Management of a list of active transmission configuration indicators (TCI) states

Abstract

In example embodiments, there is disclosed an apparatus for: maintaining an active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state list comprising multiple active TCI states including an indicated TCI state and a first TCI state, wherein the first TCI state is not an indicated TCI state; operating a timer for at least the first TCI state; in dependence upon an expiry of the timer, updating the active TCI states list to remove at least the first TCI state, while maintaining the indicated TCI state in the active TCI states list.

Description

[0001] Management of a list of active transmission configuration indicators (TCI) states

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0003]

[0001] This application claims priority from, and the benefit of, India Patent Application No. 202541010609, filed February 7, 2025, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0004] TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0005]

[0002] Examples of the disclosure relate to management of a list of active transmission configuration indicators (TCI) states.

[0006] BACKGROUND

[0007]

[0003] Modern telecommunication systems and the standards that define them are complex and evolving.

[0008]

[0004] A transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state, in this document, relates to an association between an identifier of the TCI state and a signal used for beam management.

[0009]

[0005] A network can configure a list of active TCI states for monitoring by the UE. The network can indicate a TCI state to a user equipment (UE).

[0010] BRIEF SUMMARY

[0011]

[0006] It would be desirable to provide for UE initiated management of the list of active transmission configuration indicators (TCI) states.

[0012]

[0007] It would be desirable for such management of the list of active transmission configuration indicators (TCI) states to be mirrored at the network without requiring additional signaling between the UE and network.

[0013]

[0008] It would be desirable to use existing uplink signaling to the network from the UE to inform the network that UE-initiated management of the list of active transmission configuration indicators (TCI) states has occurred.

[0014]

[0009] It would be desirable to use existing uplink signaling to the network from the UE to inform the network how UE-initiated management of the list of active transmission configuration indicators (TCI) states has changed the list of active transmission configuration indicators (TCI) states.

[0015]

[0010] It would be desirable change the list of active transmission configuration indicators (TCI) states in a pre-determined manner based on use of existing uplink signaling to the network, such as a UE initiated beam management report.

[0016] [Oil] The UE and network can follow the same procedure, based on the beam management report to synchronize an update to the list of active TCI states without additional signaling.

[0017]

[0012] According to various, but not necessarily all, embodiments there is provided examples as claimed in the appended claims.

[0013] While the above examples of the disclosure and optional features are described separately, it is to be understood that their provision in all possible combinations and permutations is contained within the disclosure. It is to be understood that various examples of the disclosure can comprise any or all the features described in respect of other examples of the disclosure, and vice versa. Also, it is to be appreciated that any one or more or all the features, in any combination, may be implemented by / comprised in / performable by an apparatus, a method, and / or instructions as desired, and as appropriate. The description of a function should additionally be considered to also disclose any means suitable for performing that function.

[0018] BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0019]

[0014] Some examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020]

[0015] FIGs. 1 to 11 show examples of the subject matter described herein.

[0021]

[0016] The figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features and views of the figures can be shown schematically or exaggerated in scale in the interest of clarity and conciseness. For example, the dimensions of some elements in the figures can be exaggerated relative to other elements to aid explication. Similar reference numerals are used in the figures to designate similar features. For clarity, all reference numerals are not necessarily displayed in all figures.

[0022] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023]

[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a network 100 comprising a plurality of network entities including terminal apparatus 110, node apparatus 120 and one or more network apparatus 130. The terminal apparatus 110 and node apparatus 120 communicate 124 with each other. The one or more network apparatus 130 communicate 128 with the node apparatus 120.

[0024]

[0018] In some examples the one or more network apparatus 130 communicate with the terminal apparatus 110. The one or more network apparatus 130 can, in some examples, communicate with each other. The one or more node apparatus 120 can, in some examples, communicate 126 with each other. The network 100 can be a cellular network comprising a plurality of cells 122 each served by a node apparatus 120. In this example, the interface between the terminal apparatus 110 and a node apparatus 120 defining a cell 122 is a wireless interface 124.The node apparatus 120 comprises one or more cellular radio transceivers. The terminal apparatus 110 comprises one or more cellular radio transceivers.

[0025]

[0019] In the example illustrated the cellular network 100 is a third generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network in which the terminal apparatus 110 are user equipment (UE) and the node apparatus 120 can be access nodes such as base stations.

[0026]

[0020] A user equipment comprises a mobile equipment. Where reference is made to user equipment that reference includes and encompasses, wherever possible, a reference to mobile equipment.

[0021] In some examples, during operation, a user equipment 110 comprises a mobile equipment comprising a smart card for authentication / encryption etc. such as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM). In some examples, during operation, a user equipment 110 comprises mobile equipment comprising circuitry embedded as part of the user equipment 110 for authentication / encryption such as software SIM.

[0027]

[0022] The node apparatus 120 can be any suitable access node such as a base station or transmission reception point. The node apparatus 120 can be a network element responsible for radio transmission and reception in one or more cells 122, to or from the UE 110. The node apparatus 120 can be a network element in a Radio Access Network (RAN), an Open-Radio Access Network (O-RAN) or any other suitable type of network.

[0028]

[0023] The network apparatus 130 can be part of a core network. The network apparatus 130 can be configured to manage functions relating to connectivity for the UEs 110. For example, the network apparatus 130 can be configured to manage functions such as connectivity, mobility, authentication, authorization, and / or other suitable functions. In some examples the network apparatus 130 can comprise an Access and Mobility management Function (AMF) and / or a User Plane Function (UPF) or any other suitable entities.

[0029]

[0024] In the example of FIG. 1 the network apparatus 130 is shown as a single entity. In some examples the network apparatus 130 could be distributed across a plurality of entities. For example, the network apparatus 130 could be cloud based or distributed in any other suitable manner. The network apparatus 130 can be a core network node.

[0030]

[0025] The network 100 can be a 4G or 5G network, for example. It can for example be a New Radio (NR) network that uses gNB or eNB as access nodes 120. New Radio is the 3GPP name for 5G technology. In such cases the node apparatus 120 can comprise gNodeBs (gNBs) 120 configured to provide user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE 110 and / or to perform any other suitable functions. The gNBs 120 are interconnected with each other by means of an X2 / Xn interface 126. The gNBs are also connected by means of the N2 interface 128 to the network apparatus 130. The gNBs can be connected to an AMF or any other suitable network apparatus 130. Other types of networks and interfaces could be used in other examples. Other types of network could comprise next generation mobile and communication network, for example, a 6G network.

[0031]

[0026] The term ‘beam’ refers to directional transmission or reception of signals using beamforming techniques. It is sometime referred to as spatial filtering.

[0032]

[0027] FIG 2 illustrates beams 20 used for transmission (Tx) and / or reception (Rx) at a network node. In this example at a transmission reception point (TRP) 2 of a network node 120. In this example, there are two TRPs 2 . These may be TRPs for the same network node or TRPs for different network nodes 120.

[0033]

[0028] FIG 2 also illustrates beams 20 used for reception (Rx) and / or transmission (Tx) at a terminal node 110, which in this example is a user equipment (UE). In some examples a UE has a capability for reception beam forming . Some but not necessarily all UE 110 also have a capability for transmission beam forming

[0029] Beam-forming can for example be achieved by introducing phase, and optionally amplitude adjustments to signals transmitted / received by different antenna elements. This can be achieved in an analogue domain, in a digital domain or in both analogue domain and digital domain, and is sometimes referred to as spatial filtering.

[0034]

[0030] From Rel-15 of 5G NR, beam management has been specified in 3 procedures controlled by the network: Procedure#! (P1), Procedure#2 (P2) and Procedure#3 (P3). These are described in 3GPP TS 38.214 Section 5.1.5 (TCI and QCL framework) and 5.1.6 (CSI-RS reception procedures).

[0035]

[0031] The following beam management procedures are supported within one or multiple TRPs 2 of the serving cell:

[0036] - P1 is used to enable UE measurement on different TRP Tx beams to support selection of TRP Tx beams / UE Rx beam(s), and it typically includes an intra / inter-TRP Tx beam sweep with e.g. synchronization signal block (SSB) beams.

[0037] - P2 is used to enable UE measurement on different TRP Tx beams to possibly change inter / intra-TRP Tx beam(s), e.g. for beam refinement than in P1 by using narrower Channel State Information (CSI) beams compared to SSB beams.

[0038] - P3 is used to enable UE measurement on the same TRP Tx beam to change UE Rx beam in the case UE uses beamforming (e.g. mmW arrays on UEs for Frequency Range (FR) 2 operation). P3 may use aperiodic Channel State Information-reference signal (CSI-RS).

