Power control

Abstract

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus configured to determine an energy saving state or a change in the energy saving state, select a set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with the energy saving state, and determine a transmit power at which the apparatus transmits to a network based at least in part on the selected set of uplink power control parameters.

Description

POWER CONTROLFIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to power control in communication, such as wireless communication, for example.BACKGROUND

[0002] In cellular communication networks, user equipments, UEs, of the network are configured to select a transmit power at which they transmit signals to be received by the network, or, in certain cases, by each other. The correct transmit power is important as in the event the transmit power is too low, the network may be unable to successfully receive information encoded in signals transmitted by the UE, and in case the transmit power is too high, energy will be wasted by the UE and interference may be generated in the network. Interference is a particular concern in systems where plural UEs use the same frequency resources for communication.SUMMARY

[0003] According to some aspects, there is provided the subject-matter of the independent claims. Some embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. The scope of protection sought for various embodiments of the invention is set out by the independent claims. The embodiments, examples and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to determine an energy saving state or a change in the energy saving state, select a set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with the energy saving state, anddetermine a transmit power at which the apparatus transmits to a network based at least in part on the selected set of uplink power control parameters.

[0005] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to transmit to one or more user equipments at least one set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with at least one energy saving state, and communicate with the one or more user equipments.

[0006] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising determining, by an apparatus, an energy saving state or a change in the energy saving state, selecting a set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with the energy saving state, and determining a transmit power at which the apparatus transmits to a network based at least in part on the selected set of uplink power control parameters.

[0007] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method, comprising transmitting, by an apparatus, to one or more user equipments at least one set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with at least one energy saving state, and communicating with the one or more user equipments.

[0008] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for determining, by the apparatus, an energy saving state or a change in the energy saving state, selecting a set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with the energy saving state, and determining a transmit power at which the apparatus transmits to a network based at least in part on the selected set of uplink power control parameters.

[0009] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for transmitting, by the apparatus, to one or more user equipments at least one set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with at least one energy saving state, and communicating with the one or more user equipments.

[0010] According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least determine an energy saving state or a change in the energy saving state, select a set of uplinkpower control parameters which is associated with the energy saving state, and determine a transmit power at which the apparatus transmits to a network based at least in part on the selected set of uplink power control parameters.

[0011] According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least transmit to one or more user equipments at least one set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with at least one energy saving state, and communicate with the one or more user equipments.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIGURE 1 illustrates an example system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0013] FIGURE 2A illustrates a beam pattern in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0014] FIGURE 2B illustrates a beam pattern in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0015] FIGURE 3 illustrates an example apparatus capable of supporting at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0016] FIGURE 4 illustrates signalling in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention;

[0017] FIGURE 5 is a flow graph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention, and

[0018] FIGURE 6 is a flow graph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention.EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Disclosed herein are methods wherein plural sets of uplink power control parameters are provided to a user equipment, the user equipment being configured to select one of the sets of uplink power control parameters based on an energy saving state of the network and / or the user equipment itself. An uplink transmit power determined using the selected set of uplink power control parameters is more appropriate for the prevailing situation than an uplink transmit power determined using a default set of uplink power control parameters. Beneficially, uplink power control becomes more accurate as changes in energy saving state cause less disturbance in uplink transmit power than using a constant, default set of uplink power control parameters.

[0020] FIGURE 1 illustrates an example system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. This system includes base stations 130, 135 in communication with UEs, such as UE 110. A radio link connects base station 130 with UE 110. The radio link may be bidirectional, comprising an uplink, UL, to convey information from UE 110 toward base station 130, and a downlink, DL, to convey information from the base station 130 toward UE 110. A cellular communication system may comprise hundreds or thousands of base stations, of which only two are illustrated in FIGURE 1 for the sake of clarity of the illustration. The base stations may be distributed in that they comprise a centralized unit, CU, and one or more distributed unit, DU. A base station is an example of a base node.

[0021] Base station 130 is further coupled communicatively with core network node 140, which may comprise, for example, an evolved packet core, EPC, comprising a mobility management entity, MME, a home subscriber server, HSS, etc, or a 5G core network comprising an access and mobility management function, AMF, a 5G unified data repository, UDR, a call session management function, SMF, etc. The core network node 140 may be coupled with further core network nodes, and with a network 150, which may comprise the Internet or a corporate network, for example. The system may communicate with further networks via network 150. Examples of the further core network nodes, which are not illustrated in FIGURE 1 for the sake of clarity, include gateways and subscriber information repositories. Core network nodes may be virtualized in the sense that they may run as software modules on computing substrates, such that more than one virtualizednetwork node may run on a same physical computing substrate. The network may be configured to function in accordance with a suitable cellular standard such as long term evolution, LTE, fifth generation, 5G, which is also known as New Radio, NR, or sixth generation, 6G standards as defined by the 3rdgeneration partnership project, 3GPP. To obtain interoperation, UEs attaching to the network are configured to support a same standard as the network.

[0022] Base station 130 controls, in the example of FIGURE 1, cells 130A and 130B, of which UE 110 is in the situation illustrated in FIGURE 1 attached with cell 130A, and base station 135 controls, in the example of FIGURE 1, cells 135 A and 135B. The number of cells and / or beams may be in excess of what is illustrated in FIGURE 1. It is also possible that a base station has a single cell or beam. While illustrated as sector-shaped, cells of a same base station may be omnidirectional and operate on different frequencies, for example. A mobility event may comprise a switch from one beam to another beam of the same cell, or a switch from one cell to another cell. To support mobility procedures, UEs, including UE 110, are configured to conduct mobility measurements to measure signal strengths of adjacent beams and / or cells, and report results of these measurements to the network, which may then take a decision concerning a mobility event, such as a beam change or a cell switch.

