Sending an indication to a network node, and receiving an indication from a wireless communication device
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-31
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-06
Smart Images
Figure SE2026050050_06082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] SENDING AN INDICATION TO A NETWORK NODE, AND RECEIVING
[0002] AN INDICATION FROM A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE
[0003] Background
[0004] Beam prediction: Beam management use case for AI / ML for PHY
[0005] The use case of beam prediction which is being standardized as in 3GPP Release 19 (Rel-19) work item consists of spatial beam prediction, and temporal beam prediction. 3GPP aims for specify predictions of the “best” beam (or beams) from a Set A of beams using measurement results from another Set B of beams.
[0006] According to 3GPP Technical Report (TR) 38.843, the spatial-domain beam prediction for Set A of beams is based on measurement results of Set B of beams, whereas the temporal beam prediction for Set A of beams is based on the historic measurement results of Set B of beams.
[0007] Set A and Set B of beams have not been specified yet, however, the following two scenarios may be considered as examples:
[0008] • Set B is a subset of a Set A. For example, Figure 1 illustrates an example of Synchronization Signal Block (SSB)ZChannel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) beams where Set B is a subset of Set A. Set A is a set of 8 SSB / CSI-RS beams (both light and dark circles). The User Equipment (UE) measures Set B (the 4 beams indicated by dark circles). Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (The AI / ML) model should predict the best beam (or beams) in Set A using only measurements from Set B. Figure 1 illustrates a grid-of-beam type radiation pattern: each row (resp. column) depicts a certain zenith (resp. azimuth) angle from the antenna array. Set A has 8 beams and Set B has 4 beams (indicated by dark circles).
[0009] • Set A and Set B correspond to two different sets of beams. For example, Figure 2 illustrates an example where Set A is a set of narrow beams and Set B is a set of wide beams. Set A is a set of 30 narrow CSI-RS beams, and Set B is a set of 8 wide SSB beams. The UE measures beams in Set B and the AI / ML model should predict the best beam(s) from Set A.
[0010] The beam prediction can be performed (e.g. by an AI / ML model) in the gNodeB (gNB) and / or in the UE, and the gain is twofold. From the UE point of view, the UE would be able to generate good radio measurement estimations without really measuring certainresources (e.g. actual SSBs, CSI-RS or other RS(s)), thereby saving energy, whereas from the gNB point of view, the gNB can get good radio measurements estimation from the UE without providing the measuring resources, thereby limiting the overhead over the airinterface.
[0011] Whether the UE can perform the beam prediction on a certain set of resources with a certain accuracy, depends on so called applicability conditions of an AI / ML model / function. In particular, an AI / ML model / function may be trained to perform the beam prediction under certain applicability conditions e.g. speed, location, beam configuration(s), deployment, etc. Such applicability conditions need to be fulfilled in order for the AI / ML model / function to generate the expected output, i.e. beam prediction for this use case, with enough accuracy. The applicability conditions may include a set of parameters / variables under which the AI / ML model / function was trained e.g. a given Set B for the inference of a Set A. Such set may include for example UE-specific conditions under which the model was trained, as the UE speed, the UE antenna shape, UE sensors information such as UE orientation, motion sensors etc; whereas some other parameters / variables may depend on the specific network configuration under which the model was trained, e.g. the deployment scenario (e.g. indoor / outdoor), the carrier frequency, the gNB transmit (TX) port number, the gNB TX power, etc.
[0012] In order to determine whether an AI / ML model / function is applicable or not, the UE needs to assess the applicability conditions of such AI / ML model / function with respect to the output (beam prediction) that needs the generated and received input (e.g. radio measurement resources configured by the gNB).
[0013] Applicability reporting
[0014] Related to the discussion above, applicability reporting has been discussed during the Rel-18 study item. Applicability reporting allows the UE to inform the gNB about the applicability of an AI / ML functionality (or model) while the UE is connected to this gNB. An AI / ML functionality may be applicable or not depending on a number of factors, so called applicability conditions, that are only partly under the control of the gNB. For example, whether the UE has an AI / ML functionality (or model) that is applicable given the current location of the UE, or given the current speed of the UE, is not something that the network can control or it can know, because typically it is assumed that the UE-side model is not trained and generated by the gNB (rather, it is typically assumed that the UE-side model is trained and generated by a node outside the Radio Access Network (RAN), such as an OverThe Top (OTT) server or Core Network (CN) function controlled by the UE-vendor or by the Mobile Network Operator (MNO).
[0015] Two types of applicability reporting were identified during the Rel-18 study item, i.e. proactive reporting and reactive reporting. The reactive reporting implies the gNB inquiring the UE about the applicability of AI / ML model / functionality, and the UE responding with the AI / ML models / functionalities that are applicable, whereas with the proactive reporting UE signals to the network autonomously, i.e. without any inquiry, about the AI / ML model / functionalities that are applicable. ”
[0016] The former, i.e. reactive reporting can be used for example in response to a network configuration e.g. inference related configuration, including for example beam resource configuration of Set A and / or Set B. The UE will then respond indicating if the AI / ML model / functionality is applicable based on this inference configuration. The latter, i.e. the proactive reporting can be configured to the UE to allow the UE to report at any point in time a change in the applicability of an AI / ML model / functionality, i.e. an AI / ML model / functionality that was not applicable becomes applicable or vice versa.
[0017] More details of the reactive and proactive reporting are currently discussed in Intel Corporation, “Report of [POST126]
[0032] [AI / ML PHY] LCM (lntel / Samsung)_Phase 2,” 3GPP TSG RAN WG2 Meeting #126, Fukuoka, Japan, May 20th-24th, 2024.
[0018] Figure 3 is a signaling diagram of signaling in an applicability report procedure. The procedure includes the following steps:
[0019] • Step 1 : Network sends UECapabilityEnquiry message to initiate the procedure to a UE reporting its AI / ML supported functionalities.
[0020] • Step 2: UE sends UECapablitylnformation message to network, containing supported functionalities at the UE side.
[0021] • Step 3: Network provides network configurations and initiates UE to report its applicable functionalities.
[0022] • Step 4: UE sends applicable functionalities to network.
[0023] • Step 5: Network sends updated inference configuration for applicable functionalities reported in Step 4 to the UE. (see Q2-6)
[0024] • Step 6: Start inference / monitoring based on network / UE activation / deactivation.
[0025] As shown in step 6, a “supported functionality” (e.g. beam management, or reporting of spatial domain and / or time domain prediction(s) or inference(s)) is activated, to refer tofunctionalities which are activated and for which a UE is performing inference, in response to a network configuration in Step 3.
[0026] Figure 4 is a signaling diagram of signaling in an example of a proactive reporting procedure. The procedure includes the following steps:
[0027] • Step 1 : Network sends UECapabilityEnqiry message to initiate the procedure to a UE reporting its AI / ML supported functionalities
[0028] • Step 2: UE sends UECapablitylnformation message to network, containing supported functionalities at the UE side
[0029] • Step 3: Network configures UE that it is allowed to provide its applicable functionalities
[0030] • Step 4: UE sends applicable functionalities to network upon change of applicable functionality / condition
[0031] • Step 5: Network sends inference configuration for the applicable functionalities to the UE
[0032] • Step 6: Start inference / monitoring based on network / UE activation / deactivation
[0033] The inference configuration can be a full inference configuration, representative of radio configuration that the UE can use to evaluate whether a certain AI / ML model / functionality is applicable and that it can also use to perform / operate the inference for an AI / ML model / functionality. For example the full inference configuration could be included in a CSI measurement reporting configuration including for example the beam level resources (SSBs, CSI-RS resources) that the UE should use to perform the said inference, e.g. the beam spatial / temporal prediction, or in a L3 measurement reporting configuration, including for example the cell or frequency in which the UE should perform the L3 inference, such as the cell level measurement prediction or mobility related events (e.g. prediction of A1-A5 events, or RLF or HO failure events). In this case, the applicability report will include information related to whether the AI / ML functionality is applicable given the received full inference config uration(s).
[0034] Alternatively, the inference configuration could be a partial inference configuration, representative one or more of the radio resources (e.g. reference signals, SSBs, cells, frequencies) that the network can configure to the UE for the inference. The partial inference configuration can include for example a list of identifiers of the resources that the gNB can configure in a full inference configuration for the UE to perform / operate the inference.
[0035] Further, the partial inference configuration can contain additional NW-side conditions representative of the current gNB configuration / deployment. Hence, the partial inferenceconfiguration is sufficient and necessary for the UE to determine whether the AI / ML functionality is applicable given the provided information included in the partial inference configuration. However, that is not sufficient for the UE to operate / perform the AI / ML model / functionality inference. In this case, the applicability report will include information related to whether the AI / ML functionality is applicable given the received partial inference configuration. For example, the UE could include in the applicability report the list of resource identifiers included in the partial inference configuration, according to which the AI / ML functionality is applicable. In order for the UE to operate / perform the inference, the gNB should configure a full inference configuration based on the applicability report that the UE transmit to the gNB related to the received partial inference configuration.
[0036] 6G and AI / ML for PHY Life Cycle Management (LCM)
[0037] AI / ML for physical layer (PHY) use cases should also become part of 6G, possibly in the first release, in particular beam management. One reason is that 6G should continue to address the high bands as in New Radio (NR), including other bands which may also rely on beamforming and, require beam management procedures. In addition, AI / ML for PHY could be one of the new features or group of features in 6G.
[0038] Thus, even if some of the terminology proposed in this disclosure follows the 5G NR principles, examples of this disclosure are also applicable for 6G.
[0039] There currently exist certain challenges. For example, it is known that an applicability report can include information related to the applicability of the full inference configuration(s) and / or of the partial inference configuration(s). In order to transmit this applicability report, the UE needs to be configured for that. For example, the applicability report could be transmitted in a U EAssistanceinformation message and the configuration of the applicability report may be transmitted by the gNB in a message configuring the U EAssistanceinformation (e.g. the IE OtherConfig).
[0040] However, it is not clear how the UE should be configured in case the gNodeB (gNB) only requires from the UE the applicability report related to the full inference configuration or only related to the partial inference configuration or related to both. Additionally, there might be the case where the network would like to allow the UE to transmit its preference regarding which operational parameters (e.g. the network (NW)-side additional conditions or the Channel State Information (CSI) / Layer 3 (L3) resources) that the UE would indicate as recommended / preferred to the network. So that the network can for example successivelyprovide a full inference configuration fulfilling the UE preference / recommendation for the AI / ML functionality inference.
[0041] Summary
[0042] Certain aspects of the disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. For example, examples of this disclosure provide a method at a UE in which the UE determines to transmit a report including applicability information (e.g. applicability indication) of an AI / ML functionality in an assistance message (such as UEAssistancelnformation message) related only to one or more full inference configurations of the AI / ML model / functionality or only related to one or more partial inference configurations (set(s) of inference related parameters) of the AI / ML model / functionality or related to both.
[0043] Examples of this disclosure may also comprise the UE receiving a configuration from the gNB to transmit the said report including the applicability information in the assistance message, the configuration including implicit or explicit indication from which the UE can determine whether to transmit the said report only in relationship to the full inference configurations or only in relationship to the partial inference configurations or related to both.
[0044] Examples of this disclosure may also comprise the gNB transmitting implicit or explicit indication from which the UE can determine whether it is allowed to transmit a set of one or more preferred / recommended operational parameters for the AI / ML functionality inference, wherein the set of such preferred / recommended operational parameters are included or not included in any of the full or partial inference configurations.
[0045] A first example aspect of this disclosure provides a method performed by a wireless communication device for sending an indication to a network node. The wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning, AI / ML, model. The method comprises obtaining a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the at least one functionality configuration at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes a first indication and / or a second indication. The method also comprises, if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a first type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, sending, to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type. The method also comprises, if the at least onefunctionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a second type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, sending, to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type.