[0039]

[0032] Rel-15 to Rel-18 has then specified periodic, semi-persistent and aperiodic CSI reporting.

[0040]

[0033] TCI (Transmission Configuration Indicator) is used to indicate a transmission configuration for a given Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) or Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH). It helps the User Equipment (UE) determine which beamforming configuration to use for receiving data transmitted by the network.

[0041]

[0034] A TCI state 30 is associated with a beam 20. The TCI state informs a UE 110 about the specific beamforming configuration to use, which in turn determines a beam direction for data transmission and / or for data reception. This helps improve the link budget and overall performance of the communication system,

[0042]

[0035] The network provides the UE 110 with multiple TCI states 30, each corresponding to a specific beamforming configuration. As illustrated in FIG 3, a TCI state 30 is associated with a signal used for controlling beamforming via beam id 34 (beam index) and the TCI state can be identified via TCI id 32 (TCI index).

[0043]

[0036] When the network schedules data transmission to the UE, it includes the TCI id in the control signaling. The TCI id 32 points to one of the pre-configured TCI states 30. Based on the TCI id 32 in a downlink indication 42 , the UE 110 can select the indicated TCI state 30_c (the current TCI state) and its associated beamforming configuration for the indicated / current beam 20_c. This ensures that the UE 110 uses the best possible beam direction for receiving (and / or transmitting) data.

[0037] The network can dynamically adjust the indicated TCI state 30_c based on real-time conditions such as UE movement, channel conditions, and interference. This helps maintain optimal communication performance.

[0044]

[0038] 3GPP TS 38.331 (RRC Protocol Specification) defines an information element for configuring a TCI state 30. The IE CandidateTCI-State IE defines a TCI state configuration which associates one or more reference-type signals with a corresponding quasi-colocation (QCL) type. The TCI state configuration comprises at least a TCI id 32 ( tci-x-Stateld-r18) and at least a beam id 34 (ssb-lndex, csi-RS-lndex)

[0045]

[0039] Both the ssb-lndex and csi-RS-lndex identify a signal used for controlling beamforming, which may be referred to herein as a ‘reference signal’. It is noted that the general literature does not consistently refer to SSB as a reference signal.

[0046]

[0040] QCL (Quasi Co-Location) refers to a concept used in 5G NR (New Radio) to describe the relationship between different reference signals. This relationship helps the User Equipment (UE) to make certain assumptions about the channel properties, which can improve the accuracy of channel estimation and overall communication performance. There are different types of QCL, each specifying different assumptions about the channel properties.

[0047]

[0041] Rel-17 introduced the “unified” TCI framework, meaning that TCI states providing QCL assumptions for the reception of DL signals and channels can be used for the transmission of UL signals and channels to determine UL TX spatial filter (beamforming configuration).

[0048]

[0042] As illustrated in FIG 4, there is a pool 82 of TCI states configured via RRC and a subset of these configured TCI states is activated via MAC-CE with up to 8 TCI codepoints, each codepoint pointing to either separate or joint DL / UL active TCI states. This subset of the configured TCI states, which are active, can be referred to as a list of active TCI states or the TCI active state list 80.

[0049]

[0043] The presence of a TCI state in the TCI active state list 80 means that the UE actively maintains time / frequency synchronization to relevant reference signal associated with the TCI state (e.g. SSB beam, CSI-RS beam).

[0050]

[0044] The UE can use a target TCI as an indicated TCI state, without additional reception of the reference signal associated with that TCI state, if that target TCI state is on the TCI active state list 80.

[0051]

[0045] The unified TCI framework defines the concept of indicated TCI state. That means that one or multiple (in case of multi-TRP for instance) of the active configured TCI states is / are an indicated TCI state(s) at a time. The indicated TCI state can be joint DL and UL TCI state, or separate DL and separate UL TCI states. The indicated TCI state is the current, in use TCI state.

[0052]

[0046] Rel-17 introduced the unified TCI framework for s-TRP, with one indicated joint DL and UL at a time, or one indicated DL and one indicate UL TCI state at a time for the UE. Rel-18 then extended the unified TCI framework for m-TRP, with N>1 (e.g. 2) indicated joint TCI states at a time, or N>1 (e.g. 2) indicated DL TCI states and N>1 (e.g. 2) indicated UL TCI states at a time for the UE.

[0047] The pool 82 of configured TCI states 30 is provided via 'tci-StatesToAddModList' , defined in PDSCH-Config. The max size of the pool is currently 128 TCI states.

[0053]

[0048] The active TCI states list 80 is a subset from tci-StatesToAddModList specified by a (unified) TCI States Activation / Deactivation MAC CE. The max size of this list is currently 8.

[0054]

[0049] For each PDSCH scheduling, the TCI field in downlink control information (DCI) indicates a specific index of the list of active TCI states as the indicated state 30_c.

[0055]

[0050] In this example, but not necessarily all examples the configured TCI states 30 is controlled by layer three (L3) signaling, the active TCI states list 80 is controlled via layer 2 (L2) signaling and the indicated TCI state is indicated via layer one (L1) signaling.

[0056]

[0051] FIG 5 illustrates an example of a beam / TCI switch procedure 40. signal 42 indicating a target TCI state 30_2, switching 44 the indicated (current, in use) TCI state 30_c from an old TCI state 30_1 to a target TCI state 30_2. Switching the TCI state, switches the current beam 20_c from a beam 20_1 associated with an old TCI state 30_1 to a target TCI state 30_2. .

[0057]

[0052] An example of the signal 42 indicating a target TCI state 30_2 is the Unified TCI States Activation / Deactivation MAC CE which includes an identifier 32 of a target TCI state (see Figure 6.1.3.47-1 of 3GPP TS 38.321). The identifier 32 of a target TCI state is TCI state ID. This field indicates the TCI state identified by TCI-Stateld as specified in 3GPP TS 38.331

[0058]

[0053] The signal 42 indicating a target TCI state 30_2 can also be called a switch command in the specifications. It commands a switch of the indicated (current, in use) TCI state 30_c from being an old TCI state 30_1 to being a target TCI state 30_2. At least the target TCI state 30_2 is expressly indicated in the signal 42.

[0059]

[0054] When a signal 42 indicating a target TCI state 30_2 (a TCI switching command) is received by the UE 110, the switch should be performed within a maximum time period. There is a timing (T) 46 after which the TCI switching is required to be completed. The UE will complete the switch 44 at or before the timing (T) 46 after which the TCI switching is required to be completed

[0060] The timing (T) 46 after which the TCI switching is required to be completed is defined by the standards (and therefore ‘known’ to UE 110 and the network).

[0061] The value depends on several parameters including ‘known’ / ’unknown’ conditions of the target TCI state (see 8.15.2-8.16.2 of TS 38.133)

[0062] The downlink TCI state is known if the following conditions are met:

[0063] - During the period from the last transmission of the RS resource used forthe L1-RSRP measurement reporting for the target downlink TCI state to the completion of active downlink TCI state switch, where the RS resource forL1-RSRP measurement is the RS in target downlink TCI state or QCLed to the target downlink TCI state- Downlink TCI state switch command is received within 1280 ms upon the last transmission of the RS resource for beam reporting or measurement

[0064] - The UE has sent at least 1 L 1-RSRP report for the target downlink TCI state before the downlink TCI state switch command

[0065] - The target downlink TCI state remains detectable during the downlink TCI state switching period - The SSB associated with the downlink TCI state remain detectable during the downlink TCI switching period

[0066] - SNR of the downlink TCI state > -3 dB

[0067] - The SSB can be associated with either the serving cell PCI or a PCI different from serving cell PCI.

[0068] Otherwise, the downlink TCI state is unknown.

[0069] The uplink TCI state is known if the following conditions are met:

[0070] - During the period from the last transmission of the RS resource used forthe L1-RSRP measurement reporting forthe target DL / UL TCI state to the completion of active DL / UL TCI state switch, where the RS resource for L1-RSRP measurement is the RS in target DL / UL TCI state or QCLed to the target DL / UL TCI state

[0071] - DL / UL TCI state switch command is received within 1280 ms upon the last transmission of the RS resource for beam reporting or measurement

[0072] - The UE has sent at least 1 L1-RSRP report for the target DL / UL TCI state before the DL / UL TCI state switch command

[0073] - The target DL / UL TCI state remains detectable during the DL / UL TCI state switching period - The RS configured in target uplink T Cl state remains detectable during the uplink T Cl state switching period

[0074] - SNR of the RS configured in target uplink TCI state > -3 dB

[0075] The SSB associated with the uplink TCI state remain detectable during the uplink TCI switching period - SNR of the uplink TCI state > -3 dB

[0076] - The SSB can be associated with either the serving cell PCI or a PCI different from serving cell PCI.

