Antenna port selection indication

Abstract

Methods and systems for controlling antenna port selection in O-RAN SRS-based beamforming (SRS-BF) are disclosed. In SRS-BF implementations, both SRS channel estimation and beamforming weight calculation may be performed in the O-RU, which can degrade system performance due to lack of O-DU control over port selection. The disclosed solution enables an O-DU to send messages to an O-RU over the O-RAN Open Fronthaul Control Plane indicating selected antenna ports of a user equipment for beamforming weight calculations. The O-RU may declare its capabilities via Management Plane, and the O-DU may configure the O-RU accordingly based on received channel estimates and measurements. This approach allows the O-DU to regain control over beamforming weight calculation while maintaining SRS-BF benefits including reduced fronthaul capacity. The selected ports are used by the O-RU to calculate beamforming weights for transmission or reception based on SRS received from those ports, enabling better system performance through improved transmission parameter determination.

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