U.S. patent application number 15/705946 was filed with the patent office on 2019-03-21 for joint procedure for beam management and partial control beam failure recovery.
The applicant listed for this patent is AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.. Invention is credited to Salam Akoum, Arunabha Ghosh, Xiaoyi Wang.
Application Number | 20190090226 15/705946 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63686126 |
Filed Date | 2019-03-21 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190090226 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Xiaoyi ; et
al. |
March 21, 2019 |
JOINT PROCEDURE FOR BEAM MANAGEMENT AND PARTIAL CONTROL BEAM
FAILURE RECOVERY
Abstract
The described technology is generally directed towards a joint
procedure in wireless communications for reporting a partial beam
failure or performing beam management when no beams have failed.
The joint procedure reports the beam management reference signal
received power and control beam recovery on a common feedback
channel, which avoids the need for a reserved, dedicated feedback
channel resource for beam recovery. Also described is configuring a
possibly different failure threshold for each selected beam,
whereby the network can configure different beams to have different
reliability/quality-of-service levels for example.
Inventors: |
Wang; Xiaoyi; (Austin,
TX) ; Akoum; Salam; (Austin, TX) ; Ghosh;
Arunabha; (Austin, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. |
Atlanta |
GA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
63686126 |
Appl. No.: |
15/705946 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 28/18 20130101;
H04W 24/10 20130101; H04W 72/042 20130101; H04W 72/0406 20130101;
H04W 72/0413 20130101; H04B 7/0408 20130101; H04B 7/0617 20130101;
H04B 7/0695 20130101; H04L 5/0025 20130101; H04B 7/0619 20130101;
H04B 7/088 20130101; H04W 72/08 20130101; H04L 5/0048 20130101;
H04W 74/0833 20130101; H04B 17/318 20150115; H04B 7/063 20130101;
H04W 76/10 20180201; H04L 5/006 20130101; H04W 72/046 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 72/04 20060101
H04W072/04; H04W 24/10 20060101 H04W024/10; H04L 5/00 20060101
H04L005/00 |
Claims
1. A method, comprising: obtaining, by a user equipment comprising
a processor, threshold values, wherein the threshold values are
associated with respective beams of a selected control channel
search space; comparing, by the user equipment, respective measured
reference signal received power values of the respective beams with
the threshold values associated with the respective beams;
determining, by the user equipment, that a first measured reference
signal received power value of a first selected control channel
beam, of the respective measured reference signal received power
values of the respective beams, does not satisfy a first function
of a first threshold value associated with the first selected
control channel beam, and that a second measured reference signal
received power value of a second selected control channel beam, of
the respective measured reference signal received power values of
the respective beams, satisfies a second function of a second
threshold value associated with the second selected control channel
beam; and in response to the determining, reporting, by the user
equipment, a partial control beam failure to a network device.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, performing another
comparing of respective measured reference signal received power
values of the respective beams with the threshold values associated
with the respective beams, wherein in response to a result of a
determination being that, for each measured reference signal
received power value of each selected control channel beam, each
measured reference signal received power value of the selected
control channel beam has achieved the threshold value associated
with the selected control channel beam, performing a beam
management procedure comprising measuring reference signal received
power value of other configured reference signal resources not
associated with control channels, and reporting maximum reference
signal received power values of control channels and of the other
configured reference signal resources not associated with control
channels
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reporting the partial control
beam failure to the network device comprises reporting a first
index of the first selected control channel beam in association
with the first measured reference signal received power value.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the reporting the partial control
beam failure to the network device comprises transmitting a partial
control beam failure report via the second selected control channel
beam.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reporting the partial control
beam failure to the network device comprises transmitting a partial
control beam failure report via a physical uplink control channel
that is the physical uplink control channel used for a beam
management procedure.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining the threshold
values comprises receiving the threshold values from the network
device, in which at least one threshold value is based on a quality
of service characteristic for an associated selected control
channel beam.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining the threshold
values comprises receiving the threshold values from the network
device, in which at least one threshold value is based on a
reference signal type.
8. A user equipment, comprising: a processor; and a memory that
stores executable instructions that, when executed by the
processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations
comprising: obtaining threshold values, wherein each threshold
value is associated with a selected control channel beam of control
channel beams; for each selected control channel beam, comparing a
measured reference signal received power value of the selected
control channel beam with the threshold value associated with the
selected control channel beam; and in response to a result of a
determination being that, for each measured reference signal
received power value of each selected control channel beam, a
measured reference signal received power value of the selected
control channel beam has achieved the threshold value associated
with the selected control channel beam, and another measured
reference signal received power value of the selected control
channel beam has not achieved the threshold value associated with
the selected control channel beam, reporting a partial control beam
failure to a network device.
9. The user equipment of claim 8, wherein in response to a result
of a determination being that, for each measured reference signal
received power value of each selected control channel beam, each
measured reference signal received power value of the selected
control channel beam has achieved the threshold value associated
with the selected control channel beam, performing a beam
management procedure comprising measuring reference signal received
power value of other configured reference signal resources not
associated with control channels, and reporting maximum reference
signal received power values of control channels and of the other
configured reference signal resources not associated with control
channels.
10. The user equipment of claim 9, wherein the beams are arranged
in subgroups of a larger group, and wherein performing the beam
management procedure comprises reporting a maximum channel state
information reference signal for each subgroup.
11. The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the reporting the
partial control beam failure to the network device comprises, for
each selected control channel beam that does not achieve the
threshold value associated with the selected control channel beam,
reporting an index of the selected control channel beam and the
measured reference signal received power value associated with the
selected control channel beam.
12. The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the reporting the
partial control beam failure to the network device comprises
transmitting a partial control beam failure report via a physical
uplink control channel that is the physical uplink control channel
used in conjunction with a beam management procedure.
13. The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the operations further
comprise, in response to the result of the determination being
that, for each measured reference signal received power value of
each selected control channel beam, the measured reference signal
received power value of each selected control channel beam has not
achieved the threshold value associated with the selected control
channel beam, performing a beam recovery procedure.
14. The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the obtaining the
threshold values comprises receiving the threshold values from the
network device, and wherein a threshold value of the threshold
values is based on a quality of service characteristic for an
associated selected control channel beam.
15. The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the obtaining the
threshold values comprises receiving the threshold values from the
network device, and wherein a threshold value of the threshold
values is based on a channel state information reference signal
type.
16. The user equipment of claim 8, wherein the obtaining the
threshold values comprises receiving the threshold values from the
network device, and wherein a threshold value of the threshold
values is based on a synchronization signal block reference signal
type.
17. A machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable
instructions that, when executed by a processor of a user
equipment, facilitate performance of operations, the operations
comprising: obtaining respective reference signal received power
measurements for selected control channel beams; for at least a
first selected control channel beam and a second selected control
channel beam of the selected control channel beams, determining
whether the selected control channel beam has failed based on an
evaluation criterion; and in response to the first selected control
channel beam of the selected control channel beams being determined
to have failed and the second selected control channel beam of the
selected control channel beams being determined not to have failed,
reporting a partial control beam failure via a physical uplink
control channel used to report information to a network device.
18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the
determining whether the selected control channel beam has failed
based on the evaluation criterion comprises comparing a reference
signal received power measurement for a beam, of the respective
reference signal received power measurements for the selected
control channel beams, with a threshold value associated with the
beam.
19. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the
operations further comprise receiving the threshold value for the
beam.
20. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the
operations further comprise: in response to determining that no
selected control channel beam of the selected control channel beams
has failed, performing a beam management procedure that uses the
physical uplink control channel to report to the network device.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The subject application is related to wireless communication
systems, and, for example, to reporting beam information in a
wireless communication system.
BACKGROUND
[0002] New radio (NR) networks such as fifth generation (5G) NR
networks are designed for deployment in the radio frequency
spectrum between 30 GHz and 300 GHz, referred to as the millimeter
wave (mmWave) spectrum. Unlike other mobile communication frequency
ranges, in the mmWave spectrum, the beam pair between the network
(via a distributed unit) and the user equipment may experience a
blockage, such as due to a physical obstruction caused by objects
near the user, or even the user's own self, which interrupts the
communication. The narrow beamforming of NR is also part of such a
blockage effect.
[0003] There are two technologies introduced in NR to overcome the
blockage effect. A first technology is beam management, which is a
procedure for user equipment to report back to the network the
measured power of received reference signals, referred to as
Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), to select the best beam for
transmission. A second technology that overcomes the blockage
effect and provides robustness to a connection is beam recovery,
which takes place upon beam failure; beam failure is declared when
all of the control channel resource sets (CORESET) failed.
[0004] Neither beam management nor beam recovery addresses a
partial control channel failure, in which one or more control
channel beams remain workable, while one or more others are
considered to have failed. However, most of the time a recovery
signal is not transmitted, and thus it is inefficient to configure
resources for such a situation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The technology described herein is illustrated by way of
example and not limited in the accompanying figures in which like
reference numerals indicate similar elements and in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system
in which a network node device (e.g., network node) and user
equipment (UE) can implement various aspects and implementations of
the subject disclosure.
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram example of evaluating
reference signal received power (RSRP) information against
threshold values to obtain comparison results, in accordance with
various aspects and implementations of the subject disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram example of processing the
comparison result of FIG. 2, in accordance with various aspects and
implementations of the subject disclosure.
[0009] FIGS. 4-6 comprise an example flow diagram for generating
beam failure reports or taking other actions via a joint procedure,
in accordance with various aspects and implementations of the
subject disclosure.
[0010] FIG. 7 illustrates an example flow diagram of aspects of
user equipment operations, in accordance with various aspects and
implementations of the subject disclosure.
[0011] FIG. 8 illustrates an example flow diagram of aspects of
user equipment operations, in accordance with various aspects and
implementations of the subject disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 9 illustrates an example flow diagram of aspects of
user equipment operations, in accordance with various aspects and
implementations of the subject disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 10 illustrates an example block diagram of an example
mobile handset operable to engage in a system architecture that
facilitates wireless communications according to one or more
embodiments described herein.
[0014] FIG. 11 illustrates an example block diagram of an example
computer operable to engage in a system architecture that
facilitates wireless communications according to one or more
embodiments described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Briefly, one or more aspects of the technology described
herein are generally directed towards a joint procedure to handle
beam management and partial control beam failure reporting for
recovery. In one or more aspects, the joint procedure technology
utilizes a common physical uplink control channel feedback channel
to carry two different types of indicators; one indicator is for
the beam management reporting and another for the partial control
beam failure reporting.
[0016] An event with one or more threshold values is configured at
the network device and provided to the user equipment to determine
when to indicate the failure of existing beams and when to indicate
the reference signal received power (RSRP) of new beams. In general
the user equipment is configured with a reference signal setting
and a reference signal received power measurement setting. The
reference signal setting includes a list of reference signal
resources, which may be a channel state information reference
signal channel quality information or a synchronization
signal-block). The reference signal received power measurement
setting includes a list of beams for which the user equipment needs
to measure reference signal received power. Each measurement is
associated with a reference signal resource in the reference signal
setting.
[0017] In the reference signal setting, a reference signal is
marked as the selected beam; (normally the selected beam is
associated with a control channel CORESET). When the user equipment
needs to report the reference signal received power measurements,
the user equipment first checks the reference signal received power
of selected beams of a search space and compares each to a failure
criterion, which in one implementation comprises a threshold
(T_out) configured for each selected beam.
[0018] Note that the network may configure different T_out values
for different beams. For example, the configured value of T_out may
be dependent on the Reference Signal type (synchronization signal
block or channel state information reference signal), and/or the
quality of service requirements for the traffic planned on that
beam. As a result, the threshold for each selected beam can be
configured corresponding to the traffic quality of service and/or
reference signal types, whereby the network can configure beams
with different reliability characteristics.
[0019] Once the reference signal received power measurements are
obtained for the selected beams, they are each compared against the
threshold associated with that beam. If each of the selected beams
has a reference signal received power smaller than the T_out
configured to that beam, the user equipment declares a beam failure
and performs the PRACH (Physical Random Access Channel)-based
recovery.
[0020] If one or more (but not all) of the selected beams has a
reference signal received power measurement that does not satisfied
the threshold value associated with that beam, that is, the
measurement is smaller than its associated T_out, the user
equipment reports the index of the selected beam and its
corresponding measured reference signal received power.
[0021] If none of the selected beams has a reference signal
received power below its associated T_out threshold value, the user
equipment starts the regular beam management procedure. As is
known, this procedure finds the maximum reference signal received
power for the configured channel state information reference signal
or synchronization signal block. In other words, if each of the
control channel respective measured RSRPs satisfy their respective
thresholds, the user equipment measures the RSRP of other
configured Reference Signal resources not associated with control
channels, and reports the best RSRP of the configured Reference
Signal resources (including the Reference Signal resources
corresponding to or not corresponding to the control channel
beams). Note that multiple channel state information reference
signal or synchronization signal block can be configured as a
subgroup; in that case, the user equipment reports one maximum
reference signal received power per each subgroup.
[0022] As will be understood, the technology described herein thus
is able to use a joint procedure for reporting the beam management
reference signal received power and the control beam recovery on a
common feedback channel. This avoids having to have a reserved,
dedicated feedback channel resource for the beam recovery case.
Instead, the beam recovery indicator shares the feedback channel
resource with the beam management reference signal received power
report.
[0023] It should be understood that any of the examples and terms
used herein are non-limiting. For instance, the examples are based
on New Radio (NR, sometimes referred to as 5G) communications
between a user equipment exemplified as a smartphone or the like
and network device; however virtually any communications devices
may benefit from the technology described herein, and/or their use
in different spectrums may likewise benefit. Thus, any of the
embodiments, aspects, concepts, structures, functionalities or
examples described herein are non-limiting, and the technology may
be used in various ways that provide benefits and advantages in
radio communications in general.
[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication system
100 in accordance with various aspects and embodiments of the
subject technology. In one or more embodiments, the system 100 can
comprise one or more user equipment UEs 102(1)-102(n).
[0025] In various embodiments, the system 100 is or comprises a
wireless communication network serviced by one or more wireless
communication network providers. In example embodiments, a UE 102
can be communicatively coupled to the wireless communication
network via a network node 104. The network node (e.g., network
node device) can communicate with the user equipment (UE), thus
providing connectivity between the UE and the wider cellular
network.