[0077] Otherwise, the uplink TCI state is unknown.

[0078]

[0055] FIG 6 illustrates an example of a use equipment-initiated (UEI) reporting procedure 50, for example a UEI beam management (UEIBM) reporting procedure.

[0079]

[0056] The UE 110 is configured with at least one e vent / cond ition 51 , and then the UE 110 initiates reporting if this at least one event / condition 51 occurs or is satisfied. The report 60 can only be transmitted if the UE has configured UL resources for the transmission. The report 60 is sent by the UE 110 only when needed, avoiding unnecessary beam reports.

[0080]

[0057] Rel-19 MIMO work item description (RP-234007) defines different trigger events 51.

[0058] Event-2: If the quality of at least one new beam becomes a “threshold value” better than the current beam, a UEI report 60 is triggered. For example, the network may configure the UE with a certain threshold, for example 3 d B, and when the UE measures a new beam to have a L1 -RSRP which is 3 dB better than the L1-RSRP of the current beam, then a UEI report is triggered. L1-RSRP refers to layer one (physical layer), reference signal received power.

[0081]

[0059] Other agreed events include:

[0082] Event-1, where the quality of the current beam is worse than a certain threshold.

[0083] Event-7, where the quality (e.g. , such as L1-RSRP) of at least one new beam, becomes a threshold value better than the RS derived from the activated TCI state with the Q-th best quality, may be used to update the active TCI state list. The new event may be based on when a quality of K new beams becomes a threshold (r) value better than the reference signal (RS) derived from the activated TCI state 30 with the Q-th best quality. Thus, the UE 110 may be configured to evaluate whether the quality of the K-th strongest non-active TCI state / beam becomes a threshold value better than the quality of the Q-th strongest activated TCI state / beam. K and Q may be integers for example, but in alternate examples one or more of the parameters may be relative values.

[0084]

[0060] The strength or quality of a beam may be measured, for example, with RSRP (such as L1 or L3-type for example) or SI NR or other metric. The parameters, such as M, K and the threshold, may be configured in the UE 110 based upon a message or signal from the gNB.

[0085]

[0061] The UE may use the parameters and beam strengths (such as L1-RSRP or L1 -SI NR for example) to compare a single active beam relative to a single non-active beam to determine if or when a report should be sent to the gNB.

[0086]

[0062] As used herein, a beam is a configured beam when the beam corresponds to a configured TCI state, a beam is an active beam when the beam corresponds to a TCI state on the list of active TCI states and a beam is a current beam when the beam corresponds to an indicated TCI state (current, in use TCI state).

[0087]

[0063] The UEI UL report procedure 50 comprises: the UE sends a first uplink (report procedure) signal 54_1 which precedes sending a second uplink (report procedure) signal 54_2 which comprises the UEI report 60. The 1stUL report procedure signal 54_1 is transmitted in a first UL channel, e.g. a 1stphysical uplink control channel (PUCCH) . The 2ndUL report procedure signal 54_2 is transmitted in a second UL channel, at a later time.

[0088]

[0064] Two examples of the UEI UL report procedure 50 are currently agreed:

[0089] In Mode A, second the UL channel for the UEI report is dynamically scheduled by the gNB 120. The UL indication requests configuration of resources for UL of the UEI report 60.

[0090] In Mode B, second the UL channel for the UEI report is pre-configured by the gNB 120. The UL indication notifies the use of pre-configured resources for UL of the UEI report 60.

[0065] In more detail, for Mode A: The UE 110 sends in a first UL channel (1st PUCCH) an indication 54_1 to request to the gNB resources in a second UL channel to carry the UEI report 60. The gNB indicates 53 via DCI to the UE 110 a resource in a second UL channel to carry the UEI report 60. The UE sends the UEI report 60 on the second UL channel 54_2.

[0091]

[0066] In more detail, for Mode B: The UE 110 sends in a first UL channel (1st PUCCH) an indication 54_1 to notify to the gNB 120 that a UEI report 60 will be transmitted in a second UL channel 54_2I; the UE sends the UEI report 60 on the second UL channel 54_2.

[0092]

[0067] Mode A (DCI) is expected to be the baseline, supported by all UEs capable of UEI reporting. Mode B is expected to be optional and may be supported only by some UEs.

[0093]

[0068] In the context of which reference signals (RS) should be monitored / measured for current and new beams by the UE, for Event-2, the UE is supposed to monitor / measure the current beam 20_c and a certain number of new beams ( “new” beams are sometimes referred to as well as “candidate beams” or “candidate new beams”).

[0094]

[0069] The RS for the current beam 20_c is associated to the indicated TCI state 30_c. In some examples, the RS is the RS in the indicated TCI state. In some examples, the RS is the SSB which is QCLed with the actual RS in the indicated TCI state. In some examples, current and new beams are of the same “type”, e.g., either all SSBs or all CSI-RSs. The RS(s) for the new beam(s) are explicitly configured by the network via RRC.

[0095]

[0070] The UEI report 60 can depend upon the triggering event 51.

[0096]

[0071] In at least some examples, the UEI report for Event-2 with L1-RSRP as quality metric, reports N beams, for example the top N beams, with N>1 configured by the network via RRC, and at least one of those N beams satisfies the triggering event. Then, in addition to those N beams, the network may configure via RRC the UE to also report the current beam (the beam associated with the indicated TCI state).

[0097]

[0072] In terms of structure of the UEI report, the following is currently agreed:

[0098]

[0099]

[0100]

[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the beam management (BM) report 60, reports N beams, with their beam index (CRI or SSBRI) and their (differential) RSRP. In addition to that, the UE may be configured to report 62 the RSRP of current beam 20_c without its beam index.

[0101]

[0074] The beam index 34 is referred to above as the beam id 34. It can be ssb-lndex or csi-RS-lndex.

[0102]

[0075] It has not yet been finalized how a UEIBM report 60 will be with Event-1 and Event-7, but the current assumption is that Event-2 design will be reused as much as possible, with a few modifications: e.g.

[0103] For Event-1 , the current beam measurement is always reported 62;

[0104] For Event-7, instead of reporting the current beam measurement the UE reports the beam associated to the activated TCI state 30_q with the Q-th best quality.

[0105]

[0076] FIG 8 and 9 illustrate examples of an apparatus (UE) 110 comprising means for:

[0106] transmitting 202 a beam management report 60, wherein the beam management report 60 identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states 30; and

[0107] updating 90 an active TCI states list 80 comprising one or more active TCI states 30, wherein the active TCI states list 80 includes at least an indicated TCI state 30_c, and the updating 90 is in dependence upon the beam management report 60.

[0108]

[0077] As previously described, an association between a beam reference signal and a TCI state 30 is defined via a configuration of the TCI state 30 (pool 82). A configuration message comprises a data structure comprising a reference signal identifier 34 and a TCI identifier 32. In at least some examples, the reference signal identifier 34 is beam identifier, for example, an index of a spatially constrained downlink reference signal e.g. csi-RS-index or csi-RS-index.

[0109]

[0078] The updated active TCI states list 80 has multiple active TCI states 30. In at least some examples, the updating 90 of the active TCI states list 80 occurs autonomously at the apparatus (UE) 110.

[0079] In at least some examples the apparatus (UE) 110 comprises means for determining that the apparatus (UE) 110 has a capability to have more than one active TCI state 30 in the active TCI states list 80. The updating 90 of the active TCI states list 80 in dependence upon the beam management report 60 is then conditional upon the apparatus (UE) 110 having the capability to have more than one active TCI state 30 in the active TCI states list 80. For example, autonomous updating 90 can be dependent upon UE capability for event-triggered reporting.

[0110]

[0080] In at least some examples, the updating 90 of the active TCI states list 80 in dependence upon the beam management report 60 comprises: updating 90 the active TCI states list 80 in dependence upon at least one or more of the one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report 60, each of the identified one or more reference signals being associated with a respective TCI state 30.

[0111]

[0081] In at least some examples, the updating 90 of the active TCI states list 80 in dependence upon the beam management report 60 comprises: updating 90 the active TCI states list 80 to include at least one or more of the TCI states 30 associated with one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report 60.

[0112]

[0082] Referring to FIG. 9, in at least some examples, the updating 90 of the active TCI states list 80 in dependence upon the beam management report 60 comprises adding at least one or more of the TCI states 30 associated with the one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report 60.

