Simultaneous reception beam sweep procedures for multiple trps

Abstract

Simultaneous reception beam sweep procedures for multiple TRPs A wireless device (10) receives configuration information from one or more nodes (100, 240) of the wireless communication network. Based on the configuration information, the wireless device (10) simultaneously performs multiple beam sweep procedures. Each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective transmission and reception point (TRP) of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signal.

Description

[0001] Simultaneous reception beam sweep procedures for multiple TRPs

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates to methods for controlling communication in a wireless communication network and to corresponding devices, systems, and computer programs.

[0004] Background

[0005] In wireless communication networks, e.g., based on the 4G (4th Generation) LTE (Long Term Evolution) or 5G (5th Generation) NR technology as specified by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project), it is known to utilize various MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) transmission modes to enhance capacity and / or performance. A specific flavor of MIMO, denoted as D-MIMO (distributed MIMO), was considered in the 3GPP Working Item (Wl) for MIMO Evolution for Downlink and Uplink, see 3GPP document RP-223276, 3GPP TSG RAN Meeting #98e, Electronic Meeting, December 12-16, 2022.

[0006] A distributed MIMO system is a system with multiple spatially distributed antenna panels, possibly with respective radio and processing units. Such panels jointly coordinate aspects of their transmission and reception in order to serve one or more UEs (user equipments). In the context of the 3GPP Release 18 Wl, a macro deployment of D-MIMO based on coordination of macro gNBs was considered. Another more localized deployment of D-MIMO is being considered as candidate 6G (6th Generation) D-MIMO deployment and is based on several small-sized low-power panels or nodes which are densely deployed in a specific part of a macro cell requiring enhancement of capacity and / or reliability, such as in in crowded parts of a macro cell area, like for example public squares or stadiums.

[0007] In the context of macro deployments, the D-MIMO panels and respective radio and processing units are often denoted transmission and reception points (TRPs). In the context of dense localized deployments, the D-MIMO panels and respective radio and processing units, may also be denoted as access points (APs). In the present disclosure, the terms TRP and AP may be used interchangeably and may refer to either a macro deployment or a localized deployment.

[0008] In D-MIMO operation, different levels of coordination between TRPs may be distinguished and these different levels typically enable different D-MIMO transmission modes. These modes include: • Non-coherent joint transmissions (NC-JT), e.g., where the same or different layers can be transmitted from different TRPs without per-TRP precoding accounting for the instantaneous (amplitude and) phase of the DL channel, and

[0009] • Coherent joint transmissions (CJT), where the same layer(s) is sent from different TRPs, and precoded per-TRP, such that the signals associated with the different TRP layer transmissions add-up constructively at the spatial location where the intended UE is.

[0010] As regards D-MIMO deployments in high-frequency bands, it can be expected that D-MIMO is applied with the aim of improving coverage, reliability, and mobility, rather than spectral efficiency, which is a typical aim of D-MIMO usage in mid-frequency bands. NC-JT schemes are the major type of transmission schemes considered for high-frequency bands, since inter-TRP phase calibration needed for CJTs is more challenging to perform for high-frequency bands, both in terms of tighter link budget and in view of phase noise at high frequencies, which may make CJT infeasible.

[0011] In the NR technology, specifically in high-frequency range like FR2, multiple beams may be used to transmit and receive signals at a gNB and a UE. For each downlink (DL) beam from a gNB, there is typically an associated best UE reception (RX) beam for receiving the signals of the DL beam from the gNB. The DL beam and the associated UE RX beam may be regarded as a beam pair. Suitable beam pairs can be identified through a so-called beam management procedure in NR.

[0012] A DL beam is typically identified by an associated DL reference signal (RS) transmitted in the beam, either periodically, semi-persistently, or aperiodically. The DL-RS can be a Synchronization Signal (SS) and Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) block (SSB) or a Channel State Information RS (CSI-RS). By measuring, e.g., all the DL CSI-RSs, the UE can determine and report to the gNB the best DL beam to use for DL transmissions. The gNB can then transmit a burst of DL-RS in the reported best DL beam to let the UE evaluate candidate UE RX beams.

[0013] The beam management can be divided into three procedures, denoted as P1, P2, and P3. Here, the P1 procedure has the purpose to find a coarse direction for the UE using a wide transmit (TX) beam from the gNB which covers the whole angular sector. The purpose of the P2 procedure is to refine the TX beam from the gNB by doing a new beam search around the coarse direction found in P1. The purpose of the P3 procedure may be used for UEs that support analog reception beamforming, with the aim of finding a suitable UE RX beam. In a typical example, the P1 procedure would utilize TX beams with rather large beamwidths in which RSs are transmitted periodically and are shared by all UEs of the cell. Examples of RSs to use in the P1 procedure include periodic CSI-RSs or SSBs. Based on the P1 procedure, the UE may report the N best TX beams to the gNB. The P2 procedure may then utilize aperiodic CSI-RS transmitted in narrow beams around the coarse direction found in the P1 procedure, i.e. , in narrow beams substantially covering the area of the broader best TX beam reported in the P1 procedure. The UE may then report the best of these narrow TX beams to the gNB. The P3 procedure may then utilize aperiodic CSI-RSs repeatedly transmitted in one narrow TX beam from the gNB, e.g., on the best narrow beam according to the P3 procedure. The UE may then utilize the repeated transmissions of the CSI-RS to assess different UE RX beams.

[0014] In NR up to 3GPP Release 17, discussions regarding uplink (UL) transmission for FR2 (“Frequency Range 2”, including frequency bands form 24.25 GHz to 52.6GHz) has mainly focused on a UE with single panel transmission, i.e., transmission from a single antenna panel of the UE at a given time instance. In 3GPP Release 18, support for up to two simultaneously transmitting UE panels was introduced, both for spatial domain multiplexing (SDM), where different layers are transmitted from the two different UE panels, and for single frequency network (SFN), where the same layers are transmitted on the two different UE panels. For 3GPP Release 19, there have been proposals to extend the number of simultaneously transmitting antenna panels of the UE up to four, mainly targeting high-end UEs. In general, it can be expected that the supported number of simultaneously transmitting antenna panels of the UE increases with future evolutions of the NR technology or when moving towards a 6G technology.

[0015] In the NR technology, beam sweep procedures for multi-TRP operation are supported only on the TRP side, using different TX beams from the TRPs. This may cause unnecessary DL-RS overhead from beam management procedures in multi-TRP scenarios. For example, because a UE supporting multi-panel transmission may need to perform P3 procedures sequentially one after the other for each TRP and each antenna panel of the UE.

[0016] Accordingly, there is a need for techniques which allow for efficiently controlling beamformed transmissions in scenarios involving multiple antenna panels.

[0017] Summary According to an embodiment, a method of controlling wireless communication in a wireless communication network is provided. According to the method, a wireless device receives configuration information from one or more nodes of the wireless communication network. Based on the configuration information, the wireless device simultaneously performs multiple beam sweep procedures. Each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective transmission and reception point (TRP) of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signal.

[0018] According to a further embodiment, a method of controlling wireless communication in a wireless communication network is provided. According to the method, a node of the wireless communication network sends configuration information to a wireless device, for configuring the wireless device to simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures. Each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective TRP of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals.

[0019] According to a further embodiment, a wireless device for operation in a wireless communication network is provided. The wireless device is configured to receive configuration information from one or more nodes of the wireless communication network. Further, the wireless device is configured to, based on the configuration information, simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures. Each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective TRP of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signal.

[0020] According to a further embodiment, a wireless device for operation in a wireless communication network is provided. The wireless device comprises at least one processor and a memory. The memory contains instructions executable by said at least one processor, whereby the wireless device is operative to receive configuration information from one or more nodes of the wireless communication network. The memory contains instructions executable by said at least one processor, whereby the wireless device is operative to, based on the configuration information, simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures. Each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective TRP of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signal. According to a further embodiment, a node for a wireless communication network is provided. The node is configured to send configuration information to a wireless device, for configuring the wireless device to simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures. Each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective TRP of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals.

[0021] According to a further embodiment, a node for a wireless communication network is provided. The node comprises at least one processor and a memory. The memory contains instructions executable by said at least one processor, whereby the node is operative to send configuration information to a wireless device, for configuring the wireless device to simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures. Each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective TRP of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals.

[0022] According to a further embodiment, a computer program or computer program product is provided, e.g., in the form of a non-transitory storage medium, which comprises program code to be executed by at least one processor of a wireless device. Execution of the program code causes the wireless device to receive configuration information from one or more nodes of the wireless communication network. Further, execution of the program code causes the wireless device to, based on the configuration information, simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures. Each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective TRP of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signal.

[0023] According to a further embodiment, a computer program or computer program product is provided, e.g., in the form of a non-transitory storage medium, which comprises program code to be executed by at least one processor of a node of a wireless communication network. Execution of the program code causes the node to send configuration information to a wireless device, for configuring the wireless device to simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures. Each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective TRP of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals.

[0024] Details of such embodiments and further embodiments will be apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0025] Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a wireless communication network according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figs. 2A, 2B, and 2D, schematically illustrate different types of beam sweep procedures.

[0027] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates an example of narrow beams and wide beams which may be used in beam sweep procedures.

[0028] Fig. 4 illustrates structure of an SSB in the NR technology.

[0029] Fig. 5 schematically illustrates spatial characteristics of SSB transmission.

[0030] Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a TCI state information element.

[0031] Fig. 7 illustrates an example of a MIMO parameters information element which can be used to configure a joint DL / LIL TCI mode of operation or a separate DL / LIL TCI operation.

[0032] Figs. 8A and 8B show examples of activated TCI states and their mapping to TCI filed codepoints.

[0033] Fig. 9 shows an information element for configuration of aperiodic CSI trigger states.

[0034] Fig. 10 schematically illustrates an example of NC-JT using simultaneous multi-TRP transmission with multi-panel reception.

[0035] Fig. 11 schematically illustrates an example of simultaneous multi-TRP transmission with multipanel reception at the UE.

[0036] Fig. 12 schematically illustrates a multi-TRP reception beam sweep procedure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0037] Fig. 13 schematically illustrates multi-antenna panel reception by a UE. Fig. 14 schematically illustrates a scenario involving multi-TRP transmission and multi-antenna panel reception by a UE.

