Methods of configuring channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI reporting

Abstract

A method performed by a User Equipment, UE, for measuring Channel State Information, CSI, is provided. The method includes one or more of: being configured with channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI reporting using a 2-level structure, wherein information on the channel measurement and interference measurement resources are configured as part of a joint CSI measurement resource set and measuring CSI based on the configured channel measurement and interference measurement resources.

Description

METHODS OF CONFIGURING CHANNEL MEASUREMENT AND INTERFERENCE MEASUREMENT RESOURCES FOR CSI REPORTINGRELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.63 / 755894, filed February 7, 2025, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The disclosure relates generally to Channel State Information (CSI) configuration.BACKGROUND

[0003] Multi-antenna techniques can significantly increase the data rates and reliability of a wireless communication system. The performance is in particular improved if both the transmitter and the receiver are equipped with multiple antennas, which results in a multiple -input multipleoutput (MIMO) communication channel. Such systems and / or related techniques are commonly referred to as MIMO.

[0004] A core component of the next generation wireless network is the support of MIMO antenna deployments and MIMO related techniques such as spatial multiplexing. Spatial multiplexing can be used to increase data rates in favorable channel conditions. Figure 1 shows an example of spatial multiplexing. An information carrying symbol vector s is multiplied by an NTx r precoding matrix or precoder IE, which serves to distribute the transmit energy in a subspace of the NTdimensional vector space. The precoding matrix is typically selected from a codebook of possible precoding matrices, and typically indicated by means of a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), which specifies a unique precoding matrix in the codebook for a given number of symbol streams. The r symbols in s each correspond to a MIMO layer and r is referred to as the transmission rank, which equals the number of columns of the precoder IV. In this way, spatial multiplexing is achieved since multiple symbols can be transmitted simultaneously over the same time / frequency resource element (RE). The number of symbols r is typically adapted to suit the current channel properties.

[0005] When Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is used in downlink, the received NRx lvector ynat a UE on a certain RE can be expressed as:where enis a receiver noise / interference vector. The precoder W can be constant over frequency (i.e., wideband), or frequency selective (i.e., per subband).

[0006] The precoder W is chosen to match the characteristics of the NRx NTMIMO channel matrix Hn. resulting in so-called channel dependent precoding. This is also commonly referred to as closed-loop precoding.

[0007] In closed-loop precoding, the UE feeds back recommendations on a suitable precoder to the gNB in the form of a PMI based on downlink channel measurements. For that purpose, the UE is configured with a channel state information (CSI) report configuration including CSI reference signals (CSI-RS) for channel measurements, CSI interference measurement (CSI-IM) resources and a codebook of candidate precoders. In addition to precoders, the feedback may also include a rank indicator (RI) and one or two channel quality indicators (CQIs). RI, PMI and CQI are part of a CSI feedback. The CSI feedback can be either wideband, where one CSI is reported for the entire channel bandwidth, or frequency-selective, where one CSI is reported for each subband, which is defined as a number of contiguous physical resource blocks (PRBs) ranging between 4-32 PRBs depending on the band width part (BWP) size.

[0008] Given the CSI feedback from the UE, the gNB determines the transmission parameters it wishes to use to transmit to the UE, including the precoding matrix, transmission rank, and modulation and coding scheme (MCS).

[0009] 2D Antenna arrays

[0010] Two-dimensional antenna arrays are widely used and such antenna arrays can be described by a number of antenna ports,in a first dimension (e.g., the horizontal dimension), a number of antenna ports, N2, in the second dimension perpendicular to the first dimension (e.g., the vertical dimension), and a number of polarizations Np. The total number of antenna ports is thus N = N1N2Np. The concept of an antenna port is non-limiting in the sense that it can refer to any virtualization (e.g., linear mapping) to the physical antenna elements. For example, pairs of physical antenna elements could be fed the same signal, and hence share the same virtualized antenna port.

[0011] An examplex N2>) array with dual-polarized antenna elements (i.e., Np= 2) is illustrated in Figure 2.

[0012] Precoding may be interpreted as multiplying the signal to be transmitted by a set of beamforming weights on the antenna ports prior to transmission. A typical approach is to tailor the precoder to the antenna form factor, i.e. taking into account 1V1;N2and Npwhen designing the precoder codebook.

[0013] Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS)

[0014] For CSI measurement and feedback, CSI-RS are defined. A CSI-RS is transmitted on an antenna port at the gNB and is used by a UE to measure downlink channel between the antenna port and each of the UEs receive antenna ports. The transmit antenna ports are also referred to as CSI-RS ports. In 5G NR standard, the supported number of CSI-RS ports are {1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48, 64, 128}. By measuring the received CSI-RS, a UE can estimate the channel that the CSI-RS is traversing, including the radio propagation channel and antenna gains. The CSI-RS for the above purpose is also referred to as Non-Zero Power (NZP) CSI-RS.

[0015] CSI-RS can be configured to be transmitted in certain REs in a slot and certain slots. Figure 3 shows an example of CSI-RS REs for 12 antenna ports, where IRE per RB per port.

[0016] In addition, interference measurement resource (IMR) or CSI-IM is also defined in NR for a UE to measure interference. An example IMR resource may contain 4 REs, either 4 adjacent REs in frequency in the same OFDM symbol or 2 by 2 adjacent REs in both time and frequency in a slot. By measuring both the channel based on NZP CSI-RS and the interference based on an IMR, a UE can estimate the effective channel and noise plus interference to determine the CSI. Furthermore, a UE in NR may be configured to measure interference based on one or multiple NZP CSI-RS resource.

[0017] CSI framework in NR

[0018] In NR, channel measurement and interference measurement resources for a UE are configured using a 3-level structure as shown in Figure 4. Here, the 3-levels include the levels used in configuration of channel measurement resources or interference measurement resources.

[0019] In this 3-level structure, NZP CSI-RS resource(s) for channel measurement are configured as follows:• In CSI-ReportConfig (as defined in the CSI-ReportConfig information element, IE, in 3 GPP TS 38.331 V18.4.0), a field ‘resourcesForChannelMeasurement’ refers to a CSI-ResourceConfig (as defined in the CSI-ResourceConfig IE in 3GPP TS 38.331);• In CSI-ResourceConfig, a field ‘nzp-CSI-RS-ResourceSetList’ refers to a list of NZP-CSI-RS- ResourceSets where NZP-CSI-RS-ResourceSet is defined in the NZP-CSI-RS-ResourceSet IE of 3GPP TS 38.331);In NZP-CSI-RS-ResourceSet, a field ‘nzp-CSI-RS-Resources’ refers to one or more NZP-CSI-RS resources. Fields that provide information related to a NZP CSI-RS resource are configured within each NZP-CSI-RS resource as given in the NZP-CSI-RS-Resource IE in 3GPP TS 38.331.

[0020] CSI-IM resource(s) for interference measurement are configured in the 3-level structure as follows:• In CSI-ReportConfig (as defined in the CSI-ReportConfig information element, IE, in 3 GPP TS 38.331 V18.4.0), a field ‘csi-IM-ResourcesForlnterference’ refers to a CSI-ResourceConfig (as defined in the CSI-ResourceConfig IE in 3GPP TS 38.331);• In CSI-ResourceConfig, a field ‘csi-IM-ResourceSetList’ refers to a list of CSI-IM-ResourceSets where CSI-IM-Re sourceSet is defined in the CSI-IM-Re sourceSet IE of 3 GPP TS 38.331);• In CSI-IM-ResourceSet, a field ‘csi-IM-Resources’ refers to one or more CSI-IM resources. Fields that provide information related to a CSI-IM resource are configured within each CSI-IM resource as given in the CSI-IM-Resource IE in 3 GPP TS 38.331.SUMMARY

[0021] A method performed by a User Equipment, UE, for measuring Channel State Information, CSI, is provided. The method includes one or more of: being configured with channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI reporting using a 2-level structure; wherein information on the channel measurement and interference measurement resources are configured as part of a joint CSI measurement resource set; measuring CSI based on the configured channel measurement and interference measurement resources.

[0022] In some embodiments, the 2-level structure comprises the following:• a first level comprising a joint CSI measurement resource set, and• a second level comprising one of a channel measurement resource or an interference measurement resource

[0023] In some embodiments, the joint CSI measurement resource set comprises: one or more pairs of CSI measurement resources.

[0024] In some embodiments, each of the one or more pairs of CSI measurement resources comprises: information about a pair of CSI- Reference Signals, CSI-RS, and CSI- Interference Measurement, CSI-IM, resources that can be measured jointly to compute CSI.

[0025] In some embodiments, the joint CSI measurement resource set comprises:information on a group of CSI measurement resources for channel measurement; and information on a group of CSI measurement resources for interference measurement; wherein the group of CSI measurement resources for channel measurement are associated with the group of CSI measurement resources for interference measurement, and the two groups of resources can be measured jointly to compute CSI.

[0026] In some embodiments, the joint CSI measurement resource set further comprises: one or more fields such as periodicity and / or slot offset associated with channel measurement resources and interference measurement resources within each of the pair of CSI measurement resources.

[0027] In some embodiments, being configured with channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI feedback comprises: being configured with a CSI-ReportConfig where a common or joint field ‘resourcesForMeasurement’ refers to one or more CSI-MeasurementRe source Sets .

[0028] In some embodiments, the field ‘resourcesForMeasurement’ provides information on one or more identifiers corresponding to one or more CSI-MeasurementResourceSets.