[0026] In example implementations, each UE such as the UE 102(1) is
able to send and/or receive communication data via a wireless link
to the network node 104. The dashed arrow lines from the network
node 104 to the UE 102 represent downlink (DL) communications and
the solid arrow lines from the UE 102 to the network nodes 104
represents uplink (UL) communications.
[0027] The system 100 can further include one or more communication
service provider networks 106 that facilitate providing wireless
communication services to various UEs, including UES 102(1)-102(n),
via the network node 104 and/or various additional network devices
(not shown) included in the one or more communication service
provider networks 106. The one or more communication service
provider networks 106 can include various types of disparate
networks, including but not limited to: cellular networks, femto
networks, picocell networks, microcell networks, internet protocol
(IP) networks Wi-Fi service networks, broadband service network,
enterprise networks, cloud based networks, and the like. For
example, in at least one implementation, system 100 can be or
include a large scale wireless communication network that spans
various geographic areas. According to this implementation, the one
or more communication service provider networks 106 can be or
include the wireless communication network and/or various
additional devices and components of the wireless communication
network (e.g., additional network devices and cell, additional UEs,
network server devices, etc.).
[0028] The network node 104 can be connected to the one or more
communication service provider networks 106 via one or more
backhaul links 108. For example, the one or more backhaul links 108
can comprise wired link components, such as a T1/E1 phone line, a
digital subscriber line (DSL) (e.g., either synchronous or
asynchronous), an asymmetric DSL (ADSL), an optical fiber backbone,
a coaxial cable, and the like. The one or more backhaul links 108
can also include wireless link components, such as but not limited
to, line-of-sight (LOS) or non-LOS links which can include
terrestrial air-interfaces or deep space links (e.g., satellite
communication links for navigation).
[0029] The wireless communication system 100 can employ various
cellular systems, technologies, and modulation schemes to
facilitate wireless radio communications between devices (e.g., the
UE 102 and the network node 104). While example embodiments might
be described for 5G new radio (NR) systems, the embodiments can be
applicable to any radio access technology (RAT) or multi-RAT system
where the UE operates using multiple carriers e.g. LTE FDD/TDD,
GSM/GERAN, CDMA2000 etc. For example, the system 100 can operate in
accordance with global system for mobile communications (GSM),
universal mobile telecommunications service (UMTS), long term
evolution (LTE), LTE frequency division duplexing (LTE FDD, LTE
time division duplexing (TDD), high speed packet access (HSPA),
code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband CDMA (WCMDA),
CDMA2000, time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division
multiple access (FDMA), multi-carrier code division multiple access
(MC-CDMA), single-carrier code division multiple access (SC-CDMA),
single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), orthogonal frequency division
multiplexing (OFDM), discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM
(DFT-spread OFDM) single carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), Filter bank based
multi-carrier (FBMC), zero tail DFT-spread-OFDM (ZT DFT-s-OFDM),
generalized frequency division multiplexing (GFDM), fixed mobile
convergence (FMC), universal fixed mobile convergence (UFMC),
unique word OFDM (UW-OFDM), unique word DFT-spread OFDM (UW
DFT-Spread-OFDM), cyclic prefix OFDM CP-OFDM,
resource-block-filtered OFDM, Wi Fi, WLAN, WiMax, and the like.
However, various features and functionalities of system 100 are
particularly described wherein the devices (e.g., the UEs 102 and
the network device 104) of system 100 are configured to communicate
wireless signals using one or more multi carrier modulation
schemes, wherein data symbols can be transmitted simultaneously
over multiple frequency subcarriers (e.g., OFDM, CP-OFDM,
DFT-spread OFMD, UFMC, FMBC, etc.). The embodiments are applicable
to single carrier as well as to multicarrier (MC) or carrier
aggregation (CA) operation of the UE. The term carrier aggregation
(CA) is also called (e.g. interchangeably called) "multi-carrier
system", "multi-cell operation", "multi-carrier operation",
"multi-carrier" transmission and/or reception. Note that some
embodiments are also applicable for Multi RAB (radio bearers) on
some carriers (that is data plus speech is simultaneously
scheduled).
[0030] In various embodiments, the system 100 can be configured to
provide and employ 5G wireless networking features and
functionalities. With 5G networks that may use waveforms that split
the bandwidth into several sub-bands, different types of services
can be accommodated in different sub-bands with the most suitable
waveform and numerology, leading to an improved spectrum
utilization for 5G networks. Notwithstanding, in the mmWave
spectrum, the millimeter waves have shorter wavelengths relative to
other communications waves, whereby mmWave signals can experience
severe path loss, penetration loss, and fading. However, the
shorter wavelength at mmWave frequencies also allows more antennas
to be packed in the same physical dimension, which allows for
large-scale spatial multiplexing and highly directional
beamforming.
[0031] Performance can be improved if both the transmitter and the
receiver are equipped with multiple antennas. Multi-antenna
techniques can significantly increase the data rates and
reliability of a wireless communication system. The use of multiple
input multiple output (MIMO) techniques, which was introduced in
the third-generation partnership project (3GPP) and has been in use
(including with LTE), is a multi-antenna technique that can improve
the spectral efficiency of transmissions, thereby significantly
boosting the overall data carrying capacity of wireless systems.
The use of multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) techniques can
improve mmWave communications; MIMO can be used for achieving
diversity gain, spatial multiplexing gain and beamforming gain.
[0032] Note that using multi-antennas does not always mean that
MIMO is being used. For example, a configuration can have two
downlink antennas, and these two antennas can be used in various
ways. In addition to using the antennas in a 2.times.2 MIMO scheme,
the two antennas can also be used in a diversity configuration
rather than MIMO configuration. Even with multiple antennas, a
particular scheme might only use one of the antennas (e.g., LTE
specification's transmission mode 1, which uses a single
transmission antenna and a single receive antenna). Or, only one
antenna can be used, with various different multiplexing, precoding
methods etc.
[0033] The MIMO technique uses a commonly known notation
(M.times.N) to represent MIMO configuration in terms number of
transmit (M) and receive antennas (N) on one end of the
transmission system. The common MIMO configurations used for
various technologies are: (2.times.1), (1.times.2), (2.times.2),
(4.times.2), (8.times.2) and (2.times.4), (4.times.4), (8.times.4).
The configurations represented by (2.times.1) and (1.times.2) are
special cases of MIMO known as transmit diversity (or spatial
diversity) and receive diversity. In addition to transmit diversity
(or spatial diversity) and receive diversity, other techniques such
as spatial multiplexing (comprising both open-loop and
closed-loop), beamforming, and codebook-based precoding can also be
used to address issues such as efficiency, interference, and
range.
[0034] In FIG. 1, as described herein, a user equipment (e.g.,
102(1)) is configured to receive threshold values 110 from the
network node, for use in determining beam failures. In general, the
user equipment compares the reference signal received power (RSRP)
for each selected beam against the threshold associated with that
beam to determine whether that beam is considered to be in a
failure state or not. If no beams are in a failed state, an RSRP
report 112 is sent to the network node in a conventional beam
management procedure. If some beams (but not all) are in a failure
state, an RSRP report 112 is sent to the network node for partial
failure reporting.