[0038] Fig. 15 schematically illustrates an example of processes in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Fig. 16 shows a flowchart for schematically illustrating a method performed by a wireless device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Fig. 17 shows a flowchart for schematically illustrating a further method performed by a network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0041] Fig. 18 schematically illustrates structures of a wireless device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Fig. 19 schematically illustrates structures of a network node according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0043] Detailed Description

[0044] In the following, concepts in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be explained in more detail and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The illustrated embodiments relate to wireless communication in a wireless communication network, utilizing beam sweep procedures to determine a spatial filter configuration for reception processing of signals from multiple TRPs at a wireless device, e.g., a UE. The wireless communication network may be based on a future 6G (6th Generation) technology. However, other technologies could be used as well, e.g., the 4G LTE technology or the 5G NR technology specified by 3GPP. The wireless device may be a UE. The multiple TRPs may be associated with a radio access node of the wireless communication network, such as a gNB of the NR technology or an eNB of the LTE technology, or a corresponding radio access node of a 6G technology. In some scenarios, the multiple TRPs could also each correspond to a separate radio access node of the wireless communication network. The wireless device could correspond to a UE.

[0045] In the illustrated concepts, the wireless device may simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures, each of which relates to a corresponding one of multiple TRPs. The beam sweep procedures are each based on using different spatial filters for reception (RX) processing of reference signals from the respective TRP. The different spatial filters may be regarded as defining different configuration of a beam for reception of signals by the wireless device, herein also denoted as “RX beam”. The beam sweep procedures may thus also be referred to as RX beam sweep procedure. In this connection, it is noted that two beam sweep procedures being simultaneous typically means that the reference signals used in one of the two beam sweep procedures are transmitted on time resources that overlap with time resources on which the reference signals used in the other of the two beam sweep procedures are transmitted. For enabling the multiple simultaneous beam sweep procedures of the RX beam, the wireless device receives configuration information from one or more nodes of the wireless communication network. In this way, it can be avoided that the wireless device needs to perform multiple beam sweep procedures sequentially, one after the other.

[0046] In accordance with the illustrated concepts, a method implemented by a UE for performing simultaneous beam sweep procedures of its RX beam may involve one or more of the following:

[0047] a. The UE indicates during UE capability signaling support for simultaneous beam sweep procedures of its RX beam over multiple TRPs. The number of the TRPs may be denoted by X.

[0048] b. The UE receives multiple spatial QCL relations, each corresponding to one of the simultaneous beam seep procedures. The number of the QCL relations may be denoted by Y, and Y may be equal to or smaller than X.

[0049] Th spatial QCL relations may be based on one or more of:

[0050] i. an explicit indication of the QCL relations, e.g., in a corresponding field in DCI (Downlink Control Information) triggering the beam sweep procedures,

[0051] ii. an association of the QCL relations with a corresponding number (Y) of applied Joint / DL TCI states, or

[0052] iii. an association with a beam report previously transmitted by the UE.

[0053] The association of the spatial QCL relations to the corresponding number of applied Joint / DL TCI states may be based on a pre-configured mapping of the beam sweep procedures to applied or indicated Joint / DL TCI state, or the association of the spatial QCL relations to the corresponding number of applied Joint / DL TCI states may be explicitly indicated by a field in the DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures.

[0054] Based on the illustrated concepts, the UE can perform the beam sweep procedures for its RX beam simultaneously for multiple TRPs. In this way, signaling overhead related to the utilized reference signals from the TRPs may be reduced in a significant manner as compared to scenarios where such beam sweep procedures are performed in a sequential manner.

[0055] Fig. 1 illustrates exemplary structures of the wireless communication network. In particular, Fig. 1 shows UEs 10 within and in vicinity of a cell 110 which is served by an access node 100 of the wireless communication network. Here, it is noted that the wireless communication network may actually include a plurality of access nodes 100 that may serve a number of cells within the coverage area of the wireless communication network. The access node 100 may for example correspond to a radio access node of a future 6G technology, an eNB of the LTE technology, or to a gNB of the NR technology.

[0056] The access nodes 100 may be regarded as being part of an RAN of the wireless communication network. Further, Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a CN (Core Network) 210 of the wireless communication network. In Fig. 1, the CN 210 is illustrated as including a GW (gateway) 220 and one or more control node(s) 240. The GW 220 may be responsible for handling user plane data traffic of the UEs 10, e.g., by forwarding user plane data traffic from a UE 10 to a network destination or by forwarding user plane data traffic from a network source to a UE 10. Here, the network destination may correspond to another UE 10, to an internal node of the wireless communication network, or to an external node which is connected to the wireless communication network. Similarly, the network source may correspond to another UE 10, to an internal node of the wireless communication network, or to an external node which is connected to the wireless communication network. The GW 220 may for example correspond to a UPF (User Plane Function) of the 5G Core (EGC) or to an SGW (Serving Gateway) or PGW (Packet Data Gateway) of the 4G EPC (Evolved Packet Core), or to corresponding nodes of a 6G CN. The control node(s) 240 may for example be used for controlling the user data traffic, e.g., by providing control data to the access node 100, the GW 220, and / or to the UE 10.

[0057] As illustrated by double-headed arrows, one or more of the access nodes 100 may send downlink (DL) wireless transmissions to at least some of the UEs 10, and one or more of the UEs 10 may send uplink (UL) wireless transmissions to at least some of the access nodes 100. The DL wireless transmissions and / or UL wireless transmissions may be used to provide various kinds of services to the UEs 10, e.g., a voice service, a multimedia service, or some other data service. Such services may be hosted in the CN 210, e.g., by a corresponding network node. By way of example, Fig. 1 illustrates an application service platform 250 provided in the CN 210. Further, such services may be hosted externally, e.g., by an AF (application function) connected to the CN 210. By way of example, Fig. 1 illustrates one or more application servers 300 connected to the CN 210. The application server(s) 300 could for example connect through the Internet or some other wide area communication network to the CN 210. The application service platform 250 may be based on a server or a cloud computing system and be hosted by one or more host computers. Similarly, the application server(s) 300 may be based on a server or a cloud computing system and be hosted by one or more host computers. The application server(s) 300 may include or be associated with one or more AFs that enable interaction with the CN 210 to provide one or more services to the UEs 10, corresponding to one or more applications. These services or applications may generate the user data traffic conveyed by the DL transmissions and / or the UL transmissions. Accordingly, the application server(s) 300 may include or correspond to the above-mentioned network destination and / or network source for the user data traffic. In the respective UE 10, such service may be based on an application (or shortly “app”) which is executed on the UE 10. Such application may be pre-installed or installed by the user. Such application may generate at least a part of the user plane data traffic between the UEs 10 and the access node 100.

[0058] In accordance with the illustrated concepts, the access nodes 100 may provide multiple TRPs. In some scenarios, one access node 100 could be associated with multiple TRPs, e.g., in the form of multiple antenna panels and / or multiple remote radio heads used for transmission of DL wireless transmissions from the access node 100, and typically also for reception of UL wireless transmissions by the access node 100. In some scenarios, multiple access nodes 100 may cooperate in transmission, or reception, of wireless transmissions and may each correspond to a separate TRP of the wireless communication network. Accordingly, reception of wireless transmissions by a given one of the UEs 10 may be based on reception of signals from multiple TRPs, and these multiple TRPs may be correspond to the same access node 100 or to different access nodes 100.

[0059] Multiple beams may be used to transmit and receive signals at the access nodes 100 and the UEs 10. Here, it is noted that such beams may be defined by spatial filtering of antenna signals. A TX beam may be defined by applying a spatial filter in TX processing of signals to be sent by an antenna array, and an RX beam may be defined by applying a spatial filter in RX processing of signals received by an antenna array. Depending on the utilized beamforming mechanism, the spatial filters may define weights or phase shifts applied to the signals. It is noted that in the following description reference to different TX beams may correspond to different spatial filters applied in TX processing, and that reference to different RX beams may correspond to different spatial filters applied in RX processing. When considering the DL transmission direction, i.e. , the direction from the access node 100 to the UE 10, for each TX beam from the access node 100, there is typically an associated best RX beam for receiving the signals at the UE 10. The TX beam from the access node 100 and the associated RX beam of the UE 10 may be regarded as forming a beam pair. Suitable or preferred beam pairs can be identified through a beam management procedure. The beam management procedure may in turn be based on one or more beam sweep procedures.

[0060] A TX beam in DL may be identified by an associated DL reference signal (RS) transmitted in the TX beam. The DL RS may be transmitted periodically, semi-persistently, or aperiodically. The DL RS can be a Synchronization Signal (SS) and Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) block (SSB) or a Channel State Information RS (CSI-RS). The beam sweep procedure may involve that the UE 10 measures RS from the access node 100, e.g., CSI-RSs. Based on the measurements, the UE 10 can determine a preferred TX beam and report this preferred TX beam to the access node 100. The access node 100 may then use this TX beam for DL transmissions. On this TX beam, the access node 100 may further transmit a burst of RS, e.g., CSI-RS. In a further beam sweep procedure which is based on measurements of the burst of RSs on the preferred TX beam, the UE 10 may then determine its preferred RX beam. Also the preferred RX beam may be reported to the access node 100.

[0061] Figs. 2A, 2B, and 2C schematically illustrate different types of beam sweep procedures that may be applied.

[0062] Fig. 2A illustrates a first type of beam sweep procedure using a wide TX beam from the access node 100. The wide TX beam may cover an entire angular sector from the access node 100. By measuring the RS for different angular directions of the wide TX beam, the UE 10 may identify and report a coarse preferred TX beam direction. In typical scenarios, the UE 10 may report a number of best TX beams, and the report may also include signal quality values of these best TX beams, e.g., in terms of RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power). The first type of beam sweep procedure is also referred to as P1 procedure. The P1 procedure may use RSs which are transmitted periodically and are shared between all UEs 10 of the cell, e.g., periodic CSI-RSs or SSBs.

[0063] Fig. 2B illustrates a second type of beam sweep procedure using a narrow TX beam from the access node 100. By measuring the RS for different angular directions of the narrow TX beam, the UE 10 may identify and report a refined preferred TX beam direction. The different angular directions of the narrow TX beam may substantially cover the width of a previously identified preferred wide TX beam, e.g., in the procedure of Fig. 2A. The second type of beam sweep procedure is also referred to as P2 procedure. The P2 procedure may use aperiodic CSI-RS, which are UE-specific.

[0064] Fig. 2C illustrates a third type of beam sweep procedure using a narrow TX beam from the access node 100, e.g., the preferred narrow TX beam identified in the procedure of Fig. 2B. By measuring the RS transmitted on the narrow TX beam for different angular directions of the RX beam of the UE 10, the UE 10 may identify and report a preferred RX beam direction. The third type of beam sweep procedure is also referred to as P3 procedure. The P3 procedure may use aperiodic CSI-RSs, which are repeatedly transmitted in the narrow TX beam, so that with each repetition the UE 10 can perform measurements for a different direction of its RX beam.