[0023] Base stations, BS, such as base stations 130 and 135, are configured to transmit various kinds of information to UEs. In addition to pay load, such as the content of voice and video calls, application data and transferred user files, base stations transmit various kinds of configuration information to control the functioning of UEs in their cells. This configuration information includes grants to use air interface resources for UL and DL, for example.

[0024] As cellular networks may comprise hundreds or even thousands of base stations, energy usage in the radio-access network, RAN, is of interest. Avoiding energy waste is of interest not only for economic but also for environmental and resource efficiency reasons. Further, in case energy savings result in less wireless emissions, also interference in the radio spectrum may be controlled when energy is conserved in the RAN.

[0025] Network energy saving, NES, is a term used when referring to actions taken to limit energy usage in the RAN. Examples of NES actions include placing base stations or transmission-reception point, TRPs, of base stations in sleep modes, implementing discontinuous reception, DRX and / or discontinuous transmission, DTX, switching offantenna panels or antenna elements of a base station and implementing power reductions in cells. Further, in beamforming technologies, the number of beams in use may be reduced and / or their spatial pattern may be modified. Further, a MIMO configuration may be adapted to a less power-hungry setting, such as muting MIMO, also known as spatial adaptation. Yet further, information normally broadcast by a cell, such as system information blocks and / or synchronization signal blocks, may be switched to an on-demand mode where they are not transmitted unless requested by other fixed network nodes or by UEs. More than one NES action may be taken at the same time, and the set of simultaneously active NES actions is an energy saving state. In case there are no active NES actions active, the set is empty. An example of an energy saving state with two NES actions is one where the number of beams is reduced from a maximum number, and DRX is used. An energy saving state may alternatively be referred to as an energy saving mode, or an energy saving level.

[0026] NES actions have been shown to enable energy saving of, for example, in the range of 15 - 30%, a considerable quantity of energy. Further, energy savings may be obtained by using UL-only nodes or UL-only TRPs.

[0027] The network may dynamically select energy saving states for itself, for individual base stations or groups of base stations of the network. For example, energy saving states may be taken into use when traffic in the network, or cell of the network, is low, for example due to normal diurnal variation. Likewise, energy saving states may be deactivated, or changed to less energy-conserving energy saving states, if the amount of data traffic in the cell(s) increases as more UEs enter the coverage area of the cell, for example.

[0028] As uplink transmit power is an important parameter / aspect to control, cellular technologies employ a range of techniques to manage uplink transmit power. For example, the NR radio-access technology, RAT, has UL power control mechanisms for physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, comprising open-loop power control, including support for fractional path-loss compensation, where the UE estimates the UL path-loss based on DL measurements and sets the transmit power accordingly, and closed-loop power control based on explicit transmit power-control, TPC, commands provided by the network to the UE.

[0029] The NR UE determines PUSCH transmission power based on procedures described in 3GPP standards defining NR. In summary, the UE is indicated, or determines, closed-loop parameters, such as a closed-loop index and a TPC command, and open-loop parameters such as pathloss reference RS, a reference power level known as pO and apathloss scaling factor known as alpha. The TPC command is carried in the downlink control information, DCI, scheduling the PUSCH transmission. Also, in NR a TPC command and corresponding closed-loop index can be provided jointly to multiple UEs by means of group- common DCI using DCI format 2-2.

[0030] Some of the main power control parameters that the PUSCH transmission power depends on are: the closed-loop index (also known as power control adjustment state), the TPC command (fb.f.c, absolute or accumulative TPC command), the pathloss reference signal RS, the pO (which may be split in two terms Po_Nominai_puscH and PO_UE_PUSCH), the alpha (for partial of full path-loss compensation), and the delta_TF (that is, ATF i, ^c(t)), also sometimes referred to as a power adjustment component. This term models how the required received power varies when the number of information bits per resource element, BPRE, changes due to different modulation schemes and channel-coding rates.

[0031] As one example, in NR the PUSCH transmit power is determined as follows. If a UE transmits PUSCH on an active UL bandwidth part, BWP, b of carrier f of serving cell c using parameter set configuration with index j and PUSCH power control adjustment state with index I, the UE determines the PUSCH transmission power PpuscH,b,in PUSCH transmission occasion i as, in dBm, PpuscH.s. / .cCfT dd) =

[0032] The parameters of this expression are defined in 3GPP document TS38.213, version 18.0.0, Chapter 7.1.1.

[0033] Sounding reference signal, SRS, power control in NR is somewhat similar to PUSCH power control. Specifically, the SRS transmission power is determined based on the following. If a UE transmits SRS based on a configuration by SRS-ResourceSet on active UL BWP b of carrier f of serving cell c using SRS power control adjustment state with index I , the UE determines the SRS transmission power PSRS,6, / ,C(T QS< 0 inSRS

[0034] The parameters of this expression are defined in 3GPP document TS38.213, version 18.0.0, Chapter 7.1.1. Concerning physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, if a UE transmits a PUCCH on active UL BWP b of carrier f in the primary cell c using PUCCH power control adjustment state with index I, the UE determines the PUCCH transmission power0 inPUCCH transmission occasion i as, in dBm,

[0035] The parameters of this expression are defined in 3GPP document TS38.213, version 18.0.0, Chapter 7.1.1. For SRS and PUCCH, the parameters in the equations provided above are selected as defined in 3GPP specifications. More generally, in various RATs uplink power control uses a set or uplink power control parameters.

