User equipments, base stations, and communication methods

Abstract

A method performed by a user equipment (UE) is described. The method includes receiving, from a base station, a CSI report configuration; generating a CSI report for the CSI report configuration; and determining a value of a parameter to be used in calculating a priority value associated with the CSI report, wherein the value of the parameter is set to a first value or a second value based on whether one or more predicted CSI-RS resource indicators (P-CRI) included in the CSI report.

Description

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0010] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating one 600 example of downlink beam prediction by a UE 102;

[0011] Figure 7 is a flow diagram illustrating one implementation of a method 700 for determining priority values for CSI reports by a UE 102;

[0012] Figure 8 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a UE;

[0013] Figure 9 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a base station; [Description of Embodiments]

[0014] A user equipment (UE) is described. The UE includes reception unit configure to receive, from a base station, a CSI report configuration; and control unit configured to generate a CSI report for the CSI report configuration, and to determine a value of a parameter to be used in calculating a priority value associated with the CSI report, wherein the value of the parameter is set to a first value or a second value based on whether one or more predicted CSI-RS resource indicators (P-CRI) included in the CSI report.

[0015] A base station is described. The base station includes transmission unit configured to transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a CSI report configuration; control unit configured to determine a value of a parameter to be used in calculating a priority value associated with a CSI report for the CSI report configuration, wherein the value of the parameter is set to a first value or a second value based on whether one or more predicted CSI-RS resource indicators (P-CRI) included in the CSI report.

[0016] A communication method performed by a user equipment (UE) is described. The method includes receiving, from a base station, a CSI report configuration; generating a CSI report for the CSI report configuration; and determining a value of a parameter to be used in calculating a priority value associated with the CSI report, wherein the value of the parameter is set to a first value or a second value based onwhether one or more predicted CSI-RS resource indicators (P-CRI) included in the CSI report.

[0017] 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is the name given to a project to improve the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) mobile phone or device standard to cope with future requirements. In one aspect, UMTS has been modified to provide support and specification for the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN). 3GPP NR (New Radio) is the name given to a project to improve the LTE mobile phone or device standard to cope with future requirements. In one aspect, LTE has been modified to provide support and specification (TS 38.331, 38.321, 38.300, 37.340, 38.211, 38.212, 38.213, 38.214, etc.) for the New Radio Access (NR) and Next generation - Radio Access Network (NG-RAN).

[0018] At least some aspects of the systems and methods disclosed herein may be described in relation to the 3 GPP LTE, LTE- Advanced (LTE- A), LTE- Advanced Pro, New Radio Access (NR), and other 3G / 4G / 5G standards (e.g., 3GPP Releases 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and / or 18, and / or Narrow Band-Internet of Things (NB-IoT)). However, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited in this regard. At least some aspects of the systems and methods disclosed herein may be utilized in other types of wireless communication systems.

[0019] A wireless communication device may be an electronic device used to communicate voice and / or data to a base station, which in turn may communicate with a network of devices (e.g., public switched telephone network (PSTN), the Internet, etc.). In describing systems and methods herein, a wireless communication device may alternatively be referred to as a mobile station, a UE (User Equipment), an access terminal, a subscriber station, a mobile terminal, a remote station, a user terminal, a terminal, a subscriber unit, a mobile device, a relay node, etc. Examples of wireless communication devices include cellular phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptop computers, netbooks, e-readers, wireless modems, industrial wireless sensors, video surveillance, wearables, vehicles, roadside units, infrastructure devices, etc. In 3GPP specifications, a wireless communication device is typically referred to as a UE. However, as the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the 3 GPP standards, the terms “UE” and “wireless communication device”may be used interchangeably herein to mean the more general term “wireless communication device”.

[0020] In 3 GPP specifications, a base station is typically referred to as a gNB, a Node B, an eNB, a home enhanced or evolved Node B (HeNB) or some other similar terminology. As the scope of the disclosure should not be limited to 3GPP standards, the terms “base station,”, “gNB”, “Node B,” “eNB,” and “HeNB” may be used interchangeably herein to mean the more general term “base station.” Furthermore, one example of a “base station” is an access point. An access point may be an electronic device that provides access to a network (e.g., Local Area Network (LAN), the Internet, etc.) for wireless communication devices. The term “communication device” may be used to denote both a wireless communication device and / or a base station.

[0021] It should be noted that as used herein, a “cell” may be any communication channel that is specified by standardization or regulatory bodies to be used for International Mobile Telecommunications-Advanced (IMT-Advanced), IMT-2020 (5G) and all of it or a subset of it may be adopted by 3GPP as licensed bands (e.g., frequency bands) to be used for communication between a base station and a UE. It should also be noted that in NR, NG-RAN, E-UTRA and E-UTRAN overall description, as used herein, a “cell” may be defined as “combination of downlink and optionally uplink resources.” The linking between the carrier frequency of the downlink resources and the carrier frequency of the uplink resources may be indicated in the system information transmitted on the downlink resources.

[0022] “Configured cells” are those cells of which the UE is aware and is allowed by a base station to transmit or receive information. “Configured cell(s)” may be serving cell(s). The UE may receive system information and perform the required measurements on configured cells. “Configured cell(s)” for a radio connection may consist of a primary cell and / or no, one, or more secondary cell(s). “Activated cells” are those configured cells on which the UE is transmitting and receiving. That is, activated cells are those cells for which the UE monitors the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and in the case of a downlink transmission, those cells for which the UE decodes a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). “Deactivated cells” are those configured cells that the UE is not monitoring the transmission PDCCH. It should be noted that a “cell” may be described in terms of differing dimensions. For example, a “cell” may have temporal, spatial (e.g., geographical) and frequency characteristics.

[0023] The base stations may be connected by the NG interface to the 5G - core network (5G-CN). 5G-CN may be called as to NextGen core (NGC), or 5G core (5GC). The base stations may also be connected by the S 1 interface to the evolved packet core (EPC). For instance, the base stations may be connected to a NextGen (NG) mobility management function by the NG-2 interface and to the NG core User Plane (UP) functions by the NG-3 interface. The NG interface supports a many-to-many relation between NG mobility management functions, NG core UP functions and the base stations. The NG-2 interface is the NG interface for the control plane and the NG-3 interface is the NG interface for the user plane. For instance, for EPC connection, the base stations may be connected to a mobility management entity (MME) by the Sl - MME interface and to the serving gateway (S-GW) by the Sl-U interface. The SI interface supports a many-to-many relation between MMEs, serving gateways and the base stations. The SI -MME interface is the SI interface for the control plane and the S 1 -U interface is the S 1 interface for the user plane. The Uu interface is a radio interface between the UE and the base station for the radio protocol.

[0024] The radio protocol architecture may include the user plane and the control plane. The user plane protocol stack may include packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) and physical (PHY) layers. A DRB (Data Radio Bearer) is a radio bearer that carries user data (as opposed to control plane signaling). For example, a DRB may be mapped to the user plane protocol stack. The PDCP, RLC, MAC and PHY sublayers (terminated at the base station 460a on the network) may perform functions (e.g., header compression, ciphering, scheduling, ARQ and HARQ) for the user plane. PDCP entities are located in the PDCP sublayer. RLC entities may be located in the RLC sublayer. MAC entities may be located in the MAC sublayer. The PHY entities may be located in the PHY sublayer.

[0025] The control plane may include a control plane protocol stack. The PDCP sublayer (terminated in base station on the network side) may perform functions (e.g., ciphering and integrity protection) for the control plane. The RLC and MAC sublayers (terminated in base station on the network side) may perform the same functions as for the user plane. The Radio Resource Control (RRC) (terminated in base station on the network side) may perform the following functions. The RRC may perform broadcast functions, paging, RRC connection management, radio bearer (RB) control, mobilityfunctions, UE measurement reporting and control. The Non-Access Stratum (NAS) control protocol (terminated in MME on the network side) may perform, among other things, evolved packet system (EPS) bearer management, authentication, evolved packet system connection management (ECM)-IDLE mobility handling, paging origination in ECM-IDLE and security control.

[0026] Signaling Radio Bearers (SRBs) are Radio Bearers (RB) that may be used only for the transmission of RRC and NAS messages. Three SRBs may be defined. SRBO may be used for RRC messages using the common control channel (CCCH) logical channel. SRB1 may be used for RRC messages (which may include a piggybacked NAS message) as well as for NAS messages prior to the establishment of SRB2, all using the dedicated control channel (DCCH) logical channel. SRB2 may be used for RRC messages which include logged measurement information as well as for NAS messages, all using the DCCH logical channel. SRB2 has a lower priority than SRB1 and may be configured by a network (e.g., base station) after security activation. A broadcast control channel (BCCH) logical channel may be used for broadcasting system information. Some of BCCH logical channel may convey system information which may be sent from the network to the UE via BCH (Broadcast Channel) transport channel. BCH may be sent on a physical broadcast channel (PBCH). Some of BCCH logical channel may convey system information which may be sent from the network to the UE via DL-SCH (Downlink Shared Channel) transport channel. Paging may be provided by using paging control channel (PCCH) logical channel.

[0027] System information may be divided into the Master InformationB lock (MIB) and a number of SystemlnformationB locks (SIBs).