[0065] Fig. 3 schematically illustrates an example of a set of narrow beams (denoted by “NB”) and a set of wide beams (denoted by “WB”). The wide beams could for example correspond to the TX beams assessed in a P1 procedure and the narrow beams could correspond to the narrow TX beams assessed in a P2 procedure. A typical way to select the narrow TX beams for the P2 procedure may involve determining based on the P1 procedure which of the wide TX beams TX offered the best signal quality, e.g., in terms of RSRP, and then select the narrow TX beams that are confined within the angular coverage area of that wide TX beam. When considering the example of Fig. 2D and assuming that wide beam WB1 was identified as the best wide TX beam, then NB1 to NB8 could be selected as the narrow TX beams for the P2 procedure.

[0066] As mentioned above, the RSs used in the beam sweep procedure may include an SSB. In the NR technology, the SSB is a broadcast signal that helps with for example providing initial synchronization, basic system information used for initial access and mobility measurements. The structure of SSB of the SSB in the NR technology is illustrated in Fig. 4. As can be seen, the SSB consists of one Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), one Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) and a Physical Broadcast CHannel (PBCH). A PSS and SSS part of the SSB is transmitted over 127 sub-carriers, where the sub-carrier spacing could be 15 kHz or 30 kHz for below 6 GHz frequency bands and 120 kHz or 240 kHz for above 6 GHz frequency bands.

[0067] For lower frequencies, e.g., below 10 GHz, each cell may transmit one SSB that covers the whole cell while for higher frequencies, e.g., above 10 GHz, such as in FR2, several beamformed SSBs may be transmitted to attain coverage over the whole cell, as schematically illustrated in Fig. 5. The left-hand side of Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a single SSB covering P112251WQ01

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[0069] a whole cell, and the right-hand side of Fig. 5 illustrates multiple beamformed SSBs that together cover the whole cell. In the current NR technology, the maximum numbers of SSBs per cell are: 4 SSBs below 3 GHz, 8 SSBs from 3 to 6 GHz, 64 SSBs above 6 GHz. The SSBs are typically transmitted in a SSB transmission burst which can last up to 5 ms. The periodicity of the SSB burst is configurable to one of the following options: 5 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms, 160 ms.

[0070] An alternative way to adjust the RX beam of the UE, instead of using CSI-RS for the P3 procedure, would be to let the UE evaluate different configurations (directions) of its RX beam during the periodic SSB transmissions. Here, one benefit of using the SSBs instead of CSI-RS is that no extra overhead of CSI-RS transmission is needed. On the other hand, when adjusting the UE RX beam based on SSBs, it needs to be noted that each SSB is typically transmitted only about every 20ms (see the above-mentioned options of SSB periodicity). If the UE 10 is equipped with several antenna panels and multiple RX beam configurations need to be evaluated per antenna panel, it may take relatively long time for the UE 10 to evaluate all candidate configurations of its RX beams.

[0071] In the NR technology, several signals can be transmitted from different antenna ports of the same gNB. These signals can have the same large-scale properties such as Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay spread, or average delay. These antenna ports are then said to be quasi co-located (QCL). If the UE 10 knows that two antenna ports are QCL with respect to a certain parameter, e.g. Doppler spread, the UE can estimate that parameter based on one of the antenna ports and apply that estimate for receiving one or more signals on the other antenna port. For example, there may be a QCL relation between a CSI-RS for tracking RS (TRS) and the PDSCH (Physical Downlink Shared Channel) DMRS (Demodulation Reference Signals). When UE 10 receives the PDSCH DMRS it can use the measurements already made on the TRS to assist the DMRS reception.

[0072] Information about what assumptions can be made regarding QCL is signaled to the UE from the network. In the NR technology, four types of QCL relations between a transmitted source RS and transmitted target RS are defined:

[0073] Type A: QCL with respect to Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, and delay spread, Type B: QCL with respect to Doppler shift and Doppler spread,

[0074] Type C: QCL with respect to average delay and Doppler shift, and

[0075] Type D: spatial RX parameter. QCL type D has the purpose of facilitating beam management with analog beamforming and is also denoted as “spatial QCL”. Here, spatial QCL may involve that, if two antenna ports used in transmission of signals are spatially QCL, the UE can use the same RX beam to receive the signals. This may be helpful for a UE that uses analog beamforming to receive signals, since the UE needs to adjust its RX beam in some direction prior to receiving a certain signal. If the UE knows that the signal has spatial QCL relation with some other signal it has received earlier, then it can safely use the same RX beam to receive also this signal. Here, it is noted that for beam management QCL Type D is most relevant, it may also be beneficial to indicate a Type A QCL relation for the RSs to the UE, so that it can efficiently estimate the relevant large-scale parameters.

[0076] To accommodate dynamic beam and TRP selection, the UE can be configured through RRC (Radio Resource Control) signaling with up to 128 TCI (Transmission Configuration Indicator) states. Fig. 6 illustrates a corresponding TCI state information element as used in the NR technology.

[0077] In the NR technology, the gNB can use DCI format 1_1 or 1_2 to indicate to the UE that it shall use one of the activated TCI states for the subsequent PDSCH reception. The field being used in the DCI is Transmission configuration indication, which has a size of 3 bits tftci-PresentlnDCI is “enabled” or tci-PresentForDCI-Format1-2-r16 is present respectively for DCI format 1_1 and DCI 1_2 in higher layer signaling.

[0078] In 3GPP Release 17, a unified TCI state framework was specified, which aims to streamline the indication of transmit / receive spatial filter (and other QCL properties) to the UE by letting a single TCI state indicate QCL properties for multiple different DL and / or UL signals / channels.

[0079] The unified TCI state framework of 3GPP Release 17 can be configured by RRC signaling in one out of two modes of operation denoted “Joint DL / UL TCI” or “Separate DL / UL TCI”. For “Joint DL / UL TCI” operation, one common Joint TCI state is used for both DL and UL signals / channels. For “Separate DL / UL TCI” operation, one common DL-only TCI state is used for DL channels / signals, and one common UL-only TCI state is used for UL signals / channels. Fig. 7 shows an RRC information element, denoted as “MIMOParam-r17” for configuration of Joint DL / UL TCI operation Separate DL / UL TCI operation. Further details can be found in 3GPP TS 38.331 V18.3.0 (2024-09).

[0080] It can be expected that “Joint DL / UL TCI” operation is applicable in many scenarios. Fig. 8A shows an example of mapping activated Joint TCI states to TCI field codepoints. Further, P112251WQ01

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[0082] “Separate DL / LIL TCI” operation can be useful in specific scenarios where the optimal DL beam differs from the optimal UL beam. For “Separate DL / LIL TCI” operation, up to two TCI states can be activated per TCI codepoint, one for DL signals / channels (DL-only TCI state) and one for UL signals / channels (UL-only TCI state). Fig. 8B schematically illustrates an example of mapping activated DL-only TCI states and activated UL-only TCI states to TCI field codepoints. In this example, if the TCI codepoint is “0”, the UE should apply “DL-only TCI state 3” as common QCL source for DL signals / channels, and not update the QCL source for UL signals channel. If the TCI codepoint is “7”, the UE should apply “UL-only TCI state 57” as QCL source for UL signals / channels, and not update the QCL source for DL signals / channel. If the TCI codepoint is “2”, the UE should apply “DL-only TCI state 9” as QCL source for DL signals / channels and apply “UL-only TCI state 1” as QCL source for UL signals / channels.

[0083] In 3GPP Release 18, further enhancements for Unified TCI state framework have been introduced to support multi TRP deployments with one TCI field codepoint indicating a pair of Joint TCI DL / UL TCI states, or one TCI field codepoint indicating two pairs of separate DL / UL TCI states (two UL TCI States and two DL TCI states). Below text and figure is quoted from 38.321 describes the MAC CE for separate TCI states. For activation / deactivation of these pairs of Joint TCI DL / UL states, corresponding MAC CEs may be used, as specified in 3GPP TS 38.321 V18.3.0 (2024-09), sections 6.1.3.70 and 6.1.3.71.

[0084] As mentioned above, the RSs used in the beam sweep procedure may include CSI-RS. In the NR technology, CSI-RS is used CSI (channel state information) measurement in the DL. A CSI-RS is transmitted on an antenna port at the gNB and is used by a UE to measure DL channel properties associated with the antenna port. The CSI-RS used for this purpose is also referred to as Non-Zero Power (NZP) CSI-RS. The antenna port is also referred to as a CSI-RS port. In the NR technology, the supported number of CSI-RS ports in a CSI-RS resource can be one of {1,2,4,8,12,16,24,32}. Multiple CSI-RS resources can be configured. A CSI-RS resource set can contain one or more CSI-RS resources. A CSI-RS resource can be aperiodic, periodic, or semi-persistent (SP). CSI-RS resources in a CSI-RS resource set are transmitted together and have the same time domain configuration, i.e., aperiodic, periodic or semi-persistent. Aperiodic CSI-RS transmission is triggered by one of DCI format 0_1 or DCI format 0_2. SP CSI-RS transmission is activated and deactivated by a MAC CE. In frequency range 2 (FR2), each CSI-RS resource is also associated with a beam which is specified by a QCL source reference signal (RS) with type D. For periodic CSI-RS, the QCL source RS is RRC configured. For Aperiodic CSI-RS, the QCL type D source RS is configured in an associated aperiodic CSI trigger state, where the index of the trigger state is indicated in the DCI triggering P112251WQ01

[0085] - 16 -

[0086] the aperiodic CSI-RS. For SP CSI-RS, the QCL source RS is indicated in the corresponding activation MAC CE.

[0087] In the NR technology, QCL configuration for aperiodic CSI-RS resources may be accomplished using an information element denoted as “CSI-AperiodicTriggerStateLisf’, see 3GPP TS 38.331 V18.3.0 (2024-09). This information element may be used to configure a UE with a list of aperiodic CSI trigger states, each defined by a parameter denoted as “CSI-AperiodicTriggerState". Fig. 9 illustrates syntax of the CSI-AperiodicTriggerStateList information element with the CSI-AperiodicTriggerState parameter defining a trigger state. Each codepoint of the "CSI request" field in DCI (DCI format 1_1, or DCI format 1_2) is associated with one of the CSI-AperiodicTriggerState parameters in the list, see 3GPP TS 38.214 V18.4.0 (2024-09), section 5.2.1.5.1. Upon reception of a DCI with a CSI request codepoint indicating a trigger state, the UE receives NZP CSI-RS resources in a NZP CSI-RS resource set indicated by the parameter “resourcesef’ in the trigger state according the QCL information configured by the parameter “qcl-info”. The QCL information contains a TCI state ID for each NZP CSI-RS resources in the NZP CSI-RS resource set.

