UE may determine a resource indicator for the resource with the largest measured RSRP. The resource indicator is determined based on the entry number of the resource with the largest measured RSRP. The resource indicator for the resource with the largest measured RSRP corresponds to the entry number of the resource with the largest measured RSRP value in the list.

[0140] To be specific, for a list including KBSI RSCSI-RS resources, the bitwidth of the resource indicator, CRI (CSI-RS resource indicator), is [log2(KgS,~RS)] where I^csi-R f csi-RS resources in the list. Alternatively, for a list including KBSBSSB resources, the bitwidth of the resource indicator, SSBRI (SSB resource indicator), is [log2(KSB] where KSBis the configured number of SSB resources in the list. For example, in a case that the entry number of the resource with the largest measured RSRP is value k (i.e., the Ar-th entry in the list), the UE may determine the value of the resource indicator (CRI or SSBRI) is k-l.

[0141] The UE may determine or compute the different RSRPs for the resources in the list other than the resource with the largest measured RSRP. The differential RSRP values are calculated with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value. The UE may not calculate the differential RSRP value for the resource with the largest measured RSRP values.

[0142] In various implementations of the present disclosure, the UE (the control unit of the UE) may quantize the RSRP value (largest measured RSRP value) to a 7-bit value and quantize each differential RSRP value to a 4-bit value. The RSRP value is defined by a 7-bit value in the range [-140, -44] dBm with 1 dB step size. The differential RSRP is defined by a 4-bit value with 2 dB step size with a reference to the largest measured RSRP. The UE may compute the differential RSRP value with 2 dB step size with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value.

[0143] Additionally or alternatively, the UE may quantize each differential RSRP value to a 3 -bit value. Then the differential RSRP value is computed with 4 dB step size with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value.

[0144] In various implementations of the present disclosure, the base station may use a parameter included in the report configuration to indicate whether UE reports the differential LI -RSRP as a 4-bit value or a 3-bit value. Based on the parameter includedthe report configuration, the UE may determine how to compute the differential Ll- RSRP value either as a 4-bit value or a 3-bit value.

[0145] The UE may generate 604, a report for the M resources and transmit it to the base station. The base station may configure the UE all of measured resources in the list to be reported. That is, a parameter included in the reporting configuration may indicate the UE whether all measured resources in the list are reported. In the implementation, the UE is configured to report all measured RS resources in the list to base station.

[0146] The report includes the resource indicator, the RSRP (i.e., the largest measured RSRP value), one or more differential RSRP values. The UE may generate the report in the order of the resource indicator, the RSRP (i.e., the largest measured RSRP) value, and then the differential RSRP values. In the report, the count of the RSRP and differential RSRPs equals the number of resources in the list, M. In the report, the number of differential RSRPs is equal to the number of resources in the list minus one, i.e., M - 1. Here, the base station may configure the UE 102 all RSRP values of resources in the list to be reported.

[0147] Furthermore, the differential RSRP values are arranged in the report according to an ascending (or descending) order of entry numbers of their respective associated resources in the list. That is, the M - 1 differential RSRP values are arranged in the report according to their associated M -1 resources’ ordering in the list. Additionally or alternatively, the differential RSRP values are arranged in the report according to an ascending (or descending) order of their respective associated resource IDs.

[0148] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating one 700 example of mapping order of fields of one report by a UE 102 and a base station 160. The UE may transmit a report to the base station based on the Figure 7.

[0149] The Figure 7 provides the reporting fields (CSI fields) in the report. The CSI fields in the report in the order from upper part to lower part in the Figure 7 are a CRI or SSBRI 1 field 701, a RSRP#1 field 702, one or multiple differential RSRP fields. The number of differential RSRP fields in the report are depending on the number of resources in the list. In a case that there are M resources configured in the list for the channel measurement, the number of differential RSRP fields is equal to M minus one.

[0150] The bitwidth of the CRI or SSBRI#1 field in the report is [log2( 1 where Ksis the number of resources configured in the list. The bitwidth of the RSRP# 1 field in the report is 7 bit The bitwidth of each differential RSRP field is 4 bit. Additionally or alternatively, the bitwidth of each differential RSRP field is 3 bit.