[0028] The UE may receive one or more RRC messages from the base station to obtain RRC configurations or parameters. The RRC layer of the UE may configure RRC layer and / or lower layers (e.g., PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer) of the UE according to the RRC configurations or parameters which may be configured by the RRC messages, broadcasted system information, and so on. The base station may transmit one or more RRC messages to the UE to cause the UE to configure RRC layer and / or lower layers of the UE according to the RRC configurations or parameters which may be configured by the RRC messages, broadcasted system information, and so on.

[0029] The size of various fields in the time domain is expressed in time units The constant / cwhere T

[0030] Multiple OFDM numerologies are supported as given by Table 4.2-1 of [TS 38.211] where p and the cyclic prefix for a bandwidth part are obtained from the higher- layer parameter subcarrierSpacing and cyclicPrefix, respectively.

[0031] The size of various fields in the time domain may be expressed as a number of time units Tc=l / (15000x2048) seconds. Downlink and uplink transmissions are organized into frames with Tf = (A fmaxNf / 100) ■ Tc= 10ms duration, each consisting of ten subframes of Tsf= (kfmaxNf 11000) ■ Tc= 1ms duration. The number of consecutive OFDM symbols per subframe isEach frame is divided into two equally-sized halfframes of five subframes each with half-frame 0 consisting of subframes 0 -4 and halfframe 1 consisting of subframes 5 - 9.

[0032] For subcarrier spacing (SCS) configuration p, slots are numbered nin increasing order within a subframe andincreasing order within a frame. jsthe number ofslots per subframe for subcarrier spacing configuration p. There are N^y°^bconsecutive OFDM symbols in a slot where N^y^b depends on the cyclic prefix as given by Tables 4.3.2-1 and 4.3.2-2 of [TS 38.211], The start of slot n$ in a subframe is aligned in time with the start of OFDM symbol n^N^y^ in the same subframe. Subcarrier spacing refers to a spacing (or frequency bandwidth) between two consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. For example, the subcarrier spacing can be set to 15kHz (i.e., p=0), 30kHz (i.e. / / =1), 60kHz (i.e. p=2), 120kHz (i.e. p=3), or 240kHz (i.e. / / =4). A resource block is defined as a number of consecutive subcarriers (e.g., 12) in the frequency domain. For a carrier with different frequency, the applicable subcarrier may be different. For example, for a carrier in a frequency rang 1, a subcarrier spacing only among a set of {15kHz, 30kHz, 60kHz} is applicable. For a carrier in a frequency rang 2, a subcarrier spacing only among a set of {60kHz, 120kHz, 240kHz} is applicable. The base station may not configure an inapplicable subcarrier spacing for a carrier.

[0033] OFDM symbols in a slot can be classified as 'downlink', 'flexible', or 'uplink'. Signaling of slot formats is described in subclause 11.1 of [TS 38.213].

[0034] In a slot in a downlink frame, the UE may assume that downlink transmissions only occur in 'downlink' or 'flexible' symbols. In a slot in an uplink frame, the UE may only transmit in 'uplink' or 'flexible' symbols.

[0035] Various examples of the systems and methods disclosed herein are now described with reference to the Figures, where like reference numbers may indicate functionally similar elements. The systems and methods as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different implementations. Thus, the following more detailed description of several implementations, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit scope, as claimed, but is merely representative of the systems and methods.

[0036] Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating one configuration of one or more base stations 160 (e.g., eNB, gNB) and one or more user equipments (UEs) 102 in which systems and methods for determining priority values for CSI reports may be implemented. The one or more UEs 102 may communicate with one or more base stations 160 using one or more antennas 122a-n. For example, a UE 102 transmits electromagnetic signals to the base station 160 and receives electromagnetic signals from the base station 160 using the one or more antennas 122a-n. The base station 160 communicates with the UE 102 using one or more antennas 180a-n.

[0037] It should be noted that in some configurations, one or more of the UEs 102 described herein may be implemented in a single device. For example, multiple UEs 102 may be combined into a single device in some implementations. Additionally or alternatively, in some configurations, one or more of the base stations 160 described herein may be implemented in a single device. For example, multiple base stations 160 may be combined into a single device in some implementations. In the context of Figure 1, for instance, a single device may include one or more UEs 102 in accordance with the systems and methods described herein. Additionally or alternatively, one or more base stations 160 in accordance with the systems and methods described herein may be implemented as a single device or multiple devices.

[0038] The UE 102 and the base station 160 may use one or more channels 119, 121 to communicate with each other. For example, a UE 102 may transmit information or data to the base station 160 using one or more uplink (UL) channels 121 and signals.Examples of uplink channels 121 include a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), etc. Examples of uplink signals include a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) and a sounding reference signal (SRS), etc. The one or more base stations 160 may also transmit information or data to the one or more UEs 102 using one or more downlink (DL) channels 119 and signals, for instance. Examples of downlink channels 119 include a PDCCH, a PDSCH, etc. A PDCCH can be used to schedule DL transmissions on PDSCH and UL transmissions on PUSCH, where the Downlink Control Information (DCI) on PDCCH includes downlink assignment and uplink scheduling grants. The PDCCH is used for transmitting Downlink Control Information (DCI) in a case of downlink radio communication (radio communication from the base station to the UE). Here, one or more DCIs (may be referred to as DCI formats) are defined for transmission of downlink control information. Information bits are mapped to one or more fields defined in a DCI format. Examples of downlink signals include a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), a nonzero power channel state information reference signal (NZP CSI-RS), and a zero-power channel state information reference signal (ZP CSI-RS), etc. Other kinds of channels or signals may be used.

[0039] Each of the one or more UEs 102 may include one or more transceivers 118, one or more demodulators 114, one or more decoders 108, one or more encoders 150, one or more modulators 154, one or more data buffers 104 and one or more UE operations modules 124. For example, one or more reception and / or transmission paths may be implemented in the UE 102. For convenience, only a single transceiver 118, decoder 108, demodulator 114, encoder 150 and modulator 154 are illustrated in the UE 102, though multiple parallel elements (e.g., transceivers 118, decoders 108, demodulators 114, encoders 150 and modulators 154) may be implemented.

[0040] The transceiver 118 may include one or more receivers (reception units) 120 and one or more transmitters (transmission units) 158. The one or more receivers 120 may receive signals (e.g., downlink channels, downlink signals, sidelink channels, sidelink signals) from the base station 160 or from another UE 102 using one or more antennas 122a-n. For example, the receiver 120 may receive and downconvert signals to produce one or more received signals 116. The one or more received signals 116 may be provided to a demodulator 114. The one or more transmitters 158 may transmitsignals (e.g., uplink channels, uplink signals, sidelink channels, sidelink signals) to the base station 160 or to another UE 102 using one or more antennas 122a-n. For example, the one or more transmitters 158 may upconvert and transmit one or more modulated signals 156.

[0041] The demodulator 114 may demodulate the one or more received signals 116 to produce one or more demodulated signals 112. The one or more demodulated signals 112 may be provided to the decoder 108. The UE 102 may use the decoder 108 to decode signals. The decoder 108 may produce one or more decoded signals 106, 110. For example, a first UE-decoded signal 106 may comprise received payload data, which may be stored in a data buffer 104. A second UE-decoded signal 110 may comprise overhead data and / or control data. For example, the second UE-decoded signal 110 may provide data that may be used by the UE operations module 124 to perform one or more operations.

[0042] As used herein, the term “module” may mean that a particular element or component may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software. However, it should be noted that any element denoted as a “module” herein may alternatively be implemented in hardware. For example, the UE operations module 124 may be implemented in hardware, software or a combination of both.

[0043] In general, the UE operations module 124 may enable the UE 102 to communicate with the one or more base stations 160. The UE operations module 124 may include a UE RRC information configuration module 126. The UE operations module 124 may include a UE control module 128. In some implementations, the UE operations module 124 may include physical (PHY) entities, Medium Access Control (MAC) entities, Radio Link Control (RLC) entities, packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entities, and a Radio Resource Control (RRC) entity. For example, the UE RRC information configuration module 126 may process RRC parameters for random access configurations, initial UL BWP configuration, CSI report configuration(s), and so on.

[0044] For a UE which is capable of implementing operations of AI / ML models and / or AI / ML functionalities, the UE operations module 124 may implement functions of Data Collection, Model Training, Management, Inference, and / or model storage.

[0045] The UE control module 128 may determine, based on CSI report configuration, to generate a CSI report. The UE control module 128 may also determine to calculate a priority value associated with the CSI report. In calculating the priorityvalue, the UE control module 128 may determine a value of a parameter based on whether the CSI report carries beam inference information.

[0046] The UE operations module 124 may provide information 148 to the one or more receivers 120. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform the receiver(s) 120 when or when not to receive transmissions based on the Radio Resource Control (RRC) message (e.g., broadcasted system information, RRC reconfiguration message), MAC control element, SCI (Sidelink Control Information) and / or the DCI (Downlink Control Information). The UE operations module 124 may provide information 148, including the PDCCH monitoring occasions, DCI format size, PSCCH monitoring occasions and SCI format size, to the one or more receivers 120. The UE operation module 124 may inform the receiver(s) 120 when or where to receive / monitor the PDCCH candidate for DCI formats and / or the PSCCH candidate for SCI formats.

