First device, first network node, second device, second network node and methods performed thereby, for handling uplink reference signals

Abstract

A method performed by a first device (131). The method is for handling UL RSs. The first device (131) operates in a communications system (100). The first device (131) obtains (501) a first configuration of a set of one or more UL RSs. The first device (131) obtains (502) one or more first indications, from a first network node (111) operating in the communications system (100). The one or more first indications indicate to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, a respective fixed mapping of a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to a respective physical antenna port. The first device (131) transmits (506) at least one of the one or more UL RSs according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the obtained one or more first indications. Publ.

Description

[0001] FIRST DEVICE, FIRST NETWORK NODE, SECOND DEVICE, SECOND NETWORK NODE AND METHODS PERFORMED THEREBY, FOR HANDLING UPLINK REFERENCE SIGNALS

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to a first device and methods performed thereby for handling uplink (UL) reference signals (RSs). The present disclosure also relates generally to a first network node and methods performed thereby for handling UL RSs. The present disclosure further relates generally to a second device and methods performed thereby for handling UL RSs. The present disclosure also relates generally to a second network node and methods performed thereby for handling UL RSs.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Devices within a communications system may be e.g., wireless devices, User Equipments (UEs), stations (STAs), mobile terminals, wireless terminals, terminals, and / or Mobile Stations (MS). Wireless devices are enabled to communicate wirelessly in a cellular communications network or wireless communication network, sometimes also referred to as a cellular radio system, cellular system, or cellular network. The communication may be performed e.g., between two wireless devices, between a wireless device and a regular telephone and / or between a wireless device and a server via a Radio Access Network (RAN) and possibly one or more core networks, comprised within the wireless communications network. Devices may further be referred to as mobile telephones, cellular telephones, laptops, or tablets with wireless capability, just to mention some further examples. The devices in the present context may be, for example, portable, pocket-storable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or vehicle-mounted mobile devices, enabled to communicate voice and / or data, via the RAN, with another entity, such as another terminal or a server.

[0006] The wireless communications network covers a geographical area which may be divided into cell areas, each cell area being served by a network node, which may be an access node such as a radio network node, radio node or a base station (BS), e.g., a Radio Base Station (RBS), which sometimes may be referred to as e.g., gNB, evolved Node B (“eNB”), “eNodeB”, “NodeB”, “B node”, Transmission Point (TP), or Base Transceiver Station (BTS), depending on the technology and terminology used. The base stations may be of different classes such as e.g., Wide Area Base Stations, Medium Range Base Stations, Local Area Base Stations, Home Base Stations, pico base stations, etc... , based on transmission power and thereby also cell size. A cell is the geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the base station or radio node at a base station site, or radio node site, respectively. One base station, situated on the base station site, may serve one or several cells. Further, each base station may supportone or several communication technologies. The base stations may communicate over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the terminals within range of the base stations. The wireless communications network may also comprise network nodes which may serve receiving nodes, such as wireless devices, with serving beams. In 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), base stations, which may be referred to as eNodeBs or even eNBs, may be directly connected to one or more core networks. In the context of this disclosure, the expression Downlink (DL) may be used for the transmission path from the base station to the wireless device. The expression Uplink (UL) may be used for the transmission path in the opposite direction i.e., from the wireless device to the base station.

[0007] The standardization organization 3GPP is currently in the process of specifying a New Radio Interface called NR or 5G-UTRA, as well as a Fifth Generation (5G) Packet Core Network (CN), which may be referred to as Next Generation (NG) Core Network, abbreviated as NG-CN, NGC, 5G CN or 5G Core (5GC). NG may be understood to refer to the interface / reference point between the Radio Access Network (RAN) and the CN in 5G / NR. In a 5G System (5GS), a radio base station in NR may be referred to as a gNB or 5G Node B. An NR UE may be referred to as an nUE.

[0008] Machine Learning

[0009] Machine learning (ML) may be understood as the study of computer algorithms that may improve automatically through experience. It is seen as a part of Artificial Intelligence (Al). ML algorithms may build a model based on sample data, known as "training data", in order to make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed to do so. ML algorithms may be used in a wide variety of applications, such as email filtering and computer vision, where it may be difficult or unfeasible to develop conventional algorithms to perform the needed tasks.

[0010] There may be basically three types of ML Algorithms: Supervised Learning, Unsupervised Learning, and Reinforcement Learning (RL).

[0011] Supervised Learning algorithms may comprise a target / outcome variable, or dependent variable, which may have to be predicted from a given set of predictors, that is, independent variables. Using this set of variables, a function may be generated that may map inputs to desired outputs. The training process may continue until the model may achieve a desired level of accuracy on the training data. Once an ML model may have been trained, an inference process may begin, whereby new data may be run through the ML model to calculate an output. Examples of Supervised Learning may be Regression, Decision Tree, Random Forest, KNN, Logistic Regression etc.

[0012] In Unsupervised Learning algorithms, there may be no target or outcome variable to predict / estimate. It may be used for clustering a population into different groups, which may be widely used for segmenting customers in different groups for specific intervention. Examples of Unsupervised Learning may be K-means, mean-shift clustering, Density-Based SpatialClustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN), Expectation-Maximization (EM) Clustering using Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM), Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering, etc....

[0013] Cluster analysis or clustering may be understood as an ML technique which may comprise grouping a set of objects in such a way that objects in the same group, which may be called a cluster, may be understood to be more similar, in some sense, to each other than to those in other groups, that is, other clusters. It may be understood as a main task of exploratory data mining, and a common technique for statistical data analysis, used in many fields, including pattern recognition, image analysis, information retrieval, bioinformatics, data compression, computer graphics and ML.

[0014] Reinforcement learning (RL) may be understood to be a type of ML where an agent may learn to make decisions by taking actions in an environment to achieve some goal. The agent may receive feedback in the form of rewards, which it may use to learn the best strategy, or policy, to accumulate the most reward over time.

[0015] Reinforcement learning may involve the following. An agent may be understood to be a learner or decision maker that may interact with the environment. The environment may be understood to refer to the world that the agent may interact with and learn from. A state (s) may be understood to refer to a representation of the current situation that the agent may be in. It may be understood to be the context within which the agent may make decisions. An action (a) may be understood to refer to a choice made by the agent that may affect the state. A reward (r) : may be understood to refer to feedback from the environment in response to the actions taken by the agent. It may be a scalar signal that may indicate how well the agent is doing at a given moment. A Policy may be understood to be a strategy used by the agent, which may map states to actions. The policy may be deterministic, that is, always the same action for a given state, or stochastic, that is, probabilistic actions for a given state. A value function may be understood to refer to a function that may estimate how good it may be for the agent to be in a given state, or how good it may be to perform a certain action in a given state. The "goodness" may be typically measured as the expected return, e.g., the cumulative reward, that may be achieved. A Q-function, an Action-Value Function, may be understood to refer to a function that may estimate the value of taking a certain action in a given state, and then following the current policy thereafter. A model of the environment may be understood to refer to the fact that some RL approaches may involve learning a model that may predict the next state (s’) and the reward for the current state and action. This may be understood to allow for planning and reasoning about the future without needing to actually take the action.

[0016] RL may involve making decisions in regard to exploration vs. exploitation. In reinforcement learning, the agent may need to balance exploration, that is, trying new things to discover better rewards, with exploitation, that is, using known information to maximize rewards. This may be understood to be a trade-off in RL.In the reinforcement learning problem, the state may change every time the agent may apply a new action. The problem may be represented in the following way: The agent may receive the state of the environment at a certain time (s). Then the agent may select on action (a) and apply it in the environment. When this action is applied, the environment may provide a reward (r) and change to a new state (s’), the reward and state may be provided finally by an interpreter. In reinforcement learning, the term "interpreter" may be used to describe a component of a reinforcement learning system that may interpret the state of the environment and the actions of an agent. It may be understood to be the part of the system that may bridge the agent with the environment it may be trying to learn from.

[0017] This cyclic procedure may be understood to bring a sequence of states, actions and rewards: s1, a1,r1;...;sT,aT,rT. The agent may use different learning algorithms to learn the most appropriate action to take on every different state of the NW, e.g., policy-learning based, such as actor-critic approaches, or value-based learning, such as deep-q networks.

[0018] Rel-18 / Rel-19 AI / ML for Channel State Information (CSI) feedback enhancements Artificial Intelligence (Al) and Machine Learning (ML) have been investigated, both in academia and industry, as promising tools to optimize the design of the air-interface in wireless communication networks. Example use cases may include using autoencoders for CSI compression to reduce the feedback overhead and improve channel prediction accuracy; using deep neural networks for classifying Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Non-LOS (NLOS) conditions to enhance the positioning accuracy; using reinforcement learning for beam selection at the network side and / or the User Equipment (UE) side to reduce the signaling overhead and beam alignment latency; and using deep reinforcement learning to learn an optimal precoding policy for complex Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) precoding problems.

[0019] In 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) New Radio (NR) standardization work, a release 18 study item on AI / ML for the NR air interface started in May 2022 and completed in December 2023. This study item explored the benefits of augmenting the air-interface with features enabling improved support of AI / ML based algorithms for enhanced performance and / or reduced complexity and / or overhead. Through studying a few selected use cases, CSI feedback, beam management, and positioning, this study item may be understood to aim at laying the foundation for future air-interface use cases leveraging AI / ML techniques.

[0020] Terminologies such as AI / ML model, AI / ML model inference, which may be henceforth referred to as inference, AI / ML model training, which may be henceforth referred to as training, data collection, and model monitoring may be as defined in Section 3.1 of 3GPP TR38.843 v.

[0021] 18.0.0.

[0022] Two Al CSI use cases were studied in 3GPP Rel-18, and they are under continued study in 3GPP Rel-19.One case is the CSI prediction use case using one or more one-sided UE-sided models, where the model inference may be performed entirely at the UE. One or more AI / ML models may be trained and deployed at a UE for the Al-based CSI-prediction feature. During model inference, a UE may be configured by the gNB to measure a set of historical CSI-RSs and then report a predicted CSI for one or multiple future time instances using its AI / ML model(s). Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a non-limiting example of the CSI prediction using UE-sided Al model(s). Figure 1 provides a non-limiting example for the inference procedure for CSI prediction. For generating the input of CSI prediction model, the UE may need some further preprocessing on the measured channel; for the output of the CSI prediction model, some further post-processing may also be applied.

[0023] Another case is the CSI compressing use case using one or more two-sided AI / ML models. A two-sided AI / ML model may be understood to refer to a paired AI / ML Model(s) over which joint inference may be performed across the UE and the network (NW), e.g., the first part of the inference may be firstly performed by UE and then the remaining part may be performed by gNB, or vice versa. As an example, Figure 2 shows a non-limiting example of the autoencoder (AE)-based CSI compression, where an encoder, a UE-part of the two-sided AE model, may be operated at a UE to compress the estimated wireless channel, and the output of the encoder, the compressed wireless channel information estimates, may be reported from the UE to a gNB. The gNB may use a decoder, the NW-part of the two-sided AE model, to reconstruct the estimated wireless channel information. Here, the two-sided AI / ML model may be composed of the encoder at the UE side and the decoder at the base station, e.g., a gNB, side. Note that in the case of a two-sided model, the code may be generated by the encoder and only interpretable by a jointly trained decoder. The situation may be understood to be different from running an AI / ML model in the UE, reporting the output over the air in a fully standardized format, and running a separate AI / ML model at the base station.

[0024] Sounding Reference Signal (SRS)

[0025] In NR, SRS may be used for providing CSI to the gNB in the UL. The usage of SRS may include, e.g., deriving the appropriate transmission and / or reception beams and / or to perform link adaptation, e.g., setting the transmission rank and the Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS), and for selecting DL, e.g., for Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmissions, and UL, e.g., for Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) transmissions, MIMO precoding.

[0026] In LTE and NR, the SRS may be configured via Radio Resource Control (RRC), where parts of the configuration may be updated, for reduced latency, through Medium Access Control (MAC)- Control Element (CE) signaling. The configuration may include, for example, the SRS resource allocation, the time and / or frequency mapping and the sequence to use, as well as the time-domain behavior, aperiodic, semi-persistent, or periodic. For aperiodic SRS transmission,the RRC configuration may not activate an SRS transmission from the UE but instead a dynamic activation trigger may be transmitted from the gNB in the DL, via the Downlink Control Information (DCI) in the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) which may instruct the UE to transmit the SRS once, at a predetermined time.

[0027] When configuring SRS transmissions, the gNB may configure, through the SRS-Config Information Element (IE), a set of SRS resources and a set of SRS resource sets, where each SRS resource set may contain one or more SRS resources.

[0028] Each SRS resource set may be configured with a certain usage, depending on what the SRS transmission may be used for, see 3GPP TS 38.214 for further details, by setting the RRC parameter ‘usage’ to one of ‘antennaSwitching’, ‘codebook’, ‘nonCodebook’, and ‘beamManagement’.

[0029] S S antenna switching

[0030] For reciprocity-based DL precoding, SRS may be used to obtain CSI in the UL. It may be desirable for the NW to sound all UE antennas, where sounding an antenna may imply that SRS may be transmitted from that antenna, but costly to equip the UE with many Transmission (Tx) chains, UEs may typically have more Reception (Rx) chains than Tx chains. Therefore, NR may support SRS antenna switching for UEs equipped with more Rx chains than Tx chains. If a UE supports antenna switching, it may report so by means of UE-capability signaling, see, e.g., Table 1.

[0031]

[0032] Table 1. SRS antenna-switching capabilities supported by the UE, reproduced from 3GPP TS 38.306.

[0033] The left column in Table 1 lists UE capabilities for SRS antenna-switching that may be reported by a UE in NR Rel-15. For example, if a UE reports t1r2, it may be understood to mean that it has two antennas (it has two Rx chains) but may only transmit from one of those antennas at a time (it has one Tx chain). In this case, the NW may configure 1T2R antenna switching with two one-port SRS resources in an SRS resource set with usage antennaSwitching. The two SRS resources may need to be configured in different Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols and separated, at least, by a guard period that may depend on the SubcarrierSpacing (SCS), see Clause 6.2.1.2 of 3GPP TS 38.214 for further details, such that both antennas may be sounded, with an antenna switch in between.

[0034] In general, xTyR SRS antenna switching may be configured for a UE with x Tx chains and y Rx chains. Figure 3 shows examples of xTyR SRS antenna switching for UE architectures with x = y / 2 Tx chains and y Rx chains. In each of a top panel and a bottom panel, from left to right, Figure 3 depicts an example of 1T2R, 2T4R and 3T8R antenna switching, respectively. The top panel on Figure 3 depicts usage of the Rx chains in a first transmission occasion, at SRS resource 0, indicated by the continues bold lines with circled endings. The bottom panel on Figure 3 depicts usage of the Rx chains in a second transmission occasion, at SRS resource 1 , indicated by the continues bold lines with circled endings.

[0035] In NR Rel-16, additional UE capabilities for SRS antenna-switching were introduced, which are shown in the right column of Table 1. Here, UE can indicate support for sounding only a subset of Rx antennas, which can save UE power consumption and SRS overhead at the cost of reduced channel knowledge at the gNB. For example, the UE capability Hr1-t1r2 may be understood to indicate that the gNB can configure one single-port SRS resource (no antenna switching) or two single-port SRS resources, same as for the capability t1r2 described above, per SRS resource set with usage antennaSwitching.

[0036] In NR Rel-17, antenna switching was extended to up to 6 or 8 Rx ports, and 1, 2, or 4 Tx chains. UE can indicate support for antenna-switching configurations beyond 4 Rx via higher-layer parameter srs-AntennaSwitchingBeyond4RX-r17, see 3GPP TS 38.306 for further details.

[0037] In NR Rel-18, antenna switching was extended to 8 Tx for 8 Rx UE, by using an SRS resource with 8 SRS ports.

[0038] Existing methods for SRS antenna switching are costly in overhead.

[0039] SUMMARY

[0040] It is an object of embodiments herein to improve the handling of mobility in a communications network.

[0041] According to a first aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a computer-implemented method, performed by a first device. The method is for handling Uplink (UL) Reference Signals (RSs). The first device operates in a communications system. The first device obtains a first configuration. The first configuration is of a set of one or more UL RSs The first device obtains one or more first indications from a first network node operating in the communications system. The one or more first indications indicate to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, a respective fixed mapping. The respective fixed mapping is of a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to a respective physical antenna port. The first device then transmits at least one of the one or more UL RSs. The transmitting of the at least one of the one or more UL RSs is according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the obtained one or more first indications.According to a second aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a computer-implemented method, performed by a first network node. The method is for handling the UL RSs. The first network node operates in a communications system. The first network node sends the one or more first indications to the first device operating in the communication system. The one or more first indications indicate to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, the respective fixed mapping of the respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to the respective physical antenna port. The first network node receives at least one of the one or more UL RSs from the first device. The receiving of the at least one of the one or more UL RSs is according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the sent one or more first indications.

[0042] According to a third aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a computer-implemented method, performed by a second device. The method is for handling the UL RSs. The second device operates in the communications system. The second device obtains a first first configuration. The first first configuration is of a first set of one or more UL RSs. The second device obtains a first second indication, or at least one of the one or more first indications. The first second indication indicates a first identifier. The first identifier corresponds to a first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied for transmitting at least one of the one or more UL RSs. The first respective fixed mapping is of a respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to a first respective physical antenna port. The second device transmits the at least one of the one or more UL RSs.

[0043] According to a fourth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a computer-implemented method, performed by the second network node. The method is for handling the UL RSs. The second network node operates in the communications system. The second network node sends the first first configuration to the second device operating in the communications system. The first first configuration is of the first set of one or more UL RSs. The second network node sends the first second indication, or at least one of one or more first indications. The sending is to the second device. The first second indication indicates the first identifier. The first identifier corresponds to the first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied by the second device for transmitting the at least one of the one or more UL RSs. The first respective fixed mapping is of the respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to the first respective physical antenna port of the second device. The second network node receives the at least one of the one or more UL RSs from the second device. The receiving in this Action is based on the indicated first identifier.

[0044] According to a fifth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by the first device. The first device is for handling the UL RSs. The first device is configured to operate in the communications system. The first device is configured to obtain the first configuration of the set of one or more UL RSs. The first device is configured to obtain the one or more firstindications, from the first network node configured to operate in the communications system. The one or more first indications are configured to indicate to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, the respective fixed mapping of the respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to the respective physical antenna port. The first device is also configured to transmit at least one of the one or more UL RSs according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the one or more first indications configured to be obtained.

[0045] According to a sixth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by the second device. The second device is for handling the UL RSs. The second device is configured to operate in the communications system. The second device is configured to obtain the first first configuration of the first set of one or more UL RSs. The second device is configured to obtain the first second indication, or at least the one of one or more first indications, configured to indicate the first identifier. The first identifier corresponds to the first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied for transmitting at least one of the one or more UL RSs. The first respective fixed mapping is of the respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to the first respective physical antenna port. The second device is also configured to transmit the at least one of the one or more UL RSs based on the first identifier configured to be indicated.

[0046] According to a seventh aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by the first network node. The first network node is for handling the UL RSs. The first network node is configured to operate in the communications system. The first network node is configured to send, to the first device configured to operate in the communications system, the one or more first indications configured to indicate to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, the respective fixed mapping of the respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to the respective physical antenna port. The first network node is configured to receive, from the first device, at least one of the one or more UL RSs according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the one or more first indications configured to be sent.

[0047] According to an eighth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by the second network node. The second network node is for handling the UL RSs. The second network node is configured to operate in the communications system. The second network node is configured to send, to the second device configured to operate in the communications system, the first first configuration of the first set of one or more UL RSs. The second network node is configured to send, to the second device, the first second indication, or at least one of the one or more first indications, indicating the first identifier. The first identifier is configured to correspond to the first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied by the second device for transmitting at least one of the one or more UL RSs. The first respective fixed mapping is of the respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to the first respective physical antenna port of the second device. The second network node is also configured receive, from thesecond device, the at least one of the one or more UL RSs based on the first identifier configured to be indicated.

