U.S. patent application number 16/311260 was filed with the patent office on 2019-06-27 for beam change.
The applicant listed for this patent is Nokia Technologies Oy. Invention is credited to Timo Koskela, Juho Pirskanen, Samuli Turtinen.
Application Number | 20190199412 16/311260 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60784129 |
Filed Date | 2019-06-27 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190199412 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koskela; Timo ; et
al. |
June 27, 2019 |
BEAM CHANGE
Abstract
Method, apparatus, and computer program product for a user
equipment to receive a downlink control information message from an
access point in a wireless communications network and to echo a new
beam index in the PUCCH feedback resource in response to the
message indicating a PUCCH feedback resource and containing a beam
change indication or in response to the message indicating a
downlink grant containing a beam change indication MAC control
element but no CSI-feedback is scheduled for the PUCCH feedback
resource. If a scheduling request resource is indicated by the
message or the MAC control element, the user equipment is triggered
to transmit a scheduling request on that indicated scheduling
request resource. If a scheduling request resource is not indicated
by the message or the MAC control element, the user equipment is
triggered to perform a scheduling request procedure on a periodic
scheduling request resource.
Inventors: |
Koskela; Timo; (Oulu,
FI) ; Turtinen; Samuli; (Ii, FI) ; Pirskanen;
Juho; (Kangasala, FI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Nokia Technologies Oy |
Espoo |
|
FI |
|
|
Family ID: |
60784129 |
Appl. No.: |
16/311260 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
June 22, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IB2017/053745 |
371 Date: |
December 19, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62353832 |
Jun 23, 2016 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 7/088 20130101;
H04W 72/1268 20130101; H04B 7/0626 20130101; H04W 72/0413 20130101;
H04B 7/063 20130101; H04B 7/0695 20130101; H04W 48/12 20130101;
H04B 7/0417 20130101; H04W 72/0446 20130101; H04W 36/0083 20130101;
H04W 72/048 20130101; H04W 36/06 20130101; H04W 16/28 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04B 7/0417 20060101
H04B007/0417; H04W 72/12 20060101 H04W072/12; H04W 72/04 20060101
H04W072/04 |
Claims
1-21. (canceled)
22. An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least
one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory
and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one
processor, cause the apparatus to: receive, by a user equipment
from an access point in a wireless communications network, a
downlink control information message; and in response to the
message indicating a physical uplink control channel feedback
resource and comprising a beam change indication wherein no medium
access control, MAC, layer data is granted, or the message
indicating a downlink grant, wherein the downlink grant is decoded
by the user equipment to detect a beam change indication MAC
control element transmitted by the network, and no channel state
information, CSI, -feedback is scheduled for the physical uplink
control channel feedback resource, echo a new beam index by the
user equipment in the physical uplink control channel feedback
resource.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the beam change indication
comprises an indication of a new serving beam different from a
currently used serving beam by the access point for either downlink
transmission or uplink reception.
24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and
the computer program code configured to, with the at least one
processor, cause the apparatus to in response to the message or a
MAC control element indicating a scheduling request resource,
trigger by the user equipment transmission of a scheduling request
on the indicated scheduling request resource.
25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the scheduling request is
transmitted using the new serving beam.
26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the scheduling request is
triggered regardless of other scheduling request triggers.
27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and
the computer program code configured to, with the at least one
processor, cause the apparatus to when the message or a MAC control
element does not indicate a scheduling request resource, in
response to the detection of the beam change indication MAC control
element, trigger a scheduling request procedure on a periodic
scheduling request resource.
28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein when the message indicates
the physical uplink control channel feedback resource, the physical
uplink control channel feedback resource scheduled by the network
is allocated with a size of at least one beam reported by the user
equipment.
29. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and
the computer program code configured to, with the at least one
processor, cause the apparatus further to report by the user
equipment a current serving beam to the access point.
30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein reporting by the user
equipment the current serving beam informs the network whether the
user equipment changed the beam.
31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one memory and
the computer program code configured to, with the at least one
processor, cause the apparatus further to upon receiving an uplink
resource by triggering the scheduling request, generate by the user
equipment a beam state information report.
32. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and
the computer program code configured to, with the at least one
processor, cause the apparatus further to trigger the receiving by
sending a beam change request by the user equipment to the
network.
33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the beam change request
comprises a preferred network communication beam index or a beam
state information report.
34. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and
the computer program code configured to, with the at least one
processor, cause the apparatus further to: in response to the user
equipment receiving or detecting the beam change indication,
wherein the user equipment has not previously reported beam state
information for N measurement periods of a beam reference signal,
where N is configurable, transmit a scheduling request on a
scheduling request resource if indicated in the message or trigger
a scheduling request procedure if no scheduling request resource is
indicated in the message, to report the beam state information.
35. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the at least one memory and
the computer program code configured to, with the at least one
processor, cause the apparatus further to: in response to the user
equipment receiving or detecting the beam change indication,
wherein a new serving beam belongs to a different beam group than a
current serving beam, transmit a scheduling request on a scheduling
request resource if indicated in the message or trigger a
scheduling request procedure if no scheduling request resource is
indicated in the message, to validate a group change using the new
serving beam.
36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein groups are reported by the
user equipment.
37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein groups are determined by
reception direction of the user equipment.
38. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein changing the serving beam in
a group does not change beam alignment of the user equipment.
39. A method comprising: receiving, by a user equipment from an
access point in a wireless communications network, a downlink
control information message; and in response to the message
indicating a physical uplink control channel feedback resource and
comprising a beam change indication wherein no medium access
control, MAC, layer data is granted, or the message indicating a
downlink grant, wherein the downlink grant is decoded by the user
equipment to detect a beam change indication MAC control element
transmitted by the network, and no channel state information, CSI,
-feedback is scheduled for the physical uplink control channel
feedback resource, echoing a new beam index by the user equipment
in the physical uplink control channel feedback resource.
40. The method of claim 39, wherein the beam change indication
comprises an indication of a new serving beam different from a
currently used serving beam by the access point for either downlink
transmission or uplink reception.
41. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program
instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the
following: receiving, by a user equipment from an access point in a
wireless communications network, a downlink control information
message; and in response to the message indicating a physical
uplink control channel feedback resource and comprising a beam
change indication wherein no medium access control, MAC, layer data
is granted, or the message indicating a downlink grant, wherein the
downlink grant is decoded by the user equipment to detect a beam
change indication MAC control element transmitted by the network,
and no channel state information, CSI, -feedback is scheduled for
the physical uplink control channel feedback resource, echoing a
new beam index by the user equipment in the physical uplink control
channel feedback resource.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to wireless communications, and more
particularly to the establishment of a wireless connection between
user equipment and a radio access network with 5G radio access
technology being developed involving beamforming and the
indications exchanged regarding the beamforming.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This section is intended to provide a background or context
to the invention disclosed below. The description herein may
include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily
ones that have been previously conceived, implemented or described.
Therefore, unless otherwise explicitly indicated herein, what is
described in this section is not prior art to the description in
this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion
in this section. Acronyms used in the drawings and this disclosure
are defined at the end of this disclosure.
[0003] Wireless radio access technologies continue to be improved
to handle increased data volumes and larger numbers of subscribers.
The 3GPP organization is developing 5th Generation (5G) wireless
networks utilizing beamforming.
[0004] One current area of discussion within certain 3GPP groups
working on 5G systems regards beamforming at the user equipment
(UE) side. For many years it has not been uncommon for UEs to have
multiple antennas of their own but exploiting the UE's MIMO
capabilities has been somewhat less robust as compared to
exploiting the potential of MIMO at the network side. Based on
beamformed downlink reference signaling, the UE can make
beam-specific measurements and feed back to the network the index
of what the UE sees as the best downlink beam.
[0005] For example, Beam State Information (BSI) is a report
containing beam related information, for example, BSI field=Beam
Index-Beam RSRP. Depending on the signaling channel, BSI may have
different formats. For example, if PUCCH is used then only limited
number of fields (e.g. one or two BSI field(s)) may be included. If
MAC CE or PUSCH (refers to a physical layer multiplexing of uplink
control information (UCI) on UL-SCHI) is used, then multiple BSI
fields may be signaled in one control element (CE)/UCI message.
[0006] Beam Refinement Information (BRI) is a report containing
beam related information corresponding to beam refinement process
(measured from BRRS signals which are additional beam reference
signals transmitted by 5G-NB to allow UE to refine/determine its RX
beams). BRI field=refinement beam index-beam RSRP. Depending on the
signaling channel BRI may have different formats e.g. if PUCCH is
used only one BRI field is included. If MAC CE is used, multiple
BRI fields may be signaled in one CE.
[0007] Thus, methods for forming 5G-NB beam groups and related
signaling are being discussed. The 5G (New Radio) standardization
work has started in 3GPP and is on a study item phase.
[0008] The following abbreviations that may be found in the
specification and/or the drawing figures are defined as
follows:
[0009] 2G Second Generation
[0010] 3G Third Generation
[0011] 3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project
[0012] 5G Fifth Generation
[0013] 5G-NB Fifth Generation Node Beam
[0014] ACK Acknowledged
[0015] A/N Acknowledged/Not acknowledged
[0016] BCI Beam Change Indication
[0017] BSI Beam State Information
[0018] BRI Beam Refinement Information
[0019] BRS Beam Reference Signal
[0020] BRRS Beam Refinement Reference Signal
[0021] BSR Buffer Status Report
[0022] CE Control Element(s)
[0023] CQI Channel Quality Indicator
[0024] CSI Channel State Information
[0025] C-RNTI Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier
[0026] DCI Downlink Control Information
[0027] DL Downlink
[0028] eNB or eNodeB Evolved Node B (LTE base station)
[0029] EPDCCH Enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel
[0030] E-UTRAN Evolved UTRAN
[0031] gNB NR/5G Node B
[0032] HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request
[0033] L1 Physical Layer, also termed PHY
[0034] LCID Logical Channel Identifier
[0035] LTE Long Term Evolution
[0036] LTE-A Long Term Evolution--Advanced
[0037] LTE-M LTE system to support MTC or M2M
[0038] Node B (NB) Node B (base station in UTRAN)
[0039] MAC Medium Access Control
[0040] MAC CE MAC Control Element
[0041] MIMO Multiple In, Multiple Out
[0042] NACK Not Acknowledged
[0043] NB NodeB, base station
[0044] PDCP Packet Data Convergence Protocol
[0045] PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel
[0046] PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel
[0047] PDU Protocol Data Unit
[0048] PHR Power Headroom Report
[0049] PRACH Physical Random Access Channel
[0050] PRB Physical Resource Block
[0051] PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel
[0052] PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared Channel
[0053] RACH Random Access Channel
[0054] RAT Radio Access Technology
[0055] RBI Refinement Beam Index
[0056] RE Resource Element
[0057] Rel Release
[0058] RSRP Reference Signal Received Power
[0059] RSRQ Reference Signal Received Quality
[0060] RSSI Received Signal Strength Indicator
[0061] RX Reception
[0062] SB Sweeping Block
[0063] SR Scheduling Request
[0064] SRS Sounding Reference Signal
[0065] TDD Time Division Duplexing
[0066] TRP Transmit-Receive Point
[0067] TS Technical Specification or Technical Standard
[0068] TTI Transmission Time Interval
[0069] TX Transmission
[0070] TXRU Transceiver Unit
[0071] UCI Uplink Control Information
[0072] UE User Equipment
[0073] UL Uplink
[0074] UL-SCH Uplink Shared Channel
[0075] Other abbreviations not defined above and used herein are
defined in the text that follows.
SUMMARY
[0076] The invention described herein is directed at a method for
UE-side actions upon receiving a beam change indication (BCI)
either by DCI signaling or MAC CE and further determining different
actions based on various conditions.
[0077] This section is intended to include examples and is not
intended to be limiting. Exemplary embodiments of the invention
discussed herein shorten the time to detect failure in beam change
procedure.
[0078] An example of an embodiment of the current invention is a
method that comprises a user equipment receiving a downlink control
information message from an access point in a wireless
communications network and echoing a new beam index in the PUCCH
feedback resource in response to the message indicating a PUCCH
feedback resource and containing a beam change indication or in
response to a message indicating a downlink grant containing a beam
change indication MAC control element but no CSI-feedback is
scheduled for the PUCCH feedback resource. A further example of an
embodiment of the current invention is a method that comprises, if
a scheduling request resource is indicated by the message or the
MAC control element, triggering the user equipment to transmit a
scheduling request on that indicated scheduling request resource. A
still further example of an embodiment of the current invention is
a method that comprises, if a scheduling request resource is not
indicated by the message or the MAC control element, triggering the
user equipment to perform a scheduling request procedure on a
periodic scheduling request resource.
