Fast beam sweeping (DE)activation

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to fast beam sweeping (de)activation A method comprises receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping (FBS) and at least one reference indicator for the FBS; performing at least one Layer 3 (L3) measurement; comparing the at least one L3 measurement with the at least one reference indicator; and deactivating the FBS based on a result of the comparison.

Description

FAST BEAM SWEEPING (DE)ACTIVATIONCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority from, and the benefit of, US Provisional Application No.63 / 746359, filed January 17, 2025, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD

[0002] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for fast beam sweeping (de)activation.BACKGROUND

[0003] As 5G New Radio (NR) operates at higher frequencies (FR2), beamforming becomes essential for both the network (gNB) and UEs to ensure efficient communication. This involves directing transmission and reception in specific directions using antenna panels. UEs in FR2 often require multiple antenna panels, and while a three-panel setup is considered ideal, there are no strict requirements on the number of panels. When employing techniques like Rx beamforming, it is assumed that the UE will primarily receive signals from a limited spatial area, resulting in reduced reception from outside that area. For a UE operating in FR2, activating all antenna panels simultaneously or using time division multiplexing to perform measurements across a full 360-degree spherical coverage would significantly increase power consumption. To mitigate this, UEs in FR2 are not required to keep all panels continuously active for tasks like Layer 3 (L3) measurements. Instead, UEs may utilize beam sweeping, where only one panel is active at a time for measurements. While this approach reduces power consumption, it introduces increased latency, as the UE must sequentially sweep across all panels to achieve measurements for full 360-degree coverage. This trade-off between reduced power usage and increased measurement delay is a key consideration for optimizing FR2 operations.SUMMARY

[0004] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping (FBS) and at least one reference indicator for the FBS; perform at least one Layer 3 (L3) measurement; compare the at least one L3 measurement with the at least one reference indicator; and deactivate the FBS based on a result of the comparison.

[0005] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping and at least one reference indicator for the FBS, the at least one reference indicator comprising a first threshold for deactivating the FBS and a second threshold for activating the FBS ; and transmit, to the first apparatus, a list comprising at least one measurement object.

[0006] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, configuration information comprising at least one measurement object; perform measurement of at least one signal quality metric with respect to the at least one measurement object; activate the FBS based on the at least one measurement indicating that the first apparatus is in a cell edge condition; and dynamically deactivate / re-activate the FBS based on a result of a comparison of the at least one measurement with at least one reference indicator for the FBS.

[0007] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping (FBS) and at least one reference indicator for the FBS; performing at least one Layer 3 (L3) measurement; comparing the at least one L3 measurement with the at least one reference indicator; and deactivating the FBS based on a result of the comparison.

[0008] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: transmitting, to a first apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping and at least one reference indicator for the FBS, the at least one reference indicator comprising a first threshold for deactivating the FBS and a second threshold for activating the FBS ; and transmitting, to the first apparatus, a list comprising at least one measurement object.

[0009] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information comprising at least one measurement object; performing measurement of at least one signal quality metric with respect to the at least one measurement object; activating the FBS based on the at least one measurement indicating that the first apparatus is in a cell edge condition; and dynamically deactivating / re-activating the FBS based on a result of a comparison of the at least one measurement with at least one reference indicator for the FBS.

[0010] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration informationcomprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping (FBS) and at least one reference indicator for the FBS; means for performing at least one Layer 3 (L3) measurement; means for comparing the at least one L3 measurement with the at least one reference indicator; and means for deactivating the FBS based on a result of the comparison.

[0011] In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping and at least one reference indicator for the FBS, the at least one reference indicator comprising a first threshold for deactivating the FBS and a second threshold for activating the FBS ; and means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a list comprising at least one measurement object.

[0012] In a ninth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information comprising at least one measurement object; means for performing measurement of at least one signal quality metric with respect to the at least one measurement object; means for activating the FBS based on the at least one measurement indicating that the first apparatus is in a cell edge condition; and means for dynamically deactivating / re-activating the FBS based on a result of a comparison of the at least one measurement with at least one reference indicator for the FBS.

[0013] In a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0014] In an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fifth aspect.

[0015] In a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the sixth aspect.

[0016] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0018] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0019] FIG. 2 illustrates a UE located at the cell edge;

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates RSRP value and moving average filter value and FBS enabled durations;

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates an example signaling process in accordance with some embodiments in the disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates another example signaling process in accordance with some embodiments in the disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 6 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0025] FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0026] FIG. 9 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0027] FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0028] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0030] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0031] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0032] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,”..., etc. in front of noun(s) and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another and they do not limit the order of the noun(s). For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0033] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0034] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0035] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof.