[0036] FIGURE 2A illustrates a beam pattern in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. In the case of FIGURE 2 A, a certain number of spatial elements, such as 64 antenna elements, 210 are used to generate a set of six beams 220. As may be seen, beams 220 are highly directional and involve a significant beamforming gain in their respective directions. The number of beams is an example to which this disclosure is not limited.

[0037] FIGURE 2B illustrates a beam pattern in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. Compared to the situation in FIGURE 2A, half of the spatial elements, such as antenna elements, have been switched off, or to an energy saving mode, resulting in a set of, for example, 32 active antenna elements 230, which generate a set of three beams 240. Here too, three is a numerical example to which the disclosure is not limited, rather, the point is that as half of the antenna elements are switched to the energy saving mode, the number of beams may be reduced (e.g., it may halve). Furthermore, the shape of the resulting beams is wider, as schematically illustrated in FIGURE 2B when compared to FIGURE 2A. Using only half of the physically present antenna elements is a NES action.

[0038] In the uplink direction, the base stations do not consume as much energy as in the downlink, which is the direction where the base stations transmit. NES actions may thus comprise the base station reducing the number of active antenna elements in the DL, but not the UL. As another example, also the number active antenna elements for the UL may be reduced, for example by a smaller fraction than for DL, or by the same fraction. When reducing the number of active antenna elements in the DL, in general in the DL direction a loss of few dB, e.g., about up to 6 dB, is expected each time the number of active transmit antenna elements is reduced by half. Depending on the specific beam pattern and e.g., terrain shape, the loss may be more than e.g., 6 dB, or less than e.g., 6 dB. On the other hand, if a specific UE happens to be in a location in the cell which is poorly aligned with the narrower beams, but very well aligned with the wider beams, the reduction in the number of active transmit antenna elements may exceptionally result in a gain, of few dB, such as e.g., up to 6 dB.

[0039] Overall, reducing the number of active antenna elements in DL only will result in an asymmetry between UL and DL. The asymmetry is present in terms of both pathloss and spatial configuration of the beam pattern. UL power control mechanisms may be disturbed by such a change in energy saving state, for example if the DL suddenly experiences a 6dB loss, the UE may responsively increase UL transmit power, unnecessarily since the UL pathloss and beam pattern remain unchanged. In the present disclosure, methods are described to mitigate the impact on UL power control when different energy saving states are applied in the system. Energy saving states may refer to e.g., different spatial patterns (in case of MIMO muting / unmuting), power levels and / or power offset levels (in case of power adaptation). The energy saving states may be combinations of plural different NES actions. Another example of an energy saving state which may cause disturbance in UL power control is a change in the MIMO configuration, for example to a simpler MIMO configuration such as 2x2 from a more complex MIMO configuration such as 4x4. A change in MIMO configuration may comprise muting or unmuting of spatial elements. Examples of spatial elements include antenna elements, antenna ports, antenna panel(s).

[0040] In detail, the UEs are configured with sets of UL power control parameters, such as open loop parameter P0 and alpha, power adjustment parameter, pathloss, and / or pathloss offset, associated with different energy saving states by a mapping from a set of energy saving states to a set of sets of UL power control parameters. In some embodiments,each set of UL power control parameters comprises pO, alpha, power adjustment parameter, pathloss, and / or pathloss offset. For example, a mapping may be stored in the UE which associates specific energy saving states with specific sets of UL power control parameters. The mapping may associate more than one energy saving state with a same set of UL power control parameters. Alternatively, the mapping may be a bijection, mapping each one of the energy saving states with exactly one set of UL power control parameters.

[0041] An energy saving state may comprise one or more of the following NES actions: a spatial pattern, a multiple input multiple output, MIMO, configuration (where each configuration would correspond to different set of active spatial elements or to muting / unmuting different set or number of spatial elements), a set of active spatial elements (such as antenna elements, panels, antenna ports), a set of muted spatial elements (such as antenna elements, panels, antenna ports), a set of downlink reference signals, a set of uplink reference signals, a number of downlink beams, a pattern of downlink beams, a muting of an antenna panel or transmission-reception point, a unmuting of an antenna panel or transmission-reception point, a power offset corresponding to at least one physical channel, a power level corresponding to at least one physical channel, an energy level, a number of muted antenna elements, a number of muted antenna ports, a set of active antenna elements, and a set of active antenna ports. For example, an energy saving state may comprise a combination of a set of active spatial elements and a power offset. For example, an energy saving state may comprise a combination of a set of inactive spatial elements and a power offset. For example, an energy saving state may comprise a combination of a power offset and a power level. For example, an energy saving state may comprise a combination of downlink beam pattern and a power offset. For example, an energy saving state may comprise a combination of a spatial configuration and a MIMO configuration. For example, an energy saving state may comprise a combination of a muting pattern and a reference signal set. For example, an energy saving state may comprise a combination of a spatial configuration and a reference signal set. For example, an energy saving state may comprise a combination of a spatial configuration and a muting pattern.