[0029] In some embodiments, CSI-MeasurementResourceSetld represents an identifier corresponding to a CSI-MeasurementResourceSet.

[0030] In some embodiments, the CSI-ReportConfig refers to a single CSI- MeasurementResource Set.

[0031] In some embodiments, the CSI-ReportConfig refers to two or more CSI- MeasurementRe source Sets; where each of the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets represent channel and interference measurement resources corresponding to a given Transmission and Reception Point, TRP.

[0032] In some embodiments, the CSI corresponds to a multi-TRP scheme such as coherent or non-coherent joint transmission from the TRPs.

[0033] In some embodiments, each of the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets may represent channel and interference measurement resources corresponding to a given beam in a serving cell comprising multiple beams.

[0034] In some embodiments, the method further includes: selecting one beam (e.g., a CSI-RS and CSI-IM resource pair or a CSI-MeasurementResourceSet) and reporting CSI corresponding to the selected beam (e.g., a resource pair) together with an identifier of the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet (e.g., CRI based CSI reporting where the CRI indicates an identifier of the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet).

[0035] In some embodiments, the aggregation of the CSI-RS resources in the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets represents an antenna port layout with a larger number of antenna ports than the number of antenna ports in each of the aggregated CSI-RS resources (e.g., where each CSI-RS resource represents a subset of the antenna ports in the antenna array).

[0036] In some embodiments, the same CSI-IM resource is configured in the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets, and the UE reports a single CSI based on channel measurements on the multiple CSI-RS resources and interference measurement on the common CSI-IM resource.

[0037] In some embodiments, the CSI-RS resource is associated with a CSI-RS resource muting pattern in which the UE determines which ports are muted or not.

[0038] In some embodiments, an aggregation of the CSI-RS resources in the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets represents an antenna port layout with a larger number of antenna ports than the number of antenna ports in each of the aggregated CSI-RS resources, where each CSI-RS resource represents a subset of the antenna ports in the antenna array.

[0039] In some embodiments, in each common or joint CSI-MeasurementResourceSet, the UE is configured with one or more CSI-MeasurementResourcePairs wherein each CSI-MeasurementResourcePair includes information on one channel measurement resource (e.g., nzp-CSI-RS-Resource) and one interference measurement resource (e.g., csi-IM-Re source).

[0040] In some embodiments, the channel and interference measurement resources have the same periodicity and slot offset and / or the CSI-RS resource for channel measurement and the CSI-IM resource for interference measurement occur in the same slot.

[0041] In some embodiments, the periodicity and slot offset (e.g., given by the field ‘periodicityAndOffset’) is configured per each CSI-MeasurementResourcePair.

[0042] In some embodiments, ‘periodicityAndOffset’ is jointly configured as part of CSI-MeasurementResourcePair.

[0043] In some embodiments, a common periodicity is configured for both the CSI-RS and the CSI-IM resources in a CSI-MeasurementResourcePair within a CSI-Measurement Resource set, while separate slot offsets are configured for the CSI-RS and the CSI-IM resources.

[0044] In some embodiments, slot offsets for the CSI-RS resource and the CSI-IM resource are configured individually in each resource configuration.

[0045] In some embodiments, the ‘periodicityAndOffset’ field or the decoupled ‘periodicity’ and ‘offset’ fields are defined both at the CSI-MeasurementResourcePair; at the CSI-RS resource level; and / or the CSI-IM resource level where, if the ‘periodicityAndOffset’ field or the ‘periodicity’ or ‘offset’ fields are configured at the CSI-RS resource level or the CSI-IM resource level they override ‘periodicityAndOffset’ field or the ‘periodicity’ or ‘offset’ fields configuration at the CSI-MeasurementResourcePair level.

[0046] In some embodiments, one or more channel measurement resources are associated with one or more interference measurement resources in a CSI-Measurement Resource set.

[0047] In some embodiments, information on CSI measurement resource set #z is included in the CSI report configuration and information on K CSI-RS resources and L CSI-IM resources are included in CSI measurement resource set #z.

[0048] In some embodiments, the nzp-CSI-RS-Resource and csi-IM-Resource in a CSI-MeasurementResourcePair in the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet configuration can be optional.

[0049] In some embodiments, the method further includes: providing user data; and forwarding the user data to a host via the transmission to the network node.

[0050] A method performed by a network node for receiving Channel State Information, CSI, is also provided. The method includes one or more of: configuring a User Equipment, UE, with channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI reporting using a 2-level structure; wherein information on the channel measurement and interference measurement resources are configured as part of a joint CSI measurement resource set; receiving CSI measured based on the configured channel measurement and interference measurement resources.

[0051] Wireless devices, network nodes, computer programs for implementing the above methods are also provided.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of the disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

[0053] Figure 1 shows an example of spatial multiplexing in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0054] Figure 2 shows an example of a 4N2>) array with dual-polarized antenna elements (i.e., Np= 2) in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0055] Figure 3 shows an example of CSI-RS REs for 12 antenna ports, where IRE per RB per port in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0056] Figure 4 shows an upper 3-level structure for configuring NZP CSI-RS resource(s) and a lower 3-level structure for configuring CSI-IM resources(s) in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0057] Figure 5 shows a lower 3-level structure for configuring CSI-IM resources(s) in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0058] Figure 6 shows an example IE of CSI-ReportConfig in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0059] Figure 7 shows an example of a CSI-ReportConfig referring to a single CSI-MeasurementResourceSet. in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0060] Figure 8 shows a second example of a CSI-ReportConfig referring to two CSI-MeasurementResourceSets, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0061] Figure 9 shows an example IE of CSI-MeasurementResourceSet where the field ‘csi-MeasurementResource Pairs’ provides information on one or more CSI MeasurementResourcePairs, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0062] Figure 10 shows an example of CSI-MeasurementResourceSet IE when both nzp-CSI-RS -Re source and csi-IM-Resource are optional, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0063] Figure 11 shows an example where information on CSI measurement resource set #z is included in the CSI report configuration and information on K NZP CSI-RS resources and L CSI-IM resources are included in CSI measurement resource set #z, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0064] Figure 12 shows a method at a User Equipment (UE) in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0065] Figure 13 shows a method at a network node in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0066] Figure 14 shows an example of a communication system in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0067] Figure 15 is another example of a communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0068] Figure 16 shows a wireless device, which may be configured to operate in the communication system of Figure 14 or in the communication system of Figure 15;

[0069] Figure 17 shows a network node in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0070] Figure 18 is a block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment in which functions implemented by some embodiments of the present disclosure may be virtualized.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0071] The embodiments set forth below represent information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure.

[0072] Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

[0073] There currently exist certain challenge(s). In general, to compute CSI, a UE measures the channel on NZP-CSI-RS resource(s) and interference on CSI-IM resource(s). The 3-level CSI framework supported in NR, however, results in unnecessarily high configuration overhead as the NZP-CSI-RS resource(s) and CSI-IM resource(s) are configured using parallel 3-level structures (i.e., the upper 3-level structure of Figure 4 for configuring NZP CSI-RS resource(s) and the lower 3-level structure of Figure 4 for configuring CSI-IM resources(s)). This implies that the RRC signalling in NR, to configure CSI for a UE is overly complex and cumbersome to extend when new features were added in a later NR release. Such later extensions implied that the size of the RRC configuration message became much larger and complex.

[0074] For example, the configuration overhead problem can become more pronounced when multiple CSI-ReportConfigs are configured to a UE in order to receive different types of feedback (e.g., one CSI-ReportConfig for low resolution CSI feedback using the Type I Single-Panel Codebook of Section 5.2.2.2.1 of 3GPP TS38.214 V18.4.0, a second CSI-ReportConfig for high resolution CSI feedback using the Enhanced Type II Codebook of Section 5.2.2.2.5 of 3GPP TS38.214, and a third CSI ReportConfig for CSI feedback for coherent joint transmission, CJT, using the Enhanced Type II codebook for CJT of Section 5.2.2.2.8 of 3GPP TS38.214). Hence, how to design a CSI framework for 6G that reduce the configuration overhead and complexity for NZP CSI-RS and CSI-IM resources, compared to the cumbersome NR design, is an open problem to be solved.

[0075] Certain aspects of the disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. The core essence involves configuring channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI feedback using a 2-level structure wherein the channel measurement and interference measurement resources are configured as part of a joint CSI measurement resource set.

[0076] Within the joint CSI measurement resource set, one or more pairs of CSI measurement resources are configured wherein each of the pair of CSI measurement resources includes information about a pair of NZP CSI-RS and CSI-IM resources that are measured jointly to compute CSI.

[0077] In an alternative embodiment group, within the joint CSI measurement resource set, one group of CSI measurement resources are configured for channel measurement and another group of CSI measurement resources are configured for interference measurement. Here, thegroup of CSI measurement resources for channel measurement are associated with the group of CSI measurement resources for interference measurement. The two groups of resources may be measured jointly to compute CSI.

[0078] Using the 2-level structure, fields such as periodicity and / or offset associated with each of the pair of CSI measurement resources can be configured as part of the joint CSI measurement resource set.Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s). Using the 2-level structure, fields such as periodicity and / or offset associated with each of the pair of CSI measurement resources can be configured as part of the joint CSI measurement resource set which helps reduce the configuration overhead of channel measurement and interference measurement resources.

[0079] The teachings of certain embodiments may improve the e.g., data rate, latency, power consumption, etc.