[0079] An additional example of an embodiment of the current
invention would be an apparatus comprising at least one processor;
at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at
least one processor, in response to execution of the computer
program code, is configured to cause the apparatus to perform at
least the following: receiving a downlink control information
message from an access point in a wireless communications network
and echoing a new beam index in the PUCCH feedback resource in
response to the message indicating a PUCCH feedback resource and
containing a beam change indication or in response to a message
indicating a downlink grant containing a beam change indication MAC
control element but no CSI-feedback is scheduled for the PUCCH
feedback resource. A further example of an embodiment of the
current invention is an apparatus wherein the at least one
processor, in response to execution of the computer program code,
is configured to cause the apparatus to further perform at least
the following: if a scheduling request resource is indicated by the
message or the MAC control element, being triggered to transmit a
scheduling request on that indicated scheduling request resource. A
still further example of an embodiment of the current invention is
an apparatus wherein the at least one processor, in response to
execution of the computer program code, is configured to cause the
apparatus to further perform at least the following: if a
scheduling request resource is not indicated by the message or the
MAC control element, being triggered to perform a scheduling
request procedure on a periodic scheduling request resource.
[0080] An additional example of an embodiment of the current
invention would be an apparatus comprising mean to receive a
downlink control information message from an access point in a
wireless communications network and means to echo a new beam index
in the PUCCH feedback resource in response to the message
indicating a PUCCH feedback resource and containing a beam change
indication or in response to a message indicating a downlink grant
containing a beam change indication MAC control element but no
CSI-feedback is scheduled for the PUCCH feedback resource. A
further example of an embodiment of the current invention is an
apparatus with further means, if a scheduling request resource is
indicated by the message or the MAC control element, to trigger to
transmit a scheduling request on that indicated scheduling request
resource. A still further example of an embodiment of the current
invention is an apparatus with means, if a scheduling request
resource is not indicated by the message or the MAC control
element, to trigger to perform a scheduling request procedure on a
periodic scheduling request resource.
[0081] Yet a further example of an embodiment of the current
invention would be a computer program product embodied on a
non-transitory computer-readable medium in which a computer program
is stored that, when being executed by a computer, would be
configured to provide instructions to control or carry out
receiving a downlink control information message from an access
point in a wireless communications network and echoing a new beam
index in the PUCCH feedback resource in response the message
indicating a PUCCH feedback resource and containing a beam change
indication or a message indicating a downlink grant containing a
beam change indication MAC control element but no CSI-feedback is
scheduled for the PUCCH feedback resource. A further example of an
embodiment of the current invention is a computer program product
embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium in which a
computer program is stored that, when being executed by a computer,
would be configured to provide further instructions to control or
carry out, if a scheduling request resource is indicated by the
message or the MAC control element, to trigger to transmit a
scheduling request on that indicated scheduling request resource. A
still further example of an embodiment of the current invention is
a computer program product embodied on a non-transitory
computer-readable medium in which a computer program is stored
that, when being executed by a computer, would be configured to
provide further instructions to control or carry out, if a
scheduling request resource is not indicated by the message or the
MAC control element, to trigger to perform a scheduling request
procedure on a periodic scheduling request resource.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0082] In the attached Drawing, the following figures are presented
to explain the invention:
[0083] FIG. 1 illustrates a sweeping subframe;
[0084] FIG. 2 is an illustration of beam group associations of a
single/collocated TRPs or a Cell;
[0085] FIG. 3 is an illustration of association of beam groups from
different TRPs of a cell;
[0086] FIG. 4 illustrates beam change by MAC CE;
[0087] FIG. 5 illustrates beam change by DCI signaling;
[0088] FIG. 6 illustrates validation of the 5G-NB communication
beam change;
[0089] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an exemplary system in which
the exemplary embodiments may be practiced; and
[0090] FIG. 8 is a logic flow diagram illustrating the operation of
an exemplary method or methods, resulting from an execution of
computer program instructions embodied on a computer readable
memory, and/or functions performed by logic implemented in hardware
or other means, in accordance with exemplary embodiments, which
would be possible.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0091] Different transceiver architectures are considered for 5G
radio access system: digital, analog or so-called hybrid (which
utilizes a hybrid of digital baseband processing (such as MIMO
Multiple Input Multiple Output and/or digital precoding) and analog
beamforming. Although some aspects of this invention may be
discussed in the context of analog beamforming (fully analog or
hybrid transceiver) it should be appreciated that the methods are
applicable also for digital beamforming transceiver
architecture
[0092] To compensate the increased path loss when operating on
higher frequencies, beamforming is seen essential for providing
cell coverage. The aforementioned transceiver architectures provide
means for implementing beamforming in future systems depending on
the cost and complexity limitations. As an example, systems
deployed to lower frequencies (e.g. .about.sub 6 GHz) may be
implemented by using fully digital architecture and the higher
frequencies, where the number of antenna elements required for cell
coverage may range from tens to hundreds, may be implemented by
using hybrid-architecture or even fully analog architecture. It
should be appreciated that the cut-off frequency between higher and
lower frequencies is merely an example.
[0093] In 5G, a so-called sweeping subframe may be introduced to
provide coverage for common control channel signaling with
beamforming. A sweeping subframe consists of sweeping blocks (SB)
where a single block covers a specific area of the cell with a set
of active beams.
[0094] Sweeping subframe is illustrated in FIG. 1 as item 114,
where an access point is shown with different active beams during
different sweeping blocks. The access point is represented with the
different sweeping beams, such that in SB 1 the access point
relates to sweeping beam 110, in SB 2 relates to sweeping beam 112,
and in SB N relates to sweeping beam 114.[WY(1][EMZ2] The total
number of beams required to cover required cell area is typically
much larger than the number of concurrent active beams (an active
beam is defined as a beam which can be used for communication at a
given time) the access point is able to form[WY(3].
[0095] Therefore, access points need to sweep through the cell
coverage area in time domain by activating different set of beams
on each SB. To provide similar coverage using beamforming for
downlink and uplink, similar sweep is needed for both directions.