[0036] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0037] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers animplementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0038] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-loT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), 5.5G, the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0039] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (I AB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0040] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wirelesslocal loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0041] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other combination of the time, frequency, space and / or code domain resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, unless explicitly stated, a resource in both frequency domain and time domain will be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0042] As used herein, the term “measurement object” may refer to a set of parameters or resources defined for enabling a terminal device (e.g., UE) to perform measurements associated with communication management in a network. For example, a measurement object may define specific frequencies, cells, beams, or other resources in the time domain, frequency domain, space domain, or any combination thereof, that are targeted for measurement. Measurement objects may include details such as carrier frequencies, physical cell identities (PCIs), measurement bandwidths, and cellspecific offsets. They may also identify blacklisted or whitelisted cells and define the scope of measurements fortasks such as handovers, cell reselection, and beam management. Unless explicitly stated otherwise, example embodiments of the present disclosure may reference a measurement object in the frequency domain and time domain, though the concept is equally applicable to other domains or combinations of domains, as specified in related standards.

[0043] Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment 100 in which exampleembodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. In the communication environment 100, a plurality of communication devices, including a terminal device 110 and a network device 120, can communicate with each other. In the example of FIG. 1 , the terminal device 110 may be a UE and the network device 120 may be a base station serving the UE. The serving area of the network device 120 may be called a cell.

[0045] It is to be understood that the number of devices and their connections shown in FIG. 1 are only for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitation. The communication environment 100 may include any suitable number of devices configured to implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. Although not shown, it would be appreciated that one or more additional devices may be located in the cell, and one or more additional cells may be deployed in the communication environment 100. It is noted that although illustrated as a network device, the network device 120 may be another device than a network device. Although illustrated as a terminal device, the terminal device 110 may be another device than a terminal device.

[0046] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the terminal device 110 operating as a UE and the network device 120 operating as a base station. However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with a terminal device may be implemented at a network device or other device, and operations described in connection with a network device may be implemented at a terminal device or other device.

[0047] In some example embodiments, a transmission direction from the network device 120 to the terminal device 110 is referred to as a downlink (DL), while a transmission direction from the terminal device 110 to the network device 120 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the network device 120 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter) and the terminal device 110 is a receiving (RX) device (or a receiver). In UL, the terminal device 110 is a TX device (or a transmitter) and the network device 120 is a RX device (or a receiver).

[0048] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0049] Referring now to FIG. 2, which illustrates a UE located at the cell edge. In ongoing 3GPPdiscussions, the focus of Fast Beam Sweeping (FBS) is primarily on UEs in cell edge conditions, where quicker measurements are necessary to prepare for potential handovers. The cell edge criterion was chosen because UEs in this situation require faster responses to identify available neighboring cells for seamless handover transitions.

[0050] However, one challenge is that a UE may remain in cell edge or cell edge-like conditions for an extended period. Requiring the UE to continuously use FBS in such scenarios would significantly increase power consumption, which is undesirable for efficient UE operation. To address this, it has been proposed within 3GPP to enable FBS only for a limited duration, such as the time defined by a timer. While this approach helps reduce power consumption, it introduces another problem: if the UE remains at the cell edge and moves further into weaker signal areas, it may require immediate and faster measurements to identify neighboring cells for handover, which a timer-based approach may not adequately support.

[0051] The key question is how to optimize the use of FBS for UEs at the cell edge, considering both stationary and non-stationary scenarios. This optimization needs to strike a balance between maintaining quick measurement capabilities for effective handovers and minimizing unnecessary power consumption when FBS is not critically needed.

[0052] The proposed approach addresses the optimization of FBS UE located at the cell edge by introducing conditions for deactivating and reactivating FBS based on Layer 3 (L3) measurement results. This approach aims to balance the need for efficient handover preparation with minimizing unnecessary power consumption when FBS is not critically needed.

[0053] When FBS remains active for a UE at the cell edge, it is usually controlled by a timer. Once the timer expires, the proposed approach may allow the UE to deactivate FBS if the L3 measurement results have remained stable during the timer period. Specifically, if the change in L3 measurement results, such as Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), is less than a defined threshold (y1), the UE assumes that the radio conditions have not varied significantly and deactivates FBS. This condition helps prevent the UE from unnecessarily maintaining FBS when the cell edge environment is relatively stable, thereby conserving power.

[0054] After FBS deactivation, the proposed approach introduces a mechanism to monitor subsequent changes in L3 measurement results. If the L3 measurement results later exhibit a significant drop, exceeding a defined threshold (y2), FBS is reactivated. This enables that FBS is reinstated when the UE experiences deteriorating signal conditions, requiring faster and more accurate measurements to identify neighboring cells for potential handover. Reactivation of FBS can be applied to all measurement objects or limited to specific measurement objects where the changes are detected, enabling targeted and efficient FBS usage.