[0042] A spatial pattern comprises a pattern of beams of a base station. A MIMO configuration comprises a set of UL and DL inputs and outputs, such as 2x2, 4x4, 6x6 or 8x8. A set of active spatial elements comprises a set, or subset, of physical antenna elements which are switched in an active state for DL. A set of muted spatial elements is the set, or subset, of the physical antenna elements which are switched in an inactive state for DL. Aset of downlink reference signals is a set of DL reference signals, which remain active, other DL reference signals being inactive or available on demand. A set of uplink reference signals is a set of UL reference signals, which remain active, other UL reference signals being inactive. Power offsets may be defined with respect to a situation where no NES actions are active with respect to power levels. A muting pattern comprises a set of muted aspects of a base station, such as antenna elements, antenna ports or antenna panels.

[0043] The base station may provide, e.g., through MAC CE or DCI / PDCCH (be it UE dedicated DCI / PDCCH or group common DCI / PDCCH), an indication indicative of an energy saving state which is active in the base station, or which the base station has determined to activate in the base station. Alternatively to indicating the energy saving state, the indication may indicate a change in energy saving state; this indication may be provided e.g., through MAC CE or DCI / PDCCH (be it UE dedicated DCI / PDCCH or group common DCI / PDCCH). For example, the indication of change may indicate that the number of active DL antenna elements, or more generally spatial elements, will be reduced by half, or that a power offset will be applied from a current power level. Yet further, alternatively to the base station providing an indication of the energy saving state or change in the energy saving state, in some embodiments the UE is configured to determine the energy saving state or the change in the energy saving state implicitly from the behavior of the base station. For example, broadcasted system information may indicate implicitly that an aspect of the base station is subject to a NES action. Further, The UE may determine the energy saving state or the change in energy saving state based on measurements of DL reference signals, for example, if the measured pathloss or reference signal received power, RSRP, corresponding to one or more beams or TCI states or reference signals (such as SSB(s), CSI-RS(s)), satisfies at least one (certain) condition. For example, the UE may deduce an energy saving state or change thereof when the measured pathloss or RSRP declines below a threshold, increases above a threshold, falls within a certain range or suddenly changes by more than a threshold amount.

[0044] The UE, for an energy saving state determined to be active in the base station, would thus use a set of UL power control parameters associated with this energy saving state to determine an UL transmit power for at least one of: PUSCH, PUCCH, SRS, and physical random access channel, PRACH. The UE would change the set of UL power control parameters in use when the energy saving state of the network changes.

[0045] The UE, for an applicable energy saving state change, would thus use a corresponding configured set of UL power control parameters, and use such parameters to determine UL transmit power for at least one of: PUSCH, PUCCH, SRS and PRACH. For example, the sets of UL power control parameters may be associated with each other such that these associations are in turn mapped with types of change in the energy saving state. It is then possible for the UE to determine the new set of UL power control parameters using the current set of UL power control parameters and the determined change in energy saving state.

[0046] In some embodiments, the UE only uses the selected set of UL power control parameters for PUSCH and PUCCH. In other embodiments, the UE only uses the selected set of UL power control parameters for SRS and PRACH. In other embodiments, the UE only uses the selected set of UL power control parameters for SRS. In other embodiments, the UE only uses the selected set of UL power control parameters for PRACH. In yet further embodiments, the UE only uses the selected set of UL power control parameters for either PUSCH or PUCCH. The UE may use the default set of UL power control parameters for channels for which the UE does not use the selected set of UL power control parameters.

[0047] The set, or sets, of UL power control parameters associated with specific energy saving states may be configured into the UE via radio resource control, RRC, signaling and may be subsequently updated via MAC CE or DO, for example. In some embodiments, these sets of UL power control parameters are configured into the UEs using broadcasted system information blocks, after which they may be updated using MAC CE or DO, for example. The network may likewise provide to the UE the mapping from the energy saving states to the sets of UL power control parameters.

[0048] In some embodiments, a set of UL power control parameters is associated with a combination of a TCI state and an energy saving state applicable in that TCI state. In general TCI states correspond to transmit and / or receive beams of the base station; more generally, TCI state may provide quasi-colocation information which corresponds to source reference signal(s) information. For example, TCI state 1 , corresponding to energy saving state 1, may be associated with a first set of UL power control parameters; and TCI state 2, corresponding to energy saving state 2, may be associated with a second set of UL power control parameters. The correspondence / association between a TCI state and an energy saving state(s) may be provided via higher layer signaling such as RRC, via MAC CE, and / orvia DCI; note that this correspondence / association may be indirect (e.g., through association of set of UL power control parameters, which is associated to a TCI state, to an energy saving state). When the first energy saving state is applicable and thus TCI state 1 is applicable, the UE may use the first set of UL power control parameters, whereas when the second energy saving state is applicable and thus TCI state 2 is applicable, the UE may use the second set of UL power control parameters. Further, two or more sets of UL power control parameters may be associated with at least one TCI state and a specific at least one energy saving state. For example, TCI state 1 may be associated with a first set of UL power control parameters when in a first energy saving state and with a second set of set of UL power control parameters when in a second energy saving state. Alternatively, or additionally, two or more sets of UL power control parameters may be associated with at least one TCI state, where each set of UL power control parameters may be associated with an energy saving state. And a set of UL power control parameters may be applicable when a respective energy saving state is applicable and the corresponding TCI state is applicable. For example, TCI state 1 may be associated with a first set of UL power control parameters and a second set of UL power control parameters, where the first set is associated with a first energy saving state and the second set is associated with a second energy saving state. And, assuming TCI state 1 is applicable / indicated, the first set of UL power control parameters is applicable if the first energy saving state is applicable and the second set of UL power control parameters is applicable if the second energy saving state is applicable.