[0047] The UE operations module 124 may provide information 138 to the demodulator 114. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform the demodulator 114 of a modulation pattern anticipated for transmissions from the base station 160.

[0048] The UE operations module 124 may provide information 136 to the decoder 108. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform the decoder 108 of an anticipated encoding for transmissions from the base station 160. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform the decoder 108 of an anticipated PDCCH candidate encoding with which DCI size for transmissions from the base station 160.

[0049] The UE operations module 124 may provide information 142 to the encoder 150. The information 142 may include data to be encoded and / or instructions for encoding. For example, the UE operations module 124 may instruct the encoder 150 to encode transmission data 146 and / or other information 142.

[0050] The encoder 150 may encode transmission data 146 and / or other information 142 provided by the UE operations module 124. For example, encoding the data 146 and / or other information 142 may involve error detection and / or correction coding, mapping data to space, time and / or frequency resources for transmission, multiplexing, etc. The encoder 150 may provide encoded data 152 to the modulator 154.

[0051] The UE operations module 124 may provide information 144 to the modulator 154. For example, the UE operations module 124 may inform the modulator154 of a modulation type (e.g., constellation mapping) to be used for transmissions to the base station 160. The modulator 154 may modulate the encoded data 152 to provide one or more modulated signals 156 to the one or more transmitters 158.

[0052] The UE operations module 124 may provide information 140 to the one or more transmitters 158. This information 140 may include instructions for the one or more transmitters 158. For example, the UE operations module 124 may instruct the one or more transmitters 158 when to transmit a signal to the base station 160. The one or more transmitters 158 may upconvert and transmit the modulated signal(s) 156 to one or more base stations 160.

[0053] The base station 160 may include one or more transceivers 176, one or more demodulators 172, one or more decoders 166, one or more encoders 109, one or more modulators 113, one or more data buffers 162 and one or more base station operations modules 182. For example, one or more reception and / or transmission paths may be implemented in a base station 160. For convenience, only a single transceiver 176, decoder 166, demodulator 172, encoder 109 and modulator 113 are illustrated in the base station 160, though multiple parallel elements (e.g., transceivers 176, decoders 166, demodulators 172, encoders 109 and modulators 113) may be implemented.

[0054] The transceiver 176 may include one or more receivers (reception units) 178 and one or more transmitters (transmission units) 117. The one or more receivers 178 may receive signals (e.g., uplink channels, uplink signals) from the UE 102 using one or more antennas 180a-n. For example, the receiver 178 may receive and downconvert signals to produce one or more received signals 174. The one or more received signals 174 may be provided to a demodulator 172. The one or more transmitters 117 may transmit signals (e.g., downlink channels, downlink signals) to the UE 102 using one or more antennas 180a-n. For example, the one or more transmitters 117 may upconvert and transmit one or more modulated signals 115.

[0055] The demodulator 172 may demodulate the one or more received signals 174 to produce one or more demodulated signals 170. The one or more demodulated signals 170 may be provided to the decoder 166. The base station 160 may use the decoder 166 to decode signals. The decoder 166 may produce one or more decoded signals 164, 168. For example, a first base station-decoded signal 164 may comprise received payload data, which may be stored in a data buffer 162. A second base station-decoded signal 168 may comprise overhead data and / or control data. For example, the second basestation-decoded signal 168 may provide data (e.g., PUSCH transmission data) that may be used by the base station operations module 182 to perform one or more operations.

[0056] In general, the base station operations module 182 may enable the base station 160 to communicate with the one or more UEs 102. The base station operations module 182 may include a base station RRC information configuration module 194. The base station operations module 182 may include a base station control module 196 (or a base station processing module 196). The base station operations module 182 may include PHY entities, MAC entities, RLC entities, PDCP entities, and an RRC entity.

[0057] For a base station which is capable of implementing operations of AI / ML models and / or AI / ML functionalities, the base station operation 182 may implement functions of Data Collection, Model Training, Management, Inference, and / or model storage.

[0058] The base station control module 196 may determine, for respective UE, CSI report configuration and input the information to the base station RRC information configuration module 194. The base station control module 196 may determine to calculate a priority value associated with a CSI report. In calculating the priority value, the base station control module 196 may determine a value of a parameter based on whether the CSI report carries beam inference information.

[0059] The base station operations module 182 may provide the benefit of performing PDCCH candidate search and monitoring efficiently. The base station operations module 182 may provide information 190 to the one or more receivers 178. For example, the base station operations module 182 may inform the receiver(s) 178 when or when not to receive transmissions based on the RRC message (e.g., broadcasted system information, RRC reconfiguration message), MAC control element, and / or the DCI (Downlink Control Information).

[0060] The base station operations module 182 may provide information 188 to the demodulator 172. For example, the base station operations module 182 may inform the demodulator 172 of a modulation pattern anticipated for transmissions from the UE(s) 102.

[0061] The base station operations module 182 may provide information 186 to the decoder 166. For example, the base station operations module 182 may inform the decoder 166 of an anticipated encoding for transmissions from the UE(s) 102.

[0062] The base station operations module 182 may provide information 101 to the encoder 109. The information 101 may include data to be encoded and / or instructions for encoding. For example, the base station operations module 182 may instruct the encoder 109 to encode transmission data 105 and / or other information 101.

[0063] In general, the base station operations module 182 may enable the base station 160 to communicate with one or more network nodes (e.g., a NG mobility management function, a NG core UP functions, a mobility management entity (MME), serving gateway (S-GW), gNBs). The base station operations module 182 may also generate a RRC reconfiguration message to be signaled to the UE 102.

[0064] The encoder 109 may encode transmission data 105 and / or other information 101 provided by the base station operations module 182. For example, encoding the data 105 and / or other information 101 may involve error detection and / or correction coding, mapping data to space, time and / or frequency resources for transmission, multiplexing, etc. The encoder 109 may provide encoded data 111 to the modulator 113. The transmission data 105 may include network data to be relayed to the UE 102.

[0065] The base station operations module 182 may provide information 103 to the modulator 113. This information 103 may include instructions for the modulator 113. For example, the base station operations module 182 may inform the modulator 113 of a modulation type (e.g., constellation mapping) to be used for transmissions to the UE(s) 102. The modulator 113 may modulate the encoded data 111 to provide one or more modulated signals 115 to the one or more transmitters 117.

[0066] The base station operations module 182 may provide information 192 to the one or more transmitters 117. This information 192 may include instructions for the one or more transmitters 117. For example, the base station operations module 182 may instruct the one or more transmitters 117 when to (or when not to) transmit a signal to the UE(s) 102. The base station operations module 182 may provide information 192, including the PDCCH monitoring occasions and DCI format size, to the one or more transmitters 117. The base station operation module 182 may inform the transmitter(s) 117 when or where to transmit the PDCCH candidate for DCI formats with which DCI size. The one or more transmitters 117 may upconvert and transmit the modulated signal(s) 115 to one or more UEs 102.

[0067] It should be noted that one or more of the elements or parts thereof included in the base station(s) 160 and UE(s) 102 may be implemented in hardware. For example, one or more of these elements or parts thereof may be implemented as a chip, circuitry or hardware components, etc. It should also be noted that one or more of the functions or methods described herein may be implemented in and / or performed using hardware. For example, one or more of the methods described herein may be implemented in and / or realized using a chipset, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) or integrated circuit, etc.

[0068] A base station may generate a RRC message including the one or more RRC parameters and may transmit the RRC message to a UE. A UE may receive, from a base station, a RRC message including one or more RRC parameters. In the present disclosure, the terms ‘RRC parameter(s)’, ‘RRC information element(s)’, ‘higher layer parameter(s)’ can be used interchangeably. In the present disclosure, higher layer may refer to a layer upper than the physical layer (i.e., Layer 1), for example, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, SDAP layer, RRC layer, and / or application layer.

[0069] A RRC parameter may further include one or more RRC parameter(s). In the present disclosure, a RRC message may include system information, a RRC message may include one or more RRC parameters. A RRC message may be sent on a broadcast control channel (BCCH) logical channel, a common control channel (CCCH) logical channel or a dedicated control channel (DCCH) logical channel.

[0070] In the present disclosure, a description “a UE is configured with or is provided a parameter” also implies the description “the UE may receive, from the base station, an RRC message (or information) which includes the parameter”. Likewise, the description “a base station configures the UE with or provides the UE the parameter” also implies the description “the base station may transmit, to the UE, an RRC message (or information) which includes the parameter”.

[0071] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating one example of a resource grid 200.

[0072] For each numerology (i.e., for each SCS w) and carrier, a resource grid ofsubcarriers andflOFDM symbols is defined, starting atcommon resource block^ indicated by higher layer signaling. There is one set of resource grids per transmission direction (uplink or downlink) with the subscript x set to DL and UL for downlink and uplink, respectively. There is one resource grid for a given antenna port p, subcarrier spacing configuration p, and the transmissiondirection (downlink or uplink). When there is no risk for confusion, the subscript x may be dropped.

