First wireless device, first network node, second network node and methods performed thereby, for handling a reference signal of the first wireless device

Abstract

A method, performed by a first wireless device (131) in a wireless communications network (100), for handling a reference signal of the first wireless device (131). The first wireless device (131) receives (201) a first message from a first network node (111) operating in the wireless communications network (100). The first message jointly configures the first wireless device (131) to transmit a first uplink reference signal and to receive a first downlink transmission of data from the first network node (111). The first UL reference signal is configured to indicate a positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data.

Description

[0001] FIRST WIRELESS DEVICE, FIRST NETWORK NODE, SECOND NETWORK NODE AND METHODS PERFORMED THEREBY, FOR HANDLING A REFERENCE SIGNAL OF THE FIRST WIRELESS DEVICE

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to a first wireless device and methods performed thereby for handling a reference signal of the first wireless device. The present disclosure also generally relates to a first network node and methods performed thereby for handling the reference signal of the first wireless device. The present disclosure further relates generally to a second network node and methods performed thereby, for handling the reference signal of the first wireless device.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Wireless devices within a wireless communications network may be e.g., User Equipments (UEs), stations (STAs), mobile terminals, wireless terminals, terminals, and / or Mobile Stations (MS). Wireless devices are enabled to communicate wirelessly in a cellular communications network or wireless communication network, sometimes also referred to as a cellular radio system, cellular system, or cellular network. The communication may be performed e.g., between two wireless devices, between a wireless device and a regular telephone and / or between a wireless device and a server via a Radio Access Network (RAN) and possibly one or more core networks, comprised within the wireless communications network. Wireless devices may further be referred to as mobile telephones, cellular telephones, laptops, or tablets with wireless capability, just to mention some further examples. The wireless devices in the present context may be, for example, portable, pocket-storable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices, enabled to communicate voice and / or data, via the RAN, with another entity, such as another terminal or a server.

[0006] The wireless communications network covers a geographical area which may be divided into cell areas, each cell area being served by a network node, which may be an access node such as a radio network node, radio node or a base station (BS), e.g., a Radio Base Station (RBS), which sometimes may be referred to as e.g., gNB, evolved Node B (“eNB”), “eNodeB”, “NodeB”, “B node”, Transmission Point (TP), or BTS (Base Transceiver Station), depending on the technology and terminology used. The base stations (BSs) may be of different classes such as e.g., Wide Area Base Stations, Medium Range Base Stations, Local Area Base Stations, Home Base Stations, pico base stations, etc... , based on transmission power and thereby also cell size. A cell may be understood to be the geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the base station or radio node at a base station site, or radio node site, respectively. One base station, situated on the base station site, may serve one or several cells. Further, each base station may support one or several communication technologies. The base stations communicate over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the terminals within range of the base stations. In 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), base stations, which may be referred to as eNodeBs or even eNBs, may be directly connected to one or more core networks. In the context of this disclosure, the expression Downlink (DL) may be used for the transmission path from the base station to the wireless device. The expression Uplink (UL) may be used for the transmission path in the opposite direction i.e., from the wireless device to the base station.

[0007] The standardization organization 3GPP is currently in the process of specifying a New Radio Interface called NR or 5G-UTRA, as well as a Fifth Generation (5G) Packet Core Network (CN), which may be referred to as Next Generation (NG) Core Network, abbreviated as NG-CN, NGC, 5G CN or 5G Core (5GC). NG may be understood to refer to the interface / reference point between the Radio Access Network (RAN) and the CN in 5G / NR. In a 5G System (5GS), a radio base station in NR may be referred to as a gNB or 5G Node B. An NR User Equipment (UE) may be referred to as an nUE.

[0008] Sounding reference signals (SRS) may be understood to be used for many different purposes in 5G NR. Furthermore, the proposed usages of SRS transmissions in future systems, e.g., future 5G NR or 6G releases, are likely to increase. Some potential examples of SRS usage in current and future systems may be: codebook-based closed-loop spatial multiplexing, control uplink transmit timing, reciprocity-based downlink precoding in multi-user Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), quasi co-location of physical channels and reference signals, UL based mobility, positioning, sensing, determining serving Access Points (APs) Distributed MIMO (D-MIMO), DL inter-cell interference protection, etc..

[0009] Interference Sensing (IS), sometimes also denoted Reciprocity Assisted and Interference aware Transmission (RAIT), may be understood to be a technique that may enable to make use of received residual SRS signals to determine the need for interference suppressing beamforming towards the UEs in neighboring cells that may cause the residual SRS. Residual SRS signals may be understood to refer to signals that may be received by a base station on resource elements dedicated for SRS transmissions that do not come from UEs served by the base station. According to RAIT, by subtracting the known SRS signals from served UEs, the base station may be enabled to obtain a residual of received power that may originate from UEs in surrounding cells. When serving UEs in the cell, the base station may then try to avoid radiating interference in the directions corresponding to the received residual SRS signals.

[0010] Handling interference suppression using SRS signals with existing methods may lead to wasted resources and / or poor user experience. SUMMARY

[0011] Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments address one or more of the challenges identified with the existing methods and provide solutions to these challenges or other challenges.

[0012] According to a first aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a method, performed by a first wireless device. The first wireless device is in the wireless communications network. The method is for handling a reference signal of the first wireless device. The first wireless device receives a first message from a first network node operating in the wireless communications network. The first message jointly configures the first wireless device to transmit a first UL reference signal and to receive a first DL transmission of data from the first network node. The first UL reference signal is configured to indicate a positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data.

[0013] According to a second aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a method, performed by the first network node. The first network node is in the wireless communications network. The method may be understood to be for handling the reference signal of the first wireless device. The first network node sends the first message to the first wireless device. The first message jointly configures the first wireless device to transmit the first UL reference signal and to receive the first DL transmission of data from the first network node. The first UL reference signal is configured to indicate the positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data.

[0014] According to a third aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a method, performed by a second network node. The second network node is in the wireless communications network. The method is for handling the reference signal of the first wireless device. The second network node receives a first UL reference signal of a second type from the first wireless device operating in the wireless communications network and the second UL reference signal of a first type from the first wireless device or another wireless device in a plurality of wireless devices. The second network node then performs interference suppression towards a first corresponding reciprocal channel of the first UL reference signal and refrains from performing interference suppression towards a second reciprocal channel of the second UL reference signal

[0015] According to a fourth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by the first wireless device, configured to perform the method. The wireless device may be understood to be for handling the reference signal of the first wireless device. The first wireless device is configured to operate in the wireless communications network. The first wireless device is configured to receive the first message from the first network node configured to operate in the wireless communications network. The first message is configured to jointly configure the first wireless device to transmit the first UL reference signal and to receive the first DL transmission of data from the first network node. The first UL reference signal is configured to indicate the positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data.

[0016] According to a fifth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by the first network node, configured to perform the method. The wireless device may be understood to be for handling reference signal of the first wireless device. The first network node is configured to operate in the wireless communications network. The first network node is configured to send the first message to the first wireless device. The first message is configured to jointly configure the first wireless device to transmit the first UL reference signal and to receive the first DL transmission of data from the first network node. The first UL reference signal is configured to indicate the positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data.

[0017] According to a sixth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by the second network node, configured to perform the method. The second network node may be understood to be for handling the reference signal of the first wireless device. The second network node is configured to operate in the wireless communications network. The second network node is configured to receive the first UL reference signal of the second type from the first wireless device configured to operate in the wireless communications network and the second UL reference signal of the first type from the first wireless device or another wireless device in the plurality of wireless devices. The second network node is also configured to perform the interference suppression towards the first corresponding reciprocal channel of the first UL reference signal and refrain from performing the interference suppression towards the second reciprocal channel of the second UL reference signal.

[0018] By receiving the first message jointly configuring the first wireless device to transmit the first UL reference signal and to receive the first DL transmission of data from the first network node, the first UL reference signal being configured to indicate the positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data, the first wireless device may be enabled to provide a marker of the DL transmission of data to the first network node, which may be a serving network node, or another neighboring network node, such as the second network node. Any of the first network node and the second network node may then be enabled to perform interference suppression towards the first corresponding reciprocal channel of the first UL reference signal and refrain from performing the interference suppression towards the second reciprocal channel of the second UL reference signal.

[0019] Embodiments herein, may be understood to enable to achieve reduced downlink intercell interference, and therefore improved link adaptation, enhanced user throughput, and higher system capacity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Examples of embodiments herein are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, according to the following description.

[0021] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram depicting an example of a wireless communications network, according to embodiments herein.

[0022] Figure 2 is a flowchart depicting a method in a first wireless device, according to embodiments herein.

[0023] Figure 3 is a flowchart depicting a method in a first network node, according to embodiments herein.

[0024] Figure 4 is a flowchart depicting a method in a second network node, according to embodiments herein.

[0025] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram depicting two non-limiting examples of a first message, according to embodiments herein.

[0026] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram depicting of a non-limiting example a method, according to embodiments herein.

[0027] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram depicting a non-limiting example of a time-and-frequency domain resource allocation in a TDD system using a Downlink Special Uplink (DDSU) pattern, according to embodiments herein.

[0028] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram depicting a non-limiting example of a method with multi-user MIMO, according to embodiments herein.

[0029] Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiments of a first wireless device, according to embodiments herein.

[0030] Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiments of a first network node, according to embodiments herein.

[0031] Figure 11 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiments of a second network node, according to embodiments herein.

[0032] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] As part of the development of embodiments herein, one or more challenges with the existing technology will first be identified and discussed.

[0034] RAIT may be understood to assume that whenever an UL SRS is transmitted, it will correspond to a future Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmission. The problem with this approach is that considering the multitude of use-cases for SRS transmissions in 5G, that may be understood to not be the case.

[0035] This causes practical problems with both interference avoidance and interference prediction and link adaptation with the RAIT implementation in current networks. This causes in turn degradations in downlink performance, such as in rate, latency, user experience, etc. The main problems have been identified as follows: RAIT may work well and may be understood to deliver solid performance improvements when full buffer traffic is used, e.g., in a network simulator, and when there are not too many UEs. However, with realistic traffic, the use of RAIT may often result in degraded performance compared to using Reciprocity assisted transmission (RAT)-based transmission schemes. This degradation may be understood to be caused by the very low correlation, or “hit-rate”, between uplink SRS transmissions and downlink PDSCH transmissions that the RAIT approach may be understood to try to exploit. With real traffic, this “hit-rate” may be understood to be often 10% or lower. This results in that too many degrees of freedom are wasted in the downlink beamforming trying to suppress interference towards UEs in other cells that may not be active. Alternatively, inter-cell UEs that are active may not get the best interference suppression possible. Furthermore, the link adaptation may become very inaccurate when inter-cell interference cannot be properly suppressed. This causes unnecessary retransmissions, or too low throughput, that is, bad efficiency, or increased latency, resulting in too high resource utilization and / or poor user experience.

[0036] Several attempts to address these problems have been made but none have been effective.