[0113]

[0083] In at least some examples, the updating 90 of the active TCI states list 80 in dependence upon the beam management report 60 comprises adding at least a TCI state 30 associated with a reference signal identified in the transmitted beam management report 60 that has an associated best quality measurement in the beam management report 60 .

[0114]

[0084] In at least some examples, the updating 90 of the active TCI states list 80 in dependence upon the beam management report 60 comprises adding at least a number of TCI states 30 associated with reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report 60 that have an associated quality measurement in the beam management report 60 that is better than a threshold quality measurement. The threshold can, for example, be the Lthbest quality measurement in the beam measurement report 60.

[0115]

[0085] In at least some examples, the number of the TCI states 30 added to the active TCI list is dependent upon a UE capability.

[0116]

[0086] Referring to FIG. 9, in at least some examples, the updating 90 of the active TCI states list 80 in dependence upon the beam management report 60 comprises removing, from the active TCI states list 80, at least one or more of the TCI states 30, associated with the one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report 60.

[0087] In at least some examples, the updating 90 of the active TCI states list 80 in dependence upon the beam management report 60 comprises removing, from the active TCI states list 80, at least one or more of the TCI states 30, associated with reference signals that are identified in the transmitted beam management report 60 and have an associated quality measurement that is below a threshold. The can, for example, be the Lthbest quality measurement in the beam measurement report 60.

[0117]

[0088] Some of the TCI states 30 in the active TCI states list 80 may be reported in the report 60 but may still have to be removed if they are not among the top ‘L’ beams in the report 60. This rule would not apply to the current / in use / indicated TCI state 30_c. Updating 90 the active TCI states list 80 comprises removing, from the active TCI states list 80, at least one or more of the TCI states 30, associated with the one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report 60 but not removing from the active TCI states list 80, the current indicated TCI state.

[0118]

[0089] In at least some examples, the updating 90 of the active TCI states list 80 in dependence upon the beam management report 60 comprises removing, from the active TCI states list 80, at least one or more of the TCI states 30, associated with respective reference signals that are not identified in the transmitted beam management report 60,

[0119]

[0090] Referring to FIG. 9, in at least some examples, the updating 90 of the active TCI states list 80 in dependence upon the beam management report 60 comprises keeping an indicated TCI state 30_c in the active TCI states list 80. In at least some examples, the updating 90 of the active TCI states list 80 in dependence upon the beam management report 60 comprises keeping some or all active TCI states 30 of the active TCI states list 80.

[0120]

[0091] In at least some examples, the beam management report 60 is a UE initiated (UEI) beam management report 60.

[0121]

[0092] In at least some examples, the updating 90 of the active TCI states list 80 in dependence upon the beam management report 60 comprises, when a candidate TCI state 30 is a joint TCI state 30, relaxing conditions for activating the uplink TCI state 30 associated with the joint TCI state 30. For example, reducing a required number of instances of pathloss-reference signal reception. In some examples, the UE 110 determines that at least one TCI state 30 of the one or more TCI states 30 is a joint TCI state 30 and / or a Pathloss-reference signal for an uplink TCI state 30 of the joint TCI state 30 is an SSB; and based on the determining that the at least one TCI state 30 of the one or more TCI state 30 is a joint TCI state 30 and / or the Pathloss-reference signal for the uplink TCI state 30 of the joint TCI state 30 is a SSB, the UE determines that no PL-RS is required for synchronization or less than a number of PL-RS is required for synchronization.

[0122]

[0093] In at least some examples, the active TCI states list 80 comprises an indicated TCI state 30_c and a first TCI state 30, where the first TCI state 30 is not an indicated TCI state. In such some bit not necessarily all examples, exampleand the apparatus (UE) 110 comprises means for:operating a timer 92 for at least the first TCI state 30;

[0123] in dependence upon an expiry of the timer 92, updating 90 the active TCI states list 80 to remove at least the first TCI state 30 comprised in the active TCI states list 80, while maintaining the indicated TCI state 30_c in the active TCI states list 80.

[0124]

[0094] In some examples, the updating based on the timer 92 is autonomous. In at least some examples, the apparatus (UE) 110 is configured to start the timer for at least the first TCI state 30 when the first TCI state 30 is added to the active TCI states list 80. This keeps a (non-indicated, active) TCI state active for time X and remove that TCI state 30 from the active TCI states 80 list when timer 92 for that TCI state 30 expires. In at least some examples, a duration between the start of the timer and the expiry of the timer is dependent upon one or more of: UE capabilities, configuration by network.

[0125]

[0095] In at least some examples, the apparatus (UE) 110 is configured to perform monitoring to maintain synchronization for TCI states 30 in the active TCI states list 80 but not for TCI states 30 not in the active TCI states list 80.

[0126]

[0096] In at least some examples, the apparatus (UE) 110 is configured to perform monitoring to maintain synchronization for a TCI state 30 in the active TCI states list 80 and is configured to stop performing monitoring to maintain synchronization for a TCI state when that TCI state 30 is removed from the active TCI states list 80.

[0127]

[0097] The Figs also disclose a network apparatus 120 comprising means for:

[0128] receiving, from a user equipment 110, a beam management report 60, wherein the beam management report 60 identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states 30; and

[0129] updating 90, for the user equipment, an active TCI states list 80 comprising one or more active TCI states 30, wherein the active TCI states list 80 includes at least an indicated TCI state 30_c, and the updating 90 is in dependence upon the beam management report 60.

[0130]

[0098] This keeps the active TCI states list 80 synchronized between the user equipment and the network apparatus 120.

[0131]

[0099] It will be appreciated from the foregoing that this document also disclsoes an apparaus (UE) 110 comprising means for:

[0132] maintaining an active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states list 80 comprising multiple active TCI states 30 including an indicated TCI state 30_c and a first TCI state 30, wherein the first TCI state 30 is not an indicated TCI state;

[0133] operating a timer for at least the first TCI state;

[0134] in dependence upon an expiry of the timer, updating 90 the active TCI states list 80 to remove at least the first TCI state 30, while maintaining the indicated TCI state 30_c in the active TCI states list 80.

[0100] In some examples, the updating based on the timer 92 is autonomous.

[0135]

[0101] In at least some examples, the apparatus (UE) 110 is configured to start the timer for at least the first TCI state 30 when the first TCI state 30 is added to the active TCI states list 80. This keeps a (nonindicated, active) TCI state active for time X and remove that TCI state 30 from the active TCI states 80 list when timer 92 for that TCI state 30 expires.

[0136]

[0102] In at least some examples, a duration between the start of the timer and the expiry of the timer is dependent upon one or more of: UE capabilities, configuration by network.

[0137]

[0103] In at least some examples, the apparatus (UE) 110 is configured to perform monitoring to maintain synchronization for TCI states 30 in the active TCI states list 80 but not for TCI states 30 not in the active TCI states list 80.

[0138]

[0104] In the context of UEIBM event-7, the main objective of defining such an event is to indicate to the network the TCI state(s) 30 which are currently a threshold value better than the activated TCI states 30_c that the UE is currently monitoring.

[0139]

[0105] It's logical then that the outcome of reporting such an event would be that the network 120 shall send a MAC-CE command to the UE to update the active TCI state list 80 that the UE is maintaining.

[0140]

[0106] The sequence of signaling message exchange when the UEIBM event 7 occurs and the update 90 of the active TCI state list 80 as a consequence has been described with reference to FIG 6. Once the UE sends the L1-RSRP report 22 indicating that one or more beams are a threshold value better than the RS derived from the activated TCI states: the gnB 120 transmits a MAC-CE command (not illustrated) to the UE with the updated active TCI state list 80; the UE, after receiving the MAC-CE command, transmits a HARQ to the gNB.

[0141]

[0107] Since the main objective of defining UEIBM in 3GPP is to reduce the overhead and latency, there is still a considerable delay between the occurrence of event 7 and the update 90 of the active TCI state list 80 by the UE. To address this issue, the following are being considered:

[0142] Alt-1 proposes to automatically activate reported new beams.

[0143] Alt-3 proposes that, after the MAC CE, a very fast activation delay is required by the UE without additional SSB reception for T / F sync for the reported new beams.

[0144] Alt-2 is similar to Alt-3, and just restrict this very fast activation delay after the MAC CE to a subset of the reported new beams, with this subset indicated for example by the UE.

[0145]

[0108] The issue is that these alternatives cannot be implemented in the current form because of some implementation limitations that we describe here below:

[0146]

[0109] When the active TCI state list 80 contains only one TCI state 30, then that TCI state 30 is the indicated TCI state 30_c as well. In this case, the network does not need to send a DCI to indicate the TCI. In such a scenario, if the UE autonomously updates 90 the active TCI state list 80 with the TCI state 30 it has reported in the UEIBM report 22, then the network has no way of knowing that the indicated TCI statehas changed and when it has changed. Plus, such an option would mean that beam switching at the gNB would be decided at the UE, which specifications will not allow.