[0046] Another example aspect of this disclosure provides a method performed by a network node for receiving an indication from a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning, AI / ML, model, and has a configuration for sending an indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes a first indication and / or a second indication. The method comprises, if the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a first type. The method also comprises, if the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a second type.
[0047] A further example aspect of this disclosure provides a tangible, non-transient computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations in a wireless communication device for sending an indication to a network node. The wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning, AI / ML, model. The operations comprise obtaining a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the applicability indication includes a first indication and / or a second indication. The operations also comprise, if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a first type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, sending, to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type. The operations also comprise, if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a second type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, sending, to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type.A still further example aspect of this disclosure provides a tangible, non-transient computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations in a network node for receiving an indication from a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning, AI / ML, model, and has a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the applicability indication includes a first indication and / or a second indication. The operations comprise, if the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a first type. The operations also comprise, if the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a second type.
[0048] An additional example aspect of the present disclosure provides apparatus in a wireless communication device for sending an indication to a network node. The wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning, AI / ML, model. The apparatus comprises processing circuitry and a memory. The apparatus is configured to obtain a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the applicability indication includes a first indication and / or a second indication. The apparatus is also configured to, if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a first type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, send, to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type. The apparatus is also configured to, if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a second type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, send, to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type.
[0049] Another example aspect of this disclosure provides apparatus in a network node for receiving an indication from a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence ormachine learning, AI / ML, model, and has a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the applicability indication includes a first indication and / or a second indication. The apparatus comprises processing circuitry and a memory. The apparatus is configured to, if the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, receive, from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a first type. The apparatus is also configured to, if the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, receive, from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a second type.
[0050] Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantages. For example, due to examples of this disclosure it is clear for the UE whether it should transmit in the applicability report the applicability information related only to the full inference configuration or only related to the partial inference configuration or related to both, or additionally whether the UE is allowed to transmit its preference regarding which operational parameters (e.g. the NW-side additional conditions or the CSI / L3 resources) that the UE would indicate as recommended / preferred to the network.
[0051] Brief Description of the Drawings
[0052] For a better understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure, and to show how it may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0053] Figure 1 illustrates an example of SSB / CSI-RS beams;
[0054] Figure 2 illustrates an example of SSB and CSI-RS beams;
[0055] Figure 3 is a signaling diagram of signaling in an example of an applicability report procedure;
[0056] Figure 4 is a signaling diagram of signaling in an example of a proactive reporting procedure;
[0057] Figure 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method in accordance with some embodiments; Figure 6 is a flow chart illustrating a method in accordance with some embodiments; Figure 7 shows an example of a communication system in accordance with some embodiments;
[0058] Figure 8 shows an example of another communication system in accordance with some embodiments;Figure 9 shows a wireless device in accordance with some embodiments;
[0059] Figure 10 shows a network node in accordance with some embodiments; and Figure 11 is a block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized.
[0060] Detailed Description
[0061] Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art. Additional information may also be found in the document(s) provided in the Appendix.
[0062] Figure 5 depicts a method 500 in accordance with particular embodiments, for example a method performed by a wireless communication device for sending an indication to a network node, wherein the wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning (AI / ML) model. The method 500 may be performed by a wireless device (e.g. UE QQ112, station QQ212 or wireless device QQ300 as described later with reference to Figures 7, 8 and 9 respectively). In some examples, the method 600 is a corresponding method from the network perspective.
[0063] The method 500 begins at step 502, comprising obtaining a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the applicability indication includes a first indication and / or a second indication. Step 504 comprises, if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a first type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, sending, to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type. Step 506 comprises, if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a second type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, sending, to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type
[0064] Figure 6 depicts a method 600 in accordance with particular embodiments, for example a method performed by a network node for receiving an indication from a wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning (AI / ML)model, and has a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the applicability indication includes a first indication and / or a second indication. The method 600 may be performed by a network node (e.g. network node QQ110, access point QQ210 or network node QQ400 as described later with reference to Figures 7, 8 and 10 respectively). In some examples, the method 500 is a corresponding method from the perspective of a wireless communication device.
[0065] The method 600 begins at step 602, comprising, if the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a first type. Step 604 comprises, if the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a second type.
[0066] Example embodiments are now described for illustrative purposes.
[0067] In examples of this disclosure, the full inference configuration may be provided along with the applicability report configuration (e.g. in the same Information Element, IE) or in another Radio Resource Control (RRC) Reconfiguration message, e.g. a Channel State Information (CSI) / Layer 3 (L3) measurement configuration or measurement reporting configuration. The full inference configuration includes one or more parameters, I E(s), fields and / or
[0068] config uration(s) necessary and / or sufficient for the User Equipment (UE) to operate the AI / ML functionality, such as an inference configuration or an inference related configuration (which may also be considered a full and / or complete inference configuration, sufficient for the operation of the AI / ML functionality in the second cell). Further the full inference configuration is sufficient for the UE to determine the applicability of the AI / ML functionality if the said full inference configuration is operated.
[0069] In some examples of this disclosure, the full inference configuration may be provided by the network as part of a reporting configuration including an inference configuration (e.g. a CSI reporting configuration included in a CSI measurement configuration, ora L3 / RRM reporting configuration included in a L3 / Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurement configuration); or as part of a radio measurement configuration including an inference configuration (e.g. a CSI resource configuration included in a CSI measurementconfiguration, or L3 / RRM measurement object). So for example, the full inference configuration may correspond to one CSI reporting configuration.
[0070] In examples of this disclosure, an inference configuration or an inference related configuration may correspond to a Channel State information (CSI) measurement configuration (e.g. in an IE CSI -M easConfig, CSI-ReportConfig, CSI-ResourceConfig) or L3 / RRM measurement configuration (i.e. IE ReportConfigNR, or IE MeasConfig, or IE m MeasObjectNR) associated to a set A and / or set B of beams for a beam management AI / ML functionality. The inference configuration may further include one or more of:
[0071] Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) identifiers associated to a serving cell and / or a neighbour cell;
[0072] Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) resource identifiers associated to a serving cell and / or a neighbour cell;
[0073] Consistency identifiers of NW parameters, such as Beam identifiers associated to a serving cell and / or a neighbour cell;
[0074] o UE may assume the similar properties of a DL transmit (Tx) beam or beam set / list associated with the same identifier
[0075] Mobility Reference Signal(s) identifiers associated to a serving cell and / or a neighbour cell;
[0076] Candidate inference configuration(s) Set A and / or B (1); Set A and / or B (2); Set A and / or B (3), etc.
[0077] In examples of this disclosure, an inference configuration or an inference related configuration may include and / or point to or indicate a first set (set A) of measurement resources (e.g. beams, SSB indexes and / or CSI-RS resource identifiers, Mobility Refence Signal identifiers) in which the UE performs radio measurement predictions (inferences, such as predicted RSRP values), and a second set (set B) of radio measurement resources (e.g. beams, SSB indexes and / or CSI-RS resource identifiers, Mobility Refence Signal identifiers) in which the UE can perform radio measurement in order to determine the radio measurement predictions on the first set. That may also include one or more configuration(s) associated to network side (NW-side) additional conditions reflecting the NW operational properties, such as for example one or more of the following:
[0078] • Mapping relationship of Set A and Set B, including ordering to (a set of IDs, or resources)
[0079] • Consistency of downlink spatial domain transmission filters corresponding to the beams in Set A and Set B.• Quasi Co-Location (QCL) assumption
[0080] • The order of model input and model output.
[0081] • between RS and Tx beams can be pre-defined.
[0082] • Transmission power
[0083] • UE distribution
[0084] • antenna height
[0085] • Deployment scenarios (e.g., ISD, Umi / Uma / rural / indoor / indoor office / indoor factory, specific area(s))
[0086] • UE speed
[0087] The inference configuration or an inference related configuration may in some examples include a list of IDs (called associated IDs) referring to the set A and set B (or to the resources within the set A / B), and referring to one or more NW-side additional conditions. An associated ID could be representative of a certain resource, such as CSI-RS resource (e.g. NZP-CSI-RS-Resource), or SS / PBCH block resource, or set of resources (e.g. NZP-CSI-RS-ResourceSet , or CS / SSB-ResourceSef), or to a frequency or to a cell.
[0088] In examples of this disclosure, the partial inference configuration may be provided along with the applicability report configuration (e.g. in the same IE), and it may represent one or more sets of the radio resources (e.g. reference signals, SSBs, cells, frequencies, set A / B of resources) that the network can configure to the UE for the inference. The partial inference configuration can include for example a list of identifiers of the resources that the gNB can configure in a full inference configuration for the UE to perform / operate the inference, and further operational parameters where the said resources are supposed to be valid, e.g. cell / frequency identifers. Further, the partial inference configuration can contain additional NW-side conditions representative of the current gNB configuration / deployment, and the AI / ML functionality for which such resources are supposed to be valid. Hence, the partial inference configuration is sufficient and necessary for the UE to determine whether the AI / ML functionality is applicable given the provided information included in the partial inference configuration. However, that is not sufficient for the UE to operate / perform the AI / ML model / functionality inference.
[0089] In some examples, the applicability report will include information related to whether the AI / ML functionality is applicable given the received partial or full inference configuration. For example, the UE could include in the applicability report the list of resource identifiers included in the partial inference configuration, according to which the AI / ML functionality is applicable. In order for the UE to operate / perform the inference, the gNB should configure afull inference configuration based on the applicability report that the UE transmit to the gNB related to the received partial inference configuration. Or it can include the list of report configuration identifiers related to those full inference configurations according to which the UE can operate the inference with an AI / ML functionality / model.
[0090] Examples of this disclosure provide a method in which a UE receives a message (e.g. RRC Reconfiguration, RRC Resume) including an applicability reporting configuration. The applicability reporting configuration could be transmitted in an RRC Reconfiguraion message (e.g. within the IE OtherConfig) and it may comprise a configuration for the UE to transmit a UE assistance message (e.g. U EAssistanceinformation message) including the applicability information report.
[0091] The applicability reporting configuration could in some examples include implicit or explicit indication to transmit the applicability information related to any of the following types of inference configurations:
[0092] • only to one or more full inference configurations of the AI / ML model / functionality • only related to one or more partial inference configurations of the AI / ML model / functionality
[0093] • related to both one or more full inference configurations and one or more partial inference configurations,
[0094] • related to one or more sets of preferred / recommended operational parameters for an inference configuration of an AI / ML model / functionality.
[0095] The indication can be explicit, for example, if the UE receives in the applicability report configuration a flag indicating for which of the above types of inference configuration the UE should report the applicability information. The flag could indicate that ‘the full inference configuration should be reported’, and / or that ‘the partial inference configuration should be reported’, and / or that “the recommended one or more sets of operational parameters should be reported”. Related to the latter, example, the flag could indicate for example, if “the recommended one or more sets of operational parameters should be reported” should be selected by the UE from a list of one or more sets of operational parameters indicated / configured by the gNB (e.g. in full or partial inference configurations) or not. In the latter case, such sets of resources may be selected autonomously by the UE, e.g. on the basis of the operational parameters used by the UE (or UE training entity) at the time of AI / ML model / functionality training, e.g. those resources corresponds to the resources in which the UE performed radio measurement during data collection for the UE-side model training, and hence that were used as input by the training entity.In another example, the indication is explicit if the UE receives in the applicability report configuration a list of full inference configurations related to which the UE should report the applicability of the AI / ML model / functionality according to the full inference configurations in the said list. Hence by receiving the said list, the UE determines that it should transmit an applicability report related to the full inference configuration. In another method, the said list of full inference configurations is transmitted by the gNB in another RRCReconfiguration message, e.g. a CSI / L3 measurement configuration or measurement reporting configuration comprising multiple CSI / L3 measurement reporting configuration. For example, in the applicability report, the UE can indicate which of such full inference configurations are applicable for the AI / ML model / functionality, and / or which are not applicable.