[0073] In the Figure 2, the resource gird 200 includes the N202) subcarriers in the frequency domain and includes N(204) symbols in the time domain. In the Figure 2, as an example for illustration, the subcarrier spacing configuration / z is set to 0. That is, in the Figure 2, the number of consecutive OFDM symbols204) per subframe is equal to 14.

[0074] The carrier bandwidth N for subcarrier spacingconfiguration / z is given by the higher-layer (RRC) parameter carrierBandwidth in the SCS-SpeciflcCarrier IE. The starting position N&iftart,,ifor subcarrier spacing configuration p is given by the higher-layer parameter in the SCS-SpecificCarrier IE. The frequency location of a subcarrier refers to the center frequency of that subcarrier.

[0075] In the Figure 2, for example, a value of offset is provided by the higher-layer parameter offsetToCarrier. That is, k = 12 X offset is the lowest usable subcarrier on this carrier.

[0076] Each element in the resource grid for antenna port p and subcarrier spacing configuration p is called a resource element and is uniquely identified by (k, l)p^ where k is the index in the frequency domain and I refers to the symbols position in the time domain relative to same reference point. The resource element consists of one subcarrier during one OFDM symbol.

[0077] A resource block is defined as McRB=12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. As shown in the Figure 2, a resource block 206 includes 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. Resource block can be classified as common resource block (CRB) and physical resource block (PRB).

[0078] Common resource blocks are numbered from 0 and upwards in the frequency domain for subcarrier spacing configuration p. The center of subcarrier 0 of common resource block with index 0 (i.e. CRB0) for subcarrier spacing configuration p coincides with point A. The relation between the common resource block number B 'nth® frequency domain and resource element (k, I) for subcarrier spacingconfiguration p is given by Formula (1') where k is defined relative to the point A such that k=Q corresponds to the subcarrier centered around the point A.The function floor(A) hereinafter is floor operation to output a maximum integer not larger than the A.

[0079] Point A refers to as a common reference point. Point A coincides with subcarrier 0 (i.e., fc=0) of a CRB 0 for all subcarrier spacing. Point A can be obtained from a RRC parameter offsetToPointA or a RRC parameter absoluteFrequencyPointA. The RRC parameter offsetToPointA is used for a PCell downlink and represents the frequency offset between point A and the lowest subcarrier of the lowest resource block, which has the subcarrier spacing provided by a higher-layer parameter subCarrierSpacingCommon and overlaps with the SS / PBCH block used by the UE for initial cell selection, expressed in units of resource blocks assuming 15 kHz subcarrier spacing for frequency range (FR) 1 and 60 kHz subcarrier spacing for frequency range (FR2). FR1 corresponds to a frequency range between 410MHz and 7125MHz. FR2 corresponds to a frequency range between 24250MHz and 52600MHz. The RRC parameter absoluteFrequencyPointA is used for all cased other than the PCell case and represents the frequency-location of point A expressed as in ARFCN. The frequency location of point A can be the lowest subcarrier of the carrier bandwidth ( or the actual carrier). Additionally, point A may be located outside the carrier bandwidth ( or the actual carrier).

[0080] As above mentioned, the information element (IE) SCS-SpecificCarrier provides parameters determining the location and width of the carrier bandwidth or the actual carrier. That is, a carrier (or a carrier bandwidth, or an actual carrier) is determined (identified, or defined) at least by a RRC parameter offsetToCarrier, a RRC parameter subcarrierSpacing, and a RRC parameter carrierBandwidth in the SCS- SpecificCarrier IE.

[0081] The subcarrierSpacing indicates (or defines) a subcarrier spacing of the carrier. The offsetToCarrier indicates an offset in frequency domain between point A and a lowest usable subcarrier on this carrier in number of resource blocks (e.g. CRBs) using the subcarrier spacing defined for the carrier. The carrierBandwidth indicates width of this carrier in number of resource blocks (e.g., CRBs or PRBs) using the subcarrier spacing defined for the carrier. A carrier includes at most 275 resource blocks.

[0082] Physical resource blocks for subcarrier spacing configuration p are defined within a bandwidth part and numbered form 0 to Newpf'^ where i is the number of the bandwidth part. The relation between the physical resource block npRpuin bandwidthpart (BWP) i and the common resource block ncmp is given by Formula (2) ncp.Bu=, where NBwpis,arl’ is the common resource block where bandwidth part z starts relative to common resource block 0 (CRBO). When there is no risk for confusion the index / / may be dropped.

[0083] A BWP is a subset of contiguous common resource block for a given subcarrier spacing configuration on a given carrier. To be specific, a BWP can be identified (or defined) at least by a subcarrier spacing p indicated by the RRC parameter subcarrierSpacing, a cyclic prefix determined by the RRC parameter cyclicPrefix, a frequency domain location, a bandwidth, an BWP index indicated by bwp-Id and so on. The locationAndBandwidth can be used to indicate the frequency domain location and bandwidth of a BWP. The value indicated by the locationAndBandwidth is interpreted as resource indicator value (RIV) corresponding to an offset (a starting resource block) RBstart and a length £RB in terms of contiguously resource blocks. The offset RBstart is a number of CRBs between the lowest CRB of the carrier and the lowest CRB of the BWP. Tis given as Formula (3) The value of(9Carrier is provided by offsetTocarrier for the corresponding subcarrier spacing configuration p.

[0084] A UE 102 configured to operate in BWPs of a serving cell, is configured by higher layers for the serving cell a set of at most four BWPs in the downlink for reception. At a given time, a single downlink BWP is active. The bases station 160 may not transmit, to the UE 102, PDSCH and / or PDCCH outside the active downlink BWP. A UE 102 configured to operate in BWPs of a serving cell, is configured by higher layers for the serving cell a set of at most four BWPs for transmission. At a given time, a single uplink BWP is active. The UE 102 may not transmit to the base station 160, PUSCH or PUCCH outside the active BWP. The specific signaling (higher layers signaling) for BWP configurations are described later.

[0085] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating one example 300 of common resource block grid, carrier configuration and BWP configuration by a UE 102 and a base station 160.

[0086] Point A 301 is the lowest subcarrier of a CRBO for all subcarrier spacing configurations. The CRB grid 302 and the CRB grid 312 are corresponding to two different subcarrier spacing configurations. The CRB grid 302 is for subcarrier spacingconfiguration p =0 (i.e., the subcarrier spacing with 15kHz). The CRB grid 312 is for subcarrier spacing configuration / / =1 (i.e., the subcarrier spacing with 30kHz).

[0087] One or more carriers are determined by respective SCS-SpecificCarrier IES, respectively. In the Figure 3, the carrier 304 uses the subcarrier spacing configuration / z=0. And the carrier 314 uses the subcarrier spacing configuration p-1. The starting position Nsr\d of the carrier 304 is given based on the value of an offset 303 (i.e. Ocamer) indicated by an offsetToCarrier in an SCS-SpecificCarrier IE. As shown in the Figure 3, for example, the offsetToCarrier indicates the value of the offset 303 as Ocarrier =3. That is, the starting position Agridi'art' / ' of the carrier 304 corresponds to the CRB3 of the CRB grid 302 for subcarrier spacing configuration / z=0. In the meantime, the starting position N^ff'^of the carrier 314 is given based on the value of an offset 313 (i.e. Ocarrier) indicated by an offsetToCarrier in another SCS-SpecificCarrier IE. For example, the offsetToCarrier indicates the value of the offset 313 as Ocarrier =1. That is, the starting positionof the carrier 314 corresponds to the CRB1 of the CRB grid 312 for subcarrier spacing configuration / / =1. A carrier using different subcarrier spacing configurations can occupy different frequency ranges.

[0088] As above-mentioned, a BWP is for a given subcarrier spacing configuration p. One or more BWPs can be configured for a same subcarrier spacing configuration p. For example, in the Figure 3, the BWP 306 is identified at least by the p=0, a frequency domain location, a bandwidth (ZRB), and an BWP index (index A). The first PRB (i.e. PRB0) of a BWP is determined at least by the subcarrier spacing of the BWP, an offset derived by the locationAndBandwidth and an offset indicated by the offsetToCarrier corresponding to the subcarrier spacing of the BWP. An offset 305 (Restart) is derived as 1 by the locationAndBandwidth. According to the Formulas (2) and (3), the PRB0 of BWP 306 corresponds to CRB 4 of the CRB grid 302, and the PRB1 of BWP 306 corresponds to CRB 5 of the CRB grid 302, and so on.

[0089] Additionally, in the Figure 3, the BWP 308 is identified at least by the p=0, a frequency domain location, a bandwidth (ZRB), and an BWP index (index B). For example, an offset 307 (Ostart) is derived as 6 by the locationAndBandwidth. According to the Formulas (2) and (3), the PRB0 of BWP 308 corresponds to CRB 9 of the CRB grid 302, and the PRB1 of BWP 308 corresponds to CRB 10 of the CRB grid 302, and so on.

[0090] Additionally, in the Figure 3, the BWP 316 is identified at least by the p=l, a frequency domain location, a bandwidth (LRB), and an BWP index (index C). For example, an offset 315 (ABstart) is derived as 1 by the locationAndBandwidth. According to the Formulas (2) and (3), the PRBO of BWP 316 corresponds to CRB 2 of the CRB grid 312, and the PRB1 of BWP 316 corresponds to CRB 3 of the CRB grid 312, and so on.

