TCI state activation for beam prediction

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a solution for transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state activation for beam prediction. In an aspect, a terminal device performs a beam prediction. The terminal device also transmits to a network device, a beam report for the beam prediction. Based on transmitting the beam report, the terminal device updates an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list based on the beam prediction.

Description

TCI STATE ACTIVATION FOR BEAM PREDICTIONCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from, and the benefit of, Great Britain Application No. 2411782.2, filed August 9, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] Various example embodiments relate to the field of communication and in particular, to devices, methods, apparatuses, and a computer-readable storage medium for beam management, in particular for transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state activation for beam prediction.BACKGROUND

[0003] A communication network can be seen as a facility that enables communications between two or more communication devices, or provides communication devices access to a data network. A mobile or wireless communication network is one example of a communication network.

[0004] Such communication networks operate in accordance with standards, such as those promulgated by Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) or European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). Examples of such standards include the so-called 5G (5th Generation) standard or other standards promulgated by 3GPP.SUMMARY

[0005] In general, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for TCI state activation for beam prediction.

[0006] In a first aspect, there is provided a terminal device. The terminal device comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions. The instructions are configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal device at least to perform a beam prediction. The terminal device is also caused to transmit to a network device, a beam report for the beam prediction. The terminal device is also caused to, based on transmitting the beam report, update an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list based on the beam prediction.

[0007] In a second aspect, there is provided a network device. The network device comprises at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions. The instructions are configured to, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network device at least to receive from a terminal device, a beam report for a beam prediction. The terminal device is also caused to, based on receive the beam report, update an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list for the terminal device based on the beam prediction.

[0008] In a third aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a terminal device. The method comprises performing a beam prediction. The method also comprises transmitting, to a network device, abeam report for the beam prediction. The method also comprises based on transmitting the beam report, updating an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list based on the beam prediction.

[0009] In a fourth aspect, there is provided a method implemented at a network device. The method comprises receiving from a terminal device, a beam report for a beam prediction. The method also comprises based on receive the beam report, updating an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list for the terminal device based on the beam prediction.

[0010] In a fifth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for performing a beam prediction. The apparatus also comprises means for transmitting to a network device, a beam report for the beam prediction. The apparatus also comprises means for, based on transmitting the beam report, updating an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list based on the beam prediction.

[0011] In a sixth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for receiving, from a terminal device, a beam report for a beam prediction. The apparatus also comprises means for, based on receive the beam report, updating an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list for the terminal device based on the beam prediction.

[0012] In a seventh aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method of the above third or fourth aspect.

[0013] In an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the method of the above third or fourth aspect.

[0014] In a ninth aspect, there is provided a terminal device. The terminal device comprises: performing circuitry configured to perform a beam prediction; transmitting circuitry configured to transmit, to a network device, a beam report for the beam prediction; and updating circuitry configured to, based on transmitting the beam report, update an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list based on the beam prediction.

[0015] In a tenth aspect, there is provided a network device. The network device comprises: receiving circuitry configured to receive, from a terminal device, a beam report for a beam prediction; and updating circuitry configured to, based on receiving the beam report, update an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list for the terminal device based on the beam prediction.

[0016] It is to be understood that the summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Fig. 1 illustrates an example communication system in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

[0019] Fig. 2 illustrates a signaling flowchart illustrating a process for updating active TCI state list according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] Fig. 3 illustrates another signaling flowchart illustrating a process for updating active TCI state list according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] Fig. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a terminal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] Fig. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a network device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] Fig. 6 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an apparatus that is suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0024] Fig. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0025] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The principles of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. The disclosure described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0027] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of the ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0028] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0029] It shall be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a secondelement, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0030] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof. As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0031] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions and(c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0032] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example, and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0033] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as long term evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), high-speed packet access (HSPA), narrow band internet of things (NB- loT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in thecommunication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1 G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), 5G advanced, or the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0034] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology.

[0035] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehiclemounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0036] Fig. 1 illustrates an example communication system in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. In the communication system 100, a terminal device 105 can communicate with a network device 110 with a link 115. The network device 105 can have multiple beams such as 120 125, and 130. The terminal device 110 can make beam prediction, and update active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list according to changing of wireless environment. There may be multiple network devices in communication system 100, and the beam prediction can be performedamong different network devices.

[0037] Artificial intelligence (Al) / machine learning (ML) based beam management is agreed to be the topic in Rel-19 work item. Both spatial domain beam prediction (BM-case1) and temporal domain beam prediction (BM-Case2) are considered. The scope of spatial beam prediction (BM-Case1) is to predict the best Tx / Rx beams in different spatial locations. Time-domain beam predictions (BM-Case2) aim to predict the most likely beam to use for next time instants, e.g., beam prediction in the spatial domain (BM-Case1).

[0038] RAN #102 meeting approved the Rel-19 Wl on AI / ML for NR air interface, based on the AI / ML techniques to NR air interface has been studied in FS_NR_AIML_Air |TR 38.843]. This application is about the enhancements related to AI / ML for beam management. Objectives in RP-234039 are to provide specification support for the following aspects. AI / ML general framework for one-sided AI / ML models within the realm of what has been studied in the FS_NR_AIML_Air project [RAN2], and beam management - DL Tx beam prediction for both UE-sided model and NW-sided model, encompassing [RAN1 / RAN2],

[0039] The following terminologies are used in this application.

[0040] AI / ML Model: a data driven algorithm that applies AI / ML techniques to generate a set of outputs based on a set of inputs.

[0041] AI / ML model delivery: a generic term referring to delivery of an AI / ML model from one entity to another entity in any manner. It can be noted that an entity could mean a network node or function (e.g., gNB, LMF, etc.), UE, proprietary server, etc.

[0042] AI / ML model Inference: a process of using a trained AI / ML model to produce a set of outputs based on a set of inputs.

[0043] AI / ML model testing: a subprocess of training, to evaluate the performance of a final AI / ML model using a dataset different from one used for model training and validation. Differently from AI / ML model validation, testing does not assume subsequent tuning of the model.

[0044] AI / ML model training: a process to train an AI / ML Model, such as by learning the input / output relationship, in a data driven manner and obtain the trained AI / ML Model for inference.

[0045] AI / ML model transfer: delivery of an AI / ML model over the air interface in a manner that is not transparent to 3GPP signaling, either parameters of a model structure known at the receiving end or a new model with parameters. Delivery may contain a full model or a partial model.

[0046] AI / ML model validation: a subprocess of training, to evaluate the quality of an AI / ML model using a dataset different from one used for model training, that helps selecting model parameters that generalize beyond the dataset used for model training.

