Implicit TCI State Updates From gNB Beam Sweep Reports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face delays in updating Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states due to the reliance on Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) signaling, which is inadequate for fast beam updates, especially in scenarios involving high-speed devices and numerous narrow beams.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves implicitly updating one or several activated TCI states based on a new radio base station (gNB) beam sweep report signaled from the wireless communication device, allowing for faster TCI state updates by reducing the need for additional MAC CE activation messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If MAC CE signaling is used to update TCI states, then reliability of TCI state update is improved, but speed of TCI state update deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures multiple TCI states and their associations with SSB beams before actual beam updates are needed. When a beam update is required, the UE can immediately apply a pre-configured TCI state based on the SSB beam indication, eliminating the need for real-time MAC CE signaling and achieving fast beam switching while maintaining reliability through pre-validated configurations.
2Measurement precision
If MAC CE activation messages are used for TCI state updates, then accuracy of TCI state activation is improved, but time consumption for TCI state selection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the TCI state indication function from the MAC CE signaling layer and implements it directly through physical layer SSB beam indications. The UE maintains a pre-configured mapping between SSB beams and TCI states, allowing immediate application of the correct TCI state when an SSB beam is indicated, thereby eliminating MAC CE activation time while preserving activation accuracy through the pre-established mapping relationships.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for implicitly activating one or more Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states are provided. In some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless communication device for implicit TCI state activation includes sending a measurement report for one or more reference signals to a base station. The one or more reference signals are related to one or more TCI states, respectively. The method further includes activating at least one TCI state from among the one or more TCI states that are related to the one or more reference signals. In this way, the TCI state selection may be expedited and simplified because additional Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) activation message may be avoided.