[0151] As above-mentioned, the UE 102 may generate a report including the resource indicator, the RSRP (i.e., the largest measured RSRP value), one or more differential RSRP values. The order of the resource indicator, the RSRP (i.e., the largest measured RSRP value), one or more differential RSRP values in the report are determined based on the Figure 7. In other words, the Figure 7 provides a mapping order. The UE may map the resource indicator to the CRI or SSBRI 1 field 701, map the RSRP (i.e., the largest measured RSRP value) to the RSRP 1 field 702, and map the differential RSRPs to the differential RSRP fields. Specifically, without considering or excluding the entry of resource with the largest measured RSRP values, a differential RSRP value associated with the first entry in the list is mapped to the differential RSRP#2 field 703, a differential RSRP value associated with the second entry in the list is mapped to the differential RSRP#3 field 704, and so on. The differential RSRP value associated with the last entry in the list is mapped to the differential RSRP#M field 706.

[0152] As illustrated in the Figure 7, differential RSRP values are mapped to the differential RSRP fields according to an ascending order of entry numbers of their associated resources in the list.

[0153] In one example, the UE may receive a report configuration from base station where the report configuration indicates a resource set with M= 4 SSB resources for channel measurement. The SSBRIs for the M= 4 SSB resources can be denoted as SSB resource #1, SSB resource #2, SSB resource #3, and SSB resource #4 according to their ordering in the resource set, i.e., their entry numbers in a list indicating the M = 4 SSB resources. In other words, the numbers #1, #2, #3, # correspond to entry numbers of M= 4 SSB resources in the list. Additionally, the report configuration indicates the UE to report M = 4 SSB resources in the report.

[0154] The UE may perform channel measurement on the 4 SSB resources. Here, for example, the SSB resource #2 has the largest measured RSRP value. The UE may compute differential RSRP values for the SSB resource #1, SSB resource #3, and SSBresource #4, respectively, with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value. According to the Figure 7, the UE may determine that, information indicating the SSB resource #2 (e.g., two bits with value ‘01’) is placed in or mapped to the CRI or SSBRI#1 field 701, information indicating the RSRP value associated with the SSB resource #2 (e.g., a 7 -bit value) is placed in or mapped to the RSRP#1 field 702, information indicating the differential RSRP value associated with the SSB resource #1 (e.g., a 4-bit value) is placed in or mapped to the differential RSRP #2 field 703, information indicating the differential RSRP value associated with the SSB resource #3 (e.g., a 4-bit value) is placed in or mapped to the differential RSRP #3 field 704, information indicating the differential RSRP value associated with the SSB resource #4 (e.g., a 4-bit value) is placed in or mapped to the differential RSRP# M field 706.

[0155] According to the implementation, the M resources including explicit and implicit resource indication for the M resources and their associated RSRP values can be efficiently reported.

[0156] In addition, in the present disclosure, the base station may not require the UE to report all resources in the list. Instead, the base station may specify a number of measured resources that the UE needs to report. The specified number is less than the total number of resources configured in the list. The base station may use a parameter to indicate UE the number of measured resources to report.

[0157] Figure 8 is a flow diagram illustrating another implementation of a method 800 for reporting measurement results by a UE 102. In the implementation, the UE 102 is configured to report measurement results to the base station 160. In the implementation, the UE is indicated to report a part of measured resources configured in the list. The contents of the report of the measurement results may include one resource indicator, one bitmap, one RSRP, one or more differential RSRPs.

[0158] The UE 102 may receive 801, from the base station 160, a report configuration. The report configuration indicates a configuration of one or more resource sets for channel measurement. The configuration of the one or more resource sets includes a list of a plurality of entries, wherein each entry indicates a resource (a resource configuration) in the one or more resource sets. That is, the configuration of the one or more resource sets can be represented as a list of entries where each entry corresponds to or indicate a specific resource such as a CSI-RS (non-zero-power (NZP)CSI-RS) resource or an SSB resource. A list of entries herein refers to a list of resources (or resource sets) for channel measurement.

[0159] For illustration, the total number of resources configured for channel measurement in the list or in the one or more resource sets can be denoted as M. That is, there are M entries in the list. The report configuration may indicate, to the UE 102, M resources within the one or more resource sets for channel measurement. Additionally, the report configuration may indicate, to the UE 102, a number of resources, N, to be reported in a report where the value of N is less than the value of M. The UE may report the N measured resources in the report. In other words, the UE 102 may receive from the base station a report configuration wherein the report configuration indicates M resources for channel measurement and a number of resources N to be reported.