[0037] Embodiments herein may be understood to address the problems identified with the existing methods and may be understood to relate to efficient downlink control signalling for reciprocity assisted and interference-aware transmission (RAIT). Embodiments herein may be understood to relate to designing a new transmission mode that may be understood to address the problems observed in RAIT. Said transmission mode may include a new downlink control information message containing parameters defining both (1) a downlink data transmission and (2) an uplink sounding reference signal.

[0038] Some of the embodiments contemplated will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which examples are shown. In this section, the embodiments herein will be illustrated in more detail by a number of exemplary embodiments. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein. The disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that the exemplary embodiments herein are not mutually exclusive. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments.

[0039] Figure 1 depicts two non-limiting examples, in panel a) and panel b), respectively, of a wireless network or wireless communications network 100, sometimes also referred to as a wireless communications system, cellular radio system, or cellular network, in which embodiments herein may be implemented. The wireless communications network 100 may be a 5G system, 5G network, or Next Gen System. In other examples, the wireless communications network 100 may be a newer system, e.g., a Sixth Generation (6G) system, with similar functionality. Yet in other examples, the wireless communications network 100 may in addition, support other technologies such as, for example, Long-Term Evolution (LTE), e.g., LTE for Machines (LTE-M), LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), LTE Time division duplex (TDD), LTE Half-Duplex Frequency Division Duplex (HD-FDD), LTE operating in an unlicensed band, such as LTE Licensed-Assisted Access (LAA), enhanced eLAA (eLAA), further enhanced LAA (feLAA) and / or MulteFire. Yet in other examples, the wireless communications network 100 may further support other technologies such as, for example Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) TDD, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network, GSM / Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN) network, Ultra-Mobile Broadband (UMB), EDGE network, network comprising any combination of Radio Access Technologies (RATs) such as e.g. Multi-Standard Radio (MSR) base stations, multi-RAT base stations etc., any 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) cellular network, WiFi networks, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), or any cellular network or system. The wireless communications network 100 may support Machine Type Communication (MTC), enhanced MTC (eMTC), Internet of Things (loT) and / or NarrowBand Internet of Things (NB- loT). Thus, although terminology from 5G / NR and LTE may be used in this disclosure to exemplify embodiments herein, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein to only the aforementioned system.

[0040] The wireless communications network 100 may comprise a plurality of network nodes, whereof a first network node 111 and a second network node 112 are depicted in the nonlimiting example of Figure 1. Any of the first network node 111 and the second network node

[0041] 112 may be a radio network node. That is, a transmission point such as a radio base station, for example a gNB, or any other network node with similar features capable of serving a user equipment, such as a wireless device, in the wireless communications network 100. In some examples, any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may be a distributed node, and may partially perform its functions in collaboration with a virtual node

[0042] 113 in a cloud 115. Any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may be directly connected to one or more core networks, e.g., to one or more network nodes in the one or more core networks.

[0043] In some examples, the wireless communications network 100 may include an access network, such as a radio access network (RAN), and a core network, which may include one or more core network nodes. The access network may include one or more access network nodes, such as any of the first network node 111 , the second network node 112 and the virtual node 113, e.g., which may be generally referred to as network nodes, or any other similar 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access nodes or non-3GPP access points. Moreover, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, a network node may not necessarily be limited to an implementation in which a radio portion and a baseband portion are supplied and integrated by a single vendor. Thus, it may be understood that network nodes may include disaggregated implementations or portions thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the wireless communications network 100 may include one or more Open-RAN (ORAN) network nodes. An ORAN network node may be understood to be a node in the wireless communications network 100 that may support an ORAN specification, e.g., a specification published by the O-RAN Alliance, or any similar organization, and may operate alone or together with other nodes to implement one or more functionalities of any node in the wireless communications network 100, including one or more network nodes and / or core network nodes.

[0044] Examples of an ORAN network node may include an open radio unit (0-Rll), an open distributed unit (0-Dll), an open central unit (O-CU), including an O-CU control plane (O-CU- CP) or an O-CU user plane (O-CU-UP), a RAN intelligent controller, near-real time or non-real time, hosting software or software plug-ins, such as a near-real time control application, e.g., xApp, or a non-real time control application, e.g., rApp, or any combination thereof, the adjective “open” designating support of an ORAN specification. Any of the first network node 111 , the second network node 112 and the virtual node 113 may support a specification by, for example, supporting an interface defined by the ORAN specification, such as an A1 , F1 , W1, E1, E2, X2, Xn interface, an open fronthaul user plane interface, or an open fronthaul management plane interface. Moreover, an ORAN access node may be a logical node in a physical node. Furthermore, an ORAN network node may be implemented in a virtualization environment, in which one or more network functions may be virtualized. For example, the virtualization environment may include an O-Cloud computing platform orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an O-2 interface defined by the O- RAN Alliance or comparable technologies.

[0045] The wireless communications network 100 may cover a geographical area, which in some embodiments may be divided into cell areas, wherein each cell area may be served by a radio network node, although, one radio network node may serve one or several cells. In the example of Figure 1 , the first network node 111 serves a first cell 121 and the second network node 112 serves a second cell 122. Any of the first network node 111 , the second network node 112 and the virtual node 113 may be of different classes, such as, e.g., macro base station, home base station or pico base station, based on transmission power and thereby also cell size. In some examples, the any of the first network node 111 , the second network node 112 and the virtual node 113 may serve receiving nodes with serving beams. Any of the first network node 111 , the second network node 112 and the virtual node 113 may support one or several communication technologies, and its name may depend on the technology and terminology used.

[0046] The first network node 111 may be understood to be a neighbor network node to the second network node 112.

[0047] A plurality of wireless devices 130 may be located in the wireless communication network 100. In some embodiments, the plurality of wireless devices 130 may comprise a first wireless devices 131 , as depicted in the non-limiting example of Figure 1. In some embodiments, as depicted in the non-limiting example of Figure 1 , the one or more wireless devices may comprise another wireless device 132. Any of wireless devices comprised in the plurality of wireless devices 130, such as any of the first wireless devices 131 and the another wireless device 132, may be a wireless communication device such as a User Equipment (UE), e.g., 5G UE or nUE, which may also be known as e.g., mobile terminal, wireless terminal and / or mobile station, a mobile telephone, cellular telephone, or laptop with wireless capability, just to mention some further examples. Any of wireless devices comprised in the plurality of wireless devices 130, such as any of the first wireless devices 131 and the another wireless device 132, may be, for example, portable, pocket-storable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or a vehicle-mounted mobile device, enabled to communicate voice and / or data, via the RAN, with another entity, such as a server, a laptop, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a tablet, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) device, a sensor, loT device, NB-loT device, device equipped with a wireless interface, such as a printer or a file storage device, modem, or any other radio network unit capable of communicating over a radio link in a communications system. Any of wireless devices comprised in the plurality of wireless devices 130, such as any of the first wireless devices 131 and the another wireless device 132, may be enabled to communicate wirelessly in the wireless communications network 100. The communication may be performed e.g., via a RAN, and possibly the one or more core networks, which may be comprised within the wireless communications network 100.

[0048] The first wireless device 131 may be configured to communicate within the wireless communications network 100 with the first network node 111 over a first link 141 , e.g., a radio link. The another wireless device 132 may be configured to communicate within the wireless communications network 100 with the first network node 111 over a second link 142, e.g., a radio link. The first network node 111 may be configured to communicate within the wireless communications network 100 with the second network node 112 over a third link 143, e.g., a radio link or a wired link. The first network node 111 may be configured to communicate within the wireless communications network 100 with the virtual node 113 over a fourth link 144, e.g., a radio link or a wired link. The second network node 112 may be configured to communicate within the wireless communications network 100 with the virtual node 113 over a fifth link 145, e.g., a radio link or a wired link.

[0049] Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and / or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and / or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

[0050] In general, the usage of “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth” and / or “fifth” herein may be understood to be an arbitrary way to denote different elements or entities, and may be understood to not confer a cumulative or chronological character to the nouns they modify, unless otherwise noted, based on context.

[0051] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments.

[0052] Embodiments of a method, performed by the first wireless device 131 will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in Figure 2. The first wireless device 131 is in the wireless communications network 100. The method may be understood to be for handling a reference signal of the first wireless device 131. The method may be understood to be computer-implemented.

[0053] In some examples, the wireless communications network 100 may support NR.

[0054] Several embodiments are comprised herein. In some embodiments all the actions may be performed. In some embodiments, one or more actions may be performed. It should be noted that the examples herein may be not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the first wireless device 131 is depicted in Figure 2. Some actions may be performed in a different order than that shown in Figure 2. In Figure 2, optional actions are represented with dashed lines.

[0055] Action 201

[0056] In this Action 201, the first wireless device 131 receives a first message from the first network node 111 operating in the wireless communications network 100. The first network node 111 may be understood to be a radio network node serving the first wireless device 131, e.g., in the first cell 121.

[0057] The first message jointly configures the first wireless device 131 to transmit a first UL reference signal and to receive a first DL transmission of data from the first network node 111.

[0058] The first UL reference signal is configured to indicate a positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data.

[0059] That the first message jointly configures the first wireless device 131 to transmit the first UL reference signal and to receive the first DL transmission of data may be understood to mean that the first message may instruct the first wireless device 131 to transmit the first UL reference signal when the first network node 111 may configure the first wireless device 131 to receive the first DL transmission of data. In other words, the joint configuration of the first DL transmission of data and transmission of the first UL reference signal may be understood to be induced simultaneously.

[0060] Accordingly, the first UL reference signal is configured to indicate the positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data. The positive correlation may be understood to mean that transmission of the first UL reference signal may be understood to indicate the reception of the first DL transmission of data. Expressed differently, transmission of the first UL reference signal may be understood to indicate a future reception of the first DL transmission of data. The first UL reference signal may therefore be used as a marker of the reception of first DL transmission of data.

[0061] The positive correlation may be over 50%. In some particular examples, the correlation may be of 100%. That is, in such particular examples, every time the first UL reference signal may be transmitted by the first wireless device 131 , the first wireless device 131 may be expected to receive a first DL transmission of data. In some examples, however, a 100% correlation may not always be achieved, e.g., due to UL scheduling constraints when, for example, the network load may be high and matching UL resources may not be freely available. Hence, in some examples, the positive correlation may exceed a threshold. For example, the positive correlation may exceed 50%. In other examples, the threshold may be 70%, that is, the positive correlation may be higher than 70%. It may be understood that the threshold may have a different value than 50% or 70%, e.g., higher than 50%. The positive correlation may be a high correlation. This may be understood to mean that whenever the first UL reference signal may be transmitted, there may be a high, probability that a corresponding first DL transmission of data may occur in the next slot. That is, the events ’’first UL reference signal is transmitted” and ’’first DL transmission of data is received” may be highly, correlated. If one occurs then so may the second be understood to happen, with high probability.

[0062] Because of this high probability, a neighbouring base station such as the second network node 112 in the second cell 122 may assume that if it receives the ’’first UL reference signal” coming from a neighbouring cell, e.g., the first cell 121 which may be understood to be the serving cell of the plurality of wireless devices 130, then there may very likely be the first DL transmission of data in that neighbouring cell.