[0055] To achieve the above, it is necessary to define a reference value against which the currentL3 measurement results are compared. Several options are proposed for determining this reference value:1. The L3 RSRP Value Averaged Over a Specified Duration:The network may indicate and control the duration over which L3 RSRP values are averaged to derive the reference value. This provides a smoothed representation of the signal quality over time, helping to filter out short-term fluctuations. Using an averaged value allows for more consistent decision-making regarding FBS activation and deactivation.2. The Last Reported L3 Measurement RSRP Value:The reference value may be set to the most recent L3 measurement RSRP value reported by the UE to the network. This offers a real-time reference point that reflects the UE’s most recent signal quality assessment before the current measurement comparison.3. The L3 Measurement RSRP Value at the Start of the FBS Timer:The initial RSRP value recorded at the start of the FBS timer may serve as the reference. This anchors the comparison to the signal conditions when FBS was first activated, enabling the network to assess changes relative to the initial environment.4. The L3 Measurement RSRP Value at the End of the FBS Timer:The RSRP value observed at the expiration of the FBS timer may be used as the reference. This reflects the signal conditions at the point when FBS is deactivated, providing a relevant baseline for monitoring subsequent changes.5. The First L3 Measurement Report After the Last FBS Activation:The first L3 measurement report generated after the most recent FBS activation may serve as the reference. This emphasizes the immediate post-activation signal conditions, enabling that the network tracks changes relative to the environment that initially triggered FBS.

[0056] Each of these reference options offers specific advantages depending on the network’s requirements and the UE’s operational environment. The choice of reference value can be dynamically configured by the network, allowing flexibility to optimize FBS management based on real-world conditions.

[0057] This proposed approach provides a structured and adaptable framework for managing FBS in UEs at the cell edge. By introducing thresholds for deactivation and reactivation, along with clear reference criteria, the network can maintain optimal performance while minimizing unnecessary power consumption. This balance facilitates efficient use of FBS in scenarios where quick measurements are needed for handovers, without imposing undue energy demands on the UE.

[0058] The core concept in the disclosure aims to optimize the activation and deactivation of FBS for UEs located at the cell edge by relying on the stability and variations in L3 RSRP measurements. This approach addresses the inefficiencies of maintaining FBS continuously for UEs at the cell edgewhile maintaining quick responsiveness when significant changes in signal quality occur.

[0059] In the current specifications, UEs experiencing low RSRP values, such as those indicative of being at the cell edge, are required to keep FBS enabled continuously. For illustration purposes, the condition for FBS activation is based on the assumption that RSRP values below zero trigger FBS, though this threshold could vary based on implementation. The proposed approach introduces mechanisms to deactivate FBS when signal conditions are stable, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining responsiveness to significant signal quality changes.

[0060] The RSRP of the serving cell, as depicted in FIG 3, is represented by an orthogonal polyline, with discrete dots indicating sampling moments at which L3 measurements are taken. These raw RSRP values are processed using a filtering mechanism to produce filtered RSRP values. The filtered RSRP is computed using a moving average formula with a smoothing factor, denoted as a, which balances the influence of current and previous measurement results. The formula used is:Fn = a * Mn+ (1 - a) * Fn-i (1)

[0061] In the above equation, Mnrepresents latest received measurement result from physical layer, Fn-i is the previous filtered RSRP value, and a is a weighting factor that determines the relative influence of the current versus past measurements.

[0062] This filtering mechanism smooths out short-term fluctuations in RSRP values, providing a more reliable basis for decisions on FBS activation or deactivation.

[0063] The proposed approach introduces the concept of thresholds to control FBS behavior. FBS is deactivated if the variation in filtered RSRP between consecutive measurements, A(Fn, Fn-1), remains below a predefined threshold, y1, for a specific duration. This condition signifies that the signal quality is stable, and continuous FBS operation is unnecessary. By deactivating FBS during such stable periods, the UE conserves power while maintaining efficient operations.

[0064] If the filtered RSRP value drops by more than a second threshold, y2, FBS is reactivated. This condition enables that FBS is promptly enabled when the UE experiences significant degradation in signal quality, which could indicate a need for faster and more accurate measurements to support potential handovers or other operations.

[0065] To prevent abrupt switching between FBS states, the approach incorporates a persistence mechanism. This mechanism enables that FBS remains active for a specified number of consecutive time steps, even if the deactivation condition is met. Similarly, FBS is only deactivated if the signal stability persists for a defined period. This persistence mechanism prevents unnecessary toggling of FBS due to transient noise or short-term fluctuations in RSRP measurements, resulting in smoother and more reliable transitions.

[0066] Referring now to FIG. 3, which illustrates RSRP value and moving average filter value and FBS enabled durations, reflecting these dynamics discussed above. The shaded regions in the figurerepresent the durations during which FBS is enabled. These periods align with intervals where the RSRP value is below zero or where significant drops in filtered RSRP are detected (A(Fn, Fn-i) > y2). The transition to FBS deactivation occurs during stable signal conditions where A(Fn, Fn-i) < y1 for the defined persistence period.