[0047] Data collection: a process of collecting data by the network nodes, management entity, or UE for the purpose of AI / ML model training, data analytics and inference.

[0048] Federated learning / federated training: a machine learning technique that trains an AI / ML model across multiple decentralized edge nodes (e.g., UEs, gNBs) each performing local model training using local data samples. The technique requires multiple interactions of the model, but no exchange of local data samples.

[0049] Functionality identification: a process or method of identifying an AI / ML functionality for the common understanding between the NW and the UE. It can be noted that information regarding the AI / ML functionality may be shared during functionality identification. Where AI / ML functionality resides depends on the specific use cases and sub use cases.

[0050] Model activation: enable an AI / ML model for a specific function.

[0051] Model deactivation: disable an AI / ML model for a specific function.

[0052] Model download: model transfer from the network to UE.

[0053] Model identification: a process or method of identifying an AI / ML model for the common understanding between the NW and the UE. It can be noted that the process or method of model identification may or may not be applicable. Information regarding the AI / ML model may be shared during model identification.

[0054] Model monitoring: a procedure that monitors the inference performance of the AI / ML model.

[0055] Model parameter update: process of updating the model parameters of a model.

[0056] Model selection: the process of selecting an AI / ML model for activation among multiple models for the same AI / ML enabled feature. It can be noted that model selection may or may not be carried out simultaneously with model activation.

[0057] Model switching: deactivating a currently active AI / ML model and activating a different AI / ML model for a specific function.

[0058] Model update: process of updating the model parameters and / or model structure of a model.

[0059] Model upload: model transfer from UE to the network.

[0060] Network-side (AI / ML) model: an AI / ML Model whose inference is performed entirely at the network.

[0061] Offline field data: the data collected from field and used for offline training of the AI / ML model.

[0062] Offline training: an AI / ML training process where the model is trained based on collected dataset, and where the trained model is later used or delivered for inference. It can be noted that this definition onlyserves as a guidance. There may be cases that may not exactly conform to this definition but could still be categorized as offline training by commonly accepted conventions.

[0063] Online field data: the data collected from field and used for online training of the AI / ML model.

[0064] Online training: an AI / ML training process where the model being used for inference is (typically continuously) trained in (near) real-time with the arrival of new training samples. It can be noted that the notion of (near) real-time vs. non real-time is context-dependent and is relative to the inference time-scale. It can be noted that this definition only serves as a guidance. There may be cases that may not exactly conform to this definition but could still be categorized as online training by commonly accepted conventions. Fine- tuning or re-training may be done via online or offline training. This note could be removed when the term fine-tuning is defined.

[0065] Reinforcement Learning (RL): a process of training an AI / ML model from input (such as state) and a feedback signal (such as reward) resulting from the model’s output (such as action) in an environment the model is interacting with.

[0066] Semi-supervised learning: a process of training a model with a mix of labelled data and unlabelled data.

[0067] Supervised learning: a process of training a model from input and its corresponding labels.

[0068] Two-sided (AI / ML) model: a paired AI / ML Model(s) over which joint inference is performed, where joint inference comprises AI / ML Inference whose inference is performed jointly across the UE and the network, i.e., the first part of inference is firstly performed by UE and then the remaining part is performed by gNB, or vice versa.

[0069] UE-side (AI / ML) model: an AI / ML Model whose inference is performed entirely at the UE.

[0070] Unsupervised learning: a process of training a model without labelled data.

[0071] Proprietary-format models: ML models of vendor- or device-specific proprietary format, from 3GPP perspective. They are not mutually recognizable across vendors and hide model design information from other vendors when shared. It can be noted that an example is a device-specific binary executable format.

[0072] Open-format models: ML models of specified format that are mutually recognizable across vendors and allow interoperability, from 3GPP perspective. They are mutually recognizable between vendors and do not hide model design information from other vendors when shared.

[0073] In order to facilitate the AI / ML model inference, it is agreed to study the following aspects as a starting point. The aspect can be enhanced or new configurations, or UE reporting, or UE measurement, such as enhanced or new beam measurement and / or beam reporting. The aspect can also be Enhanced or new signaling for measurement configuration or triggering. The aspect can also be signaling ofassistance information, if it is applicable. Other aspect is not precluded.

[0074] It is agreed in RAN1 #116 meeting that for network-sided model and for UE-sided model, beam indication is based on a unified TCI state framework. It is for future study on whether or how potential enhancement is needed. In the 3rdgeneration partnership project (3GPP) TS38.133, active downlink TCI state list update delay can be defined in Clause 8.15.5 Active Downlink TCI state list update delay In TS 38.133.The requirements specified in this clause are applicable if- higher layer configuration ‘ unifiedTCI-StateType-r17’ is set to ‘separate’, and a MAC CE activates more than one target separate TCIs, and at least one DL TCI is included, or- higher layer configuration ‘ unifiedTCI-StateType-r17’ is set to ‘joint’, and a MAC CE activates more than one target jointTCI.If all the target TCI states in the active TCI state list are known, upon receiving PDSCH carrying MAC-CE active TCI state list update at slot n, UE shall be able to receive PDCCH or PDSCH with the new target TCI states at the first slot that is afterslot lengthIf a subset of the target TCI states in the active TCI state list are unknown, upon receiving PDSCH carrying MAC-CE active TCI state list update at slot n, UE shall be able to receive UE-dedicated PDCCH or PDSCH with the new target TCI states at the first slot that is afterN+THARQ+3Nbt,rame+TL1-RSRPJistslot length

[0075] In some embodiments, following the agreements above, it is proposed in the application with the enhancement of activated or indicated TCI states framework, corresponding new periodicity configuration for measurement report of top-K beam prediction from the UE, the measurement report can comprises such as CSI-RS Resource indicator (CRI) or predicted CRI (PCRI).

[0076] In Rel-19 artificial intelligence (Al) / machine learning (ML) beam management (BM), the beam measurements are used as input to AI / ML model, and they are called as set B beams and the output of AI / ML model is represented by set A beams. The prediction output, such as predicted top-K beams or predicted L1- RSRP corresponding to predicted top-K beams can be reported using periodic channel state information (CSI) report configurations.

[0077] When the terminal device 110 sends prediction output to the network device 105, the network device 105 will need to update transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states and send the updated active TCI states to the terminal device 110 over a media access control-control element (MAC-CE). Then the network device 105 also needs to indicate TCI states and send the indicated beams to the terminal device 110 over a downlink control information (DCI) message. Each TCI contains parameters for configuring aquasi co-location (QCL) relationship between one or two downlink (DL) referenced signals (RSs).