[0063] Transmission or reception may be understood to be via radio signals.

[0064] The receiving in this Action 201 of the first indication may be performed, e.g., via the first link 141.

[0065] The first message may trigger the first UL reference signal at resources that may not be pre-configured but related to the instantaneous scheduled data frequency location.

[0066] In some embodiments, at least one first parameter of the transmission of the first UL reference signal may be configured to be derived from one or more second parameters configured to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data.

[0067] The at least one first parameter may be a signal frequency resource of the first UL reference signal. One of the one or more second parameters may be transmission frequency resource of the first DL transmission of data. In some examples, the signal frequency resource of the first UL reference signal may be configured to be equal to a transmission frequency resource of the first DL transmission of data. That is, the bandwidth of the first UL reference signal, e.g., SRS, may correspond to the bandwidth of the the first DL transmission of data, e.g., PDSCH.

[0068] Other examples of parameters may be, e.g., a signal time resource, a signal code sequence, a signal power level, etc... That is, any parameter that may specify the transmission of the first UL reference signal.

[0069] In some embodiments, the first UL reference signal may be a Sounding reference signal (SRS). The DL transmission of data may be in a Physical DL Shared Channel (PDSCH). The first message may be further comprised in a Physical DL Control Channel (PDCCH) comprising the joint configuration.

[0070] The first message may be a DL Control Information (DCI) message.

[0071] In some embodiments wherein the first UL reference signal may be an SRS, the DL transmission of data may be in a PDSCH, and the first message may be further comprised in a PDCCH comprising the joint configuration, the at least one first parameter may correspond to SRS resources, and the one or more second parameters may correspond to PDSCH resources.

[0072] In some examples, embodiments herein may comprise defining two different sets of UL reference signal resources, e.g., UL SRS resources: a first type, e.g., first SRS type, and a second type, also referred to herein as Type 2, e.g., second SRS type, with different properties that may be configured and used in different ways. Hence the first UL reference signal may be defined and a second UL reference signal may be defined. The second UL reference signal may be of the first type, and the first UL reference signal may be of the second type. The second UL reference signal may be understood to be a legacy UL reference signal.

[0073] Any reference herein to SRS Type 2 or SRS2 may be understood to equally apply to the first UL reference signal of the second type. Any reference herein to SRS Type 1 or SRS1 may be understood to equally apply to the second UL reference signal of the first type.

[0074] Transmissions of the second UL reference signal of the first type, e.g., Type 1 SRS signals, may occur to support any legacy use-case involving uplink reference signal transmissions, other than downlink inter-cell interference protection. The second UL reference signal of the first type may be UE Unique UL SRS transmissions for UL channel estimation and / or DL beamforming. The second UL reference signal of the first type, e.g., Type 1 SRS transmissions, may also support novel use-cases not described herein. This UL reference signal of the first type, e.g., of SRS signal, may be typically ignored in neighboring cells, such as the second cell 122. That is, ignored by the second network node 112. In some examples, for the second UL reference signal of the first type, e.g., the first SRS type, the sequence and physical resources may be pre-configured using RRC signaling.

[0075] For the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., the second type of SRS signal, the resources and / or sequences used may be dynamically indicated to the first wireless device 131 in the first message, e.g., which may be also referred to as a PDCCH message, together with the PDSCH allocation. In one example of embodiments herein, in one of the downlink time-slots, a PDCCH containing a DCI may indicate both, a future PDSCH transmission and an associated Type 2 SRS transmission. The same first message, e.g., a PDCCH message, may schedule both, the first UL reference signal, e.g., an uplink SRS transmission, denoted SRS Type 2, and the first DL transmission of data, e.g., a downlink PDSCH transmission. The transmission of an UL SRS and a downlink PDSCH may be jointly configured in the same PDCCH message.

[0076] The first UL reference signal of the second type, in this example, a Type 2 SRS signal, may be considered to be a shared interference suppression indicator sequence. This second type of UL reference signal, e.g., SRS, may be used in neighboring cells, such as the second cell 122, to enable inter-cell interference protection of dynamically scheduled downlink transmissions. Neighboring base stations such as the second network node 112 may supress DL transmissions reaching non-serving wireless devices that may have transmitted the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS. Only the first UL reference signal of the second type may be used in neighboring cells to enable inter-cell interference suppression, while the second UL reference signal of the first type may be ignored in neighboring cells such as the second cell 122. Only wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130 that may have transmitted the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., SRS Type 2 signal, prior to receiving the first DL transmission of data, may receive inter-cell interference protection from neighboring cells such as the second cell 122.

[0077] In some embodiments, the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, may have the following characteristics. The frequency allocation of the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, may correspond to the frequency allocation of the first DL transmission of data, that is, the upcoming dynamically scheduled downlink transmission. For example, Type 2 SRS transmission may use the same, or close to the same, bandwidth as the scheduled PDSCH transmission. Alternatively, the frequency allocation of the first UL reference signal of the second type may partially match the frequency allocation of the corresponding downlink transmission, that is, of the first DL transmission of data, or the frequency allocation may be fixed or otherwise not related to the first DL transmission of data. The first message, e.g., PDCCH message, may be transmitted in a first time-interval (DL), the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS signal, may be transmitted in a second time-interval (UL) following the first time-interval, and the first DL transmission of data may occur in a third time-interval (DL) following the second timeinterval.

[0078] In scenarios wherein an additional wireless device to the first wireless device 131 may also transmit a respective first UL reference signal of the second type, and the downlink data channels corresponding to the first wireless device 131 and the other device may be both scheduled over the entire downlink bandwidth, the corresponding first UL reference signals of the second type of both wireless devices may also need to cover the entire uplink bandwidth. To enable this, the first wireless device 131 and the other device may need to transmit different sequences of the first UL reference signal of the second type over the same uplink bandwidth. In other examples, with small downlink data, different wireless devices may transmit the same sequence of the first UL reference signal of the second type over different bandwidth. It may be noted that the two cell-specific sequences of the first UL reference signal of the second type may be different frequency combs on a same Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, e.g., consisting of one symbol every n-th sub-carrier with different frequency offsets for the first wireless device 131 and the other device. Alternatively, the two cell-specific sequences of the first UL reference signal of the second type may occupy different timedomain symbols. Alternatively, in some examples, the sequences of the first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., SRS Type 2, may occupy the same resources, e.g., they may completely overlap in time and frequency and use the same sequence. This may be the case when the sole purpose of the transmissions of the first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., SRS type 2, may be for intercell interference suppression and not for aiding the serving cell to beamform, e.g., the serving cell may already possess accurate Channel State Information (CSI) suitable to perform Multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO). The advantage may be understood to be that less sounding overhead may have to be spent to protect wireless devices involved in MU-MIMO receptions from intercell interferences. The number of available cell-specific sequences of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, may need to be equal or smaller than the maximum number of MU-MIMO multiplexed wireless devices. Which cell-specific sequence of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, the first wireless device 131 may have to use may need to be indicated in the DCI, e.g., in the first message. In some examples, all possible cell-specific sequences of the first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS may need to be known in the neighboring cell, e.g., the second cell 122. That is, they may need to be known by the second network node 112. This may enable the neighboring cell, e.g., the second cell 122, to perform channel estimation towards non-served wireless devices in surrounding cells and to use this channel presence and estimate their spatial location / angles. This alternative may be understood to remove the need for estimates when calculating interference suppressing antenna transmit weights. In this case, the neighboring cell, e.g., the second cell 122, may not need to know which wireless devices are scheduled on which sequence of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, in the surrounding cells. The cell-specific sequences of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, may be allocated and shared between cells semi-statically to minimize the inter-node signaling. In other examples, no explicit channel estimation towards non-served wireless devices may be performed. In this case, the base station, e.g., the second network node 112, may not need to know which resources of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, may be used in neighboring cells, e.g., the first cell 121. The non-serving base station, such as the second network node 112, may e.g. estimate the residual interference, that is, the interference on the resources of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, remaining after transmissions of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, from served wireless devices may have been subtracted, and use that when determining the interference suppressing downlink transmit antenna weights.

[0079] As another example that at least one first parameter of the transmission of the first UL reference signal may be configured to be derived from one or more second parameters configured to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data, in some examples, the transmission of the first UL reference signal of the second type may use, and / or may be scheduled, with a significantly smaller bandwidth compared to that of the associated the first DL transmission of data, e.g., PDSCH, for example, 10% or 25% of the PDSCH bandwidth, or 4 Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs), etc. This may be the case when the first UL reference signal of the second type may be only used for intercell interference suppression, and not also for Reciprocity assisted transmission (RAT), thus the second network node 112, e.g., the neighbor non-serving gNB, may only use it in order to suppress angles / subspaces towards the wireless device(s) of the plurality of wireless devices 130 it may want to protect, such angles and / or subspaces may be largely frequency invariant and thus may be estimated using a small part of the PDSCH bandwidth.

[0080] In some examples, the first UL reference signal of the second type may share resource parameters configurations similar to those of the associated first DL transmission of data, e.g., PDSCH, except for bandwidth, e.g. it may share the same starting frequency, etc. The bandwidth of the first UL reference signal of the second type may be not signaled to the first wireless device 131 , e.g., the first UL reference signal of the second type may occupy the smallest possible SRS bandwidth - 4PRBs, or it may be signaled to the first wireless device 131 as a function of the bandwidth of the first DL transmission of data, e.g., PDSCH. For example, the first UL reference signal of the second type may occupy 10% or 25% of the PRBs of the PDSCH.

[0081] Alternatively, the first UL reference signal of the second type may be configured with a fixed or otherwise known, non-PDSCH allocation-related location where a non-serving gNB, such as the second network node 112, may monitor for neighbor-cell wireless devices instantaneously matching UL (SRS) and DL (PDSCH) resource allocation for all wireless devices obtaining interference protection and may be expected to perform well in Line of Sight (LOS)-dominated or sparse propagation channels.

[0082] In one example, the resource, e.g., location, sequence, etc. of the first UL reference signal of the second type may be common for all wireless devices in a given cell, whereby the first UL reference signals of the second type from multiple wireless devices in the cell may be combined over-the-air. A scheduling gNB such as e.g., the first network node 111 in a serving cell such as the first cell 121 , or such as the second network node 112 in the second cell 122, may use the sum of multiple received neighbor cell first UL reference signals of the second type to form a composite nulling pattern, reflecting which wireless devices may be active in a given scheduling interval, slot or multiple slots, without considering their DL frequency allocation.

[0083] In another example, the resource of the first UL reference signals of the second type may be common for all cells in a region of the wireless communications network 100, whereby the first UL reference signals of the second type from scheduled wireless devices in all cells may be combined over-the-air. A scheduling gNB such as e.g., the first network node 111 in a serving cell such as the first cell 121, or such as the second network node 112 in the second cell 122, may subtract / remove the scheduled channel direction(s) of the wireless devices from the received sum of all first UL reference signals of the second type to form a composite nulling pattern protecting neighbor-cell wireless devices, but not limiting the scheduled user in the own cell, e.g., the first cell 121 for the first network node 111 and the second cell 122 for the second network node 112.