[0080] Two levels of measurement resource configurations: Embodiment Group A

[0081] In this embodiment, a channel measurement resource is associated to an interference measurement resource. They are configured together within a CSI-Measurement Resource set. One or more of such CSI-Measurement Resource sets may be included in a CSI report configuration.

[0082] Figure 5 shows a first example embodiment of the proposed channel and interference measurement resource configuration. This example embodiment uses a 2-level structure where (as seen in Figure 5) the UE receives configuration of one or more combined or joint CSI-MeasurementResourceSet’s (referred to as CSI-MeasurementResource Set’s henceforth) to configure channel and interference measurement resources to be used for CSI related measurements. Note that the 2-level structure proposed in Figure 5 does not use CSI-ResourceConfig as opposed to the case in the 3-level structure in Figure 4.

[0083] The details of the configuration for the 2-level structure of Figure 5 are given below:

[0084] In CSI-ReportConfig, a common or joint field ‘resourcesForMeasurement’ refers to one or more CSI-MeasurementResourceSets. An example IE of CSI-ReportConfig is shown in Figure 6 where the field ‘resourcesForMeasurement’ provides information on one or more identifiers corresponding to one or more CSI-MeasurementResourceSets. In the example of Figure 6, CSI-MeasurementResourceSetld represents an identifier corresponding to a CSI-MeasurementResourceSet.

[0085] Figure 7 shows an example of a CSI-ReportConfig referring to a single CSI-MeasurementResourceSet. In this example, the NZP-CSI-RS resource(s) and the CSI-IM resource(s) configured via the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet are used to respectively perform channel measurement and interference measurement that are used to compute the CSI corresponding to the CSI-ReportConfig.

[0086] Figure 8 shows a second example of a CSI-ReportConfig referring to two CSI-MeasurementResourceSets. In one embodiment, each of the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets may represent channel and interference measurement resources corresponding to a given transmission and reception point (TRP). For instance, in the example of Figure 8, the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet with CSI-MeasurementResourceSetld = 4 provides information regarding channel and interference measurement resources received from a first TRP; and the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet with CSI-MeasurementResourceSetld = 6 provides information regarding channel and interference measurement resources received from a second TRP. Such a CSI-ReportConfig can be used when the CSI corresponds to a multi-TRP scheme such as coherent or non-coherent joint transmission from the TRPs. In another scenario, each of the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets may represent channel and interference measurement resources corresponding to a given beam in a serving cell comprising multiple beams. In this case, the UE may be requested to select one beam (i.e., a NZP CSI-RS and CSI-IM resource pair or a CSI-MeasurementResourceSet) and report CSI corresponding to the selected beam (i.e., a resource pair) together an identifier of the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet, e.g., CRI based CSI reporting where the CRI indicates an identifier of the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet. In yet a further scenario, the aggregation of the NZP CSI-RS resources in the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets represents an antenna array with a larger number of antenna ports (where each NZP CSI-RS resource represents a subset of the antenna ports in the antenna array). In this case, the same CSI-IM resource may be configmed in the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets, and the UE reports a single CSI based on channel measurements on the multiple NZP CSI-RS resources and interference measurement on the common CSI-IM resource.

[0087] In yet another alternative scenario, the NZP CSI-RS resource may be associated with a NZP CSI-RS resource muting pattern, for energy saving purposes, in which the UE determines which ports are muted or not. For instance, the muting pattern indicates which ports in the NZP CSI-RS are muted and which parts are unmuted. A UE only performs measurements on the unmuted ports. In this case, a single CSI-IM resource is associated with the CSI-RS sub report configuration.

[0088] In yet another alternative scenario, an aggregation of the NZP CSI-RS resources in the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets represents an array with a larger number of antenna ports, where each NZP CSI-RS resource represents a subset of the antenna ports in the antenna array. Each NZP CSI-RS resource may be associated with a NZP CSI-RS resource muting pattern, so that the UE can determine the unmuted ports in each of the aggregated NZP CSI-RS resources jointly. In this case, the same CSI-IM resource may be configured in the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets, and the UE reports a single CSI based on channel measurements on the multiple NZP CSI-RS resources and interference measurement on the common CSI-IM resource. CSI-ReportConfig information element

[0089] Figure 6. An example of CSI-ReportConfig IE for the proposed 2-level channel and interference measurement resource configuration for CSI.

[0090] In the example embodiment of Figure 5, in each common or joint CSI-MeasurementResourceSet, the UE can be configured with one or more CSI-MeasurementResourcePairs wherein each CSI-MeasurementResourcePair includes information on one channel measurement resource (e.g., nzp-CSI-RS-Resource) and one interference measurement resource (e.g., csi-IM-Resource). The pair of resources in CSI-MeasurementResourcePair is used for performing channel measurement (using the channel measurement resource referred to by nzp-CSI-RS-Resource) and interference measurement (using the interference measurement resource referred to by csi-IM-Resource). An example IE of CSI-MeasurementResourceSet is shown in Figure 9 where the field ‘csi-MeasurementResourcePairs’ provides information on one or more CSI-MeasurementResourcePairs. In an embodiment, the field ‘resourceType’ provided in a CSI-MeasurementResourceSet applies to all ‘csi-MeasurementResourcePairs’ in the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet.

[0091] Each CSI-MeasurementResourcePair contains fields ‘nzp-CSI-RS-Resource’ and ‘csi-IM-Resource’, wherein ‘nzp-CSI-RS-Resource’ provides information on an identifier of a NZP CSI-RS resource for channel measurement, and ‘csi-IM-Resource’ provides information on an identifier of a CSI-IM for interference measurement.

[0092] Typically, the UE needs to perform both channel and interference measurements before the UE can start to compute the CSI. In one embodiment, when the channel and interference measurement resources are periodic (or semi-persistent), the channel and interference measurement resources have the same periodicity and slot offset such that the NZP CSI-RS resource for channel measurement and the CSI-IM resource for interference measurement occur in the same slot. In the example of Figure 9, the periodicity and slot offset (given by the field ‘periodicity AndOffset’) is configured per each CSI-MeasurementResourcePair. Note that according to this embodiment, ‘periodicity AndOffset’ is not configured separately per NZP CSI-RS resource and CSI-IM resource but is jointly configmed as part of CSI-MeasurementResourcePair. Alternatively, a common periodicity may be configured for both the NZP CSI-RS and the CSI-IM resources in a CSI-MeasurementResourcePair within a CSI-Measurement Resource set, while separate slot offsets may be configured for the NZP CSI-RS and the CSI-IM resources. In a further embodiment, slot offsets for the NZP CSI-RS resource and the CSI-IM resource may be configured individually in each resource configuration. In another alternative the ‘periodicity AndOffset’ field or the decoupled ‘periodicity’ and ‘offset’ fields may be defined both at the CSI-MeasurementResourcePair and at the NZP CSI-RS resource level and the CSI-IM resource level where, if the ‘periodicity AndOffset’ field or the ‘periodicity’ or ‘offset’ fields are configured at the NZP CSI-RS resource level or the CSI-IM resource level they override ‘periodicity AndOffset’ field or the ‘periodicity’ or ‘offset’ fields configuration at the CSI-MeasurementResourcePair level.

[0093] There may be use cases when not both channel and interference measurement / reporting are needed. One such example is reciprocity-based precoding by the gNB. In this case the gNB can obtain channel information from uplink reference signals (e.g. SRS), but this does not give any information about the interference and noise experienced by the UE. ThegNB can then request an interference and noise information report from the UE that can be useful information for determining rank, MCS and precoder. This is an example when an interference measurement resource needs to be configured but not a channel measurement resource.

[0094] An example of the opposite case when an interference measurement resource does not need to be configured but a channel measurement resource is required is if the gNB wants channel information from the UE but does not need interference and noise information. One use case for this is if the gNB wants to apply Rx beamforming when receiving SRS in order to increase received signal strength and filter out interference. This can be enabled by configuring the UE to report, e.g., the gNB Tx channel covariance matrix based on measurements on downlink reference signals (e.g. CSI-RS). In this case, the gNB does not need any information about the interference and noise experienced by the UE.

[0095] In order to support such use cases when not both channel and interference measurement / reporting are needed, in one embodiment, the nzp-CSI-RS-Resource and csi-IM-Resource in a CSI-MeasurementResourcePair in the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet configuration can be optional. Figure 10 shows an example of this embodiment, namely of CSI-MeasurementRe sourceSet IE when both nzp-CSI-RS-Resource and csi-IM-Resource are optional.

[0096] Two levels of measurement resource configurations: Embodiment Group B

[0097] In this embodiment, one or more channel measurement resources can be associated to one or more interference measurement resources in a C Si-Measurement Resource set. Only one such CSI-Measurement Resource set is included in a CSI report configuration.

[0098] An example is shown in Figure 11, where information on CSI measurement resource set #z is included in the CSI report configuration and information on K NZP CSI-RS resources and L CSI-IM resources are included in CSI measurement resource set #z. L can be either 1 or K.