[0048] By obtaining the one or more first indications indicating to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, a respective fixed mapping of a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to a respective physical antenna port, and then transmitting the at least one of the one or more UL RSs according to the respective fixed mapping, the first device may enable the first network node to collect CSI data regarding all UE RX antennas. This may enable the first network node to train an ML model to then predict CSI assuming only a subset of the UL RSs may be transmitted by the first device. This may in turn enable the second device, during the inference phase, to sound only a subset of UL RS ports, as opposed to the full set, and still enable the second network node, during the inference phase, to predict the CSI based on only the subset of UL RS ports transmitted by the second device. This may lead to that UL RS overhead may be reduced compared to legacy non-AI / ML SRS sounding schemes for reciprocity-based DL transmission.

[0049] A second advantage may be understood to be that embodiments herein may provide consistency of repeated channel measurements over time and different UL RS configurations when used for data collection, which may enable collection of a large amount of data needed for the training of AI / ML models. Hence, embodiments herein may ensure that the first device and / or the second device may be using the same port to antenna mapping in all the SRS transmissions, e.g., regardless of whether SRS configuration may be switched during operation etc, used for data collection.

[0050] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] Examples of embodiments herein are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, according to the following description.

[0052] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a non-limiting example of the CSI prediction using UE-sided Al model(s), according to existing methods.

[0053] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a non-limiting example of an autoencoder (AE)-based CSI compression using two-sided AI / ML model use case, according to existing methods. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating non-limiting examples of 1T2R (left), 2T4R (middle), and 4T8R (right) SRS antenna switching.

[0054] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram depicting an example of a communications system, according to embodiments herein.

[0055] Figure 5 is a flowchart depicting a method in a first device, according to embodiments herein. Figure 6 is a flowchart depicting a method in a first network node, according to embodiments herein.

[0056] Figure 7 is a flowchart depicting a method in a second device, according to embodiments

[0057] herein.Figure 8 is a flowchart depicting a method in a second network node, according to embodiments herein.

[0058] Figure 9 is a flowchart depicting a non-limiting example of methods according to embodiments herein.

[0059] Figure 10 is a flowchart depicting another non-limiting example of methods according to embodiments herein.

[0060] Figure 11 illustrates a non-limiting example of SRS port ordering across different SRS configurations depicted in each of panels a), b) and c), according to embodiments herein.

[0061] Figure 12 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a first device, according to embodiments herein.

[0062] Figure 13 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a second device,

[0063] according to embodiments herein.

[0064] Figure 14 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a first network node, according to embodiments herein.

[0065] Figure 15 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a second network node, according to embodiments herein.

[0066] Figure 16 is a flowchart depicting a method in a first network node, according to examples related to embodiments herein.

[0067] Figure 17 is a flowchart depicting a method in a second device, according to examples related to embodiments herein.

[0068] Figure 18 is a flowchart depicting a method in a second network node, according to examples related to embodiments herein.

[0069] Figure 19 is a flowchart depicting a non-limiting example of methods according to examples related to embodiments herein.

[0070] Figure 20 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of a communication system 2000 in accordance with some embodiments.

[0071] Figure 21 is a schematic block diagram illustrating another example of a communication system 2100 according to some embodiments.

[0072] Figure 22 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of a wireless device 2200, which may be configured to operate in communication system 2000 of Figure 20 or in communication system 2100 of Figure 21.

[0073] Figure 23 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of a network node 2300 in accordance with some embodiments.

[0074] Figure 24 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an example of a virtualization environment 2400 in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] As part of the development of embodiments herein, one or more challenges with the existing technology will first be identified and discussed.

[0076] SRS overhead is a problem in commercial systems today and it is expected to become even more problematic in the future when UEs may be equipped with more antennas, especially in new frequency band above 6 GigaHertz (GHz).

[0077] In addition, SRS antenna switching approaches are costly in overhead since a guard period may be understood to be needed for the switching, in between SRS transmissions. It is known that some mobile operators do not have enough room to use antenna switching in their Time Division Duplex (TDD) configuration and special slot configuration, and may thus be required to use the uplink slots for SRS transmission, which steals capacity from the PUSCH transmissions.

[0078] A straightforward proprietary existing approach of predicting CSI at a base station based on sounding a subset of UE antennas may be understood to be to, during training of an AI / ML model, configure UEs with full SRS transmission, one SRS port per UE RX antenna, and train the NW-sided AI / ML model, and then during inference configure the same UEs with a relaxed SRS transmission and only sound a subset of the UE antennas. However, there are a few factors that make such solution sub-optimal.

[0079] A factor may be that the SRS port to antenna port mapping for different SRS configurations, e.g., 1T4R, 2T4R, 4T4R, 1T2R, may be understood to be unknown to the network, and hence, even if a UE has a fixed SRS port to antenna port mapping across time for a given SRS configuration, the network cannot switch between different SRS configurations, unless there is a rule in the specification that may assure that there is a determined and fixed SRS to antenna port mapping that spans across different SRS configurations.

[0080] Another factor may be that the UE may dynamically change SRS port to antenna port mapping, during different SRS transmission occasions for the data collection aimed for AI / ML model training, which may make the AI / ML model training more challenging, compared to if the NW knows that a fixed SRS port to antenna port mapping is used at the UE during training.

[0081] Yet another factor may be that the UE may dynamically change SRS port to antenna port mapping, during different SRS transmission occasions for inference in applications that may require multiple samples spread in time, such as CSI prediction, which may make the CSI prediction during inference more un-reliable, compared to if the NW knows that a fixed SRS port to antenna port mapping is used at the UE during inference.

[0082] Another factor may be that the SRS port to antenna port mapping at a UE may be different for SRS transmission during data collection for training compared to during inference, which may make the network CSI prediction more unreliable.Yet another factor may be that allowing the UE itself to select which UE antennas to transmit from, without network control or knowledge, during inference may be sub-optimal since the UE may select to always transmit SRS from the same UE antennas, while it may be easier for the network to predict CSI in case the UE implement an SRS to antenna port transmission scheme that varies over time in a known way by the network.

[0083] Another factor may be that different UE antennas have different output power and insertion loss etc. In case only a subset of UE antennas is sounded, it may be useful if the UE antennas with the highest output power or least insertion loss is sounded to overcome the pathloss and fulfill the SRS link budget and thereby achieve the CSI estimation as reliable as possible at the network, in average. It may also be useful for the network to be aware of which UE antennas, e.g., SRS ports that may be associated with which insertion loss and / or SRS output power, to take that into account when predicting CSI.

[0084] Another factor may be that due to the physical UE antenna switching network, the antenna switching schemes used during inference may be associated with some SRS ports of the Associated ID, also referred to herein as UE-sided additional condition. It may be understood to be important that the network is aware of which SRS ports that may be used for relaxed SRS configurations, so the base station may know what SRS ports to use when training the NW-side AI / ML model. Relaxed SRS configuration may be understood to mean that not all UE antennas may be sounded. For example, if a UE has 4 UE antennas, and the UE is configured with e.g., 1T2R, then only two of the 4 UE antennas may be sounded.

[0085] Another factor may be that different UE or chipset designs may have different physical antenna or panel placement and related industrial design, whereby the resulting spatial relations between antenna ports and corresponding SRS ports may be unique to individual UE models / chipsets.

[0086] Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. Embodiments herein may be generally understood to relate to data collection for NW-sided CSI prediction based on sparse spatial SRS sounding.

[0087] As stated earlier, SRS overhead is expected to become even more problematic in the future, hence there may be understood to be a need to predict CSI based sounding only a subset of UE antennas of a UE.

[0088] Signaling and configuration methods are described herein that may be understood to enable data collection for NW-sided AI / ML models, e.g., for spatial domain CSI prediction for reciprocity-based DL transmission, based on sounding a subset of the UE antennas.

[0089] To ensure this, a principle for data collection to ensure that NW side may measure multiple instances of the same channel, and not different instances of port to antenna mappings in the UE, may be understood to be that consistency over time may be understood to be necessary so that the NW may know that the same UE antennas, or port to antenna mapping,may be used for more than one SRS transmission occasion from the UE. Hence, a signalling may be understood to be introduced from the NW to the UE. For example, an SRS resource “usage” configured as “data_collection” may be introduced. Every time the UE may be triggered or configured for an SRS transmission with this usage, the UE may need to use a fixed SRS port to antenna mapping which may span across multiple SRS configurations, e.g., the mapping may need to be “fixed” and determined and / or known by the gNB according to a rule in the specification regardless if a UE may be configured for 1T4R SRS configuration, 2T4R SRS configuration, 1T2R SRS configuration etc. This may be understood to ensure consistency over time for the NW side when comparing measurements of different transmission occasions.

[0090] Furthermore, examples of embodiments herein may be understood to extend this principle by introducing multiple and different such antenna port mappings for data collection, through the use of an identifier (ID). Thereby, introducing e.g., an Association ID as a form of UE-side additional condition.

[0091] Hence, providing configurations may ensure fixed SRS port to antenna port mappings across several different SRS configurations and associated assistance information signaling, e.g., an Association ID as a form of UE-side additional condition.

[0092] In addition, the UE may be configured and / or indicated with an SRS resource subset indicator pattern and / or SRS port indicator pattern during inference, which may vary with time.

[0093] Some of the embodiments contemplated will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which examples are shown. In this section, the embodiments herein will be illustrated in more detail by a number of exemplary embodiments. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein. The disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that the exemplary embodiments herein are not mutually exclusive. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments.

[0094] Figure 4 depicts two non-limiting examples, in panel a) and panel b), respectively, of a communications system 100, e.g., a wireless network or wireless communications network, sometimes also referred to as a wireless communications system, cellular radio system, or cellular network, in which embodiments herein may be implemented. The communications system 100 may be a 5G system, 5G network, or Next Gen System. In other examples, the communications system 100 may be a newer system with similar functionality, e.g., a 6G network. In other examples, the communications system 100 may, e.g., additionally, support other technologies such as, for example, Long-Term Evolution (LTE), e.g., LTE for Machines (LTE-M), LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), LTE Time Division Duplex (TDD), LTE Half-Duplex Frequency Division Duplex (HD-FDD), LTE operating in an unlicensed band, such as LTE Licensed-Assisted Access (LAA), enhanced eLAA (eLAA), further enhanced LAA (feLAA) and / or MulteFire. Yet in other examples, the communications system 100 may further support other technologies such as, for example, Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA) TDD, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) network, GSM / Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network (GERAN) network, Ultra-Mobile Broadband (UMB), EDGE network, network comprising any combination of Radio Access Technologies (RATs) such as e.g. Multi-Standard Radio (MSR) base stations, multi-RAT base stations etc., any 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) cellular network, WiFi networks, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), or any cellular network or system. The communications system 100 may support Machine Type Communication (MTC), enhanced MTC (eMTC), Internet of Things (loT) and / or NarrowBand loT (NB-loT). Thus, although terminology from 5G / NR and LTE may be used in this disclosure to exemplify embodiments herein, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein to only the aforementioned system.

[0095] The communications system 100 may comprise a first network node 111 as depicted in the non-limiting examples of Figure 4. In some embodiments, the communications system 100 may comprise a second network node 112. Any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may be a radio network node, radio access node or RAN node. That is, a transmission point such as a radio base station, for example a gNB, TRP or any other network node with similar features capable of serving a device or user equipment, such as a wireless device or a machine type communication device, in the communications system 100. In some examples, any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may be a distributed node or may manage a virtualized network function and may partially perform its functions in collaboration with a virtual node in a cloud 115. Any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may be directly connected to one or more core networks, e.g., to one or more network nodes in the one or more core networks. Any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may be of different classes, such as, e.g., macro base station, home base station or pico base station, based on transmission power and thereby also cell size. In some examples, any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may serve receiving nodes with serving beams. In the non-limiting example of Figure 4, any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may serve one or more beams 121, 122, 123, depicted in Figure 1 as a first beam 121, a second beam 122, and a third beam 123. It may be understood that this is for illustration purposes and non-limiting. Any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may may serve more or fewer beams than those depicted in Figure 4. Instead of, or additionally to, beams, any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may may serve one or more cells.Any of the first beam 121 , the second beam 122, and the third beam 123 may be associated to cells on different frequencies and the coverage of each of these cells may differ due to the propagation limitation and / or beamforming capability limitation etc. The respective area of radio coverage of each of the first beam 121, the second beam 122, and the third beam 123 may correspond to a respective cell. In other examples, more than one beam may correspond to a cell.

[0096] Any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may support one or several communication technologies, and its name may depend on the technology and terminology used.

[0097] In some examples, the first network node 111 may be a core network node, e.g., a core network access node. In some examples, as depicted in panel b) of Figure 4, the first network node 111 may be a network node in the cloud 115.

[0098] The first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may be the same node, or be co-localized, as depicted in the non-limiting example of panel a) of Figure 4. In some examples, as depicted in the non-limiting example of panel b) of Figure 4, the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may be different network nodes.

[0099] The communications system 100 may cover a geographical area, which in some embodiments may be divided into cell areas, wherein each cell area may be served by a radio network node, although, one radio network node may serve one or several cells.

[0100] In some examples, the communications system 100 may include an access network, such as a radio access network (RAN), and a core network, which may include one or more core network nodes. The access network may include one or more access network nodes, such as any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112, e.g., which may be generally referred to as network nodes, or any other similar 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) access nodes or non-3GPP access points. Moreover, as will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, a network node may not necessarily be limited to an implementation in which a radio portion and a baseband portion are supplied and integrated by a single vendor. Thus, it may be understood that network nodes may include disaggregated implementations or portions thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the communications system 100 may include one or more Open-RAN (ORAN) network nodes. Any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may be ORAN network nodes. An ORAN network node may be understood to be a node in the communications system 100 that may support 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 nodes to implement one or more functionalities of any node in the communications system 100, including one or more network nodes and / or core network nodes.

[0101] Examples of an ORAN network node may include an open radio unit (0-Rll), an open distributed unit (0-Dll), 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. Any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may support a specification by, for example, supporting an interface defined by the ORAN specification, such as an A1, F1, W1, E1, E2, X2, Xn interface, an open fronthaul user plane interface, or an open fronthaul management plane interface. Moreover, an ORAN access node may be a logical node in a physical node. Furthermore, an ORAN network node may be implemented in a virtualization environment, in which one or more network functions may be virtualized. For example, the virtualization environment may include an O-Cloud computing platform orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an 0-2 interface defined by the O-RAN Alliance or comparable technologies.

[0102] O-RAN may specify intent Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) toward the Service Management and Orchestration (SMO).

[0103] A plurality of devices may be located in the communication system 100, whereof a first device 131 is depicted in the non-limiting example of Figure 4. In some embodiments, as depicted in the non-limiting examples of Figure 4, the communications system 100 may comprise second device 132. Any of the first device 131 and the second device 132 may be a wireless communication device such as a UE, a 5G UE or nUE, which may also be known as e.g., mobile terminal, wireless terminal and / or mobile station, a mobile telephone, cellular telephone, or laptop with wireless capability, just to mention some further examples. Any of the first device 131 and the second device 132 may be, for example, portable, pocket-storable, hand-held, computer-comprised, or a vehicle-mounted mobile device, enabled to communicate voice and / or data, via the RAN, with another entity, such as a server, a laptop, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or a tablet, Machine-to-Machine (M2M) device, a sensor, loT device, NB-loT device, device equipped with a wireless interface, such as a printer or a file storage device, modem, or any other radio network unit capable of communicating over a radio link in a communications system. Any of the first device 131 and the second device 132 comprised in the communications system 100 may be enabled to communicate wirelessly in the communications system 100. The communication may be performed e.g., via a RAN, and possibly the one or more core networks, which may be comprised within the communications system 100. As depicted in the examples of Figure 4, the first device 131 and the second device 132 may be the same device in some embodiments. In such embodiments, the actions described herein as performed by the first device 131 may be performed during a training phase of an ML model, and the actions described herein as performed by the second device 132 may be performed during an inference phase of the ML model.The first device 131 may be configured to communicate within the communications system 100 with the first network node 111 over a first link 141, e.g., such as a radio link, e.g., via any of the one or more beams 121, 122, 123 or one or more cells. The second device 132 may be configured to communicate within the communications system 100 with the second network node 112 over a second link, e.g., a radio link, e.g., via any of the one or more beams 121 , 122, 123 or one or more cells in some examples. The first network node 111 may be configured to communicate within the communications system 100 with the second network node 112 over a third link 143, e.g., a radio link or a wired link.

[0104] Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and / or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and / or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

[0105] In general, the usage of “first”, “second”, “third”, “fourth”, “fifth”, and / or “sixth” herein may be understood to be an arbitrary way to denote different elements or entities, and may be understood to not confer a cumulative or chronological character to the nouns they modify, unless otherwise noted, based on context.

[0106] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments.

[0107] More specifically, the following are embodiments related to a first device, such as the first device 131, e.g., a first UE, a second device, such as the second device 132, e.g, a second UE, a first network node, such as the first network node 111, e.g., a first gNB, and a second network node, such as the second network node 112, e.g., a second gNB.

[0108] In the following description SRS is taken an illustrative example. SRS may be replaced in the following description by a / the “first reference signal” or a / the “first RS”.

[0109] Embodiments of a computer-implemented method, performed by a device, such as the first device 131 , will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in Figure 5. Themethod is for handling Uplink (UL) Reference Signals (RSs). The first device 131 operates in a communications system, such as the communications system 100.

[0110] In some embodiments, the communications system 100 may support New Radio (NR). In a particular example, the method may be for enabling NW-side data collection for training of a NW-sided AI / ML model targeting CSI prediction for spatially sparse SRS sounding.

[0111] Several embodiments are comprised herein. The method may comprise one or more of the following actions. In some embodiments, all the actions may be performed. In some examples, Action 501, Action 502 and Action 506 are performed. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable.

[0112] Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the first device 131 is depicted in Figure 5. In Figure 5, optional actions in some embodiments may be represented with dashed lines. In some embodiments, the actions may be performed in a different order than that depicted Figure 5.

[0113] Action 501

[0114] In this Action 501, the first device 131 obtains a first configuration.

[0115] The first configuration is of a set of one or more UL RSs. The UL RSs may be Sounding RSs. The first configuration may include, for example, the UL RSs resource allocation, e.g., SRS resource allocation, the time and / or frequency mapping and the sequence to use, as well as the time-domain behavior, aperiodic, semi-persistent, or periodic.

[0116] Obtaining in this Action 501 may comprise receiving, retrieving, or fetching.

[0117] In some embodiments, the obtaining in this Action 501 may be from the first network node 111 operating in the communications system 100.

[0118] In a particular example, in this Action 501, the first device 131 may receive an SRS configuration from the NW, of one or more SRS resources. The uplink SRS may be configured by the first network node 111 via RRC using one or more SRS resources grouped into SRS resource sets, with parameters defining time, frequency, and sequence domains. Each SRS resource may specify, e.g., periodicity / offset or aperiodic triggering, symbol position and length, bandwidth (via C_SRS / B_SRS and hopping parameters), antenna ports, and comb / cyclic shift to enable orthogonal multi-UE sounding over the cell bandwidth. An SRS resource may be understood as a specific time-frequency allocation and sequence configuration that may be used by the first device 131 to transmit one instance of the uplink SRS toward the first networknode 111. The SRS resource may be understood to define what part of the resource grid the SRS may occupy, e.g., OFDM symbols, subcarriers or Resource Blocks (RBs), comb and cyclic shift) and with which bandwidth and ports, so that multiple devices, e.g., UEs, or UE antenna ports may send orthogonal SRS signals simultaneously for channel sounding.

[0119] In this Action 501 , the first device 131 may be configured by the first network node 111 with training of NW-sided prediction for sparse spatial SRS transmission.

[0120] Action 502

[0121] In this Action 502, the first device 131 obtains one or more first indications from the first network node 111 operating in the communications system 100.

[0122] The one or more first indications indicate to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, a respective fixed mapping. The respective fixed mapping is of a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to a respective physical antenna port, e.g., a respective physical antenna port of the first device 131.

[0123] Obtaining in this Action 502 may comprise receiving, retrieving, or fetching, from the first network node 111 operating in the communications system 100.

[0124] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply: a) the first configuration may be received from the first network node 111, b) the respective fixed mapping may be obtained from an internal configuration at the first device 131, c) the UL RSs may be Sounding RSs, and d) each of the one or more first indications may be a usage configured per resource of the UL RSs.