[0091] In the present disclosure, a BWP illustrated in the Figure 3 may refer to a DL BWP, a UL BWP, or a sidelink BWP.

[0092] As shown in the Figure 3, a carrier with the defined subcarrier spacing locate in a corresponding CRB grid with the same subcarrier spacing. A BWP with the defined subcarrier spacing locate in a corresponding CRB grid with the same subcarrier spacing as well.

[0093] A base station may transmit a RRC message including one or more RRC parameters related to BWP configuration to a UE. A UE may receive the RRC message including one or more RRC parameters related to BWP configuration from a base station. For each cell, the base station may configure at least an initial DL BWP, one initial uplink bandwidth parts (initial UL BWP) and one sidelink BWP to the UE. Furthermore, the base station may configure additional UL and DL BWPs to the UE for a cell.

[0094] SIB1, which is a cell-specific system information block (SystemlnformationBlock, SIB), may contain information relevant when evaluating if a UE is allowed to access a cell and define the scheduling of other system information. SIB1 may also contain radio resource configuration information that is common for all UEs, and barring information applied to the unified access control. The RRC parameter ServingCellConfigCommon is used to configure cell specific parameters of a UE's serving cell. The RRC parameter ServingCellConfig is used to configure (add or modify) the UE with a serving cell, which may be the SpCell or an SCell of an MCG or SCG. The RRC parameter ServingCellConfig herein are mostly UE specific but partly also cell specific.

[0095] The base station may configure the UE with a RRC parameter BWP- Downlink and a RRC parameter BWP-Uplink. The RRC parameter BWP-Downlink can be used to configure an additional DL BWP. The RRC parameter BWP-Uplink can be used to configure an additional UL BWP. The base station may transmit the BWP-Downlink and the BWP -Uplink which may be included in RRC parameter ServingCellConfig to the UE.

[0096] The UE may be configured by the based station, at least one initial BWP and up to 4 additional BWP(s). One of the initial BWP and the configured additional BWP(s) may be activated as an active BWP. The UE may monitor DCI format, and / or receive PDSCH in the active DL BWP. The UE may not monitor DCI format, and / or receive PDSCH in a DL BWP other than the active DL BWP. The UE may transmit PUSCH and / or PUCCH in the active UL BWP. The UE may not transmit PUSCH and / or PUCCH in a BWP other than the active UL BWP.

[0097] As above-mentioned, a UE may monitor DCI format in the active DL BWP. To be more specific, a UE may monitor a set of PDCCH candidates in one or more CORESETs on the active DL BWP on each activated serving cell configured with PDCCH monitoring according to corresponding search space set where monitoring implies decoding each PDCCH candidate according to the monitored DCI formats.

[0098] A set of PDCCH candidates for a UE to monitor is defined in terms of PDCCH search space sets. A search space set can be a CSS set or a USS set. A UE may monitor a set of PDCCH candidates in one or more of the search space sets.

[0099] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating one 400 example of functional framework for AI / ML for NR air interface by a UE 102 and a base station 160.

[0100] As illustrated in the Figure 4, the AI / ML functional framework for the NR air interface includes a set of core functions, including Data Collection 401, Model Training 402, Management 403, Inference 404, and model storage 405.

[0101] The Data Collection 401 is a function that provides input data to the Model Training, Management, and Inference functions. Specifically, the Data Collection 401 function may provide training data to the Model Training function. That is, the training data refers to data needed as input for the AI / ML Model Training function. The Data Collection 401 function may provide monitoring data to the Management function. That is, the monitoring data refers to data needed as input for the Management of AI / ML Models or AI / ML functionalities. The Data Collection 401 function may provide inference data to the Inference function. That is, the inference data refers to data needed as input for the AI / ML Inference function.

[0102] The Model Training function 402 is a function that performs AI / ML model training, validation, and testing which may generate model performance metrics whichcan be used as part of the model testing procedure. The Model Training function is also responsible for data preparation based on training data delivered by the Data Collection function. In case of having a Model Storage function 405, the trained, validated, and tested AI / ML models may be delivered to the Model Storage function. Additionally, an updated version of a model may be also delivered to the Model Storage function.

[0103] The Management function 403 is a function that oversees the operation (e.g., selection / (de)activation / switching / fallback) and monitoring (e.g., performance) of AI / ML models or AI / ML functionalities. This function is also responsible for making decisions to ensure the proper inference operation based on data received from the Data Collection function and the Inference function.

[0104] The Inference function 404 is a function that provides outputs from the process of applying AI / ML models or AI / ML functionalities, using the data that is provided by the Data Collection function (i.e., Inference Data) as an input. The Inference function is also responsible for data preparation (e.g., data pre-processing and cleaning, formatting, and transformation) based on Inference Data delivered by a Data Collection function, if required.

[0105] The Model Storage 405 is a function responsible for storing trained / updated models that can be used to perform the Inference function.

[0106] In the present disclosure, the functional framework illustrated in the Figure 4 provides a general functional architecture that can be applied to both AI / ML model and AI / ML functionalities.

[0107] An AI / ML model or an AI / ML functionality needs to be developed, deployed, and managed during the entire lifecycle, i.e., AI / ML model-based life cycle management (LCM) or AI / ML functionality-based LCM.

[0108] An AI / ML model may be identified by a model ID. A model ID is a distinctive identifier for an AI / ML model. The model ID may be a logical ID. A logical AI / ML model refers to a model that is identified and assigned a model ID. The logical AI / ML model can be mapped to a physical AI / ML model by implementation. That is, a physical AI / ML model refers to an actual implementation of a logical AI / ML model.

[0109] In AI / ML model-based LCM, models are identified at the network, and the network and / or the UE may activate, deactivate, select, or switch individual AI / ML models via model ID. In the present disclosure, the AI / ML model-based LCM can be referred to as model-ID-based LCM.

[0110] An AI / ML functionality is a functionality defined within an AI / ML-enabled feature whereby AI / ML-enabled feature refers to a feature where AI / ML may be used. A UE may have one AI / ML model for one functionality or may have multiple AI / ML models for one functionality.

[0111] In AI / ML functionality-based LCM, the UE may indicate its supported functionalities by using UE capability signaling to network. Additionally, the UE may also indicate its applicable functionalities that the UE is ready to apply for model inference. Upon reception of UE capability signaling, the network may indicate activation, deactivation, fallback, and / or switching of an AI / ML functionality through signaling such as RRC signaling, MAC CE, DCI. The exact AI / ML model that underpin a given functionality might not be identified at the network.

[0112] In the present disclosure, the UE 102 and / or the base station 160 may apply the AI / ML model and / or the AI / ML functionalities for beam management such as spatial domain downlink beam prediction and / or temporal downlink beam prediction.

[0113] For spatial domain downlink beam prediction, it aims to provide good spatial domain downlink beam performance with less measurement and reference signal overhead.

[0114] For temporal downlink beam prediction, it aims to provide temporal downlink beam prediction for future time instance(s) based on historical measurement results on historic time instances.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0126] For temporal downlink beam prediction, the base station may, based on the measurement report, predict one or more optimal downlink beams for future one or more time intervals. The measurement reports from UE may include one or more measurement results in one or more historic measurement instances.

[0127] The base station may perform 505, subsequent transmissions of signals and / or channels (e.g., CSI-RS, PDCCH, PDSCH) to the UE based on the predicted one or more optimal downlink beams. For example, the base station may choose a beam among the predicted one or more optimal beams and perform the subsequent transmissions with the chosen beam.

[0128] Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating one 600 example of downlink beam prediction by a UE 102. Here, the AI / ML inference takes place at the UE side. The UE may apply AI / ML functionalities / models for downlink beam prediction. The prediction may refer to UE-side model inference. The UE may report one, more of beams within set A to base station.

[0129] The base station 160 may transmit 601, to the UE 102, reference signals (SSB or CSI-RS) on each resources configured in one or more resource sets for channel measurement. Here, the base station may use different spatial domain transmission filters to transmit the reference signals on different resources. The base station may perform downlink beam sweeping on resources configured for Set B.

[0130] The UE 102 may perform 602 channel measurement on each resource for Ll-RSRP measurement. In the present disclosure, based on CSI report configurations,the UE may be configured or indicated to report the measurement results or report inference results according to the measurement results. Here, for example, the CSI report configuration configures the UE to report the inference results. Then, based on the CSI report configuration, the UE may take the channel measurement as inputs for the AI / ML inference function. The UE may apply 603, AI / ML models or AI / ML functionalities to predict one or more optimal downlink beams (i.e., the top K best transmit beams in the set A) based on the channel measurement. For temporal downlink beam prediction, the UE may, based on one or more historic channel measurements, predict one or more optimal downlink beams for future one or more time intervals. The one or more historic channel measurements mean one or more measurement results in one or more historic measurement instances.

[0131] The UE 102 may determine, based on the CSI report configuration, to generate a CSI report to include the inference results, i.e., the output of the AI / ML model or AI / ML functionality. The UE 102 may transmit 604, to the base station, the CSI report. The CSI report refers to a report of inference results. The inference results may include one, more or all of one or more resource indicators, one or more L 1 -RSRPs, probability information, and / or confidence information.