[0096] In yet another example, the indication is explicit if the UE receives in the applicability report configuration a list of partial inference configurations related to which the UE should report the applicability of the AI / ML model / functionality according to the partial inference configurations in the said list. Hence by receiving the said list, the UE determines that it should transmit an applicability report related to the partial inference configuration. For example, in the applicability report, the UE can indicate which of such partial inference configurations are applicable for the AI / ML model / functionality, and / or which are not applicable.
[0097] In alternative example, the indication of transmitting applicability report related to one or more of the above types of inference configurations is implicit.
[0098] In some examples, if the UE is configured with an applicability report configuration, then the UE is supposed to always transmit the applicability report related to the full inference configuration, and / or partial inference configurations. For example, if the UE is configured with one or more full inference configurations (e.g. conveyed in one or more CSI / L3 measurement (reporting) configuration, i.e. outside the applicability reporting configuration), and with an applicability report configuration, then the UE is supposed to always transmit the applicability report related to those full inference configuration.
[0099] In some examples, if the UE is configured with an applicability report configuration and if no full inference configurations or no partial configurations are configured, then the UE is supposed to transmit one or more sets of preferred / recommended operational parameters for a successive full inference configuration of an AI / ML model / functionality that the gNB may configure.
[0100] In some examples, if the UE is configured with an applicability report configuration and if the full inference configuration or the partial configuration does not include certain fields / IEs, e.g.the partial inference configuration does not include the identifiers of the one or more sets of resources for which the UE should evaluate the applicability, then the UE is supposed to autonomously select (and then transmit) the one or more sets of preferred / recommended operational parameters (e.g. based on operational conditions at the time of data collection for the UE-side model training).
[0101] In some examples, if the UE is configured with an applicability report configuration, but none of the full inference configurations or partial configurations include field / operational parameters that are applicable for the AI / ML functionality, then the UE is supposed to autonomously select (and then transmit) the one or more sets of preferred / recommended operational parameters (e.g. based on operational conditions at the time of data collection for the UE-side model training).
[0102] In this example, the one or more sets of preferred / recommended operational parameters may in some examples be related to one or more other fields included in the applicability reporting configuration, e.g. to a certain cell, or cell group, or frequency, or AI / ML functionality.
[0103] In some examples of this disclosure, if the UE is configured with an applicability report configuration, but none of the inference configurations related to a certain type are applicable, then the UE includes in an RRC message the applicability report and set field related to the applicability information for the said type as empty. For example, if the UE is configured to report applicability information related to one or more partial inference configurations, but none of such configured partial inference configurations are applicable, then the UE includes in the report (e.g. conveyed within an UEAssistancelnformation message) an information element (IE) and does not set the value associated to the partial configuration reporting. For example, if the applicability information are included in an IE, say ‘applicability-Assistance’, and such IE comprises an ‘applicability-AssistanceList’ including the list of partial inference configurations, then if none of the configured partial configurations are applicable, the UE includes the IE ‘applicability-Assistance’ in the report, and it does not include the applicability-AssistanceList’.
[0104] In some examples of this disclosure, the UE is configured to report applicability changes compared to previously reported applicability information, where the applicability changes refer to full inference configuration(s) or partial inference configuration(s) or both. For instance, the network may configure the UE to report applicability changes of only full inference configurations, and not of partial inference configurations. In this example the UE reports applicability information for partial configurations only once (upon receiving theconfiguration from the network), but not upon subsequent changes in the applicability of the partial inference configuration(s).
[0105] In some examples, the network can send an explicit indication (e.g. a flag) associated with one or more types of applicability reports, to indicate to the UE for which applicability report type(s) to include information about applicability changes. Alternatively, the network can send an explicit indication (e.g. a flag) associated with one or more types of applicability reports, to indicate to the UE for which applicability report type(s) NOT to include information about applicability changes. Alternatively, the omission of the flag (implicit indication) may indicate for which type of report(s) to include or NOT to include applicability changes.
[0106] This indication from the network can in some examples be used by the UE to determine whether to trigger sending an applicability report upon applicability changes for the indicated report types and also for determining whether to include information about the said applicability changes in the applicability report (i.e. determining the content of the applicability report).
[0107] In some examples of this disclosure, the UE could report the said applicability information with the one or more types of inference configurations in response of receiving the applicability reporting configuration, or upon determining a change (e.g. from applicable to non-applicable or vice versa) in the applicability of the one or more types of inference configuration.
[0108] Methods for transmitting the report containing the applicability information
[0109] Related to the transmission upon determining a change, the following methods for the transmission of the report including the applicability information are considered in some examples:
[0110] • Determining a change in the applicability of one type of inference configuration, then the UE transmits the applicability reporting related to the said type of inference configuration
[0111] o For example, the UE determines a change in the applicability of one or more full inference configurations, then the UE transmits the applicability reporting related to the said one or more full inference configurations.
[0112] o Or in another example, the UE determines a change in the applicability of one or more partial inference configurations, then the UE transmits the applicability reporting related to the said one or more partial inference configurations.• Determining a change in the applicability of one or more types of inference configurations, then the UE transmits the applicability reporting related to the said one or more types of inference configuration
[0113] o For example, the UE determines a change in the applicability of both one or more full inference configurations and one or more partial inference configurations, then the UE transmits the applicability reporting related to the said one or more full inference configurations and one or more partial inference configurations.
[0114] • Determining a change in the applicability of one or more types of inference configurations, then the UE transmits the applicability reporting related to the said one or more types of inference configurations, if no applicability report related to this change has been transmitted in previous report containing applicability information o For example, the UE determines a change in the applicability of one or more full inference configurations and / or one or more partial inference configurations, then the UE transmits the applicability reporting related to the said one or more full inference configurations and / or one or more partial inference configurations, if no applicability report related to this change has been transmitted in previous report containing applicability information. For example, if no applicability report related to this change has been transmitted neither in any RRC message (e.g. in any previous UEAssistancelnformation message, nor in any previous RRCReconfigurationComplete message), then the UE includes the report containing applicability information related to this determined change in an RRC message, e.g. in the UEAssistancelnformation message.
[0115] The following provides an example implementation in a possible 3GPP technical specification in accordance with one or more of the embodiments presented in this disclosure.
[0116] The IE applicability-ReportingConfig contains the applicability reporting configuration. In this example below, the applicability! nfoList contains a list of partial inference configurations, each containing in this example a set of identifiers (associated IDs) related to radio resources sets, the cell, and the specific AI / ML functionality. It can further contain other operational parameters, such as NW-side conditions.
[0117] According to this example, the UE can be assumed to be configured to report the applicability information related to the partial inference configurations, and not about the full inference configuration. In another method of this example, it can be assumed that the UE isconfigured to report the applicability information related to the partial inference configuration, and of the full inference configurations if configured in another message. This is an example of implicit indication for the transmission of applicability reports related to the full inference configuration, i.e. since the applicability reporting configuration is configured, then the UE is supposed to always report the applicability report of full configurations, if configured in another RRC message / IE.
[0118] According to this example, the UE can be assumed to be configured to report one or more sets of preferred / recommended operational parameters for an inference configuration if for example, an entry of the applicability I nfoList does not contain the identifiers of the resource sets (included in associatedldList ) or if none of the included identifiers of a resource set are applicable for the AI / ML functionality. In such cases, the UE is allowed to report a list of its recommended resources sets (via identifiers) considering other fields included in this entry (i.e. the recommended resources sets for inference operations in the indicated cell for the indicated prediction / AI / ML type).
[0119] OtherConf ig-vl9xy : : = SEQUENCE {
[0120] applicability-ReportingConf ig-r 19 SetupRelease {Applicability-ReportingConf ig-rl9} OPTIONAL, — Need M
[0121] }
[0122]
[0123] In another example, the UE is explicitly indicated (through the IE applicabilityReportType in the example below) to transmit the applicability report related to the full inference configurations, e.g. configured in another IE / RRC message, and / or to transmit any recommended set of alternative sets of operational parameters not included in the partial or full inference configuration, or included but not applicable.
[0124] Applicability-ReportingConf ig-rl9 SEQUENCE {
[0125] applicabilityReportType ENUMERATED { fullinference , other } applicabilitylnf oList-rl9 SEQUENCE (SIZE (1. .maxNrofApplicabilityReports-rl9) ) OF Applicabilitylnf o-rl9 OPTIONAL, — Need R
[0126] }
[0127] Applicabilitylnf o-rl9 : : = SEQUENCE {
[0128] cellldentity-rl9 FFS ,
[0129] predictionType-rl9 ENUMEARTED { FFS }associated!dList-rl9 SEQUENCE (SIZE (1. .maxNrofAssociatedIDs-rl9) ) OF AssociatedID-rl9 OPTIONAL, — Need R
[0130] }
[0131] In the following example, it is considered a possible procedural text implementation related to how an RRC message (in such case the UEAssistancelnformation message) containing the applicability information is generated. In this example, the UEAssistancelnformation containing the applicability information related to one or more types of inference configuration can generated either if no UEAssistancelnformation containing such applicability information has been previously transmitted or in response of a change detected in the applicability of one or more of the types of inference configurations. Related to the latter case, in this example, the UEAssistancelnformation containing applicability information related to an applicability change, are transmitted only if such specific applicability change was not previously transmitted in any other RRC message, i.e. in none of the previous UEAssistancelnformation messages and in none of the previous RRCReconfigurationComplete messages.
[0132] 5.7.4 UE Assistance Information
[0133] 5.7.4.2 Initiation
[0134] <Text Omitted>
[0135] 1> if configured to report assistance information about the applicability of radio measurement predictions: 2> if the UE did not transmit a UEAssistancelnformation message with applicability-Assistance since the last reception of otherConfig including applicability-ReportConfig', or
[0136] 2> if the UE’s applicability of radio measurement predictions has changed since the last transmission of the UEAssistancelnformation message containing applicability-Assistance and the change has not been included in the last transmission of the RRCReconfigurationComplete message containing applicability-ReportList'.
[0137] 3> initiate transmission of the UEAssistancelnformation message in accordance with 5.7.4.3 to report assistance information about the applicability of radio measurement predictions;
[0138] Figure 7 shows an example of a communication system QQ100 in accordance with some embodiments.
[0139] In the example, the communication system QQ100 includes a telecommunications network QQ102 that includes an access network QQ104, such as a radio access network (RAN), and a core network QQ106, which includes one or more core network nodes QQ108. The access network QQ104 includes one or more access network nodes or base stations of various types, access network nodes QQ110A and QQ110B are depicted (which may be collectively referred to as network nodes QQ110), or any other similar 3rdGeneration PartnershipProject (3GPP) access nodes or non-3GPP access points (APs). Some embodiments of the access network QQ104 may include more than one access network technology. The network nodes QQ110 of access network QQ104 facilitate direct or indirect connection of wireless devices, also referred to as user equipments (UEs), such as by connecting UEs QQ112A, QQ112B, QQ112C, and QQ112D (one or more of which may be generally referred to as UEs QQ112) to the core network QQ106 over one or more wireless connections.
[0140] Moreover, a network node is not necessarily limited to an implementation in which a radio portion and a baseband portion are supplied and integrated by a single vendor. Thus, it will be understood that network nodes include disaggregated implementations or portions thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the telecommunications network QQ102 includes one or more Open-RAN (ORAN) network nodes. An ORAN network node is a network node in the telecommunications network QQ102 that supports an ORAN specification (e.g., a specification published by the O-RAN Alliance, or any similar organization) and may operate alone or together with other network nodes to implement one or more functionalities of any network node in the telecommunications network QQ102, including one or more access network nodes QQ110 and / or core network nodes QQ108.
