UE Capability Signaling for Leaner Aperiodic Trigger Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G NR systems, user equipment (UE) faces challenges in managing a large number of aperiodic channel state information reference signal (A-CSI-RS) trigger states, leading to increased memory and processing requirements due to the need to track multiple transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states for dynamic beam switching.
Innovation Solution
UEs indicate their capability for the number of supported aperiodic trigger states through radio resource control (RRC) or medium access control element (MAC-CE) signaling, allowing the base station to configure and activate a subset of trigger states within the UE's capability, thereby reducing the number of TCI states to be tracked.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the base station configures a large number of aperiodic trigger states (up to 128) to support dynamic beam switching, then the beam management capability and system flexibility are improved, but the UE's memory usage and processing requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the 128 configured trigger states into multiple groups, where only a subset (e.g., 8 or 16) are activated at any given time. The base station uses activation signaling to dynamically select which group of trigger states should be active, thereby segmenting the large state space into manageable portions that the UE can handle with limited memory and processing resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic activation of trigger states through base station signaling. The base station can dynamically activate or deactivate specific trigger states based on current beam management needs, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions while keeping the number of simultaneously active states within UE capability limits. This dynamic control enables flexible beam switching without permanently burdening the UE with all 128 states.
2Reliability
If the UE tracks multiple TCI states for all configured trigger states, then complete beam switching coverage is achieved, but power consumption and computational load increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary subset of TCI states that correspond to currently active trigger states. Instead of maintaining all possible TCI states in memory, the UE only tracks and processes the TCI states associated with the activated trigger states. This extraction approach ensures complete beam switching coverage for active states while reducing power consumption and computational load by eliminating unnecessary state tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the active/inactive parameter of trigger states dynamically. By modifying which trigger states are activated through base station signaling, the system adjusts the number of TCI states the UE must track. This parameter change enables the UE to maintain reliability for beam switching within the active subset while reducing energy consumption by not processing inactive states.
Data Source
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AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for a user equipment (UE) indication of a capability of the UE for the supported number trigger states. A method that may be performed by the UE includes providing an indication to a base station (BS) of a maximum number of aperiodic trigger states supported by the UE. The UE receives a configuration or activation of aperiodic trigger states from the BS in accordance with the indication. A method that may be performed by a BS includes receiving the indication from the UE and providing a configuration or activation of aperiodic trigger states to the UE in accordance with the indication.