[0147]

[0110] An active TCI state list 80 also contains an identifier of the current / indicated beam. There can be up to 8 joint or up to 16 separate DL+UL TCI states on the active TCI state list 80 (codepoints 000-111).

[0148] [Hl] This implies that a UE can be synchronized for up to 8 DL TCI states (or less depending on UE capability) of which one of the TCI state will also be the current / indicated TCI state. An autonomous update 90 of the active TCI state list 80 after the UEIBM report 22 (if the UE were to update 90 all the active TCI (s) in the list 80 and the active TCI state list 80 has 8 joint entries ) could result in a situation where the current / indicated beam is no longer a part of the active TCI state list 80. Consequently, the UE would now have to be synchronized for the TCI states in the active TCI state list 80 as well as be synchronized for the current / indicated TCI state 30_c which is not a part of the active TCI state list 80 which in turn will lead to increased UE complexity.

[0149]

[0112] One problem addressed in this disclosure is how to enable a UE to perform autonomous update 90 of the active TCI state list 80 after a UEIBM report 22 without increasing the UE complexity as well as network implementation issues.

[0150]

[0113] In this disclosure we propose a set of rules which shall be applicable when the UE does an autonomous update 90 of the active TCI state list 80 after sending a UEIBM report 22.

[0151]

[0114] The UE shall autonomously update 90 the active TCI state list 80 if and only if the UE has the capability to have more than one active TCI state in the active TCI state list 80.

[0152]

[0115] The TCI states which are updated 90 in the active TCI state list 80 shall be the top ‘L’ beams of the UEIBM report 22.

[0153]

[0116] In one embodiment (embodiment#!), the UE append to the current active TCI state list 80 the TCI state(s) 30 which are part of the UEIBM report 22; the total number of active TCI states in the list 80 after the update 90 shall not exceed the number of active TCI states that the UE is capable of supporting.

[0154]

[0117] In another embodiment (embodiment #2), if the active TCI state list 80 contains more than one active TCI state 30, the UE can autonomously update 90 the active TCI state list 80 with the TCI state(s) 30 which are part of the UEIBM report 22, potentially removing some of the TCI states 30 in the active TCI state list 80, but shall not remove the current / indicated beam in the active TCI state list 80.

[0155]

[0118] In another embodiment (embodiment #3), once the UE autonomously updates 90 the active TCI state list 80, the TCI state(s) 30 that were added in the active TCI state list 80 based on the UEIBM report 22 shall be considered as synchronized till X ms, i.e., there shall be a timer associated with the autonomous update 90 of the active TCI state list 80. During the period the timer 92 is running, the UE keeps track of the fine DL synchronization of the TCI states, i.e., keeps the TCI states 30 active. On expiry of this timer 92, the TCI states may be considered deactivated and, before activation of any of such TCIstates 30, the UE shall have to do a time / frequency synchronization for the TCI states 30 i.e. network needs to activate those TCI states 30 through TCI state activation command if it wants to indicate them.

[0156]

[0119] In another embodiment, the UE may keep the TCI states 30 (excluding the indicated TCI state 30_c) active for a duration of time X (controlled by timer 92), which may be at least one of the following: subject to UE capabilities configured by the network predefined based on UE implementation, and in such case the UE will indicate to the network when it deactivates the TCI states.

[0157]

[0120] In another embodiment, the update 90 of the active TCI state list 80 with the TCI state(s) in the UEIBM report 22 happens only for some of the events. For example, the UE may be configured by network or it may be predefined by the standard that such update 90 is done by the UE only for event-7 or only for event-2 or only for event-1.

[0158]

[0121] In another embodiment, if the TCI state is a joint TCI state and the PL-RS is a SSB, then the Ue shall require fewer than currently defined 5 instances of PL-RS reception or no PL-RS reception to activate the uplink TCI state. This may be:

[0159] Predefined

[0160] Based on UE capability

[0161] Indicated in the UEIBM report 22

[0162]

[0122] One aspect of this disclosure is related to how the codewords of the new active TCI states are mapped upon receiving the UEIBM report 22.

[0163]

[0123] According to embodiment#!, the list 80 of TCI states are increased by adding the new TCI states 30 indicated in the report 22. This procedure is shown in FIG. 12. In this example the UE has an initial state with 4 active TCI states 30 (TCI#1 , #2, #3 and #4), and is configured to send UEIBM report 22 with 3 entries. In a UEIBM report 22 the UE reports 8 reference signals, including 2 of the active TCI states (1 and 4) as well as reference signals related to 6 other TCI states (5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10). As a result of the UEIBM report 22 the active TCI state list 80 is automatically updated 90 as in FIG. 12. From the updated TCI state list 80, the following can be observed:

[0164]

[0124] Although TCI states 3 and 4 were not in the UEIBM report 22, they are still in the active list 80 of TCI states (codewords 010 and 011).

[0165]

[0125] In the old active TCI state list 80 there were only 4 unused codewords, and the UEIBM contained 6 new beams. Therefore only 4 new beams are included in the active TCI state list 80. For that procedure, the chosen TCI states to be added may refer either to the first 4 reported RS, or the 4 strongest RSs. Fig.

[0166] 13 shows one example of TCI state update 90 according to embodiment #2. In this example, the same initial TCI states and UEIBM report 22 are used as in the example of Fig. 12, but TCI #3 is the indicated TCI state. According to the embodiment #2, the active TCI state list 80 is updated 90 after the UEIBM report 22, adding new TCI states and removing old TCI states that are not contained in the UEIBM report 22. The exemption for removing is made for the current beam (indicated TCI state). In this example, TCI#3is not in the UEIBM report 22, but it is maintained within the active TCI state list 80 as before. Additionally, TCI #1 and #4 are in the UEIBM report 22, and are maintained in the active TCI list 80. The only TCI state that is removed is TCI#2, which corresponds to the codeword 001. After the Update 90 this codeword now corresponds to TCI#5, which is the first new beam indicated in the UEIBM report 22. The codewords 100, 101, 110, and 111 are also updated 90 from not used, to include the new beams indicated in the UEIBM report 22.

[0167]

[0126] The advantage of this solution is that the UE can autonomously update 90 the TCI state list 80 after it has sent a UEIBM report 22 for event-7 without increasing the implementation complexity at the UE as well as the network.

[0168] SUPPORTING PARAGRAPHS

[0169]

[0127] There are present different sets of numbered paragraphs. Any of these paragraphs that do no refer to another paragraph could form the basis for an independent claim. Any of the paragraphs that do refer to another paragraph could form the basis for a dependent claim. Features present in one set of paragraphs can be combined with features present in other sets of paragraphs.

[0170]

[0128] 1. An apparatus comprising means for: transmitting a beam management report, wherein the beam management report identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states; and updating an active TCI states list comprising one or more active TCI states, wherein the active TCI states list includes at least an indicated TCI state, and the updating is in dependence upon the beam management report.

[0171]

[0129] 2.An apparatus as defined in paragraph 1, wherein an association between a beam reference signal and a TCI state is defined via a configuration of the TCI state, wherein the configuration message comprises a data structure comprising a reference signal identifier and a TCI identifier.

[0172]

[0130] 3. An apparatus as defined in paragraph 1 or 2, wherein the beam management report is a UE initiated (UEI) beam management report.

[0173]

[0131] 4. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , comprising means for determining that the apparatus has a capability to have more than one active TCI state in the active TCI states list, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report is conditional upon the apparatus having the capability to have more than one active TCI state in the active TCI states list.

[0174]

[0132] 5. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the updating of the active TCI states list is in dependence upon the beam management report comprises updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon at least one or more of the one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report, wherein each of the identified one or more reference signals is associated with a respective TCI state.

[0133] 6. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the updating of the active TCI states list is in dependence upon the beam management report comprises updating of the active TCI states list to include at least one or more of the TCI states associated with one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report.

[0175]

[0134] 7. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises adding at least one or more of the TCI states associated with the one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report.

[0176]

[0135] 8. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises adding at least a TCI state associated with a reference signal identified in the transmitted beam management report that has an associated best quality measurement in the beam management report .

[0177]

[0136] 9. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises adding at least a number of TCI states associated with reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report that have an associated quality measurement in the beam management report that is better than a threshold quality measurement.

[0178]

[0137] 10. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the number of the TCI states added to the active TCI list is dependent upon a UE capability.