[0078] In the case that top-K predicted beams are not in the active DL TCI state list or if Top-K predicted beams would be in active DL TCI state list, it is not clear how to update DL active TCI state list and what should be the delay requirements when Top-K predicted beams could be in DL TCI state list.

[0079] In some embodiments of the application, the terminal device 110 may be configured or defined to do autonomous update of a subset of active TCI state list, where the subset of active TCI states that get updated may be determined based on the latest beam prediction at the UE side. When the terminal device 110 reports to the network device 105 with predicted Top-K beams (e.g., Top4 beams) or other variants of predicted outputs, the network device 105 will update activated or indicated TCI states corresponding to the predicted Top-K beams.

[0080] Fig. 2 illustrates a signaling flowchart illustrating a process for updating active TCI state list according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the flowchart 200, the network device 105 and the terminal device 110 can be the same as the network device 105 and the terminal device 110 in Fig. 1 respectively.

[0081] At 210, the terminal device 110 performs a beam prediction. The terminal device 110 transmits (218) to the network device 105, a beam report for the beam prediction 220. At 230, based on transmitting the beam report 220, the terminal device 110 updates an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list based on the beam prediction. At 240, based on receiving the beam report 220, the network device 105 updates an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list for the terminal device based on the beam prediction. This way, the terminal device 110 can accurately update the TCI state list autonomously with beam prediction, and improve the efficiency of beam management.

[0082] Fig. 3 illustrates another signaling flowchart illustrating a process for updating active TCI state list according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the flowchart 300, the gNB 305 and the UE 310 can be implementations of the network device 105 and the terminal device 110 in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively.

[0083] In some embodiments, according to 230 in Fig. 1 , based on the beam report 220, the terminal device 110 such as the UE 310 updates a subset of active TCI states in the active TCI state list. The subset of active TCI states is indicated in a signaling such as a MAC-CE command for activating the active TCI state list.

[0084] In detail, the gNB 305 configures (318) the beam prediction 320 at the UE 310, including the UE 310 to consider autonomous TCI state update for the active TCI state list. The gNB 305 sends (328) the MAC-CE command 330 to UE 310, to active a list of TCI states, such as 8 TCI states. For example, out of these 8 TCI states, the last two are allowed to be autonomously updated by the UE 310. This way, the gNB 305 can indicate to the UE 310, the scope of active TCI states that can be autonomously updated by the UE 310. Autonomously active TCI state list updating at the UE side can make the UE 310 work efficiently, thusimproving the efficiency of beam management.

[0085] In some embodiments, at 340, the UE 310 implements inference operation for beam prediction, such as including generating a report of top-4 beams, which corresponds to block 210 in Fig. 2. The beam prediction can be spatial domain beam prediction in case 1 , or temporal domain beam prediction in case 2. The skilled in the art can understand that other types of beam prediction can be used at 340. This way, the UE 310 can further implement autonomously active TCI state list updating, and synchronize with the gNB 305 with report.

[0086] In some embodiments, the UE 310 sends (348) one or more report 350 to the gNB 305, which corresponds to the beam report 220 in Fig. 2. The report 350 can include (i) PCRI (predicted top-k beams) or PCRI and CRI (predicted top-k beams and measured top-k beams). Report 350 can also include (ii) predicted L1-RSRP corresponding CRI and measured RSRP in the same or different CSI-report. This way, the UE 310 can send the predicted or measured top-K beams to the gNB 305, with such as the L1-RSRP. The gNB 305 can determine the autonomously updated TCI state selected by the UE 310, and make further determination for the TCI state update.

[0087] In some embodiments, at 360, the UE 310 selects TCI states for autonomous TCI state activation. At 370, the UE 310 considers a time duration X for the active TCI state list update. This X can be different from the RAN4 requirements on MAC-CE based update delay. This way, the UE 310 can determine the accurate delay for TCI list updating.

[0088] In some embodiments, after transmitting (218) the beam report 220, the terminal device 110 receives an indicated TCI state from the network device 105. The indicated TCI state corresponds to an updated TCI state determined based on the beam prediction. In detail, the UE 310 receives (378) an indicated TCI state 380 from the gNB 305 through DCI. The indicated TCI state 380 is corresponding to a UE- autonomous selected TCI state in 360. This way, the UE 310 and the gNB 305 can make synchronization in active TCI state list updating. According to the indicated TCI state 380, the gNB 305 can update the active TCI state list.

[0089] According to embodiment 300 in Fig. 3, some aspects can be illustrated in detail in the following.

[0090] In some embodiments, the UE 310 may be configured or defined to do an autonomous update of a subset of active TCI state list, where the subset of active TCI states that get updated may be determined based on the latest beam prediction at the UE side. The subset of active TCI states is indicated in a signaling for activating the active TCI state list. The signaling comprises a MAC CE configured for indicating the subset of active TCI states, and the signaling comprises an indication to update the active TCI state list based on the beam prediction in at least one of spatial domain or temporal domain. In detail, this subset of TCI states within the list of active TCI states may be indicated or defined in the MAC-CE command used for activating TCI states, such as at 330 in Fig. 3. In one variant, some code points defined in the MAC-CE may be dedicated for indicating the possibility of UE autonomous TCI state update based on the latest predictedbeams. The beam prediction can be implemented in spatial domain, or temporal domain, or combination of spatial domain and temporal domain. This way, the gNB 305 may configure to the UE 310, the accurate scope for TCI state list updating.

[0091] In some embodiments, the update that UE 310 may do to the active TCI state may be confirmed by the gNB 305 via DCI, such as at 380 in Fig. 3, when a new beam report 350 on beam predictions is received at the gNB 305. This way, the gNB 305 and the UE 310 can synchronize in TCI state list updating.

[0092] In some embodiments, the indicated TCI state in 380 may still be selected by the gNB 305, where the indicated TCI state can correspond to the autonomous UE updated or activated TCI state. This way, the gNB 305 can keep flexible in TCI state list updating.

[0093] In some embodiments, the indicated TCI state in 380 may be different from the selected TCI state by the UE 310 for autonomous TCI state updating. Based on determining that the indicated TCI state is not included in the updated active TCI state list, the UE 310 updates the active TCI state list again based on the indicated TCI state in 380. This way, the gNB 305 can determine the indicated TCI state flexibly, and the TCI state list updating can keep synchronous between the gNB 305 and the UE 310.