[0088] In some scenarios, DL wireless transmissions from the access node 100 to the UE 10 may utilize simultaneous multi-TRP transmission with multi-panel reception at the UE 10, which can be used to implement can enable NC-JT, e.g., in FR2. Fig. 10 schematically illustrates a corresponding example, where a PDSCH is sent to a UE 10 using two TRPs 100-1, 100-2, with each TRP 100-1, 100-2 transmitting two layers. In this case, by transmitting PDSCH from two TRPs 100-1, 100-2 to the UE 10, the peak data rate to the UE 10 can be increased, as up to four aggregated layers from the two TRPs 100-1 , 100-2 can be received by the UE 10. Here, it is noted that the TRPs 100-1, 100-2 in the example of Fig. 10 may correspond to separate antenna panels of the same access node 100 or may be implemented by different cooperating access nodes 100.

[0089] As mentioned above, a beam sweep procedure may also involve that the UE 10 sends a beam report to the network, e.g., to the access node 100. In some scenarios, a single beam report may indicate information related to multiple beams. For example, a single beam report could indicate information related to each of multiple TX beams, each coming from a different TRP. Such beam report could for example be used to efficiently report results of a beam sweep procedure in a scenario like in Fig. 10, where at least two TX beams, each from a different TRP 100-1, 100-2 need to be considered. With 3GPP Release 15, the NR technology was supplemented with a featured denoted as “group-based beam reporting”: When a UE is configured with higher layer parameter denoted as “groupBasedBeamReporting" set to ‘enabled’, the UE will report either two different CRIs (CSI Resource Indicators) or two different SSBRIs (SSB Resource Indicators) in a single reporting instance for each report setting. The two CRIs or two SSBRIs are chosen such that the corresponding CSI-RS resources and / or SSB resources can be received simultaneously by the UE.

[0090] Fig. 11 shows an example of a scenario involving simultaneous multi-TRP transmission with multi-panel reception at the UE 10. In this example, NZP CSI-RS resources #1 and #2 are transmitted from a first TRP 100-1 (TRP1) and NZP CSI-RS resources #3 and #4 are transmitted from a second TRP 100-2 (TRP2). The UE 10 is assumed to be equipped with two antenna panels.

[0091] In the example of Fig. 11, the UE 10 could use the above-described group-based beam reporting of the NR technology in to efficiently report characteristics of beams. For this purpose, the UE 10 may choose the two CRIs to be reported in one of the following ways:

[0092] Case 1: Both CRIs correspond to TRP1, i.e., NZP CSI-RS resources #1 and #2 are reported by the UE 10.

[0093] Case 2: Both CRIs correspond to TRP2, i.e., NZP CSI-RS resources #3 and #4 are reported by the UE 10.

[0094] • Case 3: One CRI corresponds to TRP1 and the other CRI corresponds to TRP2, e.g., NZP CSI-RS resources #1 and #3 are reported by the UE 10.

[0095] If the UE 10 reports the two CRIs according to either Case 1 or Case 2, then both beams reported correspond to the same TRP 100-1, 100-2. In Cases 1 and 2, simultaneous multi-TRP transmission is not possible. Case 3 allows simultaneous multi-TRP transmission as the two beams reported correspond to different TRPs.

[0096] In view of the above situation, 3GPP Release 17 provides enhanced functionalities of group-based beam reporting, where the UE can be configured to report N beam groups in a single beam report, where the number N is configured by RRC and can be up to Nmax, where Nmax={1,2,3,4} is a UE capability), where each beam group consists of two beams. The beam report would thus include two SSBRI values or two CRI values per group and a corresponding RSRP value (Layer 1 RSRP), where the two beams of each group can be received simultaneously by the UE. To make sure that each beam in a beam group is associated to different TRPs, the UE can be configured with two channel measurement resource (CMR) sets, where each CMR set is associated to one TRP, and where the UE selects one CMR (i.e., one SSBRI / CRI) from each CMR set in each beam group. For periodic / semi-persistent CM Rs, two CMR resource sets are configured per periodic / semi-persistent CMR resource setting. For aperiodic CMR, an RRC parameter denoted as “CSI-AssociatedReportConfiglnfo" is extended to be configured with two CMR resource sets.

[0097] The enhanced group-based beam reporting of 3GPP Release 17, uses a report format as shown in Table 6.3.1.1.2-8B of 3GPP TS 38.212 V18.4.0 (2024-09). In this format, a 1-bit field denoted as “Resource set indicator”, is used to indicate if the strongest beam, i.e., CRI or SSBRI #1 of 1st resource group belongs to the 1st or the 2nd CMR set. Absolute RSRP is reported for the strongest beam (in a field of 7 bit size), and differential RSRP is reported for the remaining beams (in respective fields of 4 bit size). The bitwidth of each SSBRI / CRI is determined based on the number of SSB / CSI-RS resources in the associated CMR resource set.

[0098] Fig. 12 schematically illustrates the simultaneous beam sweep procedures of the illustrated concepts. Similar to the P3 sweep procedure of Fig. 2C, the simultaneous beam sweep procedures involve measuring RS, e.g., aperiodic CSI-RS, with the aim of adjusting the RX beam of the UE 10. In this case, the simultaneous beam sweep procedures cover multiple TRPs 100-1, 100-2. involve that each of multiple TRPs 100-1, 100-2 sends RS on a corresponding TX beam. In a first beam sweep procedure, the UE 10 measures the RS from TRP1, and in a second beam sweep procedure, the UE 10 measures the RS from TRP2. The beam sweep procedures are performed simultaneously, which means that the resources for transmission of the RS from TRP1 and the resources for transmission of the RS from TRP2 overlap in time domain.

[0099] In the illustrated concepts, also scenarios may be addressed where the UE 10 is equipped with multiple antenna panels, each supporting MIMO operation. Fig. 13 schematically illustrates a corresponding configuration of the UE 10. In the example of Fig. 13, the UE 10 is equipped with a first antenna panel 11, a second antenna panel 12, and a third antenna panel 13. However, other numbers of antenna panels could be considered as well, e.g., only two, four, or more than four. The antenna panels 11, 12, 13 are connected to a signal processor 15. The signal processor 15 supports simultaneous processing of antenna signals of the multiple antenna panels 11, 12, 13. The simultaneous processing includes RX processing, such as demodulation, decoding, measurements. Further, the simultaneous processing may include TX processing, such as encoding and modulation. Fig. 14 schematically illustrates RX beams 21, 22, 23 associated with multiple antenna panels of the UE 10, and relation of the RX beams 21, 22, 23 to multiple TRPs 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5. In the illustrated example, RX beam 21 can receive signals from TRP 100-1 and TRP 100-5, RX beam 22 can receive signals from TRP 100-2, and RX beam 23 can receive signals from TRP 100-3 TRP 100-4.

[0100] When considering a scenario involving multiple TRPs and multiple antenna panels at the UE 10, the UE 10 may associate a certain antenna panel with a corresponding beam sweep procedure, e.g., P3 procedure, for adjusting the RX beam. To help the UE 10 to select this antenna panel, the beam sweep procedure (for a given TRP) may be associated with a spatial QCL relation, e.g., a TCI state. Such TCI state could for example be a Joint TCI state or a Separate DL TCI state of the Unified TCI state framework of the NR technology, or similar TCI state of a 6G technology.

[0101] Each TCI state is typically associated with an SSB, or TRS, which typically is transmitted in semi-wide beams from the TRP. For example, in case of TRPs operating in the mmWave frequency range, each TRP may use 24 such SSB beams. It is however noted that this number is merely exemplary and that higher numbers could be used with evolution of technology.

[0102] If X TRPs are used for simultaneous beam sweep procedures of the RX beam of the UE 10 (where X is equal to 2 or more), the indication of the TCI states to the UE 10 could require substantial amount of signaling overhead, because the TCI state associated with a given one of the beam sweep procedures can be associated with any of the SSB beams per TRP. If the number of SSB beams is Z, the number of possible combinations is Zx. This for example means that a spatial QCL relation pre-configured in different aperiodic trigger states for aperiodic beam sweep procedures of the RX beam, as for example presently specified for the NR technology, may therefore turn out impracticable due to an excessive number of aperiodic trigger states that need to be configured by RRC signaling. Further, the existing NR technology limits the maximum number of aperiodic trigger states a UE could support to 128, and this number would be exceeded when attempting to pre-configure the spatial QCL relations in aperiodic trigger states.

[0103] In the illustrated concepts, DCI triggering the simultaneous beam sweep procedures of the RX beam may be supplemented by one or more fields which explicitly indicate at least some of the QCL relations. For example, one such field could be provided per simultaneous beam sweep procedure. The field may be used to indicate one out of M configured TCI states, where M may for example correspond to the number of configured TCI states per TRP. The above additional field(s) in the DCI triggering the simultaneous beam sweep procedures may however result in introducing a significant amount of DCI overhead. Such DCI overhead may in turn increase the risk of PDCCH congestion. For example, if each TRP provides 24 SSB beams, i.e. , the number of candidate TCI states used for the simultaneous beam sweep procedures of the RX beam is 24, and a UE supports up to four simultaneous beam sweep procedures of the RX beam, then 5x4=20 additional bits would be required in the DCI.

[0104] The DCI overhead may be reduced by providing the DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures with a field which indicates SSBs or TCI states associated with a beam report previously sent by the UE. Such beam report may indicate information related to multiple beams in a single report message. For example, the UE could be configured with group-based beam reporting, where the UE can report N groups of beams, and where each of the N groups of beams consists of M beams, with one beam per TRP. In this case, a new field in the DCI, e.g., with a length log2(N), can be used to indicate which of the N groups of reported SSBs I TCI states the triggered beam sweep procedures are associated with. In this way, the signaling overhead in the DCI is lowered significantly, because only log2(N) bits per DCI will be needed, where N typically is between 1 and 4. Further, the association with the previous beam report may be efficiently combined with other procedures. For example, the previous beam report could be sent in the course of a beam sweep procedure using different spatial filters at the TRPs for TX processing of reference signals, such as a P2 procedure. Since a beam sweep procedure for the RX beam of the UE, e.g., a P3 procedure, is typically triggered after a beam sweep procedure of the TX beam from the TRP, e.g., a P2 procedure, the beam report for the beam sweep procedure of the TX beam can be used for the association to the SSBs or TCI states indicated by the DCI triggering the simultaneous beam sweep procedures. Accordingly, in such implementation, first a multi-TRP P2 procedure could be performed, with the UE 10 sending a first group-based beam report indicating results of the multi-TRP P2 procedure by identifying multiple TX beams. Subsequently, simultaneous P3 procedures are performed by the UE with respect to the multiple TRPs, with the aim of finding a suitable RX beam configuration of UE. The DCI triggering the simultaneous P3 procedures includes a field which indicates a corresponding TCI state for each of the TX beams identified in the group-based beam report.