[0125] An UL RS resource set may group one or more UL RS resources that may share a common purpose, such as codebook-based UL, non-codebook UL, antenna switching, or beam management. The first network node 111 may configure different UL RS resource sets so the first device 131 may transmit UL RS tailored to specific usages, for example, one set for PUSCH precoder selection and another for antenna / beam switching, and then select or activate the appropriate set depending on the scheduling and measurement needs.

[0126] In a particular example, the one or more first indications in this Action 502 may comprise an indication that may be a “usage” configured per SRS resource or group of SRS resources, e.g., a “usage”, “data_collection” may be introduced.

[0127] In a particular example, in this Action 502, the first device 131 may receive from the NW, an indication to use a fixed resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping for SRS transmission, and where the SRS resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping may be defined across different SRS configurations, e.g., regardless if the first device 131 may be configured with e.g., SRS scheme 2T4R, or 4T4R, the SRS port to antenna port mapping may be understood to have to be known at the network at each SRS transmission.In some embodiments, each respective physical antenna port may have a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

[0128] In some embodiments, the respective fixed mapping may be indicated by indicating a correspondence. The correspondence may be between a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, with the corresponding respective antenna identifier to the respective UL RS.

[0129] In some examples, only some specific SRS configurations may be supported for the features described herein. For example, the first device 131 may support 4T4R, 2T4R and 4T4R antenna switching schemes for normal operation, but the features described herein may be only supported for 1T4R and 2T4R. In this case, the SRS port to antenna port mapping may only need to be fixed and known across the two SRS configurations 1T4R and 2T4R.

[0130] In some examples, the one or more first indications may comprise a first identifier.

[0131] In some embodiments, one of the following options may apply.

[0132] According to one option, the first identifier may correspond to a first respective fixed mapping that may have to be applied for transmitting as will be described in Action 506 at least one of the one or more UL RSs.

[0133] In a particular example, in this Action 502, the first device 131 may receive from the NW a UE-sided additional condition ID, that is, as the first identifier.

[0134] In one example, the UE-sided additional condition ID may be introduced and associated with an SRS configuration, and the UE-sided additional condition ID may indicate that the first device 131 may have to apply a fixed (across time) SRS resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping for the SRS transmission associated with this UE-sided additional condition ID.

[0135] In a particular example, the UE-sided additional condition ID may mean that the first device 131 may have to apply a fixed (across time) SRS resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping for the SRS transmission associated with this UE-sided additional condition ID, and the SRS resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping may be defined across multiple different SRS configurations, e.g., regardless if the first device 131 is configured with e.g., SRS scheme 2T4R, or 4T4R, the SRS port to antenna port mapping may be understood to have to be known at the network, since the SRS configuration may differ at different times or different UEs.

[0136] According to another option, the first identifier may correspond to a certain mapping between respective physical antenna ports and a corresponding respective antenna identifier, that is, their corresponding respective antenna identifier. A physical antenna port may be understood to be a physical entity, and an antenna identifier may be understood to be a logical entity.

[0137] In one example, there may be a relation between SRS resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping for different SRS configurations for one UE-sided additional condition ID, e.g., there may be a relation between how the first device 131 may have to perform SRS ports to antennaport mapping for a first SRS configuration and a second SRS configuration, wherein the first and second SRS configuration e.g., may have different number of SRS resource / SRS ports per SRS resource. In one example, a UE with 4 Tx and 4 Rx, may be in a first time instance configured with one four-port SRS resource, and in a second time instance configured with four single-port SRS resources. It may be important for AI / ML model training that the network may know which SRS resource / SRS port may be associated with which antenna port for both these configurations. Hence, in one example, of embodiments herein, a rule may be defined in the specification where there may be an association between SRS ports of a first SRS configuration and SRS ports of a second SRS configuration, such that an SRS port from a first SRS configuration may be mapped to the same antenna port as an SRS port of a second antenna configuration, for e.g., the same UE-sided additional condition ID. For example, if the first device 131 is configured with two SRS configurations, e.g., 1T1R, and 1T2R, 1T1R may have a single SRS resource with one SRS port. 1T2R may have a single SRS resource with two SRS ports. The same UE-sided additional condition may indicate to the first device 131 that for the SRS configuration 1T1R, the first device 131 may have to map the SRS port to antennal of the first device 131, and for the SRS configuration 1T2R, the first device 131 may have to map the SRS Portl to antennal of the first device 131, and SRS port 2 to antenna2 of the first device 131. In one related example, the SRS ports may be ordered in specific order for each SRS configuration, and SRS ports having the same place in the order, e.g., SRS port ordering index, for different SRS configuration may have to be mapped to the same antenna port, that is, the same physical antenna. In one detailed example, SRS ports may be first ordered according to SRS resource sets with lowest SRS resource set index, if multiple SRS resource sets are used in the SRS configuration, then the SRS ports may be ordered according to SRS resources with lowest SRS resource index, if multiple SRS resources are used per SRS resource set, and then SRS ports may be ordered according to SRS port index. Some non-limiting examples of how this may look for different SRS configurations are illustrated in Figure 11 , where the three different SRS configurations and the corresponding SRS port ordering is shown, and where an SRS port with the same SRS port order index, may have to be mapped to the same antenna port.

[0138] In an alternative example, a simplified approach may be envisioned where there may be only one ID, or rather a lack of an ID. This may be used solely to implement the time domain consistency idea of examples herein, which may be useful for data collection for AI / ML model training by allowing to collect data for many samples over time or even across different UEs of the same model, e.g., same Radio Frequency (RF) implementation. It may be noted that without the additional condition ID, the overhead reduction may not be achieved. In this case, the SRS resource used for data collection may be configured for the usage “data_collection” and whenever the first device 131 may be triggered to transmit SRS with this usage, then it mayalways use the same antenna virtualization, or SRS port to physical antenna mapping. Similarly, when configured for inference, the same usage “data_collection” may be indicated, which may ensure that the first device 131 may use the same mapping as during the data collection. In this way, the statistics of the data used in training and in inference may be consistent.

[0139] The same first indication(s) may be used to determine the fixed mapping between UL-RSs and physical antenna ports for two or more different LIL-RS configurations, e.g., or two or more sets of one or more LIL-RS.

[0140] In some embodiments, the method may further comprise the following action 503.

[0141] Action 503

[0142] In this Action 503, the first device 131 may obtain a second indication from the first network node 111.

[0143] The second indication may indicate the first identifier, e.g., the UE-sided additional condition ID. This Action 503 may be performed in examples wherein the first identifier obtained in Action 502 may indicate the “usage” configured per SRS resource or group of SRS resources, e.g., a “usage”, “data_collection”. Then, in this Action 503, the first device 131 may obtain the UE-sided additional condition ID.

[0144] Action 504

[0145] In this Action 504, the first device 131 may send a third indication.

[0146] The sending of the third indication may be to the first network node 111.

[0147] The third indication may indicate assistance information corresponding to the first identifier indicated by the second indication, or by at least one of the one or more first indications.

[0148] In a particular example, in this Action 504, the first device 131 may signal assistance information associated with a UE-sided additional condition ID.

[0149] In one example, the assistance information may indicate SRS configurations supported for inference for a UE-sided additional condition ID, which may be needed since the switching network of the first device 131 may not support all candidate inference SRS configurations. One example may be if a UE with 2T4R is configured with four SRS single port SRS resources during training. If during inference it may be desired to only sound 2 out of the 4 RX antennas during each SRS transmission occasion, using 2T2R, e.g., using a two-port SRS resource, then the first device 131 may not map these two SRS ports of the SRS resource to two UE antennas associated with the same TX chain, since that TX chain may only be connected to one of the two UE antenna at each time instance, and a two port SRS resource may be understood to require that the two SRS ports may be transmitted simultaneously.

[0150] The assistance information may indicate one or more of the following options.According to one option, the assistance information may indicate absolute or relative output power for at least a first UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs. In a particular example, the assistance information may indicate absolute or relative output power for the different SRS resources / SRS ports, for one or more SRS configurations,

[0151] In one example, the assistance information associated with a UE-sided additional condition ID may indicate absolute or relative output power for the different SRS resources / SRS ports. In one example, this assistance information may be reported per SRS configuration.

[0152] According to another option, the assistance information may indicate absolute or relative output power for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers.

[0153] According to another option, the assistance information may indicate absolute or relative output power for at least a first physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports.

[0154] According to another option, the assistance information may indicate absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a second UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs. In a particular example, the assistance information may indicate absolute or relative insertion loss for the different SRS resources / SRS ports, for one or more SRS configurations. The second UL RS may be the same as the first UL RS.

[0155] In one example, the assistance information associated with a UE-sided additional condition ID, may indicate absolute or relative insertion loss for the different SRS resources / SRS ports. In one example, this assistance information may be reported per SRS configuration.

[0156] According to another option, the assistance information may indicate absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers.

[0157] According to another option, the assistance information may indicate absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first respective physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports.

[0158] Action 505

[0159] In this Action 505, the first device 131 may send a fourth indication.

[0160] The sending of the fourth indication may be to the first network node 111.

[0161] The fourth indication may indicate one or more second configurations of a second set of one or more UL RSs corresponding to the first identifier indicated by the second indication or by at least one of the one or more first indications.

[0162] The one or more second configurations may be to be used in an inference phase of a machine learning model (MLM).The MLM may be to be trained by the first network node 111 to predict channel state information based on the at least one of the one or more UL RSs transmitted by the first device 131.

[0163] The MLM may be any of, e.g., a Neural Network, a Convolutional Neural Network, a Federated Learning MLM, an Autoencoder, Decision Tree, etc.

[0164] The first device 131 may be a device that may collect data to be used as input to the MLM, e.g., during a training phase of the MLM. In some examples, the first device 131 may train the MLM itself.

[0165] In a particular example, the first device 131 may indicate supported inference SRS configurations for the UE-sided additional condition ID. Supported inference SRS configurations may be reported separately or be associated with the UE-sided additional condition.

[0166] In a particular example, the first device 131 may indicate supported inference SRS configurations for the usage “data_collection”, e.g., without an ID.

[0167] In a particular example, the first device 131 may indicate a UE design ID aspect, either explicitly or implicitly through, e.g., a UE / chipset ID, during connections establishment, which may be used as input for the AI / ML model during training. A UE design ID aspect may be understood as a message sent by the first device 131 to the first network node 111 with information about e.g. , vendor of the first device 131, type of the first device 131, serial number of the first device 131, software version of the first device 131, hardware specifics of the first device 131, etc..

[0168] In one example, the first device 131 may indicate a UE design ID aspect, either explicitly or implicitly through e.g., a UE / chipset ID during connections establishment, which the network may use as input for the AI / ML model during training. In one example, the same SRS resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping may be applied for all UEs with the same UE design ID and the same UE-sided additional condition ID.

[0169] In one example, the UE may indicate a UE design ID aspect, either explicitly or implicitly through e.g., a UE / chipset ID during connections establishment, which the network may use as input for the AI / ML model during inference.

[0170] The first device 131 may alternatively indicate the UE design ID aspect in Action 504, as part of the assistance information.

[0171] Since the first network node 111 may have to train the MLM for each candidate inference configuration, if the first device 131 indicates already during training, which inference configurations it may support, the first network node 111 may limit the number of training models, which may be understood to simplify the training.In addition, by indicating the insertion loss associated with different UE antennas, the first network node 111 may be enabled to be aware of the difference between the SRS output power and the actual DL channel for the corresponding UE antenna, which may improve the reliability and correctness of the DL channel estimate.

[0172] Action 506

[0173] In this Action 506, the first device 131 transmits at least one of the one or more UL RSs. That is, at least one of the one or more UL RSs of the set of one or more UL-RS.

[0174] The transmitting of the at least one of the one or more UL RSs is according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the obtained one or more first indications.

[0175] The transmitting in this Action 506 may be to the first network node 111.

[0176] In a particular example, the first device 131 may transmit SRS for all UE RX antennas, using a fixed SRS port to antenna port mapping across SRS transmission occasions.

[0177] In a particular example, in this Action 506, the first device 131 may transmit the one or more SRS resources based on the SRS configuration and the indication of the certain mapping, for all transmissions of the one or more SRS resources.

[0178] In a particular example, in this Action 506, the first device 131 may transmit the one or more SRS resources based on the SRS configuration and the indication of the UE-sided additional condition ID.

[0179] In a particular example, all UEs with the same UE / chipset ID and the same UE-sided additional condition ID may apply the same SRS to antenna port mapping.

[0180] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply: the first configuration may be received from the first network node 111 , the respective fixed mapping may be obtained from an internal configuration at the first device 131 , the transmitting 506 may be to the first network node 111 , the UL RSs may be Sounding RSs, and each of the one or more first indications may be a usage configured per resource of the UL RSs.

[0181] By the first device 131 transmitting the transmission of the at least one of the one or more UL RSs, the first network node 111 may be enabled to train the MLM during the training phase, and the second network node 112 may be able to predict the CSI during inference. The fixed mapping may facilitate the training of the MLM and may enable that the prediction of the CSI that may be estimated during inference may be more reliable.

[0182] Embodiments of a computer-implemented method, performed by a network node, such as the first network node 111, will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in Figure 6. The method is for handling the UL RSs. The first network node 111 operates in a communications system, such as the communications system 100.In a particular example, the method may be for enabling NW-side data collection for training of a NW-sided AI / ML model targeting CSI prediction for spatially sparse SRS sounding.

[0183] In some embodiments, the communications system 100 may support New Radio (NR). Several embodiments are comprised herein. The method may comprise one or more of the following actions. In some embodiments, all the actions may be performed. In some examples, Action 603 and Action 606 are performed. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise one or more of Actions 601 and Action 602. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the first network node 111 is depicted in Figure 6. In Figure 6, optional actions in some embodiments may be represented with dashed lines. In some embodiments, the actions may be performed in a different order than that depicted Figure 6. For example, Action 602 may be performed after Action 603.

[0184] The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first device 131 and will thus not be repeated here to simplify the description. For example, the MLM may be any of, e.g., a Neural Network, a Convolutional Neural Network, a Federated Learning MLM, an Autoencoder, Decision Tree, etc.

[0185] The first network node 111 may be a network node that may configure the first device 131 to collect data to use as input to the MLM during a training phase of the MLM. In some examples, the first network node 111 may train the MLM itself.

[0186] Action 601

[0187] In this Action 601 , the first network node 111 may send the first configuration.

[0188] The first configuration may be of the set of one or more UL RSs.

[0189] The sending in this Action 601 may be to the first device 131.

[0190] Action 602

[0191] In this Action 602, the first network node 111 may send the second indication.

[0192] The second indication may indicate the first identifier.

[0193] The sending in this Action 603 may be to the first device 131.

[0194] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply: the first identifier may correspond to the first respective fixed mapping that may have to be applied for receiving, as will be described in Action 606, at least one of the one or more UL RSs, and the first identifier maycorrespond to the certain mapping between the respective physical antenna ports and the corresponding respective antenna identifier, that is, their / -corresponding respective antenna identifier.

[0195] Action 603

[0196] In this Action 603, the first network node 111 sends the one or more first indications. The one or more first indications indicate to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, the respective fixed mapping of the respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to the respective physical antenna port.

[0197] The sending in this Action 603 is to the first device 131 operating in the communication system 100.

[0198] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply: the first configuration may be sent by the first network node 111 , the UL RSs may be SRSs, and each of the one or more first indications may be the usage configured per resource of the UL RSs.

[0199] In an example, the first network node 111 in Action 601 , Action 602 and Action 603 may configure the first device 131 with training of NW-sided prediction for sparse spatial SRS transmission.

[0200] In some embodiments, the method may further comprise one or more of the following two actions.

[0201] Action 604

[0202] In this Action 604, the first network node 111 may receive the third indication.

[0203] The receiving in this Action 604 may be from the first device 131.

[0204] The third indication may indicate the assistance information corresponding to the first identifier indicated by the second indication, or by at least one of the one or more first indications.

[0205] The assistance information may indicate one or more of: the absolute or relative output power for at least the first UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs, the absolute or relative output power for at least the first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, the absolute or relative output power for at least the first physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports, the absolute or relative insertion loss for at least the second UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs, the absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, and the absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first respective physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports.Action 605

[0206] In this Action 605, the first network node 111 may receive the fourth indication.

[0207] The receiving in this Action 605 may be from the first device 131.

[0208] The fourth indication may indicate the one or more second configurations of the second set of one or more UL RSs corresponding to the first identifier indicated by the second indication, or by at least one of the one or more first indications.

[0209] The one or more second configurations may be to be used in the inference phase of the MLM.

[0210] The MLM may be to be trained by the first network node 111 to predict channel state information based on the at least one of the one or more UL RSs transmitted by the first device 131.

[0211] Action 606

[0212] In this Action 606, the first network node 111 receives at least one of the one or more UL RSs.

[0213] The receiving in this Action 606 of the at least one of the one or more UL RSs is according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the sent one or more first indications.

[0214] The receiving in this Action 606 is from the first device 131.

[0215] In some embodiments, each respective physical antenna port may have the corresponding respective antenna identifier.

[0216] In some embodiments, the respective fixed mapping may be indicated by indicating the correspondence between the respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, with the corresponding respective antenna identifier to the respective UL RS.

[0217] In some embodiments, the method may further comprise one or more of the following three actions.

[0218] Action 607

[0219] In this Action 607, the first network node 111 may initiate training of the MLM.

[0220] Initiating may comprise starting itself, or triggering or enabling that another entity, e.g., the second network node 112 may perform the training of the MLM.

[0221] The training of the MLM may be with the first set of UL RSs.

[0222] The MLM may be to predict channel state information based on received UL RSs.

[0223] The channel may be, e.g., between the first device 131 and the first network node 111. In an example, the first network node 111 may train the AI / ML model based on all received SRSs by assuming only a subset of the SRS are transmitted by the first device 131.Action 608

[0224] In this Action 608, the first network node 111 may initiate outputting a fifth indication. The fifth indication may be of the trained MLM.

[0225] Outputting may comprise, e.g., sending, providing, or similar.

[0226] Action 609

[0227] In this Action 609, the first network node 111 may use the trained MLM.

[0228] The using in this Action 609 of the trained MLM may be, e.g., to predict channel state information based on received UL RSs.

[0229] Embodiments of a computer-implemented method, performed by device, such as the second device 132, will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in Figure 7.

[0230] The method is for handling the UL RSs. The second device 132 operates in a communications system, such as the communications system 100.

[0231] In a particular example, the method may be for enabling data collection for inference of a NW-sided AI / ML model targeting CSI prediction for spatially sparse SRS sounding.

[0232] In some embodiments, the communications system 100 may support New Radio (NR). Several embodiments are comprised herein. The method may comprise one or more of the following actions. In some embodiments, all the actions may be performed. Action 701, Action 702, and Action 703 are performed. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable.

[0233] Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the second device 132 is depicted in Figure 7. In some embodiments, the actions may be performed in a different order than that depicted Figure 7.

[0234] The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first device 131 and will thus not be repeated here to simplify the description. For example, the MLM may be any of, e.g., a Neural Network, a Convolutional Neural Network, a Federated Learning MLM, an Autoencoder, Decision Tree, etc.

[0235] The second device 132 may be a device that may perform transmission of the UL RSs during an inference phase with the MLM, once trained. The second device 132 may transmit similar UL RSs as the first device 131, using new or fresh signals.

[0236] Usage of the adjective “first” in front of a term that has already been used, e.g., in relation to the first device 131, may be understood to indicate a reference to a fresh or new instance ofthe same term. For example, “first first configuration” may be understood to relate to the same concept of “first configuration” described earlier, but in reference to the second device 132.

[0237] Action 701

[0238] In this Action 701, the second device 132 obtains a first first configuration.

[0239] The first first configuration is of a first set of one or more UL RSs.

[0240] The obtaining in this Action 701 may be from the second network node 112 operating in the communications system 100.

[0241] In a particular example, the second device 132 in this Action 701 may receive an SRS configuration of one or more SRS resources.

[0242] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply: the first first configuration may be received from the second network node 112 operating in the communications system 100, the UL RSs may be Sounding RSs, and the first first configuration may indicate a time configuration indicating which antenna ports may have to be sounded at each transmission occasion.