[0084] In some embodiments, the first wireless device 131 may be configured with multiple reference signals, e.g., SRS resources, for different purposes. In some embodiments, the first wireless device 131 may be configured with the second UL reference signal. The second UL reference signal may be of the first type, also referred to herein as Type 1. The second UL reference signal may lack a joint configuration with DL transmission of data from the first network node 111. The first UL reference signal may be of the second type.

[0085] In some examples, the first wireless device 131 may be configured with both a SRS Type 1 signal and a SRS Type 2 signal.

[0086] In some examples, the first message, e.g., PDCCH, that may schedule both, the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., an UL SRS transmission, and the first DL transmission of data, e.g., a DL PDSCH transmission, may comprise an indicator of which type of UL reference signal, e.g., SRS, the first wireless device 131 may have to transmit, e.g., 1-2 bits indicating a SRS Type 1 or a SRS Type 2 transmission, or both.

[0087] For example, the first network node 111, e.g, a serving base station, may determine a set of wireless devices that may need interference suppression for upcoming DL transmissions and instruct the set of wireless devices to transmit the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., SRS Type 2 signal, in an UL slot prior to the DL transmissions.

[0088] A neighbouring non-serving base station such as the second network node 112, receiving one or more transmissions of the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, and performing DL interference supressing may transmit beamforming e.g., with null-forming, towards the corresponding reciprocal channels of the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS signals, where the DL spatial null may be configured in the direction matching the estimated direction of the type 2 SRS from wireless devices, e.g., UEs, in other cells, such as the second cell 122, received in the UL.

[0089] In some examples, the second UL reference signal of the first type may be only processed in the first cell 121 , that is, the serving cell, while the transmissions of the first UL reference signal of the second type may be received and processed in both the first cell 121, that is, the serving cell as well as in neighboring cells, such as the second cell 122.

[0090] In some examples, the physical resource elements that may be used for transmissions of the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., SRS Type 2, may be reserved, as depicted later in Figure 5, for this purpose only. In case no wireless device is transmitting any first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., SRS Type 2 transmission, then the corresponding physical resources may be left un-used. In other examples, the physical resources used for the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., SRS Type 2, transmission may be not reserved and may e.g., be used for uplink data transmission when they may be not used, see e.g., Figure 7.

[0091] It may be noted that there may be understood to be a tradeoff between the processing time requirements of the first wireless device 131 and the processing time requirements of a base station such as the first network node 111 and / or the second network node 112. If the first message is provided early to the first wireless device 131 , e.g., in the first downlink slot, e.g., in a period of consecutive DL slots as specified by the time-division duplex (TDD) pattern used, instead of in the second downlink slot, then the first wireless device 131 may have more time to decode the first message before it may have to perform the transmission of the first UL reference signal of the second type. The first wireless device 131 may also have more time to decode the first message if the transmission of the first UL reference signal of the second type may occur late in the uplink slot compared to if it may occur early in the uplink slot. If a base station, e.g., the first network node 111 and / or the second network node 112, can receive the first UL reference signal of the second type early, then it may have more time to perform channel estimation to served and possibly interfered wireless devices and it may have more time to compute suitable transmit antenna weights for the upcoming first DL transmission of data. Delaying the transmission of the first DL transmission of data may also create more time for the base station, e.g., the first network node 111 and / or the second network node 112, to calculate channel estimates and antenna weights, but at the cost of reduced time for the actual transmission of the first DL transmission of data.

[0092] In some embodiments, the first wireless device 131 may be pre-configured with one or more of: a) a first time offset between a first time of reception of the first message and a second time of transmission of the first UL reference signal, b) a second time offset between the first time of reception of the first message and a third time of reception of the first DL transmission of data, and c) a third time offset between the second time of transmission of the first UL reference signal and the third time of reception of the first DL transmission of data.

[0093] In some embodiments, a network node, e.g., a base station node, radio unit node, base band processing node, etc, in the wireless communications network 100, such as the first network node 111 or the second network node 112, may signal to a control unit, e.g., an Operation and Maintenance (O&M) node, Self-Organizing Networks (SON) node, Network management (NM) node, etc... how fast it may process uplink reference signal, e.g., SRS, receptions from the wireless devices, e.g., the time required to perform channel estimation and to compute transmission weights. In some examples, this processing time may further depend on e.g. the number of SRS layers, and / or the SRS bandwidth etc. In some examples, the first wireless device 131 may be pre-configured, e.g., using RRC signaling or MAC CE signaling, or dynamically configured, e.g., using PDCCH signaling, with a time offset between the time of the received DCI in the PDCCH and the SRS Type 2 transmission and / or the DCI to the PDSCH transmission and / or the SRS2 to PDSCH transmission.

[0094] In some embodiments, the first message may further comprise one or more of the following.

[0095] According to a first option, the first message may further comprise a first indication of one or more sequences to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal. In some examples, a first PDCCH in a first (DL) time interval may indicate an optional indication of the sequences and / or rank to be used when transmitting a Type 2 SRS, e.g. 1-4 bits per channel rank. Channel rank may be understood as a measure of spatial channel richness. A channel with rank 1 may support one spatial data stream between a transmitter and a receiver, regardless of how many antenna elements the transmitter and receiver may have. For example, a line-of sight channel having only one dominant path between a transmitter and a receiver may be understood to have a low rank, e.g., close to 1. A channel with a large number of scatterers causing reflections in the path between the transmitter and receiver may be understood to have a higher channel rank.

[0096] According to a second option, the first message may further comprise a second indication of a rank of a channel to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal.

[0097] The optional indication of the sequences and / or rank to be used when transmitting may in some examples use a preconfigured set of sequences, e.g., configured using Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, and a bit-map or index selecting, e.g., from a table, which of the preconfigured sequences the first wireless device 131 may have to use when transmitting the first UL reference signal, e.g., SRS.

[0098] According to a third option, the first message may further comprise a third indication of a decision on link adaptation to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data. In some examples, a first PDCCH in a first (DL) time interval may indicate an optional link adaptation decision, e.g., indicating a block set size, and / or a modulation and coding rate, and / or rank, to be used for the DL transmission of data, that is for the reception by the first wireless device 131 of the first DL transmission of data. The link adaptation decision may be used by the first network node 111 to determine the DL transmission configuration, and then the first wireless device 131 may be informed about that configuration in the first message, e.g., the DCI.

[0099] According to a fourth option, the first message may further comprise a DL resource allocation for the first DL reception of data. In some examples, a first PDCCH in a first (DL) time interval may indicate a DL resource allocation for a DL data transmission, e.g., for the reception by the first wireless device 131 of the first DL transmission of data. In a preferred example, the DL resource allocation may be consecutive in frequency, to enable consecutive frequency allocations with single carrier properties and low peak-to-average-power, also for the co-scheduled uplink SRS transmission.

[0100] According to a fifth option, the first message may further comprise a fourth indication to transmit the first UL reference signal on frequency resources corresponding to said DL resource allocation or in other resources. In some examples, a first PDCCH in a first (DL) time interval may indicate an indication to transmit an uplink SRS, e.g., 1 bit, on frequency resources corresponding to said DL resource allocation, or optionally in other resources, e.g., 1 bit for additional resource indication.

[0101] Action 202

[0102] In this Action 202, first wireless device 131 may send one or more of the first UL reference signal and the second UL reference signal.

[0103] Sending may be understood as transmitting, e.g., broadcasting.

[0104] Action 203

[0105] In this Action 203, the first wireless device 131 may receive a second message from the first network node 111 comprising a final link adaptation decision to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data.

[0106] The second message may be a second DL control message. The final link adaptation decision may be based on the first link adaptation decision and additional information about other-cell interference estimated based on the received one or more of the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS signals.

[0107] In some examples, the second DL control message in the third time-interval may indicate the final link adaptation decision, e.g., indicating a block set size, and / or a modulation and coding rate, and / or rank, to be used for the DL data transmission, that is for the reception by the first wireless device 131 of the first DL transmission of data.

[0108] In case the first message, e.g., the first PDCCH message, comprised the optional link adaptation decision, the final link adaptation decision received in this Action 203 may use a delta signalling structure, e.g., 1-2 bits may be used to indicate a relative increase / decrease of the modulation and / or code rate and / or rank compared the link adaptation decision provided in the first message received in Action 201.

[0109] In some examples, the second DL control message may be provided in a second physical DL control channel (PDCCH) message, or an in-band physical control signaling using the physical resources defined in the first message, e.g., the first PDCCH message.

[0110] The first wireless device 131 may also receive the first DL transmission of data from the first network node 111. Embodiments of a method, performed by the first network node 111 will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in Figure 3. The first network node 111 is in the wireless communications network 100. The method may be understood to be for handling the reference signal of the first wireless device 131. The method may be understood to be computer-implemented.

[0111] In some examples, the wireless communications network 100 may support at least one of: NR, and NB-loT.

[0112] Several embodiments are comprised herein. In some embodiments all the actions may be performed. In some embodiments, one or more actions may be performed. It should be noted that the examples herein may be not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the first network node 111 is depicted in Figure 3. Some actions may be performed in a different order than that shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, optional actions are represented with dashed lines. The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first wireless device 131, and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the first network node 111 may be a serving network node of the first wireless device 131.

[0113] Action 301

[0114] In this Action 301 , the first network node 111 may determine that interference suppression may have to be performed for the first wireless device 131.

[0115] Determining may be understood as calculating, estimating, deriving, deciding or similar. The determining in this Action 301 may be based e.g., on the number of co-scheduled wireless devices in the network, e.g., if the number exceeds a threshold, the observed interference levels or performance degradation during pervious transmissions, e.g., if the first transmission BLER exceeds a threshold, etc.

[0116] Action 302

[0117] In this Action 302, the first network node 111 sends the first message to the first wireless device 131. The first message jointly configures the first wireless device 131 to transmit the first UL reference signal and to receive the first DL transmission of data from the first network node 111. The first UL reference signal is configured to indicate the positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data. The sending in this Action 302 of the first message may be based on a result of the determination of Action 301.

[0118] The first message may be the DCI message

[0119] In some embodiments, the first wireless device 131 may be configured with the second UL reference signal. The second UL reference signal may be of the first type and the second UL reference signal may lack the joint configuration with DL transmission of data from the first network node 111. The first UL reference signal may be of a second type.

[0120] At least the one first parameter of the transmission of the first UL reference signal may be configured to be derived from the one or more second parameters configured to be used to transmit the first DL transmission of data.

[0121] In some embodiments, the first UL reference signal may be an SRS, the DL transmission of data may be in a PDSCH, the first message may be further comprised in a PDCCH comprising the joint configuration, and the at least one first parameter may correspond to SRS resources, and the one or more second parameters may correspond to PDSCH resources.

[0122] In some embodiments, the first message may further comprise one or more of: the first indication of one or more sequences to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal, the second indication of the rank of the channel to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal, the third indication of the decision on link adaptation to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data, the DL resource allocation for the first DL transmission of data, and the fourth indication to transmit the first UL reference signal on frequency resources corresponding to said DL resource allocation or in other resources.