[0094] In some embodiments, any other TCI state that is not allowed to update autonomously based on the beam prediction shall not be updated by the UE 310. This way, the gNB 305 can limit the accurate scope of TCI state list updating at the UE 310, finally improving the performance of beam measurement and management.

[0095] In some embodiments, the gNB 305 does not need to update the whole set of activated or indicated TCI states, such as all 8 beams limited in MAC-CE, in the TCI state list. The gNB 305 can update the set of beams, such as 4 beams when there are fixed 4 beams from beam prediction. A new MAC-CE signaling corresponding to a limited set of beams activated or indicated in the TCI state list is provided in the application, such as 330 in Fig. 3. This way, efficiency can be improved in active TCI state list updating.

[0096] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may select, based on at least one criterion, at least one beam from one or more predicted beams of the beam prediction. The UE 310 also updates the active TCI state list based on at least one selected beam. In detail, for the UE 310 that supports UE autonomous TCI state updating, the UE 310 may be further defined with a criterion that the UE 310 can use, when selecting the updates for the activate TCI states list. The criterion for selecting updates can be based on the latest one or more predicted beam reports, such as 350 in Fig. 3. This way, the UE 310 can select activate TCI states for updating flexibly.

[0097] In some embodiments, at least one criterion can be based on determining that the beam report comprises predicted Top-K beams indication, the terminal device 110 selecting the best K1 beams from the predicted Top-K beams. K1 is less than or equal to K. Additionally or alternatively, at least one criterion comprises based on determining that the beam report comprises at least one of predicted Top-K beams indication or related predicted metrics, the terminal device 110 selecting, from the predicted Top-K beams,best K1 beams satisfying a metric limit configured for the predicted metrics. The predicted Top-K beams indication comprises the identification of the predicated Top-K beams. Additionally or alternatively, the predicted Top-K beams indication comprises predicted CRI of the predicted Top-K breams. Additionally or alternatively, the predicted Top-K beams indication comprises predicted L1- reference signal received power (RSRP) of the predicted Top-K beams.

[0098] In detail, in some embodiments, when the UE 310 reports Top-K beams at 350, the UE may be defined to use the best K1 beams (K1 <= K) of Top-K when considering the updates on the active TCI state list. This way, the report sent by the UE 310 can be simplified, to reduce signaling payload.

[0099] In some embodiments, when the UE 310 reports Top-K beams and reference signal receiving power (RSRP) at 350, the UE 310 may be defined to use the best K1 beams (K1 <= K) of Top-K that satisfy the minimum RSRP threshold when considering the updates on active TCI state list. When the UE reports Top-K beams and RSRP at 350, the UE may be defined to use K1 beams (K1 <= K) of Top-K that report measured L1-RSRP when considering the updates on active TCI state list. This way, the K1 beams can be determined accurately with RSRP.

[0100] In some embodiments, when the UE 310 reports Top-K beams and other information at 350, the UE 310 may be defined to use best K1 beams (K1 <= K) of Top-K that satisfy minimum limits configured for the other information such as probability thresholds, when considering the updates on active TCI state list. This way, the K1 beams can be determined accurately with other information such as probability thresholds.

[0101] In some embodiments, in general, when the UE 310 reports Top-K beams, or Top-K beams and RSRP, or Top-K and other information, and the UE 310 determines that some of the reported beams meet the criteria defined for known TCI states, the UE 31 Op may be defined to use such K1 beams (K1 <= K) of Top-K when considering the updates on active TCI state list.

[0102] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 determines zero delay or a first delay for updating the active TCI state list based on the beam prediction. The first delay is smaller than a second delay for the network device to update the active TCI state list.

[0103] In detail, the UE 310 may be defined to consider zero or smaller time duration for active TCI state list update delay, when the UE 310 updates the activate TCI states autonomously, wherein the comparison on smaller time duration at the UE 310 may be done compared to the gNB 305 updating the active TCI state list. This way, the delay for updating active TCI state list at UE side may be set flexibly if it is smaller than the delay for updating active TCI state list at the network side.

[0104] In some embodiments, upon transmitting the beam report 220, the terminal device 110 determines the first delay based on a time duration or a time period for updating the activate TCI state list. In some embodiments, after transmitting the beam report at 220 or 250, and upon receiving a confirmation command from the network device 105 at 380, the terminal device 110 determines the first delay for updating the activeTCI state list based on a time duration or a time period. This way, the terminal device can determine the first delay for updating the active TCI list accurately. The terminal device 110 can transmit to the network device 105, capability information including the time duration or the time period for updating the activate TCI state list. This way, the network device 105 can get the time duration in UE capability accurately.

[0105] In some embodiments, in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the active TCI state list are unknown, the terminal device 110 determines the first delay based on a first parameter, after transmitting the beam report at 220 or 350, and upon receiving a confirmation command at 380 from the network device 105 for the updating of the active TCI state list. The first parameter is equal to 1 for channel state information (CSI) - reference signal (RS) based L1-RSRP measurement. The first parameter is equal to 0 for synchronization signal block (SSB) based L1-RSRP measurement in the case that TCI state switching involves quasi co-location (QCL)-TypeD. This way, the delay for updating the active TCI state list can be determined accurately.

[0106] In some embodiments, in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the active TCI state list are known, after transmitting the beam report and upon receiving a confirmation command from the network device for the updating of the active TCI state list, the terminal device 110 determines the first delay based on a second parameter. The second parameter is equal to 0 in the case that a TCI state is determined based on the beam prediction or the TCI state is in the active TCI state list for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). The second parameter is equal to 1 in the case that a TCI state is not determined based on the beam prediction and the TCI state is not in the active TCI state list for PDSCH / PDCCH. This way, the delay for updating the active TCI state list can be determined accurately.