[0243] In one example, during inference, the second device 132 may receive an indication of a subset of the SRS resources / SRS ports in the SRS configuration that it may have to transmit during inference.

[0244] In one example, the subset indication may be a bit field associated with the SRS port ordering described in a previous example, e.g., if the SRS configuration may consist of 4 SRS ports ordered SRS port#1, SRS port#2, SRS port#3 and SRS port#4, then a 4-bit bitfield, may be used to indicate which of the 4 SRS ports that may have to be transmitted, or not be transmitted. For example, if the bitfield indicates ‘1100’, then e.g., the SRS port#1, and SRS port #2 may have to be transmitted, but SRS port#3 and SRS port#4 may have to not be transmitted. In one example, one or more of the following subset indications may be used: a) one or more bitfields may be used to indicate one or more of the SRS resource sets of the SRS configuration, b) one or more bitfields may be used to indicate one or more SRS resources of the SRS configuration, and c) one or more bitfields may be used to indicate one or more SRS ports of the SRS configuration.

[0245] In one example, an SRS configuration may be associated with a Time configuration, wherein the Time configuration may be used to indicate which UE antenna ports may have to be sounded at different SRS transmission occasions.

[0246] In one example, different Time instances of the Time configuration may be associated with independent indication of the subset of the SRS resources / SRS ports in the SRS configuration that the second device 132 may need to use for the associated Time instance during inference.

[0247] In one example, for aperiodic SRS transmission, a new field in Downlink Control Information (DCI) may be introduced, wherein the DCI field may indicate one of the Timeinstances of the Time configuration, and the second device 132 may have to then transmit the subset of SRS resources / SRS ports that may be associated with the indicated Time instance.

[0248] In a particular example, the SRS configuration may contain a Time configuration, where the Time configuration may be used to indicate which UE antenna ports may have to be sounded at each SRS transmission occasion. The Time configuration may comprise a temporal pattern to be applied repetitively during a configured SRS transmission.

[0249] In a particular example, the DCI may be used to indicate one of two or more preconfigured Time configurations, targeting aperiodic SRS.

[0250] In a particular example, a Time configuration may indicate for periodic / semi-persistent SRS transmission, which UE antenna ports may have to be sounded at each SRS transmission occasion.

[0251] Action 702

[0252] In this Action 702, the second device 132 obtains a first second indication, or at least one of the one or more first indications.

[0253] The first second indication indicates the first identifier.

[0254] The first identifier corresponds to the first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied for transmitting, as described in Action 703, at least one of the one or more UL RSs.

[0255] The first respective fixed mapping is of a respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to a first respective physical antenna port.

[0256] In a particular example, the second device 132 in this Action 702 may receive a UE-sided additional condition ID. The UE-sided additional condition ID may be understood to mean that the second device 132 may have to apply a fixed (across time) SRS resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping for the SRS transmission associated with this UE-sided additional condition ID, and the SRS resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping may be defined across multiple different SRS configurations, e.g., regardless if the UE may be configured with e.g., SRS scheme 1T2R, or 2T2R, the SRS port to antenna port mapping may have to be known at the network, since the SRS scheme may differ at different times or different UEs.

[0257] The obtaining in this Action 702 may be from the second network node 112 operating in the communications system 100.

[0258] In some examples, the second device 132 may indicate a UE design ID aspect, either explicitly or implicitly through e.g., a UE / chipset ID during connections establishment, which may be used as input for the AI / ML model during inference.Action 703

[0259] In this Action 703, the second device 132 transmits the at least one of the one or more UL RSs. In some examples, the second device 132 may transmit the subset of the one or more UL RSs, e.g., that may have been indicated by the second network node 112.

[0260] The transmitting in this Action 703 may be based on the indicated first identifier.

[0261] In a particular example, the second device 132 in this Action 703 may transmit the indicated SRS resources / SRS ports, or transmitting all SRS resource / SRS ports except the indicated SRS resources / SRS ports, based on the SRS configuration and the UE-sided additional condition ID.

[0262] In an example, the second device 132 may transmit SRS from a subset of all UE RX antennas. Different UE RX antennas may be sounded during different SRS transmission occasions.

[0263] The transmitting in this Action 703 may be, e.g., to the second network node 112 operating in the communications system 100.

[0264] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply: the first first configuration may be received from the second network node 112 operating in the communications system 100, the first second indication, or the at least one of the one or more first indications, may be received from the second network node 112, the transmitting in this Action 703 may be to the second network node 112, the UL RSs may be Sounding RSs, the first first configuration may indicate a time configuration indicating which antenna ports may have to be sounded at each transmission occasion.

[0265] Embodiments of a computer-implemented method, performed by a network node, such as the second network node 112, will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in Figure 8. The method is for handling the UL RSs. The second network node 112 operates in a communications system, such as the communications system 100.

[0266] In some embodiments, the communications system 100 may support New Radio (NR). Several embodiments are comprised herein. The method may comprise one or more of the following actions. In some embodiments, all the actions may be performed. In some examples, Action 802, Action 803 and Action 804 are performed. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the second network node 112 is depicted in Figure 8. In Figure 8, optional actions in some embodimentsmay be represented with dashed lines. In some embodiments, the actions may be performed in a different order than that depicted Figure 8.

[0267] The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first device 131 and will thus not be repeated here to simplify the description. For example, the MLM may be any of, e.g., a Neural Network, a Convolutional Neural Network, a Federated Learning MLM, an Autoencoder, Decision Tree, etc.

[0268] The second network node 112 may be a network node 112 that may collect data to use as input to the MLM during an inference phase of the MLM once trained.

[0269] Action 801

[0270] In this Action 801, the second network node 112 may obtain the fifth indication.

[0271] The obtaining in this Action 801 may be from the first network node 111 operating in the communications system 100.

[0272] The fifth indication may be of the trained MLM.

[0273] The MLM may be to predict channel state information based on received UL RSs.

[0274] Action 802

[0275] In this Action 802, the second network node 112 sends the first first configuration.

[0276] The sending in this Action 802 is to the second device 132 operating in the communications system 100.

[0277] The first first configuration is of the first set of one or more UL RSs.

[0278] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply: the UL RSs may be Sounding RSs, and the first first configuration may indicate the time configuration indicating which antenna ports may have to be sounded at each transmission occasion.

[0279] Action 803

[0280] In this Action 803, the second network node 112 sends the first second indication, or at least one of one or more first indications.

[0281] The sending in this Action 803 is to the second device 132.

[0282] The first second indication indicates the first identifier.

[0283] The first identifier corresponds to the first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied by the second device 132 for transmitting the at least one of the one or more UL RSs.

[0284] The first respective fixed mapping is of the respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to the first respective physical antenna port of the second device 132.Action 804

[0285] In this Action 804, the second network node 112 receives the at least one of the one or more UL RSs.

[0286] The receiving in this Action 804 is from the second device 132.

[0287] The receiving in this Action 804 is based on the indicated first identifier.

[0288] In some embodiments, the method may further comprise one or more of the following two actions:

[0289] Action 805

[0290] In this Action 805, the second network node 112 may use the trained MLM.

[0291] The using in this Action 805 of the trained MLM may be, e.g., to predict channel state information based on received at least one of the one or more UL RSs.

[0292] In a non-limiting example, the second network node 112 may determine a precoder assuming the second device 132 has all UE RX antennas available. The second network node 112 may then transmit data to the second device 132 using the determined precoder.

[0293] Some embodiments herein will now be further described with some non-limiting examples, which may be combined, in whole or in part, with the embodiments just described.

[0294] In the following description, any reference to a / the UE, may be understood to equally refer the first device 131 during the training phase, and to the second device 132 during the inference phase; any reference to a / the gNB and / or a / the Radio access node and / or a / the core network access node and / or a / the BS and / or a / the RAN node and / or a / the base station and / or a / the NW and / or a / the network may be understood to equally refer to the first network node 111 during the training phase and to the second network node 112 during the inference phase; any reference to a / the SRS may be understood to equally refer to the UL RSs.

[0295] Examples of, or related to, or combinable with, embodiments herein may include:

[0296] Training

[0297] 1. A method in a UE, such as the first device 131, for enabling NW-side data collection fortraining of a NW-sided AI / ML model targeting CSI prediction for spatially sparse SRS sounding, wherein the method may comprise:

[0298] a. Receiving an SRS configuration from the NW, of one or more SRS resources b. Receiving from the NW, an indication to use a fixed resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping for the SRS transmission AND where the SRS resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping is defined across different SRS configurations (e.g., regardless if the UE is configured with e.g., SRS scheme2T4R, or 4T4R, the SRS port to antenna port mapping may be understood to have to be known at the network at each SRS transmission)

[0299] c. Transmitting the one or more SRS resources based on the SRS configuration and the indication of the certain mapping (for all transmissions of the one or more SRS resources)

[0300] 2. 1 and receiving from the NW an UE-sided additional condition ID is used, and wherein the UE-sided additional condition ID means that the UE may have to apply a fixed (across time) SRS resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping for the SRS transmission associated with this UE-sided additional condition ID, AND wherein the SRS resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping may be defined across multiple different SRS configurations (e.g., regardless if the UE is configured with e.g., SRS scheme 2T4R, or 4T4R, the SRS port to antenna port mapping may be understood to have to be known at the network, since the SRS configuration may differ at different times or different UEs)

[0301] 3. 2 and wherein the UE may transmit the one or more SRS resources based on the SRS configuration and the indication of the UE-sided additional condition ID.

[0302] 4. 2 and wherein the UE may signal assistance information associated an UE-sided additional condition ID.

[0303] 5. 2 and wherein the assistance information may indicate absolute or relative output power for the different SRS resources / SRS ports (for one or more SRS configurations) 6. 2 and wherein the assistance information may indicate absolute or relative insertion loss for the different SRS resources / SRS ports (for one or more SRS configurations) 7. 2 and wherein UE may indicate supported inference SRS configurations for the UE- sided additional condition ID

[0304] 8. 1 and wherein UE may indicate supported inference SRS configurations for the usage “data_collection” (e.g., without an ID)

[0305] 9. 1b and wherein the indication (in 1b) may be a “usage” configured per SRS resource or group of SRS resources (e.g., a “usage” . “data_collection” may be introduced) 10. All above and wherein the UE may indicate a UE design ID aspect, either explicitly or implicitly through e.g., a UE / chipset ID, during connections establishment, which may be used as input for the AI / ML model during training.

[0306] 11.9 and wherein all UEs with the same UE / chipset ID and the same UE-sided additional condition ID may apply the same SRS to antenna port mapping.Inference

[0307] 1. A method in a UE, such as the second device 132, for enabling data collection for inference of a NW-sided AI / ML model targeting CSI prediction for spatially sparse SRS sounding, wherein the method may comprise:

[0308] a. receiving an SRS configuration of one or more SRS resources

[0309] b. receiving an UE-sided additional condition ID, and wherein the UE-sided additional condition ID may be understood to mean that the UE may have to apply a fixed (across time) SRS resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping for the SRS transmission associated with this UE-sided additional condition ID, AND wherein the SRS resource / SRS port to antenna port mapping may be defined across multiple different SRS configurations (e.g., regardless if the UE may be configured with e.g., SRS scheme 1T2R, or 2T2R, the SRS port to antenna port mapping may have to be known at the network, since the SRS scheme may differ at different times or different UEs)

[0310] c. receiving an indication indicating a subset of the configured SRS resource / SRS ports

[0311] d. transmitting the indicated SRS resources / SRS ports (or transmitting all SRS resource / SRS ports except the indicated SRS resources / SRS ports) based on the SRS configuration and the UE-sided additional condition ID

[0312] 2. 1 and wherein the SRS configuration may contain a Time configuration, where the Time configuration may be used to indicate which UE antenna ports that may have to be sounded at each SRS transmission occasion

[0313] a. wherein the Time configuration may comprise a temporal pattern to be applied repetitively during a configured SRS transmission

[0314] 3. 2 and wherein the DCI may be used to indicate one of two or more pre-configured Time configurations (targeting aperiodic SRS)

[0315] 4. 2 and wherein a Time configuration may indicate for periodic / semi-persistent SRS transmission, which UE antenna ports may have to be sounded at each SRS transmission occasion

[0316] 5. All above and wherein the UE may indicate a UE design ID aspect, either explicitly or implicitly through e.g., a UE / chipset ID during connections establishment, which may be used as input for the AI / ML model during inference.

[0317] Figure 9 and Figure 9 illustrate, respectively, an example of a high-level flowchart of actions according to embodiments herein.Figure 9 is a signalling diagram corresponding to a training phase of the MLM. In Figure 9, the first network node 111 is depicted as a BS and the first device 131 as a UE. In SteplOO, in agreement with Action 601, Action 602 and Action 603 and Action 501, 502 and 503, the first network node 111 may configure the first device 131 with training of NW-sided prediction for sparse spatial SRS transmission. The first device 131 , according to Action 506 may then, at Step101, transmit SRS for all UE RX antennas, using a fixed SRS port to antenna port mapping across SRS transmission occasions. The first network node 111 may receive the SRSs according to Action 606, and then, at Step102, according to Action 607, the first network node 111 may train the AI / ML model based on all received SRSs by assuming only a subset of the SRS are transmitted by the UE.

[0318] Figure 10 is a signalling diagram corresponding to an inference phase of the MLM. In Figure 10, the second network node 112 is depicted as a BS and the second device 132 as a UE. In Step200, in agreement with Action 801 , Action 802 and Action 803 and Action 701 and 702, the second network node 112 may configure the second device 132 with inference of NW-sided prediction for sparse spatial SRS transmission. The second device 132, according to Action 703 may then, at Step201, transmit SRS from subset of all UE RX antennas. Different UE RX antennas may be sounded during different SRS transmission occasions. The second network node 112 may receive the SRSs according to Action 804, and then, at Step202, according to Action 805, the second network node 112 may determine a precoder assuming the second device 132 has all UE RX antennas available. At Step203, the second network node 112, also according to Action 805, may transmit data using the determined precoder.

[0319] Figure 11 illustrates a non-limiting example of SRS port ordering which may be used to associate SRS port to antenna port mapping across different SRS configurations, each depicted in panel a), panel b) and panel c), respectively. The SRS configuration depicted in panel a) has two different SRS resource sets: SRS resource set ID1 and SRS resource set ID2. Each SRS resource set comprises two SRS resource IDs. SRS resource set ID1 comprises SRS resource ID1, which comprises SRS portl and SRS port2, and SRS resource ID2, which comprises SRS portl and SRS port2. SRS port in the left column of each of panel a), panel b) and panel c) of Figure 11 may be understood to be a name that may be understood to be used in current NR specification for an uplink reference signal. SRS resource set ID2 comprises SRS resource ID3, which comprises SRS portl and SRS port2, and SRS resource ID4, which comprises SRS portl and SRS port2. Each of the ports, as just listed corresponds to an SRS port ordering: SRS port #1 , SRS port #2, SRS port #3, SRS port #4, SRS port #5, SRS port #6, SRS port #7, SRS port #8. The right column of each of panel a), panel b) and panel c) of Figure 11 may be understood to indicate a number that may be used for mapping the UL RSs to a physicalantenna. The SRS configuration depicted in panel b) also has two different SRS resource sets: SRS resource set ID1 and SRS resource set ID2. Each SRS resource set comprises two SRS resource IDs. SRS resource set ID1 comprises SRS resource ID3, which comprises SRS portl and SRS port2, and SRS resource ID4, which comprises SRS portl and SRS port2. SRS resource set ID2 comprises SRS resource ID1, which comprises SRS portl and SRS port2, and SRS resource ID2, which comprises SRS portl and SRS port2. Each of the ports, as just listed corresponds to an SRS port ordering: SRS port #1 , SRS port #2, SRS port #3, SRS port #4, SRS port #5, SRS port #6, SRS port #7, SRS port #8. The SRS configuration depicted in panel c) has one SRS resource set: SRS resource set ID1 which comprises four SRS resource IDs. SRS resource set ID1 comprises SRS resource ID1, which comprises SRS portl and SRS port2, and SRS resource ID2, which comprises SRS portl and SRS port2, SRS resource ID3, which comprises SRS portl and SRS port2, and SRS resource ID4, which comprises SRS portl and SRS port2. Each of the ports, as just listed corresponds to an SRS port ordering: SRS port #1, SRS port #2, SRS port #3, SRS port #4, SRS port #5, SRS port #6, SRS port #7, SRS port #8. Figure 11 may be understood to illustrate how the SRS ports may be numbered when there may be SRS ports in multiple SRS resource and SRS resoruce sets. In a specification, SRS ports may be only numbered within each SRS resoruce. Therefore, a unique index for each SRS port may be needed, which may be understood to be the SRS port ordering, that is, the information appearing on the right column of each of panel a), panel b) and panel c) of Figure 11 , to be able to have a mapping between SRS ports and UE antennas. The order of the SRS ports, may then, by using a rule in the specification, indicate to the first device 131, or the second device 132, how to map SRS ports, potentially belonging to multiple SRS resources and SRS resource sets, to UE antennas. For example, if the rule indicates that the device may need to map SRS ports according to that the SRS port orderl is associated with UE antennal, SRS port order2 is associated with UE antenna2, etc, the device may know which SRS ports in which SRS resources may need to be mapped to which UE antennas.

[0320] Certain embodiments disclosed herein may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s), which may be summarized as follows.

[0321] A first advantage with the embodiments herein may be understood to be that they may enable the sounding of a subset of UL RS, e.g., SRS, ports which may lead to that UL RS, e.g., SRS, overhead may be reduced compared to legacy non-AI / ML UL RS, e.g., SRS, sounding schemes for reciprocity-based DL transmission. The first identifier, e.g., association ID, may allow enabling robust ML model usage without requiring full generalization across every conceivable UE antenna port configuration and antenna-to- UL RS, e.g., SRS, port mapping pattern. The first network node 111 may train the MLM during data collection when the first device 131 may transmit all UL RSs. Then during inference, the second node 132may only need to transmit a subset of the UL RSs, and the second network node 112 may then re-construct / predict the measurements for all UL RSs using the trained MLM.

[0322] A second advantage may be understood to be that embodiments herein may provide consistency of repeated channel measurements over time and different UL RS, e.g., SRS, configurations when used for data collection, which may enable collection of a large amount of data needed for the training of AI / ML models. Hence, embodiments herein may ensure that the first device 131 and / or the second device 132 may be using the same port to antenna mapping in all the UL RS, e.g., SRS, transmission, e.g., regardless of whether UL RS, e.g., SRS, configuration, e.g., 1T2R, may be switched during operation etc, used for data collection.

[0323] Figure 12 depicts an example of the arrangement that the first device 131 may comprise to perform the method actions described above in relation to Figure 5 and / or any of Figures 9-11. The first device 131 is for handling UL RSs. The first device 131 is configured to operate in the communications system 100.

[0324] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first device 131 and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the MLM may be configured to be any of, e.g., a Neural Network, a Convolutional Neural Network, a Federated Learning MLM, an Autoencoder, Decision Tree, etc.

[0325] Figure 12, optional units are indicated with dashed boxes.

[0326] The first device 131 is configured to perform the obtaining in Action 501, e.g. by means of a processing circuitry 1201 within the first device 131 configured to, obtain the first configuration of the set of one or more UL RSs.

[0327] The first device 131 is configured to perform the obtaining in Action 502, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1201 within the first device 131 configured to, obtain the one or more first indications, from the first network node 111 configured to operate in the communications system 100. The one or more first indications are configured to indicate to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, the respective fixed mapping of the respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to the respective physical antenna port.

[0328] The first device 131 is configured to perform the transmitting in Action 506, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1201 within the first device 131 configured to, transmit at least one ofthe one or more UL RSs according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the one or more first indications configured to be obtained.

[0329] In some embodiments, each respective physical antenna port may be configured to have a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

[0330] In some embodiments, the respective fixed mapping may be configured to be indicated by indicating the correspondence between the respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, with the corresponding respective antenna identifier to the respective UL RS.

[0331] In some embodiments, the first device 131 may be further configured with the following configuration.

[0332] The first device 131 may be configured to perform the obtaining in Action 503, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1201 within the first device 131 configured to, obtain, from the first network node 111, the second indication configured to indicate the first identifier.