[0160] The UE 102 may perform 802, channel measurement on each resource in the list and measure RSRP on each resource in the one or more resource set. For a resource, the UE 102 may determine its associated RSRP, i.e., the linear average of the received power on resource elements occupied by the reference signal (an NZP CSI-RS or an SSB) that is transmitted on the resource.

[0161] The UE 102 may determine or select, based on the measured RSRPs on the configured resources, N resources from the M resources. Specifically, the UE 102 may select N resources for reporting wherein the measured RSRPs associated with the N resources may be larger than those associated with the remaining (M- N) resources.

[0162] The UE may generate 803, a resource indicator for a resource within the N resource where an RSRP value associated with the resource is a largest measured RSRP value among the measured RSRPs. In addition, the UE may compute N -1 differential RSRP values for remaining N -1 resources with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value. Therefore, within the remaining N - 1 resources, each resource is associated with its corresponding differential RSRP value.

[0163] The UE may generate 804, a report and transmit it to the base station. The generated report includes a bitmap, the resource indicator, the RSRP (i.e., the largest measured RSRP value), N -1 differential RSRP values. For the N resources to be reported, the resource indicator indicates one resource associated with the RSRP (i.e., the largest measured RSRP value), and the bitmap may indicate remaining N - 1 resources associated with the A -1 differential RSRP values.

[0164] In the present implementation, the UE may generate the report in an order of the resource indicator, the bitmap, the RSRP value (i.e., the largest measured RSRP value), N -1 differential RSRP values.

[0165] Additionally or alternatively, in the present implementation, the UE may generate the report in an order of the bitmap, the resource indicator, the RSRP value (i.e., the largest measured RSRP value), N -1 differential RSRP values.

[0166] Additionally or alternatively, in the present implementation, the UE may generate the report in an order of the resource indicator, the RSRP value (i.e., the largest measured RSRP value), the bitmap, A -1 differential RSRP values.

[0167] In an example, the UE 102 may determine a bitmap where the bitmap is of size M bits. That is, the bitmap size is equal to the total number of resources configured for channel measurement in the report configuration. Specifically, the bitmap is a bit sequence bM-1;bM-2, ... ,b0where bM-1is the most significant bit (MSB) and b0is the least significant bit (LSB). b0is the bit of the bitmap with the lowest index. bM-i is the bit of the bitmap with the largest index.

[0168] Each bit in the bitmap corresponds to one resource among the M resources such that each resource is addressable. The order of the bitmap may be such that the M resources are mapped from MSB to LSB of the bitmap according to their ordering in the list or entry numbers in the list. That is, the order of the bitmap may be such that the first entry to the last entry in the list is mapped from MSB to LSB of the bitmap. Additionally or alternatively, the order of the bitmap may be such that the M resources are mapped from LSB to MSB of the bitmap according to their ordering in the list or entry numbers in the list. That is, the order of the bitmap may be such that first entry to last entry in the list are mapped from LSB to MSB of the bitmap.

[0169] The UE may set bits corresponding to the selected A -1 resources to the nonzero bits (i.e., the values of bits are set to 1) and may set bits corresponding to the resources other than the selected A- 1 resources to the zero bits. The number of bits with value 1 in the bitmap is equal to A - 1. The bitmap whose nonzero bits (i.e., bits with value 1) identity which resources among the M resource to'be reported in the report.

[0170] A bit with value 1 in the bitmap indicates that its corresponding resource is reported in the report while a bit with value 0 in the bitmap indicates that its corresponding resource is not reported in the report. The base station may identity thereported N resources based on the bitmap and the resource indicator. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may set bits corresponding to the selected N resources to the nonzero bits and may set bits corresponding to the resources other than the selected N resources to the zero bits. The bitmap whose nonzero bits identity which resources among the M resource to be reported in the report.

[0171] In another example, the UE 102 may determine a bitmap where the bitmap is of size M -1 bits. That is, the bitmap size is equal to the total number of resources configured for channel measurement in the report configuration minus one. Each bit in the bitmap represents a resource from the list, except for the one indicated by the resource indicator, such that each resource is addressable.