[0123] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may have configured the first wireless device 131 with one or more of: a) the first time offset between the first time of the first message, as received by the first wireless device 131 , and the second time of transmission of the first UL reference signal, b) the second time offset between the first time of the first message, as received by the first wireless device 131, and the third time of reception by the first wireless device 131 of the first DL transmission of data, and c) the third time offset between the second time of transmission by the first wireless device 131 of the first UL reference signal and the third time of reception by the first wireless device 131 of the first DL transmission of data.

[0124] Action 303

[0125] In this Action 303, first network node 111 may receive the first UL reference signal.

[0126] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may receive in this Action 303, the first uplink UL reference signal from the first wireless device 131 and the second UL reference signal of the first type from the first wireless device 131. Action 304

[0127] In this Action 304, the first network node 111 may send the second message to the first wireless device 131 comprising the final link adaptation decision to be used to receive, by the first wireless device 131 , the first DL transmission of data.

[0128] Action 305

[0129] In this Action 305, the first network node 111 may send the first DL transmission of data to the first wireless device 131.

[0130] Action 306

[0131] In this Action 306, the first network node 111 may initiate performance of interference suppression towards a first corresponding reciprocal channel of the first UL reference signal and refrain from initiating performance of interference suppression towards a second reciprocal channel of the second UL reference signal.

[0132] Initiating performance may be understood to comprise starting the performance by the first network node 111 itself, or enabling, triggering or facilitating the performance by the second network node 112.

[0133] Interference suppression may be performed by, for example using spatial antenna processing techniques by calculating transmit antenna weights according to a criteria such as zero forcing (ZF) or minimum mean square error (MMSE).

[0134] Embodiments of a method, performed by the second network node 112 will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in Figure 4. The second network node 112 is in the wireless communications network 100. The method may be understood to be for handling the reference signal of the first wireless device 131. The method may be understood to be computer-implemented.

[0135] In some examples, the wireless communications network 100 may support at least one of: NR and NB-loT.

[0136] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein may be not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the second network node 112 is depicted in Figure 4. The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first network node 111 , and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the second network node 112 may be a neighboring node to the first cell 121 where the first wireless device 131 may be being served by the first network node 111.

[0137] Action 401

[0138] In this Action 401, the second network node 112 receives the first UL reference signal of the second type from the first wireless device 131 operating in the wireless communications network 100 and the second UL reference signal of the first type from the first wireless device 131 or another wireless device 132 in the plurality of wireless devices 130.

[0139] Action 402

[0140] In this Action 401, the second network node 112 performs interference suppression towards the first corresponding reciprocal channel of the first UL reference signal and refrains from performing interference suppression towards the second reciprocal channel of the second UL reference signal.

[0141] In some embodiments, the second UL reference signal and the first UL reference signal may be SRS.

[0142] The second network node 112 may differentiate between the first UL reference signal of the second type, and the second reference signal of the first type based for example on their respective sequences, which the second network node 112 may have previously obtained.

[0143] In some embodiments, the second network node 112 may have obtained one or more of: a) a fifth indication of one or more sequences to be used to receive the first UL reference signal, and b) a sixth indication of the rank of the channel used to receive the first UL reference signal. The fifth indication may be the same as or equivalent to the first indication. The sixth indication may be the same as or equivalent to the second indication.

[0144] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing, in two different sub-figures a) and b), two nonlimiting examples of embodiments herein, wherein some basic aspects of embodiments herein are depicted. Each of the two different sub-figures a) and b) depicts of the first message being DCI 501 comprised in a PDCCH 502. In the top sub-figure a), the same first message 501 , a PDCCH message, schedules both, the first UL reference signal 503, here an uplink SRS transmission, denoted SRS Type 2, and the first DL transmission of data 504, here a downlink PDSCH transmission. As depicted in both sub-figures a) and b), the SRS Type 2 bandwidth corresponds to the bandwidth of the PDSCH in this example. Each of the two sub-figures a) and b) also depicts resources allocated for DL information 505, resources allocated for UL information 506, as well as reserved resources 507, 508. In some embodiments, the first wireless device 131 may be configured with multiple reference signals, e.g., SRS resources, for different purposes, denoted SRS Type 1 and SRS Type 2 in the figure. In the particular non-limiting example depicted in sub-figure b), the first wireless device 131 is configured with two types of SRS resources: the first UL reference signal 503 of the second type, and the second UL reference signal 509 of the first type, here and SRS denoted as Type 1. In this example, only the SRS Type 2 is used in neighboring cells to enable inter-cell interference suppression, while the SRS type 1 is ignored in neighboring cells. In some examples of embodiments herein, the physical resource elements that may be used for transmissions of the first UL reference signal 503 of the second type, e.g., SRS Type 2, may be reserved 507, 508, as depicted in Figure 1 , for this purpose only. In case no wireless device is transmitting any first UL reference signal 503 of the second type, e.g., SRS Type 2 transmission, then the corresponding physical resources 508 may be left un-used.

[0145] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram depicting non-limiting examples of some aspects of embodiments herein relating to the usage of two types of reference signal resources, e.g., SRS resources. In the top sub-figure a), an example is depicted where some wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, such as the another wireless device 132, represented as UE3, transmit a second UL reference signal of the first type, in this example, a Type 1 SRS signal. Furthermore, some other wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, such as the first wireless device 131 , represented as UE1, UE2, transmit the first UL reference signal of the second type, in this example, a Type 2 SRS signal. UE1 may be understood to communicate over a first channel / ?i,i with the first network node 111 , BS1, UE2 may be understood to communicate have a second channel / 72,I with the first network node 111 , BS1, and UE3 may be understood to communicate over a third channel / 73,I with the first network node 111 , BS1. UE1 may be understood to create interference gi ,2 towards the first second network node 112i , BS2, whereas UE2 may be understood to create interference 2.3 towards the second second network node 1122, BS3. The Type 1 SRS signal(s) may be only processed in the serving cell in this example, served by the first network node 111 , while the SRS Type 2 transmissions may be received and processed in both the serving cell (solid arrows), served by the first network node 111 , as well as in neighboring cells (dashed arrows), served by a first second network node 112, 112i , and a second second network node 1122. In the middle sub-figure b), an example is shown depicting an uplink time interval containing two different types of reference signal resources, e.g., SRS resources. Particularly, the middle subfigure b) depicts an UL time-slot comprising different physical resources for the second UL reference signal of the first type, e.g., Type 1 SRS resources, and the first UL reference signal of the second type, in this example, Type 2 SRS resources The second UL reference signal of the first type, e.g., Type 1 SRS signals, is denoted “Legacy SRS” in the sub-figure b), indicating that these SRS transmissions may occur to support any legacy use-case involving uplink SRS transmissions, other than downlink inter-cell interference protection. The second UL reference signal of the first type may be UE Unique UL SRS transmissions for UL channel estimation and / or DL beamforming. The second UL reference signal of the first type, e.g., Type 1 SRS transmissions, may also support novel use-cases not described herein. The first UL reference signal of the second type, in this example, a Type 2 SRS signal, may be a shared interference suppression indicator sequence. Neighboring base stations such as the second network node 112, e.g., first second network node 112, 112i , and a second second network node 1122, may supress DL transmissions reaching non-serving wireless devices that may have transmitted the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS. In the bottom sub-figure c), an example depicting the resulting interference avoiding transmissions is shown. Only UEs that transmitted the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., SRS Type 2 signal, prior to receiving the downlink data, UEi, UE2, may receive inter-cell interference protection from neighboring cells. As depicted in Figure 6 c), BS2, which is the first second network node 112, may nullform towards UE1. BS3, which is the second second network node 112, may nullform towards UE2. Some wireless devices, such as the another wireless device 132, that instead transmitted a second UL reference signal of the first type, e.g., Type 1 SRS, UE3 in this example, or no SRS, may be understood to not be protected from potential inter-cell interference.

[0146] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram depicting a non-limiting example of a time-and- frequency domain resource allocation in a time-division duplex (TDD) system using a DDSU pattern, according to embodiments herein. Some of the elements depicted in Figure 7 have already been described in reference to Figure 5, based on the reference number depicted. In some examples of embodiments herein, such as that depicted in Figure 7, the physical resources used for the first UL reference signal 503 of the second type, e.g., SRS Type 2, transmission are not reserved and may e.g., be used for uplink data transmission when they may be not used. In one of the downlink time-slots, a PDCCH 502 containing the first message, a DCI 501, may indicate both, a future PDSCH transmission 504 and an associated Type 2 SRS 503 transmission. The Type 2 SRS transmission 503 may use the same, or close to the same, bandwidth as the scheduled PDSCH transmission. The horizontal dashed lines in Figure 7 may be understood to represent that the timing of the PDCCH 502 and the SRS Type 2 503 may be changed. When doing so, there may be a tradeoff between the UE processing time 701 requirements and the base station processing time 702 requirements to consider. If the PDCCH 502 is provided early to the first wireless device 131, e.g., in the first downlink slot instead of in the second downlink slot in the figure, then the first wireless device 131 may have more time to decode the PDCCH 502 message before it may have to perform the Type 2 SRS 503 transmission. The first wireless device 131 may also have more time to decode the PDCCH 502 message if the SRS Type 2 503 transmission may occur late in the uplink slot compared to if it may occur early in the uplink slot. If a base station, e.g., the first network node 111 and / or the second network node 112, can receive the SRS Type 2 503 reception early, then it may have more time to perform channel estimation to served and possibly interfered wireless devices and it may have more time to compute suitable transmit antenna weights for the upcoming PDSCH transmission 504. Delaying the PDSCH transmission 504 may also create more time for the base station, e.g., the first network node 111 and / or the second network node 112, to calculate channel estimates and antenna weights, but at the cost of reduced time for the actual PDSCH transmission 504.