[0049] In some embodiments, the UE is configured to perform the selecting of the set of uplink power control parameters based on the determined energy saving state and an identity of at least one TCI state that the apparatus is configured or indicated with, wherein the at least one TCI state is associated with the determined energy saving state, the determined energy saving state being in use by the at least one TCI state that the apparatus is configured or indicated with.

[0050] In addition to, or alternatively to, a network energy saving state, the UE may consider an energy saving state of itself when selecting the sett of UL power control parameters to apply. Energy saving states of the UE include states where one or more antenna panel of the UE is switched off, power offsets are applied and / or states where a MIMO configuration has been changed to a less capable one, for example from 6x6 to 4x4 or 2x2. In these cases, the UE may associate sets of UL power control parameters with combinationsof a network energy saving state and a UE energy saving state. These sets of UL power control parameters may likewise be configured in the UE by the network.

[0051] For multi-TRP scenarios, when a TRP of a base station is muted or unmuted, the UE may correspondingly change a used set of UL power control parameters for the determination of UL transmit power for transmissions towards active TRP(s). When a (serving) cell is deactivated or activated, the UE may correspondingly change set of UL power control parameters used for the determination of UL transmit power for transmission on another cell(s).

[0052] The base station may be provided with the sets of UL power control parameters in a gradual process, such that network operators may, responsive to detecting error states occurring in a cell, or cells, controlled by the base station, configure the base station with sets of UL power control parameters which the operators associate with energy saving states, such as network energy saving states. Network energy saving states are energy saving states of the base station. Thus the mapping from energy saving states to sets of UL power control parameters may be built up gradually by the operators. Alternatively, network operators may configure groups of base stations with the sets of UL power control parameters and associate these with the energy saving states and / or the changes in energy saving state, as described herein above.

[0053] The methods disclosed herein provide the advantage, that suitable adaptation of UL power control parameters, such as P0 and alpha, based on applicable energy saving state, may be accomplished faster than in case power control would have to adapt to the changed situation gradually. Further, interference peaks may be avoided or at least their effects may be reduced as the used UL power control parameters can be promptly changed to a suitable set. In addition, throughput / coverage may be maintained, at least to a certain level, depending on the applicable energy saving state.

[0054] FIGURE 3 illustrates an example apparatus capable of supporting at least some embodiments of the present invention. Illustrated is device 300, which may comprise, for example, a mobile communication device such as UE 110 of FIGURE 1 or, in applicable parts, a base station. Comprised in device 300 is processor 310, which may comprise, for example, a single- or multi-core processor wherein a single-core processor comprises one processing core and a multi-core processor comprises more than one processing core. Processor 310 may comprise, in general, a control device. Processor 310 may comprise morethan one processor. When processor 310 comprises more than one processor, device 300 may be a distributed device wherein processing of tasks takes place in more than one physical unit. Processor 310 may be a control device. A processing core or processor may be, or may comprise, at least one qubit. Processor 310 may comprise at least one applicationspecific integrated circuit, ASIC. Processor 310 may comprise at least one field- programmable gate array, FPGA. Processor 310, optionally together with memory and computer instructions, may be means for performing method steps in device 300, such as determining, selecting, using and transmitting. Processor 310 may be configured, at least in part by computer instructions, to perform actions.

[0055] A processor may comprise circuitry, or be constituted as circuitry or circuitries, the circuitry or circuitries being configured to perform phases of methods in accordance with embodiments described herein. 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 analogue and / or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as, as applicable: (i) a combination of analogue 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 UE or base station, 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.

[0056] 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 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 server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0057] Device 300 may comprise memory 320. Memory 320 may comprise randomaccess memory and / or permanent memory. Memory 320 may comprise at least one RAM chip. Memory 320 may be a computer readable medium. Memory 320 may comprise solid-state, magnetic, optical and / or holographic memory, for example. Memory 320 may be at least in part accessible to processor 310. Memory 320 may be at least in part comprised in processor 310. Memory 320 may be means for storing information. Memory 320 may comprise computer instructions that processor 310 is configured to execute. When computer instructions configured to cause processor 310 to perform certain actions are stored in memory 320, and device 300 overall is configured to run under the direction of processor 310 using computer instructions from memory 320, processor 310 and / or its at least one processing core may be considered to be configured to perform said certain actions. Memory 320 may be at least in part external to device 300 but accessible to device 300. Memory 320 may be transitory or non-transitory. The term “non-transitory”, as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (that is, tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (for example, RAM vs. ROM).

[0058] Device 300 may comprise a transmitter 330. Device 300 may comprise a receiver 340. Transmitter 330 and receiver 340 may be configured to transmit and receive, respectively, information in accordance with at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. Transmitter 330 may comprise more than one transmitter. Receiver 340 may comprise more than one receiver. Transmitter 330 and / or receiver 340 may be configured to operate in accordance with global system for mobile communication, GSM, wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA, 5G, 6G, long term evolution, LTE, IS-95, wireless local area network, WLAN, Ethernet and / or worldwide interoperability for microwave access, WiMAX, standards, for example.

[0059] Device 300 may comprise a near-field communication, NFC, transceiver 350. NFC transceiver 350 may support at least one NFC technology, such as NFC, Bluetooth, Wibree or similar technologies.

[0060] Device 300 may comprise user interface, UI, 360. UI 360 may comprise at least one of a display, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a vibrator arranged to signal to a user by causing device 300 to vibrate, a speaker or a microphone. A user may be able to operate device 300 via UI 360, for example to accept incoming telephone calls, to originate telephone calls or video calls, to browse the Internet, to manage digital files stored in memory 320 or on a cloud accessible via transmitter 330 and receiver 340, or via NFC transceiver 350, and / or to play games.