[0105] In case of the Unified TCI state framework of the 5G NR technology, the UE 10 can have up to two applied TCI states for DL reception and up to two applied TCI states for UL transmission. In the case of joint TCI state operation, the same TCI states are used for DL and UL. In the case of separate DL / UL TCI state operation, separate TCI states are used for DL and UL. For future evolutions 5G NR technology or for a 6G technology, the maximum number of applied TCI states may be increased to better support D-MIMO and multi-TRP deployments. For example, up to four or eight applied TCI states might be supported for DL and / or UL.

[0106] In typical scenarios, an aim of beam management may be to make sure that the UE has a suitable RX beam for the applied TCI states, since the applied TCI states correspond to beam pairs (TX beam and RX beam) that are actually used for communication with the UE. In view of such situations, the UE may assume that the spatial QCL relations of the simultaneous beam sweep procedures for the RX beam, e.g., simultaneous P3 beam sweep procedures, are automatically associated with the applied TCI states (which may be indicated separately from the DCI triggering the simultaneous beam sweep procedures. In an example, it could be assumed that a UE has four applied joint TCI states, and that the UE is triggered with four simultaneous P3 procedures. The UE could then assume that a first one of the simultaneous P3 procedures is associated with a first one of the applied joint TCI states, that a second one of the simultaneous P3 procedures is associated with a second one of the applied joint TCI states, that a third one of the simultaneous P3 procedures is associated with a third one of the applied joint TCI states, and a fourth one of the simultaneous P3 procedures is associated with a fourth one of the applied joint TCI states. With such assumption, no additional field in the DCI triggering the simultaneous beam sweep procedures is needed for indicating the QCL relations. A rule for capturing such an implicit association of beam sweep procedures to applied TCI states may be pre-configured in the UE, e.g., based on standardization. In some scenarios, the association between triggered P3 procedure and applied / indicated Joint / DL TCI state can be explicitly indicated in a field in of the DCI. Here, it is noted that this differs from the above case where a field in DCI indicates one out of M configured TCI states, since the number of configured TCI states typically is 20 to 50 times higher than the number of indicated / applied TCI states. Accordingly, by indicating an association to the applied Joint / DL TCI state, a low DCI overhead may be provided. The indication of association to indicated / applied TCI states could for example be used if the network only wants to perform P3 procedures for a subset of the TRPs, which may in turn correspond to a subset of the indicated / applied TCI states. In a specific example scenario, if the number of indicated / applied Joint / DI TCI states are equal to X, a bitfield of X bits may be used in the DCI triggering the P3 procedures, where each bit in the bitfield indicates if a P3 procedure should be triggered for an associated TRP.

[0107] In some scenarios, the UE may use UE capability signaling to indicate support for simultaneous beam sweep procedures of the RX beam by the UE. The UE capability signaling may include one or more of the following types of information: P112251WQ01

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[0109] a maximum supported number of simultaneous beam sweep procedures for the RX beam of the UE,

[0110] a capability to associate spatial QCL relations or TCI states to a previous beam report, e.g., a group-based beam report for multiple TX beams,

[0111] a capability to associate spatial QCL relations to indicated TCI states, e.g., TCI states explicitly indicated in DCI triggering the simultaneous beam sweep procedures for the RX beam of the UE,

[0112] a maximum supported number of indicated TCI states associated with simultaneous beam sweep procedures for the RX beam of the UE.

[0113] In some scenarios, the UE may send the UE capability signaling before the UE receives an indication of spatial QCL relations for different beam sweep procedures for the RX beam of the UE. The UE may send the UE capability signaling by UCI (UL Control Information). A network node, e.g., the access node associated with the TRPs, may thus receive the UE capability signaling by UCI.

[0114] In some scenarios, a network node may select between two or more of the above options for indicating the QCL relations for the simultaneous beam sweep procedures to the UE, i.e., between using an explicit indication in the DCI triggering the simultaneous beam sweep procedures, using an association of indicated TCI states to beams indicated in a previous beam report from the UE, or using an assumption which implicitly associates the beam sweep procedures to applied TCI states. This selection may depend on various criteria, such as the UE capability signaling received from the UE, the number of TRPs to be covered by the simultaneous beam sweep procedures, or the expected signaling overhead.

[0115] Fig. 15 shows an example of processes which are based on the concepts illustrated above. The processes of Fig. 15 involve a UE 10 and an access node 100. The access node 100 is assumed to use multiple TRPs for wireless communication with the UE 10. These multiple TRPs may correspond to multiple remote radio heads or multiple antenna panels of the access node 100. In other scenarios, the multiple TRPs could also correspond to a single antenna panel of the access node 100 and to further antenna panels of other access nodes 100, which cooperate with the access node 100.

[0116] As illustrated by message 1501 , the UE 10 may send capability information to the access node 100. The capability information may be carried by UCI, either on PUCCH (Physical Uplink Control Channel) or on PUSCH (Physical Uplink Shared Channel). The capability information may indicate one or more capabilities of the UE 10, related to simultaneous beam sweep P112251WQ01

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[0118] procedures covering multiple TRPs. The capability information may indicate one or more of: a maximum supported number of simultaneous beam sweep procedures for the RX beam of the UE 10, a capability of the UE 10 to associate spatial QCL relations or TCI states to a previous beam report, e.g., a group-based beam report for multiple TX beams, a capability of the UE 10 to associate spatial QCL relations to indicated TCI states, e.g., TCI states explicitly indicated in DCI triggering the simultaneous beam sweep procedures for the RX beam of the UE, and a maximum supported number of indicated TCI states associated with simultaneous beam sweep procedures for the RX beam of the UE 10.

[0119] As illustrated by message 1502, the access node 100 may provide configuration information to the UE 10. The configuration information may be carried by RRC signaling, MAC signaling, DCI, or a combination of two or more of these signaling types. The configuration information may associate each of multiple beam sweep procedures with a TXbeam from a corresponding one of the multiple TRPs. For example, the configuration information could explicitly indicate a QCL relation for each of the simultaneous beam sweep procedures. Further, the configuration information could associate the beam sweep procedures to activated TCI states. Further, the configuration information could associate the beam sweep procedures to beams indicated in a beam report from the UE 10. The configuration information may also include information triggering the beam sweep procedures, e.g., conveyed by DCI.

[0120] Based on the configuration information, the UE 10 then performs first beam sweep measurements on RSs from the TRPs, as indicated by block 1503. The first beam sweep measurements may for example correspond to a procedure for coarse selection of TX beams from the TRPs, e.g., a P1 procedure, and / or a procedure for refined selection of narrow TX beams from the TRPs, e.g., a P2 procedure.

[0121] As illustrated by message 1504, the UE 10 indicates results of the first beam sweep measurements by one or more beam reports to the access node 100. In some scenarios, message 1504 may correspond to a single beam report message which indicates results of the beam sweep measurements for multiple TX beams from the TRPs. In some scenarios, the single beam report message may also indicate a signal quality for at least one of the reported TX beams, e.g., in terms of an RSRP.

[0122] As illustrated by message 1505, the access node 100 may provide further configuration information to the UE 10. The configuration information may be carried be carried by DCI and trigger simultaneous beam sweep procedures of the UE 10 for adjusting the RX beam of the UE 10, e.g., P3 procedures. For each TRP, a corresponding simultaneous beam sweep procedure is triggered. The further configuration information may also associate each of multiple beam sweep procedures with a TX beam from a corresponding one of the multiple TRPs. For example, the configuration information could explicitly indicate a QCL relation for each of the simultaneous beam sweep procedures. Further, the configuration information could associate the beam sweep procedures to activated TCI states. Further, the configuration information could associate the beam sweep procedures to beams indicated in a beam report from the UE 10, e.g., in the single beam report message of message 1504.

[0123] Based on the configuration information (from message 1502 and / or from message 1505), the UE 10 then performs second beam sweep measurements on RSs from the TRPs, as indicated by block 1506. The second beam sweep measurements correspond to a procedure for adjustment of the RX beam of the UE 10, e.g., a P3 procedure.

[0124] As illustrated by message 1507, the UE 10 indicates the results of the first beam sweep measurements by one or more beam reports to the access node 100. In some scenarios, message 1507 may correspond to a single beam report message which indicates the results of the beam sweep measurements for multiple RX beam configurations. In some scenarios, the single beam report message may also indicate a signal quality for at least one of the reported RX beams, e.g., in terms of an RSRP.

[0125] Based on the processes of Fig. 15, the UE 10 and the access node 100 may then select a suitable combination of TX beams from the TRPs and RX beams at the UE 10, to be used in wireless communication of data.

[0126] Fig. 16 shows a flowchart for illustrating a method, which may be utilized for implementing the illustrated concepts. The method of Fig. 16 may be used for implementing the illustrated concepts in a wireless device for operation in a wireless communication network, e.g., one of the above-mentioned UEs 10.

[0127] If a processor-based implementation of the wireless device is used, at least some of the steps of the method of Fig. 16 may be performed and / or controlled by one or more processors of the wireless device. Such wireless device may also include a memory storing program code for implementing at least some of the below described functionalities or steps of the method of Fig. 16.

[0128] At step 1610, the wireless device may send capability information to one or more nodes of the wireless communication network. Such node of the wireless communication network may for example correspond to one of the above-mentioned access nodes 100. The wireless device may send the capability information by UCI, e.g., on PLICCH or on PLISCH.

[0129] The capability information may indicate support of the wireless device to simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures. For example, the capability information may indicate a maximum number of the simultaneous beam sweep procedures supported by the wireless device. Alternatively or in addition, the capability information may indicate a capability of the wireless device to associate an indication of a spatial QCL relation to a previously transmitted beam report. Alternatively or in addition, the capability information may indicate a capability of the wireless device to associate an indication of a spatial QCL relation to a TCI state. Alternatively or in addition, the capability information may indicate a maximum number of TCI states that can be associated with the multiple simultaneous beam sweep procedures.

[0130] At step 1620, the wireless device receives configuration information from one or more nodes of the wireless communication network. Such node of the wireless communication network may for example correspond to one of the above-mentioned access nodes 100. The configuration information may indicate, for each of multiple simultaneous beam sweep procedures, a corresponding set of spatial QCL relations of the RSs used in the beam sweep procedures. The configuration information may for example indicate, for each of the simultaneous beam sweep procedures, an association to a TCI state for transmission of the RSs by the respective TRP. The TCI state may in turn be associated with a corresponding spatial QCL relation.

[0131] The wireless device may receive at least a part of the configuration information by RRC signaling, e.g., RRC signaling for configuring TCI states, such as Unified TCI states or Separate DL / UL TCI states.