[0141] Examples of an ORAN network node include an open radio unit (O-RU), an open distributed unit (O-DU), an open central unit (O-CU), including an O-CU control plane (O-CU-CP) or an O-CU user plane (O-CU-UP), a RAN intelligent controller (near-real time or non-real time) hosting software or software plug-ins, such as a near-real time control application (e.g., xApp) or a non-real time control application (e.g., rApp), or any combination thereof (the adjective “open” designating support of an ORAN specification). An ORAN network node may support a specification by, for example, supporting an interface defined by the ORAN specification, such as an A1, F1, W1, E1, E2, X2, Xn interface, an open fronthaul user plane interface, or an open fronthaul management plane interface. Moreover, an ORAN network node may be a logical node in a physical node. Furthermore, an ORAN network node may be implemented in a virtualization environment (described further below) in which one or more network functions are virtualized. For example, the virtualization environment may include an O-Cloud computing platform orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an 0-2 interface defined by the O-RAN Alliance or comparable technologies.
[0142] The network nodes QQ110 facilitate direct or indirect connection of one or more UEs QQ112 to the core network QQ106 over one or more wireless connections. Example wireless communications over a wireless connection include transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and / or other types ofsignals suitable for conveying information without the use of wires, cables, or other material conductors. Moreover, in different embodiments, the communication system QQ100 may include any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, UEs, and / or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and / or signals whether via wired or wireless connections. The communication system QQ100 may include and / or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, radio network, and / or other similar type of system.
[0143] The UEs QQ112 may be any of a wide variety of communication devices, including wireless devices arranged, configured, and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with the network nodes QQ110 and other communication devices. Similarly, the network nodes QQ108, QQ110 are arranged, capable, configured, and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly (e.g., via other devices of telecommunications network QQ102) with the UEs QQ112 and / or with other network nodes or equipment in the telecommunications network QQ102 to enable and / or provide network access, such as wireless network access, and / or to perform other functions, such as administration in the telecommunications network QQ102. More specifically, UEs QQ112 may send messages, data, and / or other signals to network nodes QQ108, QQ110 or other elements of the telecommunications network QQ102 by transmitting such signals to the relevant device directly without the signals passing through any intervening devices or by transmitting such signals to the relevant device indirectly through an intervening device (or multiple intervening devices) that then transmit the signal to the relevant device. Similarly, network nodes QQ108, QQ110 may send messages, data, and other signals to UEs QQ1122, other network nodes QQ108, QQ110, and other devices in telecommunications network QQ102 directly or indirectly. As one specific example, a core network node 108 may transmit a particular message to a UE QQ112 by transmitting the message to an access network node QQ110 that will then transmit the message to the intended UE QQ112. Similarly, a core network node 108 may receive a particular message from a UE QQ112 by receiving the message from an access network node QQ110 that itself received the message from the UE QQ112.
[0144] In the depicted example, the core network QQ106 connects elements of the access network QQ104 (e.g., one or more of the network nodes QQ110) to one or more host computing systems, such as host QQ116. These connections may be direct or indirect via one or more intermediary networks or devices. In other examples, network nodes may be directly coupled to hosts. The core network QQ106 includes one or more core network nodes (e.g., core network node QQ108) of various types, one or more of which may be generally referred to as network nodes QQ108. Network nodes QQ108 are structured with hardware and softwarecomponents. Features of these components may be substantially similar to those described with respect to the UEs, access network nodes, and / or hosts, such that the descriptions thereof are generally applicable to the corresponding components of the core network node QQ108. Example core network nodes provide functions of one or more of a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Authentication Server Function (ALISF), Subscription Identifier De-concealing function (SIDF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP), Network Exposure Function (NEF), and / or a User Plane Function (UPF).
[0145] The host QQ116 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider other than an operator or provider of the access network QQ104 and / or the telecommunications network QQ102. The host QQ116 may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The host QQ116 may host a variety of applications to provide one or more service. Examples of such applications include live and pre-recorded audio / video content, data collection services such as retrieving and compiling data on various ambient conditions detected by a plurality of UEs, analytics functionality, social media, functions for controlling or otherwise interacting with remote devices, functions for an alarm and surveillance center, or any other such function performed by a server.
[0146] As a whole, the communication system QQ100 of Figure 7 enables connectivity between the UEs, network nodes, and hosts. In that sense, the communication system QQ100 may be configured to operate according to predefined rules or procedures, such as specific standards that include, but are not limited to: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Long Term Evolution (LTE), and / or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G standards, or any applicable future generation standard (e.g., 6G); wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards (Wi-Fi); and / or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi-Max), Bluetooth, Z-Wave, Near Field Communication (NFC) ZigBee, Li-Fi, and / or any low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) standards such as LoRa and Sigfox. Moreover, the communication system QQ100 may be configured to support multiple different standards, protocols, or other rule sets, with individual components supporting all of the relevant rule sets or with different components or sub-systems within the communication system QQ100 supporting different standards, protocols, or rule sets.
[0147] As one example, in certain embodiments, access network QQ104 may contain some access network nodes QQ110 that support 3GPP radio access technologies (RAT), such as LTE orNR, while other access network nodes QQ110 support (or the same access network nodes QQ110 additionally support) non-3GPP RATs, such as Wi-Fi or a proprietary RAT. As another example, telecommunications network QQ102 may support multiple generations of related communication standards (e.g., 4G and 5G 3GPP communication standards) and, as a result, may include an access network 104 and / or a core network 106 that supports multiple different standard generations or may include multiple access networks 104 and / or multiple core networks 106 with individual networks 104, 106 supporting different standard generations.
[0148] Telecommunications network QQ102 may support network slicing to provide different logical networks to different devices that are connected to the telecommunications network QQ102. For example, the telecommunications network QQ102 may provide Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) services to some UEs, while providing Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services to other UEs, and / or Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) / Massive loT services to yet further UEs.
[0149] In some examples, one or more of the UEs QQ112 are configured to transmit and / or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a UE may be designed to transmit information to the access network QQ104 on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the access network QQ104. Additionally, a UE may be configured for operating in single- or multi-RAT or multi-standard mode. For example, a UE may operate with any one or combination of Wi-Fi, NR (New Radio) and LTE, i.e. being configured for multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC), such as E-UTRAN (Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) New Radio - Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).
[0150] In the example, the hub QQ114 communicates with the access network QQ104 to facilitate indirect communication between one or more UEs (e.g., UE QQ112C and / or QQ112D) and network nodes (e.g., network node QQ110B). In some examples, the hub QQ114 may be a controller, router, content source and analytics, or any of the other communication devices described herein regarding UEs. For example, the hub QQ114 may be a broadband router enabling access to the core network QQ106 for the UEs. As another example, the hub QQ114 may be a controller that sends commands or instructions to one or more actuators in the UEs. Commands or instructions may be received from the UEs, network nodes QQ110, or by executable code, script, process, or other instructions in the hub QQ114.
[0151] As another example, the hub QQ114 may be a data collector that acts as temporary storage for UE data and, in some embodiments, may perform analysis or other processing of thedata. As another example, the hub QQ114 may be a content source. For example, for a UE that is a VR headset, display, loudspeaker or other media delivery device, the hub QQ114 may retrieve VR assets, video, audio, or other media or data related to sensory information via a network node, which the hub QQ114 then provides to the UE either directly, after performing local processing, and / or after adding additional local content. In still another example, the hub QQ114 acts as a proxy server or orchestrator for the UEs, in particular if one or more of the UEs are low energy loT devices.
[0152] The hub QQ114 may have a constant / persistent or intermittent connection to the network node QQ110B. The hub QQ114 may also allow for a different communication scheme and / or schedule between the hub QQ114 and UEs (e.g., UE QQ112C and / or QQ112D), and between the hub QQ114 and the core network QQ106. In other examples, the hub QQ114 is connected to the core network QQ106 and / or one or more UEs via a wired connection.
[0153] Moreover, the hub QQ114 may be configured to connect to an M2M service provider over the access network QQ104 and / or to another UE over a direct connection. In some scenarios, UEs may establish a wireless connection with the network nodes QQ110 while still connected via the hub QQ114 via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, the hub QQ114 may be a dedicated hub - that is, a hub whose primary function is to route communications to / from the UEs from / to the network node QQ110B. In other embodiments, the hub QQ114 may be a non-dedicated hub - that is, a device which is capable of operating to route communications between the UEs and network node QQ110B, but which is additionally capable of operating as a communication start and / or end point for certain data channels.
[0154] Figure 8 is another example of a communication system QQ200 according to some embodiments. As used herein, the communication system QQ200 includes multiple access points (APs) QQ210 (with four exemplary APs QQ210A, QQ210B, QQ210C, and QQ210D being depicted) and multiple wireless devices, referred to in the context of communication system QQ200 as stations (STAs) QQ212 (referred to individually as STA QQ212A, STA QQ212B, STA QQ212C, STA QQ212D, and STA QQ212E). STA QQ212A is served by AP QQ210A in a first basic service set (BSS) QQ220A. STA QQ210B and STA QQ210C are served by AP QQ210B in a second BSS, BSS QQ220B. STA QQ212D is served by AP QQ210C in a third BSS, BSS QQ220C. STA QQ212E is served by AP QQ210D in a fourth BSS, BSS QQ220D. Stations QQ212 may be non-AP STAs and correspond to various kinds of wireless devices, for example, user terminals, such as mobile or stationary computing devices like smartphones, laptop computers, desktop computers, tablet computers, gaming devices, head-mounted displays (HMDs) for Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR),or the like. Further, stations QQ212 could, for example, correspond to other kinds of equipment like smart home devices, printers, multimedia devices, data storage devices, or the like.
[0155] Each of STAs QQ212 may connect through a radio link to one of APs QQ210. For example, depending on location or channel conditions experienced by a given STA QQ212, the STA may select an appropriate AP and BSS for establishing the radio link. The radio link may be based on one or more orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) carriers from a frequency spectrum that is shared on the basis of a contention-based mechanism, e.g., an unlicensed or license exempt band like 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band, the 5 GHz band, the 6 GHz band, or the 60 GHz band.
[0156] Each AP QQ210 may provide data connectivity to STAs QQ212 connected to a particular AP QQ210. As illustrated, APs QQ210 may be connected to a data network QQ230. In this way, APs QQ210 may also provide data connectivity between STAs QQ212 and other entities, e.g., to one or more servers, service providers, data sources, data sinks, user terminals, or the like. Accordingly, the radio link established between a given STA QQ212 and its serving AP QQ210 may be used for providing various kinds of services to STA QQ212, e.g., a voice service, a multimedia service, or other data service. Such services may be based on applications that are executed on STA QQ212 and / or on a device linked to STA QQ212. By way of example, Figure 8 illustrates an application service platform QQ232 provided in data network QQ230. The application(s) executed on STA QQ212 and / or on one or more other devices linked to STA QQ212 may use the radio link for data communication with one or more other STA QQ212 and / or the application service platform QQ232, thereby enabling utilization of the corresponding service(s) at STA QQ212.
[0157] Figure 9 shows a wireless device QQ300, which may be configured to operate in communication system QQ100 of Figure 7 or in communication system QQ200 of Figure 8. The wireless device QQ300 may be alternatively referred to as a UE QQ300, like a UE QQ112 within the context of communication system QQ100, or as a station (STA) QQ300 or as a non-access-point station (non-AP STA) QQ300, like a STA QQ212 within the context of the communication system QQ200, in accordance with respective embodiments. As used herein, a wireless device refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and / or other wireless devices. Examples of a wireless device include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, mobile phone, cell phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phone, wireless local loop phone, desktop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless cameras, gaming console or device, music storage device, playback appliance, wearable terminal device, wireless endpoint, mobile station, tablet,laptop, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), smart device, wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE), vehicle, vehicle-mounted or vehicle embedded / integrated wireless device, and wireless terminal. Other examples include any type of UE identified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a narrow band internet of things (NB-loT) UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and / or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.