[0035] FIG. 2 represents information received by user equipment and
components that process the information into beam success or
failure results. Along with receives reference signal resources
220, the user equipment receives RSRP measurement settings 222 that
indicate what the user equipment needs to measure with respect to
power of received beams. The user equipment also receives threshold
values 224, e.g., one threshold value per beam.
[0036] As represented in FIG. 2, the received reference signals 230
are measured by RSRP measurement logic 232 of the user equipment to
provide the RSRP values 234. For each selected beam, the RSRP value
for that beam is compared against the threshold value for that
beam, e.g. via comparison logic 236. These comparison results 238
are used to determine what further actions to take.
[0037] FIG. 3 shows the use of the comparison results 238 by
results processing logic 332. As will be understood, based on
whether each beam passed or failed with respect to the evaluation
criterion (the measured power versus the threshold value per beam),
a beam management procedure 334, partial beam failure reporting 336
or a beam recovery procedure 338 is performed. The beam management
procedure 334 and the beam recovery procedure 338 may be
conventional procedures.
[0038] The beam management procedure 334 takes place when all
selected beams are considered to not be in a failure state, and
results in a management report 340 that identifies the beam(s)
having the maximum RSRP value(s). Again, note that this measures
the RSRPs of the configured reference signal resources (including
the reference signal resources corresponding to or not
corresponding to the control channel beams) and reports the maximum
RSRPs; (per-subgroup maximums are reported if configured in
subgroups). The beam recovery procedure 338 takes place when each
selected beam is considered to be in a failure state.
[0039] The partial beam failure report occurs when some beams, but
not all, are considered to be in a failure state three spec to the
evaluation criterion, that is, the measured RSRP at least one beam
has not met the threshold value. In one or more implementations, a
partial beam failure report 342 is sent that identifies each failed
beam (e.g. by its index) and its associated RSRP measurement.
[0040] FIGS. 4-6 comprise a flow diagram summarizing example
operations of the user equipment, exemplified as steps, with
respect to RSRP measurements, threshold comparisons and results
processing, beginning at step 400 which represents obtaining the
RSRP values. Step 402 of FIG. 4 represents choosing a first
selected beam. Step 404 obtains the threshold value for the
selected beam, e.g., as provided by the network.
[0041] Step 406 compares the selected beam RSRP with the threshold
value for the selected beam and preserves the result (e.g., pass or
fail) in a set of comparison results. Steps 408 and 410 repeat the
process for each other selected beam.
[0042] Step 502 of FIG. 5 represents accessing the comparison
results for processing. Step 504 evaluates whether each selected
beams are SRP is below its threshold, e.g., all beams have failed
to achieve their associated thresholds. If so, step 506 represents
declaring a beam failure, and performing the appropriate beam
recovery procedure.
[0043] If at least one beam has met its associated threshold, step
508 evaluates whether each beam has passed the evaluation. If so,
step 510 starts the regular beam management procedure. As set forth
herein, this procedure finds and reports the maximum reference
signal received power for the configured channel state information
reference signal or synchronization signal block. Note that
multiple channel state information reference signal or
synchronization signal block can be configured as a subgroup; in
that case, the user equipment reports one maximum reference signal
received power per each subgroup.
[0044] If at least one beam has met its associated threshold but at
least one other beam has not, a partial failure state exists. The
operations of FIG. 6 are generally directed towards reporting those
beams which have failed. Step 602 represents choosing a first
selected beam, e.g., from the comparison results, and step 604
evaluates whether that beam is a failure or not. If a failure, step
606 adds the selected beam's index to a partial beam failure report
along with the corresponding RSRP of that failed beam. Step 608 and
610 repeat the process, basically filtering out beams that have
passed until the report is complete. When the report is ready, step
612 sends the partial beam failure report over a workable beam to
the network device. It should be noted that the example operations
of FIG. 6 generally may be performed in conjunction with the
example operations of FIG. 4, e.g., build the partial failure
report as the comparisons are taking place, and if the report is
empty, perform beam management and send the beam management report
(assuming at least one beam has passed the threshold
evaluation).
[0045] As can be seen, described herein is a joint procedure
technology to jointly handle beam management reports and a beam
recovery indicator for partial beam failures. The joint procedure
facilitates the sharing of the uplink feedback resource between two
procedures, instead of having separate resources.
[0046] One or more aspects, exemplified in example operations of
FIG. 7, comprise obtaining, (operation 702) by a user equipment
comprising a processor, threshold values, wherein the threshold
values are associated with respective beams of a search space.
Aspects comprise comparing (operation 704), by the user equipment,
respective measured reference signal received power values of the
respective beams with the threshold values associated with the
respective beams and determining (operation 706), by the user
equipment, that a first measured reference signal received power
value of a first selected control channel beam, of the respective
measured reference signal received power values of the respective
beams, does not satisfy a first function of a first threshold value
associated with the first selected control channel beam, and that a
second measured reference signal received power value of a second
selected control channel beam, of the respective measured reference
signal received power values of the respective beams, satisfies a
second function of a second threshold value associated with the
second selected control channel beam. Aspects include, in response
to the determining, reporting (operation 708), by the user
equipment, a partial control beam failure to a network device.
[0047] Reporting the partial control beam failure to the network
device may comprise reporting a first index of the first selected
beam in association with the first measured reference signal
received power value. Reporting the partial control beam failure to
the network device may comprise transmitting a partial control beam
failure report via the second selected control channel beam.
Reporting the partial control beam failure to the network device
may comprise transmitting a partial control beam failure report via
a physical uplink control channel that is the physical uplink
control channel used for a beam management procedure.
[0048] Obtaining the threshold values may comprise receiving the
threshold values from the network device, in which at least one
threshold value is different from another threshold value.
Obtaining the threshold values may comprise receiving the threshold
values from the network device, in which at least one threshold
value is based on a quality of service characteristic for an
associated selected control channel beam. Obtaining the threshold
values may comprise receiving the threshold values from the network
device, in which at least one threshold value is based on a
reference signal type.
[0049] One or more aspects, represented in FIG. 8 comprise
obtaining threshold values, (block 802) wherein each threshold
value is associated with a selected control channel beam of control
channel beams. As represented via block 804, for each selected
control channel beam, aspects comprise comparing a measured
reference signal received power value of the selected control
channel beam with the threshold value associated with the selected
control channel beam. As represented via block 806, aspects
comprise, in response to a result of a determination being that,
for each measured reference signal received power value of each
selected control channel beam, a measured reference signal received
power value of the selected control channel beam has achieved the
threshold value associated with the selected control channel beam,
and another measured reference signal received power value of the
selected control channel beam has not achieved the threshold value
associated with the selected control channel beam, reporting a
partial control beam failure to a network device.
[0050] In response to a result of a determination being that, for
each measured reference signal received power value of each
selected control channel beam, each measured reference signal
received power value of the selected control channel beam has
achieved the threshold value associated with the selected control
channel beam, aspects may comprise performing a beam management
procedure the performing the beam management procedure. The beams
may be arranged in subgroups of a larger group, and performing the
beam management procedure may comprise reporting a maximum channel
state information reference signal for each subgroup.
[0051] The reporting the partial control beam failure to the
network device may comprise, for each selected control channel beam
that does not achieve the threshold value associated with the
selected control channel beam, reporting an index of the selected
control channel beam and the measured reference signal received
power value associated with the selected control channel beam.
