Wireless device, first network node, and methods performed thereby, for handling modes of operation

Abstract

A method, performed by a wireless device operating in a wireless communications network, handling modes of operation. The wireless device obtains one or more indications indicating one or more modes of operation corresponding, jointly or separately, to an energy detector and a main receiver of the wireless device. The wireless device monitors one or more beams of one of: the wireless device and a first network node during an off-period of a DRX cycle of the wireless device. The off-period of the DRX cycle corresponds to a first mode of operation of the main receiver. The monitoring is performed by the energy detector and according a second mode of operation of the energy detector. The first mode of operation and the second mode of operation are comprised in the one or more modes of operation indicated by the obtained one or more indications.

Description

[0001] WIRELESS DEVICE, FIRST NETWORK NODE, AND METHODS PERFORMED THEREBY, FOR HANDLING MODES OF OPERATION

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to a wireless device and methods performed thereby for handling modes of operation. The present disclosure also generally relates to a first network node and methods performed thereby for handling modes of operation.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Wireless devices within a wireless communications network may be e.g., 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. Wireless devices may further be referred to as mobile telephones, cellular telephones, laptops, or tablets with wireless capability, just to mention some further examples. The wireless 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 BTS (Base Transceiver Station), depending on the technology and terminology used. The base stations (BSs) 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 may be understood to be 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 support one or several communication technologies. The base stations communicate over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the terminals within range of the base stations.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] To support the high quality-of-service requirements in 5G and beyond, wireless communication may rely on various technologies such as Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), beamforming and network densification. Also, high bands, e.g., Frequency 2 (FR2), may be understood to have been well adapted for 5G New Radio (NR), which may be understood to provide large spectrum resources. The interest on Frequency 3 (FR3) band is also increasing rapidly and it is foreseen that sooner or later sub-TeraHertz (THz) bands, around 100-300 GHz, will be used for communications. Particularly, sub-THz is thought as a possible 6G feature.

[0008] Multi-antenna techniques may significantly increase the data rates and reliability of a wireless communication system. The performance may be in particular improved if both the transmitter and the receiver are equipped with multiple antennas, which may result in a MIMO communication channel. Such systems and / or related techniques may be commonly referred to as MIMO.

[0009] With the success of MIMO, it may be expected that multi-antenna technologies may evolve in beyond-5G systems, either in a centralized or a distributed way. In a centralized case, the access points (APs) and / or user equipments (UEs) may be equipped with an even larger number of antennas. A distributed MIMO (D-MIMO) system, on the other hand, may be understood to be a system with multiple geographically distributed antenna panels, possibly with respective radio and processing units, where such panels may jointly coordinate aspects of their transmissions, and receptions, in order to serve one or more UEs. One type of D-MIMO deployment may be in terms of coordinating macro gNBs, as considered in 3GPP Rel.18 MIMO Working Item. Another type of D-MIMO deployment, widely considered as candidate 6G D-MIMO deployment, may be a dense localized deployment, where several small-sized low-powered panels and / or nodes may be densely deployed in a specific part of the cell requiring a capacity and / or reliability enhancement, e.g., in crowded parts of the macro cell, area such as public squares or stadiums.

[0010] In the context of macro deployments, the D-MIMO panels and respective radio and processing units, may be termed Transmission Points (TRPs). In the context of dense localized deployments, the D-MIMO panels, and respective radio and processing units, may be termed access points (APs). In this disclosure, the term “network node” may be used to cover any of these types of nodes.Advanced UEs

[0011] While equipping the network nodes by, e.g., higher number of antennas and / or processing capabilities may be understood to improve the network performance, a large performance improvement may be expected by using more advanced UEs. For this reason, multiple improvements have been recently specified or suggested for specification. For instance, equipping a UE with more antenna elements may be understood to enable the UE to, in the downlink (DL), receive more Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) layers, provide additional beamforming gain, via spatial combining, and / or perform interference mitigation. For this reason, support for receiving up to 8 PDSCH layers per UE was introduced in NR Rel-15, and Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) antenna switching enhancements to support reciprocitybased DL precoding for UE with 6 Receive (Rx) or 8Rx chains, and up to 4 Transmit (Tx) chains was introduced in NR Rel-17. Furthermore, even though UEs may typically have more Rx chains than Tx chains, support for 8Tx UL transmission was introduced in NR Rel-18 for high-end UEs, e.g., an advanced Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) device for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) deployments.

[0012] During MIMO scoping discussions in 3GPP for earlier releases of NR, multiple companies had proposed introducing support for a “Virtual UE”, that is, where multiple devices belonging to one user may be combined to a single virtual UE.

[0013] Also, as an objective in Rel-19 MIMO, it is currently discussed to support low-complexity 6Rx and 8Rx UEs, where the Rx chains may be divided into receive antenna port groups (RAPGs) and each RAPG may be equipped with its own processing units and may receive a separate codeword.

[0014] Following this trend, it is quite probable that, as we move towards 6G, even more advanced UEs will be developed and specified in the standardization. Depending on the considered level of enhancement, such advanced UEs may be used in, e.g., cars, Customer Premises Equipments (CPEs) or mobile phones. This may be understood to be particularly due to, e.g., the increase of interest on UE initiated processes, e.g., UE initiated beam measurement and report as to be specified in 3GPP Rel-19, and implementation of distributed AI / ML in wireless networks, which may require enhancements on current UEs.

[0015] One possible enhancement for the UE architecture may be seen in Figure 1. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a possible enhanced UE architecture to be used in high bands.

[0016] The described structure is proposed as a candidate UE beamforming architecture for sub-THz UEs. The beamforming architecture may be understood to be based on an antenna lens 1, which may collimate the Radio Frequency (RF) propagation and may thus provide beamforming gain. For beamforming in a certain direction, only one antenna with associatedPower Amplifier (PA) may be used. The described architecture may substitute the phased array, where typically a large number of antennas and associated PAs may be active at the same time. The proposed architecture may be understood to consume substantially less power than the phased array, e.g., one order of magnitude less power.

[0017] For the specific use of lens-based architecture as shown in Figure 1, the UE may have a lens 1, a main receiver 2, an energy detector 3 and a control unit 4, which may control the operation between the main receiver 2 and the energy detector 3. The UE may have one main beam and the main receiver 2 may receive the signals by switching to one of the antennas 6, associated with the main beam 5. Additionally, the energy detector 3 may be connected to currently unused antennas 7, possibly in a cyclical, round-robin, fashion. This may be understood to imply that the UE may switch through and evaluate other candidate beams at the same time as the reception in the main beam 5 may be ongoing. This may also imply that the UE may perform beam scanning on the data signals. Particularly, the idle ports at the Rx lens, not receiving data, may be used to find a better beam than the currently used one. Here, the idle ports of the Rx lens 1 may be used to scan candidate UE beams 8 of the Rx lens. The candidate UE beams 8 may be scanned continuously and when, e.g., the received power of a candidate beam may be higher than the power received by the current beam, the main Rx may switch to the candidate beam. In such an architecture, which may be understood to be of interest in high bands such as FR2, FR3 and sub-THz, the channel measurement may be done on data signal, and there may be understood to be no need for dedicated DL Reference Signal (RS) for determining the UE Rx beams.

[0018] Beam management procedure

[0019] In high frequency range, e.g., FR2, multiple RF beams may be used to transmit and receive signals at a gNB and a UE. For each DL beam from a gNB, there may be typically an associated best UE Rx beam for receiving the signals sent from such gNB DL beam. The gNB DL beam and the associated UE Rx beam may be understood to form a beam pair. Suitable beam pairs may be identified through a so-called beam management procedure in NR.

[0020] A DL beam may be, typically, identified by an associated DL RS transmitted in the beam, either periodically, semi-persistently, or aperiodically. The DL RS may be a Synchronization Signal (SS) and Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) block (SSB) or a Channel State Information RS (CSI-RS). By measuring, e.g., all the DL CSI-RSs, a UE may determine and report to a gNB the best DL beam to use for DL transmissions. The gNB may then transmit a burst of downlink reference signal (DL-RS) in the reported best DL beam to let the UE evaluate candidate UE RX beams.

[0021] Although not explicitly stated in the NR specification, beam management may be divided into three procedures, schematically illustrated in Figure 2. One procedure may be P-1, the purpose of which may be understood to be to find a coarse direction for the UE using widegNB TX beam covering the whole angular sector. Another procedure may be P-2, the purpose of which may be understood to be to refine the gNB TX beam by doing a new beam search around the coarse direction found in P1. Yet another procedure may be understood to be P-3, which may be used for UEs that may have analog beamforming to let them find a suitable UE RX beam.

[0022] P-1 may be understood to be expected to utilize beams with rather large beamwidths and where the beam RSs may be transmitted periodically and may be shared between all UEs of the cell. Typically, RSs to use for P-1 may be periodic CSI-RSs or SSBs. The UE may then report the N best beams to the gNB and, e.g., their corresponding Received Signal Received Power (RSRP) values.

[0023] P-2 may be expected to use aperiodic CSI-RS transmitted in narrow beams around the coarse direction found in P-1.

[0024] P-3 may be expected to use aperiodic CSI-RSs repeatedly transmitted in one narrow gNB beam.

[0025] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating one example of one set of narrow beams, represented by circles, and one set of wide beams, represented by ovals, associated with different DL RSs Discontinuous Reception (DRX) mode. The wide beams may be used in a first periodic gNB TX beam management procedure (P-1) to find a coarse direction of the UE and the narrow beams may be used in a second gNB TX beam management procedure (P-2) in order to find a narrow gNB TX beam that may be used for data transmission. The typical way to select beams for the P-2 procedure may be understood to be to determine which of the wide beams was best with respect to RSRP and then select the narrow beams that may be confined within the angular coverage area of that wide beam. For example, if it is assumed that wide beam WB1 was the best wide beam, then the beams for the P-2 procedure may be the narrow beams NB1-NB8.