[0061] Device 300 may comprise or be arranged to accept a user identity module 370. User identity module 370 may comprise, for example, a subscriber identity module, SIM, card installable in device 300. A user identity module 370 may comprise information identifying a subscription of a user of device 300. A user identity module 370 may comprise cryptographic information usable to verify the identity of a user of device 300 and / or to facilitate encryption of communicated information and billing of the user of device 300 for communication effected via device 300.

[0062] Processor 310 may be furnished with a transmitter arranged to output information from processor 310, via electrical leads internal to device 300, to other devices comprised in device 300. Such a transmitter may comprise a serial bus transmitter arranged to, for example, output information via at least one electrical lead to memory 320 for storage therein. Alternatively to a serial bus, the transmitter may comprise a parallel bus transmitter. Likewise processor 310 may comprise a receiver arranged to receive information in processor 310, via electrical leads internal to device 300, from other devices comprised in device 300. Such a receiver may comprise a serial bus receiver arranged to, for example, receive information via at least one electrical lead from receiver 340 for processing in processor 310. Alternatively to a serial bus, the receiver may comprise a parallel bus receiver.

[0063] Device 300 may comprise further devices not illustrated in FIGURE 3. For example, where device 300 comprises a smartphone, it may comprise at least one digital camera. Some devices 300 may comprise a back-facing camera and a front-facing camera, wherein the back-facing camera may be intended for digital photography and the frontfacing camera for video telephony. Device 300 may comprise a fingerprint sensor arranged to authenticate, at least in part, a user of device 300. In some embodiments, device 300 lacks at least one device described above. For example, some devices 300 may lack a NFC transceiver 350 and / or user identity module 370.

[0064] Processor 310, memory 320, transmitter 330, receiver 340, NFC transceiver 350, UI 360 and / or user identity module 370 may be interconnected by electrical leads internal to device 300 in a multitude of different ways. For example, each of the aforementioned devices may be separately connected to a master bus internal to device 300, to allow for the devices to exchange information. However, as the skilled person will appreciate, this is only one example and depending on the embodiment various ways ofinterconnecting at least two of the aforementioned devices may be selected without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0065] FIGURE 4 illustrates signalling in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. On the vertical axes are disposed, on the left, a base station BS and on the right, a UE. Time advances from the top toward the bottom.

[0066] In phase 410, the base station configures the UE with plural sets of UL power control parameters and a mapping from a set of energy saving states to the set of sets of UL power control parameters. The mapping enables selection of a set of UL power control parameters associated with a specific energy saving state, for example an energy saving state of the base station itself. The sets of UL power control parameters may each comprise pO, alpha, power adjustment parameter, and / or pathloss or pathloss offset for example. As another example, the sets of UL power control parameters each comprises only either pO or alpha or power adjustment parameter or pathloss offset. The sets of UL power control parameters may each comprise pO and alpha.

[0067] In phase 420 the base station determines that an energy saving state is to be taken into use. This determination may be performed by the base station autonomously, or it may be a response to an instruction received in the base station from a core network, for example. In phase 430, an indication of the energy saving state determined in phase 420 is provided to the UE. The indication of phase 430 may be provided, for example, a short time period, such as one second, before the determined energy saving state will be taken into use. In some embodiments, the indication of phase 430 comprises the time, when the determined energy saving state will be taken into use, enabling the UE to change its UL power control parameters at the correct moment.

[0068] In phase 440, the UE selects a set of UL power control parameters based on the indication of phase 430 and the mapping received in phase 410. Subsequently, in phase 450, the UE uses the selected set of UL power control parameters to determine a transmit power for the uplink, for example for PUSCH and / or PUCCH. The determination of the UL transmit power may be further based on parameters not included in the selected set of UL power control parameters, for example a TPC command may be received from the base station in addition to parameters included in the sets of UL power control parameters.

[0069] Finally, in phase 460, the UE transmits in the UL using a transmit power level determined in phase 450 using the selected set of UL power control parameters.

[0070] FIGURE 5 is a flow graph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. The phases of the illustrated method may be performed in a UE, or in a control device configured to control the functioning thereof, when installed therein.

[0071] Phase 510 comprises determining, by an apparatus, an energy saving state or a change in the energy saving state. Phase 520 comprises selecting a set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with the energy saving state. Phase 530 comprises determining a transmit power at which the apparatus transmits to a network based at least in part on the selected set of uplink power control parameters.

[0072] FIGURE 6 is a flow graph of a method in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present invention. The phases of the illustrated method may be performed in a base station, or in a control device configured to control the functioning thereof, when installed therein.

[0073] Phase 610 comprises transmitting, by an apparatus, to one or more user equipments at least one set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with at least one energy saving state. Finally, phase 620 comprises communicating with the one or more user equipments.

[0074] It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention disclosed are not limited to the particular structures, process steps, or materials disclosed herein, but are extended to equivalents thereof as would be recognized by those ordinarily skilled in the relevant arts. It should also be understood that terminology employed herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting.

[0075] Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Where reference is made to a numerical value using a term such as, for example, about or substantially, the exact numerical value is also disclosed.

[0076] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositionalelements, and / or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on their presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. In addition, various embodiments and example of the present invention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate and autonomous representations of the present invention.

[0077] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the preceding description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of lengths, widths, shapes, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

[0078] While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.