[0147] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram depicting a non-limiting example according to embodiments herein with multi-user MIMO, utilizing multiple sequences for the first UL reference signal of the second type, e.g., SRS Type 2. Figure 8 depicts DCI for a first UE, such as the first wireless device 131, DCI-UE1 801 comprising a first first message 802, which in these examples is a first PDCCH message, PDCCH-UE1. The first first message 802, a PDCCH message, schedules both, a first UL reference signal of the second type 803, here an uplink SRS transmission, denoted SRS Type 2, to be transmitted by the first wireless device 131, denoted as SRS Type 2-UE1 , and the first DL transmission of data 804, here a downlink PDSCH transmission, to be received by the first wireless device 131, denoted as PDSCH - UE1. Figure 8 also depicts resources allocated for DL information 805, resources allocated for UL information 806. In addition, Figure 8 depicts DCI for a second UE, such as a second wireless device, DCI-UE2 807 comprised in a second first message 808, which in these examples is a second PDCCH message, PDCCH-UE2. The second first message 808, that is, the second PDCCH message, schedules both, another first UL reference signal of the second type 809, here an uplink SRS transmission, denoted SRS Type 2, to be transmitted by the second wireless device, denoted as SRS Type 2-UE2, and another first DL transmission of data 810, here a downlink PDSCH transmission, to be received by the second wireless device, which may be denoted as PDSCH-UE2. Here, the downlink data channels 804, 810 corresponding to UE1 and UE2 are both scheduled over the entire downlink bandwidth. Consequently, the corresponding Type 2 SRS signals for UE1 and UE2, SRS2-UE1 802 and SRS2-UE2 808 in the figure, may also need to cover the entire uplink bandwidth. To enable this, UE1 and UE2 may need to transmit different SRS Type 2 sequences over the same uplink bandwidth. It may be noted that the two cell-specific SRS Type 2 sequences in this example may be different frequency combs on a same Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, e.g., consisting of one symbol every n-th sub-carrier with different frequency offsets for UE1 and UE2. Alternatively, the two cell-specific SRS Type 2 sequences may occupy different time-domain symbols, as in Figure 8. Alternatively, in some examples, the sequences of the first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., SRS Type 2, may occupy the same resources, e.g., they may completely overlap in time and frequency and use the same sequence. This may be the case when the sole purpose of the transmissions of the first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., SRS type 2, may be for intercell interference suppression and not for aiding the serving cell to beamform, e.g., the serving cell, such as the first cell 121 served by the first network node 111 , may already possess accurate Channel State Information (CSI) suitable to perform Multi-user MIM (MU- MIMO). The advantage may be understood to be that less sounding overhead may have to be spent to protect wireless devices involved in MU-MIMO receptions from intercell interferences. The number of available cell-specific sequences of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, may need to be equal or smaller than the maximum number of MU- MIMO multiplexed wireless devices. Which cell-specific sequence of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, that the wireless devices may have to use may need to be indicated in the DCI. In some examples, all possible cell-specific sequences first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS may need to be known in the neighboring cell, e.g., the second cell 122, that is by the second network node 112. This may enable the neighboring cell to perform channel estimation towards non-served wireless devices in surrounding cells and to use this channel presence and estimate their spatial location / angles. This alternative may be understood to remove the need for estimates when calculating interference suppressing antenna transmit weights. In this case, the neighboring cell may not need to know which wireless devices are scheduled on which sequence of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, in the surrounding cells. The cellspecific sequences of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, may be allocated and shared between cells semi-statically to minimize the inter-node signaling. In other examples, no explicit channel estimation towards non-served wireless devices may be performed. In this case, the second network node 112 may not need to know which resources of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, are used in neighboring cells, such as the first cell 121. The non-serving base station, such as the second network node 112, may e.g. estimate the residual interference, that is, the interference on the resources of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, remaining after transmissions of first UL reference signals of the second type, e.g., Type 2 SRS, from served wireless devices may have been subtracted, and use that when determining the interference suppressing downlink transmit antenna weights.

[0148] Certain embodiments disclosed herein may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s), which may be summarized as follows. Embodiments herein, may be understood to enable to achieve reduced downlink inter-cell interference, and therefore improved link adaptation, enhanced user throughput, and higher system capacity.

[0149] The proposed scheme may make the minimum latency larger. Before a downlink transmission may happen with this interference protected transmission mode, a transmission of the first UL reference signal of the second type may need to occur. However, the maximal or 10th percentile latency may decrease. With interference protection, the link adaptation may be expected to be much more accurate, resulting in fewer retransmissions.

[0150] Figure 9 depicts an example of the arrangement that the first wireless device 131 may comprise to perform the method actions described above in relation to Figure 2, and / or any of Figures 5-8. The first wireless device 131 may be understood to be for handling the reference signal of the first wireless device 131. The first wireless device 131 may be configured to operate in the wireless communications network 100.

[0151] In some examples, the wireless communications network 100 may be configured to support at least one of: NR and NB-loT.

[0152] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first wireless device 131 and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the first network node 111 may be configured to be a serving network node of the first wireless device 131.

[0153] The first wireless device 131 is configured to receive the first message from the first network node 111 configured to operate in the wireless communications network 100. The first message is configured to jointly configure the first wireless device 131 to transmit the first UL reference signal and to receive the first DL transmission of data from the first network node 111. The first UL reference signal is configured to indicate the positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data.

[0154] In some embodiments, the first wireless device 131 may be configured with the second UL reference signal. The second UL reference signal may be of the first type. The second UL reference signal may be configured to lack the joint configuration with DL transmission of data from the first network node 111. The first UL reference signal may be configured to be of the second type. In some embodiments, at least one first parameter of the transmission of the first UL reference signal maybe configured to be derived from the one or more second parameters configured to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data.

[0155] In some embodiments, the first UL reference signal may be configured to be an SRS, the DL transmission of data may be configured to be in a PDSCH, the first message may be further configured to be comprised in the PDCCH configured to comprise the joint configuration, and the at least one first parameter may be configured to correspond to SRS resources, and the one or more second parameters may be configured to correspond to PDSCH resources.

[0156] In some embodiments, the first message may be further configured to comprise one or more of: the first indication of the one or more sequences to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal, the second indication of the rank of the channel to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal, the third indication of the decision on link adaptation to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data, the DL resource allocation for the first DL reception of data, and the fourth indication to transmit the first UL reference signal on frequency resources configured to correspond to said DL resource allocation or in other resources.

[0157] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured with one or more of the following two configurations.

[0158] In some embodiments, the first wireless device 131 may be further configured to receive the second message from the first network node 111 configured to comprise the final link adaptation decision to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data.

[0159] In some embodiments, the first wireless device 131 may be further configured to send one or more of the first uplink UL reference signal and the second UL reference signal.

[0160] In some embodiments, the first wireless device 131 may be pre-configured with one or more of: the first time offset between the first time of reception of the first message and the second time of transmission of the first UL reference signal, the second time offset between the first time of reception of the first message and the third time of reception of the first DL transmission of data, and the third time offset between the second time of transmission of the first UL reference signal and the third time of reception of the first DL transmission of data.

[0161] In some embodiments, the first message may be configured to be the DCI message.

[0162] The embodiments herein in the first wireless device 131 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processing circuitry 901 in the first wireless device 131 depicted in Figure 9, together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. A processor, as used herein, may be understood to be a hardware component. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the first wireless device 131. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the first wireless device 131.

[0163] The processing circuitry 901 may be configured to, or operable to, perform the method actions according to Figure 2, and / or any of Figures 5-8.

[0164] The first wireless device 131 may further comprise a memory 902 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 902 is arranged to be used to store obtained information, store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications etc. to perform the methods herein when being executed in the first wireless device 131.

[0165] In some embodiments, the first wireless device 131 may receive information from, e.g., the first network node 111, the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, the another wireless device 132 or other wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100, through a receiving port 903. In some embodiments, the receiving port 903 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in first wireless device 131. Since the receiving port 903 may be in communication with the processing circuitry 901 , the receiving port 903 may then send the received information to the processing circuitry 901. The receiving port 903 may also be configured to receive other information.

[0166] The processing circuitry 901 in the first wireless device 131 may be further configured to transmit or send information to e.g., the first network node 111, the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, the another wireless device 132 or other wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100, through a sending port 904, which may be in communication with the processing circuitry 901 , and the memory 902.

[0167] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the processing circuitry 901 described above may comprise a combination of analog and digital modules, and / or one or more processors configured with software and / or firmware, e.g., stored in memory, that, when executed by the one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 901, perform as described above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a System-on-a-Chip (SoC).

[0168] Also, in some embodiments, the first wireless device 131 may be configured to perform the actions of Figure 2, and / or any of Figures 5-8 with respective units that may be implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 901. The first wireless device 131 may be configured to perform any of the Actions described in relation to Figure 4, and / or any of Figures 5-8, e.g., by means of the processing circuitry 901 within the first node 111, configured to perform any of such actions.

[0169] Also, in some embodiments, different units comprised within the first node 111 may be configured to perform the different actions described above, implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 901.

[0170] Thus, the methods according to the embodiments described herein for the first wireless device 131 may be respectively implemented by means of a computer program 905 product, comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 901 , cause the at least one processing circuitry 901 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the first wireless device 131. The computer program 905 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 906. The computer-readable storage medium 906, having stored there on the computer program 905, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 901, cause the at least one processing circuitry 901 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the first wireless device 131. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium 906 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD ROM disc, or a memory stick. In other embodiments, the computer program 905 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 905 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the computer-readable storage medium 906, as described above.

[0171] The first wireless device 131 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the first wireless device 131 and other nodes or devices, e.g., the first network node 111, the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, the another wireless device 132 or other wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100. The interface may, for example, include a transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals over an air interface in accordance with a suitable standard.

[0172] In other embodiments, the first wireless device 131 may also comprise a radio circuitry 907, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 903 and the sending port 904. The radio circuitry 907 may be configured to set up and maintain at least a wireless connection with the first network node 111 , the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, the another wireless device 132 or other wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0173] Hence, embodiments herein also relate to the first wireless device 131 comprising the processing circuitry 901 and the memory 902, said memory 902 containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry 901 , whereby the first wireless device 131 is operative to perform the actions described herein in relation to the first wireless device 131, e.g., in Figure 2, and / or any of Figures 5-8.

[0174] Figure 10 depicts an example of the arrangement that the first network node 111 may comprise to perform the method actions described above in relation to Figure 3, and / or any of Figures 5-8. The first network node 111 may be understood to be for handling the reference signal of the first wireless device 131. The first network node 111 may be configured to operate in the wireless communications network 100.

[0175] In some examples, the wireless communications network 100 may be configured to support at least one of: NR and NB-loT.

[0176] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first network node 111 and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the first network node 111 may be configured to be a serving network node of the first wireless device 131.

[0177] The first network node 111 is configured to send the first message to the first wireless device 131. The first message is configured to jointly configure the first wireless device 131 to transmit the first UL reference signal and to receive the first DL transmission of data from the first network node 111. The first UL reference signal is configured to indicate the positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data.

[0178] In some embodiments, the first wireless device 131 may be configured, e.g., by the first network node 111 , with the second UL reference signal. The second UL reference signal may be of the first type. The second UL reference signal may be configured to lack the joint configuration with DL transmission of data from the first network node 111. The first UL reference signal may be configured to be of the second type.

[0179] In some embodiments, at least one first parameter of the transmission of the first UL reference signal may be configured to be derived from the one or more second parameters configured to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data.

[0180] In some embodiments, the first UL reference signal may be configured to be an SRS, the DL transmission of data may be configured to be in a PDSCH, the first message may be further configured to be comprised in the PDCCH configured to comprise the joint configuration, and the at least one first parameter may be configured to correspond to SRS resources, and the one or more second parameters may be configured to correspond to PDSCH resources.

[0181] In some embodiments, the first message may be further configured to comprise one or more of: the first indication of the one or more sequences to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal, the second indication of the rank of the channel to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal, the third indication of the decision on link adaptation to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data, the DL resource allocation for the first DL reception of data, and the fourth indication to transmit the first UL reference signal on frequency resources configured to correspond to said DL resource allocation or in other resources.

[0182] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured with one or more of the following two configurations.

[0183] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured to receive the first uplink UL reference signal.