[0067] The proposed approach balances the need for quick responsiveness at the cell edge with the imperative to minimize power consumption. By introducing thresholds for stability (y1) and significant changes (y2), along with a persistence mechanism, this approach provides a robust, noise-resistant framework for managing FBS. It reduces unnecessary activation during stable conditions while enabling that the UE can react swiftly to deteriorating signal quality, enabling efficient operations in challenging cell-edge environments.

[0068] In some other examples, the UE may monitor the difference between the current filtered RSRP value and a chosen reference RSRP value. The reference value may be selected from one of several options based on network configurations or operational requirements. These reference values include:1. The Last Reported L3 Measurement RSRP Value:This is the most recently reported RSRP value, reflecting the latest signal quality assessment shared with the network.2. The RSRP Value at the Start of FBS Timer:The RSRP value recorded when the FBS timer was first activated serves as a baseline for comparison.3. The RSRP Value at the End of FBS Timer:This value represents the signal quality observed at the point when the FBS timer expired, offering a reference for assessing subsequent changes.4. The First L3 Measurement Report After the Last FBS Activation:This value provides a baseline based on the conditions immediately following the last FBS activation.

[0069] The two thresholds, y1 and y2, are used to determine FBS activation or deactivation. If the difference between the current filtered RSRP and the selected reference RSRP value is less than the threshold y1, it indicates that the signal quality has remained stable over time. In this case, the condition for FBS deactivation is met, and the UE may temporarily disable FBS. This deactivation helps conserve power, especially during periods of steady signal conditions where frequent beam sweeps are unnecessary. For example, if the UE compares the current filtered RSRP to the last reported value and finds that the variation is minor (Affiltered RSRP, reference RSRP) < y1), it may confidently deactivate FBS. This avoids excessive power consumption while enabling the UE to remain responsive to potential signal quality changes.

[0070] Conversely, if the current filtered RSRP value drops significantly compared to the selected reference RSRP, exceeding the threshold y2, the condition for reactivating FBS is met. This drop suggests a deterioration in signal quality, potentially indicating that the UE is moving further into a weaker signal area or encountering interference. In such cases, the UE may reactivate FBS to perform faster and more frequent measurements, enabling that it can identify neighboring cells for potential handovers. For example, if the current filtered RSRP shows a significant decline compared to the RSRP value at the start of the FBS timer (^(filtered RSRP, reference RSRP) > y2), the UE may reenable FBS. This allows the UE to quickly adapt to changing signal conditions and maintain reliable connectivity.

[0071] This also incorporates the flexibility to select reference RSRP values dynamically, depending on the specific scenario. For instance, the network may configure the UE to use a particular reference value based on operational priorities, such as favoring the most recent measurement or anchoring comparisons to a stable baseline value like the RSRP at the start of the FBS timer.

[0072] By combining these thresholds with dynamically selected reference values, the proposed approach enables robust and adaptive FBS management. It prevents unnecessary FBS activation during stable signal conditions while enabling quick reactivation when significant signal degradation occurs. This balance optimizes power consumption and enables that UEs at the cell edge can respond promptly to varying radio conditions, maintaining efficient and reliable performance in high-demand environments.

[0073] Referring now to FIG. 4, which illustrates an example signaling process in accordance with some embodiments in the disclosure.

[0074] The UE 110 is in connected mode at 401, which means it has an active connection to a serving cell and can perform measurements on both the serving cell 131 and neighboring cells 132 as part of its regular operations. While this approach is presented in the context of connected mode, it is adaptable to other operational modes, making it versatile for various network conditions.

[0075] The UE 110 may indicate 402 its capability to support FBS for L3 measurements, specifically when utilizing multi-RX simultaneous multi-panel reception. This capability allows the UE 110 to perform faster and more comprehensive measurements by leveraging multiple antenna panels simultaneously, reducing the overall time required for beam sweeping. By signaling its support for this feature, the UE 110 enables the network to configure it accordingly for optimal performance.

[0076] The network may configure 403 the UE 110 for multi-RX mode and provide measurement configuration through an RRC reconfiguration message. This configuration specifies whether the UE 110 should immediately start using multi-RX mode for measurements or if it should dynamically enable or disable multi-RX mode based on certain conditions. The measurement configuration may include a list of measurement objects associated with a serving cell and / or at least one neighboring cell. Thereconfiguration message may also include reference indicators corresponding to options 1-5, which define criteria for deactivating FBS. These criteria provide flexibility for the UE 110 to adapt its operations based on changing signal conditions and reference values, such as the last reported RSRP or the RSRP value at the start of the FBS timer.