[0179]

[0138] 11. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises removing, from the active TCI states list, at least one or more of the TCI states, associated with the one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report.

[0180]

[0139] 12. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises removing, from the active TCI states list, at least one or more of the TCI states, associated with reference signals that are identified in the transmitted beam management report and have an associated quality measurement that is below a threshold.

[0181]

[0140] 13. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises removing, from the active TCI states list, at least one or more of the TCI states, associated with respective reference signals that are not. identified in the transmitted beam management report,

[0182]

[0141] 14. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises keeping an indicated TCI state in the active TCI states list.

[0142] 15. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises keeping some or all active TCI states of the active TCI states list.

[0183]

[0143] 16. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises, when a candidate TCI state is a joint TCI state the conditions for activating the uplink TCI state associated with the joint TCI state are relaxed.

[0184]

[0144] 17. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the active TCI states list comprises an indicated TCI state and a first TCI state, wherein the first TCI state is not an indicated TCI state; and the apparatus comprises means for: operating a timer for at least the first TCI state; in dependence upon an expiry of the timer, updating the active TCI states list to remove at least the first TCI state comprised in the active TCI states list, while maintaining the indicated TCI state in the active TCI states list.

[0185]

[0145] 18. An apparatus as defined in paragraph 17, configured to start the timer for at least the first TCI state when the first TCI state is added to the active TCI states list.

[0186]

[0146] 19. An apparatus as defined in paragraph 17 or 18, wherein a duration between the start of the timer and the expiry of the timer is dependent upon one or more of: UE capabilities, configuration by network.

[0187]

[0147] 20. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the apparatus is configured to perform monitoring to maintain synchronization for TCI states in the active TCI states list but not for TCI states not in the active TCI states list.

[0188]

[0148] 21. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the apparatus is configured to perform monitoring to maintain synchronization for a TCI state in the active TCI states list and is configured to stop performing monitoring to maintain synchronization for a TCI state when that TCI state is removed from the active TCI states list.

[0189]

[0149] 22. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: transmitting a beam management report, wherein the beam management report identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states; and updating an active TCI states list comprising one or more active TCI states, wherein the active TCI states list includes at least an indicated TCI state, and the updating is in dependence upon the beam management report.

[0190]

[0150] 23. A method comprising: transmitting a beam management report, wherein the beam management report identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states; and updating an active TCI states list comprising one or more activeTCI states, wherein the active TCI states list includes at least an indicated TCI state, and the updating is in dependence upon the beam management report.

[0191]

[0151] 24. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: updating an active TCI states list comprising one or more active TCI states, wherein the active TCI states list includes at least an indicated TCI state, and the updating is in dependence upon a transmitted beam management report, wherein the beam management report identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states.

[0192]

[0152] 25. A network apparatus comprising means for: receiving, from a user equipment, a beam management report, wherein the beam management report identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states; and updating, for the user equipment, an active TCI states list comprising one or more active TCI states, wherein the active TCI states list includes at least an indicated TCI state, and the updating is in dependence upon the beam management report.

[0193]

[0153] 26. A method comprising: receiving, from a user equipment, a beam management report, wherein the beam management report identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states; and updating, for the user equipment, an active TCI states list comprising one or more active TCI states, wherein the active TCI states list includes at least an indicated TCI state, and the updating is in dependence upon the beam management report.

[0194]

[0154] 27. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving, from a user equipment, a beam management report, wherein the beam management report identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states; and updating, for the user equipment, an active TCI states list comprising one or more active TCI states, wherein the active TCI states list includes at least an indicated TCI state, and the updating is in dependence upon the beam management report.

[0195]

[0155] 28. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by a network apparatus, cause the network apparatus to perform at least the following: updating, for a user equipment, an active TCI states list comprising one or more active TCI states, wherein the active TCI states list includes at least an indicated TCI state, and the updating is in dependence upon a beam management report received from the user equipment, wherein the beam management report identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states.

[0196]

[0156] 1. A UE comprising means for: maintaining an active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state list comprising multiple active TCI states including an indicated TCI state and a first TCI state, wherein the first TCI state is not an indicated TCI state; operating a timer for at least the first TCI state; independence upon an expiry of the timer, updating the active TCI states list to remove at least the first TCI state, while maintaining the indicated TCI state in the active TCI states list.

[0197]

[0157] 2. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein the apparatus is configured to perform monitoring to maintain synchronization for TCI states in the active TCI states list but not for TCI states not in the active TCI states list.

[0198]

[0158] 3. An apparatus as defined in paragraph 1 or 2, configured to start the timer for at least the first TCI state when the first TCI state is added to the active TCI states list.

[0199]

[0159] 4. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein a duration between the start of the timer and the expiry of the timer is dependent upon one or more of: UE capabilities, configuration by network.

[0200]

[0160] 5. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph , wherein an association between a beam reference signal and a TCI state is defined via a configuration of the TCI state, wherein the configuration message comprises a data structure comprising a reference signal identifier and a TCI identifier.

[0201]

[0161] 6. An apparatus as defined in any preceding paragraph comprising means for: transmitting a beam management report, wherein the beam management report identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states; and updating an active TCI states list comprising one or more active TCI states, wherein the active TCI states list includes at least an indicated TCI state, and the updating is in dependence upon the beam management report.

[0202]

[0162] 7. An apparatus as defined in paragraph 6, wherein the beam management report is a UE initiated (UEI) beam management report.

[0203]

[0163] 8. An apparatus as defined in any of paragraphs 6 or 7, comprising means for determining that the apparatus has a capability to have more than one active TCI state in the active TCI states list, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report is conditional upon the apparatus having the capability to have more than one active TCI state in the active TCI states list.

[0204]

[0164] 9. An apparatus as defined in any of paragraphs 6 to 8, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list is in dependence upon the beam management report comprises updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon at least one or more of the one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report, wherein each of the identified one or more reference signals is associated with a respective TCI state.

[0205]

[0165] 10. An apparatus as defined in any of paragraphs 6 to 9, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list is in dependence upon the beam management report comprises updating of the active TCI states list to include at least one or more of the TCI states associated with one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report.

[0206]

[0166] 11. An apparatus as defined in any of paragraphs 6 to 10, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises adding at least one or more of theTCI states associated with the one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report.

[0207]

[0167] 12. An apparatus as defined in any of paragraphs 6 to 11 wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises adding at least a TCI state associated with a reference signal identified in the transmitted beam management report that has an associated best quality measurement in the beam management report .

[0208]

[0168] 13. An apparatus as defined in any of paragraphs 6 to 12, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises adding at least a number of TCI states associated with reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report that have an associated quality measurement in the beam management report that is better than a threshold quality measurement.

[0209]

[0169] 14. An apparatus as defined in any of paragraphs 6 to 13, wherein the number of the TCI states added to the active TCI list is dependent upon a UE capability.

[0210]

[0170] 15. An apparatus as defined in any of paragraphs 6 to 14, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises removing, from the active TCI states list, at least one or more of the TCI states, associated with the one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report.

[0211]

[0171] 16. An apparatus as defined in any of paragraphs 6 to 15, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises removing, from the active TCI states list, at least one or more of the TCI states, associated with reference signals that are identified in the transmitted beam management report and have an associated quality measurement that is below a threshold.

[0212]

[0172] 17. An apparatus as defined in any of paragraphs 6 to 16, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises removing, from the active TCI states list, at least one or more of the TCI states, associated with respective reference signals that are not. identified in the transmitted beam management report,

[0213]

[0173] 18. An apparatus as defined in any of paragraphs 6 to 17, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises keeping an indicated TCI state in the active TCI states list.

[0214]

[0174] 19. An apparatus as defined in any of paragraphs 6 to 18, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises keeping some or all active TCI states of the active TCI states list.

[0215]

[0175] 20. An apparatus as defined in any of paragraphs 6 to 19, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises, when a candidate TCI state is ajoint TCI state the conditions for activating the uplink TCI state associated with the joint TCI state are relaxed.

[0216]

[0176] 21. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: maintaining an active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state list comprising multiple active TCI states including an indicated TCI state and a first TCI state, wherein the first TCI state is not an indicated TCI state; operating a timer for at least the first TCI state; in dependence upon an expiry of the timer, updating the active TCI states list to remove at least the first TCI state, while maintaining the indicated TCI state in the active TCI states list.

[0217]

[0177] 22. A method comprising: maintaining an active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state list comprising multiple active TCI states including an indicated TCI state and a first TCI state, wherein the first TCI state is not an indicated TCI state; operating a timer for at least the first TCI state; in dependence upon an expiry of the timer, updating the active TCI states list to remove at least the first TCI state, while maintaining the indicated TCI state in the active TCI states list.