[0132] The base station may perform 605, subsequent transmissions of signals and / or channels (e.g., CSI-RS, PDCCH, PDSCH) to the UE based on the predicted one or more optimal downlink beams. For example, the base station may choose a beam among the predicted one or more optimal beams and perform the subsequent transmissions with the chosen beam.

[0133] In the present disclosure, the UE 102 may receive from the base station 160 one or multiple report configurations. One report configuration may indicate, from multiple configured resource setting configurations, a resource setting configuration for channel measurement. Each resource setting configuration may define a group of one or more RS resource sets. That is, the report configuration indicates a resource setting configuration of one or more RS resource sets for channel measurement.

[0134] One RS (reference signal) resource set may include one or more resources. A resource specifically refers to a reference signal resource. Hereinafter, in the present disclosure, a resource can be a CSI-RS (NZP CSI-RS) resource or a SSB resource. A RS resource set can be a CSI-RS (NZP CSI-RS) resource set or a SSB resource set. In other words, a resource set may be a set of CSI-RS resources or a set of SSB resources.A CSI-RS (NZP CSI-RS) resource is a resource where a NZP CSI-RS may be transmitted by the base station. A SSB resource is a resource where an SSB may be transmitted by the base station. The UE may be configured to measure on the CSI-RS resources or the SSB resources. In the present disclosure, the terms “RS resource set” and “resource set” can be interchangeably used. Likewise, the terms “RS resource” and “resource” can be interchangeably used. Likewise, the term “RS resource” can refer to either “CSI-RS resource” or “SSB resource”.

[0135] Specifically, one RS resource set includes a list of a plurality of entries, wherein each entry indicates a resource (a resource configuration) within the resource set. That is, the configuration of a resource set can be represented as a list of entries where each entry corresponds to or indicate a specific resource such as a CSI-RS (nonzero-power (NZP) CSI-RS) resource or an SSB resource. Herein, a list of entries refers to a list of resources for channel measurement.

[0136] For illustration, the total number of resources within one RS resource set, configured for channel measurement, can be denoted as K, meaning there are K entries in the list for a single RS resource set. Different resource sets within the same resource setting configuration maybe configured with either the same or different values of K.

[0137] In the present disclosure, a resource setting configuration can be identified by a resource setting configuration ID. A resource set can be identified by a RS resource set ID. Likewise, a resource can be identified by a RS resource ID.

[0138] For example, for a CSI-RS resource, the CSI-RS resource can be identified by a resource identifier (CSI-RS resource ID). The resource identifier (CSI-RS resource ID) may be indicated by a higher layer parameter that is included in a CSI-RS resource configuration for the CSI-RS resource. Specifically, one CSI-RS resource configuration might include a parameter, NZP-CSI-RS-ResourcelD, which is used to determine the CSI-RS resource configuration identity, i.e., the CSI resource identifier (CSI-RS resource ID). Each CSI-RS resource has its associated ID. Similarly, an SSB resource can also be identified by a resource identifier (SSB resource ID), with each SSB resource identifiable by an SSB index. These resource IDs (NZP-CSI-RS-ResourcelD or SSB index) can identity a resource configured to the UE.

[0139] Additionally, for a resource setting configuration including one or more RS resource sets, each resource set within a resource setting configuration can be identified by their ordering in the resource setting configuration. As above-mentioned, a resourcesetting configuration contains a list of one or more RS resource sets. For the list, the first entry in the list corresponds to entry number 1, the second entry in the list corresponds to entry number 2, and so on. Thus, each RS resource set in the list has an entry number based on its corresponding entry position within the list, i.e., their ordering in the resource setting configuration. Then, an entry number in a list can identity a RS resource set within the list but cannot identity a RS resource set that is not configured in the list. The first entry in the list corresponds to the first RS resource set in the resource setting configuration, the second entry in the list corresponds to the second RS resource set in the resource setting configuration, and so on. In other words, entry numbers in the list implies the ordering of the RS resource sets in the list, i.e., the ordering of the RS resource sets in the one or more resources sets configured for channel measurement. If there is only one entry in the list, there is one resource set indicated by the report configuration for channel measurement.

[0140] Additionally, for a resource set including one or more RS resources, each resource within the resource set can be identified by their ordering in the resource set. As above-mentioned, a resource set contains a list of one or more RS resources. For the list, the first entry in the list corresponds to entry number 1, the second entry in the list corresponds to entry number 2, and so on. Thus, each RS resource in the list has an entry number based on its corresponding entry position within the list, i.e., their ordering in the resource set. Then, an entry number in a list can identity a RS resource within the list but cannot identity a RS resource that is not configured in the list. The first entry in the list corresponds to the first RS resource in the resource set indicated by the report configuration for channel measurement, the second entry in the list corresponds to the second resource in the resource set indicated by the report configuration for channel measurement, and so on. In other words, entry numbers in the list implies the ordering of the resources in the list, i.e., the ordering of the resources in the resources set configured for channel measurement. If there is only one entry in the list, the resource set indicated by the report configuration for channel measurement consists of one resource. The CRI (CSI-RS resource indicator) or SSBRI (SSB resource indicator), which will be described later, is used to indicate an entry number in the list, i.e., the ordering of a resource in the resource set.

[0141] In the present disclosure, the time domain behavior of the RS resources within a resource setting configuration can be indicated or configured by a higher layer parameter to be aperiodic, periodic, or semi-persistent.

[0142] In the present disclosure, the report configuration may be used to configure a periodic or semi-persistent report sent on PUCCH on the cell, or to configure a semi- persistent or aperiodic report sent on PUSCH. For a periodic or semi-persistent report sent on PUCCH, a RRC parameter included in the report configuration can be used to indicate in which serving cell the report is sent. Additionally or alternatively, for a semi- persistent or aperiodic report sent on PUSCH, the report may be triggered by DCI and the cell on which the report is sent is determined by the received DCI.

[0143] The UE may generate a CSI report based on a CSI report configuration and transmit the generated CSI report to the base station. As mentioned above, the UE may be configured with multiple CSI report configurations, allowing the UE to generate multiple corresponding CSI reports for transmission. There may be cases where two or more CSI report transmissions overlap in the time domain. In such cases, for example, the UE may not be able to transmit all the overlapping CSI reports due to the limited capacity of the transmission container, such as PUSCH or PUCCH. When this happens, the UE may need to drop some CSI reports. To implement an efficient dropping mechanism, the UE may determine or calculate a priority value for each CSI report. In other words, in the present disclosure, each CSI report is associated with a priority value. The lower the priority value, the higher the priority of the associated CSI report. In a case where the capacity of the PUSCH or PUCCH carrying the CSI reports is limited, the UE may prioritize the CSI report transmissions with higher priorities.

[0144] Figure 7 is a flow diagram illustrating one implementation of a method 700 for determining priority values for CSI reports by a UE 102.

[0145] In the implementation, the UE102 may perform channel measurement on RS resources indicated by the CSI report configuration. According to the CSI report configuration, the UE may be indicated to report the measurement results to the base station. Or, according to the CSI report configuration, the UE may be indicated to report beam inference (or prediction) information / results by using the measurement results as input of an AI / ML model / functionality. The beam inference information may be the information related to predicted beams based on the AI / ML model / functionality. Or, according to the CSI report configuration, the UE may be indicated to report CSI(channel state information) prediction information / results by using the measurement results (e.g., historical CSI measurement results) as input of an AI / ML model / functionality. The CSI prediction information may be the predicted precoding matrix indicator (PMI).

[0146] The UE 102 may receive 701 a CSI report configuration from the base station 160. The CSI report configuration may include information, such as, information for channel measurement (e.g., configuration of one or more resource sets), information for beam inference / prediction (e.g., configuration of one or more resource sets), information for defining the contents to be reported in the CSI report, and so on. In the implementation of the present disclosure, different CSI report configurations may instruct the UE to report different contents.

[0147] The UE 102 may determine 702 to generate a CSI report based on the CSI report configuration for the CSI report configuration. The base station may configure the UE with a CSI report configuration that indicates the UE to report one or more resource indicators (i.e., CRI or SSBRI) in the CSI report.

[0148] The UE 102 may generate the CSI report wherein the CSI report includes one or more resource indicators (i.e., CRI or SSBRI). Additionally, the CSI report may be configured to also include zero, one, or multiple of other quantities, such as Ll- RSRP, Ll-SINR (layer 1 Singal-to-Noise and Interference Ratio), CQI (channel quality indicator), PMI (precoding matrix indicator), and so on.

[0149] The UE may be configured with a CSI report configuration for either UE- side beam management prediction or for beam management measurement. Depending on the CSI report configuration, the UE may generate a CSI report to carry the prediction information (i.e., inference results) and / or to carry the measurement information, depending on what is indicated by the base station.

[0150] The UE 102 may determine 703 a value of a parameter k where the value of the parameter k is used in calculating a priority value for the CSI report. The value of the parameter k may be set to a first value or a second value, with the first value being lower than the second value. For example, the first value may be set to 0 and the second value may be set to 1.

[0151] In one embodiment, the UE may determine that the value of the parameter k is set to the first value or the second value based on whether the one or more resource indicators are associated with predicted beams.