[0132] In some scenarios, the wireless device may receive at least a part of the configuration information by DCI triggering the simultaneous beam sweep procedures. For example, the DCI triggering the simultaneous beam sweep procedures may include, for each of the beam sweep procedures, a field indicating a corresponding spatial QCL relation of the reference signal. In some scenarios, the beam sweep procedures triggered by the DCI are each mapped to a TCI state configured in the wireless device. The DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures may indicate, for each beam sweep procedure, one out of a number of configured TCI states, and the wireless device may use the indicated configured TCI state as spatial QCL relation for the corresponding beam sweep procedure. In some scenarios, the beam sweep procedures triggered by the DCI may each be mapped to a TCI state applied by the wireless device. Such P112251WQ01

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[0134] mapping could be based on pre-configuration of the wireless device, e.g., according to standardization, or be based on explicit signaling in the DCI. The DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures may indicate, for each beam sweep procedure, one out of a number of applied TCI states, where the wireless device may use the indicated applied TCI state as spatial QCL relation for the corresponding beam sweep procedure. For example, if the number of applied TCI states is X, the DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures could include a field of X bit size, of which each bit indicates that the simultaneous beam sweep procedure is triggered for the corresponding TRP.

[0135] In some scenarios, at least a part of the configuration information may be related to a beam report previously transmitted by the wireless device. Such beam report may indicate one or more groups of beams from the TRPs, with all beams in a group being usable by the UE for simultaneous transmission and / or simultaneous reception. The beam report may associate each beam indicated in the beam report to a corresponding spatial QCL relation. The DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures may include a corresponding identifier for of the groups indicated in the beam report. The beam report could include an indication of a highest quality beam from the TRP, e.g., in terms of a CRI or SSBRI, and could further indicate an associated signal quality, e.g., in terms of an RSRP. Each beam sweep procedure may be associated with a corresponding one of the spatial QCL relations associated with the beams indicated in the beam report.

[0136] At step 1630, the wireless device simultaneously performs multiple beam sweep procedures, based on the configuration information received at step 1620. Each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of RS from a respective TRP of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals. Further, each of beam sweep procedures may be based on measurements of the reference signals using a corresponding one of multiple antenna panels of the wireless device for reception of the RSs.

[0137] At step 1640, the wireless device may send one or more beam reports to one or more nodes of the wireless communication network. Such node of the wireless communication network may for example correspond to one of the above-mentioned access nodes 100. The beam report may indicate results of the simultaneous beam sweep procedures, e.g., by identifying a preferred RX beam configuration of the wireless device.

[0138] Fig. 17 shows a flowchart for illustrating a method, which may be utilized for implementing the illustrated concepts. The method of Fig. 17 may be used for implementing the illustrated concepts in a node of a wireless communication network, e.g., one of the above-mentioned access nodes 100.

[0139] If a processor-based implementation of the node is used, at least some of the steps of the method of Fig. 17 may be performed and / or controlled by one or more processors of the node. Such node may also include a memory storing program code for implementing at least some of the below described functionalities or steps of the method of Fig. 17.

[0140] At step 1710, the node may receive capability information. The node may receive the capability information from a wireless device, e.g., one of the above-mentioned UEs 10. The node may receive the capability information by UCI, e.g., on PLICCH or on PLISCH. In some scenarios, the node could also receive at least a part of the capability information from another node of the wireless communication network, e.g., from another access node 100. Such propagation of capability information could for example be part of handover signaling or other mobility related signaling.

[0141] The capability information may indicate support of the wireless device to simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures. For example, the capability information may indicate a maximum number of the simultaneous beam sweep procedures supported by the wireless device. Alternatively or in addition, the capability information may indicate a capability of the wireless device to associate an indication of a spatial QCL relation to a previously transmitted beam report. Alternatively or in addition, the capability information may indicate a capability of the wireless device to associate an indication of a spatial QCL relation to a TCI state. Alternatively or in addition, the capability information may indicate a maximum number of TCI states that can be associated with the multiple simultaneous beam sweep procedures.

[0142] At step 1720, the node sends configuration information to the wireless device. The configuration information may indicate, for each of multiple simultaneous beam sweep procedures, a corresponding set of spatial QCL relations of the RSs used in the beam sweep procedures. The configuration information may for example indicate, for each of the simultaneous beam sweep procedures, an association to a TCI state for transmission of the RSs by the respective TRP. The TCI state may in turn be associated with a corresponding set of spatial QCL relations.

[0143] The node may send at least a part of the configuration information by RRC signaling, e.g., RRC signaling for configuring TCI states, such as Unified TCI states or Separate DL / UL TCI states. P112251WQ01

[0144] - 28 -

[0145] In some scenarios, the node may send at least a part of the configuration information by DCI triggering the simultaneous beam sweep procedures. For example, the DCI triggering the simultaneous beam sweep procedures may include, for each of the beam sweep procedures, a field indicating a corresponding spatial QCL relation of the reference signal. In some scenarios, the beam sweep procedures triggered by the DCI may each be each mapped to a TCI state configured in the wireless device. The DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures may indicate, for each beam sweep procedure, one out of a number of configured TCI states, and the wireless device may use the indicated configured TCI state as spatial QCL relation for the corresponding beam sweep procedure. In some scenarios, the beam sweep procedures triggered by the DCI may each be mapped to a TCI state applied by the wireless device. Such mapping could be based on pre-configuration of the wireless device, e.g., according to standardization, or be based on explicit signaling in the DCI. The DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures may indicate, for each beam sweep procedure, one out of a number of applied TCI states, where the wireless device may use the indicated applied TCI state as spatial QCL relation for the corresponding beam sweep procedure. For example, if the number of applied TCI states is X, the DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures could include a field of X bit size, of which each bit indicates that the simultaneous beam sweep procedure is triggered for the corresponding TRP.

[0146] In some scenarios, at least a part of the configuration information may be related to a beam report previously transmitted by the wireless device. Such beam report may indicate a one or more groups of beams from the TRPs, with all beams in a group being usable by the UE for simultaneous transmission and / or simultaneous reception. The beam report may associate each beam indicated by the beam report to a corresponding spatial QCL relation. The DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures may include a corresponding identifier one of the groups indicated by the the beam report. The beam report could include an indication of a highest quality beam from the TRP, e.g., in terms of a CRI or SSBRI, and could further indicate an associated signal quality, e.g., in terms of an RSRP. Each beam sweep procedure may be associated with a corresponding one of the spatial QCL relations associated with the beams indicated in the beam report.

[0147] The configuration information of step 1720 causes the wireless device to simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures. Each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of RS from a respective TRP of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals. Further, each of beam sweep procedures may be based on measurements of the reference signals using a corresponding one of multiple antenna panels of the wireless device for reception of the RSs.

[0148] At step 1730, the node may receive one or more beam reports from the wireless device. The beam report may indicate results of the simultaneous beam sweep procedures, e.g., by identifying a preferred RX beam configuration of the wireless device.

[0149] Fig. 18 illustrates a processor-based implementation of a wireless device 1800 for operation in a wireless communication network, which may be used for implementing the abovedescribed concepts. More specifically, the structures of the wireless device 1800 may be used to implement the above-described functionalities in a UE, such as any of the above-mentioned UEs 10.

[0150] As illustrated, the wireless device 1800 may include wireless interface 1810, which may be used for wireless communication with one or more nodes of the wireless communication network. In some scenarios, the wireless interface 1810 may be based on multiple antenna panels, e.g., as illustrated in Fig. 13.

[0151] Further, the wireless device 1800 may include one or more processors 1850 coupled to the interface 1810 and a memory 1860 coupled to the processor(s) 1850. By way of example, the interface 1810, the processor(s) 1850, and the memory 1860 could be coupled by one or more internal bus systems of the wireless device 1800. The memory 1860 may include a read-only memory (ROM), e.g., a flash ROM, a random-access memory (RAM), e.g., a dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM), a mass storage, e.g., a hard disk or solid state disk, or the like. As illustrated, the memory 1860 may include software 1870 and / or firmware 1880. The memory 1860 may include suitably configured program code to be executed by the processor(s) 1850 so as to implement the above-described functionalities for simultaneous multi-TRP beam sweep procedures, such as explained in connection with Fig. 16.

[0152] It is to be understood that the structures as illustrated in Fig. 18 are merely schematic and that the wireless device 1800 may actually include further components which, for the sake of clarity, have not been illustrated, e.g., further interfaces or further processors. Also, it is to be understood that the memory 1860 may include further program code for implementing known functionalities of a UE in a 3GPP system. According to some embodiments, also a computer program may be provided for implementing functionalities of the wireless device 1800, e.g., in the form of a physical medium storing the program code and / or other data to be stored in the memory 1860 or by making the program code available for download or by streaming. Fig. 19 illustrates a processor-based implementation of a network node 1900 for operation in a wireless communication network, which may be used for implementing the above-described concepts. More specifically, the structures of the network node 1900 may be used to implement the above-described functionalities in a radio access node, such as any of the above-mentioned access nodes 100.

[0153] As illustrated, the network node 1900 may include wireless interface 1910, which may be used for wireless communication with one or more wireless devices, such as the above-mentioned UEs 10. Further, the network node 1900 may include a network interface 1920, which may be used for communication with other network nodes. In some scenarios, the wireless interface 1910 of the network node 1900 may be based on multiple TRPs associated with the network node 100. Such multiple TRPs associated with the network node 1900 may correspond to different remote radio heads or to different antenna panels of the network node 1900. In other scenarios, the network node 1900 could implement a TRP and cooperate with other network nodes implementing further TRPs. In such scenarios, the wireless interface 1910 could thus correspond to a TRP, and further TRPs could be implemented by other network nodes cooperating with the network node 1900. The cooperation could then be based on signaling via the network interface 1920.

[0154] Further, the network node 1900 may include one or more processors 1950 coupled to the interfaces 1910, 1920 and a memory 1960 coupled to the processor(s) 1950. By way of example, the interfaces 1910, 1920, the processor(s) 1950, and the memory 1960 could be coupled by one or more internal bus systems of the network node 1900. The memory 1960 may include a ROM, e.g., a flash ROM, a RAM, e.g., a DRAM or SRAM, a mass storage, e.g., a hard disk or solid state disk, or the like. As illustrated, the memory 1960 may include software 1970 and / or firmware 1980. The memory 1960 may include suitably configured program code to be executed by the processor(s) 1950 so as to implement or configure the above-described functionalities for supporting simultaneous multi-TRP beam sweep procedures, such as explained in connection with Fig. 17.