[0333] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply: a) the first identifier may be configured to correspond to the first respective fixed mapping that may have to be applied for transmitting at least one of the one or more UL RSs, and b) the first identifier may be configured to correspond to a certain mapping between respective physical antenna ports and a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

[0334] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply: the first configuration may be configured to be received from the first network node 111 , the respective fixed mapping may be configured to be obtained from the internal configuration at the first device 131 , the transmitting may be configured to be to the first network node 111 , the UL RSs may be configured to be Sounding RSs, and each of the one or more first indications may be configured to be a usage configured per resource of the UL RSs.

[0335] In some embodiments, the first device 131 may be further configured with one or more of the following two configurations.

[0336] The first device 131 may be configured to perform the sending in Action 504, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1201 within the first device 131 configured to, send, to the first network node 111, the third indication configured to indicate the assistance information configured to correspond to the first identifier configured to be indicated by the second indication, or by at least one of the one or more first indications.

[0337] The first device 131 may be configured to perform the sending in Action 505, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1201 within the first device 131 configured to, send, to the first network node 111 , the fourth indication configured to indicate the one or more second configurations of the second set of one or more UL RSs corresponding to the first identifier configured to be indicated by the second indication or by at least one of the one or more first indications. The one or more second configurations may be configured to be used in the inference phase of the machine learning model to be trained by the first network node 111 topredict channel state information based on the at least one of the one or more UL RSs configured to be transmitted by the first device 131.

[0338] In some embodiments, the assistance information may be configured to indicate one or more of: absolute or relative output power for at least a first UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs, absolute or relative output power for at least the first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, absolute or relative output power for at least the first physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports, absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a second UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs, absolute or relative insertion loss for at least the first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, and absolute or relative insertion loss for at least the first respective physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports.

[0339] The embodiments herein in the first device 131 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processing circuitry 1201 in the first device 131 depicted in Figure 12, together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. A processor, as used herein, may be understood to be a hardware component. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the first device 131. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the first device 131.

[0340] The first device 131 may further comprise a memory 1202 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 1202 is arranged to be used to store obtained information, store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications etc. to perform the methods herein when being executed in the first device 131.

[0341] In some embodiments, the first device 131 may receive information from, e.g., the first network node 111 , the second network node 112, the second device 132, or another structure in the communications system 100, through a receiving port 1203. In some embodiments, the receiving port 1203 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in the first device 131. In other embodiments, the first device 131 may receive information from another structure in the communications system 100 through the receiving port 1203. Since the receiving port 1203 may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1201, the receiving port 1203 may then send the received information to the processing circuitry 1201. The receiving port 1203 may also be configured to receive other information.

[0342] The processing circuitry 1201 in the first device 131 may be further configured to transmit or send information to e.g., the first network node 111 , the second network node 112, the second device 132, or another structure in the communications system 100, through a sendingport 1204, which may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1201, and the memory 1202.

[0343] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the processing circuitry 1201 described above may comprise a combination of analog and digital modules, and / or one or more processors configured with software and / or firmware, e.g., stored in memory, that, when executed by the one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1201, perform as described above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a System-on-a-Chip (SoC).

[0344] The processing circuitry 1201 may be configured to, or operable to, perform the method actions according to Figure 5 and / or any of Figures 9-11.

[0345] Also, in some embodiments, the first device 131 may be configured to perform the actions of Figure 5 and / or any of Figures 9-11 with respective units or modules that may be implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1201.

[0346] Thus, the methods according to the embodiments described herein for the first device 131 may be respectively implemented by means of a computer program 1205 product, comprising instructions, i.e. , software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1201 , cause the at least one processing circuitry 1201 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the first device 131. The computer program 1205 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 1206. The computer-readable storage medium 1206, having stored thereon the computer program 1205, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1201, cause the at least one processing circuitry 1201 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the first device 131. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium 1206 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD ROM disc, or a memory stick. In other embodiments, the computer program 1205 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 1205 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the computer-readable storage medium 1206, as described above.

[0347] The first device 131 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the first device 131 and other nodes or devices, e.g., the first network node 111, the second network node 112, the second device 132, or another structure in the communications system 100. The interface may, for example, include a transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals over an air interface in accordance with a suitable standard.In other embodiments, the first device 131 may also comprise a radio circuitry 1207, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 1203 and the sending port 1204. The radio circuitry 1207 may be configured to set up and maintain at least a wireless connection with the first network node 111 , the second network node 112, the second device 132, or another structure in the communications system 100. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0348] Hence, embodiments herein also relate to the first device 131 comprising the processing circuitry 1201 and the memory 1202, said memory 1202 containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry 1201, whereby the first device 131 is operative to perform the actions described herein in relation to the first device 131, e.g., in Figure 5 and / or any of Figures 9-11.

[0349] Figure 13 depicts an example of the arrangement that the second device 132 may comprise to perform the method actions described above in relation to Figure 7 and / or any of Figures 9-11. The second device 132 is for handling UL RSs. The second device 132 is configured to operate in the communications system 100.

[0350] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the second device 132 and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the MLM may be configured to be any of, e.g., a Neural Network, a Convolutional Neural Network, a Federated Learning MLM, an Autoencoder, Decision Tree, etc.

[0351] In Figure 13, optional units are indicated with dashed boxes.

[0352] The second device 132 is configured to perform the obtaining in Action 701, e.g. by means of a processing circuitry 1301 within the second device 132 configured to, obtain the first first configuration of the first set of one or more UL RSs.

[0353] The second device 132 is configured to perform the obtaining in Action 702, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1301 within the second device 132 configured to, obtain the first second indication, or at least the one of one or more first indications, configured to indicate the first identifier. The first identifier corresponds to the first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied for transmitting at least one of the one or more UL RSs. The first respective fixed mapping is of the respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to the first respective physical antenna port.The second device 132 is configured to perform the transmitting in Action 703, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1301 within the second device 132 configured to, transmit the at least one of the one or more UL RSs based on the first identifier configured to be indicated.

[0354] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply: the first first configuration may be configured to be received from the second network node 112 configured to operate in the communications system 100, the first second indication, or the at least one of the one or more first indications, may be configured to be received from the second network node 112, the transmitting may be configured to be to the second network node 112, the UL RSs may be configured to be Sounding RSs, the first first configuration may be configured to indicate the time configuration configured to indicate which antenna ports may have to be sounded at each transmission occasion.

[0355] The embodiments herein in the second device 132 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processing circuitry 1301 in the second device 132 depicted in Figure 13, together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. A processor, as used herein, may be understood to be a hardware component. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the second device 132. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the second device 132.

[0356] The second device 132 may further comprise a memory 1302 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 1302 is arranged to be used to store obtained information, store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications etc. to perform the methods herein when being executed in the second device 132.

[0357] In some embodiments, the second device 132 may receive information from, e.g., the first network node 111, the second network node 112, the first device 131, or another structure in the communications system 100, through a receiving port 1303. In some embodiments, the receiving port 1303 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in the second device 132. In other embodiments, the second device 132 may receive information from another structure in the communications system 100 through the receiving port 1303. Since the receiving port 1303 may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1301, the receiving port 1303 may then send the received information to the processing circuitry 1301. The receiving port 1303 may also be configured to receive other information.

[0358] The processing circuitry 1301 in the second device 132 may be further configured to transmit or send information to e.g., the first network node 111 , the second network node 112, the first device 131, or another structure in the communications system 100, through a sendingport 1304, which may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1301, and the memory 1302.

[0359] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the processing circuitry 1301 described above may comprise a combination of analog and digital modules, and / or one or more processors configured with software and / or firmware, e.g., stored in memory, that, when executed by the one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1301, perform as described above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a System-on-a-Chip (SoC).

[0360] The processing circuitry 1301 may be configured to, or operable to, perform the method actions according to Figure 7 and / or any of Figures 9-11.

[0361] Also, in some embodiments, the second device 132 may be configured to perform the actions of Figure 7 and / or any of Figures 9-11 with respective units or modules that may be implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1301.

[0362] Thus, the methods according to the embodiments described herein for the second device 132 may be respectively implemented by means of a computer program 1305 product, comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1301, cause the at least one processing circuitry 1301 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the second device 132. The computer program 1305 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 1306. The computer-readable storage medium 1306, having stored thereon the computer program 1305, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1301, cause the at least one processing circuitry 1301 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the second device 132. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium 1306 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD ROM disc, or a memory stick. In other embodiments, the computer program 1305 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 1305 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the computer-readable storage medium 1306, as described above.

[0363] The second device 132 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the second device 132 and other nodes or devices, e.g., the first network node 111, the second network node 112, the first device 131, or another structure in the communications system 100. The interface may, for example, include a transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals over an air interface in accordance with a suitable standard.In other embodiments, the second device 132 may also comprise a radio circuitry 1307, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 1303 and the sending port 1304. The radio circuitry 1307 may be configured to set up and maintain at least a wireless connection with the first network node 111, the second network node 112, the first device 131, or another structure in the communications system 100. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0364] Hence, embodiments herein also relate to the second device 132 comprising the processing circuitry 1301 and the memory 1302, said memory 1302 containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry 1301, whereby the second device 132 is operative to perform the actions described herein in relation to the second device 132, e.g., in Figure 7 and / or any of Figures 9-11.

[0365] Figure 14 depicts an example of the arrangement that the first network node 111 may comprise to perform the method actions described above in relation to Figure 6 and / or any of Figures 9-11. The first network node 111 is for handling UL RSs. The first network node 111 is configured to operate in the communications system 100.

[0366] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first network node 111 and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the MLM may be configured to be any of, e.g., a Neural Network, a Convolutional Neural Network, a Federated Learning MLM, an Autoencoder, Decision Tree, etc.

[0367] In Figure 14, optional units are indicated with dashed boxes.

[0368] The first network node 111 is configured to perform the sending in Action 603, e.g. by means of a processing circuitry 1401 within the first network node 111 configured to, send, to the first device 131 configured to operate in the communications system 100, the one or more first indications configured to indicate to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, the respective fixed mapping of the respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to the respective physical antenna port.

[0369] The first network node 111 is configured to perform the receiving in Action 606, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1401 within the first network node 111 configured to, receive, from the first device 131, at least one of the one or more UL RSs according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the one or more first indications configured to be sent.In some embodiments, each respective physical antenna port may be configured to have the corresponding respective antenna identifier.

[0370] In some embodiments, the respective fixed mapping may be configured to be indicated by indicating the correspondence between the respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, with the corresponding respective antenna identifier to the respective UL RS.

[0371] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured with one or more of the following two configurations.

[0372] The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the sending in Action 601 , e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1401 within the first network node 111 configured to, send, to the first device 131, the first configuration of the set of one or more UL RSs.

[0373] The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the sending in Action 602, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1401 within the first network node 111 configured to, send, to the first device 131, the second indication configured to indicate the first identifier.

[0374] In some embodiments, one of: the first identifier may be configured to correspond to the first respective fixed mapping that may have to be applied for receiving at least one of the one or more UL RSs, and the first identifier may be configured to correspond to the certain mapping between respective physical antenna ports and the corresponding respective antenna identifier.

[0375] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply: the first configuration may be configured to be sent by the first network node 111 , the UL RSs may be configured to be SRSs, and each of the one or more first indications may be configured to be the usage configured per resource of the UL RSs.

[0376] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured with one or more of the following three configurations.

[0377] The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the initiating in Action 607, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1401 within the first network node 111 configured to, initiate training the MLM, with the first set of UL RSs. The MLM may be configured to predict channel state information based on received UL RSs.

[0378] The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the initiating in Action 608, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1401 within the first network node 111 configured to, initiate outputting the fifth indication of the trained MLM.

[0379] The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the using in Action 609, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1401 within the first network node 111 configured to, use the trained MLM.

[0380] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured with one or more of the following two configurations.

[0381] The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the receiving in Action 604, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1401 within the first network node 111 configured to,receive, from the first device 131, the third indication configured to indicate the assistance information corresponding to the first identifier indicated by the second indication, or by at least one of the one or more first indications.

[0382] The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the receiving in Action 605, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1401 within the first network node 111 configured to, receive, from the first device 131, the fourth indication configured to indicate the one or more second configurations of the second set of one or more UL RSs corresponding to the first identifier configured to be indicated by the second indication, or by at least one of the one or more first indications. The one or more second configurations may be configured to be used in the inference phase of the machine learning model to be trained by the first network node 111 to predict channel state information based on the at least one of the one or more UL RSs transmitted by the first device 131.

[0383] In some embodiments, the assistance information may be configured to indicate one or more of: the absolute or relative output power for at least a first UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs, the absolute or relative output power for at least the first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, the absolute or relative output power for at least the first physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports, the absolute or relative insertion loss for at least the second UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs, the absolute or relative insertion loss for at least the first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, and the absolute or relative insertion loss for at least the first respective physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports.

[0384] The embodiments herein in the first network node 111 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processing circuitry 1401 in the first network node 111 depicted in Figure 14, together with computer program code for performing the functions and actions of the embodiments herein. A processor, as used herein, may be understood to be a hardware component. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the first network node 111. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the first network node 111.

[0385] The first network node 111 may further comprise a memory 1402 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 1402 is arranged to be used to store obtained information, store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications etc. to perform the methods herein when being executed in the first network node 111.In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may receive information from, e.g., the second network node 112, the first device 131, the second device 132, or another structure in the communications system 100, through a receiving port 1403. In some embodiments, the receiving port 1403 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in the first network node 111. In other embodiments, the first network node 111 may receive information from another structure in the communications system 100 through the receiving port 1403. Since the receiving port 1403 may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1401, the receiving port 1403 may then send the received information to the processing circuitry 1401. The receiving port 1403 may also be configured to receive other information.

[0386] The processing circuitry 1401 in the first network node 111 may be further configured to transmit or send information to e.g., the second network node 112, the first device 131, the second device 132, or another structure in the communications system 100, through a sending port 1404, which may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1401, and the memory 1402.

[0387] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the processing circuitry 1401 described above may comprise a combination of analog and digital modules, and / or one or more processors configured with software and / or firmware, e.g., stored in memory, that, when executed by the one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1401, perform as described above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a System-on-a-Chip (SoC).

[0388] The processing circuitry 1401 may be configured to, or operable to, perform the method actions according to Figure 6 and / or any of Figures 9-11.

[0389] Also, in some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be configured to perform the actions of Figure 6 and / or any of Figures 9-11 with respective units or modules that may be implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1401.

[0390] Thus, the methods according to the embodiments described herein for the first network node 111 may be respectively implemented by means of a computer program 1405 product, comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1401, cause the at least one processing circuitry 1401 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the first network node 111. The computer program 1405 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 1406. The computer-readable storage medium 1406, having stored thereon the computer program 1405, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1401, cause the at least one processing circuitry 1401 to carry out the actions described herein, asperformed by the first network node 111. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium 1406 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD ROM disc, or a memory stick. In other embodiments, the computer program 1405 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 1405 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the computer-readable storage medium 1406, as described above.

[0391] The first network node 111 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the first network node 111 and other nodes or devices, e.g., the second network node 112, the first device 131, the second device 132, or another structure in the communications system 100. The interface may, for example, include a transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals over an air interface in accordance with a suitable standard.

[0392] In other embodiments, the first network node 111 may also comprise a radio circuitry 1407, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 1403 and the sending port 1404. The radio circuitry 1407 may be configured to set up and maintain at least a wireless connection with the second network node 112, the first device 131, the second device 132, or another structure in the communications system 100. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0393] Hence, embodiments herein also relate to the first network node 111 comprising the processing circuitry 1401 and the memory 1402, said memory 1402 containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry 1401 , whereby the first network node 111 is operative to perform the actions described herein in relation to the first network node 111, e.g., in Figure 6 and / or any of Figures 9-11.

[0394] Figure 15 depicts an example of the arrangement that the second network node 112 may comprise to perform the method actions described above in relation to Figure 8 and / or any of Figures 9-11. The second network node 112 is for handling the UL RSs. The second network node 112 is configured to operate via the communications system 100.

[0395] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein are not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the second network node 112 and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the MLM may be configured to be any of, e.g.,a Neural Network, a Convolutional Neural Network, a Federated Learning MLM, an Autoencoder, Decision Tree, etc.

[0396] In Figure 15, optional units are indicated with dashed boxes.

[0397] The second network node 112 is configured to perform the sending in Action 802, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1501 within the second network node 112 configured to, send, to the second device 132 configured to operate in the communications system 100, the first first configuration of the first set of one or more UL RSs.

[0398] The second network node 112 is configured to perform the sending in Action 803, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1501 within the second network node 112 configured to, send, to the second device 132, the first second indication, or at least one of the one or more first indications, indicating the first identifier. The first identifier is configured to correspond to the first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied by the second device 132 for transmitting at least one of the one or more UL RSs. The first respective fixed mapping is of the respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to the first respective physical antenna port of the second device 132.

[0399] The second network node 112 is configured to perform the receiving in Action 804, e.g. by means of a processing circuitry 1501 within the second network node 112 configured to, receive, from the second device 132, the at least one of the one or more UL RSs based on the first identifier configured to be indicated.

[0400] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply: the UL RSs may be configured to be SRSs, and the first first configuration may be configured to indicate the time configuration configured to indicate which antenna ports may have to be sounded at each transmission occasion.

[0401] In some embodiments, the second network node 112 may be further configured with one or more of the following two configurations.

[0402] The second network node 112 may be configured to perform the obtaining in Action 801, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1501 within the second network node 112 configured to, obtain the fifth indication of the trained MLM, from the first network node 111 configured to operate in the communications system 100. The MLM may be configured to predict channel state information based on the UL RSs configured to be received.

[0403] The second network node 112 may be configured to perform the using in Action 805, e.g. by means of the processing circuitry 1501 within the second network node 112 configured to, use the trained MLM, to predict channel state information based on at least one of the one or more UL RSs configured to be received.

[0404] The embodiments herein in the second network node 112 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processing circuitry 1501 in the second network node 112 depicted in Figure 15, together with computer program code for performing the functions andactions of the embodiments herein. A processor, as used herein, may be understood to be a hardware component. The program code mentioned above may also be provided as a computer program product, for instance in the form of a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing the embodiments herein when being loaded into the second network node 112. One such carrier may be in the form of a CD ROM disc. It is however feasible with other data carriers such as a memory stick. The computer program code may furthermore be provided as pure program code on a server and downloaded to the second network node 112.

[0405] The second network node 112 may further comprise a memory 1502 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 1502 is arranged to be used to store obtained information, store data, configurations, schedulings, and applications etc. to perform the methods herein when being executed in the second network node 112.

[0406] In some embodiments, the second network node 112 may receive information from, e.g., the first network node 111 , the first device 131 , the second device 132, or another structure in the communications system 100, through a receiving port 1503. In some embodiments, the receiving port 1503 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in the second network node 112. In other embodiments, the second network node 112 may receive information from another structure in the communications system 100 through the receiving port 1503. Since the receiving port 1503 may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1501, the receiving port 1503 may then send the received information to the processing circuitry 1501. The receiving port 1503 may also be configured to receive other information.

[0407] The processing circuitry 1501 in the second network node 112 may be further configured to transmit or send information to e.g., the first network node 111, the first device 131, the second device 132, or another structure in the communications system 100, through a sending port 1504, which may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1501, and the memory 1502.

[0408] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the processing circuitry 1501 described above may comprise a combination of analog and digital modules, and / or one or more processors configured with software and / or firmware, e.g., stored in memory, that, when executed by the one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1501, perform as described above. One or more of these processors, as well as the other digital hardware, may be included in a single Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or several processors and various digital hardware may be distributed among several separate components, whether individually packaged or assembled into a System-on-a-Chip (SoC).

[0409] The processing circuitry 1501 may be configured to, or operable to, perform the method actions according to Figure 8 and / or any of Figures 9-11.

[0410] Also, in some embodiments, the second network node 112 may be configured to perform the actions of Figure 8 and / or any of Figures 9-11 with respective units or modules that may beimplemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1501.

[0411] Thus, the methods according to the embodiments described herein for the second network node 112 may be respectively implemented by means of a computer program 1505 product, comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1501, cause the at least one processing circuitry 1501 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the second network node 112. The computer program 1505 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 1506. The computer-readable storage medium 1506, having stored thereon the computer program 1505, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1501, cause the at least one processing circuitry 1501 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the second network node 112. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium 1506 may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as a CD ROM disc, or a memory stick. In other embodiments, the computer program 1505 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 1505 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the computer-readable storage medium 1506, as described above.