[0152] In a first case that the one or more resource indicators are associated with predicted beams, the UE may determine that the value of the parameter k is set to the first value. In the case, the CSI report may or may not carry Ll-RSRP or Ll-SINR. Specifically, even if the CSI report does not carry the Ll-RSRP or Ll-SINR, the UE may still determine that the value of the parameter k is set to the first value when the one or more resource indicators are associated with predicted beams.

[0153] In a second case that the one or more resource indicators are not associated with predicted beams, the UE may determine whether to set the value of the parameter Ho the first value or the second value based on the presence of Ll-RSRP or Ll-SINR in the CSI report, i.e., based on whether the CSI report carries Ll-RSRP or Ll-SINR or not. If the CSI report carries Ll-RSRP or Ll-SINR, the value of the parameter k is set to the first value. If the CSI report does not carry Ll-RSRP or Ll-SINR, the value of the parameter k is set to the second value.

[0154] In the present disclosure, the term “the one or more resource indicators are associated with predicted beams” is interchangeable with the term “the one or more resource indicators indicates one or more RS resources in one or more resource sets configured for beam inference or beam prediction”. The one or more resource sets configured for beam inference or beam prediction are distinct from the one or more resource sets that are configured for channel measurement.

[0155] Conversely, the term “the one or more resource indicators are not associated with predicted beams” refers to the term “the one or more resource indicators indicates one or more measured RS resources in one or more resource sets configured for channel measurement”, which can be used interchangeably.

[0156] Additionally or alternatively, the term “the one or more resource indicators are associated with predicted beams” is interchangeable with the term “the one or more resource indicators indicate one or more RS resources from resources that are configured for Set A”, while the term “the one or more resource indicators are not associated with predicted beams” is interchangeable with the term “the one or more resource indicators indicates one or more (measured) RS resources from resources that are configured in Set B”.

[0157] Additionally or alternatively, the term “the one or more resource indicators are associated with predicted beams” is interchangeable with the term “the one or more resource indicators indicate one or more RS resources from resources that areconfigured for beam inference / prediction”, while the term “the one or more resource indicators are not associated with predicted beams” is interchangeable with the term “the one or more resource indicators indicates one or more (measured) RS resources from resources that are configured for channel measurement”.

[0158] Additionally or alternatively, the term “the one or more resource indicators are associated with predicted beams” can also mean the term “the one or more resource indicators indicates one or more predicted beams or predicted beam indexes”, which can be used interchangeably. Similarly, the term “the one or more resource indicators are not associated with predicted beams” can also mean the term “the one or more resource indicators indicates one or more measured beams or measured beam indexes”, which can be used interchangeably.

[0159] In the present disclosure, a resource indicator associated with a predicted beam may be referred to as a predicted resource indicator (e.g., a predicted CRI or a predicted SSBRI) or as a resource indicator indicating a predicted beam or a predicted RS resource (e.g., a CRI or a SSBRI indicating a predicted beam or a predicted RS resource). On the other hand, a resource indicator associated with a measured beam or a measured RS resource may be referred to as a resource indicator indicating a measured beam or a measured RS resource (e.g., a CRI or a SSBRI indicating a measured beam or a measured RS resource).

[0160] In the present disclosure, the UE may use a CRI or a SSBRI to indicate a RS resource where different RS resources may be precoded differently by the base station and correspond to different beams. Thus, a CRI or a SSBRI can serve as a beam indicator. In other words, the UE may use a resource indicator to indicate a beam to the base station. The beam may be either a predicted beam or a measured beam. This means that the beam measurement information and beam prediction information may be indicated by resource indicators.

[0161] In one example of the implementation, the UE may determine that the value of the parameter k is set to the first value if the CSI report carries Ll-RSRP, Ll-SINR, or resource indicator(s) indicating predicted beam(s). Conversely, if the CSI report does not carry Ll-RSRP, Ll-SINR, or resource indicator(s) indicating predicted beam(s), the UE may determine that the value of the parameter k is set to the second value. Note that the Ll-RSRP may be a measured RSRP or a predicted RSRP.

[0162] In one example of the implementation, the UE may determine whether to set the value of the parameter k to the first value or the second value based on whether the CSI report carries the first information (related to beam prediction) or the second information (related to predicted CSI, such as predicted PMI). In a case that the CSI report carries the first information, the UE may determine that the value of the parameter k is set to the first value. In a case that the CSI report carries the second information, the UE may determine that the value of the parameter k is set to the second value. Both the first information and the second information are related to the inference (prediction) information or results derived from the AI / ML functionality or an AI / ML model.

[0163] In the example, the first information is the information related to predicted beams. Specifically, the first information may involve beam information (e.g., CRI or SSBRI) for K predicted beams. The first information may involve beam information for K predicted beams and predicted RSRPs of the K predicted beams. Additionally or alternatively, the first information may involve beam information for AT predicted beams and probability information of each beam in the K predicted beams. The value of the K may be 1 or larger than 1. The value of the K may be indicated by the CSI report configuration. In the example, the second information is the information related to predicted CSI (e.g., the predicted CQI and / or predicted PMI).

[0164] In the example, a CSI report carrying the first information (e.g., predicted beams) has priority over a CSI report carrying the second information (e.g,, predicted PMI). Either the first information or the second information to be reported in the CSI report is indicated by the CSI report configuration.

[0165] In the implementation of the present disclosure, the UE may use the formula) = 2 x Nceasx Msx y + Ncellsx Msx k + Msx c + s for determining or calculating the priority value for the CSI report. Here, the value of the parameter k is given based on the above-mentioned determinations. The value of the parameter^ is related to the time domain behavior of the CSI report and is set based on the time domain behavior. The CSI report configuration indicates the UE the time domain behavior for the CSI report. To be specific, the value of the parameter y is set to 0 for aperiodic CSI reports to be carried on PUSCH, set to 1 for semi-persistent CSIreports to be carried on PUSCH, set to 2 for semi-persistent CSI reports to be carries on PUCCH, and set to 3 for periodic CSI reports to be carried on PUCCH.

[0166] The parameter c corresponds to the serving cell index, which is indicated by the CSI report configuration. The parameter s corresponds to the CSI report configuration ID, which is used to identify the CSI report configuration.

[0167] NCeiis is the maximum number of serving cells, which is a predefined value or indicated by the base station. Msis the maximum number of report configurations, which is a predefined value or indicated by the base station.

[0168] Therefore, upon determination of each parameters in the formula, the priority value associated with a CSI report can be determined. A first CSI report is said to have priority over a second CSI report if the associated value PritCSI(y, klc, s') is lower for the first report than for the second report. Based on the comparison between the priority values of the CSI reports, the UE and / or the base station may determine which CSI report is prioritized for transmission. A CSI report with a lower calculated priority value is given higher priority.

[0169] Additionally or alternatively, in an example of the implementation, the value of the parameter k may be set to one of three values: the first value, the second value, and the third value. For example, the first value is set to 0, the second value is set to 1, and the third value is set to 2.

[0170] In the example, the UE may use the formula PriicSi(y, k, c, s) = A x Neelis x Msx y + Nceiisx Msx k + Msx c + s for determining or calculating the priority value for the CSI report. The coefficient A is adjustable or configurable. The coefficient A may be set to 2 or 3 based on UE’s AI / ML capability (e.g., AI / ML beam prediction capabilities). If the UE is not capable of beam prediction or if the UE is capable of beam prediction but does not indicate the capability of beam prediction to the base station, the value of the coefficient A is set to 2. If the UE is capable of performing beam prediction and indicates the capability to the base station, the value of the coefficient^ is 3.

[0171] Firstly, in a case that the CSI report carries Ll-RSRP or Ll-SINR, the UE may determine that the value of the parameter k is set to 0. Here, the Ll-RSRP refers to a RSRP value of a measured RS resource, i.e. , the measured Ll-RSRP. The Ll-RSRP is not the predicted Ll-RSRP. Here, the CSI report may also include other quantities.

[0172] Secondly, in a case that the CSI report carries the above-mentioned first information (i.e., information related to beam prediction), the UE may determine that the value of the parameter k is set to 1 . Here, the first information may include resource indicators related to predicted beams and / or predicted RSRP of the predicted beams. Here, the CSI report may not carry the Ll-RSRP or the Ll-SINR described in above case.

[0173] Then, in a case that the CSI report does not carry Ll-RSRP or Ll-SINR or the first information, the UE may determine that the value of the parameter k is set to 2. That is, if neither L1-RSRP / L1-SINR nor the first information are included in the CSI report, the value of the parameter k is set to 2.

[0174] In the present disclosure, the bitwidth of each CRI or SSBRI field in the CSI report is [log2(Xs)l where Ksis the number of RS resources configured in the RS resource set. Specifically, for beam prediction report, the Ksis the number of RS resources in the RS resource set configured for beam prediction. For channel measurement reporting, the Ksis the number of RS resources in the RS resource set configured for channel measurement. The bitwidth of one Ll-RSRP field in the CSI report is 7 bit. The bitwidth of each differential Ll-RSRP field is 4 bit.