[0155] It is to be understood that the structures as illustrated in Fig. 19 are merely schematic and that the network node 1900 may actually include further components which, for the sake of clarity, have not been illustrated, e.g., further interfaces or further processors. Also, it is to be understood that the memory 1960 may include further program code for implementing known functionalities of a radio access node in a 3GPP system. According to some embodiments, also a computer program may be provided for implementing functionalities of the network node 1900, e.g., in the form of a physical medium storing the program code and / or other data to be stored in the memory 1960 or by making the program code available for download or by streaming.

[0156] As can be seen, the concepts as described above may be used for efficiently implementing beam management in situations where wireless communication with a UE is based on beamformed transmissions with respect to multiple TRPs and, in some scenarios, using multiple antenna panels of the UE. By enabling the simultaneous beam sweep procedures for the RX beam of the UE, the number of required DL RSs may be reduced, thereby significantly improving resource efficiency. Further, the illustrated concepts provide mechanism which allow for efficiently informing the UE about QCL relations for the simultaneous beam sweep procedures.

[0157] It is to be understood that the examples and embodiments as explained above are merely illustrative and susceptible to various modifications. For example, the illustrated concepts may be applied to various types of wireless transmissions, also including scenarios where the wireless transmissions are received by multiple receivers, such as for broadcast or groupcast transmissions. Further, the illustrated concepts may be applied in connection with various kinds of wireless communication technologies, also including modifications or enhancements of the 4G LTE technology or of the 5G NR technology. Further, while the above examples focused on usage of SSBs or CSI-RS as the DL RS in the beam sweep procedures, other types of DL RS could be used as well, including new types of DL RS which may be defined in a 6G technology or other future technology. Moreover, it is to be understood that the above concepts may be implemented by using correspondingly designed software to be executed by one or more processors of an existing device or apparatus, or by using dedicated device hardware. Further, it should be noted that the illustrated apparatuses or devices may each be implemented as a single device or as a system of multiple interacting devices or modules. Example Embodiments

[0158] In view of the above, embodiments of the present disclosure for example include:

[0159] 1. A method of controlling wireless communication in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

[0160] a wireless device (10; 1800) receiving configuration information from one or more nodes (100; 1900) of the wireless communication network; and

[0161] based on the configuration information (1502, 1505), the wireless device (10) simultaneously performing multiple beam sweep procedures,

[0162] wherein each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective transmission and reception point, TRP, (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5) of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals.

[0163] 2. The method according to embodiment 1,

[0164] wherein each of beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of the reference signals using a corresponding one of multiple antenna panels (11, 12, 13) of the wireless device (10; 1800) for reception of the reference signals.

[0165] 3. The method according to embodiment 1 or 2,

[0166] wherein the configuration information (1502, 1505) indicates, for each of the beam sweep procedures, a corresponding set of spatial Quasi-Collocation, QCL, relations of the reference signals.

[0167] 4. The method according to embodiment 3,

[0168] wherein the configuration information (1502, 1505) indicates, for each of the beam sweep procedures, an association to a Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state for transmission of the reference signals by the respective TRP (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5).

[0169] 5. The method according to embodiment 4,

[0170] wherein the number of beam sweep procedures is N and each beam sweep procedure is associated to a corresponding one of N TCI states applied by the wireless device (10; 1800).

[0171] 6. The method according to embodiment 4 or 5, wherein, for each of the beam sweep procedures, the TCI state is associated with a corresponding spatial QCL relation.

[0172] 7. The method according to any of embodiments 1-6,

[0173] wherein the wireless device (10, 1800) receives at least a part of the configuration information by Radio Resource Control, RRC, Signaling.

[0174] 8. The method according to any of embodiments 1-7,

[0175] wherein the wireless device (10; 1800) receives at least a part of the configuration information by Downlink Control Information, DCI, triggering the beam sweep procedures.

[0176] 9. The method according to embodiment 8,

[0177] wherein the DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures indicates, for each of the beam sweep procedures, a corresponding spatial QCL relation.

[0178] 10. The method according to embodiment 8 or 9,

[0179] wherein the DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures indicates, for each beam sweep procedure, one out of a number of configured TCI states, where the wireless device (10; 1800) uses the indicated configured TCI state as spatial QCL relation for the corresponding beam sweep procedure (10; 1800).

[0180] 11. The method according to embodiment 8,

[0181] wherein the DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures indicates, for each beam sweep procedure, one out of a number of applied TCI states, where the wireless device (10; 1800) uses the indicated applied TCI state as spatial QCL relation for the corresponding beam sweep procedure (10; 1800).

[0182] 12. The method according to any of embodiments 1-11,

[0183] wherein at least a part of the configuration information is related to a beam report (1504) previously transmitted by the wireless device (10; 1800).

[0184] 13. The method according to embodiment 12,

[0185] wherein the beam report (1504) indicates one or more groups of beams from the TRPs (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5), with all beams in a group being usable by the wireless device (10, 1800) for simultaneous transmission and / or simultaneous reception.

[0186] 14. The method according to embodiment 13, wherein the beam report (1504) associates each beam indicated by the beam report (1504) to a corresponding spatial QCL relation.

[0187] 15. The method according to embodiment 13 or 14,

[0188] wherein DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures comprises an identifier of one of the reported groups of beams.

[0189] 16. The method according to embodiment 14 or 15,

[0190] wherein each beam sweep procedure is associated with a corresponding one of the spatial QCL relations associated with the beams.

[0191] 17. The method according to any of embodiments 1-16, comprising:

[0192] the wireless device (10; 1800) sending capability information (1501) to the one or more nodes (100; 1900) of the wireless communication network, the capability information (1501) indicating support of the wireless device (10; 1800) to simultaneously perform the multiple beam sweep procedures.

[0193] 18. The method according to embodiment 17,

[0194] wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a maximum number of the simultaneous beam sweep procedures supported by the wireless device (10; 1800).

[0195] 19. The method according to embodiment 17 or 18,

[0196] wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a capability of the wireless device (10; 1800) to associate an indication of a spatial QCL relation to a previously transmitted beam report (1504).

[0197] 20. The method according to any of embodiments 17-19,

[0198] wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a capability of the wireless device (10; 1800) to associate an indication of a spatial QCL relation to a TCI state.

[0199] 21. The method according to embodiment 20,

[0200] wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a maximum number of TCI states that can be associated with the multiple simultaneous beam sweep procedures.

[0201] 22. The method according to any of embodiments 16-21,

[0202] wherein the wireless device (10; 1800) sends the capability information by Uplink Control Information, UCI. 23. A method of controlling wireless communication in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

[0203] a node (100; 1900) of the wireless communication network sending configuration information (1502, 1505) to a wireless device (10; 1800), for configuring the wireless device (10; 1800) to simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures,

[0204] wherein each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective transmission and reception point, TRP, (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5) of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals.

[0205] 24. The method according to embodiment 23,

[0206] wherein each of beam sweep procedures is further based on measurements of the reference signals using a corresponding one of multiple antenna panels of the wireless device (10; 1800) for reception of the reference signals.

[0207] 25. The method according to embodiment 23 or 24,

[0208] wherein the configuration information (1502, 1504) indicates, for each of the beam sweep procedures, a corresponding set of spatial Quasi-Collocation, QCL, relations of the reference signals.

[0209] 26. The method according to embodiment 25,

[0210] wherein the configuration information (1502, 1504) indicates an association of the beam sweep procedure to a Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state for transmission of the reference signals by the respective TRP (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5).

[0211] 27. The method according to embodiment 26,

[0212] wherein the number of beam sweep procedures is N and each beam sweep procedure is associated to a corresponding one of N TCI states applied by the wireless device (10; 1800).

[0213] 28. The method according to embodiment 26 or 27,

[0214] wherein, for each of the beam sweep procedures, the TCI state is associated with a corresponding spatial QCL relation.

[0215] 29. The method according to any of embodiments 23-26,

[0216] wherein the node (100; 1900) sends at least a part of the configuration information by Radio Resource Control, RRC, Signaling. 30. The method according to any of embodiments 23-29,

[0217] wherein the node (100; 1900) sends at least a part of the configuration information by Downlink Control Information, DCI, triggering the beam sweep procedures.

[0218] 31. The method according to embodiment 30,

[0219] wherein the DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures comprises, for each of the beam sweep procedures, a field indicating a corresponding spatial QCL relation of the reference signal.

[0220] 32. The method according to embodiment 30 or 31 ,

[0221] wherein the beam sweep procedures triggered by the DCI are each mapped to a TCI state configured in the wireless device (10; 1800).

[0222] 33. The method according to any of embodiments 23-32,

[0223] wherein at least a part of the configuration information is related to a beam report previously received from the wireless device (10; 1800).

[0224] 34. The method according to embodiment 33,

[0225] wherein the beam report indicates one or more groups of beams from the TRPs (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5), with all beams in a group being usable by the wireless device (10; 1800) for simultaneous transmission and / or simultaneous reception.

[0226] 35. The method according to embodiment 34,

[0227] wherein the beam report (1504) associates each beam indicated by the beam report (1504) to a corresponding spatial QCL relation.

[0228] 36. The method according to embodiment 34 or 35,

[0229] wherein DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures comprises a corresponding identifier for each beam considered in the beam report.

[0230] 37. The method according to any of embodiments 23-36, comprising:

[0231] the node receiving capability information indicating support of the wireless device (10; 1800) to simultaneously perform the multiple beam sweep procedures.

[0232] 38. The method according to embodiment 37, wherein the node receives at least a part of the capability information from the wireless device (10; 1800).

[0233] 39. The method according to embodiment 37 or 38,

[0234] wherein the node receives at least a part of the capability information by Uplink Control Information, UCI, from the wireless device (10; 1800).

[0235] 40. The method according to any of embodiments 37-39,

[0236] wherein the node receives at least a part of the capability information (1501) from a further node (100) of the wireless communication network.

[0237] 41. The method according to any of embodiments 37-40,

[0238] wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a maximum number of the simultaneous beam sweep procedures supported by the wireless device.

[0239] 42. The method according to any of embodiments 37-41 ,

[0240] wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a capability of the wireless device to associate an indication of a spatial QCL relation to a previously transmitted beam report.

[0241] 43. The method according to any of embodiments 37-42,

[0242] wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a capability of the wireless device to associate an indication of a spatial QCL relation to a TCI state.

[0243] 44. The method according to embodiment 43,

[0244] wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a maximum number of TCI states that can be associated with the simultaneous beam sweep procedures.

[0245] 45. A wireless device for operation in a wireless communication system, the wireless device being configured to:

[0246] receive configuration information (1502, 1505) from one or more nodes of the wireless communication network; and

[0247] based on the configuration information (1502, 1505), simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures,

[0248] wherein each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective transmission and reception point, TRP, (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5) of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals. 46. The wireless device (10; 1800) according to embodiment 45,

[0249] wherein the wireless device (10; 1800) is configured to perform a method according to any one of embodiments 2 to 22.