[0107] In detail, 3GPP TS38.133 can be updated as in the following, to determine the active downlink TCI state list update delay. In the following block, the updated part is shown with underline.autonomous selection, upon transmitting predicted RS report at slot n, UE shall have completed the TCI state list update in slotOption 2: If a subset of the target TCI states in the active TCI state list are defined to the UE for UE- autonomous selection, after transmitting predicted RS report and upon receiving a confirmation command in PCI for the autonomous at slot n, UE shall have completed the TCI state list update in slotOption 3: If a subset of the target TCI states in the active TCI state list are unknown and active TCI state list are defined to the UE for UE-autonomous selection, after transmitting predicted RS report and upon receiving a confirmation command in PCI for the autonomous update at slot n, UE shall have completed the TCI state list update in slotOption 4: If a subset of the target TCI states in the active TCI state list are known and active TCI state list are defined to the UE for UE-autonomous selection, after transmitting predicted RS report and upon receiving a confirmation command in PCI for the autonomous update at slot n, UE shall have completed the TCI state list update in slot n + TOk*(Tfirst-ssB List+ TssB-proe) / NR slot length.If all target TCI states in the active TCI state list are unknown, the requirements specified in this clause are not applicable.WhereTi_i-RSRP_i_ist is the longest L1 measurement time (TLI-RSRP) of the source RS among the unknown target TCI states, where TLI-RSRP is specified in clause 8.15.3If the number of cells associated with the target TCI states in the active TCI list is 2, and time to first SSBs associated to the TCIs are overlapped in FR2,Tfirst-ssB_i_ist = Tfirst-ssB_sc + min(TssB_sc, TSSB_CDP).If the number of cells associated with the target TCI states in the active TCI list is 2, and time to first SSBs associated to the TCIs are not overlapped in FR1 or FR2,Tfirst-SSB_l_ist = max(Tfirst-SSB_SC, Tfirst-SSB_CDp)Otherwise,Tfirst-SSB_l_ist = Tfirst-SSB_SC-TSSB.SC is the SSB periodicity of serving cell.TSSB_CDP is the SSB periodicity of cell with different PCI from serving cell.Tfirst-ssB_sc is the Tfirst-ssB from serving cellTfirst-ssB_cDP is the Tfirst-ssB from cell with different PCI from serving cell.- THARQ, Tfirst-ssB, TssB-proc, TOk, TOuk are defined in clause 8.15.3. TSSB is the SSB periodicity. For Option 3, TOuk = 1 for CSI-RS based L1-RSRP measurement, and 0 for SSB based L1-RSRP measurement when TCI state switching involves QCL-TypeP. For Option 4, TOk = 0 if target TCI state is determined by the UE-autonomous selection or it is in the active TCI state list for PPSCH / PPCCH, 1 otherwise.Option 1 & 2: S is the time duration for updating the activate TCI state list at the UE and the value of S is reported as timedurationActiveTCIstate in the UE capability.

[0108] Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of an example method 400 implemented at a terminal device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The terminal device may be specific implementations of the terminal device 110. For the illustration purposes, the method 400 will be described from the perspective of the terminal device 110 with reference to Fig. 2 as an example.

[0109] At block 410, the terminal device 110 may perform a beam prediction. At 420, the terminal device 110 may transmit to the network device 105, a beam report for the beam prediction. At 430, based on transmitting the beam report, the terminal device 110 may update an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list based on the beam prediction.

[0110] In some embodiments, based on the beam report, the terminal device 110 may update a subset of active TCI states in the active TCI state list.

[0111] In some embodiments, the subset of active TCI states is indicated in a signaling for activating the active TCI state list.

[0112] In some embodiments, the signaling comprises a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC CE) configured for indicating the subset of active TCI states.

[0113] In some embodiments, the signaling comprises an indication to update the active TCI state list based on the beam prediction in at least one of spatial domain or temporal domain.

[0114] In some embodiments, after transmitting the beam report, the terminal device 110 may receive from the network device 105, a confirmation command for the updating of the active TCI state list.

[0115] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may receive an indicated TCI state from the network device 105. The indicated TCI state corresponds to an updated TCI state determined based on the beam prediction.

[0116] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may receive an indicated TCI state from the network device. Based on determining that the indicated TCI state is not included in the updated active TCI state list, the terminal device 110 may update the active TCI state list again based on the indicated TCI state.

[0117] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may update the active TCI state list as in the following. Based on at least one criterion, the terminal device 110 may select at least one beam from one or more predicted beams of the beam prediction. The terminal device 110 may update the active TCI state list based on at least one selected beam.

[0118] In some embodiments, at least one criterion comprises based on determining that the beam report comprises predicted Top-K beams indication, selecting best K1 beams from the predicted Top-K beams. K1is less than or equal to K. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one criterion comprises based on determining that the beam report comprises at least one of predicted Top-K beams indication or related predicted metrics, selecting from the predicted Top-K beams, best K1 beams satisfying a metric limit configured for the predicted metrics. The predicted Top-K beams indication comprises one or more of: identification of the predicated Top-K beams, predicted CRI of the predicted Top-K breams, or predicted L1- reference signal received power (RSRP) of the predicted Top-K beams.

[0119] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine zero delay or a first delay for updating the active TCI state list based on the beam prediction. The first delay is smaller than a second delay for the network device to update the active TCI state list.

[0120] In some embodiments, the first delay is determined upon transmitting the beam report by the terminal device 110, based on a time duration or a time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

[0121] In some embodiments, the first delay is determined after the terminal device 110 transmits the beam report and upon receiving a confirmation command from the network device 105 for the updating of the active TCI state list, based on a time duration or a time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

[0122] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 transmits to the network device 105, capability information including the time duration or the time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

[0123] In some embodiments, in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the active TCI state list are unknown, the first delay is determined based on a first parameter, after the terminal device 110 transmits the beam report and upon receiving a confirmation command from the network device for the updating of the active TCI state list. The first parameter is equal to 1 for channel state information (CSI) - reference signal (RS) based L1-RSRP measurement. The first parameter is equal to 0 for synchronization signal block (SSB) based L1-RSRP measurement in the case that TCI state switching involves quasi colocation (QCL)-TypeD.

[0124] In some embodiments, in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the active TCI state list are known, the first delay is determined based on a second parameter, after the terminal device 110 transmits the beam report and upon receiving a confirmation command from the network device for the updating of the active TCI state list. The second parameter is equal to 0 in the case that a TCI state is determined based on the beam prediction or the TCI state is in the active TCI state list for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) / physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). The second parameter is equal to 1 in the case that a TCI state is not determined based on the beam prediction and the TCI state is not in the active TCI state list for PDSCH / PDCCH.

[0125] Fig. 5 shows a flowchart of an example method 500 implemented at a network device in accordance 1with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The network device may be specific implementations of the network device 105. For the illustration purposes, the method 500 will be described from the perspective of the network device 105 with reference to Fig. 2 as an example.

[0126] At block 510, the network device 105 may receive from a terminal device 110, a beam report for a beam prediction. At 520, based on receiving the beam report, the network device 105 updates an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list for the terminal device based on the beam prediction.

[0127] In some embodiments, the network device 205 may update based on the beam report, a subset of active TCI states in the active TCI state list.

[0128] In some embodiments, the subset of active TCI states is indicated in a signaling for activating the active TCI state list.