[0172] The order of the bitmap may be such that the M -1 resources are mapped from MSB to LSB of the bitmap according to their ordering in the list or entry numbers in the list. That is, the order of the bitmap may be such that the first entry to the last entry in the list is mapped from MSB to LSB of the bitmap. Additionally or alternatively, the order of the bitmap may be such that the M- 1 resources are mapped from LSB to MSB of the bitmap according to their ordering in the list or entry numbers in the list. That is, the order of the bitmap may be such that first entry to last entry in the list are mapped from LSB to MSB of the bitmap.

[0173] The UE may set bits corresponding to the selected N -1 resources to the nonzero bits (i.e., the values of bits are set to 1) and may set bits corresponding to the resources other than the selected N - 1 resources to the zero bits. The number of bits with value 1 in the bitmap is equal to A- 1. The bitmap whose nonzero bits (i.e., bits with value 1) identity which resources among the M resource to be reported in the report. The base station may identity the reported N resources based on the bitmap and the resource indicator.

[0174] In the present implementations, the UE may determine to arrange the N -1 differential RSRP values in the report wherein the A -1 differential RSRP values are arranged in the report according to the N -1 resources’ ordering in the one or more resource sets configured for channel measurements. In other words, the A-l differential RSRP values are arranged in the report according to an ascending order of entry numbers of the A -1 resources in the list.

[0175] Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating another 900 example of mapping order of fields of one report by a UE 102 and a base station 160. There are M resourcesconfigured in the list for the channel measurement. The number of resources to be reported is configured to be N. The UE may report N resource including one RSRP value and TV -1 differential RSRP values to the base station based on the Figure 9.

[0176] The Figure 9 provides the reporting fields (CSI fields) in the report. The CSI fields in the report in the order from upper part to lower part in the Figure 9 are a CRI or SSBRI#1 field 901, a bitmap field 902, a RSRP#1 field 903, one or multiple differential RSRP fields. The number of differential RSRP fields in the report are A-l.

[0177] The bitwidth of the CRI or SSBRI 1 field in the report is [log2(As)] where Ksis the number of resources configured in the list. The bitwidth of the bitmap field may be M bits or M- 1 bits as above-mentioned. The bitwidth of the RSRP#1 field in the report is 7 bit The bitwidth of each differential RSRP field is 4 bit. Additionally or alternatively, the bitwidth of each differential RSRP field is 3 bit.

[0178] As above-mentioned, the UE 102 may generate a report including the resource indicator, bitmap, the RSRP (i.e., the largest measured RSRP value), N -1 differential RSRP values. The order of the resource indicator, the bitmap, the RSRP (i.e., the largest measured RSRP value), N -1 differential RSRP values in the report are determined based on the Figure 9. In other words, the Figure 9 provides a mapping order. The UE may map the resource indicator to the CRI or SSBRI&1 field 901, map a bitmap whose nonzero bits correspond to A -1 resources to the bitmap field 902, map the RSRP (i.e., the largest measured RSRP value) to the RSRP#1 field 903, and map the A -1 differential RSRP values to the differential RSRP fields 904 ~ 907 according to associated N -1 resources’ ordering in the resource set(s) configured for channel measurement.

[0179] In one example, the UE may receive a report configuration from base station where the report configuration indicates a resource set with M = 8 SSB resources for channel measurement. The SSBRIs for the A / = 8 SSB resources can be denoted as SSB resource #1, SSB resource #2, SSB resource #3, SSB resource #4, SSB resource #5, SSB resource #6, SSB resource #7, and SSB resource #8 according to their ordering in the resource set, i.e., their entry numbers in a list indicating the M= 8 SSB resources. In other words, the numbers #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8 correspond to entry numbers of M= 8 SSB resources in the list. Additionally, the report configuration indicates the UE to report A = 4 SSB resources in the report.

[0180] The UE may perform channel measurement on the 8 SSB resources. Here, for example, the UE may determine, based on the measurement results (measured RSRPs), to report 4 SSB resources such as the SSB resource #1, the SSB resource #2, the SSB resource #4, and the SSB resource #5. Here, the SSB resource #2 has the largest measured RSRP value among the measured RSRPs. The UE may compute differential RSRP values for the SSB resource #1, SSB resource #4, and SSB resource #5, respectively, with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value. According to the Figure 9, the UE may determine that, information indicating the SSB resource #2 (e.g., three bits with value ‘001’) is placed in or mapped to the CRI or SSBRI 1 field 901, information indicating remaining N - 1 resources (e.g., M = 8 bits with value ‘ 10011000’) is placed in or mapped to the bitmap field 902, information indicating the RSRP value associated with the SSB resource #2 (e.g., a 7-bit value) is placed in or mapped to the RSRP#1 field 903, information indicating the differential RSRP value associated with the SSB resource #1 (e.g., a 4-bit value) is placed in or mapped to the differential RSRP #2 field 904, information indicating the differential RSRP value associated with the SSB resource #4 (e.g., a 4-bit value) is placed in or mapped to the differential RSRP #3 field 905, information indicating the differential RSRP value associated with the SSB resource #5 (e.g., a 4-bit value) is placed in or mapped to the differential RSRP# A field 906.