[0158] A wireless device QQ300 may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), orvehicle-to-everything (V2X). In other examples, wireless device QQ300 may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and / or operates the relevant device. Instead, wireless device QQ300 may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, wireless device QQ300 may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter).
[0159] In particular embodiments, wireless device QQ300 includes processing circuitry QQ302 that is operatively coupled via a bus QQ304 to an input / output interface QQ306, a power source QQ308, a memory QQ310, a communication interface QQ312, and / or any other component, or any combination thereof. Certain embodiments of wireless device QQ300 may include all or a subset of the components shown in Figure 9. The level of integration between the components may vary from one embodiment of wireless device QQ300 to another. In general, in a particular embodiment of wireless device QQ300, processing circuitry QQ302, input / output interface QQ306, power source QQ308, memory QQ310, and communication interface QQ312 may, in whole or in part, represent or include physical components common to or shared by one or more of the other elements of wireless device QQ300.
[0160] Further, certain embodiments of wireless devices QQ300 may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.
[0161] The processing circuitry QQ302 is configured to process instructions and data and may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory QQ310. The processing circuitry QQ302 may be implemented as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware;one or more stored computer programs, general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuitry QQ302 may include multiple central processing units (CPUs). The processing circuitry QQ302 may be configured to cause the wireless device QQ300 to perform the methods as described with reference to Figure 5.
[0162] In the example, the input / output interface QQ306 may be configured to provide an interface or interfaces to an input device, output device, or one or more input and / or output devices. Examples of an output device include a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. An input device may allow a user to capture information into wireless device QQ300. Examples of an input device include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, a biometric sensor, etc., or any combination thereof. An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port may be used to provide an input device and an output device.
[0163] In some embodiments, the power source QQ308 is structured as a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic device, or power cell, may be used to supply power to circuitry or to charge an associated battery. The power source QQ308 may further include power circuitry for delivering power from the power source QQ308 itself, and / or an external power source, to the various parts of wireless device QQ300 via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Power source QQ308 may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to make accessible power suitable for the respective components of the wireless device QQ300 to which power is supplied.
[0164] The memory QQ310 may be or be configured to include memory such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, flash drives, and so forth. In one example, the memory QQ310 includes one or more programs QQ314, such as an operating system, web browser application, a widget,gadget engine, or other application, and corresponding data QQ316. The memory QQ310 may store, for use by wireless device QQ300, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.
[0165] The memory QQ310 may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as tamper resistant module in the form of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) including one or more subscriber identity modules (SIMs), such as a USIM and / or ISIM, other memory, or any combination thereof. The UICC may for example be an embedded UICC (eUlCC), integrated UICC (iUICC) or a removable UICC commonly known as ‘SIM card.’ The memory QQ310 may allow wireless device QQ300 to access instructions, programs and the like, stored on transitory or non-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied as or in the memory QQ310, which may be or comprise a device-readable storage medium.
[0166] The processing circuitry QQ302 may be configured to communicate with an access network or other network via or using the communication interface QQ312. The communication interface QQ312 may comprise one or more communication subsystems and may include or be communicatively coupled to an antenna QQ322. The communication interface QQ312 may include one or more transceivers used to communicate, such as by communicating with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication (e.g., another wireless device or a network node in an access network). Each transceiver may include a transmitter QQ318 and / or a receiver QQ320 appropriate to provide network communications (e.g., optical, electrical, frequency allocations, and so forth). Moreover, the transmitter QQ318 and receiver QQ320 may be coupled to one or more antennas (e.g., antenna QQ322) and may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively be implemented separately.
[0167] In the illustrated embodiment, communication functions of the communication interface QQ312 may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication (e.g., according to an IEEE 802.11 family standard), LPWAN communication, data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the globalpositioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. Communications may be implemented according to one or more communication protocols and / or standards, such as IEEE 802.11, Code Division Multiplexing Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), GSM, LTE, New Radio (NR), UMTS, WiMax, Ethernet, transmission control protocol / internet protocol (TCP / IP), synchronous optical networking (SONET), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), QUIC, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and so forth.
[0168] In particular embodiments, wireless device QQ300 may provide an output of data captured via a sensor, through its communication interface QQ312, via a wireless connection to a network node, and / or in any appropriate manner. Data captured by sensors of a wireless device QQ300 can be communicated through a wireless connection to a network node via another wireless device QQ300. In particular embodiments, such output may be periodic (e.g., once every 15 minutes if it reports the sensed temperature), random (e.g., to even out the load from reporting from several sensors), in response to a triggering event (e.g., when moisture is detected an alert is sent), in response to a request (e.g., a user initiated request), or a continuous stream (e.g., a live video feed of a patient).
[0169] As another example, wireless device QQ300 comprises an actuator, a motor, or a switch, related to a communication interface configured to receive wireless input from a network node via a wireless connection. In response to the received wireless input the states of the actuator, the motor, or the switch may change. For example, wireless device QQ300 may comprise a motor that adjusts the control surfaces or rotors of a drone in flight according to the received input or to a robotic arm performing a medical procedure according to the received input.
[0170] Wireless device QQ300, when in the form of an Internet of Things (loT) device, may be a device for use in one or more application domains, these domains comprising, but not limited to, wearable technology, extended industrial application and healthcare. Non-limiting examples of such an loT device are a device which is or which is embedded in: a connected refrigerator or freezer, a TV, a connected lighting device, an electricity meter, a robot vacuum cleaner, a voice controlled smart speaker, a home security camera, a motion detector, a thermostat, a smoke detector, a door / window sensor, a flood / moisture sensor, an electrical door lock, a connected doorbell, an air conditioning system like a heat pump, an autonomous vehicle, a surveillance system, a weather monitoring device, a vehicle parking monitoring device, an electric vehicle charging station, a smartwatch, a fitness tracker, a wearable for tactile augmentation or sensory enhancement, a water sprinkler, an animal- or item-tracking device, a sensor for monitoring a plant or animal, an industrial robot, anUnmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and any kind of medical device, like a heart rate monitor or a remote controlled surgical robot. In particular embodiments, wireless device QQ300 represents an loT device that comprises circuitry and / or software in dependence of the intended application of the loT device in addition to other components as described in relation to the example embodiment of wireless device QQ300 shown in Figure 9.
[0171] As yet another specific example, in an loT scenario, wireless device QQ300 may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and / or measurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and / or measurements to another wireless device and / or a network node. Wireless device QQ300 may in this case be an M2M device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, wireless device QQ300 may implement the 3GPP NB-loT standard. In other scenarios, wireless device QQ300 may represent a vehicle, such as a car, a bus, a truck, a ship and an airplane, or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and / or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation.
[0172] In practice, any number of wireless devices QQ300 may be used together with respect to a single use case. For example, a first wireless device QQ300 might be or be integrated in a drone and provide the drone’s speed information (obtained through a speed sensor) to a second wireless device QQ300 that is a remote controller operating the drone. When a user makes changes from the remote controller, the first wireless device QQ300 may adjust the throttle on the drone (e.g. by controlling an actuator) to increase or decrease the drone’s speed. The first and / or the second wireless device QQ300 can also include more than one of the functionalities described above. For example, wireless device QQ300 might comprise the sensor and the actuator, and handle communication of data for both the speed sensor and the actuators.
[0173] Figure 10 shows a network node QQ400 in accordance with some embodiments. As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a UE and / or with other network nodes or equipment, in a telecommunications network. In accordance with respective embodiments, network node QQ400 may be configured to operate in communication system QQ100 of Figure 7, like network nodes QQ108 or QQ110, or in communication system QQ200 of Figure 8, like an AP QQ210 or a station QQ212. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)), O-RAN nodes or components of an O-RAN node (e.g., O-RU, O-DU, O-CU).Network nodes QQ400 may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and so, depending on the provided amount of coverage, may be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. Network node QQ400 may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. Network nodes QQ400 may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units, distributed units (e.g., in an O-RAN access node) and / or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS).
[0174] Other examples of network nodes QQ400 include multiple transmission point (multi-TRP) 5G access nodes, multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi-cell / multicast coordination entities (MCEs), Operation and Maintenance (O&M) nodes, Operations Support System (OSS) nodes, Self-Organizing Network (SON) nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., Evolved Serving Mobile Location Centers (E-SMLCs)), and / or Minimization of Drive Tests (MDTs).
[0175] In particular embodiments, network node QQ400 includes a processing circuitry QQ402, a memory QQ404, a communication interface QQ406, and a power source QQ408. In general, in a particular embodiment of network node QQ400, processing circuitry QQ402, memory QQ404, communication interface QQ406, and power source QQ408 may, in whole or in part, represent or include physical components common to or shared by one or more of the other elements of network node QQ400.
[0176] The network node QQ400 may be composed of multiple distinct network entities (e.g., a NodeB entity and a RNC entity, or a BTS entity and a BSC entity, etc.), which may each have or utilize their own respective physical components. In certain scenarios in which the network node QQ400 comprises multiple such entities (e.g., BTS and BSC), one or more of the separate entities may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeBs. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, the network node QQ400 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate memories QQ404 or portions of memory QQ404 for different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., a same antenna QQ410 may be shared by differentRATs). The network node QQ400 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node QQ400, for example GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, Wi-Fi (e.g., according to an IEEE 802.11 family standard), Zigbee, Z-wave, LoRaWAN, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node QQ400.
[0177] The processing circuitry QQ402 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and / or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other components, such as the memory QQ404, to provide network node QQ400 functionality. For example, the processing circuitry QQ402 may be configured to cause the network node QQ400 to perform the methods as described with reference to Figure 6.
[0178] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry QQ402 includes a system on a chip (SOC). In some embodiments, the processing circuitry QQ402 includes one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry QQ412 and baseband processing circuitry QQ414. In some embodiments, the RF transceiver circuitry QQ412 and the baseband processing circuitry QQ414 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry QQ412 and baseband processing circuitry QQ414 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units.
[0179] The memory QQ404 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer-readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and / or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device-readable and / or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and / or instructions that may be used by the processing circuitry QQ402. The memory QQ404 may store any suitable instructions, data, or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, and / or other instructions capable of being executed by the processing circuitry QQ402 and utilized by the network node QQ400. The memory QQ404 may be used to store any calculations made by the processing circuitry QQ402 and / or anydata received via the communication interface QQ406. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry QQ402 and memory QQ404 is integrated.
[0180] The communication interface QQ406 is used in wired or wireless communication of signaling and / or data with UEs, other network nodes, and / or any other network equipment. In the illustrated embodiment, communication interface QQ406 comprises port(s) / terminal(s) QQ416 to send and receive data, for example to and from a network over a wired connection. In particular embodiments, network node QQ300 may be capable of wireless communication and communication interface QQ406 may also include radio front-end circuitry QQ418 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, an antenna QQ410. Particular embodiments of radio front-end circuitry QQ418 include filter(s) QQ420 and amplifier(s) QQ422. The radio front-end circuitry QQ418 may be connected to an antenna QQ410 and processing circuitry QQ402. The radio front-end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna QQ410 and processing circuitry QQ402. The radio front-end circuitry QQ418 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or UEs via a wireless connection. The radio front-end circuitry QQ418 may convert the digital data into a radio signal(s) having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters QQ420 and / or amplifiers QQ422. The radio signal(s) may then be transmitted via the antenna QQ410. Similarly, when receiving data, the antenna QQ410 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by the radio front-end circuitry QQ418. The digital data may be passed to the processing circuitry QQ402. In other embodiments, the communication interface may comprise different components and / or different combinations of components.
