TCI State Switching for Periodic CSI-RS Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems face challenges in performing periodic CSI-RS reporting after a TCI state change due to the unavailability of suitable CSI-RS resources for measurements, as existing specifications do not allow periodic CSI-RS resources to follow UE-specific indicated TCI states, leading to inefficient beam management and reporting.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves maintaining a mapping between TCI states and periodic CSI-RS resources, enabling the identification of new CSI-RS resources associated with the new TCI state, allowing measurements and reporting to be performed within a predetermined time frame, and signaling the results to the network access node.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If periodic CSI-RS resources are not allowed to follow UE-specific indicated TCI states, then network configuration simplicity is maintained, but beam management efficiency deteriorates during TCI state changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the CSI-RS resource configuration into two parts: common periodic CSI-RS resources configured by network broadcast, and UE-specific TCI state indicators sent via downlink control information. This segmentation allows the network to maintain simple periodic resource configuration while enabling UE-specific beam management through dynamic TCI state indication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic TCI state indication through downlink control information that allows real-time switching of CSI-RS resource associations with different TCI states. This dynamic mechanism enables the system to adapt beam directions during operation without requiring complex reconfiguration of periodic CSI-RS resources, thereby improving beam management efficiency while maintaining configuration simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If TCI state switching is implemented without associated CSI-RS resource identification, then state transition flexibility is improved, but measurement capability deteriorates due to unavailable reference signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple TCI states with their associated periodic CSI-RS resources before state switching occurs. The network provides downlink control information that includes both the TCI state indication and the identification of associated CSI-RS resources in advance, ensuring that measurement capabilities are maintained during and after state transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces downlink control information as an intermediary that carries both TCI state indications and associated CSI-RS resource identifiers. This intermediary mechanism couples the abstract TCI state switching with concrete reference signal resources, enabling flexible state transitions while preserving measurement capability through the mediation of control information.
3Ease of operation
If CSI-RS resources are statically configured without dynamic TCI state association, then resource allocation simplicity is maintained, but reporting timeliness deteriorates during beam switches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains static periodic configuration of CSI-RS resources for operational simplicity while introducing dynamic TCI state association through downlink control information. This allows the system to quickly switch between different beam configurations by changing TCI state indications rather than reconfiguring resources, significantly reducing reporting delays during beam switches while keeping resource allocation simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the TCI state parameter associated with periodic CSI-RS resources through dynamic indication in downlink control information, rather than changing the resource configuration itself. This parameter change approach maintains the simplicity of static resource allocation while enabling rapid adaptation to different beam directions, thereby reducing time loss during beam switching events.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided an apparatus, method, and computer program for causing the apparatus to perform: obtaining, from a network access node, downlink control information comprising an indication to switch from an old transmission configuration indicator, TCI state to a new TCI state, wherein the new TCI state comprises a configuration identifying at least one new channel state information, CSI, reference signal resource(s) for periodic CSI reference signal reporting.