[0218]

[0178] 23. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: maintaining an active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state list comprising multiple active TCI states including an indicated TCI state and a first TCI state, wherein the first TCI state is not an indicated TCI state; operating a timer for at least the first TCI state; in dependence upon an expiry of the timer, updating the active TCI states list to remove at least the first TCI state, while maintaining the indicated TCI state in the active TCI states list.

[0219]

[0179] Fig 10 illustrates an example of a controller 400 suitable for use in an apparatus 110, 120.

[0220] Implementation of a controller 400 may be as controller circuitry. The controller 400 may be implemented in hardware alone, have certain aspects in software including firmware alone or can be a combination of hardware and software (including firmware).

[0221]

[0180] As illustrated in FIG. 11 the controller 400 may be implemented using instructions that enable hardware functionality, for example, by using executable instructions 406 in a general-purpose or specialpurpose processor 402 that may be stored on a machine readable storage medium (disk, memory etc.) to be executed by such a processor 402.

[0222]

[0181] The processor 402 is configured to read from and write to the memory 404. The processor 402 may also comprise an output interface via which data and / or commands are output by the processor 402 and an input interface via which data and / or commands are input to the processor 402.

[0223]

[0182] The memory 404 stores instructions, program, or code 406 that controls the operation of the apparatus 110, 120 when loaded into the processor 402. The instructions, program, or code 406, provide the logic and routines that enables the apparatus 110, 120 to perform the methods illustrated in theaccompanying FIGs. The processor 402 by reading the memory 404 is configured to load and execute the instructions, program, or code 406.

[0224]

[0183] In at least some examples, the apparatus (UE) 110 comprises :at least one processor 402; and at least one memory 404 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 402, cause the apparatus at least to: transmitting a beam management report 60, wherein the beam management report 60 identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states 30; and updating 90 an active TCI states list 80 comprising one or more active TCI states 30, wherein the active TCI states list 80 includes at least an indicated TCI state 30_c, and the updating 90 is in dependence upon the beam management report 60.

[0225]

[0184] In at least some examples, the network apparatus 120 comprises: at least one processor 402; and at least one memory 404 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 402, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a user equipment, a beam management report 60, wherein the beam management report 60 identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states 30; and update 90, for the user equipment, an active TCI states list 80 comprising one or more active TCI states 30, wherein the active TCI states list 80 includes at least an indicated TCI state 30_c, and the updating 90 is in dependence upon the beam management report 60.

[0226]

[0185] In at least some examples, the apparatus (UE) 110 comprises: at least one processor 402; and at least one memory 404 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor 402, cause the apparatus at least to: maintaining an active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states list 80 comprising multiple active TCI states 30 including an indicated TCI state 30_c and a first TCI state 30, wherein the first TCI state 30 is not an indicated TCI state; operating a timer for at least the first TCI state; in dependence upon an expiry of the timer, updating 90 the active TCI states list 80 to remove at least the first TCI state 30, while maintaining the indicated TCI state 30_c in the active TCI states list 80.

[0227]

[0186] As illustrated in FIG. 11 , the instructions, program, or code 406 may arrive at the apparatus 110, 120 via any suitable delivery mechanism 408. The delivery mechanism 408 may be, for example, a machine readable medium, a computer-readable medium, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, a computer program product, a memory device, a record medium such as a solid-state memory, an article of manufacture that comprises or tangibly embodies the instructions 406. The delivery mechanism may be a signal configured to reliably transfer the instructions 406. The apparatus 110, 120 may propagate or transmit the instructions406 as a data signal.

[0228]

[0187] The term “non-transitory” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal ) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0229]

[0188] In at least some examples, a computer program comprises instructions 406 that, when executed by an apparatus(UE) 120, cause the apparatus 110 to perform: updating 90 an active TCI states list 80comprising one or more active TCI states 30, wherein the active TCI states list 80 includes at least an indicated TCI state 30_c, and the updating 90 is in dependence upon a transmitted beam management report 60, wherein the beam management report 60 identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states 30.

[0230]

[0189] In at least some examples, a computer program comprises instructions 406 that, when executed by a network apparatus! 20, cause the network apparatus 120 to perform: updating 90, for a user equipment, an active TCI states list 80 comprising one or more active TCI states 30, wherein the active TCI states list 80 includes at least an indicated TCI state 30_c, and the updating 90 is in dependence upon a beam management report 60 received from the user equipment, wherein the beam management report 60 identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states 30.

[0231]

[0190] In at least some examples, a computer program comprises instructions 406 that, when executed by an apparatus(UE) 120, cause the apparatus 110 to perform: maintaining an active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states list 80 comprising multiple active TCI states 30 including an indicated TCI state 30_c and a first TCI state 30, wherein the first TCI state 30 is not an indicated TCI state; operating a timer for at least the first TCI state; in dependence upon an expiry of the timer, updating 90 the active TCI states list 80 to remove at least the first TCI state 30, while maintaining the indicated TCI state 30_c in the active TCI states list 80.

[0232]

[0191] The instructions 406 may be comprised in a computer program, a non-transitory computer readable medium, a computer program product, a machine readable medium. In some but not necessarily all examples, the instructions 406 may be distributed over more than one computer program.

[0233]

[0192] Although the memory 404 is illustrated as a single component / circuitry it may be implemented as one or more separate components / circuitry some or all of which may be integrated / removable and / or may provide permanent / semi-permanent / dynamic / cached storage.

[0234]

[0193] Although the processor 402 is illustrated as a single component / circuitry it may be implemented as one or more separate components / circuitry some or all of which may be integrated / removable. The processor 402 may be a single core or multi-core processor.

[0235]

[0194] References to ‘computer-readable storage medium’, ‘computer program product’, ‘tangibly embodied computer program’ etc. or a ‘controller’, ‘computer’, ‘processor’ etc. should be understood to encompass not only computers having different architectures such as single / multi- processor architectures and sequential (Von Neumann) / parallel architectures but also specialized circuits such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), application specific circuits (ASIC), signal processing devices and other processing circuitry including quantum processing circuitry. References to computer program, instructions, code etc. should be understood to encompass software for a programmable processor or firmware such as,for example, the programmable content of a hardware device whether instructions for a processor, or configuration settings for a fixed-function device, gate array or programmable logic device etc.

[0236]

[0195] As used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ may refer to one or more or all the following:

[0237] (a) hardware-only circuitry implementations (such as implementations in analog, digital and / or quantum circuitry) and

[0238] (b) combinations of hardware circuit(s) and software, such as (as applicable):

[0239] i. a combination of analog, digital and / or quantum hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and ii. any or all portions of hardware processor(s) (including digital and / or quantum processor(s)) with software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile device, computing device or server, to perform various functions and

[0240] (c) any or all portions of hardware circuit(s), such as a microprocessor(s) and / or quantum processors , that requires software (for example, firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0241]

[0196] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0242]

[0197] The blocks illustrated in the accompanying Figs may represent steps in a method and / or sections of code in the instructions 406. The illustration of a particular order to the blocks does not necessarily imply that there is a required or preferred order for the blocks and the order and arrangement of the block may be varied. Furthermore, it may be possible for some blocks to be omitted.

[0243]

[0198] As used here ‘module’ refers to a unit or apparatus that excludes certain parts / components that would be added by an end manufacturer or a user. The apparatus 110, 120 can, for example be a module. A controller 400 of the apparatus 110, 120 can, for example be a module.

[0244]

[0199] Where a structural feature has been described, it may be replaced by means for performing one or more of the functions of the structural feature whether that function or those functions are explicitly or implicitly described.

[0245]

[0200] The above-described examples find application as enabling components of: automotive systems; telecommunication systems; electronic systems including consumer electronic products; distributed computing systems; media systems for generating or rendering media content including audio, visual and audio visual content and mixed, mediated, virtual and / or augmented reality; personal systems including personal health systems or personal fitness systems; navigation systems; user interfaces also known ashuman machine interfaces; networks including cellular, non-cellular, and optical networks; ad-hoc networks; the internet; the internet of things; virtualized networks; and related software and services.