[0412] The second network node 112 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the second network node 112 and other nodes or devices, e.g., the first network node 111, the first device 131, the second device 132, or another structure in the communications system 100. The interface may, for example, include a transceiver configured to transmit and receive radio signals over an air interface in accordance with a suitable standard.

[0413] In other embodiments, the second network node 112 may also comprise a radio circuitry 1507, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 1503 and the sending port 1504. The radio circuitry 1507 may be configured to set up and maintain at least a wireless connection with the first network node 111, the first device 131, the second device 132, or another structure in the communications system 100. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0414] Hence, embodiments herein also relate to the second network node 112 comprising the processing circuitry 1501 and the memory 1502, said memory 1502 containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry 1501, whereby the second network node 112 is operative to perform the actions described herein in relation to the second network node 112, e.g., in Figure 8 and / or any of Figures 9-11.

[0415] Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and / or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a / an / the element, apparatus, component, means,step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and / or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the following description.

[0416] As used herein, the expression “at least one of:” followed by a list of alternatives separated by commas, and wherein the last alternative is preceded by the “and” term, may be understood to mean that only one of the list of alternatives may apply, more than one of the list of alternatives may apply or all of the list of alternatives may apply. This expression may be understood to be equivalent to the expression “at least one of:” followed by a list of alternatives separated by commas, and wherein the last alternative is preceded by the “or” term.

[0417] EXAMPLES related to embodiments herein

[0418] The following are examples related to embodiments herein. Any of the features described in relation to Figures 16-19 may be combined with the actions of the examples related to embodiments herein, described in relation to 1-15.

[0419] The first device 131 embodiments relate to Figure 16, any of Figures 9-12, and Figures 20-22.

[0420] A computer-implemented method, performed by a device, such as the first device 131 is described herein. The method may be understood to be for handling Uplink (UL) Reference Signals (RSs). The first device 131 may operate in a communications system, such as the communications system 100.

[0421] In some embodiments, the communications system 100 may support New Radio (NR). The method may comprise one or more of the following actions. In some embodiments, all the actions may be performed. In some examples, Action 501, Action 502 and Action 506 may be performed. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable.

[0422] Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the first device 131 is depicted in Figure 16. In Figure 16, optional actions in some embodiments may berepresented with dashed lines. In some embodiments, the actions may be performed in a different order than that depicted Figure 16.

[0423] o Obtaining 501 a first configuration. The first device 131 may be configured to perform the obtaining in this Action 501.

[0424] The a first configuration may be of a set of one or more UL RSs.

[0425] Obtaining in this Action 501 may comprise receiving, retrieving, or fetching.

[0426] In some embodiments, the obtaining in this Action 501 may be from the first network node 111 operating in the communications system 100.

[0427] o Obtaining 502 one or more first indications. The first device 131 may be configured to perform the obtaining in this Action 502.

[0428] The one or more first indications may indicate to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, a respective fixed mapping. The respective fixed mapping may be of a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to a respective physical antenna port, e.g., a respective physical antenna port of the first device 131.

[0429] Obtaining in this Action 502 may comprise receiving, retrieving, or fetching, e.g., from a first network node 111 operating in the communications system 100.

[0430] In some embodiments, the obtaining in this Action 501 may be from the first network node 111 operating in the communications system 100.

[0431] o Transmitting 506 at least one of the one or more UL RSs. The first device 131 may be configured to perform the transmitting in this Action 506.

[0432] The transmitting of the at least one of the one or more UL RSs may be according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the obtained one or more first indications.

[0433] The transmitting in this Action 506 may be to the first network node 111.

[0434] In some embodiments, each respective physical antenna port may have a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

[0435] In some embodiments, the respective fixed mapping may be indicated by indicating a correspondence. The correspondence may be between a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, with the corresponding respective antenna identifier to the respective UL RS.

[0436] In some embodiments, the method may further comprise the following action:

[0437] o Obtaining 503 a second indication. The first device 131 may be configured to perform the obtaining in this Action 503.

[0438] The second indication may indicate a first identifier.

[0439] The obtaining in this Action 503 may be from the first network node 111.

[0440] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply:

[0441] - the first identifier may correspond to a first respective fixed mapping that may have to be applied for transmitting 506 at least one of the one or more UL RSs, and- the first identifier may correspond to a certain mapping between respective physical antenna ports and their corresponding respective antenna identifier. In some embodiments, one of the following may apply:

[0442] - the first configuration may be received from the first network node 111, - the respective fixed mapping may be obtained from an internal configuration at the first device 131,

[0443] - the transmitting 506 may be to the first network node 111,

[0444] - the UL SRSs may be Sounding RSs, and

[0445] - each of the one or more first indications may be a usage configured per resource of the UL RSs.

[0446] In some embodiments, the method may further comprise one or more of the following two actions:

[0447] o Sending 504 a third indication. The first device 131 may be configured to perform the sending in this Action 504.

[0448] The sending of the third indication may be to the first network node 111.

[0449] The third indication may indicate assistance information corresponding to the identifier indicated by the second indication.

[0450] The assistance information may indicate one or more of:

[0451] - absolute or relative output power for at least a first UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs,

[0452] - absolute or relative output power for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers,

[0453] - absolute or relative output power for at least a first physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports,

[0454] - absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a second UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs.

[0455] - absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, and

[0456] - absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first respective physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports.

[0457] o Sending 505 a fourth indication. The first device 131 may be configured to perform the sending in this Action 505.

[0458] The sending of the fourth indication may be to the first network node 111.

[0459] The fourth indication may indicate one or more second configurations of a second set of one or more UL RSs corresponding to the identifier indicated by the second indication.

[0460] The one or more second configurations may be to be used in an inference phase of a machine learning model (MLM),The MLM may be to be trained by the first network node 111 to predict channel state information based on the at least one of the one or more UL RSs transmitted by the first device 131.

[0461] The MLM may be any of, e.g., a Neural Network, a Convolutional Neural Network, a Federated Learning MLM, an Autoencoder, Decision Tree, etc.

[0462] The first device 131 may be a device that may collect data to be used as input to the MLM, e.g., during a training phase of the MLM. In some examples, the first device 131 may train the MLM itself.

[0463] Figure 12, optional units are indicated with dashed boxes.

[0464] The first device 131 may comprise an arrangement as shown in Figure 12 or in Figure 22.

[0465] The first network node 111 embodiments relate to Figure 17, any of Figures 9-11, Figure 14, Figures 20-21, and Figures 23-24.

[0466] A computer-implemented method, performed by a network node, such as the first network node 111 is described herein. The method may be understood to be for handling the UL RSs. The first network node 111 may operate in a communications system, such as the communications system 100.

[0467] In some embodiments, the communications system 100 may support New Radio (NR). The method may comprise one or more of the following actions. In some embodiments, all the actions may be performed. In some examples, Action 603 and Action 606 may be performed. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable. Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the first network node 111 is depicted in Figure 17. In Figure 17, optional actions in some embodiments may be represented with dashed lines. In some embodiments, the actions may be performed in a different order than that depicted Figure 17.

[0468] The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first device 131 and will thus not be repeated here to simplify the description. For example, the MLM may be any of, e.g., a Neural Network, a Convolutional Neural Network, a Federated Learning MLM, an Autoencoder, Decision Tree, etc.

[0469] The first network node 111 may be a network node that may configure the first device 131 to collect data to use as input to the MLM during a training phase of the MLM. In some examples, the first network node 111 may train the MLM itself.o Sending 603 the one or more first indications. The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the sending in this Action 603.

[0470] The one or more first indications may indicate to use, for each UL RS of a set of one or more UL RSs, a respective fixed mapping of a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to a respective physical antenna port.

[0471] The sending in this Action 603 may be to the first device 131 operating in the communication system 100.

[0472] o Receiving 606 at least one of the one or more UL RSs. The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the receiving in this Action 606.

[0473] The receiving in this Action 606 of the at least one of the one or more UL RSs may be according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the sent one or more first indications.

[0474] The receiving in this Action 606 may be from the first device 131.

[0475] In some embodiments, each respective physical antenna port may have the corresponding respective antenna identifier.

[0476] In some embodiments, the respective fixed mapping may be indicated by indicating the correspondence between a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, with the corresponding respective antenna identifier to the respective UL RS.

[0477] In some embodiments, the method may further comprise one or more of the following two actions:

[0478] o Sending 601 the first configuration. The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the sending in this Action 601.

[0479] The first configuration may be of the set of one or more UL RSs.

[0480] The sending in this Action 601 may be to the first device 131.

[0481] o Sending 602 the second indication. The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the sending in this Action 602.

[0482] The second indication may indicate the first identifier.

[0483] The sending in this Action 603 may be to the first device 131.

[0484] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply:

[0485] - the first identifier may correspond to the first respective fixed mapping that may have to be applied for receiving 606 at least one of the one or more UL RSs, and - the first identifier may correspond to the certain mapping between the respective physical antenna ports and their / a corresponding respective antenna identifier. In some embodiments, one of the following may apply:

[0486] - the first configuration may be sent by the first network node 111,

[0487] - the UL SRSs may be Sounding RSs, and

[0488] - each of the one or more first indications may be the usage configured per resource of the UL RSs.In some embodiments, the method may further comprise one or more of the following three actions:

[0489] o Initiating 607 training of the MLM. The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the initiating in this Action 607.

[0490] Initiating may comprise starting itself, or triggering or enabling that another entity, e.g., the second network node 112 may perform the training of the MLM.

[0491] The training of the MLM may be with the first set of UL RSs.

[0492] The MLM may be to predict channel state information based on received UL RSs.

[0493] The channel may be, e.g., between the first device 131 and the first network node 111. o Initiating 608 outputting a fifth indication. The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the initiating in this Action 608.

[0494] The fifth indication may be of the trained MLM.

[0495] o Using 609 the trained MLM. The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the using in this Action 609.

[0496] The using in this Action 609 of the trained MLM may be, e.g., to predict channel state information based on received UL RSs.

[0497] In some embodiments, the method may further comprise one or more of the following two actions:

[0498] o Receiving 604 the third indication. The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the receiving in this Action 604.

[0499] The receiving in this Action 604 may be from the first device 131.

[0500] The third indication may indicate assistance information corresponding to the identifier indicated by the second indication.

[0501] The assistance information may indicate one or more of:

[0502] - the absolute or relative output power for at least a first UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs,

[0503] - the absolute or relative output power for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers,

[0504] - the absolute or relative output power for at least a first physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports,

[0505] - the absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a second UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs.

[0506] - the absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, and

[0507] - the absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first respective physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports.o Receiving 605 the fourth indication. The first network node 111 may be configured to perform the receiving in this Action 605.

[0508] The receiving in this Action 605 may be from the first device 131.

[0509] The fourth indication may indicate the one or more second configurations of the second set of one or more UL RSs corresponding to the identifier indicated by the second indication.

[0510] The one or more second configurations may be to be used in the inference phase of the MLM.

[0511] The MLM may be to be trained by the first network node 111 to predict channel state information based on the at least one of the one or more UL RSs transmitted by the first device 131.

[0512] In Figure 14, optional units are indicated with dashed boxes.

[0513] The first network node 111 may comprise an arrangement as shown in Figure 14 or in any of Figures 23-24.

[0514] The second device 132 embodiments relate to Figure 18, any of Figures 9-11, Figure 13 and Figures 20-22.

[0515] A computer-implemented method, performed by a device, such as the second device 132 is described herein. The method may be understood to be for handling the UL RSs. The second device 132 may operate in a communications system, such as the communications system 100.

[0516] In some embodiments, the communications system 100 may support New Radio (NR). The method may comprise one or more of the following actions. In some embodiments, all the actions may be performed. In some examples, Action 702, Action 702, and Action 703 may be performed. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable.

[0517] Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the second device 132 is depicted in Figure 18. In Figure 18, optional actions in some embodiments may be represented with dashed lines. In some embodiments, the actions may be performed in a different order than that depicted Figure 18.

[0518] The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first device 131 and will thus not be repeated here to simplify the description. For example, the MLM may be any of, e.g., a Neural Network, a Convolutional Neural Network, a Federated Learning MLM, an Autoencoder, Decision Tree, etc.The second device 132 may be a device that may perform transmission of the UL RSs during an inference phase with the MLM, once trained. The second device 132 may transmit similar UL RSs as the first device 131, using new or fresh signals.

[0519] o Obtaining 701 a first first configuration. The second device 132 may be configured to perform the obtaining in this Action 701.

[0520] The first first configuration may be of the first set of one or more UL RSs.

[0521] The obtaining in this Action 701 may be from the second network node 112 operating in the communications system 100.

[0522] o Obtaining 702 a first second indication. The second device 132 may be configured to perform the obtaining in this Action 702.

[0523] The first second indication may indicate the first identifier.

[0524] The first identifier may correspond to the first respective fixed mapping that may have to be applied for transmitting 703 at least one of the one or more UL RSs.

[0525] The first respective fixed mapping may be of a respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to a first respective physical antenna port.

[0526] The obtaining in this Action 701 may be from the second network node 112 operating in the communications system 100.

[0527] o Transmitting 703 the at least one of the one or more UL RSs. The second device 132 may be configured to perform the transmitting in this Action 703.

[0528] The transmitting in this Action 703 may be based on the indicated first identifier.

[0529] The transmitting in this Action 703 may be, e.g., to the second network node 112 operating in the communications system 100.

[0530] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply:

[0531] - the first first configuration may be received from the second network node 112 operating in the communications system 100,

[0532] - the first second indication may be received from the second network node 112, - the transmitting 703 may be to the second network node 112,

[0533] - the UL SRSs may be Sounding RSs,

[0534] - the first first configuration may indicate a time configuration indicating which antenna ports may have to be sounded at each transmission occasion.

[0535] In Figure 13, optional units are indicated with dashed boxes.

[0536] The second device 132 may comprise an arrangement as shown in Figure 13 or in Figure 22.

[0537] The second network node 112 embodiments relate to Figure 19, any of Figures 9-11, Figure 15, Figures 20-21, and Figures 23-24.A computer-implemented method, performed by a network node, such as the second network node 112 is described herein. The method may be understood to be for handling the UL RSs. The second network node 112 may operate in a communications system, such as the communications system 100.

[0538] In some embodiments, the communications system 100 may support New Radio (NR). The method may comprise one or more of the following actions. In some embodiments, all the actions may be performed. In some examples, Action 802, Action 803 and Action 804 may be performed. One or more embodiments may be combined, where applicable.

[0539] Components from one embodiment may be tacitly assumed to be present in another embodiment and it will be obvious to a person skilled in the art how those components may be used in the other exemplary embodiments. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the second network node 112 is depicted in Figure 19. In Figure 19, optional actions in some embodiments may be represented with dashed lines. In some embodiments, the actions may be performed in a different order than that depicted Figure 19.

[0540] The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the first device 131 and will thus not be repeated here to simplify the description. For example, the MLM may be any of, e.g., a Neural Network, a Convolutional Neural Network, a Federated Learning MLM, an Autoencoder, Decision Tree, etc.

[0541] The second network node 112 may be a network node 112 that may collect data to use as input to the MLM during an inference phase of the MLM once trained.

[0542] o Sending 802 the first first configuration. The second network node 112 may be configured to perform the sending in this Action 802.

[0543] The sending in this Action 802 may be to the second device 132 operating in the communications system 100.

[0544] The first first configuration may be of the first set of one or more UL RSs.

[0545] o Sending 803 the first second indication. The second network node 112 may be configured to perform the sending in this Action 803.

[0546] The sending in this Action 803 may be to the second device 132.

[0547] The first second indication may indicate the first identifier.

[0548] The first identifier may correspond to the first respective fixed mapping that may have to be applied by the second device 132 for transmitting the at least one of the one or more UL RSs.

[0549] The first respective fixed mapping may be of the respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to the first respective physical antenna port of the second device 132.o Receiving 804 the at least one of the one or more UL RSs. The second network node 112 may be configured to perform the receiving in this Action 804.

[0550] The receiving in this Action 804 may be from the second device 132.

[0551] The receiving in this Action 804 may be based on the indicated first identifier.

[0552] In some embodiments, one of the following may apply:

[0553] - the UL SRSs may be Sounding RSs,

[0554] - the first first configuration may indicate the time configuration indicating which antenna ports may have to be sounded at each transmission occasion.

[0555] In some embodiments, the method may further comprise one or more of the following two actions:

[0556] o Obtaining 801 the fifth indication. The second network node 112 may be configured to perform the obtaining in this Action 801.

[0557] The obtaining in this Action 801 may be from the first network node 111 operating in the communications system 100.

[0558] The fifth indication may be of the trained MLM.

[0559] The MLM may be to predict channel state information based on received UL RSs.

[0560] o Using 805 the trained MLM. The second network node 112 may be configured to perform the using in this Action 805.

[0561] The using in this Action 805 of the trained MLM may be, e.g., to predict channel state information based on received at least one of the one or more UL RSs.

[0562] In Figure 15, optional units are indicated with dashed boxes.

[0563] The second network node 112 may comprise an arrangement as shown in Figure 15 or in any of Figures 23-24.

[0564] Selected examples of embodiments herein may be as follows.

[0565] EXAMPLES:

[0566] EXAMPLE 1. A computer-implemented method performed by a first device (131), the method being for handling Uplink, UL, Reference Signals, RSs, the first device (131) operating in a communications system (100), the method comprising:

[0567] - obtaining (501) a first configuration of a set of one or more UL RSs, - obtaining (502) one or more first indications, e.g., from a first network node (111) operating in the communications system (100), the one or more first indications indicating to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, a respective fixed mapping of a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to a respective physical antenna port,- transmitting (506) at least one of the one or more UL RSs according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the obtained one or more first indications.

[0568] EXAMPLE 2. The method according to example 1, wherein each respective physical antenna port has a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

[0569] EXAMPLE 3. The method according to example 2, wherein the respective fixed mapping is indicated by indicating a correspondence between a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, with the corresponding respective antenna identifier to the respective UL RS.

[0570] EXAMPLE 4. The method according to any of examples 1-3, further comprising:

[0571] - obtaining (503), e.g., from the first network node (111), a second indication indicating a first identifier.

[0572] EXAMPLE 5. The method according to example 4, wherein one of:

[0573] - the first identifier corresponds to a first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied for transmitting (506) at least one of the one or more UL RSs, and - the first identifier corresponds to a certain mapping between respective physical antenna ports and their a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

[0574] EXAMPLE 6. The method according to any of examples 1-5, wherein one of:

[0575] - the first configuration is received from the first network node (111),

[0576] - the respective fixed mapping is obtained from an internal configuration at the first device (131),

[0577] - the transmitting (506) is to the first network node (111),

[0578] - the UL SRSs are Sounding RSs, and

[0579] - each of the one or more first indications is a usage configured per resource of the UL RSs.

[0580] EXAMPLE 7. The method according to example 4, further comprising one or more of:

[0581] - sending (504), to the first network node (111), a third indication indicating assistance information corresponding to the identifier indicated by the second indication, and

[0582] - sending (505), to the first network node (111), a fourth indication indicating one or more second configurations of a second set of one or more UL RSs corresponding to the identifier indicated by the second indication, the one or more second configurations being to be used in an inference phase of a machinelearning model to be trained by the first network node (111) to predict channel state information based on the at least one of the one or more UL RSs transmitted by the first device (131).

[0583] EXAMPLE 8. The method according to any of examples 2-3 and example 7, wherein the assistance information indicates one or more of:

[0584] - absolute or relative output power for at least a first UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs, and

[0585] - absolute or relative output power for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers,

[0586] - absolute or relative output power for at least a first physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports,

[0587] - absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a second UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs.

[0588] - absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, and

[0589] - absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first respective physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports.

[0590] EXAMPLE 9. A computer-implemented method performed by a first network node (111), the method being for handling Uplink, UL, Reference Signals, RSs, the first network node (111) operating in a communications system (100), the method comprising:

[0591] - sending (603), to a first device (131) operating in the communications system (100), one or more first indications indicating to use, for each UL RS of a set of one or more UL RSs, a respective fixed mapping of a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to a respective physical antenna port, and - receiving (606), from the first device (131), at least one of the one or more UL RSs according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the sent one or more first indications.