[0250] 47. The wireless device (10; 1800) according to embodiment 45 or 46, comprising:

[0251] at least one processor (1850), and

[0252] a memory (1860) containing program code executable by the at least one processor (1850), whereby execution of the program code by the at least one processor (1850) causes the wireless device (10; 1800) to perform a method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 22.

[0253] 48. A node (100; 1900) for a wireless communication network, the node being configured to: send configuration information to a wireless device (10; 1800), for configuring the wireless device to simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures,

[0254] wherein each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective transmission and reception point, TRP, (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5) of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals.

[0255] 49. The node (100; 1900) according to embodiment 48,

[0256] wherein the node (100; 1900) is configured to perform a method according to any one of embodiments 24 to 44.

[0257] 50. The node (100; 1900) according to embodiment 48 or 49, comprising:

[0258] at least one processor (1950), and

[0259] a memory (1960) containing program code executable by the at least one processor (1950), whereby execution of the program code by the at least one processor (1950) causes the node (100; 1900) to perform a method according to any one of embodiments 23 to 44.

[0260] 51. A computer program or computer program product comprising program code to be executed by at least one processor (1850) of a wireless device (10; 1800) operating in a wireless communication network, whereby execution of the program code causes the wireless device (10; 1800) to perform a method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 22.

[0261] 52. A computer program or computer program product comprising program code to be executed by at least one processor (1950) of a node (100; 1900) of a wireless communication network, whereby execution of the program code causes the node (100; 1900) to perform a method according to any one of embodiments 23 to 44.

Claims

Claims1. A method of controlling wireless communication in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:a wireless device (10; 1800) receiving configuration information from one or more nodes (100; 1900) of the wireless communication network; andbased on the configuration information (1502, 1505), the wireless device (10) simultaneously performing multiple beam sweep procedures,wherein each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective transmission and reception point, TRP, (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5) of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals.

2. The method according to claim 1,wherein each of beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of the reference signals using a corresponding one of multiple antenna panels (11, 12, 13) of the wireless device (10; 1800) for reception of the reference signals.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,wherein the configuration information (1502, 1505) indicates, for each of the beam sweep procedures, a corresponding set of spatial Quasi-Collocation, QCL, relations of the reference signals.

4. The method according to claim 3,wherein the configuration information (1502, 1505) indicates, for each of the beam sweep procedures, an association to a Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state for transmission of the reference signals by the respective TRP (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5).

5. The method according to claim 4,wherein the number of beam sweep procedures is N and each beam sweep procedure is associated to a corresponding one of N TCI states applied by the wireless device (10; 1800).

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5,wherein, for each of the beam sweep procedures, the TCI state is associated with a corresponding spatial QCL relation.

7. The method according to any of claims 1-6,wherein the wireless device (10, 1800) receives at least a part of the configuration information by Radio Resource Control, RRC, Signaling.

8. The method according to any of claims 1-7,wherein the wireless device (10; 1800) receives at least a part of the configuration information by Downlink Control Information, DCI, triggering the beam sweep procedures.

9. The method according to claim 8,wherein the DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures indicates, for each of the beam sweep procedures, a corresponding spatial QCL relation.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9,wherein the DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures indicates, for each beam sweep procedure, one out of a number of configured TCI states, where the wireless device (10; 1800) uses the indicated configured TCI state as spatial QCL relation for the corresponding beam sweep procedure (10; 1800).

11. The method according to claim 8,wherein the DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures indicates, for each beam sweep procedure, one out of a number of applied TCI states, where the wireless device (10; 1800) uses the indicated applied TCI state as spatial QCL relation for the corresponding beam sweep procedure (10; 1800).

12. The method according to any of claims 1-11,wherein at least a part of the configuration information is related to a beam report (1504) previously transmitted by the wireless device (10; 1800).

13. The method according to claim 12,wherein the beam report (1504) indicates one or more groups of beams from the TRPs (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5), with all beams in a group being usable by the wireless device (10, 1800) for simultaneous transmission and / or simultaneous reception.

14. The method according to claim 13,wherein the beam report (1504) associates each beam indicated by the beam report (1504) to a corresponding spatial QCL relation.

15. The method according to claim 13 or 14,wherein DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures comprises an identifier of one of the reported groups of beams.

16. The method according to claim 14 or 15,wherein each beam sweep procedure is associated with a corresponding one of the spatial QCL relations associated with the beams.

17. The method according to any of claims 1-16, comprising:the wireless device (10; 1800) sending capability information (1501) to the one or more nodes (100; 1900) of the wireless communication network, the capability information (1501) indicating support of the wireless device (10; 1800) to simultaneously perform the multiple beam sweep procedures.

18. The method according to claim 17,wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a maximum number of the simultaneous beam sweep procedures supported by the wireless device (10; 1800).

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18,wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a capability of the wireless device (10; 1800) to associate an indication of a spatial QCL relation to a previously transmitted beam report (1504).

20. The method according to any of claims 17-19,wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a capability of the wireless device (10; 1800) to associate an indication of a spatial QCL relation to a TCI state.

21. The method according to claim 20,wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a maximum number of TCI states that can be associated with the multiple simultaneous beam sweep procedures.

22. The method according to any of claims 16-21,wherein the wireless device (10; 1800) sends the capability information by Uplink Control Information, UCI.

23. A method of controlling wireless communication in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:a node (100; 1900) of the wireless communication network sending configuration information (1502, 1505) to a wireless device (10; 1800), for configuring the wireless device (10; 1800) to simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures,wherein each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective transmission and reception point, TRP, (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5) of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals.

24. The method according to claim 23,wherein each of beam sweep procedures is further based on measurements of the reference signals using a corresponding one of multiple antenna panels of the wireless device (10; 1800) for reception of the reference signals.

25. The method according to claim 23 or 24,wherein the configuration information (1502, 1504) indicates, for each of the beam sweep procedures, a corresponding set of spatial Quasi-Collocation, QCL, relations of the reference signals.

26. The method according to claim 25,wherein the configuration information (1502, 1504) indicates an association of the beam sweep procedure to a Transmission Configuration Indication, TCI, state for transmission of the reference signals by the respective TRP (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5).

27. The method according to claim 26,wherein the number of beam sweep procedures is N and each beam sweep procedure is associated to a corresponding one of N TCI states applied by the wireless device (10; 1800).

28. The method according to claim 26 or 27,wherein, for each of the beam sweep procedures, the TCI state is associated with a corresponding spatial QCL relation.

29. The method according to any of claims 23-26,wherein the node (100; 1900) sends at least a part of the configuration information by Radio Resource Control, RRC, Signaling.

30. The method according to any of claims 23-29,wherein the node (100; 1900) sends at least a part of the configuration information by Downlink Control Information, DCI, triggering the beam sweep procedures.

31. The method according to claim 30,wherein the DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures comprises, for each of the beam sweep procedures, a field indicating a corresponding spatial QCL relation of the reference signal.

32. The method according to claim 30 or 31,wherein the beam sweep procedures triggered by the DCI are each mapped to a TCI state configured in the wireless device (10; 1800).

33. The method according to any of claims 23-32,wherein at least a part of the configuration information is related to a beam report previously received from the wireless device (10; 1800).

34. The method according to claim 33,wherein the beam report indicates one or more groups of beams from the TRPs (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5), with all beams in a group being usable by the wireless device (10; 1800) for simultaneous transmission and / or simultaneous reception.

35. The method according to claim 34,wherein the beam report (1504) associates each beam indicated by the beam report (1504) to a corresponding spatial QCL relation.

36. The method according to claim 34 or 35,wherein DCI triggering the beam sweep procedures comprises a corresponding identifier for each beam considered in the beam report.

37. The method according to any of claims 23-36, comprising:the node receiving capability information indicating support of the wireless device (10; 1800) to simultaneously perform the multiple beam sweep procedures.

38. The method according to claim 37,wherein the node receives at least a part of the capability information from the wireless device (10; 1800).

39. The method according to claim 37 or 38,wherein the node receives at least a part of the capability information by Uplink Control Information, UCI, from the wireless device (10; 1800).

40. The method according to any of claims 37-39,wherein the node receives at least a part of the capability information (1501) from a further node (100) of the wireless communication network.

41. The method according to any of claims 37-40,wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a maximum number of the simultaneous beam sweep procedures supported by the wireless device.

42. The method according to any of claims 37-41 ,wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a capability of the wireless device to associate an indication of a spatial QCL relation to a previously transmitted beam report.

43. The method according to any of claims 37-42,wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a capability of the wireless device to associate an indication of a spatial QCL relation to a TCI state.

44. The method according to claim 43,wherein the capability information (1501) indicates a maximum number of TCI states that can be associated with the simultaneous beam sweep procedures.

45. A wireless device for operation in a wireless communication system, the wireless device being configured to:receive configuration information (1502, 1505) from one or more nodes of the wireless communication network; andbased on the configuration information (1502, 1505), simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures,wherein each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective transmission and reception point, TRP, (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5) of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals.

46. The wireless device (10; 1800) according to claim 45,wherein the wireless device (10; 1800) is configured to perform a method according to any one of claims 2 to 22.

47. The wireless device (10; 1800) according to claim 45 or 46, comprising:at least one processor (1850), anda memory (1860) containing program code executable by the at least one processor (1850), whereby execution of the program code by the at least one processor (1850) causes the wireless device (10; 1800) to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

48. A node (100; 1900) for a wireless communication network, the node being configured to: send configuration information to a wireless device (10; 1800), for configuring the wireless device to simultaneously perform multiple beam sweep procedures,wherein each of the beam sweep procedures is based on measurements of reference signals from a respective transmission and reception point, TRP, (100; 100-1, 100-2, 100-3, 100-4, 100-5) of the wireless communication network using at least two different spatial filters for reception processing of the reference signals.

49. The node (100; 1900) according to claim 48,wherein the node (100; 1900) is configured to perform a method according to any one of claims 24 to 44.

50. The node (100; 1900) according to claim 48 or 49, comprising:at least one processor (1950), anda memory (1960) containing program code executable by the at least one processor (1950), whereby execution of the program code by the at least one processor (1950) causes the node (100; 1900) to perform a method according to any one of claims 23 to 44.

51. A computer program or computer program product comprising program code to be executed by at least one processor (1850) of a wireless device (10; 1800) operating in a wireless communication network, whereby execution of the program code causes the wireless device (10; 1800) to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

52. A computer program or computer program product comprising program code to be executed by at least one processor (1950) of a node (100; 1900) of a wireless communication network, whereby execution of the program code causes the node (100; 1900) to perform a method according to any one of claims 23 to 44.

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