In some cases the radiation patterns of uplink and downlink may
differ and potentially different number of beams are used for DL
and UL sweep. In some cases Downlink sweep block may have similar
length e.g. 1 or more symbols as uplink sweep block or uplink sweep
block may have different length to e.g. accommodate PRACH
signaling.
[0096] As an example of downlink direction if downlink common
control channel coverage is provided by the sweeping subframe, each
SBs would carry essential cell access information such as DL
synchronization signals, system information such as MIB, SIB, or
the like (including PRACH/RACH configurations), also paging (or any
control information that needs to be broadcasted in a cell). In the
uplink direction the sweeping subframe/subframes may accommodate
resources for random access channel or other uplink channels
requiring periodic availability such as SR (scheduling request) and
SRS (sounding reference signal).
[0097] In a beamformed system where the cell coverage is provided
by multiple beams, it may be beneficial to identify a single beam,
for example, by using beam specific reference signals enabling UE
to perform beam level detection/separation and perform measurement
on beam (specific) reference signals (BRS) such as RSRP, RSRQ (also
RSSI), CQI or the like. Identifying different beams may be
beneficial, for instance, when a UE indicates to the network the
preferred communication beam during an initial access or, for
example, when reporting the said measurements to network, mapping a
measurement to a common reference index between UE and 5G-NB. The
beam specific reference signals may or may not map to (or be
derived from) a physical cell identifier or a cell identifier.
[0098] To identify a beam, the following mappings can be made, for
example, if 8 different BRS signals are transmitted per sweep
block, receiver is potentially able to measure 8 different signal
indices (beams or beam indices). The same BRS signals may be reused
in the next sweep block, thus the sweep block ID needs to be
determined to be able to determine the beam index. Thus the beam
index may be calculated by Beam index=BRS index*Sweep block index.
Sweep block index may be explicitly signaled if the sweep block
(sweep symbol or multiple symbols) also conveys information such as
MIB/SIB/DL CTRL/DL DATA etc. Or the sweep block may include a
specific sequence to identify the block. In one alternative way to
identify a beam is to assign different reference signals to each
beam. The number of beams, which are supported without reuse of
reference signals, is limited by reference signal space.
[0099] A UE may perform BRS signal level measurements on downlink
sweep on 5G-NB communication beams (detected BRS signals) and
report the measurement results to 5G-NB. Alternatively or
additionally, the network may also send additional reference
signals for the UE to measure and provide feedback. These reference
signals may be, for example, so-called BRRS signals (beam
refinement signals). Depending on the measured signals different
feedback may be used for BRS and BRRS measurements, for instance,
BRS measurements may be performed on the beam reference signals
which can be directly associated by the UE to a specific beam index
while the BRRS measurements may be performed on specific beam
reference signals but the beams used to send the signals may not be
known at UE side. 5G-NB is able to map the measurement results on
each reference signals to actual beam indices.
[0100] A UE may feedback the measurement results by using physical
layer signaling (e.g. PUCCH/PUSCH) or higher layer signaling such
as L2 (MAC) or L3 (RRC) by transmitting a BSI report (Beam State
Information) or, in more general terms, a beam report. The BSI
report may include information such as Beam Index-Beam RSRP (or
RSRQ) of all detected beams or N highest quality beams (where N is
an integer). The BSI report format may be limited by the used
signaling method such as PUCCH (fixed number of bits)/PUSCH/MAC CE
(flexibility determined by the grant size). Depending on the
measurement type, whether the measurement was made on BRS or BRRS
(or the like) for instance, the report format may be different. For
example, when measuring BRS signals, a UE may explicitly detect the
beam indexes which it measures but in case of BRRS measurements it
may only use logical index of detected beam specific reference
signals. The report of BRRS measurements may be referred as BRI
(Beam Refinement Information consists of Refinement Beam Index-Beam
RSRP value). The beam index space of BSI and BRI may differ in size
as BSI report may refer to actual beam indices and BRI report
refers to a set of logical values currently measured using BRRS
signals (e.g. ranging from 0-7).
[0101] In some scenarios, such as in inter-cell mobility reporting,
the UE may also feedback the Cell ID to give provide context to the
beam level measurements. Further, beam specific reference signals
may be derived using physical cell identifier (PCI) which may be
transmitted using primary synchronization signal (PSS) and
secondary synchronization signals (SSS) or the like.
[0102] On higher frequencies, in addition to 5G-NB beamforming, the
UE may also use beamforming. The UE may need to steer/form its RX
beam to multiple directions to determine the desired or highest
quality communication beam/direction. UE may measure several RX
directions and determine which direction provides highest quality
based on the predefined metrics. Such metrics may show, for
example, which RX direction detected the highest RSRP of 5G-NB beam
or which RX direction detected the highest number of beams above a
specific quality threshold.
[0103] As the 5G-NB beam radiation patterns typically overlap (e.g.
due to design to provide coverage, due to reflecting radio
environment, due to detecting a side lobe of another beam, etc.), a
UE may be able to detect multiple beams per RX direction. The UE
may then associate the detected 5G-NB beams per its RX direction,
so it may group 5G-NB beams to potentially multiple groups. In one
example, a special case is where a UE maintains a group of `one` so
that one 5G-NB beam is associated to one UE RX beam. One beam in
the group can be, for example, a beam with the highest quality
(RSRP) measured by UE. If reciprocity is assumed (e.g. in TDD
system) the downlink beam measurements to determine link and
channel qualities may be utilized also for reverse direction e.g.
best UE RX direction is also the best transmit direction.
[0104] FIG. 2 illustrates the beam grouping on high level,
specifically, beam group associations of a single/collocated TRPs
or a Cell along with reflecting surface object 214. Access point
212 is illustrated with access point communication beams 202. Based
on the BRS measurements by different sets of RX beams, a UE 210 is
able to determine an association between a set of 5G-NB beams per
its RX direction. The UE 210 is shown with the UE communication
beams 204. In case the UE is able to form multiple beams
concurrently, for example, 2 beams, it may group the detected 5G-NB
beams per RX direction as one group. The FIG. 2 illustrates the
grouping example by using so called grid-of-beams. However, in one
example the UE may also form alternative beam radiation patterns
(wider/narrower) and thus it may be able to detect a different
amount of 5G-NB beams but with potentially different
(reduced/increased) beamforming gain. As can be seen in FIG. 2, in
both beam group association 206 and beam group association 208, the
UE communication beams 204 has one beam in each group association
while the access point communication beams may have two or more
beams in each group association.