[0077] The UE 110 may begin performing measurements on the serving cell 131 and neighboring cell 132 according to the configuration provided by the network. These measurements involve collecting signal quality metrics such as Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), and Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ). This data is important for determining the UE’s current positioning and its proximity to cell edges.

[0078] The UE 110 may evaluate 405 the conditions of the serving cell 131 and neighboring cell 132 to determine whether FBS should be enabled. One important condition is whether the UE 110 has entered a cell edge scenario, which is characterized by low signal quality from the serving cell 131 and the need for rapid and accurate measurements to prepare for potential handovers. The evaluation is based on metrics like RSRP, RSSI, and RSRQ, allowing the UE 110 to make an informed decision on whether to activate FBS.

[0079] If the UE 110 determines that it is in a cell edge condition, it applies multi-RX mode and activates FBS. By using FBS, the UE 110 may perform measurements with multiple antenna panels, enabling faster and more accurate data collection. This mode enables that the UE 110 can quickly identify neighboring cells and assess their suitability for handover.

[0080] While FBS is active, the UE 110 may continuously monitor 407 the changes in L3 RSRP values using one of the reference indicators defined in options 1-5. These references may include the last reported RSRP value, the RSRP value at the start or end of the FBS timer, or an averaged RSRP value over a specified duration. By comparing the current RSRP to the selected reference, the UE 110 assesses whether the signal conditions have changed significantly.

[0081] If the UE 110 finds that the change in measurement results is below a predefined threshold (y1), it may deactivate 408 FBS. This deactivation may occur immediately or at the expiration of a timer if the signal conditions remain stable. Deactivating FBS under stable conditions helps conserve power while enabling that the UE 110 continues to meet its measurement requirements using standard methods.

[0082] While FBS is deactivated, the UE 110 may monitor 409 for any significant drops in the L3 RSRP value compared to the reference indicator. If the drop exceeds a second threshold (y2), the UE 110 may reactivate FBS to respond to the deteriorating signal conditions. This reactivation enables that the UE 110 can quickly adapt to changing radio conditions, enabling it to perform fast and accurate measurements in preparation for handover or other mobility-related actions.

[0083] This approach offers a robust and adaptive approach to managing FBS in UEs, particularlyin challenging cell edge environments. By incorporating configurable thresholds (y1 and y2) and leveraging reference indicators (options 1-5), the approach strikes a balance between reducing power consumption and maintaining responsiveness to signal quality changes. The ability to dynamically activate and deactivate FBS based on real-time conditions enables efficient operation while minimizing unnecessary resource usage.

[0084] Referring now to FIG. 5, which illustrates another example signaling process in accordance with some embodiments in the disclosure. The alternative approach introduces an autonomous mechanism for a UE 110 to activate and deactivate FBS based on its real-time evaluation of signal conditions, which enables the UE 110 to manage FBS without requiring constant external network directives.

[0085] The UE 110 is in connected mode at 501, meaning it has an active connection with the serving cell 131 and is engaged in communication and mobility-related activities. While the approach is described in the context of connected mode, it is adaptable to other modes, including idle and inactive states, broadening its applicability to various network scenarios.

[0086] The UE 110 may or may not indicate 502 its capability to support multi-RX (simultaneous multi-panel reception). This capability allows the UE 110 to receive signals from multiple directions concurrently, enhancing its ability to perform measurements quickly and efficiently. If the UE supports this feature and communicates it to the network, the network can configure the UE to optimize its operations accordingly.

[0087] The network may provide the UE 110 with measurement reconfiguration instructions through an RRC message 503. This reconfiguration may include details about the measurement parameters and conditions under which FBS should be activated or deactivated. The message may also specify criteria based on one or more of the reference options (options 1-5), allowing the UE 110 to evaluate signal conditions and manage FBS autonomously.

[0088] The UE 110 may begin performing measurements 504 on neighboring cells 132 as per the network configuration. These measurements generally include metrics such as Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), and Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ). The data collected provides a comprehensive view of the radio environment, helping the UE 110 determine its positioning relative to the serving and neighboring cells.

[0089] The UE 110 may evaluate 505 its signal conditions to determine whether FBS should be enabled. An important condition for enabling FBS is whether the UE has entered a cell edge scenario, characterized by low serving cell signal quality. The UE 110 may assess parameters such as RSRP, RSSI, and RSRQ to identify cell edge conditions, enabling that FBS is activated only when necessary to improve measurement accuracy and prepare for potential handovers.

[0090] If the UE 110 determines that it is in a cell edge condition, it may activate 506 multi-RX modeand apply FBS. By leveraging FBS, the UE 110 may perform faster and more precise measurements, enabling it to detect and evaluate neighboring cells efficiently. This is particularly important in cell edge scenarios, where the UE 110 need to respond quickly to changing signal conditions to maintain seamless connectivity.