[0129] In some embodiments, the signaling comprises a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC CE) configured for indicating the subset of active TCI states.

[0130] In some embodiments, the signaling comprises an indication to update the active TCI state list based on the beam prediction in at least one of spatial domain or temporal domain.

[0131] In some embodiments, after receiving the beam report, the network device 105 may transmit to the terminal device 110, a confirmation command for the updating of the active TCI state list.

[0132] In some embodiments, the network device 105 may transmit an indicated TCI state to the terminal device 110. (i) The indicated TCI state corresponds to an updated TCI state at the terminal device determined based on the beam prediction, or (ii) the indicated TCI state does not correspond to any updated TCI state determined at the terminal device based on the beam prediction.

[0133] In some embodiments, the network device 105 may update the active TCI state list as in the following. The network device 105 may select, based on at least one criterion, at least one beam from one or more predicted beams of the beam prediction. The network device 105 may update the active TCI state list based on at least one selected beam.

[0134] In some embodiments, at least one criterion comprises based on determining that the beam report comprises predicted Top-K beams indication, selecting the best K1 beams from the predicted Top-K beams, wherein K1 is less than or equal to K. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one criterion comprises based on determining that the beam report comprises at least one of predicted Top-K beams indication or related predicted metrics, selecting from the predicted Top-K beams, best K1 beams satisfying a metric limit configured for the predicted metrics. The predicted Top-K beams indication comprises one or more of: identification of the predicated Top-K beams, predicted CRI of the predicted Top-K breams, or predicted L1- reference signal received power (RSRP) of the predicted Top-K beams.

[0135] In some embodiments, the network device 110 may determine zero delay or a first delay for the terminal device to update the active TCI state list based on the beam prediction. The first delay is smaller than a second delay for the network device to update the active TCI state list.

[0136] In some embodiments, the first delay is determined upon the network device 105 receiving the beam report, based on a time duration or a time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

[0137] In some embodiments, the first delay is determined after the network device 105 receives the beam report and upon transmitting a confirmation command to the terminal device 110 for the updating of the active TCI state list, based on a time duration or a time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

[0138] In some embodiments, the network device 105 may receive from the terminal device 110, capability information including the time duration or the time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

[0139] In some embodiments, in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the active TCI state list are unknown to the terminal device, the first delay is determined, based on a first parameter, after the network device 105recei vi ng the beam report and upon transmitting a confirmation command to the terminal device for the updating of the active TCI state list. The first parameter is equal to 1 for channel state information (CSI) - reference signal (RS) based L1-RSRP measurement. The first parameter is equal to 0 for synchronization signal block (SSB) based L1-RSRP measurement in the case that TCI state switching involves quasi co-location (QCL)-TypeD.

[0140] In some embodiments, in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the active TCI state list are known to the terminal device, the first delay is determined, based on a second parameter, after the network device 110 receives the beam report and upon transmitting a confirmation command to the terminal device for the updating of the active TCI state list. The second parameter is equal to 0 in the case that a TCI state is determined based on the beam prediction or the TCI state is in the active TCI state list for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). The second parameter is equal to 1 in the case that a TCI state is not determined based on the beam prediction and the TCI state is not in the active TCI state list for PDSCH / PDCCH.

[0141] In some embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing method 400 (for example, at the terminal device 110) may comprise means for performing the respective steps of method 400. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0142] In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise means for performing a beam prediction, the apparatus may comprise means for transmitting, to a network device, a beam report for the beam prediction, the apparatus may comprise means for, based on transmitting the beam report, updating an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list based on the beam prediction.

[0143] In some embodiments, based on the beam report, the apparatus may further comprise means for updating a subset of active TCI states in the active TCI state list.

[0144] In some embodiments, the subset of active TCI states is indicated in a signaling for activating the active TCI state list.

[0145] In some embodiments, the signaling comprises a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC CE) configured for indicating the subset of active TCI states.

[0146] In some embodiments, the signaling comprises an indication to update the active TCI state list based on the beam prediction in at least one of spatial domain or temporal domain.

[0147] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise means for after transmitting the beam report, receiving from the network device 105, a confirmation command for the updating of the active TCI state list.

[0148] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise means for receiving an indicated TCI state from the network device 105. The indicated TCI state corresponds to an updated TCI state determined based on the beam prediction.

[0149] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise means for receiving an indicated TCI state from the network device. The apparatus may comprise means for based on determining that the indicated TCI state is not included in the updated active TCI state list, updating the active TCI state list again based on the indicated TCI state.

[0150] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise means for updating the active TCI state list as in the following, the apparatus may comprise means for based on at least one criterion, selecting at least one beam from one or more predicted beams of the beam prediction. The apparatus may comprise means for updating the active TCI state list based on at least one selected beam.

[0151] In some embodiments, at least one criterion comprises based on determining that the beam report comprises predicted Top-K beams indication, selecting the best K1 beams from the predicted Top-K beams. K1 is less than or equal to K. Additionally or alternatively, at least one criterion comprises based on determining that the beam report comprises at least one of predicted Top-K beams indication or related predicted metrics, selecting from the predicted Top-K beams, best K1 beams satisfying a metric limit configured for the predicted metrics. The predicted Top-K beams indication comprises one or more of: identification of the predicated Top-K beams, predicted CRI of the predicted Top-K breams, or predicted L1- reference signal received power (RSRP) of the predicted Top-K beams.

[0152] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise means for determining zero delay or a first delay for updating the active TCI state list based on the beam prediction. The first delay is smaller than a second delay for the network device to update the active TCI state list.

[0153] In some embodiments, the first delay is determined upon transmitting the beam report by the terminal device 110, based on a time duration or a time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

[0154] In some embodiments, the first delay is determined after the terminal device 110 transmits thebeam report and upon receiving a confirmation command from the network device 105 for the updating of the active TCI state list, based on a time duration or a time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

[0155] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise means for transmitting to the network device 105, capability information including the time duration or the time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

[0156] In some embodiments, in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the active TCI state list are unknown, the first delay is determined based on a first parameter, after the terminal device 110 transmits the beam report and upon receiving a confirmation command from the network device for the updating of the active TCI state list. The first parameter is equal to 1 for channel state information (CSI) - reference signal (RS) based L1-RSRP measurement. The first parameter is equal to 0 for synchronization signal block (SSB) based L1-RSRP measurement in the case that TCI state switching involves quasi colocation (QCL)-TypeD.