[0105] An illustration of association of beam groups from different
TRPs of a cell, FIG. 3 further illustrates a similar example as
FIG. 2 with non-collocated TRPs where as in FIG. 2 the TRPs may be
collocated or a single TRP is used.
[0106] TRP1 302 sweeps out two active beams which are in beam group
association 310 with one beam of the UE communications beams 308 of
UE 306 while TRP2 304 also sweeps out two other active beams which
are in beam group association 312 with one other beam of the UE
communications beams 308 of UE 306.
[0107] Based on the UE beam reporting 5G-NB may determine a set of
beams it may potentially use to communicate with UE, namely, a
candidate set of beams. Out of that set, the network may select a
smaller set it currently utilizes (at least one beam) for active
scheduling
[0108] Alternatively, if the UE maintains a beam or a set of beams
based on UE feedback, it can use them to communicate with to send
downlink control channels. These beams can be selected from a set
of beams reported by UE. The available set of beams may be called a
candidate set and out of that set the 5G-NB may select "serving"
beam or beams. Although scheduling commands on PDCCH could be used
to detect e.g. a deteriorating beam quality, a UE may
aperiodically/periodically update beam groups by providing feedback
based on BRS or BRRS measurements for example.
[0109] Due to UE mobility or changes in the radio environment
(reflections, obstacles, etc.) the current serving beam (or a set
of serving beams) may need to be changed. 5G-NB may update the
current serving set based on UE feedback on BRS or BRRS signals for
example (using Beam State Information or Beam Refinement
Information reporting respectively).
[0110] Thus, when 5G-NB indicates the serving beam (or a set of
serving beams) it currently uses (either for DL transmission or UL
reception), the UE would need to align its own communication
(TX/RX) beam accordingly. In one example case UE may also utilize a
so-called omnidirectional radiation pattern which has equal
beamforming gain to all directions. As the pattern radiates equally
to all directions the beamforming gain may be less than with
directional transmission.
[0111] One way to indicate the beam or beam group change by 5G-NB
is to refer to the latest UE reported measurement. A UE may send a
beam report of N-beams (beam index-RSRP) either by UCI
(PUCCH/PUSCH) or MAC layer signaling and the beam change may be
indicated by the network by sending a single bit indication in DCI
message. This single bit indication may refer to a pre-agreed
value, for instance, the highest quality beam previously reported.
By indicating a change of beam, the UE determines whether it needs
to change its current communication beam as well (there may a
preconfigured number of subframes when this change is done).
Although a DCI message could be defined to carry full beam index
instead of a single bit indication, the DCI messages are typically
not acknowledged. Thus, the beam switch indication may not reach UE
and so the 5G-NB would have no knowledge if the change indication
has been applied. This may lead to a misalignment of 5G-NB and UE
communication beams and potentially extra signaling and delay to
recover from such error, for instance, by determining the lack of
transmission on an allocated grant on PDCCH.
[0112] Alternatively, MAC layer signaling (MAC CE) could be used to
send a beam index to indicate the new (or current) 5G-NB beam. MAC
layer signaling benefits from the feedback loop, namely, HARQ, to
ensure that the messages are received correctly. While the HARQ
seemingly ensures that the transmitted information is received
correctly there is a drawback, namely, that HARQ signaling loop may
fail due to NACK-to-ACK error.
[0113] Regarding beam change, a network may indicate the beam
change to UE by signaling an indication of a beam change by
assigning a new beam index explicitly, using MAC CE which is shown
in FIG. 4. Beam change indication 410 is sent from the 5G-NB to the
UE, wherein processing 440 takes place. As shown by item 430, the
BCI MAC CE is processed before the HARQ feedback grant time +3 +X.
As shown by arrows 420, the beam change is done right after
transmitting/receiving ACK. In this figure, an example is
illustrated where the beam change occurs (new serving beam is used)
immediately after the subframe used to transmit ACK. Alternatively
if the UE is not able to process the beam change indication fast
enough, then a fixed minimum time for beam change may be defined.
Such time may include, for example, HARQ processing time and
additional processing time for the BCI MAC CE. Additional
processing time may also include the subframe to transmit HARQ
feedback. If the UE feedback subframe (the feedback subframe may be
explicitly scheduled to occur after N subframes of reception of the
data) occurs before the fixed minimum time the beam change is done
after the fixed minimum time. If the feedback time is larger than
the fixed minimum time, then the beam change occurs after the
subframe when the feedback (ACK) has been sent. Alternatively or
additionally, an additional beam change delay (in subframes) may be
added after transmitting ACK to catch the ACK to NACK error for MAC
CE. In this case the UE waits for retransmission for given amount
of time. If the network retransmits the same transmission block,
then the UE would detect an ACK to NACK error and may indicate it
by resending an acknowledgement or the indicated SR which is
discussed later herein.
[0114] A network could also indicate the beam change to UE by
signaling an indication of a beam change by referring to a
pre-determined or pre-agreed value with single bit indication, as
shown in FIG. 5 via DCI. FIG. 5 illustrates a beam change by DCI
signaling. Item 510 depicts the beam switch indication DCI. In the
figure the beam change is done after K subframes 520 from receiving
the beam change indication. Arrow 530 depicts BRI/BSI feedback on
xPUCCH. At value K+1, an arrow 540 depicts communication using the
new serving beam.
[0115] Alternatively, a beam change can be made based on the BRRS
measurement. MAC layer (also physical layer) signaling (MAC CE) may
be used to couple the logical beam index (referred as Refinement
Beam Index, RBI) of a BRRS signal measurement with the actual beam
index. As in one example BRRS measurements by UE are performed on
reference signals (or ports) without explicit information on which
beams were used by 5G-NB to send the said BRRS signals, there 5G-NB
may signal the RBI-Beam index mappings to UE (containing multiple
values) and indicate beam change by pointing to one RBI-BI mapping
in the message. Alternatively after indicating the mapping, 5G-NB
may signal beam change by referring to a Beam Index value. In one
more alternative 5G-NB may only signal one RBI-Beam Index (BI)
value to indicate beam change. By using the RBI-BI mapping, UE
learns the association between the measured RBI index and the beam
index values. RBI index maps to a specific UE RX beam thus
providing mapping to a serving beam UE can align its own beams
according to the 5G-NB beams. Alternatively 5G-NB may configure the
BRRS signals to be transmitted from a preconfigured set of beams
which are known at 5G-NB and UE side. This pre-association can be a
current candidate beam set for example.