[0181] According to the implementation, the selected N resources including explicit and implicit resource indication for the N resources and their associated RSRP values can be efficiently reported.

[0182] Figure 10 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a UE 1002. The UE 1002 (UE 102) described in connection with Figure 10 may be implemented in accordance with the UE 102 described in connection with Figure 1. The UE 1002 includes a processor 1081 that controls operation of the UE 1002. The processor 1081 may also be referred to as a central processing unit (CPU). Memory 1087, which may include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a combination of the two or any type of device that may store information, provides instructions 1083a and data 1085a to the processor 1081 . A portion of the memory 1087 may also include non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). Instructions 1083b and data 1085b may also reside in the processor 1081. Instructions 1083b and / or data 1085b loaded into the processor 1081 may also include instructions 1083a and / or data 1085a frommemory 1087 that were loaded for execution or processing by the processor 1081. The instructions 1083b may be executed by the processor 1081 to implement one or more of the methods described above.

[0183] The UE 1002 may also include a housing that contains one or more transmitters 1058 and one or more receivers 1020 to allow transmission and reception of data. The transmitter(s) 1058 and receiver(s) 1020 may be combined into one or more transceivers 1018. One or more antennas 1022a-n are attached to the housing and electrically coupled to the transceiver 1018.

[0184] The various components of the UE 1002 are coupled together by a bus system 1089, which may include a power bus, a control signal bus and a status signal bus, in addition to a data bus. However, for the sake of clarity, the various buses are illustrated in Figure 10 as the bus system 1089. The UE 1002 may also include a digital signal processor (DSP) 1091 for use in processing signals. The UE 1002 may also include a communications interface 1093 that provides user access to the functions of the UE 1002. The UE 1002 illustrated in Figure 10 is a functional block diagram rather than a listing of specific components.

[0185] Figure 11 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a base station 1160. The base station 1160 described in connection with Figure 11 may be implemented in accordance with the base station 160 described in connection with Figure 1. The base station 1160 includes a processor 1181 that controls operation of the base station 1160. The processor 1181 may also be referred to as a central processing unit (CPU). Memory 1187, which may include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a combination of the two or any type of device that may store information, provides instructions 1183a and data 1185a to the processor 1181. A portion of the memory 1187 may also include non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). Instructions 1183b and data 1185b may also reside in the processor 1181. Instructions 1183b and / or data 1185b loaded into the processor 1181 may also include instructions 1183a and / or data 1185a from memory 1187 that were loaded for execution or processing by the processor 1181. The instructions 1183b may be executed by the processor 1181 to implement one or more of the methods 300 described above.

[0186] The base station 1160 may also include a housing that contains one or more transmitters 1117 and one or more receivers 1178 to allow transmission and reception of data. The transmitter(s) 1117 and receiver(s) 1178 maybe combined into one or moretransceivers 1176. One or more antennas 1180a— n are attached to the housing and electrically coupled to the transceiver 1176.

[0187] The various components of the base station 1160 are coupled together by a bus system 1189, which may include a power bus, a control signal bus and a status signal bus, in addition to a data bus. However, for the sake of clarity, the various buses are illustrated in Figure 11 as the bus system 1189. The base station 1160 may also include a digital signal processor (DSP) 1191 for use in processing signals. The base station 1160 may also include a communications interface 1193 that provides user access to the functions of the base station 1160. The base station 1160 illustrated in Figure 11 is a functional block diagram rather than a listing of specific components.

[0188] The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a processor. The term “computer-readable medium,” as used herein, may denote a computer- and / or processor-readable medium that is non- transitory and tangible. By way of example, and not limitation, a computer-readable or processor-readable medium may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer or processor. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray® disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.