[0184] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured to receive the first uplink UL reference signal from the first wireless device 131 and the second UL reference signal of the first type from the first wireless device 131.

[0185] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured to send the second message to the first wireless device 131 configured to comprise the final link adaptation decision to be used to receive, by the first wireless device 131, the first DL transmission of data.

[0186] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be configured to have configured the first wireless device 131 with one or more of: a) the first time offset between the first time of reception of the first message, as configured to be received by the first wireless device 131, and the second time of transmission of the first UL reference signal, b) the second time offset between the first time of reception of the first message, as configured to be received by the first wireless device 131 , and the third time of reception by the first wireless device 131 of the first DL transmission of data, and c) the third time offset between the second time of transmission by the first wireless device 131 of the first UL reference signal and the third time of reception by the first wireless device 131 of the first DL transmission of data.

[0187] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured with one or more of the following three configurations.

[0188] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured to determine that interference suppression may have to be performed for the first wireless device 131. The sending of the first message may be configured to be based on the result of the determination.

[0189] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured to send 305 the first DL transmission of data to the first wireless device 131. In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured to initiate the performance of the interference suppression towards the first corresponding reciprocal channel of the first UL reference signal and refrain from initiating performance of interference suppression towards the second reciprocal channel of the second UL reference signal.

[0190] In some embodiments, the first message may be configured to be the DCI message.

[0191] The embodiments herein in the first network node 111 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processing circuitry 1001 in the first network node 111 depicted in Figure 10, together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. A processor, as used herein, may be understood to be a hardware component. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the first network node 111. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the first network node 111.

[0192] The processing circuitry 1001 may be configured to, or operable to, perform the method actions according to Figure 3, and / or any of Figures 5-8.

[0193] The first network node 111 may further comprise a memory 1002 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 1002 is arranged to be used to store obtained information, store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications etc. to perform the methods herein when being executed in the first network node 111.

[0194] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may receive information from, e.g., the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, the first wireless device 131, the another wireless device 132 or other wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100, through a receiving port 1003. In some embodiments, the receiving port 1003 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in first network node 111. Since the receiving port 1003 may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1001, the receiving port 1003 may then send the received information to the processing circuitry 1001. The receiving port 1003 may also be configured to receive other information.

[0195] The processing circuitry 1001 in the first network node 111 may be further configured to transmit or send information to e.g., the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, the first wireless device 131, the another wireless device 132 or other wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100, through a sending port 1004, which may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1001, and the memory 1002. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the processing circuitry 1001 described above may comprise a combination of analog and digital modules, and / or one or more processors configured with software and / or firmware, e.g., stored in memory, that, when executed by the one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1001, perform as described above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a System-on-a-Chip (SoC).

[0196] Also, in some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be configured to perform the actions of Figure 3, and / or any of Figures 5-8 with respective units that may be implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1001.

[0197] The first network node 111 may be configured to perform any of the Actions described in relation to Figure 4, and / or any of Figure 3, and / or any of Figures 5-8, e.g., by means of the processing circuitry 1001 within the first node 111 , configured to perform any of such actions.

[0198] Also, in some embodiments, different units comprised within the first node 111 may be configured to perform the different actions described above, implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1001.

[0199] Thus, the methods according to the embodiments described herein for the first network node 111 may be respectively implemented by means of a computer program 1005 product, comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1001 , cause the at least one processing circuitry 1001 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the first network node 111. The computer program 1005 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 1006. The computer- readable storage medium 1006, having stored there on the computer program 1005, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1001, cause the at least one processing circuitry 1001 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the first network node 111. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium 1006 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD ROM disc, or a memory stick. In other embodiments, the computer program 1005 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 1005 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the computer-readable storage medium 1006, as described above.

[0200] The first network node 111 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the first network node 111 and other nodes or devices, e.g., the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, the first wireless device 131, the another wireless device 132 or other wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100. The interface may, for example, include a transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals over an air interface in accordance with a suitable standard.

[0201] In other embodiments, the first network node 111 may also comprise a radio circuitry 1007, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 1003 and the sending port 1004. The radio circuitry 1007 may be configured to set up and maintain at least a wireless connection with the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, the first wireless device 131, the another wireless device 132 or other wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0202] Hence, embodiments herein also relate to the first network node 111 comprising the processing circuitry 1001 and the memory 1002, said memory 1002 containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry 1001 , whereby the first network node 111 is operative to perform the actions described herein in relation to the first network node 111 , e.g., in Figure 3, and / or any of Figures 5-8.

[0203] Figure 11 depicts an example of the arrangement that the second network node 112 may comprise to perform the method actions described above in relation to Figure 4, and / or any of Figures 5-8. The second network node 112 may be understood to be for handling the reference signal of the first wireless device 131. The second network node 112 may be configured to operate in the wireless communications network 100.

[0204] In some examples, the wireless communications network 100 may be configured to support at least one of: NR and NB-loT.

[0205] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the second network node 112 and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the second network node 112 may be configured to be a neighboring node to the first cell 121 where the first wireless device 131 may be configured to be served by the first network node 111.

[0206] The second network node 112 is configured to receive the first UL reference signal of the second type from the first wireless device 131 configured to operate in the wireless communications network 100 and the second UL reference signal of the first type from the first wireless device 131 or another wireless device 132 in the plurality of wireless devices 130.

[0207] The second network node 112 is also configured to perform the interference suppression towards the first corresponding reciprocal channel of the first UL reference signal and refrain from performing the interference suppression towards the second reciprocal channel of the second UL reference signal.

[0208] In some embodiments, the second UL reference signal and the first UL reference signal may be configured to be SRS.

[0209] In some embodiments, the second network node 112 may be configured to have obtained one or more of: a) the fifth indication of one or more sequences to be to be used to receive the first UL reference signal, and b) the sixth indication of the rank of the channel configured to be used to receive the first UL reference signal.

[0210] The embodiments herein in the second network node 112 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processing circuitry 1101 in the second network node 112 depicted in Figure 11 , together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. A processor, as used herein, may be understood to be a hardware component. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the second network node 112. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the second network node 112.

[0211] The processing circuitry 1101 may be configured to, or operable to, perform the method actions according to Figure 4, and / or any of Figures 5-8.

[0212] The second network node 112 may further comprise a memory 1102 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 1102 is arranged to be used to store obtained information, store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications etc. to perform the methods herein when being executed in the second network node 112.

[0213] In some embodiments, the second network node 112 may receive information from, e.g., the first network node 111 , the virtual node 113, the first wireless device 131, the another wireless device 132 or other wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100, through a receiving port 1103. In some embodiments, the receiving port 1103 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in second network node 112. Since the receiving port 1103 may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1101 , the receiving port 1103 may then send the received information to the processing circuitry 1101. The receiving port 1103 may also be configured to receive other information.

[0214] The processing circuitry 1101 in the second network node 112 may be further configured to transmit or send information to e.g., the first network node 111, the virtual node 113, the first wireless device 131, the another wireless device 132 or other wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100, through a sending port 1104, which may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1101 , and the memory 1102.

[0215] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the processing circuitry 1101 described above may comprise a combination of analog and digital modules, and / or one or more processors configured with software and / or firmware, e.g., stored in memory, that, when executed by the one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1101, perform as described above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a System-on-a-Chip (SoC).

[0216] Also, in some embodiments, the second network node 112 may be configured to perform the actions of Figure 4, and / or any of Figures 5-8 with respective units that may be implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1101.

[0217] The first node 111 may be configured to perform any of the Actions described in relation to Figure 4, and / or any of Figures 5-8, e.g., by means of the processing circuitry 1101 within the first node 111, configured to perform any of such actions.

[0218] Also, in some embodiments, different units comprised within the first node 111 may be configured to perform the different actions described above, implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1101.

[0219] Thus, the methods according to the embodiments described herein for the second network node 112 may be respectively implemented by means of a computer program 1105 product, comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1101, cause the at least one processing circuitry 1101 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the second network node 112. The computer program 1105 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 1106. The computer-readable storage medium 1106, having stored there on the computer program 1105, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1101, cause the at least one processing circuitry 1101 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the second network node 112. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium 1106 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD ROM disc, or a memory stick. In other embodiments, the computer program 1105 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 1105 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the computer-readable storage medium 1106, as described above.

[0220] The second network node 112 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the second network node 112 and other nodes or devices, e.g., the first network node 111, the virtual node 113, the first wireless device 131 , the another wireless device 132 or other wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100. The interface may, for example, include a transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals over an air interface in accordance with a suitable standard.

[0221] In other embodiments, the second network node 112 may also comprise a radio circuitry 1107, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 1103 and the sending port 1104. The radio circuitry 1107 may be configured to set up and maintain at least a wireless connection with the first network node 111 , the virtual node 113, the first wireless device 131 , the another wireless device 132 or other wireless devices of the plurality of wireless devices 130, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0222] Hence, embodiments herein also relate to the second network node 112 comprising the processing circuitry 1101 and the memory 1102, said memory 1102 containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry 1101 , whereby the second network node 112 is operative to perform the actions described herein in relation to the second network node 112, e.g., in Figure 4, and / or any of Figures 5-8.

[0223] Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and / or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and / or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

[0224] As used herein, the expression “at least one of:” followed by a list of alternatives separated by commas, and wherein the last alternative is preceded by the “and” term, may be understood to mean that only one of the list of alternatives may apply, more than one of the list of alternatives may apply or all of the list of alternatives may apply. This expression may be understood to be equivalent to the expression “at least one of:” followed by a list of alternatives separated by commas, and wherein the last alternative is preceded by the “or” term.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method, performed by a first wireless device (131) in a wireless communications network (100), for handling a reference signal of the first wireless device (131), the method comprising:- receiving (201) a first message from a first network node (111) operating in the wireless communications network (100), the first message jointly configuring the first wireless device (131) to transmit a first uplink, UL, reference signal and to receive a first downlink, DL, transmission of data from the first network node (111), wherein the first UL reference signal is configured to indicate a positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless device (131) is configured with a second UL reference signal, wherein the second UL reference signal is of a first type, wherein the second UL reference signal lacks a joint configuration with DL transmission of data from the first network node (111), and wherein the first UL reference signal is of a second type.

3. The method according to any of claims 1-2, wherein at least one first parameter of the transmission of the first UL reference signal is configured to be derived from one or more second parameters configured to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first UL reference signal is a Sounding reference signal, SRS, wherein the DL transmission of data is in a Physical DL Shared Channel, PDSCH, wherein the first message is further comprised in a Physical DL Control Channel, PDCCH, comprising the joint configuration, and wherein the at least one first parameter corresponds to SRS resources, and the one or more second parameters correspond to PDSCH resources.

5. The method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the first message further comprises one or more of:- a first indication of one or more sequences to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal,- a second indication of a rank of a channel to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal,- a third indication of a decision on link adaptation to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data,- a DL resource allocation for the first DL reception of data, and- a fourth indication to transmit the first UL reference signal on frequency resources corresponding to said DL resource allocation or in other resources.