[0099] When L=l, a common interference measurement resource is associated to all the K NZP CSI-RS resources. This can be used when the KNZP CSI-RS resources are transmitted from a same TRP, for example, and either one of them is selected and reported by the UE (i.e., CRI based CSI reporting), or the K NZP CSI-RS resources are aggregated to represent an antenna with a larger number of antenna ports. Alternatively, in CRI based reporting a UE might also be configured to report more than a single K NZP CSI-RS resource transmitted from the same TRP, in such cases a single CSI-IM (L=l) can also be used. Another scenario for L=1 is for joint transmission (e.g., coherent or non-coherent joint transmission) from multiple TRPs where each of the K NZP CSI-RS resources is transmitted from one TRP and the CSI-IM resource is used measuring a common inter-cell interference. In the case of resource aggregation of multiple NZP CSI-RS resources to form a NZP CSI-RS resource with a larger number of ports, the‘periodicity AndOffset’ field (or the ‘periodicity’ field or the ‘offset’ field if they are decoupled) may be configured commonly to all K NZP CSI-RS resources (e.g., as part of CSI-MeasurementRe source Set) and the UE may infer the slot (from the slot offset) for measurement of each of the K NZP CSI-RS resources for resource aggregation from combining information of a several fields in the CSI-RS-ResourceMapping configuration. The inference is possible since rules for when the K NZP CSI-RS resources for resource aggregation must be transmitted may be pre-specified in 3GPP specifications. For example, when the K NZP CSI-RS resources for resource aggregation must be transmitted over a maximum of two consecutive slots, a common ‘periodicity’ field may provide the periodicity of all the K NZP CSI-RS resources while resource specific offset values may provide the offset associated with each of the K NZP CSI-RS resources.

[0100] Another scenario can be when a TRP aggregates K NZP CSI-RS resources to represent an antenna with a larger number of ports and for energy saving purposes, in which a CSI-RS muting pattern is jointly obtained over the aggregated KNZP CSI-RS resources. In such cases, a single CSI-IM resource is also used.

[0101] When L=K, there is an one to one association between the K NZP CSI-RS resources and the K CSI-IM resources. Each of the K NZP CSI-RS resource is resource-wise associated with one of the K CSI-IM resources by the ordering of the NZP CSI-RS resource and the CSI-IM resource in the CSI measurement resource set. This can be used CRI based CSI reporting where UE selects one pair of NZP CSI-RS resource and CSI-IM resource and reports CSI associated to the selected pair. Another scenario is for dynamic point selection where each of the NZP CSI-RS resources is transmitted from a different TRP and the UE is request to report CSI for each pair of the NZP CSI-RS resources and CSI-IM resources or CSI for a subset of the pairs, so the network can decided based on the CSI report from which TRP to transmit downlink data to the UE.

[0102] In addition, the time domain behavior (e.g., aperiodic, periodic, or semi-persistent) of the NZP CSI-RS resources and the CSI-IM resources within a CSI measurement resource set can be indicated by a higher layer parameter included in the CSI measurement resource set (e.g., resourceType). For a periodic and semi-persistent CSI Measurement Resource Set, the periodicity and slot offset can be further configured within the CSI Measurement Resource Set.

[0103] Figure 12 illustrates a method performed by a UE for measuring CSI includes one or more of: being configured (step 1200) with channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI reporting using a 2-level structure; wherein information on the channel measurement and interference measurement resources are configured as part of a joint CSI measurement resource set; measuring (step 1202) CSI based on the configured channel measurement and interference measurement resources.

[0104] Figure 13 illustrates a method performed by a network node for receiving CSI including one or more of: configuring (step 1300) a UE with channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI reporting using a 2-level structure; wherein information on the channel measurement and interference measurement resources are configured as part of a joint CSI measurement resource set; receiving (step 1302) CSI measured based on the configured channel measurement and interference measurement resources.

[0105] In some embodiments, the resources will be indicated. In some embodiments, the IDs of the channel measurement and interference measurement resources are referred in the joint CSI measurement resource set.

[0106] Figure 14 shows an example of a communication system 1400 in accordance with some embodiments.

[0107] In the example, the communication system 1400 includes a telecommunications network 1402 that includes an access network 1404, such as a radio access network (RAN), and a core network 1406, which includes one or more core network nodes 1408. The access network 1404 includes one or more access network nodes or base stations of various types, access network nodes 1410A and 1410B are depicted (which may be collectively referred to as network nodes 1410), or any other similar 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) access nodes or non-3GPP access points (APs). Some embodiments of the access network 1404 may include more than one access network technology. The network nodes 1410 of access network 1404 facilitate direct or indirect connection of wireless devices, also referred to as user equipments (UEs), such as by connecting UEs 1412A, 1412B, 1412C, and 1412D (one or more of which may be generally referred to as UEs 1412) to the core network 1406 over one or more wireless connections.

[0108] Moreover, a network node is not necessarily limited to an implementation in which a radio portion and a baseband portion are supplied and integrated by a single vendor. Thus, it will be understood that network nodes include disaggregated implementations or portions thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the telecommunications network 1402 includes one or more Open-RAN (ORAN) network nodes. An ORAN network node is a network node in the telecommunications network 1402 that supports an ORAN specification (e.g., a specification published by the O-RAN Alliance, or any similar organization) and may operate alone or together with other network nodes to implement one or more functionalities of any network node in the telecommunications network 1402, including one or more access network nodes 1410 and / or core network nodes 1408.

[0109] Examples of an ORAN network node include an open radio unit (O-RU), an open distributed unit (O-DU), an open central unit (O-CU), including an O-CU control plane (O-CU-CP) or an O-CU user plane (O-CU-UP), a RAN intelligent controller (near-real time or non-real time) hosting software or software plug-ins, such as a near-real time control application (e.g., xApp) or a non-real time control application (e.g., rApp), or any combination thereof (the adjective “open” designating support of an ORAN specification). An ORAN network node may support a specification by, for example, supporting an interface defined by the ORAN specification, such as an Al, Fl, Wl, El, E2, X2, Xn interface, an open fronthaul user plane interface, or an open fronthaul management plane interface. Moreover, an ORAN network node may be a logical node in a physical node. Furthermore, an ORAN network node may be implemented in a virtualization environment (described further below) in which one or more network functions are virtualized. For example, the virtualization environment may include an O-Cloud computing platform orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an 0-2 interface defined by the 0-RAN Alliance or comparable technologies.

[0110] The network nodes 1410 facilitate direct or indirect connection of one or more UEs 1412 to the core network 1406 over one or more wireless connections. Example wireless communications over a wireless connection include transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and / or other types of signals suitable for conveying information without the use of wires, cables, or other material conductors. Moreover, in different embodiments, the communication system 1400 may include any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, UEs, and / or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and / or signals whether via wired or wireless connections. The communication system 1400 may include and / or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, radio network, and / or other similar type of system.

[0111] The UEs 1412 may be any of a wide variety of communication devices, including wireless devices arranged, configured, and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with the network nodes 1410 and other communication devices. Similarly, the network nodes 1408, 1410 are arranged, capable, configured, and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly (e.g., via other devices of telecommunications network 1402) with the UEs 1412 and / or with other network nodes or equipment in the telecommunications network 1402 to enable and / or provide network access, such as wireless network access, and / or to perform other functions, such as administration in the telecommunications network 1402. More specifically, UEs 1412 may send messages, data, and / or other signals to network nodes 1408, 1410 or other elements of the telecommunications network 1402 by transmitting such signals to the relevant device directly without the signals passing through any intervening devices or by transmitting such signals to the relevant deviceindirectly through an intervening device (or multiple intervening devices) that then transmit the signal to the relevant device. Similarly, network nodes 1408, 1410 may send messages, data, and other signals to UEs 14122, other network nodes 1408, 1410, and other devices in telecommunications network 1402 directly or indirectly. As one specific example, a core network node 108 may transmit a particular message to a UE 1412 by transmitting the message to an access network node 1410 that will then transmit the message to the intended UE 1412. Similarly, a core network node 108 may receive a particular message from a UE 1412 by receiving the message from an access network node 1410 that itself received the message from the UE 1412.

[0112] In the depicted example, the core network 1406 connects elements of the access network 1404 (e.g., one or more of the network nodes 1410) to one or more host computing systems, such as host 1416. These connections may be direct or indirect via one or more intermediary networks or devices. In other examples, network nodes may be directly coupled to hosts. The core network 1406 includes one or more core network nodes (e.g., core network node 1408) of various types, one or more of which may be generally referred to as network nodes 1408. Network nodes 1408 are structured with hardware and software components. Features of these components may be substantially similar to those described with respect to the UEs, access network nodes, and / or hosts, such that the descriptions thereof are generally applicable to the corresponding components of the core network node 1408. Example core network nodes provide functions of one or more of a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Authentication Server Function (AUSF), Subscription Identifier De-concealing function (SIDF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP), Network Exposure Function (NEF), and / or a User Plane Function (UPF).

[0113] The host 1416 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider other than an operator or provider of the access network 1404 and / or the telecommunications network 1402. The host 1416 may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The host 1416 may host a variety of applications to provide one or more service. Examples of such applications include live and pre-recorded audio / video content, data collection services such as retrieving and compiling data on various ambient conditions detected by a plurality of UEs, analytics functionality, social media, functions for controlling or otherwise interacting with remote devices, functions for an alarm and surveillance center, or any other such function performed by a server.

[0114] As a whole, the communication system 1400 of Figure 14 enables connectivity between the UEs, network nodes, and hosts. In that sense, the communication system 1400 may be configured to operate according to predefined rules or procedures, such as specific standards that include, but are not limited to: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Uong Term Evolution (LTE), and / or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G standards, or any applicable future generation standard (e.g., 6G); wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards (Wi-Fi); and / or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi-Max), Bluetooth, Z-Wave, Near Field Communication (NFC) ZigBee, Li-Fi, and / or any low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) standards such as LoRa and Sigfox. Moreover, the communication system 1400 may be configured to support multiple different standards, protocols, or other rule sets, with individual components supporting all of the relevant rule sets or with different components or sub-systems within the communication system 1400 supporting different standards, protocols, or rule sets.