[0181] In certain alternative embodiments, network node QQ400 may be capable of wireless communication but does not include separate radio front-end circuitry QQ418, instead, the processing circuitry QQ402 includes radio front-end circuitry and is connected to the antenna QQ410. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of the RF transceiver circuitry QQ412 is part of the communication interface QQ406. In still other embodiments, the communication interface QQ406 includes one or more ports or terminals QQ416, the radio front-end circuitry QQ418, and the RF transceiver circuitry QQ412, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and the communication interface QQ406 communicates with the baseband processing circuitry QQ414, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).
[0182] The antenna QQ410 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and / or receive wireless signals. The antenna QQ410 may be coupled to the radio frontend circuitry QQ418 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and / or signals wirelessly. In certain embodiments, the antenna QQ410 is separate fromthe network node QQ400 and connectable to the network node QQ400 through one or more interfaces or ports.
[0183] The antenna QQ410, communication interface QQ406, and / or the processing circuitry QQ402 may be configured to perform some or all of the receiving operations and / or obtaining operations described herein as being performed by the network node QQ400. Any information, data and / or signals may be received from a UE, another network node and / or any other network equipment. Similarly, the antenna QQ410, the communication interface QQ406, and / or the processing circuitry QQ402 may be configured to perform some or all of the transmitting or sending operations described herein as being performed by the network node QQ400. Any information, data and / or signals may be transmitted to a UE, another network node and / or any other network equipment.
[0184] The power source QQ408 provides power to the various components of network node QQ400 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). The power source QQ408 may further comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry to supply the components of the network node QQ400 with power for performing the functionality described herein. For example, the network node QQ400 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., the power grid, an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry of the power source QQ408. As a further example, the power source QQ408 may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail.
[0185] Embodiments of the network node QQ400 may include additional components beyond those shown in Figure 10 for providing certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and / or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, the network node QQ400 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into the network node QQ400 and to allow output of information from the network node QQ400. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for the network node QQ400.
[0186] Figure 11 is a block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment QQ500 in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein,virtualization can be applied to any device described herein, or components thereof, and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components. Some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines (VMs) implemented in one or more virtual environments QQ500 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes, such as a hardware computing device that operates as an access network node, UE, core network node, or host. Further, in embodiments in which a virtual node does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node or host), then the node may be entirely virtualized. In some embodiments, the virtualization environment QQ500 includes components defined by the O-RAN Alliance, such as an O-Cloud environment orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an 0-2 interface.
[0187] Applications QQ502 (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) are run in the virtualization environment Q400 to implement some of the features, functions, and / or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein.
[0188] Hardware QQ504 includes processing circuitry, memory that stores software and / or instructions executable by hardware processing circuitry, and / or other hardware devices as described herein, such as a network interface, input / output interface, and so forth. Software may be executed by the processing circuitry to instantiate one or more virtualization layers QQ506 (also referred to as hypervisors or virtual machine monitors (VMMs)), provide VM QQ508A and VM QQ508B (which may be collectively referred to as VMs QQ508), and / or perform any of the functions, features and / or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein. The virtualization layer QQ506 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to one or more of the VMs QQ508.
[0189] The VMs QQ508 comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by virtualization layer QQ506. Different embodiments of the instance of a virtual appliance QQ502 may be implemented on one or more of VMs QQ508, and the implementations may be made in different ways. Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment.
[0190] In the context of NFV, each of the VMs QQ508 may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualizedmachine. Each of the VMs QQ508, and that part of hardware QQ504 that executes that VM, be it hardware dedicated to that VM and / or hardware shared by that VM with others of the VMs, forms separate virtual network elements. Still in the context of NFV, a virtual network function is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more of the VMs QQ508 on top of the hardware QQ504 and corresponds to an application QQ502.
[0191] Hardware QQ504 may be implemented in a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware QQ504 may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware QQ504 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or CPE) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration QQ510, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications QQ502. In some embodiments, hardware QQ504 is coupled to one or more radio units that each include one or more transmitters and one or more receivers that may be coupled to one or more antennas. Radio units may communicate directly with other hardware nodes via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station. In some embodiments, some signaling can be provided with the use of a control system QQ512 which may alternatively be used for communication between hardware nodes and radio units.
[0192] Although the computing devices described herein (e.g., UEs, network nodes, hosts) may include the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise computing devices with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that these computing devices may comprise any suitable combination of hardware and / or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Determining, calculating, obtaining or similar operations described herein may be performed by processing circuitry, which may process information by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and / or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination. Moreover, while components are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, computing devices may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component, and functionality may be partitioned between separate components. For example, a communication interface may be configured to include any of the components described herein, and / or the functionality of the components may be partitioned between the processing circuitry and the communicationinterface. In another example, non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.
[0193] This disclosure includes the following enumerated example embodiments.
[0194] A1. A method for a UE comprising determining to transmit a report including applicability information (e.g. applicability indication) of an AI / ML functionality related to any of the following types of inference configurations:
[0195] • only to one or more full inference configurations of the AI / ML model / functionality • only related to one or more partial inference configurations (set(s) of inference related parameters) of the AI / ML model / functionality
[0196] • related to both one or more full inference configurations and one or more partial inference configurations,
[0197] • related to one or more sets of preferred / recommended operational parameters for an inference configuration of an AI / ML functionality.
[0198] The determination based on an applicability report configuration including implicit or explicit indication indicating to the UE with respect to which inference configuration type the UE should transmit the applicability information.
[0199] A2. The method of A1, wherein the explicit indication comprises a flag indicating for which of the inference configuration type the UE should report the applicability information, or comprising a list of one or more full or partial inference configurations in relationship to which the UE should report the applicability information.
[0200] A3. The method of A1, wherein the implicit indication comprises determining to transmit the applicability information related to a first type of inference configuration, in case a configuration related to the transmission of the applicability information associated to a second type is absent in the applicability report configuration, or the configuration related to the transmission of the applicability information associated to a second type is empty or not including one or more operational parameters.
[0201] A4. The method of A1, wherein the implicit indication comprises determining to transmit the applicability information related to a first type of inference configuration, in case a configuration related to the transmission of the applicability information associated to a second type is not applicable for the AI / ML functionality.A5. The method of A1, wherein the full inference configuration comprises one or more sets of radio resources based on which the UE can evaluate whether an AI / ML functionality is applicable or not if operating with the said full inference configuration, and based on which the UE can operate the inference according to the AI / ML functionality if that is applicable.
[0202] A6. The method of A1, wherein the partial inference configuration comprises one or more sets of radio resources or network operational conditions based on which the UE can evaluate whether an AI / ML functionality is applicable for each of the one or more sets of radio resources.
[0203] A7. The method of A1, wherein the one or more sets of preferred / recommended operational parameters for a successive full inference configuration of an AI / ML functionality are comprised or not comprised within a partial or full inference configuration included in the applicability reporting configuration.
[0204] A8. The method of A7, wherein if the one or more sets of preferred / recommended operational parameters are not comprised within a partial or full inference configuration, the UE autonomously selects those operational parameters based on the operating conditions at the time of data collection for the UE model / functionality training.
[0205] A9. The method of A1, wherein there is an explicit or implicit indication, indicating to the UE whether the report including applicability information should be sent upon changes and / or include changes in the previously reported applicability information of full inference config uration(s) or partial inference configuration(s) or both.
[0206] A10. The method of A1, wherein the report is transmitted in response of receiving an applicability report configuration or upon determining a change in the applicability of the one or more types of inference configuration.
[0207] A11. The method of A1, wherein in the report, the included applicability information related to a type of inference configuration is not included or set empty, if none of the inference configurations related the said type are applicable.
[0208] A12. The method of A1 , wherein if the report is transmitted in response of any of:
[0209] • Determining a change in the applicability of one type of inference configuration, then the UE transmits the applicability reporting related to the said type of inference configuration• Determining a change in the applicability of one or more types of inference configurations, then the UE transmits the applicability reporting related to the said one or more types of inference configuration.
[0210] • Determining a change in the applicability of one or more types of inference configurations, then the UE transmits the applicability reporting related to the said one or more types of inference configurations, if no applicability report related to this change has been transmitted in previous report containing applicability information.
[0211] A13. The method of A1, wherein the reporting containing applicability information is any of UEAssistancelnformation or RRCReconfigurationComplete message.
[0212] This disclosure also includes the following enumerated example embodiments.
[0213] Group A Embodiments
[0214] 1. A method performed by a wireless communication device for sending an indication to a network node, wherein the wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning (AI / ML) model, the method comprising:
[0215] obtaining a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the applicability indication includes a first indication and / or a second indication;
[0216] if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a first type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, sending, to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type; and
[0217] if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a second type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, sending, to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type.
[0218] 2. The method of embodiment 1, wherein:
[0219] the at least one functionality configuration of the first type comprises at least one complete functionality configuration; and / or
[0220] the at least one functionality configuration of the second type comprises at least one partial functionality configuration.3. The method of embodiment 2, wherein:
[0221] the complete functionality configuration includes all information to enable the wireless communication device to operate the functionality; and / or
[0222] the partial functionality configuration does not include all information to enable the wireless communication device to operate the functionality.
[0223] 4. The method of embodiment 2 or 3, wherein the partial functionality configuration includes all information to enable the wireless communication device to send the indication of the updated applicability of each of the one or more of the at least one functionality.
[0224] 5. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 4, comprising:
[0225] determining one or more operating parameters for operating the functionality of one or more of the at least one configuration; and
[0226] sending, to the network node, an indication of the one or more operating parameters.
[0227] 6. The method of embodiment 5, wherein determining the one or more operating parameters for operating the functionality of the one or more of the at least one configuration is performed when one or more of the following applies:
[0228] if the one or more operating parameters for the functionality of the one or more of the at least one configuration are not included in the configuration of the functionality of the one or more of the at least one configuration;
[0229] if the at least one functionality configuration includes no functionality configuration of the first type or the second type;
[0230] if none of the at least one configuration of the first type is applicable at the wireless communication device;
[0231] if none of the at least one configuration of the second type is applicable at the wireless communication device;
[0232] if none of the at least one configuration is applicable at the wireless communication device;
[0233] if an indication to determine the one or more operating parameters and / or send the one or more operating parameters is received from the network node and / or is included in the at least one functionality configuration.
[0234] 7. The method of embodiment 5 or 6, wherein the one or more operating parameters for operating the functionality of the one or more of the at least one configuration comprise one or more parameters under which the functionality was trained, and / or one or more operating parameters under which the functionality is applicable at the wireless communication device.8. The method of any of embodiments 5 to 7, wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise one or more of:
[0235] one or more radio resources;
[0236] one or more wireless communication device-side conditions;
[0237] one or more network-side conditions.
[0238] 9. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 8, comprising:
[0239] if the at least one functionality configuration includes no functionality configuration of the first type that is applicable at the wireless communication device and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, sending, to the network node, an indication that there is no functionality configuration of the first type that is applicable at the wireless communication device; and / or
[0240] if the at least one functionality configuration includes no functionality configuration of the second type that is applicable at the wireless communication device and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, sending, to the network node, an indication that there is no functionality configuration of the second type that is applicable at the wireless communication device.
[0241] 10. The method of embodiment 9, wherein:
[0242] the indication that there is no functionality configuration of the first type that is applicable at the wireless communication device comprises an empty information element (IE); and / or
[0243] the indication that there is no functionality configuration of the second type that is applicable at the wireless communication device comprises an empty IE.
[0244] 11. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein:
[0245] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type indicates at least one functionality of the first type that is applicable at the wireless communication device; and / or
[0246] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type indicates at least one functionality of the second type that is applicable at the wireless communication device.