[0116] In order to run different UE side triggers, for instance, to
determine UE-side reporting triggers based on absolute or relative
serving beam quality to other detected beams the UE may need to
have up-to-date information of the current 5G-NB serving beam or
set of serving beams (and potentially candidate beams) and the
mappings to its own RX beams to facilitate successful beam
change.
[0117] Exemplary embodiments of the invention comprise UE side
actions upon receiving a beam change indication (BCI) either by DCI
signaling or MAC CE based on conditions discussed below.
[0118] For DCI beam change, if the DCI message contains a beam
change indication and no MAC layer data is granted (the UL grant
has no resource block allocation) but PUCCH feedback resource is
signaled, then the UE shall echo the new beam index in the PUCCH
resource. Beam index may be coupled with the latest BRS measurement
results (Beam RSRP) of the echoed beam index. In the change to last
(highest quality) reported beam, the network schedules a PUCCH
allocation with the size of at least one beam report. The UE will
report the current serving beam (beam index and the quality
(RSRP/RSRQ)) which tells the network whether the UE changed the
beam.
[0119] For DCI beam change, if the DCI message contains beam change
indication and explicit SR resource configuration, then the UE
shall trigger SR transmission on the indicated resource using new
serving beam regardless of other SR triggers. The SR transmission
(as in the subsequent paragraphs) may validate the beam change
indication sent by network and additionally it may or may not
trigger pre-configured/pre-determined resource allocation by 5G-NB
to UE to transmit additional information (e.g. MAC CE containing
beam information, buffer status, PHR (Power Head Room) etc.
report). Thus, the procedure to validate the beam change may only
trigger UE-side action to transmit indication on the scheduled SR
resource (or the like, could be also RACH resource) and no 5G-NB
response is expected as typically in SR procedure.
[0120] For MAC CE beam change, if the DCI message indicates a
downlink grant and an explicit allocation for SR resource, then the
UE shall decode the DL grant and determine if beam change
indication (BCI) MAC CE is transmitted by network. If beam change
indication MAC CE is detected, then the UE shall transmit SR on the
explicitly allocated resource
[0121] For MAC CE beam change, if no explicit SR allocation is
configured, then the UE shall, upon receiving BCI MAC CE, trigger
SR procedure on the periodic SR resource (on uplink sweep). Upon
receiving UL resource by using SR procedure, the UE shall generate
BSI report including at least the indicated beam index in the MAC
BCI.
[0122] For MAC CE beam change, if BCI MAC CE is transmitted and no
SR resource is configured and no CSI-feedback is scheduled for the
current (scheduled) PUCCH, then the UE shall echo the new beam
index in the PUCCH resource.
[0123] A UE may request beam change by network explicitly by
signaling a preferred network communication beam index (or by
reporting BSI). The network may then respond with above
mechanisms.
[0124] In above the beam index may also refer to a beam group
index.
[0125] Further exemplary embodiments of the current invention
comprise the following actions if a UE receives a beam change
indication.
[0126] If a UE receives a beam change indication (to new serving
beam) signaled by the network and has not previously (e.g. during
last N*BRS measurement periods, where N is configurable) reported
Beam State Information, then it shall trigger SR procedure to
report BSI information.
[0127] If a UE receives a beam change indication to a new serving
beam which belongs to different beam group than the current serving
beam (groups are reported by UE and determined by the UE RX beams),
then it shall trigger SR procedure (which could be on an explicitly
signaled resource) to validate the group change using the new beam
corresponding to the indicated serving beam. Changing the serving
beam in the same beam group may not change the UE beam alignment
and thus the allocation of SR resource may not be in present.
[0128] If UE receives an indication to change the new beam group
(5G-NB may also change the beam group by explicit signaling such as
beam group change MAC CE or DCI signaling) it may receive an
explicit DCI allocation of an SRS resource (Sounding Reference
Signal) or a like. SRS signals are transmitted by UE and used to
determine (uplink) channel quality between UE and 5G-NB. Assuming
uplink/downlink reciprocity, the UL channel quality may reflect
also the DL channel quality similarly as the DL BRS measurements
may reflect the UL channel quality. When the SRS allocation is
linked together with beam or beam group change the SRS transmission
is triggered upon detection of the said change indication on the
scheduled resource. UE transmits the SRS on the allocated resource,
for example, on PUCCH region (or UL-SCH region if configured) or in
the uplink sweep using the beam which is aligned with the new beam
group (5G-NB beam groups are associated with UE beams). This
enables 5G-NB to measure the channel/beam quality of the indicated
beam group. In similar manner, to be more general, the similar
triggers conditions and UE side actions which are described for SR
transmission in the beam change procedure, similarly apply also for
SRS. As 5G-NB may allocate only SR resource when indicating a beam
change, it may perform channel estimation based on the SR
reception. Typically SRS provides better estimation on the channel
quality as the signal has typically wider bandwidth.
[0129] If UE receives beam change indication and has been
configured periodic/aperiodic SR on PUCCH or UL sweep, the next SR
opportunity is used to send SR signal regardless of other
conditions for SR triggering is met e.g. uplink data
availability/BSR (buffer status report)
[0130] If based on above conditions, then a BSI report is triggered
and at least two BSI fields (BSI=beam index-beam RSRP) can be
reported, where the serving beam is reported in PUCCH/MAC level
report in a certain position (e.g., first reported beam in a
report) regardless of whether or not it is the highest quality beam
for the UE. This way the network may, by requesting PUCCH/MAC beam
report, confirm the current serving beam quality of the UE.
[0131] Embodiments of the invention are concerned with the
configuration of SR transmission. It should be appreciated that, as
indicated previously, the embodiments may alternatively or
additionally be concerned with the configuration of an SRS in place
of SR. Alternatively SR and SRS allocations may or may not be
mutually exclusive, i.e. both allocations may be configured.
[0132] The scheduled SR transmission is performed by a UE using the
beam associated to the changed 5G-NB beam index (new serving beam
index).
[0133] The SR resource may be scheduled by DCI signaling on PUCCH
region or in UL sweep (on RACH/SR region).
[0134] The SRS resource may be scheduled by DCI signaling on PUCCH
region or in UL sweep (on RACH/SR region).