Reporting the partial control beam failure to the network device
may comprise transmitting a partial control beam failure report via
a physical uplink control channel that is the physical uplink
control channel used in conjunction with a beam management
procedure.
[0052] Aspects may include, in response to the result of the
determination being that, for each measured reference signal
received power value of each selected control channel beam, the
measured reference signal received power value of each selected
control channel beam has not achieved the threshold value
associated with the selected control channel beam, performing a
beam recovery procedure.
[0053] Obtaining the threshold values may comprise receiving the
threshold values from the network device, and wherein a threshold
value of the threshold values is based on a quality of service
characteristic for an associated selected control channel beam.
Obtaining the threshold values may comprise receiving the threshold
values from the network device, and wherein a threshold value of
the threshold values is based on a channel state information
reference signal type. Obtaining the threshold values may comprise
receiving the threshold values from the network device, and wherein
a threshold value of the threshold values is based on a
synchronization signal block reference signal type.
[0054] One or more aspects, exemplified as example operations in
FIG. 9, comprise obtaining respective reference signal received
power measurements for selected control channel beams (operation
902). As represented via operation 904, for each selected control
channel beam of the selected control channel beams, aspects
comprise determining whether the selected control channel beam has
failed based on an evaluation criterion. As represented via
operation 906, in response to a first selected control channel beam
of the selected control channel beams being determined to have
failed and a second selected control channel beam of the selected
control channel beams being determined not to have failed,
reporting a partial control beam failure via a physical uplink
control channel used to report information to a network device.
[0055] Determining whether the selected control channel beam has
failed based on the evaluation criterion may comprise comparing a
reference signal received power measurement for a beam, of the
respective reference signal received power measurements for the
selected control channel beams, with a threshold value associated
with the beam. Other aspects may comprise receiving the threshold
value for the beam, and/or, in response to determining that no
selected control channel beam of the selected control channel beams
has failed, performing a beam management procedure that uses the
physical uplink control channel to report to the network
device.
[0056] Referring now to FIG. 10, illustrated is an example block
diagram of an example mobile handset 1000 operable to engage in a
system architecture that facilitates wireless communications
according to one or more embodiments described herein. Although a
mobile handset is illustrated herein, it will be understood that
other devices can be a mobile device, and that the mobile handset
is merely illustrated to provide context for the embodiments of the
various embodiments described herein. The following discussion is
intended to provide a brief, general description of an example of a
suitable environment in which the various embodiments can be
implemented. While the description includes a general context of
computer-executable instructions embodied on a machine-readable
storage medium, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
innovation also can be implemented in combination with other
program modules and/or as a combination of hardware and
software.
[0057] Generally, applications (e.g., program modules) can include
routines, programs, components, data structures, etc., that perform
particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.
Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the methods
described herein can be practiced with other system configurations,
including single-processor or multiprocessor systems,
minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers,
hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based or programmable
consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can be
operatively coupled to one or more associated devices
[0058] A computing device can typically include a variety of
machine-readable media. Machine-readable media can be any available
media that can be accessed by the computer and includes both
volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.
By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable media can
comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer
storage media can include volatile and/or non-volatile media,
removable and/or non-removable media implemented in any method or
technology for storage of information, such as computer-readable
instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data.
Computer storage media can include, but is not limited to, RAM,
ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, solid state
drive (SSD) or other solid-state storage technology, Compact Disk
Read Only Memory (CD ROM), digital video disk (DVD), Blu-ray disk,
or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape,
magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any
other medium which can be used to store the desired information and
which can be accessed by the computer. In this regard, the terms
"tangible" or "non-transitory" herein as applied to storage, memory
or computer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude only
propagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not
relinquish rights to all standard storage, memory or
computer-readable media that are not only propagating transitory
signals per se.
[0059] Communication media typically embodies computer-readable
instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a
modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport
mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term
"modulated data signal" means a signal that has one or more of its
characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode
information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation,
communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or
direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF,
infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the
above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable
media
[0060] The handset includes a processor 1002 for controlling and
processing all onboard operations and functions. A memory 1004
interfaces to the processor 1002 for storage of data and one or
more applications 1006 (e.g., a video player software, user
feedback component software, etc.). Other applications can include
voice recognition of predetermined voice commands that facilitate
initiation of the user feedback signals. The applications 1006 can
be stored in the memory 1004 and/or in a firmware 1008, and
executed by the processor 1002 from either or both the memory 1004
or/and the firmware 1008. The firmware 1008 can also store startup
code for execution in initializing the handset 1000. A
communications component 1010 interfaces to the processor 1002 to
facilitate wired/wireless communication with external systems,
e.g., cellular networks, VoIP networks, and so on. Here, the
communications component 1010 can also include a suitable cellular
transceiver 1011 (e.g., a GSM transceiver) and/or an unlicensed
transceiver 1013 (e.g., Wi-Fi, WiMax) for corresponding signal
communications. The handset 1000 can be a device such as a cellular
telephone, a PDA with mobile communications capabilities, and
messaging-centric devices. The communications component 1010 also
facilitates communications reception from terrestrial radio
networks (e.g., broadcast), digital satellite radio networks, and
Internet-based radio services networks
[0061] The handset 1000 includes a display 1012 for displaying
text, images, video, telephony functions (e.g., a Caller ID
function), setup functions, and for user input. For example, the
display 1012 can also be referred to as a "screen" that can
accommodate the presentation of multimedia content (e.g., music
metadata, messages, wallpaper, graphics, etc.). The display 1012
can also display videos and can facilitate the generation, editing
and sharing of video quotes. A serial I/O interface 1014 is
provided in communication with the processor 1002 to facilitate
wired and/or wireless serial communications (e.g., USB, and/or IEEE
1094) through a hardwire connection, and other serial input devices
(e.g., a keyboard, keypad, and mouse). This supports updating and
troubleshooting the handset 1000, for example. Audio capabilities
are provided with an audio I/O component 1016, which can include a
speaker for the output of audio signals related to, for example,
indication that the user pressed the proper key or key combination
to initiate the user feedback signal. The audio I/O component 1016
also facilitates the input of audio signals through a microphone to
record data and/or telephony voice data, and for inputting voice
signals for telephone conversations.
[0062] The handset 1000 can include a slot interface 1018 for
accommodating a SIC (Subscriber Identity Component) in the form
factor of a card Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) or universal SIM
1020, and interfacing the SIM card 1020 with the processor 1002.
However, it is to be appreciated that the SIM card 1020 can be
manufactured into the handset 1000, and updated by downloading data
and software.
[0063] The handset 1000 can process IP data traffic through the
communications component 1010 to accommodate IP traffic from an IP
network such as, for example, the Internet, a corporate intranet, a
home network, a person area network, etc., through an ISP or
broadband cable provider. Thus, VoIP traffic can be utilized by the
handset 1000 and IP-based multimedia content can be received in
either an encoded or a decoded format.
[0064] A video processing component 1022 (e.g., a camera) can be
provided for decoding encoded multimedia content. The video
processing component 1022 can aid in facilitating the generation,
editing, and sharing of video quotes. The handset 1000 also
includes a power source 1024 in the form of batteries and/or an AC
power subsystem, which power source 1024 can interface to an
external power system or charging equipment (not shown) by a power
I/O component 1026.