[0247] 12. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 11 , wherein each of the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration.13. The method of embodiment 12, wherein:
[0248] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of each of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration of the first type; and / or
[0249] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of each of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration of the second type.
[0250] 14. The method of embodiment 12 or 13, wherein:
[0251] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of each of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration of the first type associated with any functionality configuration; and / or
[0252] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of each of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration of the second type associated with any functionality configuration.
[0253] 15. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 14, wherein sending the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type and / or the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type is performed in response to a change in applicability at the wireless communication device of one or more of the at least one functionality configuration and / or one or more inference configurations associated with the at least one functionality configuration.
[0254] 16. The method of embodiment 15, wherein:
[0255] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type indicates only functionality configurations of the first type and / or inference configurations of the first type for which the applicability at the wireless communication device has changed; and / or
[0256] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type indicates only functionality configurations of thesecond type and / or inference configurations of the second type for which the applicability at the wireless communication device has changed.
[0257] 17. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 16, wherein the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type and / or the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type is sent in User Equipment (UE) Assistance Information (UAI) and / or in a RRC Reconfiguration Complete message.
[0258] 18. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 17, comprising:
[0259] receiving the at least one functionality configuration; and / or
[0260] receiving the configuration for sending the applicability indication.
[0261] 19. The method of embodiment 18, comprising receiving the at least one functionality configuration and / or the configuration for sending the applicability indication in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Reconfiguration, Reconfiguration with Sync and / or Resume message, and / or in a handover command, and / or in a measurement reporting configuration, and / or in an OtherConfig Information Element (IE).
[0262] 20. The method of embodiment 19, wherein the measurement reporting configuration comprises a Channel State Information (CSI) reporting configuration.
[0263] 21. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 20, comprising receiving, from the network node, a list identifying the at least one functionality configuration of the first type and / or the at least one functionality configuration of the second type.
[0264] 22. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 21, wherein each functionality configuration identifies one or more of:
[0265] a first set of beams for measurement by the wireless communication device; and a second set of beams for measurement prediction using the functionality.
[0266] 23. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the applicability at the wireless communication device of each functionality configuration comprises currently applicable at the wireless communication device and / or currently not applicable at the wireless communication device.
[0267] 24. The method of embodiment 23, wherein:each functionality configuration is currently applicable at the wireless communication device if there is at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration that is currently applicable, useable or operable at the wireless communication device, and / or the wireless communication device is currently able to use the functionality configuration for inference, and / or the wireless communication device is currently able to report inference using the functionality configuration to the network node; and
[0268] each functionality configuration is currently not applicable at the wireless communication device if there is no inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration that is currently applicable, useable or operable at the wireless communication device, and / or the wireless communication device is currently not able to use the functionality configuration for inference, and / or the wireless communication device is currently not able to report inference using the functionality configuration to the network node.
[0269] 25. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 24, comprising determining the applicability of each functionality configuration or each inference configuration of each functionality configuration based on one or more applicability conditions.
[0270] 26. The method of embodiment 25, wherein the one or more applicability conditions include one or more wireless communication device-side conditions and / or one or more network-side conditions.
[0271] 27. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 26, wherein each functionality configuration comprises one or more of:
[0272] beam management functionality for managing beams for the wireless communication device;
[0273] beam information prediction functionality;
[0274] positioning functionality for determining a position of the wireless communication device;
[0275] measurement reporting functionality;
[0276] measurement prediction functionality;
[0277] measurement event prediction functionality;
[0278] radio link failure (RLF) prediction functionality;
[0279] handover failure (HOF) prediction functionality;
[0280] network conditions prediction functionality.28. The method of embodiments 1 to 27, wherein each functionality configuration includes one or more of:
[0281] a state of the functionality configuration, indicating whether the functionality configuration is activated, inactivated or deactivated;
[0282] an indication indicating whether the wireless communication device can consider the functionality configuration to be activated if the functionality is currently applicable at the wireless communication device.
[0283] 29. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 28, wherein each functionality configuration is associated with one or more cells, beams and / cell groups of the wireless communication device.
[0284] 30. The method of any of embodiments 1 to 29, wherein the network node comprises a base station, eNodeB or gNodeB.
[0285] Group B Embodiments
[0286] 31. A method performed by a network node for receiving an indication from a wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning (AI / ML) model, and has a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the applicability indication includes a first indication and / or a second indication, the method comprising:
[0287] if the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a first type; and / or
[0288] if the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a second type.
[0289] 32. The method of embodiment 31, comprising:
[0290] receiving, from the wireless communication device, the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of the first type; andreceiving, from the wireless communication device, the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of the second type.
[0291] 33. The method of embodiment 31 or 32, wherein:
[0292] the at least one functionality configuration of the first type comprises at least one complete functionality configuration; and / or
[0293] the at least one functionality configuration of the second type comprises at least one partial functionality configuration.
[0294] 34. The method of embodiment 33, wherein:
[0295] the complete functionality configuration includes all information to enable the wireless communication device to operate the functionality; and / or
[0296] the partial functionality configuration does not include all information to enable the wireless communication device to operate the functionality.
[0297] 35. The method of embodiment 33 or 34, wherein the partial functionality configuration includes all information to enable the wireless communication device to send the indication of the updated applicability of each of the one or more of the at least one functionality.
[0298] 36. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 35, comprising:
[0299] receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication of the one or more operating parameters for operating the functionality of the one or more of the at least one configuration at the wireless communication device.
[0300] 37. The method of embodiment 36, wherein the one or more operating parameters for operating the functionality of the one or more of the at least one configuration are received from the wireless communication device when one or more of the following applies:
[0301] if the one or more operating parameters for the functionality of the one or more of the at least one configuration are not included in the configuration of the functionality;
[0302] if the at least one functionality configuration includes no functionality configuration of the first type or the second type;
[0303] if none of the at least one configuration of the first type is applicable at the wireless communication device;
[0304] if none of the at least one configuration of the second type is applicable at the wireless communication device;if none of the at least one configuration is applicable at the wireless communication device;
[0305] if an indication to determine the one or more operating parameters and / or send the one or more operating parameters is received from the network node and / or is included in the at least one functionality configuration.
[0306] 38. The method of embodiment 36 or 37, wherein the one or more operating parameters for operating the functionality of the one or more of the at least one configuration comprise one or more parameters under which the functionality was trained, and / or one or more operating parameters under which the functionality is applicable at the wireless communication device.
[0307] 39. The method of any of embodiments 36 to 38, wherein the one or more operating parameters comprise one or more of:
[0308] one or more radio resources;
[0309] one or more wireless communication device-side conditions;
[0310] one or more network-side conditions.
[0311] 40. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 39, comprising:
[0312] receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication that there is no functionality configuration of the first type that is applicable at the wireless communication device if the at least one functionality configuration includes no functionality configuration of the first type that is applicable at the wireless communication device and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication; and / or
[0313] receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication that there is no functionality configuration of the second type that is applicable at the wireless communication device if the at least one functionality configuration includes no functionality configuration of the second type that is applicable at the wireless communication device and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes second first indication.
[0314] 41. The method of embodiment 40, wherein:
[0315] the indication that there is no functionality configuration of the first type that is applicable at the wireless communication device comprises an empty information element (IE); and / or
[0316] the indication that there is no functionality configuration of the second type that is applicable at the wireless communication device comprises an empty IE.42. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 41 , wherein:
[0317] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type indicates at least one functionality of the first type that is applicable at the wireless communication device; and / or
[0318] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type indicates at least one functionality of the second type that is applicable at the wireless communication device.
[0319] 43. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 42, wherein each of the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration.
[0320] 44. The method of embodiment 43, wherein:
[0321] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of each of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration of the first type; and / or
[0322] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of each of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration of the second type.
[0323] 45. The method of embodiment 43 or 44, wherein:
[0324] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of each of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration of the first type associated with any functionality configuration; and / or
[0325] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of each of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration of the second type associated with any functionality configuration.
[0326] 46. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 14, wherein the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type and / or the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type is received in response to a change in applicability at the wireless communication device of one or more of the at least onefunctionality configuration and / or one or more inference configurations associated with the at least one functionality configuration.
[0327] 47. The method of embodiment 46, wherein:
[0328] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type indicates only functionality configurations of the first type and / or inference configurations of the first type for which the applicability at the wireless communication device has changed; and / or
[0329] the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type indicates only functionality configurations of the second type and / or inference configurations of the second type for which the applicability at the wireless communication device has changed.
[0330] 48. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 47, wherein the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type and / or the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type is received in User Equipment (UE) Assistance Information (UAI) and / or in a RRC Reconfiguration Complete message.
[0331] 49. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 48, comprising:
[0332] sending the at least one functionality configuration to the wireless communication device; and / or
[0333] sending the configuration for sending the applicability indication to the wireless communication device.
[0334] 50. The method of embodiment 49, comprising sending the at least one functionality configuration and / or the configuration for sending the applicability indication to the wireless communication device in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) Reconfiguration, Reconfiguration with Sync and / or Resume message, and / or in a handover command, and / or in a measurement reporting configuration, and / or in an OtherConfig Information Element (IE).
[0335] 51. The method of embodiment 50, wherein the measurement reporting configuration comprises a Channel State Information (CSI) reporting configuration.
[0336] 52. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 51 , comprising sending, to the wireless communication device, a list identifying the at least one functionality configuration of the first type and / or the at least one functionality configuration of the second type.53. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 52, wherein each functionality configuration identifies one or more of:
[0337] a first set of beams for measurement by the wireless communication device; and a second set of beams for measurement prediction using the functionality.
[0338] 54. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 53, wherein the applicability at the wireless communication device of each functionality configuration comprises currently applicable at the wireless communication device and / or currently not applicable at the wireless communication device.
[0339] 55. The method of embodiment 54, wherein:
[0340] each functionality configuration is currently applicable at the wireless communication device if there is at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration that is currently applicable, useable or operable at the wireless communication device, and / or the wireless communication device is currently able to use the functionality configuration for inference, and / or the wireless communication device is currently able to report inference using the functionality configuration to the network node; and
[0341] each functionality configuration is currently not applicable at the wireless communication device if there is no inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration that is currently applicable, useable or operable at the wireless communication device, and / or the wireless communication device is currently not able to use the functionality configuration for inference, and / or the wireless communication device is currently not able to report inference using the functionality configuration to the network node.
[0342] 56. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 55, wherein the applicability of each functionality configuration or each inference configuration of each functionality configuration is determined by the wireless communication device based on one or more applicability conditions.
[0343] 57. The method of embodiment 56, wherein the one or more applicability conditions include one or more wireless communication device-side conditions and / or one or more network-side conditions.
[0344] 58. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 57, wherein each functionality configuration comprises one or more of:beam management functionality for managing beams for the wireless communication device;
[0345] beam information prediction functionality;
[0346] positioning functionality for determining a position of the wireless communication device;
[0347] measurement reporting functionality;
[0348] measurement prediction functionality;
[0349] measurement event prediction functionality;
[0350] radio link failure (RLF) prediction functionality;
[0351] handover failure (HOF) prediction functionality;
[0352] network conditions prediction functionality.
[0353] 59. The method of embodiments 31 to 58, wherein each functionality configuration includes one or more of:
[0354] a state of the functionality configuration, indicating whether the functionality configuration is activated, inactivated or deactivated;
[0355] an indication indicating whether the wireless communication device can consider the functionality configuration to be activated if the functionality is currently applicable at the wireless communication device.
[0356] 60. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 59, wherein each functionality configuration is associated with one or more cells, beams and / cell groups of the wireless communication device.
[0357] 61. The method of any of embodiments 31 to 60, wherein the network node comprises a base station, eNodeB or gNodeB.