[0026] In 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR), DRX may be understood to be a crucial power-saving feature that may allow the UE to conserve battery life by periodically entering sleep mode when not actively receiving data. Rather than continuously staying active and monitoring the network, DRX may enable the UE to wake up at defined intervals to check for potential incoming data from the network. This cycle between "active" and "sleep" modes may reduce the overall power consumption while keeping the device ready to receive important data.

[0027] A DRX cycle may consist of two main periods: an active period and a sleep period. During the active period, the UE may monitor the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to determine if there may be incoming data or control information. If there is no data, the UE may transition to the sleep period, during which certain internal components may be powered down to save battery. Key parameters, such as the On-Duration Timer, may determine how long the UE may have to stay awake during each active period, while the DRX Inactivity Timer mayextend the active period if data is received to avoid frequent sleep / wake transitions. Additionally, long and short DRX cycles may define how frequently the UE may wake up, with long cycles providing longer sleep durations when network activity may be low.

[0028] DRX may operate in Connected Mode DRX (C-DRX) and Idle Mode DRX (l-DRX). C-DRX may be used when the UE may be connected but may have no continuous data to receive, allowing it to save power while still ready for network communications. I-DRX, on the other hand, may apply when the UE may be in idle mode, periodically checking the Paging Channel for network messages. This mode may be particularly useful for balancing power saving with maintaining connectivity when the UE may not be engaged in active data transmission.

[0029] The DRX feature in 5G NR may significantly improve UE battery life, especially in scenarios where data transmissions may be intermittent. By reducing the time the UE may actively monitor the network, DRX may not only conserve energy, but may also help to reduce interference across the network. This power efficiency may be understood to be vital for both consumer convenience and network performance, especially as 5G / 6G networks continue to support a growing number of connected devices.

[0030] The Radio Resource Control (RRC) and the Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specifications of DRX operation mode may be as captured in 3GPP TS 38.331, v. 18.3.0 and 3GPP TS 38.321, v. 18.3.0, respectively.

[0031] Beam management procedures may be understood to consume resources of the network as well as of the network node and devices that may be involved.

[0032] SUMMARY

[0033] Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments address one or more of the challenges identified with the existing methods and provide solutions to these challenges or other challenges.

[0034] According to a first aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a method, performed by a wireless device. The wireless device operates in a wireless communications network. The method may be understood to be for handling modes of operation. The wireless device obtains one or more indications indicating one or more modes of operation corresponding, jointly or separately, to an energy detector and a main receiver of the wireless device. The wireless device then monitors one or more beams of one of: the wireless device and a first network node during an off-period of a DRX cycle of the wireless device. The off-period of the DRX cycle corresponds to a first mode of operation of the main receiver. The monitoring is performed by the energy detector and according a second mode of operation of the energy detector. The first mode of operation and the second mode of operation are comprised in the one or more modes of operation indicated by the obtained one or more indications.According to a second aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a method, performed by the first network node. The first network node operates in the wireless communications network. The method may be understood to be for handling modes of operation. The first network node sends the one or more indications indicating the one or more modes of operation corresponding, jointly or separately, to the energy detector and the main receiver of the wireless device.

[0035] According to a third aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by the wireless device, configured to perform the method. The wireless device may be understood to be configured to be configured to handle modes of operation. The wireless device is configured to operate in the wireless communications network. The wireless device is configured to obtain the one or more indications configured to indicate the one or more modes of operation configured to correspond, jointly or separately, to the energy detector and the main receiver of the wireless device. The wireless device is also configured to monitor the one or more beams of one of: the wireless device and the first network node during the off-period of the DRX cycle of the wireless device. The off-period of the DRX cycle is configured to correspond to the first mode of operation of the main receiver and the monitoring is configured to correspond to the second mode of operation of the energy detector. The first mode of operation and the second mode of operation are configured to be comprised in the one or more modes of operation configured to be indicated by the one or more indications configured to be obtained.

[0036] According to a fourth aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by the first network node, configured to perform the method. The first network node may be understood to be configured to handle modes of operation. The first network node is configured to operate in the wireless communications network. The first network node is configured to send, to the wireless device, the one or more indications configured to indicate the one or more modes of operation configured to correspond, jointly or separately, to the energy detector and the main receiver of the wireless device.

[0037] By obtaining the one or more indications indicating the one or more modes of operation, the wireless device may be configured with the different modes of operations associated with the energy detector and the main receiver of the wireless device, so that the wireless device may monitor the one or more beams.

[0038] By monitoring, with the energy detector, the one or more beams during the off-period of the DRX cycle of the first mode of operation of the main receiver, the wireless device may be enabled to monitor the beam pair link between the first network node, e.g., a TRP, and wireless device while the wireless device may be in an energy saving mode. This may in turn enable to reduce the length of on-duration periods of DRX cycles, which may reduce the energy consumption of the wireless device, as well as reduce the latency when the wirelessdevice may have data to transmit and / or receive during an on-period, since the need for additional beam sweep procedures before data transmission and / or reception during the DRX on-period may be reduced. Such a method may be of interest in advanced UEs operating in, e.g., FR2, FR3, or sub-THz bands. In this way, embodiments herein may be understood to address one of the topics of interest for 6G.

[0039] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Examples of embodiments herein are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, according to the following description.

[0041] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a non-limiting example of possible enhanced UE architecture to be used in high bands, according to existing methods.

[0042] Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a non-limiting example of beam management procedure, according to existing methods.

[0043] Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a non-limiting example of wide and narrow beams associated with different DL RSs, according to existing methods.

[0044] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram depicting an example of a wireless communications network, according to embodiments herein.

[0045] Figure 5 is a flowchart depicting a method in a wireless device, according to embodiments herein.

[0046] Figure 6 is a flowchart depicting a method in a first network node, according to embodiments herein.

[0047] Figure 7 is a signalling depicting aspects a non-limiting example of a DRX period, according to existing methods.

[0048] Figure 8 is a signalling depicting aspects a method in a wireless communications network, according to embodiments herein.

[0049] Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiments of a wireless device,

[0050] according to embodiments herein.

[0051] Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an embodiments of a first network node, according to embodiments herein.

[0052] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] As part of the development of embodiments herein, one or more challenges with the existing technology will first be identified and discussed.

[0054] One of the main motivations for advanced UEs, with an example architecture such as that shown in Figure 1, may be understood to be to improve the energy efficiency of the UE. Particularly, some studies show that the proposed architecture of Figure 1 may consume at least an order of magnitude less power than the typical phased arrays.For UEs in DRX in mmWave frequencies in some existing deployments today, a TRP beam sweep procedure may be performed during each on-duration of the DRX cycle, in order to maintain an up-to date TRP beam for UEs in DRX. This may be understood to be relevant since, if a beam pair link between TRP and UE is lost, a beam link failure procedure / radio link failure procedure may need to be initiated in order to recover the beam pair link, which may be understood to require a significant amount of signaling overhead and latency.

[0055] In addition, during an off-period of a DRX cycle, it may not be expected that the UE may perform any substantial UE RX beam sweep procedures on SSBs, since it may be understood to be costly in energy consumption to turn on and evaluate candidate UE beams every SSB burst, which may mitigate the energy saving gains and hence the purpose of DRX. Hence, in order to make sure that the UE may have a suitable UE beam / UE panel associated with an indicated Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state, additional UE beam sweep procedures may need to preferably be performed during each or most DRX on-periods.

[0056] One problem with performing beam sweep procedures during the on-period of a DRX cycle may be that the on-period may be understood to need to be prolonged, causing additional energy consumption by the UE. For example, in case it may be desired to perform a TRP beam sweep procedure and UE beam sweep procedure during an on-period, it may be necessary to trigger the beam sweep procedures, as well as transmitting the corresponding DL-RS for the UE to measure on during the on-period. The problem may be expected to be even larger at subterra Hz frequencies, where more beams may be expected to be used at both the TRP and UE. In addition, in case the UE may transmit and / or receive data during an upcoming on-period, the latency may be increased if, first, it may be necessary to perform beam sweep procedures before the transmission of the data.

[0057] Therefore, there may be understood to be a need to reduce the amount of beam sweep procedures during on-period of DRX cycles to save energy consumption of a UE. This may be especially important for power hungry UEs, e.g., mmWave / sub-THz UEs may be power hungry, and that may spend a lot of time in inactive or idle state.

[0058] Embodiments herein may be understood to address the problems identified with the existing methods and may be understood to relate to methods for the configuration of different modes of operation in advanced UEs. With the described methods, based on the capability reports received about a UE, a network (NW) may configure the UE with different DRX modes of operation associated with an energy detector and a main receiver of the UE, so that the UE may monitor TRP beams and / or UE beams while it may be in the energy saving mode.

[0059] 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 subjectmatter 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.

[0060] Figure 4 depicts two non-limiting examples, in panel a) and panel b), respectively, of a wireless network or wireless communications network 100, sometimes also referred to as a wireless communications system, cellular radio system, or cellular network, in which embodiments herein may be implemented. The wireless communications network 100 may be a 5G system, 5G network, or Next Gen System. In other examples, the wireless communications network 100 may be a newer system, e.g., a Sixth Generation (6G) system, with similar functionality. Yet in other examples, the wireless communications network 100 may 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 wireless communications network 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 wireless communications network 100 may support Machine Type Communication (MTC), enhanced MTC (eMTC), Internet of Things (loT) and / or NarrowBand Internet of Things (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.

