Aperiodic SRS Triggering and Beam Management in New Radio

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 3GPP New Radio (NR) specifications do not adequately address the triggering and configuration of aperiodic SRS resource sets, particularly in cases involving non-codebook based transmissions and beam management, where spatial relationship information is not configured, leading to complexities in determining suitable transmit beams and PT-RS port indices.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves determining the minimal scheduling offset for aperiodic SRS triggering based on whether CSI-RS or spatial relationship information is configured, and providing mechanisms for PUSCH/PUCCH/SRS beam selection and UE assumptions for PT-RS port indices, ensuring appropriate beam management and resource configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If aperiodic SRS resource set triggering is implemented without spatial relationship information configuration, then flexibility in beam management is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional determination logic for scheduling offsets and beam selections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam management flexibilityVSAvoidtriggering and configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple SRS resource sets with different usage types (beam management, non-codebook based transmission, codebook based transmission) before actual triggering. The gNB prepares scheduling offset values and beam selection criteria in advance, so when an aperiodic SRS resource set is triggered without spatial relationship information, the UE can immediately use the pre-prepared configuration data without performing complex real-time determinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements self-service by enabling the UE to autonomously determine the appropriate scheduling offset and beam selection based on the usage type of the triggered SRS resource set. The UE uses the configured usage type information to self-determine the correct scheduling offset value and beam selection criteria without requiring additional gNB instructions, thereby reducing signaling overhead and simplifying the triggering mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If minimal scheduling offset determination is based on usage type configuration, then productivity of SRS triggering is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates when spatial relationship information is not available

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSRS triggering efficiencyVSAvoidbeam selection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by associating different scheduling offset values and beam selection criteria with specific usage types of SRS resource sets. Each usage type (beam management, non-codebook based transmission, codebook based transmission) has its own locally optimized scheduling offset and beam selection parameters. This allows the system to achieve high triggering efficiency for each specific use case while maintaining appropriate measurement precision through usage-type-specific configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple SRS resource sets with different usage types are configured, then adaptability of the system is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple configuration parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission type flexibilityVSAvoidconfiguration parameter management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by designing a unified SRS resource set configuration framework that accommodates multiple usage types (beam management, non-codebook based transmission, codebook based transmission) within a single configuration structure. The gNB configures SRS resource sets with usage type indicators, and the UE uses these unified configurations across different transmission scenarios, eliminating the need for separate configuration mechanisms for each transmission type and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3850776B1Device and method for sounding reference signal triggering and configuration in a new radio network
Publication Date: 2024.08.14 INTEL CORP
  • EP3850776B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3850776B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3850776B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device of a New Radio (NR) User Equipment (UE), a method and a machine readable medium to implement the method. The device includes a Radio Frequency (RF) interface, and processing circuitry coupled to the RF interface, the processing circuitry to: decode configuration information from a NR evolved Node B (gNodeB) regarding a spatial relationship for Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resources of an aperiodic SRS resource set; and encode a SRS signal for transmission to the gNodeB including information on the aperiodic SRS resource set, the SRS signal to be on a transmit (TX) beam that is based on the configuration information.