[0065] The handset 1000 can also include a video component 1030 for
processing video content received and, for recording and
transmitting video content. For example, the video component 1030
can facilitate the generation, editing and sharing of video quotes.
A location tracking component 1032 facilitates geographically
locating the handset 1000. As described hereinabove, this can occur
when the user initiates the feedback signal automatically or
manually. A user input component 1034 facilitates the user
initiating the quality feedback signal. The user input component
1034 can also facilitate the generation, editing and sharing of
video quotes. The user input component 1034 can include such
conventional input device technologies such as a keypad, keyboard,
mouse, stylus pen, and/or touch screen, for example.
[0066] Referring again to the applications 1006, a hysteresis
component 1036 facilitates the analysis and processing of
hysteresis data, which is utilized to determine when to associate
with the access point. A software trigger component 1038 can be
provided that facilitates triggering of the hysteresis component
1036 when the Wi-Fi transceiver 1013 detects the beacon of the
access point. A SIP client 1040 enables the handset 1000 to support
SIP protocols and register the subscriber with the SIP registrar
server. The applications 1006 can also include a client 1042 that
provides at least the capability of discovery, play and store of
multimedia content, for example, music.
[0067] The handset 1000, as indicated above related to the
communications component 1010, includes an indoor network radio
transceiver 1013 (e.g., Wi-Fi transceiver). This function supports
the indoor radio link, such as IEEE 802.11, for the dual-mode GSM
handset 1000. The handset 1000 can accommodate at least satellite
radio services through a handset that can combine wireless voice
and digital radio chipsets into a single handheld device.
[0068] Referring now to FIG. 11, illustrated is an example block
diagram of an example computer 1100 operable to engage in a system
architecture that facilitates wireless communications according to
one or more embodiments described herein. The computer 1100 can
provide networking and communication capabilities between a wired
or wireless communication network and a server (e.g., Microsoft
server) and/or communication device. In order to provide additional
context for various aspects thereof, FIG. 11 and the following
discussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of
a suitable computing environment in which the various aspects of
the innovation can be implemented to facilitate the establishment
of a transaction between an entity and a third party. While the
description above is in the general context of computer-executable
instructions that can run on one or more computers, those skilled
in the art will recognize that the innovation also can be
implemented in combination with other program modules and/or as a
combination of hardware and software.
[0069] Generally, program modules include routines, programs,
components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or
implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled
in the art will appreciate that the inventive methods can be
practiced with other computer system configurations, including
single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, minicomputers,
mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-held
computing devices, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer
electronics, and the like, each of which can be operatively coupled
to one or more associated devices.
[0070] The illustrated aspects of the innovation can also be
practiced in distributed computing environments where certain tasks
are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through
a communications network. In a distributed computing environment,
program modules can be located in both local and remote memory
storage devices.
[0071] Computing devices typically include a variety of media,
which can include computer-readable storage media or communications
media, which two terms are used herein differently from one another
as follows.
[0072] Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage
media that can be accessed by the computer and includes both
volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media.
By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable storage
media can be implemented in connection with any method or
technology for storage of information such as computer-readable
instructions, program modules, structured data, or unstructured
data. Computer-readable storage media can include, but are not
limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory
technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD) or other optical
disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk
storage or other magnetic storage devices, or other tangible and/or
non-transitory media which can be used to store desired
information. Computer-readable storage media can be accessed by one
or more local or remote computing devices, e.g., via access
requests, queries or other data retrieval protocols, for a variety
of operations with respect to the information stored by the
medium.
[0073] Communications media can embody computer-readable
instructions, data structures, program modules, or other structured
or unstructured data in a data signal such as a modulated data
signal, e.g., a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and
includes any information delivery or transport media. The term
"modulated data signal" or signals refers to a signal that has one
or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as
to encode information in one or more signals. By way of example,
and not limitation, communication media include wired media, such
as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media
such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.
[0074] The techniques described herein can be applied to any device
or set of devices (machines) capable of running programs and
processes. It can be understood, therefore, that servers including
physical and/or virtual machines, personal computers, laptops,
handheld, portable and other computing devices and computing
objects of all kinds including cell phones, tablet/slate computers,
gaming/entertainment consoles and the like are contemplated for use
in connection with various implementations including those
exemplified herein. Accordingly, the general purpose computing
mechanism described below with reference to FIG. 11 is but one
example of a computing device.
[0075] In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the
disclosed subject matter, FIG. 11 and the following discussion, are
intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable
environment in which the various aspects of the disclosed subject
matter can be implemented. While the subject matter has been
described above in the general context of computer-executable
instructions of a computer program that runs on a computer and/or
computers, those skilled in the art will recognize that the
disclosed subject matter also can be implemented in combination
with other program modules. Generally, program modules include
routines, programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform
particular tasks and/or implement particular abstract data
types.
[0076] In the subject specification, terms such as "store,"
"storage," "data store," data storage," "database," and
substantially any other information storage component relevant to
operation and functionality of a component, refer to "memory
components," or entities embodied in a "memory" or components
comprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memory
components described herein can be either volatile memory or
nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile
memory, by way of illustration, and not limitation, volatile memory
1120 (see below), non-volatile memory 1122 (see below), disk
storage 1124 (see below), and memory storage 1146 (see below).
Further, nonvolatile memory can be included in read only memory
(ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM
(EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory.
Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), which acts
as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not
limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM
(SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data
rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM
(SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Additionally, the
disclosed memory components of systems or methods herein are
intended to comprise, without being limited to comprising, these
and any other suitable types of memory.
[0077] Moreover, it will be noted that the disclosed subject matter
can be practiced with other computer system configurations,
including single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems,
mini-computing devices, mainframe computers, as well as personal
computers, hand-held computing devices (e.g., PDA, phone, watch,
tablet computers, netbook computers, . . . ), microprocessor-based
or programmable consumer or industrial electronics, and the like.
The illustrated aspects can also be practiced in distributed
computing environments where tasks are performed by remote
processing devices that are linked through a communications
network; however, some if not all aspects of the subject disclosure
can be practiced on stand-alone computers. In a distributed
computing environment, program modules can be located in both local
and remote memory storage devices.
[0078] FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of a computing system
1100 operable to execute the disclosed systems and methods in
accordance with an embodiment. Computer 1112, which can be, for
example, part of the hardware of system 1120, includes a processing
unit 1114, a system memory 1116, and a system bus 1118. System bus
1118 couples system components including, but not limited to,
system memory 1116 to processing unit 1114. Processing unit 1114
can be any of various available processors. Dual microprocessors
and other multiprocessor architectures also can be employed as
processing unit 1114.
[0079] System bus 1118 can be any of several types of bus
structure(s) including a memory bus or a memory controller, a
peripheral bus or an external bus, and/or a local bus using any
variety of available bus architectures including, but not limited
to, Industrial Standard Architecture (ISA), Micro-Channel
Architecture (MSA), Extended ISA (EISA), Intelligent Drive
Electronics, VESA Local Bus (VLB), Peripheral Component
Interconnect (PCI), Card Bus, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Advanced
Graphics Port (AGP), Personal Computer Memory Card International
Association bus (PCMCIA), Firewire (IEEE 1194), and Small Computer
Systems Interface (SCSI).