[0061] The wireless communications network 100 may comprise a plurality of network nodes, whereof a first network node 111 is depicted in the non-limiting example of Figure 4. In some examples, the wireless communications network 100 may comprise a second network node 112. The second network node 112 may be a neighboring node to the first network node 111. Any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may be a radionetwork node. That is, a transmission point such as a radio base station, for example a gNB, or any other network node with similar features capable of serving a user equipment, such as a wireless device, in the wireless communications network 100. In some examples, any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may be a distributed node, and may partially perform its functions in collaboration with a virtual node 113 in a cloud 115, as depicted in the non-limiting example of panel b) in Figure 1 for the first network node 111. 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 one or more core networks.

[0062] Any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112, in some examples, may be, or comprise, a central unit (CU), e.g., a CU control plane (CU-CP).

[0063] In some examples, the wireless communications network 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 wireless communications network 100 may include one or more Open-RAN (ORAN) network nodes. An ORAN network node may be understood to be a node in the wireless communications network 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 wireless communications network 100, including one or more network nodes and / or core network nodes.

[0064] Examples of an ORAN network node may 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. 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.

[0065] Furthermore, an ORAN network node may be implemented in a virtualization environment, inwhich 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.

[0066] The wireless communications network 100 may cover a geographical area, which in some embodiments may be divided into cell areas or service areas, wherein each cell area or service area may be served by a radio network node, although, one radio network node may serve one or several cells. Any of the first network node 111 and the second network node 112 may serve one or more cells. 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. 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.

[0067] In some examples, the first network node 111 may be a core network node, such as, for example an MME or an SGW, e.g., in 4G, or an AMF or a UPF in 5G.

[0068] The wireless communications network 100 may comprise one or more beams 120. In the non-limiting example of Figure 4, the one or more beams 120 comprise 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. The one or more beams 120 may comprise additional or fewer beams. The wireless communications network 100 may also comprise, in some examples, a beam being currently used 124. Any of the one or more beams 120 and the beam being currently used 124 may be understood to be beamforming beams.

[0069] In some examples such as that depicted in panel a) of Figure 4, any of the one or more beams 120 and the beam being currently used 124 may be served by, that is, transmitted by, the first network node 111. The first network node 111 may serve more or fewer beams than those depicted in Figure 4. Any of the first beam 121, the second beam 122, the third beam 123 and the beam being currently used 124 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, the third beam 123 and the beam being currently used 124 may correspond to a respective cell. In other examples, more than one beam may correspond to a cell.

[0070] In some examples such as that depicted in panel b) of Figure 4, the one or more beams 120 and the beam being currently used 124 may be transmitted by a wireless device, such as the wireless device 130 described next.In some examples, such as those depicted in Figure 4, both of the first network node 111 and the wireless device 130 may serve respective one or more beams 120. In some examples, both of the first network node 111 and the wireless device 130 may serve a respective beam being currently used 124.

[0071] In the particular non-limiting examples depicted in Figure 4, the second network node 112 may serve a neighboring cell 125.

[0072] A plurality of wireless devices may be located in the wireless communication network 100, whereof a wireless device 130, is depicted in the non-limiting example of Figure 4. The wireless device 130 comprised in the wireless communications network 100 may be a wireless communication device such as a User Equipment (UE), e.g., 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. The wireless device 130 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, goggles, 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. The wireless device 130 comprised in the wireless communications network 100 may be enabled to communicate wirelessly in the wireless communications network 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 wireless communications network 100.

[0073] The wireless device 130 may be configured to communicate within the wireless communications network 100 with the first network node 111 over a respective link, e.g., a radio link, via any of the one or more beams 121, 122, 123, the beam being currently used 124 or the respective one or more beams 120. The first network node 111 may be configured to communicate within the wireless communications network 100 with the virtual node 113, over a first link 141 , e.g., a wired link or a radio link.

[0074] The wireless device 130 comprises an energy detector 160. The energy detector 160 may be understood as a device that may, e.g., only or primarily, be able to measure the level of energy received. The energy detector 160 may be understood to be limited functionally otherwise. The energy detector 160, for example, may not be able to decode signals received. The wireless device 130 also comprises a main receiver 170. The main receiver 170 may be understood as a receiver that may be used to demodulate data and other signals. The main receiver 170 may also be referred to as a normal receiver or just receiver, where the receiver may be used to receive and decode / demodulate data and other signals, which may beunderstood to be different from the energy detector 160, which may only be used to measure received power.

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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.

[0078] Embodiments of a method, performed by the wireless device 130 will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in Figure 5. The wireless device 130 operates in the wireless communications network 100. The method may be understood to be for handling modes of operation. The method may be understood to be computer-implemented.

[0079] In some examples, the wireless communications network 100 may support NR.

[0080] Several embodiments are comprised herein. In some embodiments all the actions may be performed. In some embodiments, two or more actions may be performed. It should be noted that the examples herein may be 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. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the wireless device 130 is depicted in Figure 5. Some actions may beperformed in a different order than that shown in Figure 5. In Figure 5, optional actions are represented with dashed lines.

[0081] Action 501

[0082] In this Action 501 , the wireless device 130 may send one or more first indications to the first network node 111. The one or more first indications may indicate one or more capabilities of the wireless device 130 with respect to one or more of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170.

[0083] The one or more first indications may be, or may be comprised in, a capability report. The first network node 111 may be understood to be a radio network node, or a core network node, serving the wireless device 130.

[0084] In some embodiments, the one or more capabilities may comprise one or more of the following options. That is, the capability report may comprise information about one or more of the following options.

[0085] According to one option, the one or more capabilities may comprise a presence of the energy detector 160. That is, the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130.

[0086] According to another option, the one or more capabilities may comprise one or more properties of the energy detector 160.

[0087] According to yet another option, the one or more capabilities may comprise a first capability of energy detection when the main receiver 170 may be inactive.

[0088] According to a further option, the one or more capabilities may comprise ON / OFF switching delays of one or more of: the main receiver 170 and the energy detector 160.

[0089] According to another option, the one or more capabilities may comprise a second capability to switch ON / OFF the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 separately or not.

[0090] According to yet another option, the one or more capabilities may comprise supported DRX modes of operation by one or more of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170.

[0091] According to another option, the one or more capabilities may comprise supported set of DRX cycle lengths corresponding to one or more of: the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170.

[0092] According to yet another option, the one or more capabilities may comprise supported beam sweep procedures using the energy detector 160. For example, if the wireless device 130 supports TRP beam sweep procedure, e.g., P1 or P2, and / or UE beam sweep procedures e.g., P3, with the energy detector 160.The one or more first indications, e.g., one or more capability reports, may be received via RRC, MAC Control Element (CE) or Uplink Control Information (UCI) from the wireless device 130 itself or other nodes in the wireless communications network 100.

[0093] It may be noted that, in the following description, embodiments herein may be described for the advanced UE architecture of Figure 1. However, the same approach may be well applicable in the cases with different UE architectures as long as the UE may support different main receiver 170 and energy detector 160.

[0094] By sending the one or more first indications to the first network node 111 , the wireless device 130 may enable that the first network node 111 may then configure the wireless device 130, according to its capabilities, with different modes of operations associated with the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130, so that the wireless device 130 may monitor the beam pair link between the first network node 111, e.g., the TRP, and wireless device 130 while the wireless device 130 may be in an energy saving mode. This may in turn enable to reduce the length of on-duration periods of DRX cycles, which may reduce the energy consumption of the wireless device 130, as well as reduce the latency when the wireless device 130 may have data to transmit and / or receive during an on-period, since the need for additional beam sweep procedures before data transmission and / or reception during the DRX on-period may be reduced.

[0095] Action 502

[0096] In this Action 502, wireless device 130 obtains one or more indications indicating one or more modes of operation corresponding, jointly or separately, to the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130.

[0097] The one or more indications may be understood to be one or more second indications. The one or more second indications may be understood to be configurations, e.g., DRX configurations.

[0098] The one or more second indications may be implicit, or explicit.

[0099] In one example, the wireless device 130 may receive the one or more second indications, e.g., DRX configurations, associated with the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130, separately or jointly. In other words, in some examples, each of the one or more modes of operation may correspond, jointly, to both of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170. In other examples, the one or more modes of operation may comprise a first mode of operation of the main receiver 170 and a second mode of operation may be of the energy detector 160. The first mode of operation of the main receiver 170 and the second mode of operation of the energy detector 160 may be understood as respective modes of operation of the main receiver 170 and the energy detector 160, e.g., different modes of operation of the main receiver 170 and the energy detector 160. Forexample the first mode of operation of the main receiver 170 may correspond to the capabilities of the main receiver 170 and the second mode of operation may correspond to the respective capabilities of the energy detector 160. The first mode of operation and the second mode of operation may be respective DRX modes of operation, e.g., according to different or respective parameters, e.g., DRX parameters. Any or both of the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation may relate to, e.g., be, C-DRX modes.

[0100] In some examples, the one or more second indications may be obtained by receiving them from a network node, such as the first network node 111. For examples, the one or more second indications may be obtained via RRC signaling and may be reconfigured via RRC or MAC CE.

[0101] The obtaining of the one or more second indications in this Action 502 may be based on the sent one or more first indications. For example, based on the sent one or more first indications, e.g., capability reports, and the predicted data traffic, etc., the first network node 111 may, by sending the one or more first indications to the wireless device 130, configure the wireless device 130 with different DRX modes of operation associated with the main receiver 170 and the energy detector 160.

[0102] The one or more (second) indications may indicate one or more respective parameters of a respective DRX mode of operation of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170. The respective DRX mode of operation may be a same DRX configuration framework or may be two separate DRX frameworks. The respective DRX mode of operation of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 may be a respective C-DRX mode, e.g., a first mode of C-DRX operation of the main receiver 170 and a second mode of C-DRX operation of the energy detector 160.