[0358] Group C Embodiments
[0359] 62. A wireless device (QQ112, QQ212, QQ300) for sending an indication to a network node, comprising:
[0360] processing circuitry (QQ302) configured to cause the wireless device to perform any of the operations of any of the Group A embodiments; and
[0361] a power source (QQ308) configured to supply power to the processing circuitry (QQ302).
[0362] 63. A network node (QQ110, QQ210, QQ400) for receiving an indication from a wireless communication device, the network node comprising:processing circuitry (QQ402) configured to cause the network node to perform any of the operations of any of the Group B embodiments;
[0363] a power source (QQ408) configured to supply power to the processing circuitry (QQ402).
[0364] 64. A wireless device for sending an indication to a network node, the wireless device comprising:
[0365] one or more antennas;
[0366] communication interface connected to the one or more antennas and to processing circuitry;
[0367] the processing circuitry being configured to cause the wireless device to perform any of the operations of any of the Group A embodiments;
[0368] an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the wireless device to be processed by the processing circuitry;
[0369] an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the wireless device that has been processed by the processing circuitry; and
[0370] a power source connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the wireless device.
[0371] 65. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-readable code embodied therein, the computer-readable code being configured such that, on execution by a suitable computer or processing circuitry, the computer or processing circuitry is caused to perform the method of any of the Group A embodiments and the Group B embodiments.
[0372] 66. A wireless device (QQ112, QQ212, QQ300) configured to perform the method of any of the Group A embodiments.
[0373] 67. A wireless device (QQ112, QQ212, QQ300) comprising processing circuitry (QQ302) and a memory (QQ310), said memory containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry whereby said wireless device is operative to perform the method of any of the Group A embodiments.
[0374] 68. A network node (QQ110, QQ210, QQ400), configured to perform the method of any of the Group B embodiments.A network node (QQ110, QQ210, QQ400) comprising processing circuitry (QQ402) and a memory (QQ404), said memory containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry whereby said network node is operative to perform the method of any of the Group B embodiments.
[0375] In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein may be provided by processing circuitry executing instructions stored on in memory, which in certain embodiments may be a computer program product in the form of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by the processing circuitry without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device-readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or not, the processing circuitry can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to the processing circuitry alone or to other components of the computing device, but are enjoyed by the computing device as a whole, and / or by end users and a wireless network generally.
Claims
Claims1. A method (500) performed by a wireless communication device for sending an indication to a network node, wherein the wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning, AI / ML, model, the method comprising:obtaining (502) a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the at least one functionality configuration at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes a first indication and / or a second indication;if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a first type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, sending (504), to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type; andif the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a second type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, sending (506), to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:the at least one functionality configuration of the first type comprises at least one complete functionality configuration; and / orthe at least one functionality configuration of the second type comprises at least one partial functionality configuration.
3. The method of claim 1 or 2, comprising:determining one or more operating parameters for operating the functionality of one or more of the at least one configuration; andsending, to the network node, an indication of the one or more operating parameters, wherein the one or more operating parameters for operating the functionality of the one or more of the at least one configuration comprise one or more of:one or more parameters under which the functionality was trained;one or more operating parameters under which the functionality is applicable at the wireless communication device;one or more radio resources;one or more wireless communication device-side conditions;one or more network-side conditions.
4. The method of any of claims 1 to 3, comprising:if the at least one functionality configuration includes no functionality configuration of the first type that is applicable at the wireless communication device and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, sending, to the network node, an indication that there is no functionality configuration of the first type that is applicable at the wireless communication device; and / orif the at least one functionality configuration includes no functionality configuration of the second type that is applicable at the wireless communication device and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, sending, to the network node, an indication that there is no functionality configuration of the second type that is applicable at the wireless communication device.
5. The method of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein:each of the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration, and one or more of:the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of each of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration of the first type, and / or indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration of the first type associated with any functionality configuration; and / orthe indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of each of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration of the second type, and / or indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration of the second type associated with any functionality configuration.
6. The method of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein sending (504, 506) the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type and / or the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type is performed in response to a change in applicability at the wireless communication device ofone or more of the at least one functionality configuration and / or one or more inference configurations associated with the at least one functionality configuration.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein:the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type indicates only functionality configurations of the first type and / or inference configurations of the first type for which the applicability at the wireless communication device has changed; and / orthe indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type indicates only functionality configurations of the second type and / or inference configurations of the second type for which the applicability at the wireless communication device has changed.
8. The method of any of claims 1 to 7, comprising receiving, from the network node, a list identifying the at least one functionality configuration of the first type and / or the at least one functionality configuration of the second type.
9. The method of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein:the applicability at the wireless communication device of each functionality configuration comprises currently applicable at the wireless communication device and / or currently not applicable at the wireless communication device,each functionality configuration is currently applicable at the wireless communication device if there is at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration that is currently applicable, useable or operable at the wireless communication device, and / or the wireless communication device is currently able to use the functionality configuration for inference, and / or the wireless communication device is currently able to report inference using the functionality configuration to the network node; andeach functionality configuration is currently not applicable at the wireless communication device if there is no inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration that is currently applicable, useable or operable at the wireless communication device, and / or the wireless communication device is currently not able to use the functionality configuration for inference, and / or the wireless communication device is currently not able to report inference using the functionality configuration to the network node.
10. The method of any of claims 1 to 9, comprising determining the applicability of each functionality configuration or each inference configuration of each functionality configurationbased on one or more applicability conditions, wherein the one or more applicability conditions include one or more wireless communication device-side conditions and / or one or more network-side conditions.
11. The method of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein each functionality configuration comprises one or more of:beam management functionality for managing beams for the wireless communication device;beam information prediction functionality;positioning functionality for determining a position of the wireless communication device;measurement reporting functionality;measurement prediction functionality;measurement event prediction functionality;radio link failure, RLF, prediction functionality;handover failure, HOF, prediction functionality;network conditions prediction functionality.
12. A method (600) performed by a network node for receiving an indication from a wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning, AI / ML, model, and has a configuration for sending an indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes a first indication and / or a second indication, the method comprising: if the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, receiving (602), from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a first type; and / orif the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, receiving (604), from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a second type.
13. The method of claim 12, comprising:receiving, from the wireless communication device, the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first typeif the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of the first type; andreceiving, from the wireless communication device, the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of the second type.
14. The method of claim 12 or 13, wherein:the at least one functionality configuration of the first type comprises at least one complete functionality configuration; and / orthe at least one functionality configuration of the second type comprises at least one partial functionality configuration.
15. The method of any of claims 12 to 14, comprising:receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication of the one or more operating parameters for operating the functionality of the one or more of the at least one configuration at the wireless communication device;wherein the one or more operating parameters for operating the functionality of the one or more of the at least one configuration comprise one or more of:one or more parameters under which the functionality was trained;one or more operating parameters under which the functionality is applicable at the wireless communication device;one or more radio resources;one or more wireless communication device-side conditions;one or more network-side conditions.
16. The method of any of claims 12 to 15, comprising:receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication that there is no functionality configuration of the first type that is applicable at the wireless communication device if the at least one functionality configuration includes no functionality configuration of the first type that is applicable at the wireless communication device and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication; and / orreceiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication that there is no functionality configuration of the second type that is applicable at the wireless communication device if the at least one functionality configuration includes no functionality configuration of the second type that is applicable at the wireless communication device and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes second first indication.
17. The method of any of claims 12 to 16, wherein each of the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration, and one or more of:the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of each of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration of the first type, and / or indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration of the first type associated with any functionality configuration; and / orthe indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of each of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration of the second type, and / or indicates applicability at the wireless communication device of each of one or more of the at least one inference configuration of the second type associated with any functionality configuration.
18. The method of any of claims 12 to 17, wherein the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type and / or the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type is received in response to a change in applicability at the wireless communication device of one or more of the at least one functionality configuration and / or one or more inference configurations associated with the at least one functionality configuration.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein:the indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type indicates only functionality configurations of the first type and / or inference configurations of the first type for which the applicability at the wireless communication device has changed; and / orthe indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type indicates only functionality configurations of the second type and / or inference configurations of the second type for which the applicability at the wireless communication device has changed.
20. The method of any of claims 12 to 19, comprising sending, to the wireless communication device, a list identifying the at least one functionality configuration of the first type and / or the at least one functionality configuration of the second type.
21. The method of any of claims 12 to 20, wherein:the applicability at the wireless communication device of each functionality configuration comprises currently applicable at the wireless communication device and / or currently not applicable at the wireless communication device;each functionality configuration is currently applicable at the wireless communication device if there is at least one inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration that is currently applicable, useable or operable at the wireless communication device, and / or the wireless communication device is currently able to use the functionality configuration for inference, and / or the wireless communication device is currently able to report inference using the functionality configuration to the network node; andeach functionality configuration is currently not applicable at the wireless communication device if there is no inference configuration associated with the functionality configuration that is currently applicable, useable or operable at the wireless communication device, and / or the wireless communication device is currently not able to use the functionality configuration for inference, and / or the wireless communication device is currently not able to report inference using the functionality configuration to the network node.
22. The method of any of claims 12 to 21 , wherein the applicability of each functionality configuration or each inference configuration of each functionality configuration is determined by the wireless communication device based on one or more applicability conditions, wherein the one or more applicability conditions include one or more wireless communication device-side conditions and / or one or more network-side conditions.
23. The method of any of claims 12 to 22, wherein each functionality configuration comprises one or more of:beam management functionality for managing beams for the wireless communication device;beam information prediction functionality;positioning functionality for determining a position of the wireless communication device;measurement reporting functionality;measurement prediction functionality;measurement event prediction functionality;radio link failure, RLF, prediction functionality;handover failure, HOF, prediction functionality;network conditions prediction functionality.
24. A tangible, non-transient computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations in a wireless communication device for sending an indication to a network node, wherein the wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning, AI / ML, model, the operations comprising:obtaining (502) a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the applicability indication includes a first indication and / or a second indication;if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a first type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, sending (504), to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type; andif the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a second type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, sending (506), to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type.
25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform the method (500) of any of claims 2 to 11.
26. A tangible, non-transient computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations in a network node for receiving an indication from a wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning, AI / ML, model, and has a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the applicability indication includes a first indication and / or a second indication, the operations comprising:if the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, receiving (602), from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a first type; and / orif the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication (604), receiving, from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a second type.
27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform the method (600) of any of claims 13 to 23.
28. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to carry out the method (500, 600) according to any of claims 1 to 23.
29. A computer program, comprising instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to carry out the method (500, 600) according to any of claims 1 to 23.
30. A carrier containing the computer program of claim 29, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer-readable medium.
31. Apparatus in a wireless communication device for sending an indication to a network node, wherein the wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning, AI / ML, model, the apparatus comprising processing circuitry and a memory, the apparatus configured to:obtain (502) a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the applicability indication includes a first indication and / or a second indication;if the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a first type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, send (504), to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the first type; andif the at least one functionality configuration includes at least one functionality configuration of a second type and the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, send (506), to the network node, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of the second type.
32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform the method (500) of any of claims 2 to 11.
33. Apparatus in a network node for receiving an indication from a wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication device has at least one functionality configuration that uses an artificial intelligence or machine learning, AI / ML, model, and has a configuration for sending an applicability indication of applicability of the functionality at the wireless communication device, wherein the configuration for sending the applicability indication includes a first indication and / or a second indication, the apparatus comprising processing circuitry and a memory, the apparatus configured to:if the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the first indication, receive (602), from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a first type; and / orif the configuration for sending the indication of applicability includes the second indication, receive (604), from the wireless communication device, an indication of applicability at the wireless communication device of the at least one functionality configuration of a second type.
34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform the method (600) of any of claims 13 to 23.