[0080] System memory 1116 can include volatile memory 1120 and
nonvolatile memory 1122. A basic input/output system (BIOS),
containing routines to transfer information between elements within
computer 1112, such as during start-up, can be stored in
nonvolatile memory 1122. By way of illustration, and not
limitation, nonvolatile memory 1122 can include ROM, PROM, EPROM,
EEPROM, or flash memory. Volatile memory 1120 includes RAM, which
acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not
limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as SRAM, dynamic
RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR
SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), Rambus
direct RAM (RDRAM), direct Rambus dynamic RAM (DRDRAM), and Rambus
dynamic RAM (RDRAM).
[0081] Computer 1112 can also include removable/non-removable,
volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. FIG. 11 illustrates,
for example, disk storage 1124. Disk storage 1124 includes, but is
not limited to, devices like a magnetic disk drive, floppy disk
drive, tape drive, flash memory card, or memory stick. In addition,
disk storage 1124 can include storage media separately or in
combination with other storage media including, but not limited to,
an optical disk drive such as a compact disk ROM device (CD-ROM),
CD recordable drive (CD-R Drive), CD rewritable drive (CD-RW Drive)
or a digital versatile disk ROM drive (DVD-ROM). To facilitate
connection of the disk storage devices 1124 to system bus 1118, a
removable or non-removable interface is typically used, such as
interface 1126.
[0082] Computing devices typically include a variety of media,
which can include computer-readable storage media or communications
media, which two terms are used herein differently from one another
as follows.
[0083] Computer-readable storage media can be any available storage
media that can be accessed by the computer and includes both
volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media.
By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable storage
media can be implemented in connection with any method or
technology for storage of information such as computer-readable
instructions, program modules, structured data, or unstructured
data. Computer-readable storage media can include, but are not
limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM),
electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash
memory or other memory technology, solid state drive (SSD) or other
solid-state storage technology, compact disk read only memory (CD
ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), Blu-ray disc or other optical
disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk
storage or other magnetic storage devices or other tangible and/or
non-transitory media which can be used to store desired
information. In this regard, the terms "tangible" or
"non-transitory" herein as applied to storage, memory or
computer-readable media, are to be understood to exclude only
propagating transitory signals per se as modifiers and do not
relinquish rights to all standard storage, memory or
computer-readable media that are not only propagating transitory
signals per se. In an aspect, tangible media can include
non-transitory media wherein the term "non-transitory" herein as
may be applied to storage, memory or computer-readable media, is to
be understood to exclude only propagating transitory signals per se
as a modifier and does not relinquish coverage of all standard
storage, memory or computer-readable media that are not only
propagating transitory signals per se. For the avoidance of doubt,
the term "computer-readable storage device" is used and defined
herein to exclude transitory media. Computer-readable storage media
can be accessed by one or more local or remote computing devices,
e.g., via access requests, queries or other data retrieval
protocols, for a variety of operations with respect to the
information stored by the medium.
[0084] Communications media typically embody computer-readable
instructions, data structures, program modules or other structured
or unstructured data in a data signal such as a modulated data
signal, e.g., a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and
includes any information delivery or transport media. The term
"modulated data signal" or signals refers to a signal that has one
or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as
to encode information in one or more signals. By way of example,
and not limitation, communication media include wired media, such
as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media
such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.
[0085] It can be noted that FIG. 11 describes software that acts as
an intermediary between users and computer resources described in
suitable operating environment 1100. Such software includes an
operating system 1128. Operating system 1128, which can be stored
on disk storage 1124, acts to control and allocate resources of
computer system 1112. System applications 1130 take advantage of
the management of resources by operating system 1128 through
program modules 1132 and program data 1134 stored either in system
memory 1116 or on disk storage 1124. It is to be noted that the
disclosed subject matter can be implemented with various operating
systems or combinations of operating systems.
[0086] A user can enter commands or information into computer 1112
through input device(s) 1136. As an example, a mobile device and/or
portable device can include a user interface embodied in a touch
sensitive display panel allowing a user to interact with computer
1112. Input devices 1136 include, but are not limited to, a
pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, stylus, touch pad,
keyboard, microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner,
TV tuner card, digital camera, digital video camera, web camera,
cell phone, smartphone, tablet computer, etc. These and other input
devices connect to processing unit 1114 through system bus 1118 by
way of interface port(s) 1138. Interface port(s) 1138 include, for
example, a serial port, a parallel port, a game port, a universal
serial bus (USB), an infrared port, a Bluetooth port, an IP port,
or a logical port associated with a wireless service, etc. Output
device(s) 1140 and a move use some of the same type of ports as
input device(s) 1136.
[0087] Thus, for example, a USB port can be used to provide input
to computer 1112 and to output information from computer 1112 to an
output device 1140. Output adapter 1142 is provided to illustrate
that there are some output devices 1140 like monitors, speakers,
and printers, among other output devices 1140, which use special
adapters. Output adapters 1142 include, by way of illustration and
not limitation, video and sound cards that provide means of
connection between output device 1140 and system bus 1118. It
should be noted that other devices and/or systems of devices
provide both input and output capabilities such as remote
computer(s) 1144.
[0088] Computer 1112 can operate in a networked environment using
logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as remote
computer(s) 1144. Remote computer(s) 1144 can be a personal
computer, a server, a router, a network PC, cloud storage, cloud
service, a workstation, a microprocessor based appliance, a peer
device, or other common network node and the like, and typically
includes many or all of the elements described relative to computer
1112.
[0089] For purposes of brevity, only a memory storage device 1146
is illustrated with remote computer(s) 1144. Remote computer(s)
1144 is logically connected to computer 1112 through a network
interface 1148 and then physically connected by way of
communication connection 1150. Network interface 1148 encompasses
wire and/or wireless communication networks such as local-area
networks (LAN) and wide-area networks (WAN). LAN technologies
include Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), Copper Distributed
Data Interface (CDDI), Ethernet, Token Ring and the like. WAN
technologies include, but are not limited to, point-to-point links,
circuit-switching networks like Integrated Services Digital
Networks (ISDN) and variations thereon, packet switching networks,
and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL). As noted below, wireless
technologies may be used in addition to or in place of the
foregoing.
[0090] Communication connection(s) 1150 refer(s) to
hardware/software employed to connect network interface 1148 to bus
1118. While communication connection 1150 is shown for illustrative
clarity inside computer 1112, it can also be external to computer
1112. The hardware/software for connection to network interface
1148 can include, for example, internal and external technologies
such as modems, including regular telephone grade modems, cable
modems and DSL modems, ISDN adapters, and Ethernet cards.
[0091] The above description of illustrated embodiments of the
subject disclosure, including what is described in the Abstract, is
not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed embodiments
to the precise forms disclosed. While specific embodiments and
examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, various
modifications are possible that are considered within the scope of
such embodiments and examples, as those skilled in the relevant art
can recognize.
[0092] In this regard, while the disclosed subject matter has been
described in connection with various embodiments and corresponding
Figures, where applicable, it is to be understood that other
similar embodiments can be used or modifications and additions can
be made to the described embodiments for performing the same,
similar, alternative, or substitute function of the disclosed
subject matter without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the
disclosed subject matter should not be limited to any single
embodiment described herein, but rather should be construed in
breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims below.