[0103] In another example, an indicator may be included in the one or more second indications to indicate whether a DRX configuration parameter may be associated with the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130, the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130, or both.

[0104] The respective one or more parameters may comprise one or more of: respective on-periods, respective off-periods, respective DRX cycles, and respective DRX start offsets. In one example, the wireless device 130 may be provided with different on-periods, DRX cycles and DRX start offsets associated with the energy detector 160 and the main receiver of the wireless device 130. The DRX start offset may be understood as a timing when a DRX cycle starts in time.

[0105] In some embodiments, one or more of the one or more respective parameters may be one of: common, and overlapping for the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170.

[0106] In an example, one or more of the on-periods, DRX cycles or DRX start offsets may be common for the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130. Forinstance, the wireless device 130 may be configured with a single DRX start offset value associated with both the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130, while different on-periods and DRX cycles may be provided for the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130. In another example, the wireless device 130 may be configured with the same DRX cycles of energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130, while the on-periods and the DRX start offset values may be different for the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130.

[0107] In one example, the DRX cycles of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130 may be overlapping, or not. For instance, there may be periods when both the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130 may be active or inactive. In another example, the wireless device 130 may be configured such that the on-period of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 may be not overlapping, that is, the energy detector 160 may become active only when the main receiver 170 may be inactive. In another example, the DRX configurations of the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 may be indicated, e.g., by the first network node 111, implicitly. For instance, a DRX cycle of the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 may start when the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130 may enter its short or long DRX cycle.

[0108] In one example, the wireless device 130 may be only configured with DRX configurations for the main receiver 170, and the wireless device 130 that may have reported an associated capability of using energy detector 160 during DRX, may be assumed to have an energy detector 160 on during the off-periods of the configured DRX cycle of the main receiver 170. Such a predefined rule may need to be captured in the standardization.

[0109] In one example, the one or more second indications may configure the wireless device 130 with a DRX cycle period and an ON duration during which the wireless device 130 may wake up for monitoring the DL control channel, performing beam measurement and / or performing any other communication with the network (NW), e.g., with the first network node 111.

[0110] In one example, the wireless device 130 may be configured to perform a TRP beam sweep procedure using the energy detector 160 to perform measurements on DL-RS, and / or other DL signals / channels, transmitted from the first network node 111, e.g., a TRP, during the off-period of the main receiver 170. The configuration to perform the TRP beam sweep may be a separate configuration than the one or more second indications.

[0111] In one related example, the wireless device 130 may be indicated with time and / or frequency resources for the DL-RSs, and / or other DL signals and / or channels, used for measurements of the beam sweep procedure for the energy detector 160. This may be separately configured from the one or more second indications.In one related example, the wireless device 130 may be configured to report the energy received using the energy detector 160 for one or more of the DL-RSs, and / or other DL signals and / or channels. For example, the wireless device 130 may be configured to report a DL-RS index and a corresponding received power associated with that DL-RS, where the received power may be the power received by the energy detector 160 on the time and / or frequency resources associated with that DL-RS. The frequency resources, which for example may be a certain frequency band, ora certain frequency carrier, measured by an energy detector 160 may e.g., be controlled by frequency selective filters at the wireless device 130. This may be separately configured from the one or more second indications.

[0112] In another example of embodiments herein, the wireless device 130 may be indicated, e.g., by the one or more second indications, whether it may have to, or may have to refrain from, monitoring the channel variations, etc. via the energy detector 160 during the inactive periods of the main receiver 170. Such a method may be of particular interest in energy hungry wireless devices operating in, e.g., FR2, FR3 or sub-THz bands, where the wireless device 130 may remain inactive for long periods.

[0113] As is explained herein, the architecture of the advanced UEs, as illustrated in the Background section, may be understood to enable a chance to monitor the channel conditions, even when the main receiver 170 may be inactive, if the wireless device 130 may be configured properly. This may be understood to be a motivation for embodiments herein in which methods for different modes of operation configuration may be developed in the cases with advanced UEs. By obtaining the one or more second indications in this Action 502, the wireless device 130 may be configured with different DRX modes of operations for the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130, so that the wireless device 130 may still monitor a suitable beam pair link during the energy saving and / or inactive mode. In one example of embodiments herein, the wireless device 130 may be provided with different on-periods, DRX cycles and / or DRX start offsets associated with the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130.

[0114] By obtaining the one or more indications indicating the one or more modes of operation, the wireless device 130 may be configured with the different modes of operations associated with the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130, so that the wireless device 130 may monitor the beam pair link between the first network node 111, e.g., the TRP, and wireless device 130 while the wireless device 130 may be in an energy saving mode. This may in turn enable to reduce the length of on-duration periods of DRX cycles, which may reduce the energy consumption of the wireless device 130, as well as reduce the latency when the wireless device 130 may have data to transmit and / or receive during an on-period, since the need for additional beam sweep procedures before data transmission and / or reception during the DRX on-period may bereduced. Such a method may be of interest in advanced UEs operating in, e.g., FR2, FR3, or sub-THz bands. In this way, embodiments herein may be understood to address one of the topics of interest for 6G.

[0115] Action 503

[0116] In this Action 503, wireless device 130 may apply the first mode of operation and the second mode operation based on the obtained one or more indications. Based on the obtained one or more indications may be understood as that the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation may be indicated by the one or more indications, e.g., that the wireless device 130 may have been configured to operate the main receiver 170 according to the first mode of operation and to operate the energy detector 160 according to the second mode of operation.

[0117] In some embodiments, the applying in this Action 503 may be further based on one or more conditions being met. For example, the wireless device 130 may switch to different modes of operations in the main receiver 170 and the energy detector 160 based on the received configurations in Action 502, the data traffic, detected energies, etc.

[0118] In some embodiments, the one or more conditions may comprise one or more of the following options.

[0119] According to one option, the one or more conditions may comprise interference from a neighboring cell 125 having a relationship with respect to a first threshold. The relationship may be, for example, being smaller than or equal to the first threshold.

[0120] Since the wireless device 130 may not be able to determine if the received power of the energy detector 160 may be based on the reception of the actual DL-RS, and / or other DL signals and / or channels, transmitted from the serving cell or if it may be some other type of interference transmitted from the neighboring cell 125, the wireless device 130 may now and then estimate the interference situation using the main receiver 170, and only apply the energy detector 160 methods in case the interference may be below a certain threshold, referred to herein as the first threshold, where the first threshold may be absolute in number or relative to the received power of signals of the serving cell. In some examples, signaling may be introduced from the wireless device 130 to the network, e.g., to the first network node 111, where the wireless device 130 may indicate if it may use the energy detector 160 reliably or not.

[0121] According to another option, the one or more conditions may comprise a first timer running out. The first timer may count down entrance to a first short DRX cycle of the energy detector 160 with the proviso no signal above a second threshold may have been detected.

[0122] In one example, the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 may be configured with different short and long DRX cycles. Here, for instance, if signals with an energy above a predefined threshold, for instance X dB, e.g., X=-10 dB, are detected by the energy detector160 of the wireless device 130, no DRX may be used for the energy detector 160. Then, the wireless device 130 may start the first timer, whose parameters may be configured by the first network node 111, and if no more signal with energy above the predefined threshold, that is, the second threshold, is detected, the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 may enter the first short DRX cycle with frequent monitoring of the received signals.

[0123] According yet another option, the one or more conditions may comprise a second timer running out. The second timer may count down entrance to a second short DRX cycle of the main receiver 170 with the proviso no signal above a third threshold may have been detected. The second short DRX cycle may be understood as a different short DRX cycle than the first cycle.

[0124] In one example, when data may be actively being exchanged between the first network node 111 and the main receiver 170, no DRX may be used for the main receiver 170. Then, when the data transmission activity may end, the wireless device 130 may start the second timer. Once the second timer expires, the wireless device 130 may enter short DRX of the main receiver 170 and it may activate the energy detector 160 immediately, or with some pre-defined delay, e.g., when the first timer expires. Then, the energy detector 160 may follow its short and long DRX configuration provided by the first network node 111.

[0125] According to a further option, the one or more conditions may comprise a third timer running out. The third timer may switch between the first short DRX cycle and a first long DRX cycle of the energy detector 160.

[0126] According to yet another option, the one or more conditions may comprise a fourth timer running out. The fourth time may switch between the second short DRX cycle and a second long DRX cycle of the main receiver 170.

[0127] In one example, the wireless device 130 may be configured such that the energy detector 160 may become active or switch to its short-DRX cycle once the main receiver 170 may enter its short or long DRX cycle. In another example, timers may be configured to enable switching between short and long DRX cycles of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170.

[0128] According to another option, the one or more conditions may comprise a number of DRX cycles of the energy detector 160 having passed.

[0129] In one example, the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 may be configured with different short and long DRX cycles. Short DRX may be understood to be associated with shorter DRX cycles, such that the wireless device 130 may wake up more frequently, while long DRX may be understood to be associated with longer DRX cycles, where the wireless device 130 may wake up less frequently. The wireless device 130 may be configured with both short DRX and long DRX and a transition between the two states. For example, if the wireless device 130 is in long DRX mode and detects data during the ON period of the long DRX, the wirelessdevice 130 may switch to DRX short mode. In a similar way, if the wireless device 130 is in a DRX short mode and does not detect any data for a while, it may switch to DRX long mode. Here, for instance, if signals with an energy above a predefined threshold, for instance X dB, e.g., X=-10 dB, are detected by the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130, no DRX may be used for the energy detector 160. Then, the wireless device 130 may start the first timer, whose parameters may be configured by the first network node 111, and if no more signal with energy above the predefined threshold, that is, the second threshold is detected, the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 may enter a short DRX cycle with frequent monitoring of the received signals. Then, if N=1, 2, ... of the short DRX cycles of the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 may pass and no signal with high energy may be detected e.g., N may be to be configured by the first network node 111 , the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 may enter a long DRX cycle.