[0115] As one example, in certain embodiments, access network 1404 may contain some access network nodes 1410 that support 3GPP radio access technologies (RAT), such as LTE or NR, while other access network nodes 1410 support (or the same access network nodes 1410 additionally support) non-3GPP RATs, such as Wi-Fi or a proprietary RAT. As another example, telecommunications network 1402 may support multiple generations of related communication standards (e.g., 4G and 5G 3GPP communication standards) and, as a result, may include an access network 104 and / or a core network 106 that supports multiple different standard generations or may include multiple access networks 104 and / or multiple core networks 106 with individual networks 104, 106 supporting different standard generations.

[0116] Telecommunications network 1402 may support network slicing to provide different logical networks to different devices that are connected to the telecommunications network 1402. For example, the telecommunications network 1402 may provide Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) services to some UEs, while providing Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services to other UEs, and / or Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC)ZMassive loT services to yet further UEs.

[0117] In some examples, one or more of the UEs 1412 are configured to transmit and / or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a UE may be designed to transmit information to the access network 1404 on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the access network 1404. Additionally, a UE may be configured for operating in single- or multi-RAT or multi-standardmode. For example, a UE may operate with any one or combination of Wi-Fi, NR (New Radio) and LTE, i.e. being configured for multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC), such as E-UTRAN (Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) New Radio - Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

[0118] In the example, the hub 1414 communicates with the access network 1404 to facilitate indirect communication between one or more UEs (e.g., UE 1412C and / or 1412D) and network nodes (e.g., network node 1410B). In some examples, the hub 1414 may be a controller, router, content source and analytics, or any of the other communication devices described herein regarding UEs. For example, the hub 1414 may be a broadband router enabling access to the core network 1406 for the UEs. As another example, the hub 1414 may be a controller that sends commands or instructions to one or more actuators in the UEs. Commands or instructions may be received from the UEs, network nodes 1410, or by executable code, script, process, or other instructions in the hub 1414.

[0119] As another example, the hub 1414 may be a data collector that acts as temporary storage for UE data and, in some embodiments, may perform analysis or other processing of the data. As another example, the hub 1414 may be a content source. For example, for a UE that is a VR headset, display, loudspeaker or other media delivery device, the hub 1414 may retrieve VR assets, video, audio, or other media or data related to sensory information via a network node, which the hub 1414 then provides to the UE either directly, after performing local processing, and / or after adding additional local content. In still another example, the hub 1414 acts as a proxy server or orchestrator for the UEs, in particular if one or more of the UEs are low energy loT devices.

[0120] The hub 1414 may have a constant / persistent or intermittent connection to the network node 1410B. The hub 1414 may also allow for a different communication scheme and / or schedule between the hub 1414 and UEs (e.g., UE 1412C and / or 1412D), and between the hub 1414 and the core network 1406. In other examples, the hub 1414 is connected to the core network 1406 and / or one or more UEs via a wired connection. Moreover, the hub 1414 may be configured to connect to an M2M service provider over the access network 1404 and / or to another UE over a direct connection. In some scenarios, UEs may establish a wireless connection with the network nodes 1410 while still connected via the hub 1414 via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, the hub 1414 may be a dedicated hub - that is, a hub whose primary function is to route communications to / from the UEs from / to the network node 1410B. In other embodiments, the hub 1414 may be a non-dedicated hub - that is, a device which is capable of operating to route communications between the UEs and network node 1410B, but which is additionally capable of operating as a communication start and / or end point for certain data channels.

[0121] Figure 15 is another example of a communication system 1500 according to some embodiments. As used herein, the communication system 1500 includes multiple access points (APs) 1510 (with four exemplary APs 1510A, 1510B, 1510C, and 1510D being depicted) and multiple wireless devices, referred to in the context of communication system 1500 as stations (STAs) 1512 (referred to individually as STA 1512A, STA 1512B, STA 1512C, STA 1512D, and STA 1512E). STA 1512A is served by AP 1510A in a first basic service set (BSS) 1520A. STA 1510B and STA 1510C are served by AP 1510B in a second BSS, BSS 1520B. STA 1512D is served by AP 1510C in a third BSS, BSS 1520C. STA 1512E is served by AP 1510D in a fourth BSS, BSS 1520D. Stations 1512 may be non-AP STAs and correspond to various kinds of wireless devices, for example, user terminals, such as mobile or stationary computing devices like smartphones, laptop computers, desktop computers, tablet computers, gaming devices, headmounted displays (HMDs) for Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR), or the like. Further, stations 1512 could, for example, correspond to other kinds of equipment like smart home devices, printers, multimedia devices, data storage devices, or the like.

[0122] Each ofSTAs 1512 may connect through a radio link to one of APs 1510. For example , depending on location or channel conditions experienced by a given STA 1512, the STA may select an appropriate AP and BSS for establishing the radio link. The radio link may be based on one or more orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) carriers from a frequency spectrum that is shared on the basis of a contention-based mechanism, e.g., an unlicensed or license exempt band like 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band, the 5 GHz band, the 6 GHz band, or the 60 GHz band.

[0123] Each AP 1510 may provide data connectivity to STAs 1512 connected to a particular AP 1510. As illustrated, APs 1510 may be connected to a data network 1530. In this way, APs 1510 may also provide data connectivity between STAs 1512 and other entities, e.g., to one or more servers, service providers, data sources, data sinks, user terminals, or the like. Accordingly, the radio link established between a given STA 1512 and its serving AP 1510 may be used for providing various kinds of services to STA 1512, e.g., a voice service, a multimedia service, or other data service. Such services may be based on applications that are executed on STA 1512 and / or on a device linked to STA 1512. By way of example, Figure 15 illustrates an application service platform 1532 provided in data network 1530. The application(s) executed on STA 1512 and / or on one or more other devices linked to STA 1512 may use the radio link for data communication with one or more other STA 1512 and / or the application service platform 1532, thereby enabling utilization of the corresponding service(s) at STA 1512.

[0124] Figure 16 shows a wireless device 1600, which may be configured to operate in communication system 1400 of Figure 14 or in communication system 1500 of Figure 15. The wireless device 1600 may be alternatively referred to as a UE 1600, like a UE 1412 within the context of communication system 1400, or as a station (STA) 1600 or as a non-access-point station (non-AP STA) 1600, like a STA 1512 within the context of the communication system 1500, in accordance with respective embodiments. As used herein, a wireless device refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and / or other wireless devices. Examples of a wireless device include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, mobile phone, cell phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phone, wireless local loop phone, desktop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless cameras, gaming console or device, music storage device, playback appliance, wearable terminal device, wireless endpoint, mobile station, tablet, laptop, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), smart device, wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE), vehicle, vehicle-mounted or vehicle embedded / integrated wireless device, and wireless terminal. Other examples include any type of UE identified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP), including a narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT) UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and / or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.

[0125] A wireless device 1600 may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), or vehicle-to-everything (V2X). In other examples, wireless device 1600 may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and / or operates the relevant device . Instead, wireless device 1600 may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, wireless device 1600 may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter).

[0126] In particular embodiments, wireless device 1600 includes processing circuitry 1602 that is operatively coupled via a bus 1604 to an input / output interface 1606, a power source 1608, a memory 1610, a communication interface 1612, and / or any other component, or any combination thereof. Certain embodiments of wireless device 1600 may include all or a subset of the components shown in Figure 16. The level of integration between the components may vary from one embodiment of wireless device 1600 to another. In general, in a particular embodiment of wireless device 1600, processing circuitry 1602, input / output interface 1606, power source 1608,memory 1610, and communication interface 1612 may, in whole or in part, represent or include physical components common to or shared by one or more of the other elements of wireless device 1600. Further, certain embodiments of wireless devices 1600 may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

[0127] The processing circuitry 1602 is configured to process instructions and data and may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute instructions stored as machine -readable computer programs in the memory 1610. The processing circuitry 1602 may be implemented as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored computer programs, general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or digital signal processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuitry 1602 may include multiple central processing units (CPUs).

[0128] In the example, the input / output interface 1606 may be configured to provide an interface or interfaces to an input device, output device, or one or more input and / or output devices. Examples of an output device include a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. An input device may allow a user to capture information into wireless device 1600. Examples of an input device include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, a biometric sensor, etc., or any combination thereof. An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port may be used to provide an input device and an output device.

[0129] In some embodiments, the power source 1608 is structured as a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic device, or power cell, may be used to supply power to circuitry or to charge an associated battery. The power source 1608 may further include power circuitry for delivering power from the power source 1608 itself, and / or an external power source, to the various parts of wireless device 1600 via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Power source 1608 may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to make accessiblepower suitable for the respective components of the wireless device 1600 to which power is supplied.

[0130] The memory 1610 may be or be configured to include memory such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, flash drives, and so forth. In one example, the memory 1610 includes one or more programs 1614, such as an operating system, web browser application, a widget, gadget engine, or other application, and corresponding data 1616. The memory 1610 may store, for use by wireless device 1600, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

[0131] The memory 1610 may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as tamper resistant module in the form of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) including one or more subscriber identity modules (SIMs), such as a USIM and / or ISIM, other memory, or any combination thereof. The UICC may for example be an embedded UICC (eUICC), integrated UICC (iUICC) or a removable UICC commonly known as ‘SIM card.’ The memory 1610 may allow wireless device 1600 to access instructions, programs, and the like, stored on transitory or non-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied as or in the memory 1610, which may be or comprise a device -readable storage medium.