[0592] EXAMPLE 10. The method according to example 9, wherein each respective physical antenna port has a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

[0593] EXAMPLE 11. The method according to example 10, wherein the respective fixed mapping is indicated by indicating a correspondence between a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, with the corresponding respective antenna identifier to the respective UL RS.EXAMPLE 12. The method according to any of examples 9-11, further comprising one or more of:

[0594] - sending (601), to the first device (131), a first configuration of the set of one or more UL RSs,

[0595] - sending (602), to the first device (131), a second indication indicating a first identifier.

[0596] EXAMPLE 13. The method according to example 12, wherein one of:

[0597] - the first identifier corresponds to a first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied for receiving (606) at least one of the one or more UL RSs, and

[0598] - the first identifier corresponds to a certain mapping between respective physical antenna ports and their a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

[0599] EXAMPLE 14. The method according to any of examples 9-13, wherein one of:

[0600] - the first configuration is sent by the first network node (111),

[0601] - the UL SRSs are Sounding RSs, and

[0602] - each of the one or more first indications is a usage configured per resource of the UL RSs.

[0603] EXAMPLE 15. The method according to any of examples 9-15, further comprising one or more of:

[0604] - initiating (607) training a machine learning model, MLM, with the first set of UL RSs, the MLM being to predict channel state information based on received UL RSs,

[0605] - initiating (608) outputting a fifth indication of the trained MLM, and

[0606] - using (609) the trained MLM, e.g., to predict channel state information based on received UL RSs.

[0607] EXAMPLE 16. The method according to any of examples 12-13 and 15, further comprising one or more of:

[0608] - receiving (604), from the first device (131), a third indication indicating assistance information corresponding to the identifier indicated by the second indication, and - receiving (605), from the first device (131), a fourth indication indicating one or more second configurations of a second set of one or more UL RSs corresponding to the identifier indicated by the second indication, the one or more second configurations being to be used in an inference phase of the machine learning model to be trained by the first network node (111) to predictchannel state information based on the at least one of the one or more UL RSs transmitted by the first device (131).

[0609] EXAMPLE 17. The method according to any of examples 10-11 and example 16, wherein the assistance information indicates one or more of:

[0610] - absolute or relative output power for at least a first UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs, and

[0611] - absolute or relative output power for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers,

[0612] - absolute or relative output power for at least a first physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports,

[0613] - absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a second UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs.

[0614] - absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, and

[0615] - absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first respective physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports.

[0616] EXAMPLE 18. A computer-implemented method performed by a second device (132), the method being for handling Uplink, UL, Reference Signals, RSs, the second device (132) operating in a communications system (100), the method comprising:

[0617] - obtaining (701) a first first configuration of a first set of one or more UL RSs, - obtaining (702) a first second indication indicating a first identifier, the first identifier corresponding to a first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied for transmitting (703) at least one of the one or more UL RSs, the first respective fixed mapping being of a respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to a first respective physical antenna port, and

[0618] - transmitting (703) the at least one of the one or more UL RSs based on the indicated first identifier.

[0619] EXAMPLE 19. The method according to example 1, wherein one of:

[0620] - the first first configuration is received from a second network node (112) operating in the communications system (100),

[0621] - the first second indication is received from the second network node (112), - the transmitting (703) is to the second network node (112),

[0622] - the UL SRSs are Sounding RSs,the first first configuration indicates a time configuration indicating which antenna ports are to be sounded at each transmission occasion.

[0623] EXAMPLE 20. A computer-implemented method performed by a second network node (112), the method being for handling Uplink, UL, Reference Signals, RSs, the second network node (112) operating in a communications system (100), the method comprising:

[0624] - sending (802), to a second device (132) operating in the communications system (100), a first first configuration of a first set of one or more UL RSs, - sending (803), to the second device (132), a first second indication indicating a first identifier, the first identifier corresponding to a first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied by the second device (132) for transmitting at least one of the one or more UL RSs, the first respective fixed mapping being of a respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to a first respective physical antenna port of the second device (132), and

[0625] - receiving (804), from the second device (132), the at least one of the one or more UL RSs based on the indicated first identifier.

[0626] EXAMPLE 21. The method according to example 20, wherein one of:

[0627] - the UL SRSs are Sounding RSs, and

[0628] - the first first configuration indicates a time configuration indicating which antenna ports are to be sounded at each transmission occasion.

[0629] EXAMPLE 22. The method according to any of examples 20-21 , wherein the method further comprises:

[0630] - obtaining (801) a fifth indication of a trained machine learning model, MLM, from a first network node (111) operating in the communications system (100), the MLM being to predict channel state information based on received UL RSs, and - using (805) the trained MLM, to predict channel state information based on received at least one of the one or more UL RSs.

[0631] Further Extensions And Variations

[0632] Figure 20 shows an example of a communication system 2000 in accordance with some embodiments.

[0633] In the example, the communication system 2000, such as the communications system 100, includes a telecommunications network 2002 that includes an access network 2004, such as aradio access network (RAN), and a core network 2006, which includes one or more core network nodes 2008, such as the second network node 112, in some examples. The access network 2004 includes one or more access network nodes or base stations of various types, such as any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 in some examples. For example, access network nodes 2010A and 2010B are depicted (which may be collectively referred to as network nodes 2010), or any other similar 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) access nodes or non-3GPP access points (APs). Some embodiments of the access network 2004 may include more than one access network technology. The network nodes 2010 of access network 2004 facilitate direct or indirect connection of wireless devices, also referred to as user equipments (UEs), e.g., any of the first device 131 and the second device 132, such as by connecting UEs 2012A, 2012B, 2012C, and 2012D (one or more of which may be generally referred to as UEs 2012) to the core network 2006 over one or more wireless connections. Any of the UEs 2012A, 2012B, 2012C, and 2012D are examples of any of the first device 131 and the second device 132.

[0634] 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 2002 includes one or more Open-RAN (ORAN) network nodes. An ORAN network node is a network node in the telecommunications network 2002 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 2002, including one or more access network nodes 2010 and / or core network nodes 2008.

[0635] Examples of an ORAN network node include an open radio unit (O-RU), an open distributed unit (O-DU), an open central unit (O-CU), including an O-CU control plane (O-CU-CP) or an O-CU user plane (O-CU-UP), a RAN intelligent controller (near-real time or non-real time) hosting software or software plug-ins, such as a near-real time control application (e.g., xApp) or a non-real time control application (e.g., rApp), or any combination thereof (the adjective “open” designating support of an ORAN specification). An ORAN network node may support a specification by, for example, supporting an interface defined by the ORAN specification, such as an A1, F1, W1, E1, E2, X2, Xn interface, an open fronthaul user plane interface, or an open fronthaul management plane interface. Moreover, an ORAN network node may be a logical node in a physical node. Furthermore, an ORAN network node may be implemented in a virtualization environment (described further below) in which one or more network functions are virtualized. For example, the virtualization environment may include an O-Cloud computing platform orchestratedby a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an 0-2 interface defined by the O-RAN Alliance or comparable technologies.

[0636] The network nodes 2010, e.g., any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112, facilitate direct or indirect connection of one or more UEs 2012, e.g., any of the first device 131 and the second device 132, to the core network 2006 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 2000 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 2000 may include and / or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, radio network, and / or other similar type of system.

[0637] The UEs 2012, e.g., any of the first device 131 and the second device 132, 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 2010 and other communication devices. Similarly, the network nodes 2008, 2010, e.g., any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112, are arranged, capable, configured, and / or operable to communicate directly or indirectly (e.g., via other devices of telecommunications network 2002) with the UEs 2012 and / or with other network nodes or equipment in the telecommunications network 2002 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 2002. More specifically, UEs 2012 may send messages, data, and / or other signals to network nodes 2008, 2010 or other elements of the telecommunications network 2002 by transmitting such signals to the relevant device directly without the signals passing through any intervening devices or by transmitting such signals to the relevant device indirectly through an intervening device (or multiple intervening devices) that then transmit the signal to the relevant device. Similarly, network nodes 2008, 2010 may send messages, data, and other signals to UEs 20122, other network nodes 2008, 2010, and other devices in telecommunications network 2002 directly or indirectly. As one specific example, a core network node 108 may transmit a particular message to a UE 2012 by transmitting the message to an access network node 2010 that will then transmit the message to the intended UE 2012. Similarly, a core network node 108 may receive a particular message from a UE 2012 by receiving the message from an access network node 2010 that itself received the message from the UE 2012.

[0638] In the depicted example, the core network 2006 connects elements of the access network 2004 (e.g., one or more of the network nodes 2010) to one or more host computing systems, suchas host 2016. 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 2006 includes one or more core network nodes (e.g., core network node 2008) of various types, one or more of which may be generally referred to as network nodes 2008. Network nodes 2008 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 2008. Example core network nodes provide functions of one or more of a Mobile Switching Center (MSC), Mobility Management Entity (MME), Home Subscriber Server (HSS), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Authentication Server Function (ALISF), Subscription Identifier Deconcealing function (SIDF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP), Network Exposure Function (NEF), and / or a User Plane Function (UPF).

[0639] The host 2016 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider other than an operator or provider of the access network 2004 and / or the telecommunications network 2002. The host 2016 may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The host 2016 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.

[0640] As a whole, the communication system 2000 of Figure 20 enables connectivity between the UEs, network nodes, and hosts. In that sense, the communication system 2000 may be configured to operate according to predefined rules or procedures, such as specific standards that include, but are not limited to: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); Long Term Evolution (LTE), and / or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G standards, or any applicable future generation standard (e.g., 6G); wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards (Wi-Fi); and / or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Wi-Max), Bluetooth, Z-Wave, Near Field Communication (NFC) ZigBee, Li-Fi, and / or any low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) standards such as LoRa and Sigfox. Moreover, the communication system 2000 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 2000 supporting different standards, protocols, or rule sets.As one example, in certain embodiments, access network 2004 may contain some access network nodes 2010 that support 3GPP radio access technologies (RAT), such as LTE or NR, while other access network nodes 2010 support (or the same access network nodes 2010 additionally support) non-3GPP RATs, such as Wi-Fi or a proprietary RAT. As another example, telecommunications network 2002 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.

[0641] Telecommunications network 2002 may support network slicing to provide different logical networks to different devices that are connected to the telecommunications network 2002. For example, the telecommunications network 2002 may provide Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) services to some UEs, while providing Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) services to other UEs, and / or Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC) / Massive loT services to yet further UEs.

[0642] In some examples, one or more of the UEs 2012 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 2004 on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the access network 2004. Additionally, a UE may be configured for operating in single- or multi-RAT or multi-standard mode. For example, a UE may operate with any one or combination of Wi-Fi, NR (New Radio) and LTE, i.e. being configured for multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC), such as E-UTRAN (Evolved-UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) New Radio - Dual Connectivity (EN-DC).

[0643] In the example, the hub 2014 communicates with the access network 2004 to facilitate indirect communication between one or more UEs (e.g., UE 2012C and / or 2012D) and network nodes (e.g., network node 2010B). In some examples, the hub 2014 may be a controller, router, content source and analytics, or any of the other communication devices described herein regarding UEs. For example, the hub 2014 may be a broadband router enabling access to the core network 2006 for the UEs. As another example, the hub 2014 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 2010, or by executable code, script, process, or other instructions in the hub 2014.

[0644] As another example, the hub 2014 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 2014 may be a content source. For example, for a UE that is a VR headset, display, loudspeaker or other media delivery device, the hub 2014 may retrieve VR assets, video, audio, or other media or data related to sensory information via a network node,which the hub 2014 then provides to the UE either directly, after performing local processing, and / or after adding additional local content. In still another example, the hub 2014 acts as a proxy server or orchestrator for the UEs, in particular if one or more of the UEs are low energy loT devices.

[0645] The hub 2014 may have a constant / persistent or intermittent connection to the network node 2010B. The hub 2014 may also allow for a different communication scheme and / or schedule between the hub 2014 and UEs (e.g., UE 2012C and / or 2012D), and between the hub 2014 and the core network 2006. In other examples, the hub 2014 is connected to the core network 2006 and / or one or more UEs via a wired connection. Moreover, the hub 2014 may be configured to connect to an M2M service provider over the access network 2004 and / or to another UE over a direct connection. In some scenarios, UEs may establish a wireless connection with the network nodes 2010 while still connected via the hub 2014 via a wired or wireless connection. In some embodiments, the hub 2014 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 2010B. In other embodiments, the hub 2014 may be a non-dedicated hub - that is, a device which is capable of operating to route communications between the UEs and network node 2010B, but which is additionally capable of operating as a communication start and / or end point for certain data channels.

[0646] Figure 21 is another example of a communication system 2100, such as the wireless communications network 100, according to some embodiments. As used herein, the communication system 2100 includes multiple access points (APs) 2110 (with four exemplary APs 2110A, 2110B, 2110C, and 2110D being depicted), such as any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112, and multiple wireless devices, referred to in the context of communication system 2100 as stations (STAs) 2112 (referred to individually as STA 2112A, STA 2112B, STA 2112C, STA 2112D, and STA 2112E), such as e.g., any of the first device 131 and the second device 132. STA 2112A is served by AP 2110A in a first basic service set (BSS) 2120A. STA 2110B and STA 2110C are served by AP 2110B in a second BSS, BSS 2120B. STA 2112D is served by AP 2110C in a third BSS, BSS 2120C. STA 2112E is served by AP 2110D in a fourth BSS, BSS 2120D. Stations 2112 may be non-AP STAs and correspond to various kinds of wireless devices, for example, user terminals, such as mobile or stationary computing devices like smartphones, laptop computers, desktop computers, tablet computers, gaming devices, head-mounted displays (HMDs) for Augmented Reality (AR) or Virtual Reality (VR), or the like. Further, stations 2112 could, for example, correspond to other kinds of equipment like smart home devices, printers, multimedia devices, data storage devices, or the like.

[0647] Each of STAs 2112 may connect through a radio link to one of APs 2110. For example, depending on location or channel conditions experienced by a given STA 2112, 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 frequencyspectrum 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.

[0648] Each AP 2110 may provide data connectivity to STAs 2112 connected to a particular AP 2110. As illustrated, APs 2110 may be connected to a data network 2130. In this way, APs 2110 may also provide data connectivity between STAs 2112 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 2112 and its serving AP 2110 may be used for providing various kinds of services to STA 2112, e.g., a voice service, a multimedia service, or other data service. Such services may be based on applications that are executed on STA 2112 and / or on a device linked to STA 2112. By way of example, Figure 21 illustrates an application service platform 2132 provided in data network 2130. The application(s) executed on STA 2112 and / or on one or more other devices linked to STA 2112 may use the radio link for data communication with one or more other STA 2112 and / or the application service platform 2132, thereby enabling utilization of the corresponding service(s) at STA 2112.

[0649] Figure 22 shows a wireless device 2200, such as any of the first device 131 and the second device 132, which may be configured to operate in communication system 2000 of Figure 20 or in communication system 2100 of Figure 210. The wireless device 2200 may be alternatively referred to as a UE 2200, like a UE 2012 within the context of communication system 2000, or as a station (STA) 2200 or as a non-access-point station (non-AP STA) 2200, like a STA 2112 within the context of the communication system 2100, in accordance with respective embodiments. As used herein, a wireless device refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and / or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and / or other wireless devices. Examples of a wireless device include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, mobile phone, cell phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phone, wireless local loop phone, desktop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless cameras, gaming console or device, music storage device, playback appliance, wearable terminal device, wireless endpoint, mobile station, tablet, laptop, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), smart device, wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE), vehicle, vehicle-mounted or vehicle embedded / integrated wireless device, and wireless terminal. Other examples include any type of UE identified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a narrow band internet of things (NB-loT) UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and / or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE.

[0650] A wireless device 2200 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 2200 may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and / or operates the relevant device. Instead, wirelessdevice 2200 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 2200 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).

[0651] In particular embodiments, wireless device 2200 includes processing circuitry 2202 that is operatively coupled via a bus 2204 to an input / output interface 2206, a power source 2208, a memory 2210, a communication interface 2212, and / or any other component, or any combination thereof. Certain embodiments of wireless device 2200 may include all or a subset of the components shown in Figure 22. The level of integration between the components may vary from one embodiment of wireless device 2200 to another. In general, in a particular embodiment of wireless device 2200, processing circuitry 2202, input / output interface 2206, power source 2208, memory 2210, and communication interface 2212 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 2200. Further, certain embodiments of wireless devices 2200 may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

[0652] The processing circuitry 2202 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 2210. The processing circuitry 2202 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 2202 may include multiple central processing units (CPUs).

[0653] In the example, the input / output interface 2206 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 2200. 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 presencesensitive 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 combinationthereof. 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.

[0654] In some embodiments, the power source 2208 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 2208 may further include power circuitry for delivering power from the power source 2208 itself, and / or an external power source, to the various parts of wireless device 2200 via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Power source 2208 may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to make accessible power suitable for the respective components of the wireless device 2200 to which power is supplied.

[0655] The memory 2210 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 2210 includes one or more programs 2214, such as an operating system, web browser application, a widget, gadget engine, or other application, and corresponding data 2216. The memory 2210 may store, for use by wireless device 2200, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

[0656] The memory 2210 may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as tamper resistant module in the form of a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) including one or more subscriber identity modules (SIMs), such as a USIM and / or ISIM, other memory, or any combination thereof. The UICC may for example be an embedded UICC (eUlCC), integrated UICC (iUICC) or a removable UICC commonly known as ‘SIM card.’ The memory 2210 may allow wireless device 2200 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 2210, which may be or comprise a device-readable storage medium.

[0657] The processing circuitry 2202 may be configured to communicate with an access network or other network via or using the communication interface 2212. The communication interface 2212 may comprise one or more communication subsystems and may include or be communicatively coupled to an antenna 2222. The communication interface 2212 may includeone 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 2218 and / or a receiver 2220 appropriate to provide network communications (e.g., optical, electrical, frequency allocations, and so forth). Moreover, the transmitter 2218 and receiver 2220 may be coupled to one or more antennas (e.g., antenna 2222) and may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively be implemented separately.

[0658] In the illustrated embodiment, communication functions of the communication interface 2212 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 / internet protocol (TCP / IP), synchronous optical networking (SONET), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), QUIC, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and so forth.

[0659] In particular embodiments, wireless device 2200 may provide an output of data captured via a sensor, through its communication interface 2212, via a wireless connection to a network node, and / or in any appropriate manner. Data captured by sensors of a wireless device 2200 can be communicated through a wireless connection to a network node via another wireless device 2200. 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).

[0660] As another example, wireless device 2200 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 2200 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.

[0661] Wireless device 2200, 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 ofsuch an loT device are a device which is or which is embedded in: a connected refrigerator or freezer, a TV, a connected lighting device, an electricity meter, a robot vacuum cleaner, a voice controlled smart speaker, a home security camera, a motion detector, a thermostat, a smoke detector, a door / window sensor, a flood / moisture sensor, an electrical door lock, a connected doorbell, an air conditioning system like a heat pump, an autonomous vehicle, a surveillance system, a weather monitoring device, a vehicle parking monitoring device, an electric vehicle charging station, a 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 2200 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 2200 shown in Figure 22.

[0662] As yet another specific example, in an loT scenario, wireless device 2200 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 2200 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 2200 may implement the 3GPP NB-loT standard. In other scenarios, wireless device 2200 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.

[0663] In practice, any number of wireless devices 2200 may be used together with respect to a single use case. For example, a first wireless device 2200 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 2200 that is a remote controller operating the drone. When a user makes changes from the remote controller, the first wireless device 2200 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 2200 can also include more than one of the functionalities described above. For example, wireless device 2200 might comprise the sensor and the actuator, and handle communication of data for both the speed sensor and the actuators.

[0664] Figure 23 shows a network node 2300, such as any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112, 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 2300 may be configured to operate in communication system 2000 of Figure 20, like network nodes 2008 or 2010, or incommunication system 2100 of Figure 21 , like an AP 2110 or a station 2112. 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., 0-Rll, 0-Dll, O-CU).