[0079] The verbs “to comprise” and “to include” are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of also un-recited features. The features recited in depending claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of "a" or "an", that is, a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.

[0080] 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.INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0081] At least some embodiments of the present invention find industrial application in wireless communication.ACRONYMS LIST BWP bandwidth partDL downlinkMIMO multiple input multiple outputPC power controlTPC transmit power control UE user equipmentUL uplinkREFERENCE SIGNS LISTTECHNICAL CLAUSES:Clause 1. An apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to:- determine an energy saving state or a change in the energy saving state;- select a set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with the energy saving state, and- determine a transmit power at which the apparatus transmits to a network based at least in part on the selected set of uplink power control parameters.Clause 2. The apparatus according to Clause 1, wherein the energy saving state comprises one or more of the following: a spatial pattern, at least one downlink power adaptation parameter, a muting pattern and a pattern of reference signals.Clause 3. The apparatus according to Clause 1 or 2, wherein the set of uplink power control parameters comprises one, more than one or all of the following: at least one closed-loop index, at least one transmit power control command, at least one pathloss reference signal, at least one reference power level, at least one power adjustment parameter, at least one pathloss value, at least one pathloss offset, at least one pathloss scaling factor, and at least one modulation and coding scheme dependent uplink power control parameter.Clause 4. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 1 - 3, configured to perform the selecting of the set of uplink power control parameters from a plurality of sets of uplink power control parameters stored in the apparatus, wherein each set of uplink power control parameters is associated with a respective energy saving state.Clause 5. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 1 - 3, configured to perform the selecting of the set of uplink power control parameters from a plurality of sets of uplink power control parameters received from the network, wherein each set of uplink power control parameters is associated with a respective energy saving state.Clause 6. The apparatus according to Clause 5, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive the plurality of sets of uplink power control parameters from the network via higher layer signalling, medium access control, MAC, control element, or downlink control information.Clause 7. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 1 - 6, configured to perform the determining of the energy saving state, or the change in the energy saving state, by receiving from the network an indication indicative of the energy saving state or the change in the energy saving state.Clause 8. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 1 - 6, configured to perform the determining of the energy saving state, or the change in the energy saving state, by obtaining from the network an implicit indication of the energy saving state or the change in the energy saving state.Clause 9. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 1 - 6, configured to perform the determining of the energy saving state, or the change in the energy saving state, based on at least one predefined condition.Clause 10. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 1 - 9, configured to use the determined transmit power when transmitting to the network using at least one of a physical uplink shared channel, a physical uplink control channel, a sounding reference signal, and a physical random-access channel.Clause 11. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 1 - 10, wherein the energy saving state comprises at least one of an energy saving state of the network and an energy saving state of the apparatus itself.Clause 12. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 1 - 11, configured to perform the selecting of the set of uplink power control parameters further based on an identity of at least one transmission configuration indicator state that the apparatus is configured or indicated with, wherein the at least one transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a respective energy saving state.Clause 13. An apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to:- transmit to one or more user equipments at least one set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with at least one energy saving state;- and- communicate with the one or more user equipments.Clause 14. The apparatus according to Clause 13, further configured to: change the energy saving state; and transmit in a cell controlled by the apparatus an indication indicative of the change of the energy saving state, wherein the energy saving state is a network energy saving state.Clause 15. The apparatus according to Clause 13 or 14, configured to transmit to the one or more user equipments a plurality of sets of uplink power control parameters, each set of uplink power control parameters being associated with a respective energy saving state.Clause 16. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 12 - 15, wherein the energy saving state comprises one or more of the following: a number or pattern of downlink beams, a muting of an antenna panel or transmission-reception point, a power offset, a number of active antenna elements and a number of active antenna ports.Clause 17. The apparatus according to any of Clauses 12 - 16, wherein the at least one set of uplink power control parameters comprises one, more than one or all of the following: a closed-loop index, a transmit power control command, a pathloss reference signal, a reference power level, a pathloss scaling factor and a modulation and coding set dependent uplink power control parameter.Clause 18. A method comprising:- determining, by an apparatus, an energy saving state or a change in the energy saving state;- selecting a set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with the energy saving state, anddetermining a transmit power at which the apparatus transmits to a network based at least in part on the selected set of uplink power control parameters.Clause 19. The method according to Clause 18, wherein the energy saving state comprises one or more of the following: a spatial pattern, at least one downlink power adaptation parameter, a muting pattern and a pattern of reference signal.Clause 20. The method according to Clause 18 or 19, wherein the set of uplink power control parameters comprises one, more than one or all of the following: at least one closed-loop index, at least one transmit power control command, at least one pathloss reference signal, at least one reference power level, at least one power adjustment parameter, at least one pathloss value, at least one pathloss offset, at least one pathloss scaling factor, and at least one modulation and coding scheme dependent uplink power control parameter.Clause 21. The method according to any of Clauses 18- 20, comprising performing the selecting of the set of uplink power control parameters from a plurality of sets of uplink power control parameters stored in the apparatus, wherein each set of uplink power control parameters is associated with a respective energy saving state.Clause 22. The method according to any of Clauses 18- 20, comprising performing the selecting of the set of uplink power control parameters from a plurality of sets of uplink power control parameters received from the network, wherein each set of uplink power control parameters is associated with a respective energy saving state.Clause 23. The method according to Clause 22, comprising receiving the plurality of sets of uplink power control parameters from the network via higher layer signalling, medium access control, MAC, control element, or downlink control information.Clause 24. The method according to any of Clauses 18- 23, comprising performing the determining of the energy saving state, or the change in the energy saving state by receiving from the network an indication indicative of the energy saving state or the change in the energy saving state.Clause 25. The method according to any of Clauses 18- 24, comprising performing the determining of the energy saving state, or the change in the energy saving state, by obtaining from the network an implicit indication of the energy saving state or the change in the energy saving state.Clause 26. The method according to any of Clauses 18- 24, comprising performing the determining of the energy saving state, or the change in the energy saving state, based on at least one predefined condition.Clause 27. The method according to any of Clauses 18 -26, comprising using the determined transmit power when transmitting to the network using at least one of a physical uplink shared channel, a physical uplink control channel, a sounding reference signal, and a physical random-access channel.Clause 28. The method according to any of Clauses 18 - 27, wherein the energy saving state comprises at least one of an energy saving state of the network and an energy saving state of the apparatus itself.Clause 29. The method according to any of Clauses 18- 28, comprising performing the selecting of the set of uplink power control parameters further based on an identity of at least one transmission configuration indicator state that the apparatus is configured or indicated with, wherein the at least one transmission configuration indicator state is associated with a respective energy saving state.Clause 30. A method, comprising:- transmitting, by an apparatus, to one or more user equipments at least one set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with at least one energy saving state;- and- communicating with the one or more user equipments.Clause 31. The method according to Clause 30, further comprising: changing the energy saving state; andtransmitting in a cell controlled by the apparatus an indication indicative of the change of the energy saving state, wherein the energy saving is being a network energy saving state.Clause 32. The method according to Clause 30 or 32, comprising transmitting to the one or more user equipments a plurality of sets of uplink power control parameters, each set of uplink power control parameters being associated with a respective energy saving state.Clause 33. The method according to any of Clauses 30 - 32, wherein the energy saving state comprises one or more of the following: a number or pattern of downlink beams, a muting of an antenna panel or transmission-reception point, a power offset, a number of active antenna elements and a number of active antenna ports.Clause 34. The method according to any of Clauses 30 - 33, wherein the at least one set of uplink power control parameters comprises one, more than one or all of the following: a closed-loop index, a transmit power control command, a pathloss reference signal, a reference power level, a pathloss scaling factor and a modulation and coding set dependent uplink power control parameter.Clause 35. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least:- determine an energy saving state or a change in the energy saving state;- select a set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with the energy saving state, and- determine a transmit power at which the apparatus transmits to a network based at least in part on the selected set of uplink power control parameters.Clause 36. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least:- transmit to one or more user equipments at least one set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with at least one energy saving state;- and- communicate with the one or more user equipments.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to:- determine an energy saving state or a change in the energy saving state;- select a set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with the energy saving state, and- determine a transmit power at which the apparatus transmits to a network based at least in part on the selected set of uplink power control parameters.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energy saving state comprises one or more of the following: a spatial pattern, at least one downlink power adaptation parameter, a muting pattern and a pattern of reference signals.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the set of uplink power control parameters comprises one, more than one or all of the following: at least one closed-loop index, at least one transmit power control command, at least one pathloss reference signal, at least one reference power level, at least one power adjustment parameter, at least one pathloss value, at least one pathloss offset, at least one pathloss scaling factor, and at least one modulation and coding scheme dependent uplink power control parameter.

4. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 3, configured to perform the selecting of the set of uplink power control parameters from a plurality of sets of uplink power control parameters stored in the apparatus, wherein each set of uplink power control parameters is associated with a respective energy saving state.

5. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 3, configured to perform the selecting of the set of uplink power control parameters from a plurality of sets of uplink power control parameters received from the network, wherein each set of uplink power control parameters is associated with a respective energy saving state.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the apparatus is configured to receive the plurality of sets of uplink power control parameters from the network via higher layer signalling, medium access control, MAC, control element, or downlink control information.

7. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 6, configured to perform the determining of the energy saving state, or the change in the energy saving state, by receiving from the network an indication indicative of the energy saving state or the change in the energy saving state.

8. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 6, configured to perform the determining of the energy saving state, or the change in the energy saving state, by obtaining from the network an implicit indication of the energy saving state or the change in the energy saving state.

9. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 8, configured to use the determined transmit power when transmitting to the network using at least one of a physical uplink shared channel, a physical uplink control channel, a sounding reference signal, and a physical random-access channel.

10. The apparatus according to any of claims 1 - 19 wherein the energy saving state comprises at least one of an energy saving state of the network and an energy saving state of the apparatus itself.

11. An apparatus comprising at least one processing core and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing core, cause the apparatus at least to:- transmit to one or more user equipments at least one set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with at least one energy saving state;- and- communicate with the one or more user equipments.

12. A method comprising:- determining, by an apparatus, an energy saving state or a change in the energy saving state;- selecting a set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with the energy saving state, and- determining a transmit power at which the apparatus transmits to a network based at least in part on the selected set of uplink power control parameters.

13. A method, comprising:- transmitting, by an apparatus, to one or more user equipments at least one set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with at least one energy saving state;- and- communicating with the one or more user equipments.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least:- determine an energy saving state or a change in the energy saving state;- select a set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with the energy saving state, and- determine a transmit power at which the apparatus transmits to a network based at least in part on the selected set of uplink power control parameters.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a set of computer readable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause an apparatus to at least:- transmit to one or more user equipments at least one set of uplink power control parameters which is associated with at least one energy saving state;- and- communicate with the one or more user equipments.

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