[0132] The processing circuitry 1602 may be configured to communicate with an access network or other network via or using the communication interface 1612. The communication interface 1612 may comprise one or more communication subsystems and may include or be communicatively coupled to an antenna 1622. The communication interface 1612 may include one or more transceivers used to communicate, such as by communicating with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication (e.g., another wireless device or a network node in an access network). Each transceiver may include a transmitter 1618 and / or a receiver 1620 appropriate to provide network communications (e.g., optical, electrical, frequency allocations, and so forth). Moreover, the transmitter 1618 and receiver 1620 may be coupled toone or more antennas (e.g., antenna 1622) and may share circuit components, software, or firmware, or alternatively be implemented separately.

[0133] In the illustrated embodiment, communication functions of the communication interface 1612 may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication (e.g., according to an IEEE 802.11 family standard), LPWAN communication, data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. Communications may be implemented according to one or more communication protocols and / or standards, such as IEEE 802.11, Code Division Multiplexing Access (CDMA), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), GSM, LTE, New Radio (NR), UMTS, WiMax, Ethernet, transmission control protocol / intemet protocol (TCP / IP), synchronous optical networking (SONET), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), QUIC, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and so forth.

[0134] In particular embodiments, wireless device 1600 may provide an output of data captured via a sensor, through its communication interface 1612, via a wireless connection to a network node, and / or in any appropriate manner. Data captured by sensors of a wireless device 1600 can be communicated through a wireless connection to a network node via another wireless device 1600. In particular embodiments, such output may be periodic (e.g., once every 15 minutes if it reports the sensed temperature), random (e.g., to even out the load from reporting from several sensors), in response to a triggering event (e.g., when moisture is detected an alert is sent), in response to a request (e.g., a user initiated request), or a continuous stream (e.g., a live video feed of a patient).

[0135] As another example, wireless device 1600 comprises an actuator, a motor, or a switch, related to a communication interface configured to receive wireless input from a network node via a wireless connection. In response to the received wireless input the states of the actuator, the motor, or the switch may change. For example, wireless device 1600 may comprise a motor that adjusts the control surfaces or rotors of a drone in flight according to the received input or to a robotic arm performing a medical procedure according to the received input.

[0136] Wireless device 1600, when in the form of an Internet of Things (loT) device, may be a device for use in one or more application domains, these domains comprising, but not limited to, wearable technology, extended industrial application and healthcare. Non-limiting examples of such an loT device are a device which is or which is embedded in: a connected refrigerator or freezer, a TV, a connected lighting device, an electricity meter, a robot vacuum cleaner, a voicecontrolled smart speaker, a home security camera, a motion detector, a thermostat, a smoke detector, a door / window sensor, a flood / moisture sensor, an electrical door lock, a connected doorbell, an air conditioning system like a heat pump, an autonomous vehicle, a surveillance system, a weather monitoring device, a vehicle parking monitoring device, an electric vehicle charging station, a smart watch, a fitness tracker, a wearable for tactile augmentation or sensory enhancement, a water sprinkler, an animal- or item-tracking device, a sensor for monitoring a plant or animal, an industrial robot, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), and any kind of medical device, like a heart rate monitor or a remote controlled surgical robot. In particular embodiments, wireless device 1600 represents an loT device that comprises circuitry and / or software in dependence of the intended application of the loT device in addition to other components as described in relation to the example embodiment of wireless device 1600 shown in Figure 16.

[0137] As yet another specific example, in an loT scenario, wireless device 1600 may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and / or measurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and / or measurements to another wireless device and / or a network node. Wireless device 1600 may in this case be an M2M device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, wireless device 1600 may implement the 3GPP NB-IoT standard. In other scenarios, wireless device 1600 may represent a vehicle, such as a car, a bus, a truck, a ship and an airplane, or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and / or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation.

[0138] In practice, any number of wireless devices 1600 may be used together with respect to a single use case. For example, a first wireless device 1600 might be or be integrated in a drone and provide the drone’s speed information (obtained through a speed sensor) to a second wireless device 1600 that is a remote controller operating the drone. When a user makes changes from the remote controller, the first wireless device 1600 may adjust the throttle on the drone (e.g., by controlling an actuator) to increase or decrease the drone’s speed. The first and / or the second wireless device 1600 can also include more than one of the functionalities described above. For example, wireless device 1600 might comprise the sensor and the actuator, and handle communication of data for both the speed sensor and the actuators.

[0139] Figure 17 shows a network node 1700 in accordance with some embodiments. As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a UE and / or with other network nodes or equipment, in a telecommunications network. In accordance with respective embodiments, network node 1700 may be configured to operate in communication system 1400 of Figure 14, like network nodes 1408 or 1410, or in communication system 1500 of Figure 15, like an AP 1510 or a station 1512.Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)), O-RAN nodes or components of an O-RAN node (e.g., O-RU, O-DU, O-CU).

[0140] Network nodes 1700 may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and so, depending on the provided amount of coverage, may be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. Network node 1700 may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. Network nodes 1700 may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units, distributed units (e.g., in an O-RAN access node) and / or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS).

[0141] Other examples of network nodes 1700 include multiple transmission point (multi -TRP) 5G access nodes, multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi-cell / multicast coordination entities (MCEs), Operation and Maintenance (O&M) nodes, Operations Support System (OSS) nodes, Self-Organizing Network (SON) nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., Evolved Serving Mobile Location Centers (E-SMLCs)), and / or Minimization of Drive Tests (MDTs).

[0142] In particular embodiments, network node 1700 includes a processing circuitry 1702, a memory 1704, a communication interface 1706, and a power source 1708. In general, in a particular embodiment of network node 1700, processing circuitry 1702, memory 1704, communication interface 1706, and power source 1708 may, in whole or in part, represent or include physical components common to or shared by one or more of the other elements of network node 1700.

[0143] The network node 1700 may be composed of multiple distinct network entities (e.g., a NodeB entity and a RNC entity, or a BTS entity and a BSC entity, etc.), which may each have or utilize their own respective physical components. In certain scenarios in which the network node 1700 comprises multiple such entities (e.g., BTS and BSC), one or more of the separate entities may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeBs. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, the network node 1700 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, somecomponents may be duplicated (e.g., separate memories 1704 or portions of memory 1704 for different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., a same antenna 1710 may be shared by different RATs). The network node 1700 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node 1700, for example GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, Wi-Fi (e.g., according to an IEEE 802.11 family standard), Zigbee, Z-wave, LoRaWAN, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node 1700.

[0144] The processing circuitry 1702 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and / or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other components, such as the memory 1704, to provide network node 1700 functionality.

[0145] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1702 includes a system on a chip (SOC). In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1702 includes one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 1712 and baseband processing circuitry 1714. In some embodiments, the RF transceiver circuitry 1712 and the baseband processing circuitry 1714 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry 1712 and baseband processing circuitry 1714 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units.

[0146] The memory 1704 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer-readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and / or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device-readable and / or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and / or instructions that may be used by the processing circuitry 1702. The memory 1704 may store any suitable instructions, data, or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, and / or other instructions capable of being executed by the processing circuitry 1702 and utilized by the network node 1700. The memory 1704 may be used to store any calculations made by the processing circuitry 1702 and / or any data received via the communication interface 1706. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 1702 and memory 1704 is integrated.

[0147] The communication interface 1706 is used in wired or wireless communication of signaling and / or data with UEs, other network nodes, and / or any other network equipment. In the illustrated embodiment, communication interface 1706 comprises port(s) / terminal(s) 1716 to send and receive data, for example to and from a network over a wired connection. In particular embodiments, network node 1600 may be capable of wireless communication and communication interface 1706 may also include radio front-end circuitry 1718 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, an antenna 1710. Particular embodiments of radio front-end circuitry 1718 include fdter(s) 1720 and amplifier(s) 1722. The radio front-end circuitry 1718 may be connected to an antenna 1710 and processing circuitry 1702. The radio front-end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 1710 and processing circuitry 1702. The radio front-end circuitry 1718 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or UEs via a wireless connection. The radio front-end circuitry 1718 may convert the digital data into a radio signal(s) having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 1720 and / or amplifiers 1722. The radio signal(s) may then be transmitted via the antenna 1710. Similarly, when receiving data, the antenna 1710 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by the radio front-end circuitry 1718. The digital data may be passed to the processing circuitry 1702. In other embodiments, the communication interface may comprise different components and / or different combinations of components.

[0148] In certain alternative embodiments, network node 1700 may be capable of wireless communication but does not include separate radio front-end circuitry 1718, instead, the processing circuitry 1702 includes radio front-end circuitry and is connected to the antenna 1710. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of the RF transceiver circuitry 1712 is part of the communication interface 1706. In still other embodiments, the communication interface 1706 includes one or more ports or terminals 1716, the radio front-end circuitry 1718, and the RF transceiver circuitry 1712, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and the communication interface 1706 communicates with the baseband processing circuitry 1714, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

[0149] The antenna 1710 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and / or receive wireless signals. The antenna 1710 may be coupled to the radio front-end circuitry 1718 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and / or signals wirelessly. In certain embodiments, the antenna 1710 is separate from the network node 1700 and connectable to the network node 1700 through one or more interfaces or ports.