[0157] In some embodiments, in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the active TCI state list are known, the first delay is determined based on a second parameter, after the terminal device 110 transmits the beam report and upon receiving a confirmation command from the network device for the updating of the active TCI state list. The second parameter is equal to 0 in the case that a TCI state is determined based on the beam prediction or the TCI state is in the active TCI state list for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) / physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). The second parameter is equal to 1 in the case that a TCI state is not determined based on the beam prediction and the TCI state is not in the active TCI state list for PDSCH / PDCCH.

[0158] In some embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing method 500 (for example, at the network device 105) may comprise means for performing the respective steps of method 500. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0159] In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise means for receiving, from a terminal device, a beam report for a beam prediction. The apparatus may comprise means for, based on receiving the beam report, updating an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list for the terminal device based on the beam prediction.

[0160] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise means for updating based on the beam report, a subset of active TCI states in the active TCI state list.

[0161] In some embodiments, the subset of active TCI states is indicated in a signaling for activating the active TCI state list.

[0162] In some embodiments, the signaling comprises a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC CE) configured for indicating the subset of active TCI states.

[0163] In some embodiments, the signaling comprises an indication to update the active TCI state list based on the beam prediction in at least one of spatial domain or temporal domain.

[0164] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise means for after receiving the beam report, transmitting to the terminal device 110, a confirmation command for the updating of the active TCI state list.

[0165] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise means for transmitting an indicated TCI state to the terminal device 110. (i) The indicated TCI state corresponds to an updated TCI state at the terminal device determined based on the beam prediction, or (ii) the indicated TCI state does not correspond to any updated TCI state determined at the terminal device based on the beam prediction.

[0166] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise means for updating the active TCI state list as in the following. The apparatus may further comprise means for selecting based on at least one criterion, at least one beam from one or more predicted beams of the beam prediction. The apparatus may further comprise means for updating the active TCI state list based on at least one selected beam.

[0167] In some embodiments, at least one criterion comprises based on determining that the beam report comprises predicted Top-K beams indication, selecting the best K1 beams from the predicted Top-K beams. K1 is less than or equal to K. Additionally or alternatively, at least one criterion comprises based on determining that the beam report comprises at least one of predicted Top-K beams indication or related predicted metrics, selecting from the predicted Top-K beams, best K1 beams satisfying a metric limit configured for the predicted metrics. The predicted Top-K beams indication comprises one or more of: identification of the predicated Top-K beams, predicted CRI of the predicted Top-K breams, or predicted L1- reference signal received power (RSRP) of the predicted Top-K beams.

[0168] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise means for determining zero delay or a first delay for the terminal device to update the active TCI state list based on the beam prediction. The first delay is smaller than a second delay for the network device to update the active TCI state list.

[0169] In some embodiments, the first delay is determined upon the network device 105 receiving the beam report, based on a time duration or a time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

[0170] In some embodiments, the first delay is determined after the network device 105 receives the beam report and upon transmitting a confirmation command to the terminal device 110 for the updating of the active TCI state list, based on a time duration or a time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

[0171] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further comprise means for receiving from the terminal device 110, capability information including the time duration or the time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

[0172] In some embodiments, in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the activeTCI state list are unknown to the terminal device, the first delay is determined, based on a first parameter, after the network device 105 receives the beam report and upon transmitting a confirmation command to the terminal device for the updating of the active TCI state list. The first parameter is equal to 1 for channel state information (CSI) - reference signal (RS) based L1-RSRP measurement. The first parameter is equal to 0 for synchronization signal block (SSB) based L1-RSRP measurement in the case that TCI state switching involves quasi co-location (QCL)-TypeD.

[0173] In some embodiments, in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the active TCI state list are known to the terminal device, the first delay is determined, based on a second parameter, after the network device 110 receives the beam report and upon transmitting a confirmation command to the terminal device for the updating of the active TCI state list. The second parameter is equal to 0 in the case that a TCI state is determined based on the beam prediction or the TCI state is in the active TCI state list for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). The second parameter is equal to 1 in the case that a TCI state is not determined based on the beam prediction and the TCI state is not in the active TCI state list for PDSCH / PDCCH.

[0174] FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a device 600 that is suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 600 may be provided to implement the communication device, for example, the terminal device 110, or the network device 105 as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. As shown, the device 600 includes one or more processors 610, one or more memories 620 coupled to the processor 610, and one or more communication modules 640 coupled to the processor 610.

[0175] The communication module 640 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 640 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication. The communication interface may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements.

[0176] The processor 610 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 600 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0177] The memory 620 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 624, an electrically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random access memory (RAM) 622 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0178] A computer program 630 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 610. The program 630 may be stored in the ROM 620. The processor 610 mayperform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 630 into the RAM 620.

[0179] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 630 so that the device 600 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. The embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0180] In some embodiments, the program 630 may be tangibly contained in a computer-readable medium which may be included in the device 600 (such as in the memory 620) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 600. The device 600 may load the program 630 from the computer-readable medium to the RAM 622 for execution. The computer-readable medium may include any types of tangible non-volatile storage, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. Fig. 7 shows an example of the computer-readable medium 1000 in form of CD or DVD. The computer-readable medium has the program 630 stored thereon.

[0181] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. While various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0182] The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computerexecutable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target real or virtual processor, to carry out the processes 200, 300 or methods 400, 500 and / or as described above with reference to Figs. 1-5. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0183] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program codes, when executed by the processor or controller, cause thefunctions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0184] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program codes or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0185] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. The term “non- transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0186] Further, while operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, while several specific implementation detail are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

[0187] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:1 . A terminal device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal device at least to: perform a beam prediction; transmit, to a network device, a beam report for the beam prediction; and based on transmitting the beam report, update an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list based on the beam prediction.

2. The terminal device of claim 1 , wherein the terminal device is caused to update the active TCI state list by: updating, based on the beam report, a subset of active TCI states in the active TCI state list.

3. The terminal device of claim 2, wherein the subset of active TCI states is indicated in a signaling for activating the active TCI state list.

4. The terminal device of claim 3, wherein the signaling comprises a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC CE) configured for indicating the subset of active TCI states.

5. The terminal device of claim 3 or 4, wherein the signaling comprises an indication to update the active TCI state list based on the beam prediction in at least one of spatial domain or temporal domain.

6. The terminal device of any of claims 1 -5, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: after transmitting the beam report, receive, from the network device, a confirmation command for the updating of the active TCI state list.

7. The terminal device of any of claims 1 -6, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: receive an indicated TCI state from the network device, wherein the indicated TCI state corresponds to an updated TCI state determined based on the beam prediction.