[0246]

[0201] The apparatus can be provided in an electronic device, for example, a mobile terminal, according to an example of the present disclosure. It should be understood, however, that a mobile terminal is merely illustrative of an electronic device that would benefit from examples of implementations of the present disclosure and, therefore, should not be taken to limit the scope of the present disclosure to the same. While in certain implementation examples, the apparatus can be provided in a mobile terminal, other types of electronic devices, such as, but not limited to: mobile communication devices, hand portable electronic devices, wearable computing devices, portable digital assistants (PDAs), pagers, mobile computers, desktop computers, televisions, gaming devices, laptop computers, cameras, video recorders, GPS devices and other types of electronic systems, can readily employ examples of the present disclosure. Furthermore, devices can readily employ examples of the present disclosure regardless of their intent to provide mobility.

[0247]

[0202] The term ‘comprise’ is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y. If it is intended to use ‘comprise’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context by referring to ‘comprising only one...’ or by using ‘consisting.’

[0248]

[0203] In this description, the wording ‘connect’, ‘couple’ and ‘communication’ and their derivatives mean operationally connected / coupled / in communication. It should be appreciated that any number or combination of intervening components can exist (including no intervening components), i.e., to provide direct or indirect connection / coupling / communication. Any such intervening components can include hardware and / or software components.

[0249]

[0204] As used herein, the term "determine / determining" (and grammatical variants thereof) can include, not least: calculating, computing, processing, deriving, measuring, investigating, identifying, looking up (for example, looking up in a table, a database, or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, "determining" can include receiving (for example, receiving information), accessing (for example, accessing data in a memory), obtaining and the like. Also, " determine / determining" can include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like.

[0250]

[0205] In this description, reference has been made to various examples. The description of features or functions in relation to an example indicates that those features or functions are present in that example. The use of the term ‘example’ or ‘for example’ or ‘can’ or ‘may’ in the text denotes, whether explicitly stated or not, that such features or functions are present in at least the described example, whether described as an example or not, and that they can be, but are not necessarily, present in some of or all other examples. Thus ‘example’, ‘for example’, ‘can’, or ‘may’ refers to a particular instance in a class of examples. A property of the instance can be a property of only that instance or a property of the class or a property of asub-class of the class that includes some but not all the instances in the class. It is therefore implicitly disclosed that a feature described with reference to one example but not with reference to another example, can where possible be used in that other example as part of a working combination but does not necessarily have to be used in that other example.

[0251]

[0206] As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or” mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements. Although examples have been described in the preceding paragraphs with reference to various examples, it should be appreciated that modifications to the examples given can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Features described in the preceding description may be used in combinations other than the combinations explicitly described above.

[0252]

[0207] Although functions have been described with reference to certain features, those functions may be performable by other features whether described or not.

[0253]

[0208] The description of a feature, such as an apparatus or a component of an apparatus, configured to perform a function, or for performing a function, should additionally be considered to also disclose a method of performing that function. For example, description of an apparatus configured to perform one or more actions, or for performing one or more actions, should additionally be considered to disclose a method of performing those one or more actions with or without the apparatus.

[0254]

[0209] Although features have been described with reference to certain examples, those features may also be present in other examples whether described or not.

[0255]

[0210] The term ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ is used in this document with an inclusive not an exclusive meaning. That is any reference to X comprising a / an / the Y indicates that X may comprise only one Y or may comprise more than one Y unless the context clearly indicates the contrary. If it is intended to use ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘the’ with an exclusive meaning then it will be made clear in the context. In some circumstances the use of ‘at least one’ or ‘one or more’ may be used to emphasis an inclusive meaning but the absence of these terms should not be taken to infer any exclusive meaning.

[0256]

[0211] The presence of a feature (or combination of features) in a claim is a reference to that feature or (combination of features) itself and to features that achieve substantially the same technical effect (equivalent features). The equivalent features include, for example, features that are variants and achieve substantially the same result in substantially the same way. The equivalent features include, for example, features that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way to achieve substantially the same result.

[0257]

[0212] In this description, reference has been made to various examples using adjectives or adjectival phrases to describe characteristics of the examples. Such a description of a characteristic in relation to an example indicates that the characteristic is present in some examples exactly as described and is present in other examples substantially as described.

[0213] As used herein, the terms “the at least one” and “the one or more” mean “any one of the at least one” and “any one of the one or mor” respectively.

[0258]

[0214] The above description describes some examples of the present disclosure however those of ordinary skill in the art will be aware of possible alternative structures and method features which offer equivalent functionality to the specific examples of such structures and features described herein above and which for the sake of brevity and clarity have been omitted from the above description. Nonetheless, the above description should be read as implicitly including reference to such alternative structures and method features which provide equivalent functionality unless such alternative structures or method features are explicitly excluded in the above description of the examples of the present disclosure.

[0259]

[0215] Whilst endeavoring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features believed to be of importance the Applicant may seek protection via the claims in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and / or shown in the drawings whether or not emphasis has been placed thereon.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A UE comprising means for:maintaining an active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state list comprising multiple active TCI states including an indicated TCI state and a first TCI state, wherein the first TCI state is not an indicated TCI state;operating a timer for at least the first TCI state;in dependence upon an expiry of the timer, updating the active TCI states list to remove at least the first TCI state, while maintaining the indicated TCI state in the active TCI states list.

2. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is configured to perform monitoring to maintain synchronization for TCI states in the active TCI states list but not for TCI states not in the active TCI states list.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, configured to start the timer for at least the first TCI state when the first TCI state is added to the active TCI states list.

4. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a duration between the start of the timer and the expiry of the timer is dependent upon one or more of: UE capabilities, configuration by network.

5. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an association between a beam reference signal and a TCI state is defined via a configuration of the TCI state, wherein the configuration message comprises a data structure comprising a reference signal identifier and a TCI identifier.

6. The apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising means for:transmitting a beam management report, wherein the beam management report identifies one or more reference signals associated with respective Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states; and updating an active TCI states list comprising one or more active TCI states, wherein the active TCI states list includes at least an indicated TCI state, and the updating is in dependence upon the beam management report.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the beam management report is a UE initiated (UEI) beam management report.

8. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 or 7, comprising means for determining that the apparatus has a capability to have more than one active TCI state in the active TCI states list, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report is conditional upon the apparatus having the capability to have more than one active TCI state in the active TCI states list.

9. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list is in dependence upon the beam management report comprises updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon at least one or more of the one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report, wherein each of the identified one or more reference signals is associated with a respective TCI state.

10. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list is in dependence upon the beam management report comprises updating of the active TCI states list to include at least one or more of the TCI states associated with one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report.

11. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 10, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises adding at least one or more of the TCI states associated with the one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report.

12. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 11 wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises adding at least a TCI state associated with a reference signal identified in the transmitted beam management report that has an associated best quality measurement in the beam management report .

13. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 12, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises adding at least a number of TCI states associated with reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report that have an associated quality measurement in the beam management report that is better than a threshold quality measurement.

14. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 13, wherein the number of the TCI states added to the active TCI list is dependent upon a UE capability.

15. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 14, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises removing, from the active TCI states list, at least one or more of the TCI states, associated with the one or more reference signals identified in the transmitted beam management report.

16. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 15, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises removing, from the active TCI states list, at least one or more of the TCI states, associated with reference signals that are identified in the transmitted beam management report and have an associated quality measurement that is below a threshold.

17. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 16, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises removing, from the active TCI states list, at least one or more of the TCI states, associated with respective reference signals that are not identified in the transmitted beam management report,18. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 17, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises keeping an indicated TCI state in the active TCI states list.

19. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 18, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises keeping some or all active TCI states of the active TCI states list.

20. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 6 to 19, wherein the updating of the active TCI states list in dependence upon the beam management report comprises, when a candidate TCI state is a joint TCI state the conditions for activating the uplink TCI state associated with the joint TCI state are relaxed.

21. An apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:maintaining an active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state list comprising multiple active TCI states including an indicated TCI state and a first TCI state, wherein the first TCI state is not an indicated TCI state;operating a timer for at least the first TCI state;in dependence upon an expiry of the timer, updating the active TCI states list to remove at least the first TCI state, while maintaining the indicated TCI state in the active TCI states list.

22. A method comprising:maintaining an active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state list comprising multiple active TCI states including an indicated TCI state and a first TCI state, wherein the first TCI state is not an indicated TCI state;operating a timer for at least the first TCI state;in dependence upon an expiry of the timer, updating the active TCI states list to remove at least the first TCI state, while maintaining the indicated TCI state in the active TCI states list.

23. A computer program comprising instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following:maintaining an active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state list comprising multiple active TCI states including an indicated TCI state and a first TCI state, wherein the first TCI state is not an indicated TCI state;operating a timer for at least the first TCI state;in dependence upon an expiry of the timer, updating the active TCI states list to remove at least the first TCI state, while maintaining the indicated TCI state in the active TCI states list.

Images