[0150] The antenna 1710, communication interface 1706, and / orthe processing circuitry 1702 may be configured to perform some or all of the receiving operations and / or obtaining operationsdescribed herein as being performed by the network node 1700. Any information, data, and / or signals may be received from a UE, another network node, and / or any other network equipment. Similarly, the antenna 1710, the communication interface 1706, and / or the processing circuitry 1702 may be configured to perform some or all of the transmitting or sending operations described herein as being performed by the network node 1700. Any information, data and / or signals may be transmitted to a UE, another network node, and / or any other network equipment.

[0151] The power source 1708 provides power to the various components of network node 1700 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). The power source 1708 may further comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry to supply the components of the network node 1700 with power for performing the functionality described herein. For example, the network node 1700 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., the power grid, an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry of the power source 1708. As a further example, the power source 1708 may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail.

[0152] Embodiments of the network node 1700 may include additional components beyond those shown in Figure 17 for providing certain aspects of the network node’s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and / or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, the network node 1700 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into the network node 1700 and to allow output of information from the network node 1700. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for the network node 1700.

[0153] Figure 18 is a block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment 1800 in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to any device described herein, or components thereof, and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components. Some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines (VMs) implemented in one or more virtual environments 1800 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes, such as a hardware computing device that operates as an access network node, UE, core network node, or host. Further, inembodiments in which a virtual node does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node or host), then the node may be entirely virtualized. In some embodiments, the virtualization environment 1800 includes components defined by the O-RAN Alliance, such as an O-Cloud environment orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an 0-2 interface.

[0154] Applications 1802 (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) are run in the virtualization environment 1700 to implement some of the features, functions, and / or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein.

[0155] Hardware 1804 includes processing circuitry, memory that stores software and / or instructions executable by hardware processing circuitry, and / or other hardware devices as described herein, such as a network interface, input / output interface, and so forth. Software may be executed by the processing circuitry to instantiate one or more virtualization layers 1806 (also referred to as hypervisors or virtual machine monitors (VMMs)), provide VM 1808A and VM 1808B (which may be collectively referred to as VMs 1808), and / or perform any of the functions, features and / or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein. The virtualization layer 1806 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to one or more of the VMs 1808.

[0156] The VMs 1808 comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by virtualization layer 1806. Different embodiments of the instance of a virtual appliance 1802 may be implemented on one or more of VMs 1808, and the implementations may be made in different ways. Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment.

[0157] In the context of NFV, each of the VMs 1808 may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of the VMs 1808, and that part of hardware 1804 that executes that VM, be it hardware dedicated to that VM and / or hardware shared by that VM with others of the VMs, forms separate virtual network elements. Still in the context of NFV, a virtual network function is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more of the VMs 1808 on top of the hardware 1804 and corresponds to an application 1802.

[0158] Hardware 1804 may be implemented in a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware 1804 may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware 1804 may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g., such as in a data center or CPE) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration 1810, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications 1802. In some embodiments, hardware 1804 is coupled to one or more radio units that each include one or more transmitters and one or more receivers that may be coupled to one or more antennas. Radio units may communicate directly with other hardware nodes via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station. In some embodiments, some signaling can be provided with the use of a control system 1812 which may alternatively be used for communication between hardware nodes and radio units.

[0159] Although the computing devices described herein (e.g., UEs, network nodes, hosts) may include the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise computing devices with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that these computing devices may comprise any suitable combination of hardware and / or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions, and methods disclosed herein. Determining, calculating, obtaining or similar operations described herein may be performed by processing circuitry, which may process information by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and / or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination. Moreover, while components are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, computing devices may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component, and functionality may be partitioned between separate components. For example, a communication interface may be configured to include any of the components described herein, and / or the functionality of the components may be partitioned between the processing circuitry and the communication interface. In another example, non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

[0160] In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein may be provided by processing circuitry executing instructions stored on in memory, which in certain embodiments may be a computer program product in the form of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by the processing circuitry without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device -readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium or not, the processing circuitry can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to the processing circuitry alone or to other components of the computing device, but are enjoyed by the computing device as a whole, and / or by end users and a wireless network generally.

[0161] Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modifications to the embodiments of the present disclosure. All such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein.

[0162] Group A Embodiments

[0163] 1. A method performed by a User Equipment, UE, for measuring Channel State Information, CSI, the method comprising one or more of:being configured (1200) with channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI reporting using a 2-level structure;wherein information on the channel measurement and interference measurement resources are configured as part of a joint CSI measurement resource set;measuring (1202) CSI based on the configured channel measurement and interference measurement resources.

[0164] 2. The method of embodiment 1 wherein the 2-level structure comprises the following:• a first level comprising a joint CSI measurement resource set, and• a second level comprising one of a channel measurement resource or an interference measurement resource

[0165] 3. The method of embodiment 1 wherein the joint CSI measurement resource set comprises: one or more pairs of CSI measurement resources.

[0166] 4. The method of embodiment 3 wherein each of the one or more pairs of CSI measurement resources comprises: information about a pair of CSI- Reference Signals, CSI-RS, and CSI- Interference Measurement, CSI-IM, resources that can be measured jointly to compute CSI.

[0167] 5. The method of embodiment 1 wherein the joint CSI measurement resource set comprises:information on a group of CSI measurement resources for channel measurement; and information on a group of CSI measurement resources for interference measurement; wherein the group of CSI measurement resources for channel measurement are associated with the group of CSI measurement resources for interference measurement, and the two groups of resources can be measured jointly to compute CSI.

[0168] 6. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein the joint CSI measurement resource set further comprises: one or more fields such as periodicity and / or slot offset associated with channel measurement resources and interference measurement resources within each of the pair of CSI measurement resources.

[0169] 7. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein being configured with channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI feedback comprises: being configured with a CSI-ReportConfig where a common or joint field ‘resourcesForMeasurement’ refers to one or more CSI-MeasurementResourceSets.

[0170] 8. The method of the previous embodiment wherein the field ‘resourcesForMeasurement’ provides information on one or more identifiers corresponding to one or more CSI-MeasurementResourceSets.

[0171] 9. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein CSI- MeasurementResourceSetld represents an identifier corresponding to a CSI-MeasurementResource Set.

[0172] 10. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein the CSI-ReportConfig refers to a single CSI-MeasurementResourceSet.

[0173] 11. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein the CSI-ReportConfig refers to two or more CSI-MeasurementResourceSets; where each of the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets represent channel and interference measurement resources corresponding to a given Transmission and Reception Point, TRP.

[0174] 12. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein the CSI corresponds to a multi -TRP scheme such as coherent or non-coherent joint transmission from the TRPs.

[0175] 13. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein each of the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets may represent channel and interference measurement resources corresponding to a given beam in a serving cell comprising multiple beams.

[0176] 14. The method of any of the previous embodiments further comprising: selecting one beam (e.g., a CSI-RS and CSI-IM resource pair or a CSI-MeasurementResourceSet) and reporting CSI corresponding to the selected beam (e.g., a resource pair) together with an identifierof the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet (e.g., CRI based CSI reporting where the CRI indicates an identifier of the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet).

[0177] 15. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein the aggregation of the CSI-RS resources in the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets represents an antenna port layout with a larger number of antenna ports than the number of antenna ports in each of the aggregated CSI-RS resources (e.g., where each CSI-RS resource represents a subset of the antenna ports in the antenna array).

[0178] 16. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein the same CSI-IM resource is configured in the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets, and the UE reports a single CSI based on channel measurements on the multiple CSI-RS resources and interference measurement on the common CSI-IM resource.

[0179] 17. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein the CSI-RS resource is associated with a CSI-RS resource muting pattern in which the UE determines which ports are muted or not.

[0180] 18. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein an aggregation of the CSI-RS resources in the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets represents an antenna port layout with a larger number of antenna ports than the number of antenna ports in each of the aggregated CSI-RS resources, where each CSI-RS resource represents a subset of the antenna ports in the antenna array.

[0181] 19. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein in each common or joint CSI-MeasurementResourceSet, the UE is configured with one or more CSI-MeasurementResourcePairs wherein each CSI-MeasurementResourcePair includes information on one channel measurement resource (e.g., nzp-CSI-RS-Resource) and one interference measurement resource (e.g., csi-IM-Re source).

[0182] 20. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein the channel and interference measurement resources have the same periodicity and slot offset and / or the CSI-RS resource for channel measurement and the CSI-IM resource for interference measurement occur in the same slot.

[0183] 21. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein the periodicity and slot offset (e.g., given by the field ‘periodicity AndOffset’) is configured per each CSI-MeasurementResourcePair.

[0184] 22. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein ‘ periodicity AndOffset’ is jointly configured as part of CSI-MeasurementResourcePair.

[0185] 23. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein a common periodicity is configured for both the CSI-RS and the CSI-IM resources in a CSI-MeasurementResourcePair within a C Si-Measurement Resource set, while separate slot offsets are configured for the CSI-RS and the CSI-IM resources.

[0186] 24. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein slot offsets for the CSI- RS resource and the CSI-IM resource are configured individually in each resource configuration.

[0187] 25. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein the ‘periodicityAndOffset’ field or the decoupled ‘periodicity’ and ‘offset’ fields are defined both at the CSI-MeasurementResourcePair; at the CSI-RS resource level; and / or the CSI-IM resource level where, if the ‘periodicityAndOffset’ field or the ‘periodicity’ or ‘offset’ fields are configured at the CSI-RS resource level or the CSI-IM resource level they override ‘periodicityAndOffset’ field or the ‘periodicity’ or ‘offset’ fields configuration at the CSI-MeasurementResourcePair level.