[0135] The SR resource may be indicated by a MAC CE or the Beam
Change MAC CE may include fields to indicate SR configuration for
the scheduled SR transmission
[0136] The SR resource may be scheduled to a TTI when the beam
change occurs or N-TTIs (where N is an integer) after a configured
beam change or N-TTIs after an expected feedback transmission (HARQ
feedback or a configured feedback to DCI indication) or may be
configured periodically to be valid for a pre-determined/configured
time.
[0137] In case the UE transmits (HARQ A/N to MAC PDU) feedback to
confirm the change the SR resource may be scheduled concurrently
with the feedback. The UE may have 2 TXRU implementation and it may
use 2 different beams to transmit SR and A/N feedback to different
5G-NB beams.
[0138] The UE may have preconfigured set of SR/SRS resources (e.g.
SR sequence indices and frequency location and in case of SRS, the
bandwidth). The SR resource is scheduled by referring to a UE
specific resource configuration by an SR configuration index.
[0139] The UE may have preconfigured set of SR resource
configurations for beam management actions. The SR resource
allocation in the DCI message (or MAC CE) may refer to a specific
configuration of a set of SR signals. Configurations may contain
one or multiple SR allocations regarding beam management actions
such as SR for beam validation, SR for beam recovery (e.g. to
indicate that current serving beam is below threshold or other beam
is an offset dB better), SR for requesting resource for BSI report,
SR for requesting BRRS transmission by 5G-NB, etc. As an example,
the different configurations may be indicated by a logical index in
the DCI message (or MAC CE) so that configuration_1 refers to
specific SR allocations and configuration_2 refers to another set
of SR allocations. Alternatively or additionally, the network may
configure specific beam management action which the SR allocation
refers to upon receiving beam change indication. The SR allocation
may be permanent, e.g. override the current SR allocation on uplink
sweep or another periodical SR resource.
[0140] A scheduled SR resource may include implicit or explicit
indication of periodicity, for instance, the SR resource may be
periodically available for N-SR occasions, for example, every 10th
subframe.
[0141] The SR resource or the PUCCH feedback configuration may also
be cell specific (not UE specific) and the location of SR resources
are pre-configured (e.g. every 2nd subframe, every 4th subframe,
every 8th subframe, etc.) so that 5G-NB activates specific SR
resources by signaling a SR-resource mask configuration
[0142] Such configuration may be signaled by using a logical index
which maps to a specific configuration; for instance, one
configuration may provide one or more SR opportunities in
time/frequency/SR resource index grid.
[0143] The UE may repeat SR transmission on each scheduled resource
until it receives UE specific DL control (e.g. C-RNTI masked PDCCH
transmission) or max_number_srTx-times
[0144] Alternatively, the UL resource allocation comprises of an
allocation to transmit MAC CE to confirm the change (for instance,
specific LCID is used to indicate).
[0145] In one option, if the same SR resource is configured for the
UE to confirm the beam change as well as request UL resources, then
SR masking solution could be applied where, for instance, every
other SR occasion is used for confirming the beam change indication
and every other for requesting new UL data.
[0146] FIG. 6 is an illustration of validation of the 5G-NB
communication beam change. Item 602 represents a UE measurement
that indicates that beam B is better in some respect than the
currently serving beam A. As can be seen from this figure, in item
604, a beam change may be initiated based on the UE beam report or
an explicit request to change beam to a specific index, this signal
being sent on beam A. Based on the beam report or request, the
network may determine the need for a beam change. Item 606 shows
the beam change indication on beam A to allocate UE Tx resources on
beam B. So, the network signals the beam change indication (either
DCI or MAC CE/RRC message) and, additionally, the uplink signaling
resource to validate the beam change. The UE transmits the
validation signal using the beam which is aligned to the indicated
5G-NB beam as further shown by item 608. Communication then
continues on beam B as shown by item 610.
[0147] In an embodiment of the invention, if 5G-NB does not detect
transmission on scheduled or triggered SR, it may trigger
retransmission of a Beam Change Indication using both new serving
beam and the previous (old) serving beam and indicate a
retransmission of beam change indication; thereupon correct
reception, triggering a BSI report at UE side.
[0148] In another embodiment of the invention, if 5G-NB does not
detect transmission on scheduled or triggered SR, cell/RAN paging
on the next Paging (sweep) subframe or in a dedicated paging
message and indicate cause value, such as link re-establishment.
Using dedicated paging message or simply a DCI message 5G-NB may
need to repeat the transmission to multiple direction. Reception of
such message may trigger the UE to report BSI.
[0149] In one further embodiment, the scheduled SR resource may
have no relation to sending SR, for instance, on other allocated
resource or in other configured events (e.g. UL data based, sending
BSR), for example, when the beam change may occur with DL traffic
only and new UL data may be available at UE after sending scheduled
SR on the resource indicated in beam change procedure.
[0150] In one example, in case 5G-NB indicates the new serving beam
out of the same beam group (previously reported by UE), this may
not trigger SR transmission or 5G-NB may not explicitly schedule
such resource.
[0151] Turning to FIG. 7, this figure shows a block diagram of one
possible and non-limiting exemplary system in which the exemplary
embodiments may be practiced. In FIG. 7, a user equipment (UE) 110
is in wireless communication with a wireless network 700. A UE is a
wireless, typically mobile device that can access a wireless
network. The UE 710 includes one or more processors 720, one or
more memories 725, and one or more transceivers 730 interconnected
through one or more buses 727. Each of the one or more transceivers
730 includes a receiver, Rx, 732 and a transmitter, Tx, 733. The
one or more buses 727 may be address, data, or control buses, and
may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of
lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optics or other
optical communication equipment, and the like. The one or more
transceivers 730 are connected to one or more antennas 728. The one
or more memories 725 include computer program code 723. The UE 710
includes a YYY module 740, comprising one of or both parts 740-1
and/or 740-2, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The YYY
module 740 may be implemented in hardware as YYY module 740-1, such
as being implemented as part of the one or more processors 720. The
YYY module 740-1 may be implemented also as an integrated circuit
or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In
another example, the YYY module 740 may be implemented as YYY
module 740-2, which is implemented as computer program code 723 and
is executed by the one or more processors 720. For instance, the
one or more memories 725 and the computer program code 723 may be
configured to, with the one or more processors 720, cause the user
equipment 710 to perform one or more of the operations as described
herein. The UE 710 communicates with eNB 770 via a wireless link
711.