[0665] Network nodes 2300 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 2300 may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. Network nodes 2300 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).

[0666] Other examples of network nodes 2300 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).

[0667] In particular embodiments, network node 2300 includes a processing circuitry 2302, a memory 2304, a communication interface 2306, and a power source 2308. In general, in a particular embodiment of network node 2300, processing circuitry 2302, memory 2304, communication interface 2306, and power source 2308 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 2300.

[0668] The network node 2300 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 2300 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 2300 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate memories 2304 or portions of memory 2304 for different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., a same antenna 2310 may be sharedby different RATs). The network node 2300 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node 2300, 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 2300.

[0669] The processing circuitry 2302 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 2304, to provide network node 2300 functionality.

[0670] In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 2302 includes a system on a chip (SOC). In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 2302 includes one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry 2312 and baseband processing circuitry 2314. In some embodiments, the RF transceiver circuitry 2312 and the baseband processing circuitry 2314 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 2312 and baseband processing circuitry 2314 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units.

[0671] The memory 2304 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 2302. The memory 2304 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 2302 and utilized by the network node 2300. The memory 2304 may be used to store any calculations made by the processing circuitry 2302 and / or any data received via the communication interface 2306. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 2302 and memory 2304 is integrated.

[0672] The communication interface 2306 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 2306 comprises port(s) / terminal(s) 2316 to send and receive data, for example to and from a network over a wired connection. In particular embodiments, network node 2200 may be capable of wireless communication andcommunication interface 2306 may also include radio front-end circuitry 2318 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, an antenna 2310. Particular embodiments of radio frontend circuitry 2318 include filter(s) 2320 and amplifier(s) 2322. The radio front-end circuitry 2318 may be connected to an antenna 2310 and processing circuitry 2302. The radio front-end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna 2310 and processing circuitry 2302. The radio front-end circuitry 2318 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 2318 may convert the digital data into a radio signal(s) having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters 2320 and / or amplifiers 2322. The radio signal(s) may then be transmitted via the antenna 2310. Similarly, when receiving data, the antenna 2310 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by the radio front-end circuitry 2318. The digital data may be passed to the processing circuitry 2302. In other embodiments, the communication interface may comprise different components and / or different combinations of components.

[0673] In certain alternative embodiments, network node 2300 may be capable of wireless communication but does not include separate radio front-end circuitry 2318, instead, the processing circuitry 2302 includes radio front-end circuitry and is connected to the antenna 2310. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of the RF transceiver circuitry 2312 is part of the communication interface 2306. In still other embodiments, the communication interface 2306 includes one or more ports or terminals 2316, the radio front-end circuitry 2318, and the RF transceiver circuitry 2312, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and the communication interface 2306 communicates with the baseband processing circuitry 2314, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

[0674] The antenna 2310 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and / or receive wireless signals. The antenna 2310 may be coupled to the radio front-end circuitry 2318 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and / or signals wirelessly. In certain embodiments, the antenna 2310 is separate from the network node 2300 and connectable to the network node 2300 through one or more interfaces or ports.

[0675] The antenna 2310, communication interface 2306, and / or the processing circuitry 2302 may be configured to perform some or all of the receiving operations and / or obtaining operations described herein as being performed by the network node 2300. Any information, data and / or signals may be received from a UE, another network node and / or any other network equipment. Similarly, the antenna 2310, the communication interface 2306, and / or the processing circuitry 2302 may be configured to perform some or all of the transmitting or sending operations described herein as being performed by the network node 2300. Any information, data and / or signals may be transmitted to a UE, another network node and / or any other network equipment.The power source 2308 provides power to the various components of network node 2300 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). The power source 2308 may further comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry to supply the components of the network node 2300 with power for performing the functionality described herein. For example, the network node 2300 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 2308. As a further example, the power source 2308 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.

[0676] Embodiments of the network node 2300 may include additional components beyond those shown in Figure 23 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 2300 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into the network node 2300 and to allow output of information from the network node 2300. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for the network node 2300.

[0677] Figure 24 is a block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment 2400 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 2400 hosted by one or more of hardware nodes, such as a hardware computing device that operates as an access network node, UE, core network node, or host. Further, in embodiments in which a virtual node does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node or host), then the node may be entirely virtualized. In some embodiments, the virtualization environment 2400 includes components defined by the O-RAN Alliance, such as an O-Cloud environment orchestrated by a Service Management and Orchestration Framework via an O-2 interface.

[0678] Applications 2402 (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) are run in the virtualization environment Q400 to implement some of the features, functions, and / or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein.Hardware 2404 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 2406 (also referred to as hypervisors or virtual machine monitors (VMMs)), provide VM 2408A and VM 2408B (which may be collectively referred to as VMs 2408), and / or perform any of the functions, features and / or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein. The virtualization layer 2406 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to one or more of the VMs 2408.

[0679] The VMs 2408 comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by virtualization layer 2406. Different embodiments of the instance of a virtual appliance 2402 may be implemented on one or more of VMs 2408, 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.

[0680] In the context of NFV, each of the VMs 2408 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 2408, and that part of hardware 2404 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 2408 on top of the hardware 2404 and corresponds to an application 2402.

[0681] Hardware 2404 may be implemented in a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware 2404 may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware 2404 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 2410, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications 2402. In some embodiments, hardware 2404 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 2412 which may alternatively be used for communication between hardware nodes and radio units.

[0682] Although the computing devices described herein (e.g., UEs, network nodes, hosts) may include the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprisecomputing 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.

[0683] 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.

[0684] The first device 131 embodiments relate to Figure 5, any of Figures 9-12, and Figures 20-22.

[0685] The first device 131 may comprise an arrangement as shown in Figure 12 or in Figure 22. The second device 132 embodiments relate to Figure 7, any of Figures 9-11, Figure 13 and Figures 20-22.

[0686] The second device 132 may comprise an arrangement as shown in Figure 13 or in Figure 22.

[0687] The first network node 111 embodiments relate to Figure 6, any of Figures 9-11 , Figure 14, Figures 20-21, and Figures 23-24.The first network node 111 may comprise an arrangement as shown in Figure 14 or in any of Figures 23-24.

[0688] The second network node 112 embodiments relate to Figure 8, any of Figures 9-11, Figure 15, Figures 20-21, and Figures 23-24.

[0689] The second network node 112 may comprise an arrangement as shown in Figure 15 or in any of Figures 23-24.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A computer-implemented method performed by a first device (131), the method being for handling Uplink, UL, Reference Signals, RSs, the first device (131) operating in a communications system (100), the method comprising:- obtaining (501) a first configuration of a set of one or more UL RSs,- obtaining (502) one or more first indications, from a first network node (111) operating in the communications system (100), the one or more first indications indicating to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, a respective fixed mapping of a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to a respective physical antenna port, and- transmitting (506) at least one of the one or more UL RSs according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the obtained one or more first indications.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein each respective physical antenna port has a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the respective fixed mapping is indicated by indicating a correspondence between a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, with the corresponding respective antenna identifier to the respective UL RS.

4. The method according to any of claims 1-3, further comprising:- obtaining (503), from the first network node (111), a second indication indicating a first identifier.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein one of:- the first identifier corresponds to a first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied for transmitting (506) at least one of the one or more UL RSs, and - the first identifier corresponds to a certain mapping between respective physical antenna ports and a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

6. The method according to any of claims 1-5, wherein one of:- the first configuration is received from the first network node (111),- the respective fixed mapping is obtained from an internal configuration at the first device (131),- the transmitting (506) is to the first network node (111),- the UL RSs are Sounding RSs, andeach of the one or more first indications is a usage configured per resource of the UL RSs.

7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising one or more of:- sending (504), to the first network node (111), a third indication indicating assistance information corresponding to the first identifier indicated by the second indication, or by at least one of the one or more first indications, and - sending (505), to the first network node (111), a fourth indication indicating one or more second configurations of a second set of one or more UL RSs corresponding to the first identifier indicated by the second indication or by at least one of the one or more first indications, the one or more second configurations being to be used in an inference phase of a machine learning model to be trained by the first network node (111) to predict channel state information based on the at least one of the one or more UL RSs transmitted by the first device (131).

8. The method according to any of claims 2-3 and claim 7, wherein the assistance information indicates one or more of:- absolute or relative output power for at least a first UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs,- absolute or relative output power for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers,- absolute or relative output power for at least a first physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports,- absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a second UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs,- absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, and- absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first respective physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports.

9. A computer-implemented method performed by a first network node (111), the method being for handling Uplink, UL, Reference Signals, RSs, the first network node (111) operating in a communications system (100), the method comprising:- sending (603), to a first device (131) operating in the communications system (100), one or more first indications indicating to use, for each UL RS of a set ofone or more UL RSs, a respective fixed mapping of a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to a respective physical antenna port, and- receiving (606), from the first device (131), at least one of the one or more UL RSs according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the sent one or more first indications.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein each respective physical antenna port has a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the respective fixed mapping is indicated by indicating a correspondence between a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, with the corresponding respective antenna identifier to the respective UL RS.

12. The method according to any of claims 9-11, further comprising one or more of:- sending (601), to the first device (131), a first configuration of the set of one or more UL RSs, and- sending (602), to the first device (131), a second indication indicating a first identifier.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein one of:- the first identifier corresponds to a first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied for receiving (606) at least one of the one or more UL RSs, and - the first identifier corresponds to a certain mapping between respective physical antenna ports and a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

14. The method according to any of claims 9-13, wherein one of:- the first configuration is sent by the first network node (111),- the UL RSs are Sounding RSs, and- each of the one or more first indications is a usage configured per resource of the UL RSs.

15. The method according to any of claims 9-15, further comprising one or more of:- initiating (607) training a machine learning model, MLM, with the first set of UL RSs, the MLM being to predict channel state information based on received UL RSs,- initiating (608) outputting a fifth indication of the trained MLM, andusing (609) the trained MLM.

16. The method according to any of claims 12-13 and 15, further comprising one or more of:- receiving (604), from the first device (131), a third indication indicating assistance information corresponding to the first identifier indicated by the second indication, or by at least one of the one or more first indications, and- receiving (605), from the first device (131), a fourth indication indicating one or more second configurations of a second set of one or more UL RSs corresponding to the first identifier indicated by the second indication, or by at least one of the one or more first indications, the one or more second configurations being to be used in an inference phase of the machine learning model to be trained by the first network node (111) to predict channel state information based on the at least one of the one or more UL RSs transmitted by the first device (131).

17. The method according to any of claims 10-11 and claim 16, wherein the assistance information indicates one or more of:- absolute or relative output power for at least a first UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs,- absolute or relative output power for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers,- absolute or relative output power for at least a first physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports,- absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a second UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs,- absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, and- absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first respective physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports.

18. A computer-implemented method performed by a second device (132), the method being for handling Uplink, UL, Reference Signals, RSs, the second device (132) operating in a communications system (100), the method comprising:- obtaining (701) a first first configuration of a first set of one or more UL RSs, - obtaining (702) a first second indication, or at least one of one or more first indications, indicating a first identifier, the first identifier corresponding to a first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied for transmitting (703) at least oneof the one or more UL RSs, the first respective fixed mapping being of a respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to a first respective physical antenna port, and- transmitting (703) the at least one of the one or more UL RSs based on the indicated first identifier.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein one of:- the first first configuration is received from a second network node (112) operating in the communications system (100),- the first second indication, or the at least one of the one or more first indications, is received from the second network node (112),- the transmitting (703) is to the second network node (112),- the UL RSs are Sounding RSs, and- the first first configuration indicates a time configuration indicating which antenna ports are to be sounded at each transmission occasion.

20. A computer-implemented method performed by a second network node (112), the method being for handling Uplink, UL, Reference Signals, RSs, the second network node (112) operating in a communications system (100), the method comprising:- sending (802), to a second device (132) operating in the communications system (100), a first first configuration of a first set of one or more UL RSs,- sending (803), to the second device (132), a first second indication, or at least one of one or more first indications, indicating a first identifier, the first identifier corresponding to a first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied by the second device (132) for transmitting at least one of the one or more UL RSs, the first respective fixed mapping being of a respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to a first respective physical antenna port of the second device (132), and- receiving (804), from the second device (132), the at least one of the one or more UL RSs based on the indicated first identifier.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein one of:- the UL RSs are Sounding RSs, and- the first first configuration indicates a time configuration indicating which antenna ports are to be sounded at each transmission occasion.

22. The method according to any of claims 20-21 , wherein the method further comprises:- obtaining (801) a fifth indication of a trained machine learning model, MLM, from a first network node (111) operating in the communications system (100), the MLM being to predict channel state information based on received UL RSs, and - using (805) the trained MLM, to predict channel state information based on received at least one of the one or more UL RSs.

23. A first device (131), for handling Uplink, UL, Reference Signals, RSs, the first device (131) being configured to operate in a communications system (100), the first device (131) being further configured to:- obtain a first configuration of a set of one or more UL RSs,- obtain one or more first indications, from a first network node (111) configured to operate in the communications system (100), the one or more first indications being configured to indicate to use, for each UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, a respective fixed mapping of a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to a respective physical antenna port, and- transmit at least one of the one or more UL RSs according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the one or more first indications configured to be obtained.

24. The first device (131) according to claim 23, wherein each respective physical antenna port is configured to have a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

25. The first device (131) according to claim 24, wherein the respective fixed mapping is configured to be indicated by indicating a correspondence between a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, with the corresponding respective antenna identifier to the respective UL RS.

26. The first device (131) according to any of claims 23-25, being further configured to:- obtain, from the first network node (111), a second indication configured to indicate a first identifier.

27. The first device (131) according to claim 26, wherein one of:- the first identifier is configured to correspond to a first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied for transmitting at least one of the one or more UL RSs, and - the first identifier is configured to correspond to a certain mapping between respective physical antenna ports and a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

28. The first device (131) according to any of claims 23-27, wherein one of:- the first configuration is configured to be received from the first network node (111),- the respective fixed mapping is configured to be obtained from an internal configuration at the first device (131),- the transmitting is configured to be to the first network node (111),- the UL RSs are configured to be Sounding RSs, and- each of the one or more first indications is configured to be a usage configured per resource of the UL RSs.

29. The first device (131) according to claim 26, being further configured to one or more of:- send, to the first network node (111), a third indication configured to indicate assistance information configured to correspond to the first identifier configured to be indicated by the second indication, or by at least one of the one or more first indications, and- send, to the first network node (111), a fourth indication configured to indicate one or more second configurations of a second set of one or more UL RSs corresponding to the first identifier configured to be indicated by the second indication or by at least one of the one or more first indications, the one or more second configurations being configured to be used in an inference phase of a machine learning model to be trained by the first network node (111) to predict channel state information based on the at least one of the one or more UL RSs configured to be transmitted by the first device (131).

30. The first device (131) according to any of claims 24-25 and claim 29, wherein the assistance information is configured to indicate one or more of:- absolute or relative output power for at least a first UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs,- absolute or relative output power for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers,- absolute or relative output power for at least a first physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports,- absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a second UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs,- absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, andabsolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first respective physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports.

31. A first network node (111), for handling Uplink, UL, Reference Signals, RSs, the first network node (111) being configured to operate in a communications system (100), the first network node (111) being further configured to:- send, to a first device (131) configured to operate in the communications system (100), one or more first indications configured to indicate to use, for each UL RS of a set of one or more UL RSs, a respective fixed mapping of a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, to a respective physical antenna port, and - receive, from the first device (131), at least one of the one or more UL RSs according to the respective fixed mapping, based on the one or more first indications configured to be sent.

32. The first network node (111) according to claim 31 , wherein each respective physical antenna port is configured to have a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

33. The first network node (111) according to claim 32, wherein the respective fixed mapping is configured to be indicated by indicating a correspondence between a respective UL RS of the set of one or more UL RSs, with the corresponding respective antenna identifier to the respective UL RS.

34. The first network node (111) according to any of claims 31-33, further configured to one or more of:- send, to the first device (131), a first configuration of the set of one or more UL RSs, and- send, to the first device (131), a second indication configured to indicate a first identifier.

35. The first network node (111) according to claim 34, wherein one of:- the first identifier is configured to correspond to a first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied for receiving at least one of the one or more UL RSs, and - the first identifier is configured to correspond to a certain mapping between respective physical antenna ports and a corresponding respective antenna identifier.

36. The first network node (111) according to any of claims 31-35, wherein one of:- the first configuration is configured to be sent by the first network node (111), - the UL RSs are configured to be Sounding RSs, and- each of the one or more first indications is configured to be a usage configured per resource of the UL RSs.

37. The first network node (111) according to any of claims 31-36, being further configured to one or more of:- initiate training a machine learning model, MLM, with the first set of UL RSs, the MLM being configured to predict channel state information based on received UL RSs,- initiate outputting a fifth indication of the trained MLM, and- use the trained MLM.

38. The first network node (111) according to any of claims 34-35 and 37, being further configured to one or more of:- receive, from the first device (131), a third indication configured to indicate assistance information corresponding to the first identifier indicated by the second indication, or by at least one of the one or more first indications, and - receive, from the first device (131), a fourth indication configured to indicate one or more second configurations of a second set of one or more UL RSs corresponding to the first identifier configured to be indicated by the second indication, or by at least one of the one or more first indications, the one or more second configurations being configured to be used in an inference phase of the machine learning model to be trained by the first network node (111) to predict channel state information based on the at least one of the one or more UL RSs transmitted by the first device (131).

39. The first network node (111) according to any of claims 32-33 and claim 38, wherein the assistance information is configured to indicate one or more of:- absolute or relative output power for at least a first UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs,- absolute or relative output power for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers,- absolute or relative output power for at least a first physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports,- absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a second UL RS of the one or more of the UL RSs,- absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first antenna identifier of the one or more corresponding respective antenna identifiers, and- absolute or relative insertion loss for at least a first respective physical antenna port of the one or more respective physical antenna ports.

40. A second device (132), for handling Uplink, UL, Reference Signals, RSs, the second device (132) being configured to operate in a communications system (100), the second device (132) being further configured to:- obtain a first first configuration of a first set of one or more UL RSs,- obtain a first second indication, or at least one of one or more first indications, configured to indicate a first identifier, the first identifier corresponding to a first respective fixed mapping that is to be applied for transmitting at least one of the one or more UL RSs, the first respective fixed mapping being of a respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to a first respective physical antenna port, and- transmit the at least one of the one or more UL RSs based on the first identifier configured to be indicated.

41. The second device (132) according to claim 40, wherein one of:- the first first configuration is configured to be received from a second network node (112) configured to operate in the communications system (100), - the first second indication, or the at least one of the one or more first indications, is configured to be received from the second network node (112),- the transmitting is configured to be to the second network node (112),- the UL RSs are configured to be Sounding RSs,- the first first configuration is configured to indicate a time configuration configured to indicate which antenna ports are to be sounded at each transmission occasion.

42. A second network node (112), for handling Uplink, UL, Reference Signals, RSs, the second network node (112) being configured to operate in a communications system (100), the second network node (112) being further configured to:- send, to a second device (132) configured to operate in the communications system (100), a first first configuration of a first set of one or more UL RSs, - send, to the second device (132), a first second indication, or at least one of one or more first indications, indicating a first identifier, the first identifier being configured to correspond to a first respective fixed mapping that is to be appliedby the second device (132) for transmitting at least one of the one or more UL RSs, the first respective fixed mapping being of a respective UL RS of the first set of one or more UL RSs, to a first respective physical antenna port of the second device (132), and- receive, from the second device (132), the at least one of the one or more UL RSs based on the first identifier configured to be indicated.

43. The second network node (112) according to claim 42, wherein one of:- the UL RSs are configured to be Sounding RSs, and- the first first configuration is configured to indicate a time configuration configured to indicate which antenna ports are to be sounded at each transmission occasion.

44. The second network node (112) according to any of claims 42-43, wherein the second network node (112) is further configured to:- obtain a fifth indication of a trained machine learning model, MLM, from a first network node (111) configured to operate in the communications system (100), the MLM being configured to predict channel state information based on UL RSs configured to be received, and- use the trained MLM, to predict channel state information based on at least one of the one or more UL RSs configured to be received.

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