[0188] 26. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein one or more channel measurement resources are associated with one or more interference measurement resources in a CSI-Measurement Resource set.

[0189] 27. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein information on CSI measurement resource set #z is included in the CSI report configuration and information on K CSI-RS resources and L CSI-IM resources are included in CSI measurement resource set #z.

[0190] 28. The method of any of the previous embodiments wherein the nzp-CSI-RS- Resource and csi-IM-Resource in a CSI-MeasurementResourcePair in the CSI-MeasurementRe source Set configuration can be optional.

[0191] 29. The method of any of the previous embodiments, further comprising: providing user data; and forwarding the user data to a host via the transmission to the network node.

[0192] Group B Embodiments

[0193] 30. A method performed by a network node for receiving Channel State Information, CSI, the method comprising one or more of:configuring (1300) a User Equipment, UE, with channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI reporting using a 2-level structure;wherein information on the channel measurement and interference measurement resources are configured as part of a joint CSI measurement resource set;receiving (1302) CSI measured based on the configured channel measurement and interference measurement resources.

[0194] 31. The method of the previous embodiment further including any of the features of the Group A Embodiments.

[0195] 32. The method of any of the previous embodiments, further comprising:obtaining user data; andforwarding the user data to a host or a user equipment.

[0196] Group C Embodiments

[0197] 33. A wireless device for measuring Channel State Information, CSI, comprising: circuitry configured to perform any of the operations of any of the Group A embodiments; and a power source configured to supply power to the processing circuitry.

[0198] 34. A network node for receiving Channel State Information, CSI, the network node comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the operations of any of the Group B embodiments; a power source circuitry configured to supply power to the processing circuitry.

[0199] 35. A wireless device for measuring Channel State Information, CSI, the wireless device comprising: one or more antennas; communication interface connected to the one or more antennas and to processing circuitry; the processing circuitry being configured to perform any of the operations of any of the Group A embodiments; an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the UE to be processed by the processing circuitry; an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the UE that has been processed by the processing circuitry; and a power source connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the UE.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method performed by a User Equipment, UE, for measuring Channel State Information, CSI, the method comprising one or more of:being configured (1200) with channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI reporting using a 2-level structure;wherein information on the channel measurement and interference measurement resources are configured as part of a joint CSI measurement resource set;measuring (1202) CSI based on the configured channel measurement and interference measurement resources.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the 2-level structure comprises the following:• a first level comprising a joint CSI measurement resource set, and• a second level comprising one of a channel measurement resource or an interference measurement resource3. The method of claim 1 wherein the joint CSI measurement resource set comprises: one or more pairs of CSI measurement resources.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein each of the one or more pairs of CSI measurement resources comprises: information about a pair of CSI- Reference Signals, CSI-RS, and CSI- Interference Measurement, CSI-IM, resources that can be measured jointly to compute CSI.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the joint CSI measurement resource set comprises:information on a group of CSI measurement resources for channel measurement; and information on a group of CSI measurement resources for interference measurement; wherein the group of CSI measurement resources for channel measurement are associated with the group of CSI measurement resources for interference measurement, and the two groups of resources can be measured jointly to compute CSI.

6. The method of any of the previous claims wherein the joint CSI measurement resource set further comprises: one or more fields such as periodicity and / or slot offset associated with channel measurement resources and interference measurement resources within each of the pair of CSI measurement resources.

7. The method of any of the previous claims wherein being configured with channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI feedback comprises: being configured with a CSI-ReportConfig where a common or joint field ‘resourcesForMeasurement’ refers to one or more CSI-MeasurementResourceSets.

8. The method of the previous claim wherein the field ‘resourcesForMeasurement’ provides information on one or more identifiers corresponding to one or more CSI-MeasurementRe source Sets .

9. The method of any of the previous claims wherein CSI-MeasurementResourceSetld represents an identifier corresponding to a CSI-MeasurementResourceSet.

10. The method of any of the previous claims wherein the CSI-ReportConfig refers to a single C SI-MeasurementResource Set.

11. The method of any of the previous claims wherein the CSI-ReportConfig refers to two or more CSI-MeasurementResourceSets; where each of the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets represent channel and interference measurement resources corresponding to a given Transmission and Reception Point, TRP.

12. The method of any of the previous claims wherein the CSI corresponds to a multi -TRP scheme such as coherent or non-coherent joint transmission from the TRPs.

13. The method of any of the previous claims wherein each of the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets may represent channel and interference measurement resources corresponding to a given beam in a serving cell comprising multiple beams.

14. The method of any of the previous claims further comprising:selecting one beam (e.g., a CSI-RS and CSI-IM resource pair or a CSI-MeasurementResourceSet) and reporting CSI corresponding to the selected beam (e.g., a resource pair) together with an identifier of the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet (e.g., CRI based CSI reporting where the CRI indicates an identifier of the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet).

15. The method of any of the previous claims wherein the aggregation of the CSI-RS resources in the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets represents an antenna port layout with a larger number of antenna ports than the number of antenna ports in each of the aggregated CSI-RS resources (e.g., where each CSI-RS resource represents a subset of the antenna ports in the antenna array).

16. The method of any of the previous claims wherein the same CSI-IM resource is configured in the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets, and the UE reports a single CSI based on channel measurements on the multiple CSI-RS resources and interference measurement on the common CSI-IM resource.

17. The method of any of the previous claims wherein the CSI-RS resource is associated with a CSI-RS resource muting pattern in which the UE determines which ports are muted or not.

18. The method of any of the previous claims wherein an aggregation of the CSI-RS resources in the multiple CSI-MeasurementResourceSets represents an antenna port layout with a larger number of antenna ports than the number of antenna ports in each of the aggregated CSI-RS resources, where each CSI-RS resource represents a subset of the antenna ports in the antenna array.

19. The method of any of the previous claims wherein in each common or joint CSI-MeasurementResourceSet, the UE is configured with one or more CSI-MeasurementResourcePairs wherein each CSI-MeasurementResourcePair includes information on one channel measurement resource (e.g., nzp-CSI-RS-Resource) and one interference measurement resource (e.g., csi-IM-Re source).

20. The method of any of the previous claims wherein the channel and interference measurement resources have the same periodicity and slot offset and / or the CSI-RS resource for channel measurement and the CSI-IM resource for interference measurement occur in the same slot.

21. The method of any of the previous claims wherein the periodicity and slot offset (e.g., given by the field ‘periodicity AndOffset’) is configured per each CSI-MeasurementResourcePair.

22. The method of any of the previous claims wherein ‘periodicityAndOffset’ is jointly configured as part of CSI-MeasurementResourcePair.

23. The method of any of the previous claims wherein a common periodicity is configured for both the CSI-RS and the CSI-IM resources in a CSI-MeasurementResourcePair within a CSI-Measurement Resource set, while separate slot offsets are configured for the CSI-RS and the CSI-IM resources.

24. The method of any of the previous claims wherein slot offsets for the CSI-RS resource and the CSI-IM resource are configured individually in each resource configuration.

25. The method of any of the previous claims wherein the ‘periodicityAndOffset’ field or the decoupled ‘periodicity’ and ‘offset’ fields are defined both at the CSI-MeasurementResourcePair; at the CSI-RS resource level; and / or the CSI-IM resource level where, if the ‘periodicityAndOffset’ field or the ‘periodicity’ or ‘offset’ fields are configured at the CSI-RS resource level or the CSI-IM resource level they override ‘periodicityAndOffset’ field or the ‘periodicity’ or ‘offset’ fields configuration at the CSI-MeasurementResourcePair level.

26. The method of any of the previous claims wherein one or more channel measurement resources are associated with one or more interference measurement resources in a CSI-Measurement Resource set.

27. The method of any of the previous claims wherein information on CSI measurement resource set #z is included in the CSI report configuration and information on K CSI-RS resources and L CSI-IM resources are included in CSI measurement resource set #z.

28. The method of any of the previous claims wherein the nzp-CSI-RS-Resource and csi-IM-Resource in a CSI-MeasurementResourcePair in the CSI-MeasurementResourceSet configuration can be optional.

29. The method of any of the previous claims, further comprising:providing user data; andforwarding the user data to a host via the transmission to the network node.Group B Claims30. A method performed by a network node for receiving Channel State Information, CSI, the method comprising one or more of:configuring (1300) a User Equipment, UE, with channel measurement and interference measurement resources for CSI reporting using a 2-level structure;wherein information on the channel measurement and interference measurement resources are configured as part of a joint CSI measurement resource set;receiving (1302) CSI measured based on the configured channel measurement and interference measurement resources.

31. The method of the previous claim further including any of the features of Claims 1-29.

32. The method of any of the previous claims, further comprising:obtaining user data; andforwarding the user data to a host or a user equipment.

33. A wireless device for measuring Channel State Information, CSI, comprising:processing circuitry configured to perform any of the operations of any of claims 1-29; and a power source configured to supply power to the processing circuitry.

34. A network node for receiving Channel State Information, CSI, the network node comprising:processing circuitry configured to perform any of the operations of any of claims 30-32; a power source circuitry configured to supply power to the processing circuitry.

35. A wireless device for measuring Channel State Information, CSI, the wireless device comprising:one or more antennas;communication interface connected to the one or more antennas and to processing circuitry;the processing circuitry being configured to perform any of the operations of any of claims 1-29;an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the UE to be processed by the processing circuitry;an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the UE that has been processed by the processing circuitry; anda power source connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the UE.

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