[0130] According to yet another option, the one or more conditions may comprise the main receiver 170 entering one of the second long cycle and the second short cycle.

[0131] According to a further option, the one or more conditions may comprise the main receiver 170 becoming one of: active and inactive.

[0132] In another example, the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 may become active as soon as the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130 may become active.

[0133] In another example, the wireless device 130 may be indicated implicitly or explicitly whether it may have to, or not, monitor the channel variations, etc. via the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 during the inactive periods of the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130. In such cases, the wireless device 130 may not be explicitly configured by on-periods, DRX cycles or start offsets, but they may be understood implicitly from the DRX parameters of the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130. Such implicit rules may need to be captured in standardization.

[0134] According to yet another option, the one or more conditions may comprise a period of time wherein the applying 503 may have to be performed.

[0135] In yet one example, the wireless device 130 may be configured such that the energy detector 160 and / or the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130 may remain active in specific periods, e.g., for monitoring the periodic DL-RSs.

[0136] According to yet another option, the one or more conditions may comprise a DRX configuration of the energy detector 160.

[0137] It may be noted that the DRX configuration of the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130 may be adapted according to the DRX configuration of the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130, or the other way around. For instance, given that the energy detector 160 is active for some periods, the main receiver 170 may be configured with longer DRX cycles. However, how to determine the DRX configurations, e.g., the on-periods, DRX cycles and DRXstart offsets associated with the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130, may be understood to be internal implementation of the first network node 111 and may be understood to be out of the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein.

[0138] By applying the first mode of operation and the second mode operation, the wireless device 130 may then be enabled to monitor the beam pair link between the first network node 111, e.g., the TRP, and wireless device 130 while the wireless device 130 may be in an energy saving mode in the next Action 504.

[0139] Action 504

[0140] In this Action 504, the wireless device 130 monitors the one or more beams 120 of one of: the wireless device 130 and the first network node 111 during an off-period of a DRX cycle of the wireless device 130. The off-period of the DRX cycle corresponds to the first mode of operation of the main receiver 170 and the monitoring in this Action 504 is performed by the energy detector 160 and according to the second mode of operation of the energy detector 160. The first mode of operation and the second mode of operation are comprised in the one or more modes of operation indicated by the obtained one or more indications in Action 502.

[0141] That the off-period of the DRX cycle corresponds to the first mode of operation of the main receiver 170 may be understood to mean that the off-period during which the monitoring may be understood to be performed in this Action 504, may be the off-period of the DRX cycle of the main receiver 170.

[0142] That the monitoring in this Action 504 is performed by the energy detector 160 and according the second mode of operation of the energy detector 160 may comprise that the monitoring in this Action 504 may performed, during an ON period of the second mode of operation of the energy detector 160, or, if there is no such ON period configured in the second mode, according to at least a first parameter of the one or more of the one or more respective parameters of the energy detector 160.

[0143] During the on-period of the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130, the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 may monitor the incoming signals to, e.g., perform at least part of the beam management procedure, e.g., P1, P2 or P3 procedures.

[0144] According to the foregoing, with the embodiments described herein, the architecture of advanced wireless devices 130 may be exploited to improve their energy efficiency while monitoring the channel variations during the off-periods of the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130. Such a setup may be understood to be of interest in energy-hungry wireless devices 130 operating in, e.g., Frequency 2 (FR2), Frequency 3 (FR3) or sub-THz bands, where the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130 may remain inactive for long periods.

[0145] By monitoring, with the energy detector 160, the one or more beams 120 during the off-period of the DRX cycle of the first mode of operation of the main receiver 170, the wirelessdevice 130 may be enabled to monitor the beam pair link between the first network node 111, e.g., the TRP, and wireless device 130 while the wireless device 130 may be in an energy saving mode. This may in turn enable to reduce the length of on-duration periods of DRX cycles, which may reduce the energy consumption of the wireless device 130, as well as reduce the latency when the wireless device 130 may have data to transmit and / or receive during an on-period, since the need for additional beam sweep procedures before data transmission and / or reception during the DRX on-period may be reduced. Such a method may be of interest in advanced UEs operating in, e.g., FR2, FR3, or sub-THz bands. In this way, embodiments herein may be understood to address one of the topics of interest for 6G.

[0146] Action 505

[0147] In this Action 505, wireless device 130 may select a first beam 121, out of the one or more beams 120 and a beam being currently used, based on the monitoring.

[0148] Accordingly, when the wireless device 130 may become active, the wireless device 130 may inform the first network node 111 about the information it may have obtained via the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 during the off-period of the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130. For instance, the wireless device 130 may provide the first network node 111 with information about beam measurements which may be understood to simplify the upcoming P1-P3 beam management procedures.

[0149] By selecting the first beam 121 based on the monitoring performed in Action 504, the wireless device 130 may enable to reduce the length of on-duration periods of DRX cycles, which may reduce the energy consumption of the wireless device 130, as well as reduce the latency when the wireless device 130 may have data to transmit and / or receive during an on-period, since the need for additional beam sweep procedures before data transmission and / or reception during the DRX on-period may be reduced. Such a method may be of interest in advanced UEs operating in, e.g., FR2, FR3, or sub-THz bands. In this way, embodiments herein may be understood to address one of the topics of interest for6G.

[0150] Embodiments of a method, performed by the first network node 111 will now be described with reference to the flowchart depicted in Figure 6. The method may be understood to be for handling modes of operation. The first network node 111 operates in the wireless communications network 100. The method may be understood to be computer-implemented.

[0151] In some examples, the wireless communications network 100 may support at least one of: NR and NB-loT.

[0152] Several embodiments are comprised herein. It should be noted that the examples herein may be not mutually exclusive. One or more embodiments may be combined, whereapplicable. All possible combinations are not described to simplify the description.

[0153] 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. A non-limiting example of the method performed by the first network node 111 is depicted in Figure 6. The detailed description of some of the following corresponds to the same references provided above, in relation to the actions described for the wireless device 130, and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the one or more indications may be, or may be comprised in, a capability report.

[0154] Action 601

[0155] In this Action 601 , the first network node 111 may obtain the one or more first indications from the wireless device 130. The one or more indications may indicate the one or more capabilities of the wireless device 130 with respect to the one or more of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170.

[0156] In some embodiments, the one or more capabilities may comprise one or more of the following options.

[0157] According to one option, the one or more capabilities may comprise the presence of the energy detector 160.

[0158] According to another option, the one or more capabilities may comprise the one or more properties of the energy detector 160.

[0159] According to yet another option, the one or more capabilities may comprise the first capability of energy detection when the main receiver 170 may be inactive.

[0160] According to a further option, the one or more capabilities may comprise the ON / OFF switching delays of one or more of: the main receiver 170 and the energy detector 160.

[0161] According to another option, the one or more capabilities may comprise the second capability to switch ON / OFF the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 separately or not.

[0162] According to yet another option, the one or more capabilities may comprise the supported DRX modes of operation by one or more of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170.

[0163] According to another option, the one or more capabilities may comprise the supported set of DRX cycle lengths corresponding to one or more of: the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170.

[0164] According to yet another option, the one or more capabilities may comprise the supported beam sweep procedures using the energy detector 160.

[0165] Action 602In this Action 602, the first network node 111 may determine the one or more second indications, based on the received one or more first indications. The one or more second indications may indicate the one or more modes of operation corresponding, jointly or separately, to the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130.

[0166] Determining may be understood as calculating, deriving, estimating or similar.

[0167] The one or more second indications may indicate the one or more respective one or more parameters of the respective DRX mode of operation of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170. The respective DRX mode of operation of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 may be a respective C-DRX mode, e.g., a first mode of C-DRX operation of the main receiver 170 and a second mode of C-DRX operation of the energy detector 160.

[0168] The respective one or more parameters may comprise one or more of: the respective on-periods, the respective off-periods, the respective DRX cycles, and the respective DRX start offsets.

[0169] In some embodiments, one or more of the respective one or more parameters may be one of: common, and overlapping for the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170.

[0170] The DRX configurations of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130 may be determined by the network node 110 based on one or more of: the information about the environment of the network node 110, the information of the network node 110 about the data traffic with the wireless device 130 or other wireless devices 130 in the area, the capability report of the wireless device 130 received in Action 601, the probable Artificial Intelligence (AI)ZMachine Learning (ML) model used at the wireless device 130 and / or the network node 110 side, etc.

[0171] Action 603

[0172] In this Action 603, the first network node 111 sends the one or more indications indicating the one or more modes of operation corresponding, jointly or separately, to the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130.

[0173] The one or more indications may be the one or more second indications.

[0174] The sending of the one or more second indications may be based on the received one or more first indications.

[0175] Action 604

[0176] In this Action 604, the first network node 111 may transmit the one or more beams 120 based on the received one or more first indications.

[0177] The transmitting in this Action 604 may be further based on the one or more conditions being met.In some embodiments, the one or more conditions may comprise one or more of the following options.

[0178] According to one option, the one or more conditions may comprise the interference from the neighboring cell 125 having the relationship with respect to the first threshold.

[0179] According to another option, the one or more conditions may comprise the first timer running out. The first timer may count down entrance to the first short DRX cycle of the energy detector 160 with the proviso no signal above the second threshold may have been detected.