6. The method according to any of claims 1-5, further comprising one or more of:- sending (202) one or more of the first uplink UL reference signal and the second UL reference signal, and- receiving (202) a second message from the first network node (111) comprising a final link adaptation decision to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data.

7. The method according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the first wireless device (131) is pre-configured with one or more of:- a first time offset between a first time of reception of the first message and a second time of transmission of the first UL reference signal,- a second time offset between the first time of reception of the first message and a third time of reception of the first DL transmission of data, and- a third time offset between the second time of transmission of the first UL reference signal and the third time of reception of the first DL transmission of data.

8. The method according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the first message is a DL Control Information, DCI, message.

9. A method, performed by a first network node (111) in a wireless communications network (100), for handling a reference signal of a first wireless device (131), the method comprising:- sending (302) a first message to the first wireless device (131), the first message jointly configuring the first wireless device (131) to transmit a first uplink, UL, reference signal and to receive a first downlink, DL, transmission of data from the first network node (111), wherein the first UL reference signal is configured to indicate a positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first wireless device (131) is configured with a second UL reference signal, wherein the second UL reference signal is of a first type and wherein the second UL reference signal lacks a joint configuration with DL transmission of data from the first network node (111), and wherein the first UL reference signal is of a second type.

11. The method according to any of claims 9-10, wherein at least one first parameter of the transmission of the first UL reference signal is configured to be derived from one or more second parameters configured to be used to transmit the first DL transmission of data.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the first UL reference signal is a Sounding reference signal, SRS, wherein the DL transmission of data is in a Physical DL Shared Channel, PDSCH, wherein the first message is further comprised in a Physical DL Control Channel, PDCCH, comprising the joint configuration, and wherein the at least one first parameter corresponds to SRS resources, and the one or more second parameters correspond to PDSCH resources.

13. The method according to any of claims 9-12, wherein the first message further comprises one or more of:- a first indication of one or more sequences to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal,- a second indication of a rank of a channel to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal,- a third indication of a decision on link adaptation to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data,- a DL resource allocation for the first DL transmission of data, and- a fourth indication to transmit the first UL reference signal on frequency resources corresponding to said DL resource allocation or in other resources.

14. The method according to any of claims 9-13, further comprising one or more of:- receiving (303) the first UL reference signal, and- sending (304) a second message to the first wireless device (131) comprising a final link adaptation decision to be used to receive, by the first wireless device (131), the first DL transmission of data.

15. The method according to any of claims 9-14, wherein the first network node (111) has configured the first wireless device (131) with one or more of:- a first time offset between a first time of reception of the first message, as received by the first wireless device (131), and a second time of transmission of the first UL reference signal,- a second time offset between the first time of reception of the first message, as received by the first wireless device (131), and a third time of reception by the first wireless device (131) of the first DL transmission of data, and- a third time offset between the second time of transmission by the first wireless device (131) of the first UL reference signal and the third time of reception by the first wireless device (131) of the first DL transmission of data.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first network node (111) receives the first uplink UL reference signal from the first wireless device (131) and the second UL reference signal of the first type from the first wireless device (131), and wherein the method further comprises one or more of:- determining (301) that interference suppression is to be performed for the first wireless device (131), and wherein the sending (302) of the first message is based on a result of the determination,- sending (305) the first DL transmission of data to the first wireless device (131), and- initiating (306) performance of interference suppression towards a first corresponding reciprocal channel of the first UL reference signal and refraining from initiating performance of interference suppression towards a second reciprocal channel of the second UL reference signal.

17. The method according to any of claims 9-16, wherein the first message is a DL Control Information, DCI, message.

18. A method performed by a second network node (112) in a wireless communications network (100), for handling a reference signal of a first wireless device (131), and the method comprising:- receiving (401) a first uplink, UL, reference signal of a second type from the first wireless device (131) operating in the wireless communications network (100) and a second UL reference signal of a first type from the first wireless device (131) or another wireless device (132) in a plurality of wireless devices (130), and- performing (402) interference suppression towards a first corresponding reciprocal channel of the first UL reference signal and refraining from performing interference suppression towards a second reciprocal channel of the second UL reference signal.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the second UL reference signal and the first UL reference signal are Sounding reference signals, SRS.

20. The method according to any of claims 18-19, wherein the second network node (112) has obtained one or more of:- a fifth indication of one or more sequences to be used to receive the first UL reference signal, and- a sixth indication of a rank of a channel used to receive the first UL reference signal.

21. A first wireless device (131) configured to operate in a wireless communications network (100), for handling a reference signal of the first wireless device (131), the first wireless device (131) being further configured to:- receive a first message from a first network node (111) configured to operate in the wireless communications network (100), the first message being configured to jointly configure the first wireless device (131) to transmit a first uplink, UL, reference signal and to receive a first downlink, DL, transmission of data from the first network node (111), wherein the first UL reference signal is configured to indicate a positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data.

22. The first wireless device (131) according to claim 21, wherein the first wireless device (131) is configured with a second UL reference signal, the second UL reference signal being of a first type, wherein the second UL reference signal is configured to lack a joint configuration with DL transmission of data from the first network node (111), and wherein the first UL reference signal is configured to be of a second type.

23. The first wireless device (131) according to any of claims 21-22, wherein at least one first parameter of the transmission of the first UL reference signal is configured to be derived from one or more second parameters configured to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data.

24. The first wireless device (131) according to claim 23, wherein the first UL reference signal is configured to be a Sounding reference signal, SRS, wherein the DL transmission of data is configured to be in a Physical DL Shared Channel, PDSCH, wherein the first message is further configured to be comprised in a Physical DL Control Channel, PDCCH, configured to comprise the joint configuration, and wherein the at least one first parameter is configured to correspond to SRS resources, and the one or more second parameters are configured to correspond to PDSCH resources.

25. The first wireless device (131) according to any of claims 21-24, wherein the first message is further configured to comprise one or more of:- a first indication of one or more sequences to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal,- a second indication of a rank of a channel to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal,- a third indication of a decision on link adaptation to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data,- a DL resource allocation for the first DL reception of data, and- a fourth indication to transmit the first UL reference signal on frequency resources configured to correspond to said DL resource allocation or in other resources.

26. The first wireless device (131) according to any of claims 21-25, being further configured to one or more of:- send one or more of the first uplink UL reference signal and the second UL reference signal, and- receive a second message from the first network node (111) configured to comprise a final link adaptation decision to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data.

27. The first wireless device (131) according to any of claims 21-26, wherein the first wireless device (131) is pre-configured with one or more of:- a first time offset between a first time of reception of the first message and a second time of transmission of the first UL reference signal,- a second time offset between the first time of reception of the first message and a third time of reception of the first DL transmission of data, anda third time offset between the second time of transmission of the first UL reference signal and the third time of reception of the first DL transmission of data.

28. The first wireless device (131) according to any of claims 21-27, wherein the first message is configured to be a DL Control Information, DCI, message.

29. A first network node (111 configured to operate in a wireless communications network (100), for handling a reference signal of a first wireless device (131), the first network node (111) being further configured to:- send a first message to the first wireless device (131), the first message being configured to jointly configure the first wireless device (131) to transmit a first uplink, UL, reference signal and to receive a first downlink, DL, transmission of data from the first network node (111), wherein the first UL reference signal is configured to indicate a positive correlation with the first DL transmission of data.

30. The first network node (111) according to claim 29, wherein the first wireless device (131) is configured with a second UL reference signal, wherein the second UL reference signal is configured to be of a first type and wherein the second UL reference signal is configured to lack a joint configuration with DL transmission of data from the first network node (111), and wherein the first UL reference signal is configured to be of a second type.

31. The first network node (111) according to any of claims 29-30, wherein at least one first parameter of the transmission of the first UL reference signal is configured to be derived from one or more second parameters configured to be used to transmit the first DL transmission of data.

32. The first network node (111) according to claim 31, wherein the first UL reference signal is configured to be a Sounding reference signal, SRS, wherein the DL transmission of data is configured to be in a Physical DL Shared Channel, PDSCH, wherein the first message is further configured to be comprised in a Physical DL Control Channel, PDCCH, configured to comprise the joint configuration, and wherein the at least one first parameter is configured to correspond to SRS resources, and the one or more second parameters are configured to correspond to PDSCH resources.

33. The first network node (111) according to any of claims 29-32, wherein the first message is further configured to comprise one or more of:- a first indication of one or more sequences to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal,- a second indication of a rank of a channel to be used to transmit the first UL reference signal,- a third indication of a decision on link adaptation to be used to receive the first DL transmission of data,- a DL resource allocation for the first DL transmission of data, and- a fourth indication to transmit the first UL reference signal on frequency resources configured to correspond to said DL resource allocation or in other resources.

34. The first network node (111) according to any of claims 29-33, being further configured to one or more of:- receive the first UL reference signal, and- send a second message to the first wireless device (131) configured to comprise a final link adaptation decision to be used to receive, by the first wireless device (131), the first DL transmission of data.

35. The first network node (111) according to any of claims 29-34, wherein the first network node (111) is configured to have configured the first wireless device (131) with one or more of:- a first time offset between a first time of reception of the first message, as configured to be received by the first wireless device (131), and a second time of transmission of the first UL reference signal,- a second time offset between the first time of reception of the first message, as configured to be received by the first wireless device (131), and a third time of reception by the first wireless device (131) of the first DL transmission of data, and- a third time offset between the second time of transmission by the first wireless device (131) of the first UL reference signal and the third time of reception by the first wireless device (131) of the first DL transmission of data.

36. The first network node (111) according to claim 30, wherein the first network node (111) is configured to receive the first uplink UL reference signal from the first wireless device (131) and the second UL reference signal of the first type from the first wirelessdevice (131), and wherein the first network node (111) is further configured to one or more of:- determine that interference suppression is to be performed for the first wireless device (131), and wherein the sending of the first message is configured to be based on a result of the determination,- send the first DL transmission of data to the first wireless device (131), and- initiate performance of interference suppression towards a first corresponding reciprocal channel of the first UL reference signal and refrain from initiating performance of interference suppression towards a second reciprocal channel of the second UL reference signal.

37. The first network node (111) according to any of claims 29-36, wherein the first message is configured to be a DL Control Information, DCI, message.

38. A second network node (112) configured to operate in a wireless communications network (100), for handling a reference signal of a first wireless device (131), the second network node (112) being further configured to:- receive a first uplink, UL, reference signal of a second type from the first wireless device (131) configured to operate in the wireless communications network (100) and a second UL reference signal of a first type from the first wireless device (131) or another wireless device (132) in a plurality of wireless devices (130), and- perform interference suppression towards a first corresponding reciprocal channel of the first UL reference signal and refrain from performing interference suppression towards a second reciprocal channel of the second UL reference signal.

39. The second network node (112) according to claim 38, wherein the second UL reference signal and the first UL reference signal are configured to be Sounding reference signals, SRS.

40. The second network node (112) according to any of claims 38-39, wherein the second network node (112) is configured to have obtained one or more of:- a fifth indication of one or more sequences to be used to receive the first UL reference signal, and- a sixth indication of a rank of a channel configured to be used to receive the first UL reference signal.

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