[0091] While FBS is active, the UE 110 may continuously monitor 507 changes in L3 RSRP values using one of the reference indicators defined in options 1-5. These references may include metrics such as the last reported RSRP value, the RSRP value at the start or end of the FBS timer, or an averaged RSRP value over a specified duration. By comparing the current filtered RSRP to the selected reference, the UE 110 may determine whether signal conditions have remained stable or changed significantly.

[0092] If the UE observes that the variation in L3 measurement results is less than a predefined threshold (y1) compared to the selected reference, it may deactivate 508 FBS. This deactivation can occur immediately or at the expiration of a timer, depending on the stability of the signal conditions. Deactivating FBS under stable conditions helps conserve power while enabling that the UE 100 continues to meet its measurement requirements using standard mechanisms.

[0093] While FBS is deactivated, the UE may continue to monitor 509 signal conditions. If it detects a significant drop in L3 RSRP compared to the reference value, exceeding a second threshold (y2), it may reactivate FBS. This enables that the UE 110 can quickly adapt to deteriorating signal conditions, enabling faster and more frequent measurements to prepare for potential handovers or other mobility-related actions.

[0094] This approach provides a robust framework for managing FBS autonomously at the UE level. By incorporating thresholds (y1 and y2) and leveraging reference indicators (options 1-5), it allows the UE 110 to dynamically adapt to changing signal conditions without relying solely on network instructions. The balance between deactivating FBS during stable conditions and reactivating it during significant signal quality changes enables efficient operation, reduced power consumption, and enhanced responsiveness in challenging environments such as the cell edge.

[0095] FIG. 6 shows a flowchart of an example method 600 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 600 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[0096] At block 610, receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping (FBS) and at least one reference indicator for the FBS.

[0097] At block 620, performing at least one Layer 3 (L3) measurement.

[0098] At block 630, comparing the at least one L3 measurement with the at least one reference indicator.

[0099] At block 640, deactivating the FBS based on a result of the comparison.

[0100] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: transmitting, to the second apparatus before receiving the configuration information, capability information comprising indication of at least one of: support of multi-receiver simultaneous reception, or support of the FBS.

[0101] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, a list comprising at least one measurement object; and performing measurement of at least one signal quality metric with respect to the at least one measurement object.

[0102] In some example embodiments, the measurement of at least one signal quality metric comprises at least one of Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ).

[0103] In some example embodiments, at least one measurement object is associated with at least one of a serving cell and a neighboring cell.

[0104] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: activating the FBS in response to the measurement indicating that the first apparatus is in a cell edge condition.

[0105] In some example embodiments, the deactivation of the FBS is in response to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold which indicates a stable signal condition.

[0106] In some example embodiments, the deactivation of the FBS is based on one of: immediately in response to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold, or at an expiration of a timer associated with the FBS in response to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold.

[0107] In some example embodiments, the method 600 further comprises: re-activating the FBS in response to the result of the comparison being above a second threshold .

[0108] In some example embodiments, the second threshold is calculated to indicate a deteriorating signal condition.

[0109] In some example embodiments, the at least one reference indicator comprises at least one of: a value of L3 measurement Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) averaged over a specific duration, a value of last reported L3 measurement RSRP, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the start of a timer associated with the FBS activation, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the end of the timer associated with the FBS activation, or a first L3 measurement report after the last FBS activation.

[0110] In some example embodiments, the configuration information is received through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message.

[0111] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an example method 700 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 700 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0112] At block 710, transmitting, to a first apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping (FBS) and at least one reference indicator for the FBS, theat least one reference indicator comprising a first threshold for deactivating the FBS and a second threshold for activating the FBS .

[0113] At block 720, transmitting, to the first apparatus, a list comprising at least one measurement object.

[0114] In some example embodiments, the at least one reference indicator comprises at least one of: a value of L3 measurement Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) averaged over a specific duration, a value of last reported L3 measurement RSRP, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the start of a timer associated with the FBS, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the end of the timer associated with the FBS, or a first L3 measurement report after the last FBS activation.

[0115] In some example embodiments, the configuration information and the list are transmitted through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message.

[0116] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an example method 800 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 800 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[0117] At block 810, receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information comprising at least one measurement object.

[0118] At block 820, performing measurement of at least one signal quality metric with respect to the at least one measurement object.

[0119] At block 830, activating fast beam sweeping (FBS) based on the at least one measurement indicating that the first apparatus is in a cell edge condition.

[0120] At block 840, dynamically deactivating / re-activating the FBS based on a result of a comparison of the at least one measurement with at least one reference indicator for the FBS.

[0121] In some example embodiments, the deactivation of the FBS is in response to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold which indicates a stable signal condition .

[0122] In some example embodiments, the deactivation of the FBS is based on one of: immediately in response to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold, or at an expiration of a timer associated with the FBS in response to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold.