[0093] As it employed in the subject specification, the term
"processor" can refer to substantially any computing processing
unit or device comprising, but not limited to comprising,
single-core processors; single-processors with software multithread
execution capability; multi-core processors; multi-core processors
with software multithread execution capability; multi-core
processors with hardware multithread technology; parallel
platforms; and parallel platforms with distributed shared memory.
Additionally, a processor can refer to an integrated circuit, an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal
processor (DSP), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a
programmable logic controller (PLC), a complex programmable logic
device (CPLD), a discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete
hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform
the functions described herein. Processors can exploit nano-scale
architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular and
quantum-dot based transistors, switches and gates, in order to
optimize space usage or enhance performance of user equipment. A
processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing
processing units.
[0094] In the subject specification, terms such as "store,"
"storage," "data store," data storage," "database," and
substantially any other information storage component relevant to
operation and functionality of a component, refer to "memory
components," or entities embodied in a "memory" or components
comprising the memory. It will be appreciated that the memory
components described herein can be either volatile memory or
nonvolatile memory, or can include both volatile and nonvolatile
memory.
[0095] As used in this application, the terms "component,"
"system," "platform," "layer," "selector," "interface," and the
like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity or an
entity related to an operational apparatus with one or more
specific functionalities, wherein the entity can be either
hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or
software in execution. As an example, a component may be, but is
not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a
processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a
program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration and not
limitation, both an application running on a server and the server
can be a component. One or more components may reside within a
process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized
on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers.
In addition, these components can execute from various computer
readable media, device readable storage devices, or machine
readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The
components may communicate via local and/or remote processes such
as in accordance with a signal having one or more data packets
(e.g., data from one component interacting with another component
in a local system, distributed system, and/or across a network such
as the Internet with other systems via the signal). As another
example, a component can be an apparatus with specific
functionality provided by mechanical parts operated by electric or
electronic circuitry, which is operated by a software or firmware
application executed by a processor, wherein the processor can be
internal or external to the apparatus and executes at least a part
of the software or firmware application. As yet another example, a
component can be an apparatus that provides specific functionality
through electronic components without mechanical parts, the
electronic components can include a processor therein to execute
software or firmware that confers at least in part the
functionality of the electronic components.
[0096] In addition, the term "or" is intended to mean an inclusive
"or" rather than an exclusive "or." That is, unless specified
otherwise, or clear from context, "X employs A or B" is intended to
mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X
employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then "X employs
A or B" is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances.
Moreover, articles "a" and "an" as used in the subject
specification and annexed drawings should generally be construed to
mean "one or more" unless specified otherwise or clear from context
to be directed to a singular form.
[0097] Moreover, terms like "user equipment (UE)," "mobile
station," "mobile," subscriber station," "subscriber equipment,"
"access terminal," "terminal," "handset," and similar terminology,
refer to a wireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a
wireless communication service to receive or convey data, control,
voice, video, sound, gaming, or substantially any data-stream or
signaling-stream. The foregoing terms are utilized interchangeably
in the subject specification and related drawings. Likewise, the
terms "access point (AP)," "base station," "NodeB," "evolved Node B
(eNodeB)," "home Node B (HNB)," "home access point (HAP)," "cell
device," "sector," "cell," and the like, are utilized
interchangeably in the subject application, and refer to a wireless
network component or appliance that serves and receives data,
control, voice, video, sound, gaming, or substantially any
data-stream or signaling-stream to and from a set of subscriber
stations or provider enabled devices. Data and signaling streams
can include packetized or frame-based flows.
[0098] Additionally, the terms "core-network", "core", "core
carrier network", "carrier-side", or similar terms can refer to
components of a telecommunications network that typically provides
some or all of aggregation, authentication, call control and
switching, charging, service invocation, or gateways. Aggregation
can refer to the highest level of aggregation in a service provider
network wherein the next level in the hierarchy under the core
nodes is the distribution networks and then the edge networks. UEs
do not normally connect directly to the core networks of a large
service provider but can be routed to the core by way of a switch
or radio area network. Authentication can refer to determinations
regarding whether the user requesting a service from the telecom
network is authorized to do so within this network or not. Call
control and switching can refer determinations related to the
future course of a call stream across carrier equipment based on
the call signal processing. Charging can be related to the
collation and processing of charging data generated by various
network nodes. Two common types of charging mechanisms found in
present day networks can be prepaid charging and postpaid charging.
Service invocation can occur based on some explicit action (e.g.
call transfer) or implicitly (e.g., call waiting). It is to be
noted that service "execution" may or may not be a core network
functionality as third party network/nodes may take part in actual
service execution. A gateway can be present in the core network to
access other networks. Gateway functionality can be dependent on
the type of the interface with another network.
[0099] Furthermore, the terms "user," "subscriber," "customer,"
"consumer," "prosumer," "agent," and the like are employed
interchangeably throughout the subject specification, unless
context warrants particular distinction(s) among the terms. It
should be appreciated that such terms can refer to human entities
or automated components (e.g., supported through artificial
intelligence, as through a capacity to make inferences based on
complex mathematical formalisms), that can provide simulated
vision, sound recognition and so forth.
[0100] Aspects, features, or advantages of the subject matter can
be exploited in substantially any, or any, wired, broadcast,
wireless telecommunication, radio technology or network, or
combinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of such technologies or
networks include Geocast technology; broadcast technologies (e.g.,
sub-Hz, ELF, VLF, LF, MF, HF, VHF, UHF, SHF, THz broadcasts, etc.);
Ethernet; X.25; powerline-type networking (e.g., PowerLine AV
Ethernet, etc.); femto-cell technology; Wi-Fi; Worldwide
Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX); Enhanced General
Packet Radio Service (Enhanced GPRS); Third Generation Partnership
Project (3GPP or 3G) Long Term Evolution (LTE); 3GPP Universal
Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or 3GPP UMTS; Third
Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) Ultra Mobile Broadband
(UMB); High Speed Packet Access (HSPA); High Speed Downlink Packet
Access (HSDPA); High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA); GSM
Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) Radio Access Network
(RAN) or GERAN; UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN); or
LTE Advanced.
[0101] What has been described above includes examples of systems
and methods illustrative of the disclosed subject matter. It is, of
course, not possible to describe every combination of components or
methods herein. One of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that
many further combinations and permutations of the disclosure are
possible. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms "includes,"
"has," "possesses," and the like are used in the detailed
description, claims, appendices and drawings such terms are
intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term
"comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted when employed as a
transitional word in a claim.
[0102] While the various embodiments are susceptible to various
modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated
implementations thereof are shown in the drawings and have been
described above in detail. It should be understood, however, that
there is no intention to limit the various embodiments to the
specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to
cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents
falling within the spirit and scope of the various embodiments.
[0103] In addition to the various implementations described herein,
it is to be understood that other similar implementations can be
used or modifications and additions can be made to the described
implementation(s) for performing the same or equivalent function of
the corresponding implementation(s) without deviating therefrom.
Still further, multiple processing chips or multiple devices can
share the performance of one or more functions described herein,
and similarly, storage can be effected across a plurality of
devices. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited to any
single implementation, but rather is to be construed in breadth,
spirit and scope in accordance with the appended claims.
* * * * *