[0189] It should be noted that one or more of the methods described herein may be implemented in and / or performed using hardware. For example, one or more of the methods described herein may be implemented in and / or realized using circuitry, a chipset, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) or integrated circuit, etc.

[0190] Each of the methods disclosed herein comprises one or more steps or actions for achieving the described method. The method steps and / or actions may be interchanged with one another and / or combined into a single step without departing from the scope of the claims. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is required for proper operation of the method that is being described, the order and / or use of specific steps and / or actions may be modified without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0191] It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the precise configuration and components illustrated above. Various modifications, changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the systems, methods and apparatus described herein without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

[CLAIMS]1. A user equipment (UE), comprising: reception unit configured to receive, from a base station, a report configuration, the report configuration indicating a configuration of one resource set for channel measurement, wherein the configuration of the one resource set includes a list of a plurality of entries and each entry indicates a reference signal (RS) resource in the one resource set, and to measure RSRP on each RS resource in the one resource set; and control unit configured to select, based on the measured RSRPs, A RS resources from the one resource set to report, to determine a resource indicator for a RS resource within the A RS resources where an RSRP value associated with the RS resource is a largest measured RSRP value, to compute A - 1 differential RSRP values for remaining A- 1 RS resources with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value, and to generate a report for transmission in an order of the resource indicator, a bitmap, the RSRP value, and the A - 1 differential RSRP values, wherein the bitmap indicates remaining A- 1 RS resources, the A - 1 differential RSRP values are arranged in the report according to an ascending order of entry numbers of the A- 1 RS resources in the list.

2. The UE according to the claim 1 : wherein a value of the A is indicated by the report configuration, a size of the bitmap is equal to the total number of the RS resources in the list, and each bit within the bitmap indicates a RS resource in the list.

3. The UE according to the claim 2: wherein the RS resources in the list are mapped from MSB to LSB of the bitmap based on an ascending or descending order of their entry numbers.

4. The UE according to the claim 1 : wherein the resource indicator corresponds to an entry number of the RS resource with the largest measured RSRP value in the list, the largest measured RSRP value is quantized to a 7 -bit value, and a differential RSRP value is quantized to a 4-bit value.

5. A base station, comprising: transmission unit configured to transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a report configuration, the report configuration indicating a configuration of one resource set for channel measurement, wherein the configuration of the one resource set includes a list of a plurality of entries and each entry indicates a reference signal (RS) resource in the one resource set; reception unit configured to receive, from the UE, a report; and control unit configured to determine that the report is generated by the UE in an order of a resource indicator, a bitmap, a RSRP value, and N — 1 differential RSRP values, wherein the resource indicator indicates a RS resource, the RSRP is a largest measured RSRP value associated with the RS resource indicated by the resource indicator, the bitmap indicates N - 1 RS resources, the N - 1 differential RSRP values are arranged in the report according to an ascending order of entry numbers of the indicated A- 1 RS resources in the list.

6. The base station according to the claim 5: wherein a value of the N is indicated by the report configuration, a size of the bitmap is equal to the total number of the RS resources in the list, and each bit within the bitmap indicates a RS resource in the list.

7. The base station according to the claim 6: whereinthe RS resources in the list are mapped from MSB to LSB of the bitmap based on an ascending or descending order of their entry numbers.

8. The base station according to the claim 5 : wherein the resource indicator corresponds to an entry number of the RS resource with the largest measured RSRP value in the list, the largest measured RSRP value is quantized to a 7 -bit value, and a differential RSRP value is quantized to a 4-bit value.

9. A communication method performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving from a base station, a report configuration, the report configuration indicating a configuration of one resource set for channel measurement, wherein the configuration of the one resource set includes a list of a plurality of entries and each entry indicates a reference signal (RS) resource in the one resource set; measuring RSRP on each RS resource in the one resource set; selecting, based on the measured RSRPs, N RS resources from the one resource set to report; determining a resource indicator for a resource set within the N RS resources where an RSRP value associated with the RS resource is a largest measured RSRP value; computing N - 1 differential RSRP values for remaining N- 1 RS resources with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value; and generating a report for transmission in an order of the resource indicator, a bitmap, the RSRP value, and the N - 1 differential RSRP values, wherein the bitmap indicates remaining N- 1 RS resources, and the N - 1 differential RSRP values are arranged in the report according to an ascending order of entry numbers of the N- 1 RS resources in the list.

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