8. The terminal device of any of claims 1 -6, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: receive an indicated TCI state from the network device; and based on determining that the indicated TCI state is not included in the updated active TCI state list, update the active TCI state list again based on the indicated TCI state.

9. The terminal device of any of claims 1 -8, wherein the terminal device is caused to update the active TCI state list by: selecting, based on at least one criterion, at least one beam from one or more predicted beams of the beam prediction; and updating the active TCI state list based on the at least one selected beam.

10. The terminal device of claim 9, wherein the at least one criterion comprises one or more of the following: based on determining that the beam report comprises predicted Top-K beams indication, selecting best K1 beams from the predicted Top-K beams, wherein K1 is less than or equal to K, or based on determining that the beam report comprises at least one of predicted Top-K beams indication or related predicted metrics, selecting, from the predicted Top-K beams, best K1 beams satisfying a metric limit configured for the predicted metrics, wherein the predicted Top-K beams indication comprises at least one of: identification of the predicated Top-K beams, predicted CRI of the predicted Top-K breams, or predicted L1- reference signal received power (RSRP) of the predicted Top-K beams.11 . The terminal device of any of claims 1-10, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: determine zero delay or a first delay for updating the active TCI state list based on the beam prediction, wherein the first delay is smaller than a second delay for the network device to update the active TCI state list.

12. The terminal device of claim 11 , wherein the first delay is determined upon transmitting the beam report, based on a time duration or a time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

13. The terminal device of claim 11 , wherein the first delay is determined after transmitting the beam report and upon receiving a confirmation command from the network device for the updating of the active TCI state list, based on a time duration or a time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

14. The terminal device of claim 12 or 13, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: transmit, to the network device, capability information including the time duration or the time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

15. The terminal device of claim 11 , wherein in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the active TCI state list are unknown, the first delay is determined, based on a first parameter, after transmitting the beam report and upon receiving a confirmation command from the network device for the updating of the active TCI state list, wherein the first parameter is equal to 1 for channel state information (CSI) - reference signal (RS) based L1-RSRP measurement, and the first parameter is equal to 0 for synchronization signal block (SSB) based L1 -RSRP measurement in the case that TCI state switching involves quasi co-location (QCL)-TypeD.

16. The terminal device of claim 11 , wherein in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the active TCI state list are known, the first delay is determined, based on a second parameter, after transmitting the beam report and upon receiving a confirmation command from the network device for the updating of the active TCI state list, wherein the second parameter is equal to 0 in the case that a TCI state is determined based on the beam prediction or the TCI state is in the active TCI state list for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) / physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the second parameter is equal to 1 in the case that a TCI state is not determined based on the beam prediction and the TCI state is not in the active TCI state list for PDSCH / PDCCH.

17. A network device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network device at least to: receive, from a terminal device, a beam report for a beam prediction; and based on receiving the beam report, update an active transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state list for the terminal device based on the beam prediction.

18. The network device of claim 17, wherein the network device is caused to update the active TCI state list by: updating, based on the beam report, a subset of active TCI states in the active TCI state list.

19. The network device of claim 18, wherein the subset of active TCI states is indicated in a signaling for activating the active TCI state list.

20. The network device of claim 19, wherein the signaling comprises a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC CE) configured for indicating the subset of active TCI states.21 . The network device of claim 19 or 20, wherein the signaling comprises an indication to update the active TCI state list based on the beam prediction in at least one of spatial domain or temporal domain.

22. The network device of any of claims 17-21 , wherein the network device is further caused to: after receiving the beam report, transmit, to the terminal device, a confirmation command for the updating of the active TCI state list.

23. The network device of any of claims 17-22, wherein the network device is further caused to: transmit an indicated TCI state to the terminal device, wherein (i) the indicated TCI state corresponds to an updated TCI state at the terminal device determined based on the beam prediction, or (ii) the indicated TCI state does not correspond to any updated TCI state determined at the terminal device based on the beam prediction.

24. The network device of any of claims 17-23, wherein the network device is caused to update the active TCI state list by: selecting, based on at least one criterion, at least one beam from one or more predicted beams of the beam prediction; and updating the active TCI state list based on the at least one selected beam.

25. The network device of claim 24, wherein the at least one criterion comprises one or more of the following: based on determining that the beam report comprises predicted Top-K beams indication, selecting best K1 beams from the predicted Top-K beams, wherein K1 is less than or equal to K, or based on determining that the beam report comprises at least one of predicted Top-K beams indication or related predicted metrics, selecting, from the predicted Top-K beams, best K1 beams satisfying a metric limit configured for the predicted metrics, wherein the predicted Top-K beams indication comprises at least one of: identification of the predicated Top-K beams, predicted CRI of the predicted Top-K breams, or predicted L1- reference signal received power (RSRP) of the predicted Top-K beams.

26. The network device of any of claims 17-25, wherein the network device is further caused to: determine zero delay or a first delay for the terminal device to update the active TCI state list basedon the beam prediction, wherein the first delay is smaller than a second delay for the network device to update the active TCI state list.

27. The network device of claim 26, wherein the first delay is determined upon receiving the beam report, based on a time duration or a time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device; or wherein the first delay is determined after receiving the beam report and upon transmitting a confirmation command to the terminal device for the updating of the active TCI state list, based on a time duration or a time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

28. The network device of claim 27, wherein the network device is further caused to: receive, from the terminal device, capability information including the time duration or the time period for updating the activate TCI state list at the terminal device.

29. The network device of claim 26, wherein in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the active TCI state list are unknown to the terminal device, the first delay is determined, based on a first parameter, after receiving the beam report and upon transmitting a confirmation command to the terminal device for the updating of the active TCI state list, wherein the first parameter is equal to 1 for channel state information (CSI) - reference signal (RS) based L1-RSRP measurement, and the first parameter is equal to 0 for synchronization signal block (SSB) based L1 -RSRP measurement in the case that TCI state switching involves quasi co-location (QCL)-TypeD.

30. The network device of claim 26, wherein in the case that a subset of active TCI states to be updated in the active TCI state list are known to the terminal device, the first delay is determined, based on a second parameter, after receiving the beam report and upon transmitting a confirmation command to the terminal device for the updating of the active TCI state list, wherein the second parameter is equal to 0 in the case that a TCI state is determined based on the beam prediction or the TCI state is in the active TCI state list for physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) / physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the second parameter is equal to 1 in the case that a TCI state is not determined based on the beam prediction and the TCI state is not in the active TCI state list for PDSCH / PDCCH.

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