[0180] According yet another option, the one or more conditions may comprise the second timer running out. The second timer may count down entrance to the second short DRX cycle of the main receiver 170 with the proviso no signal above the third threshold may have been detected.

[0181] According to a further option, the one or more conditions may comprise the third timer running out. The third timer may switch between the first short DRX cycle and the first long DRX cycle of the energy detector 160.

[0182] According to yet another option, the one or more conditions may comprise the fourth timer running out. The fourth timer may switch between the second short DRX cycle and the second long DRX cycle of the main receiver 170.

[0183] According to another option, the one or more conditions may comprise the number of DRX cycles of the energy detector 160 having passed.

[0184] According to yet another option, the one or more conditions may comprise the main receiver 170 entering one of the second long cycle and the second short cycle, According to a further option, the one or more conditions may comprise the main receiver 170 becoming one of: active and inactive.

[0185] According to yet another option, the one or more conditions may comprise the period of time wherein the transmitting 604 may have to be performed

[0186] According to yet another option, the one or more conditions may comprise the DRX configuration of the energy detector 160.

[0187] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a non-limiting example of a DRX period according to existing methods. This may be understood to illustrate a general scenario related to DRX configuration, where a UE may be configured with a DRX cycle period and an ON duration during which the UE may wake up for monitoring the DL control channel, performing beam measurement and / or performing any other communication with the network (NW).

[0188] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a non-limiting example of different DRX configurations of the main receiver 170 and the energy detector 160 of the wireless device130. In one example, prior to configuring the wireless device 130 with different modes of operations, the network node 110 may receive, according to Action 501 and Action 601 , a report about the capabilities of the wireless device 130. Based on the received capability reports and the predicted data traffic, etc., the first network node 111 may, according to Action 502 and Action 602, configure the wireless device 130 with different DRX modes of operation associated with the main receiver 170 and the energy detector 160. According to Action 503, the wireless device 130 may switch to different modes of operations in the main receiver 170 and the energy detector 160 based on the received configurations, the data traffic, detected energies, etc. In one example, the wireless device 130 may be provided, in Action 502, with different on-periods, DRX cycles and DRX start offsets associated with the energy detector 160 and the main receiver of the wireless device 130. In another example, one or more of the on-periods, DRX cycles or DRX start offsets may be common for the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130. For instance, the wireless device 130 may be configured with a single DRX start offset value associated with both the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130, while different on-periods and DRX cycles may be provided for the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130. In another example, the wireless device 130 may be configured with the same DRX cycles of energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130, while the on-periods and the DRX start offset values may be different for the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130.

[0189] Certain embodiments disclosed herein may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s), which may be summarized as follows. Embodiments herein, may be understood to enable configuration of the wireless device 130 with different modes of operations associated with the energy detector 160 of the wireless device 130 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130, so that the wireless device 130 may monitor the beam pair link between the first network node 111, e.g., the TRP, and wireless device 130 while the wireless device 130 may be in an energy saving mode. This may enable to reduce the length of on-duration periods of DRX cycles, which may reduce the energy consumption of the wireless device 130, as well as reduce the latency when the wireless device 130 may have data to transmit and / or receive during an on-period, since the need for additional beam sweep procedures before data transmission and / or reception during the DRX on-period may be reduced. Such a method may be of interest in advanced UEs operating in, e.g., FR2, FR3, or sub-THz bands. In this way, embodiments herein may be understood to address one of the topics of interest for 6G.Figure 9 depicts an example of the arrangement that the wireless device 130 may comprise to perform the method actions described above in relation to Figure 5 and / or Figure 8. The wireless device 130 may be configured to handle modes of operation. The wireless device 130 may be configured to operate in the wireless communications network 100.

[0190] In some examples, the wireless communications network 100 may be configured to support at least one of: NR and NB-loT.

[0191] 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.

[0192] 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 wireless device 130 and will thus not be repeated here. For example, the one or more indications may be configured to be, or may be configured to be comprised in, a capability report.

[0193] The wireless device 130 is configured to obtain the one or more indications configured to indicate the one or more modes of operation configured to correspond, jointly or separately, to the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130.

[0194] The wireless device 130 is also configured to monitor the one or more beams 120 of one of: the wireless device 130 and the first network node 111 during the off-period of the DRX cycle of the wireless device 130. The off-period of the DRX cycle is configured to correspond to the first mode of operation of the main receiver 170 and the monitoring is configured to correspond to the second mode of operation of the energy detector 160. The first mode of operation and the second mode of operation are configured to be comprised in the one or more modes of operation configured to be indicated by the one or more indications configured to be obtained.

[0195] In some embodiments, the one or more indications may be configured to indicate the one or more respective parameters of the respective DRX mode of operation of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170. The respective DRX mode of operation of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 may be configured to be a respective C-DRX mode, e.g., a first mode of C-DRX operation of the main receiver 170 and a second mode of C-DRX operation of the energy detector 160.

[0196] In some embodiments, the respective one or more parameters may be configured to comprise one or more of: the respective on-periods, the respective off-periods, the respective DRX cycles, and the respective DRX start offsets.In some embodiments, one or more of the one or more respective parameters may be configured to be one of: common, and overlapping for the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170.

[0197] In some embodiments, the wireless device 130 may be further configured with one or more of the following three configurations.

[0198] In some embodiments, the wireless device 130 may be further configured to send the one or more first indications to the first network node 111 configured to indicate the one or more capabilities of the wireless device 130 with respect to the one or more of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170. The one or more indications may be configured to be the one or more second indications. The obtaining of the one or more second indications may be configured to be based on the one or more first indications configured to be sent.

[0199] In some embodiments, the wireless device 130 may be further configured to apply the first mode of operation and the second mode operation based on the one or more indications configured to be obtained.

[0200] In some embodiments, the wireless device 130 may be further configured to select the first beam 121, out of the one or more beams 120 and the beam being configured to be currently used 124, based on the monitoring.

[0201] In some embodiments, the one or more capabilities may be configured to comprise one or more of: the presence of the energy detector 160, the one or more properties of the energy detector 160, the first capability of energy detection when the main receiver 170 is inactive, the ON / OFF switching delays of one or more of: the main receiver 170 and the energy detector 160, the second capability to switch ON / OFF the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 separately or not, the supported DRX modes of operation by one or more of: the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170, the supported set of DRX cycle lengths configured to correspond to one or more of: the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170, and the supported beam sweep procedures configured to use the energy detector 160.

[0202] In some embodiments, the applying may be configured to be further based on the one or more conditions being met.

[0203] In some embodiments, the one or more conditions may be configured to comprise one or more of: i) the interference from the neighboring cell 122 having the relationship with respect to the first threshold, ii) the first timer running out, the first timer being configured to count own entrance to the first short DRX cycle of the energy detector 160 with the proviso no signal above the second threshold is configured to have been detected, iii) the second timer running out, the second timer counting down entrance to the second short DRX cycle of the main receiver 170 with the proviso no signal above the third threshold is configured to have been detected, iv) the third timer running out, the third timer being configured to switch between the first short DRX cycle and the first long DRX cycle of the energy detector 160, v) the fourthtimer running out, the fourth timer being configured to switch between the second short DRX cycle and the second long DRX cycle of the main receiver 170, vi) the number of DRX cycles of the energy detector 160 having passed, vii) the main receiver 170 entering one of the second long cycle and the second short cycle, viii) the main receiver 170 becoming one of: active and inactive, ix) the period of time wherein the applying may be configured to be performed, and x) the DRX configuration of the energy detector 160.

[0204] The embodiments herein in the wireless device 130 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processing circuitry 901 in the wireless device 130 depicted in Figure 9, 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 wireless device 130. 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 wireless device 130.

[0205] The processing circuitry 901 may be configured to, or operable to, perform the method actions according to Figure 5.

[0206] The wireless device 130 may further comprise a memory 902 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 902 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 wireless device 130.

[0207] In some embodiments, the wireless device 130 may receive information from, e.g., the first network node 111 , the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100, through a receiving port 903. In some embodiments, the receiving port 903 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in the wireless device 130. Since the receiving port 903 may be in communication with the processing circuitry 901 , the receiving port 903 may then send the received information to the processing circuitry 901. The receiving port 903 may also be configured to receive other information.

[0208] The processing circuitry 901 in the wireless device 130 may be further configured to transmit or send information to e.g., the first network node 111 , the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100, through a sending port 904, which may be in communication with the processing circuitry 901 , and the memory 902.

[0209] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the processing circuitry 901 described above may comprise a combination of analog and digital modules, and / or one or moreprocessors 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 901 , 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).

[0210] The wireless device 130 may be configured to perform any of the Actions described in relation to Figure 5 and / or Figure 8, e.g., by means of the processing circuitry 901 within the wireless device 130, configured to perform any of such actions.

[0211] Also, in some embodiments, different units comprised within the wireless device 130 may be configured to perform the different actions described above, implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 901.

[0212] Thus, the methods according to the embodiments described herein for the wireless device 130 may be respectively implemented by means of a computer program 905 product, comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 901 , cause the at least one processing circuitry 901 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the wireless device 130. The computer program 905 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 906. The computer-readable storage medium 906, having stored thereon the computer program 905, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 901, cause the at least one processing circuitry 901 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the wireless device 130. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium 906 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 905 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 905 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the computer-readable storage medium 906, as described above.

[0213] The wireless device 130 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the wireless device 130 and other network nodes or devices, e.g., the first network node 111 , the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 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.

[0214] In other embodiments, the wireless device 130 may also comprise a radio circuitry 907, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 903 and the sending port 904. The radio circuitry 907 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 virtual node 113, or another networknode, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0215] Hence, embodiments herein also relate to the wireless device 130 comprising the processing circuitry 901 and the memory 902, said memory 902 containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry 901 , whereby the wireless device 130 is operative to perform the actions described herein in relation to the wireless device 130, e.g., in Figure 5 and / or Figure 8.