[0123] In some example embodiments, 19. The first apparatus of any of claims 16 to 18, the reactivation of the FBS is in response to the result of the comparison being above a second threshold.

[0124] In some example embodiments, the second threshold is calculated to indicate a deteriorating signal condition.

[0125] In some example embodiments, the at least one reference indicator comprises at least one of: a value of L3 measurement Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) averaged over a specific duration, a value of last reported L3 measurement RSRP, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the start of a timer associated with the FBS activation, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the end ofthe timer associated with the FBS activation, or a first L3 measurement report after the last FBS activation.

[0126] In some example embodiments, the configuration information is received through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message.

[0127] In some example embodiments, the at least one measurement object is associated with at least one of a serving cell and a neighboring cell.

[0128] In some example embodiments, the measurement of at least one signal quality metric comprises at least one of Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ).

[0129] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 600 (for example, the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1 ) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 600. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1 or the UE 110 in FIGs. 4-5.

[0130] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping (FBS) and at least one reference indicator for the FBS; means for performing at least one Layer 3 (L3) measurement; means for comparing the at least one L3 measurement with the at least one reference indicator; and means for deactivating the FBS based on a result of the comparison.

[0131] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the second apparatus before receiving the configuration information, capability information comprising indication of at least one of: support of multi-receiver simultaneous reception, or support of the FBS.

[0132] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the second apparatus, a list comprising at least one measurement object; and means for performing measurement of at least one signal quality metric with respect to the at least one measurement object.

[0133] In some example embodiments, the measurement of at least one signal quality metric comprises at least one of Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ).

[0134] In some example embodiments, at least one measurement object is associated with at least one of a serving cell and a neighboring cell.

[0135] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for activating the FBS in response to the measurement indicating that the first apparatus is in a cell edge condition.

[0136] In some example embodiments, the deactivation of the FBS is in response to the result ofthe comparison being below a first threshold which indicates a stable signal condition.

[0137] In some example embodiments, the deactivation of the FBS is based on one of: immediately in response to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold, or at an expiration of a timer associated with the FBS in response to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold.

[0138] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for re-activating the FBS in response to the result of the comparison being above a second threshold .

[0139] In some example embodiments, the second threshold is calculated to indicate a deteriorating signal condition.

[0140] In some example embodiments, the at least one reference indicator comprises at least one of: a value of L3 measurement Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) averaged over a specific duration, a value of last reported L3 measurement RSRP, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the start of a timer associated with the FBS activation, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the end of the timer associated with the FBS activation, or a first L3 measurement report after the last FBS activation.

[0141] In some example embodiments, the configuration information is received through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message.

[0142] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 700 (for example, the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 700. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1 or the serving cell 131 or the neighboring cell 132 in FIGs. 4-5.

[0143] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping and at least one reference indicator for the FBS, the at least one reference indicator comprising a first threshold for deactivating the FBS and a second threshold for activating the FBS ; and means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a list comprising at least one measurement object.

[0144] In some example embodiments, the at least one reference indicator comprises at least one of: a value of L3 measurement Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) averaged over a specific duration, a value of last reported L3 measurement RSRP, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the start of a timer associated with the FBS, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the end of the timer associated with the FBS, or a first L3 measurement report after the last FBS activation.

[0145] In some example embodiments, the configuration information and the list are transmitted through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message.

[0146] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method800 (for example, the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1 ) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 800. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1 or the UE 110 in FIGs. 4-5.

[0147] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information comprising at least one measurement object; means for performing measurement of at least one signal quality metric with respect to the at least one measurement object; means for activating fast beam sweeping (FBS) based on the at least one measurement indicating that the first apparatus is in a cell edge condition; and means for dynamically deactivating / re-activating the FBS based on a result of a comparison of the at least one measurement with at least one reference indicator for the FBS.

[0148] In some example embodiments, the deactivation of the FBS is in response to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold which indicates a stable signal condition .

[0149] In some example embodiments, the deactivation of the FBS is based on one of: immediately in response to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold, or at an expiration of a timer associated with the FBS in response to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold.

[0150] In some example embodiments, 19. The first apparatus of any of claims 16 to 18, the reactivation of the FBS is in response to the result of the comparison being above a second threshold.

[0151] In some example embodiments, the second threshold is calculated to indicate a deteriorating signal condition.

[0152] In some example embodiments, the at least one reference indicator comprises at least one of: a value of L3 measurement Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) averaged over a specific duration, a value of last reported L3 measurement RSRP, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the start of a timer associated with the FBS activation, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the end of the timer associated with the FBS activation, or a first L3 measurement report after the last FBS activation.

[0153] In some example embodiments, the configuration information is received through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message.

[0154] In some example embodiments, the at least one measurement object is associated with at least one of a serving cell and a neighboring cell.