[0175] In various implementations of the present disclosure, the base station may configure RS resources for channel measurement as NZP CSI-RS(s) or SSB(s). The base station may transmit, to the UE 102, the CSI report configuration wherein the report configuration indicates a list of resources for channel measurement. It should be noted that in the present disclosure, one resource (i.e., a CSI-RS resource or an SSB resource) may consists of multiple resource elements across different symbols within one or more slots. Moreover, one resource can be periodically transmitted by the base station. In this context, one resource can also be regarded as a resource set in the present disclosure, and these two terms can be used interchangeably.

[0176] In various implementations of the present disclosure, the resource with the largest measured RSRP may be represented by a resource indicator based on the entry number of the resource in the list. The UE may determine a resource indicator for the resource with the largest measured RSRP. The resource indicator is determined based on the entry number of the resource with the largest measured RSRP. The resourceindicator for the resource with the largest measured RSRP corresponds to the entry number of the resource with the largest measured RSRP value in the list.

[0177] To be specific, for a list includingesources, the bitwidth of the resource indicator CRI (CSI-RS resource indicator), is whereesources in the list. Alternatively, for a list includingKsSSB resources, the bitwidth of the resource indicator, SSBRI (SSB resource indicator), is is the configured number of SSB resources inthe list. For example, in a case that the entry number of the resource with the largest measured RSRP is value k (i.e., the fc-th entry in the list), the UE may determine the value of the resource indicator (CRI or SSBRI) is k-\.

[0178] The UE may determine or compute the different RSRPs for the resources in the list other than the resource with the largest measured RSRP. The differential RSRP values are calculated with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value. The UE may not calculate the differential RSRP value for the resource with the largest measured RSRP values.

[0179] In various implementations of the present disclosure, the UE (the control unit of the UE) may quantize the RSRP value (largest measured RSRP value) to a 7-bit value and quantize each differential RSRP value to a 4-bit value. The RSRP value is defined by a 7-bit value in the range [-140, -44] dBm with 1 dB step size. The differential RSRP is defined by a 4-bit value with 2 dB step size with a reference to the largest measured RSRP. The UE may compute the differential RSRP value with 2 dB step size with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value.

[0180] Additionally or alternatively, the UE may quantize each differential RSRP value to a 3 -bit value. Then the differential RSRP value is computed with 4 dB step size with a reference to the largest measured RSRP value.

[0181] In various implementations of the present disclosure, the base station may use a parameter included in the report configuration to indicate whether UE reports the differential LI -RSRP as a 4-bit value or a 3-bit value. Based on the parameter included the report configuration, the UE may determine how to compute the differential Ll- RSRP value either as a 4-bit value or a 3-bit value.

[0182] In various implementations of the present disclosure, the base station may configure RS resources for beam prediction as NZP CSI-RS(s) or SSB(s) in a CSI reportconfiguration. The base station may transmit, to the UE 102, the CSI report configuration wherein the report configuration indicates a list of resources for beam prediction. It should be noted that, for the CSI report, the base station may not transmit the RS on the resources configured for the beam prediction. Likewise, the UE may not perform the measurements on the resources configured for the beam prediction. A RS resource corresponding to a predicted beam may be represented by a resource indicator based on the entry number of the resource in the list. A RS resource corresponding to a predicted beam may be represented by a resource indicator where the resource indicator indicates the resource ordering in the resource set configured for beam prediction.

[0183] Figure 8 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a UE 802. The UE 802 (UE 102) described in connection with Figure 8 may be implemented in accordance with the UE 102 described in connection with Figure 1. The UE 802 includes a processor 881 that controls operation of the UE 802. The processor 881 may also be referred to as a central processing unit (CPU). Memory 887, which may include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a combination of the two or any type of device that may store information, provides instructions 883 a and data 885a to the processor 881. A portion of the memory 887 may also include non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). Instructions 883b and data 885b may also reside in the processor 881. Instructions 883b and / or data 885b loaded into the processor 881 may also include instructions 883a and / or data 885a from memory 887 that were loaded for execution or processing by the processor 881. The instructions 883b may be executed by the processor 881 to implement one or more of the methods described above.

[0184] The UE 802 may also include a housing that contains one or more transmitters 858 and one or more receivers 820 to allow transmission and reception of data. The transmitter(s) 858 and receiver(s) 820 may be combined into one or more transceivers 818. One or more antennas 822a-n are attached to the housing and electrically coupled to the transceiver 818.

[0185] The various components of the UE 802 are coupled together by a bus system 889, which may include a power bus, a control signal bus and a status signal bus, in addition to a data bus. However, for the sake of clarity, the various buses are illustrated in Figure 8 as the bus system 889. The UE 802 may also include a digital signal processor (DSP) 891 for use in processing signals. The UE 802 may also include acommunications interface 893 that provides user access to the functions of the UE 802. The UE 802 illustrated in Figure 8 is a functional block diagram rather than a listing of specific components.

[0186] Figure 9 illustrates various components that may be utilized in a base station 960. The base station 960 described in connection with Figure 9 may be implemented in accordance with the base station 160 described in connection with Figure 1. The base station 960 includes a processor 981 that controls operation of the base station 960. The processor 981 may also be referred to as a central processing unit (CPU). Memory 987, which may include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a combination of the two or any type of device that may store information, provides instructions 983a and data 985a to the processor 981. A portion of the memory 987 may also include non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM). Instructions 983b and data 985b may also reside in the processor 981. Instructions 983b and / or data 985b loaded into the processor 981 may also include instructions 983a and / or data 985a from memory 987 that were loaded for execution or processing by the processor 981. The instructions 983b may be executed by the processor 981 to implement one or more of the methods 300 described above.

[0187] The base station 960 may also include a housing that contains one or more transmitters 917 and one or more receivers 978 to allow transmission and reception of data. The transmitter(s) 917 and receiver(s) 978 may be combined into one or more transceivers 976. One or more antennas 980a-n are attached to the housing and electrically coupled to the transceiver 976.

[0188] The various components of the base station 960 are coupled together by a bus system 989, which may include a power bus, a control signal bus and a status signal bus, in addition to a data bus. However, for the sake of clarity, the various buses are illustrated in Figure 9 as the bus system 989. The base station 960 may also include a digital signal processor (DSP) 991 for use in processing signals. The base station 960 may also include a communications interface 993 that provides user access to the functions of the base station 960. The base station 960 illustrated in Figure 9 is a functional block diagram rather than a listing of specific components.

[0189] The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any available medium that can be accessed by a computer or a processor. The term “computer-readable medium,” as used herein, may denote a computer- and / or processor-readable medium that is non-transitory and tangible. By way of example, and not limitation, a computer-readable or processor-readable medium may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer or processor. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray® disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.

[0190] It should be noted that one or more of the methods described herein may be implemented in and / or performed using hardware. For example, one or more of the methods described herein may be implemented in and / or realized using circuitry, a chipset, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI) or integrated circuit, etc.

[0191] Each of the methods disclosed herein comprises one or more steps or actions for achieving the described method. The method steps and / or actions may be interchanged with one another and / or combined into a single step without departing from the scope of the claims. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is required for proper operation of the method that is being described, the order and / or use of specific steps and / or actions may be modified without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0192] It is to be understood that the claims are not limited to the precise configuration and components illustrated above. Various modifications, changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of the systems, methods and apparatus described herein without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

[CLAIMS]1. A user equipment (UE), comprising: reception unit configured to receive, from a base station, a CSI report configuration; and control unit configured to generate a CSI report for the CSI report configuration, and to determine a value of a parameter to be used in calculating a priority value associated with the CSI report, wherein the value of the parameter is set to a first value or a second value based on whether one or more predicted CSI-RS resource indicators (P-CRI) included in the CSI report.

2. The UE according to the claim 1 : wherein in a case that the CSI report carries the one or more P-CRIs, the value of the parameter is set to the first value.

3. The UE according to the claim 1 : wherein in a case that the CSI report carries Ll-RSRP or Ll-SINR, the value of the parameter is set to the first value, and in a case that the CSI report carries one or more CRIs and the CSI report does not carry LI -RSRP or Ll-SINR, the value of the parameter is set to the second value.

4. The UE according to the claim 1 : wherein the first value is lower than the second value.

5. A base station, comprising: transmission unit configured to transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a CSI report configuration; control unit configured to determine a value of a parameter to be used in calculating a priority value associated with a CSI report for the CSI report configuration, whereinthe value of the parameter is set to a first value or a second value based on whether one or more predicted CSI-RS resource indicators (P-CRI) included in the CSI report.

6. The base station according to the claim 5: wherein in a case that the CSI report carries the one or more P-CRIs, the value of the parameter is set to the first value.

7. The base station according to the claim 5: wherein in a case that the CSI report carries L1-RSRP or L1-SINR, the value of the parameter is set to the first value, and in a case that the CSI report carries one or more CRIs and the CSI report does not carry L1-RSRP or L1-SIN-, the value of the parameter is set to the second value.

8. The base station according to the claim 5: wherein the first value is lower than the second value.

9. A communication method performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station, a CSI report configuration; generating a CSI report for the CSI report configuration; and determining a value of a parameter to be used in calculating a priority value associated with the CSI report, wherein the value of the parameter is set to a first value or a second value based on whether one or more predicted CSI-RS resource indicators (P-CRI) included in the CSI report.

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