[0216] Figure 10 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. The first network node 111 may be understood to be configured to handle carrier aggregation. The first network node 111 may be configured to operate in the wireless communications network 100.

[0217] In some examples, the wireless communications network 100 may be configured to support at least one of: NR and NB-loT.

[0218] 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.

[0219] 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 one or more indications may be configured to be, or may be configured to be comprised in, a capability report.

[0220] The first network node 111 is configured to send, to the wireless device 130, the one or more indications configured to indicate the one or more modes of operation configured to correspond, jointly or separately, to the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 of the wireless device 130.

[0221] In some embodiments, the one or more indications may be configured to indicate the one or more respective parameters of the respective DRX mode of operation of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170. The respective DRX mode of operation of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 may be configured to be a respective C-DRX mode, e.g., a first mode of C-DRX operation of the main receiver 170 and a second mode of C-DRX operation of the energy detector 160.

[0222] In some embodiments, the respective one or more parameters may be configured to comprise one or more of: the respective on-periods, the respective off-periods, the respective DRX cycles, and the respective DRX start offsets.In some embodiments, one or more of the one or more respective parameters may be configured to be one of: common, and overlapping for the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170.

[0223] In some embodiments, the wireless device 130 may be further configured with one or more of the following three configurations.

[0224] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured to obtain the one or more first indications from the wireless device 130, configured to indicate the one or more capabilities of the wireless device 130 with respect to the one or more of the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170. The one or more indications may be configured to be the one or more second indications. The sending of the one or more second indications may be configured to be based on the one or more first indications configured to be received.

[0225] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured to determine the one or more second indications, based on the one or more first indications configured to be received.

[0226] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may be further configured to transmit the one or more beams 120 based on the one or more first indications configured to be received.

[0227] In some embodiments, the one or more capabilities may be configured to comprise one or more of: the presence of the energy detector 160, the one or more properties of the energy detector 160, the first capability of energy detection when the main receiver 170 is inactive, the ON / OFF switching delays of one or more of: the main receiver 170 and the energy detector 160, the second capability to switch ON / OFF the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170 separately or not, the supported DRX modes of operation by one or more of: the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170, the supported set of DRX cycle lengths configured to correspond to one or more of: the energy detector 160 and the main receiver 170, and the supported beam sweep procedures configured to use the energy detector 160.

[0228] In some embodiments, the transmitting may be configured to be further based on the one or more conditions being met.

[0229] In some embodiments, the one or more conditions may be configured to comprise one or more of: i) the interference from the neighboring cell 122 having the relationship with respect to the first threshold, ii) the first timer running out, the first timer being configured to count own entrance to the first short DRX cycle of the energy detector 160 with the proviso no signal above the second threshold is configured to have been detected, iii) the second timer running out, the second timer being configured to count down entrance to the second short DRX cycle of the main receiver 170 with the proviso no signal above the third threshold is configured to have been detected, iv) the third timer running out, the third timer being configured to switch between the first short DRX cycle and the first long DRX cycle of the energy detector 160, v)the fourth timer running out, the fourth timer being configured to switch between the second short DRX cycle and the second long DRX cycle of the main receiver 170, vi) the number of DRX cycles of the energy detector 160 having passed, vii) the main receiver 170 entering one of the second long cycle and the second short cycle, viii) the main receiver 170 becoming one of: active and inactive, ix) the period of time wherein the transmitting may be configured to be performed, and x) the DRX configuration of the energy detector 160.

[0230] The embodiments herein in the first network node 111 may be implemented through one or more processors, such as a processing circuitry 1001 in the first network node 111 depicted in Figure 10, 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.

[0231] The processing circuitry 1001 may be configured to, or operable to, perform the method actions according to Figure 6.

[0232] The first network node 111 may further comprise a memory 1002 comprising one or more memory units. The memory 1002 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.

[0233] In some embodiments, the first network node 111 may receive information from, e.g., the wireless device 130, the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100, through a receiving port 1003. In some embodiments, the receiving port 1003 may be, for example, connected to one or more antennas in first network node 111. Since the receiving port 1003 may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1001, the receiving port 1003 may then send the received information to the processing circuitry 1001. The receiving port 1003 may also be configured to receive other information.

[0234] The processing circuitry 1001 in the first network node 111 may be further configured to transmit or send information to e.g., the wireless device 130, the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100, through a sending port 1004, which may be in communication with the processing circuitry 1001, and the memory 1002.

[0235] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the processing circuitry 1001 described above may comprise a combination of analog and digital modules, and / or one or moreprocessors 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 1001 , 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).

[0236] The first network node 111 may be configured to perform any of the Actions described in relation to Figure 6, e.g., by means of the processing circuitry 1001 within the first network node 111, configured to perform any of such actions.

[0237] Also, in some embodiments, different units comprised within the first network node 111 may be configured to perform the different actions described above, implemented as one or more applications running on one or more processors such as the processing circuitry 1001.

[0238] 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 1005 product, comprising instructions, i.e., software code portions, which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1001 , cause the at least one processing circuitry 1001 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the first network node 111. The computer program 1005 product may be stored on a computer-readable storage medium 1006. The computer-readable storage medium 1006, having stored thereon the computer program 1005, may comprise instructions which, when executed on at least one processing circuitry 1001, cause the at least one processing circuitry 1001 to carry out the actions described herein, as performed by the first network node 111. In some embodiments, the computer-readable storage medium 1006 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 1005 product may be stored on a carrier containing the computer program 1005 just described, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or the computer-readable storage medium 1006, as described above.

[0239] The first network node 111 may comprise a communication interface configured to facilitate communications between the first network node 111 and other network nodes or devices, e.g., the wireless device 130, the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, or another network node, device or structure in the wireless communications network 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.

[0240] In other embodiments, the first network node 111 may also comprise a radio circuitry 1007, which may comprise e.g., the receiving port 1003 and the sending port 1004. The radio circuitry 1007 may be configured to set up and maintain at least a wireless connection with the wireless device 130, the second network node 112, the virtual node 113, or another networknode, device or structure in the wireless communications network 100. Circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0241] Hence, embodiments herein also relate to the first network node 111 comprising the processing circuitry 1001 and the memory 1002, said memory 1002 containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry 1001 , 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.

[0242] When using the word "comprise" or “comprising”, it shall be interpreted as non- limiting, i.e., meaning "consist at least of'.

[0243] The embodiments herein are not limited to the above-described preferred embodiments. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used. Therefore, the above embodiments should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0244] 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.

[0245] 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.

[0246] Any of the terms processor and circuitry may be understood herein as a hardware component.

[0247] As used herein, the expression “in some embodiments” has been used to indicate that the features of the embodiment described may be combined with any other embodiment or example disclosed herein.As used herein, the expression “in some examples” has been used to indicate that the features of the example described may be combined with any other embodiment or example disclosed herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method performed by a wireless device (130), the method being for handling modes of operation, the wireless device (130) operating in a wireless communications network (100), and the method comprising:- obtaining (502) one or more indications indicating one or more modes of operation corresponding, jointly or separately, to an energy detector (160) and a main receiver (170) of the wireless device (130), and- monitoring (504) one or more beams (120) of one of: the wireless device (130) and a first network node (111) during an off-period of a discontinuous reception, DRX, cycle of the wireless device (130), wherein the off-period of the DRX cycle corresponds to a first mode of operation of the main receiver (170) and the monitoring (504) is performed by the energy detector (160) and according a second mode of operation of the energy detector (160), the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation being comprised in the one or more modes of operation indicated by the obtained one or more indications.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the one or more indications indicate one or more respective parameters of a respective DRX mode of operation of the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the respective one or more parameters comprise one or more of:- respective on-periods,- respective off-periods,- respective DRX cycles, and- respective DRX start offsets.

4. The method according to any of claims 2-3, wherein one or more of the one or more respective parameters are one of: common, and overlapping for the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170).

5. The method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein method further comprises one or more of:- sending (501) one or more first indications to the first network node (111) indicating one or more capabilities of the wireless device (130) with respect to one or more of the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170), whereinthe one or more indications are one or more second indications, and wherein the obtaining of the one or more second indications is based on the sent one or more first indications,- applying (503) the first mode of operation and the second mode operation based on the obtained one or more indications, and- selecting (505) a first beam (121), out of the one or more beams (120) and a beam being currently used (124), based on the monitoring.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the one or more capabilities comprise one or more of:- a presence of the energy detector (160),- one or more properties of the energy detector (160),- a first capability of energy detection when the main receiver (170) is inactive, - ON / OFF switching delays of one or more of: the main receiver (170) and the energy detector (160),- a second capability to switch ON / OFF the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170) separately or not,- supported DRX modes of operation by one or more of: the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170),- supported set of DRX cycle lengths corresponding to one or more of: the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170), and- supported beam sweep procedures using the energy detector (160).

7. The method according to any of claims 5-6, wherein the applying (503) is further based on one or more conditions being met.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the one or more conditions comprise one or more of:i. interference from a neighboring cell (122) having a relationship with respect to a first threshold,ii. a first timer running out, the first timer counting down entrance to a first short DRX cycle of the energy detector (160) with the proviso no signal above a second threshold has been detected,Hi. a second timer running out, the second timer counting down entrance to a second short DRX cycle of the main receiver (170) with the proviso no signal above a third threshold has been detected,iv. a third timer running out, the third timer switching between the first short DRX cycle and a first long DRX cycle of the energy detector (160), v. a fourth timer running out, the fourth timer switching between the second short DRX cycle and a second long DRX cycle of the main receiver (170),vi. a number of DRX cycles of the energy detector (160) having passed, vii. the main receiver (170) entering one of the second long cycle and the second short cycle,viii. the main receiver (170) becoming one of: active and inactive, ix. a period of time wherein the applying (503) is to be performed, and x. a DRX configuration of the energy detector (160).