[0155] In some example embodiments, the measurement of at least one signal quality metric comprises at least one of Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ).

[0156] FIG. 9 is a simplified block diagram of a device 900 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 900 may be provided to implement acommunication device, for example, the terminal device 110 or the network device 120 as shown in FIG. 1 , the UE 110, the serving cell 131 or the neighboring cell 132 as shown in FIGs. 4-5. As shown, the device 900 includes one or more processors 910, one or more memories 920 coupled to the processor 910, and one or more communication modules 940 coupled to the processor 910.

[0157] The communication module 940 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 940 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 940 may include at least one antenna.

[0158] The processor 910 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 900 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0159] The memory 920 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 924, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random-access memory (RAM) 922 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0160] A computer program 930 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 910. The instructions of the program 930 may include instructions for performing operations / acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 930 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 924. The processor 910 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 930 into the RAM 922.

[0161] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 930 so that the device 900 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0162] In some example embodiments, the program 930 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 900 (such as in the memory 920) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 900. The device 900 may load the program 930 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 922 for execution. In some example embodiments,the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e. , tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0163] FIG. 10 shows an example of the computer readable medium 1000 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 1000 has the program 930 stored thereon.

[0164] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0165] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machineexecutable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0166] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0167] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may becarried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0168] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0169] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

[0170] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A first apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to:receive, from a second apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping (FBS) and at least one reference indicator for the FBS;perform at least one Layer 3 (L3) measurement;compare the at least one L3 measurement with the at least one reference indicator; and deactivate the FBS based on a result of the comparison.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is caused to:transmit, to the second apparatus before receiving the configuration information, capability information comprising indication of at least one of: support of multi-receiver simultaneous reception, or support of the FBS.

3. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: receive, from the second apparatus, a list comprising at least one measurement object; and perform measurement of at least one signal quality metric with respect to the at least one measurement object.

4. The first apparatus of claim 3, wherein the measurement of at least one signal quality metric comprises at least one of Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ).

5. The first apparatus of any of claims 3 to 4, wherein at least one measurement object is associated with at least one of a serving cell and a neighboring cell.

6. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: activate the FBS in response to the measurement indicating that the first apparatus is in a cell edge condition.

7. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the deactivation of the FBS is inresponse to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold which indicates a stable signal condition.

8. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the deactivation of the FBS is based on one of: immediately in response to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold, or at an expiration of a timer associated with the FBS in response to the result of the comparison being below a first threshold.

9. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: re-activate the FBS in response to the result of the comparison being above a second threshold .

10. The first apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second threshold is calculated to indicate a deteriorating signal condition.

11. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the at least one reference indicator comprises at least one of:a value of L3 measurement Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) averaged over a specific duration,a value of last reported L3 measurement RSRP,a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the start of a timer associated with the FBS activation, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the end of the timer associated with the FBS activation, ora first L3 measurement report after the last FBS activation.

12. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the configuration information is received through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message.

13. A second apparatus, comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to:transmit, to a first apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping (FBS) and at least one reference indicator for the FBS, the at least one reference indicator comprising a first threshold for deactivating the FBS and a second threshold for activatingthe FBS ; andtransmit, to the first apparatus, a list comprising at least one measurement object.

14. The second apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one reference indicator comprises at least one of:a value of L3 measurement Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) averaged over a specific duration,a value of last reported L3 measurement RSRP,a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the start of a timer associated with the FBS, a value of L3 measurement RSRP at the end of the timer associated with the FBS, or a first L3 measurement report after the last FBS activation.

15. The second apparatus of any of claim 13 to 14, wherein the configuration information and the list are transmitted through a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message.

16. A method comprising:receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping (FBS) and at least one reference indicator for the FBS;performing at least one Layer 3 (L3) measurement;comparing the at least one L3 measurement with the at least one reference indicator; and deactivating the FBS based on a result of the comparison.

17. A method comprising:transmitting, to a first apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping and at least one reference indicator for the FBS, the at least one reference indicator comprising a first threshold for deactivating the FBS and a second threshold for activating the FBS ; andtransmitting, to the first apparatus, a list comprising at least one measurement object.

18. A first apparatus comprising:means for receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping (FBS) and at least one reference indicator for the FBS; means for performing at least one Layer 3 (L3) measurement;means for comparing the at least one L3 measurement with the at least one reference indicator; andmeans for deactivating the FBS based on a result of the comparison.

19. A second apparatus comprising:means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, configuration information comprising an indication of enabling fast beam sweeping and at least one reference indicator for the FBS, the at least one reference indicator comprising a first threshold for deactivating the FBS and a second threshold for activating the FBS ; andmeans for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a list comprising at least one measurement object.

20. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus at least to perform the method of claim 16 or the method of claim 17.

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