9. A method performed by a first network node (111), the method being for handling modes of operation, the first network node (111) operating in a wireless communications network (100), and the method comprising:- sending (603), to a wireless device (130), one or more indications indicating one or more modes of operation corresponding, jointly or separately, to an energy detector (160) and a main receiver (170) of the wireless device (130).

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the one or more indications indicate one or more respective one or more parameters of a respective discontinuous reception, DRX, mode of operation of the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the respective one or more parameters comprise one or more of:- respective on-periods,- respective off-periods,- respective DRX cycles, and- respective DRX start offsets.

12. The method according to any of claims 10-11, wherein one or more of the respective one or more parameters are one of: common, and overlapping for the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170).

13. The method according to any of claims 9-12, wherein method further comprises one or more of:- obtaining (601) one or more first indications from the wireless device (130), indicating one or more capabilities of the wireless device (130) with respect to one or more of the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170), wherein the one or more indications are one or more second indications, and wherein the sending of the one or more second indications is based on the received one or more first indications,- determining (602) the one or more second indications, based on the received one or more first indications, and- transmitting (604) the one or more beams (120) based on the received one or more first indications.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the one or more capabilities comprise one or more of:- a presence of the energy detector (160),- one or more properties of the energy detector (160),- a first capability of energy detection when the main receiver (170) is inactive, - ON / OFF switching delays of one or more of; the main receiver (170) and the energy detector (160),- a second capability to switch ON / OFF the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170) separately or not,- supported DRX modes of operation by one or more of: the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170),- supported set of DRX cycle lengths configured to correspond to one or more of:the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170), and- supported beam sweep procedures configured to use the energy detector (160).

15. The method according to any of claims 13-14, wherein the transmitting (604) is further based on one or more conditions being met.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the one or more conditions comprise one or more of:i. interference from a neighboring cell (122) having a relationship with respect to a first threshold,ii. a first timer running out, the first timer counting down entrance to a first short DRX cycle of the energy detector (160) with the proviso no signal above a second threshold has been detected,iii. a second timer running out, the second timer counting down entrance to a second short DRX cycle of the main receiver (170) with the proviso no signal above a third threshold has been detected,iv. a third timer running out, the third timer switching between the first short DRX cycle and a first long DRX cycle of the energy detector (160), v. a fourth timer running out, the fourth time switching between the second short DRX cycle and a second long DRX cycle of the main receiver (170),vi. a number of DRX cycles of the energy detector (160) having passed, vii. the main receiver (170) entering one of the second long cycle and the second short cycle,viii. the main receiver (170) becoming one of: active and inactive, ix. a period of time wherein the transmitting (604) is to be performed, and x. a DRX configuration of the energy detector (160).

17. A wireless device (130), for handling modes of operation, the wireless device (130) being configured to operate in a wireless communications network (100), and the wireless device (130) being further configured to:- obtain one or more indications configured to indicate one or more modes of operation configured to correspond, jointly or separately, to an energy detector (160) and a main receiver (170) of the wireless device (130), and- monitor one or more beams (120) of one of: the wireless device (130) and a first network node (111) during an off-period of a Discontinuous Reception, DRX, cycle of the wireless device (130), wherein the off-period of the DRX cycle is configured to correspond to a first mode of operation of the main receiver (170) and the monitoring is configured to correspond to a second mode of operation of the energy detector (160), the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation being configured to be comprised in the one or more modes of operation configured to be indicated by the one or more indications configured to be obtained.

18. The wireless device (130) according to claim 17, wherein the one or more indications are configured to indicate one or more respective parameters of a respective DRX mode of operation of the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170).

19. The wireless device (130) according to claim 18, wherein the respective one or more parameters are configured to comprise one or more of:- respective on-periods,- respective off-periods,- respective DRX cycles, and- respective DRX start offsets.

20. The wireless device (130) according to any of claims 18-19, wherein one or more of the one or more respective parameters are configured to be one of: common, and overlapping for the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170).

21. The wireless device (130) according to any of claims 17-20, wherein wireless device (130) is further configured to one or more of:- send one or more first indications to the first network node (111) configured to indicate one or more capabilities of the wireless device (130) with respect to one or more of the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170), wherein the one or more indications are configured to be one or more second indications, and wherein the obtaining of the one or more second indications is configured to be based on the one or more first indications configured to be sent,- apply the first mode of operation and the second mode operation based on the one or more indications configured to be obtained, and- select a first beam (121), out of the one or more beams (120) and a beam being configured to be currently used (124), based on the monitoring.

22. The wireless device (130) according to claim 21, wherein the one or more capabilities are configured to comprise one or more of:- a presence of the energy detector (160),- one or more properties of the energy detector (160),- a first capability of energy detection when the main receiver (170) is inactive, - ON / OFF switching delays of one or more of: the main receiver (170) and the energy detector (160),- a second capability to switch ON / OFF the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170) separately or not,- supported DRX modes of operation by one or more of: the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170),- supported set of DRX cycle lengths configured to correspond to one or more of:the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170), andsupported beam sweep procedures configured to use the energy detector (160).

23. The wireless device (130) according to any of claims 21-22, wherein the applying is configured to be further based on one or more conditions being met.

24. The wireless device (130) according to claim 23, wherein the one or more conditions are configured to comprise one or more of:i. interference from a neighboring cell (122) having a relationship with respect to a first threshold,ii. a first timer running out, the first timer being configured to count down entrance to a first short DRX cycle of the energy detector (160) with the proviso no signal above a second threshold is configured to have been detected,Hi. a second timer running out, the second timer being configured to count down entrance to a second short DRX cycle of the main receiver (170) with the proviso no signal above a third threshold is configured to have been detected,iv. a third timer running out, the third timer being configured to switch between the first short DRX cycle and a first long DRX cycle of the energy detector (160),v. a fourth timer running out, the fourth timer being configured to switch between the second short DRX cycle and a second long DRX cycle of the main receiver (170),vi. a number of DRX cycles of the energy detector (160) having passed, vii. the main receiver (170) entering one of the second long cycle and the second short cycle,viii. the main receiver (170) becoming one of: active and inactive, ix. a period of time wherein the applying is configured to be performed, and x. a DRX configuration of the energy detector (160).

25. A first network node (111) performed by a first network node (111), the first network node (111) being for handling modes of operation, the first network node (111) being configured to operate in a wireless communications network (100), and the first network node (111) being further configured to:- send, to a wireless device (130), one or more indications configured to indicate one or more modes of operation configured to correspond, jointly or separately,to an energy detector (160) and a main receiver (170) of the wireless device (130).

26. The first network node (111) according to claim 25, wherein the one or more indications are configured to indicate one or more respective one or more parameters of a respective discontinuous reception, DRX, mode of operation of the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170).

27. The first network node (111) according to claim 26, wherein the respective one or more parameters are configured to comprise one or more of:- respective on-periods,- respective off-periods,- respective DRX cycles, and- respective DRX start offsets.

28. The first network node (111) according to any of claims 26-27, wherein one or more of the respective one or more parameters are configured to be one of: common, and overlapping for the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170).

29. The first network node (111) according to any of claims 25-28, wherein first network node (111) is further configured to one or more of:- obtain one or more first indications from the wireless device (130), configured to indicate one or more capabilities of the wireless device (130) with respect to one or more of the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170), wherein the one or more indications are configured to be one or more second indications, and wherein the sending of the one or more second indications is configured to be based on the one or more first indications configured to be received,- determine the one or more second indications, based on the one or more first indications configured to be received, and- transmit the one or more beams (120) based on the one or more first indications configured to be received.

30. The first network node (111) according to claim 29, wherein the one or more capabilities are configured to comprise one or more of:- a presence of the energy detector (160),- one or more properties of the energy detector (160),- a first capability of energy detection when the main receiver (170) is inactive, - ON / OFF switching delays of one or more of; the main receiver (170) and the energy detector (160),- a second capability to switch ON / OFF the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170) separately or not,- supported DRX modes of operation by one or more of: the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170),- supported set of DRX cycle lengths corresponding to one or more of: the energy detector (160) and the main receiver (170), and- supported beam sweep procedures using the energy detector (160).

31. The first network node (111) according to any of claims 29-30, wherein the transmitting is further configured to be based on one or more conditions being met.

32. The first network node (111) according to claim 31 , wherein the one or more conditions are configured to comprise one or more of:i. interference from a neighboring cell (122) having a relationship with respect to a first threshold,ii. a first timer running out, the first timer being configured to count down entrance to a first short DRX cycle of the energy detector (160) with the proviso no signal above a second threshold is configured to have been detected,Hi. a second timer running out, the second timer being configured to count down entrance to a second short DRX cycle of the main receiver (170) with the proviso no signal above a third threshold is configured to have been detected,iv. a third timer running out, the third timer being configured to switch between the first short DRX cycle and a first long DRX cycle of the energy detector (160),v. a fourth timer running out, the fourth time being configured to switch between the second short DRX cycle and a second long DRX cycle of the main receiver (170),vi. a number of DRX cycles of the energy detector (160) having passed, vii. the main receiver (170) entering one of the second long cycle and the second short cycle,viii. the main receiver (170) becoming one of: active and inactive,ix. a period of time wherein the transmitting is configured to be performed, andx. a DRX configuration of the energy detector (160).

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