[0152] The gNB (NR/5G Node B) 770 is a base station (e.g., for 5G)
that provides access by wireless devices such as the UE 710 to the
wireless network 700. The gNB 770 includes one or more processors
752, one or more memories 755, one or more network interfaces (N/W
I/F(s)) 761, and one or more transceivers 760 interconnected
through one or more buses 757. Each of the one or more transceivers
760 includes a receiver, Rx, 762 and a transmitter, Tx, 763. The
one or more transceivers 760 are connected to one or more antennas
758. The one or more memories 755 include computer program code
753. The gNB 770 includes a ZZZ module 750, comprising one of or
both parts 750-1 and/or 750-2, which may be implemented in a number
of ways. The ZZZ module 750 may be implemented in hardware as ZZZ
module 750-1, such as being implemented as part of the one or more
processors 752. The ZZZ module 750-1 may be implemented also as an
integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable
gate array. In another example, the ZZZ [WY(4]module 750 may be
implemented as ZZZ module 750-2, which is implemented as computer
program code 753 and is executed by the one or more processors 752.
For instance, the one or more memories 755 and the computer program
code 753 are configured to, with the one or more processors 752,
cause the gNB 770 to perform one or more of the operations as
described herein. The one or more network interfaces 761
communicate over a network such as via the links 776 and 731. Two
or more gNBs 770 communicate using, e.g., link 776. The link 776
may be wired or wireless or both and may implement, e.g., an X2
interface.
[0153] The one or more buses 757 may be address, data, or control
buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a
series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber
optics or other optical communication equipment, wireless channels,
and the like. For example, the one or more transceivers 760 may be
implemented as a remote radio head (RRH) 795, with the other
elements of the gNB 770 being physically in a different location
from the RRH, and the one or more buses 757 could be implemented in
part as fiber optic cable to connect the other elements of the gNB
170 to the RRH 795.
[0154] It is noted that description herein indicates that "cells"
perform functions, but it should be clear that the gNB that forms
the cell will perform the functions. The cell makes up part of a
gNB. That is, there can be multiple cells per gNB.
[0155] The wireless network 700 may include a network control
element (NCE) 790 that may include MME (Mobility Management
Entity)/SGW (Serving Gateway) functionality, and which provides
connectivity with a further network, such as a telephone network
and/or a data communications network (e.g., the Internet). The gNB
770 is coupled via a link 731 to the NCE 790. The link 731 may be
implemented as, e.g., an S1 interface. The NCE 790 includes one or
more processors 775, one or more memories 771, and one or more
network interfaces (N/W I/F(s)) 180, interconnected through one or
more buses 785. The one or more memories 771 include computer
program code 773. The one or more memories 771 and the computer
program code 773 are configured to, with the one or more processors
775, cause the NCE 7190 to perform one or more operations.
[0156] The wireless network 700 may implement network
virtualization, which is the process of combining hardware and
software network resources and network functionality into a single,
software-based administrative entity, a virtual network. Network
virtualization involves platform virtualization, often combined
with resource virtualization. Network virtualization is categorized
as either external, combining many networks, or parts of networks,
into a virtual unit, or internal, providing network-like
functionality to software containers on a single system. Note that
the virtualized entities that result from the network
virtualization are still implemented, at some level, using hardware
such as processors 752 or 775 and memories 755 and 771, and also
such virtualized entities create technical effects.
[0157] The computer readable memories 725, 755, and 771 may be of
any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be
implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as
semiconductor based memory devices, flash memory, magnetic memory
devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed
memory and removable memory. The computer readable memories 725,
755, and 771 may be means for performing storage functions. The
processors 720, 752, and 775 may be of any type suitable to the
local technical environment, and may include one or more of general
purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors,
digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on a
multi-core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The
processors 720, 752, and 775 may be means for performing functions,
such as controlling the UE 710, gNB 770, and other functions as
described herein.
[0158] In general, the various embodiments of the user equipment
710 can include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones such
as smart phones, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs) having
wireless communication capabilities, portable computers having
wireless communication capabilities, image capture devices such as
digital cameras having wireless communication capabilities, gaming
devices having wireless communication capabilities, music storage
and playback appliances having wireless communication capabilities,
Internet appliances permitting wireless Internet access and
browsing, tablets with wireless communication capabilities, as well
as portable units or terminals that incorporate combinations of
such functions.
[0159] Embodiments herein may be implemented in software (executed
by one or more processors), hardware (e.g., an application specific
integrated circuit), or a combination of software and hardware. In
an example of an embodiment, the software (e.g., application logic,
an instruction set) is maintained on any one of various
conventional computer-readable media. In the context of this
document, a "computer-readable medium" may be any media or means
that can contain, store, communicate, propagate or transport the
instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction
execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer, with
one example of a computer described and depicted, e.g., in FIG. 7.
A computer-readable medium may comprise a computer-readable storage
medium or other device that may be any media or means that can
contain or store the instructions for use by or in connection with
an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a
computer.
[0160] The current architecture in LTE networks is fully
distributed in the radio and fully centralized in the core network.
The low latency requires bringing the content close to the radio
which leads to local break out and multi-access edge computing
(MEC). 5G may use edge cloud and local cloud architecture. Edge
computing covers a wide range of technologies such as wireless
sensor networks, mobile data acquisition, mobile signature
analysis, cooperative distributed peer-to-peer ad hoc networking
and processing also classifiable as local cloud/fog computing and
grid/mesh computing, dew computing, mobile edge computing,
cloudlet, distributed data storage and retrieval, autonomic
self-healing networks, remote cloud services and augmented reality.
In radio communications, using edge cloud may mean node operations
to be carried out, at least partly, in a server, host or node
operationally coupled to a remote radio head or base station
comprising radio parts. It is also possible that node operations
will be distributed among a plurality of servers, nodes or hosts.
It should also be understood that the distribution of labor between
core network operations and base station operations may differ from
that of the LTE or even be non-existent. Some other technology
advancements probably to be used are Software-Defined Networking
(SDN), Big Data, and all-IP, which may change the way networks are
being constructed and managed.
[0161] One possible manner to carry out embodiments described
herein is with an edge cloud using a distributed computing system.
An exemplary embodiment comprises a radio node connected to a
server. Exemplary embodiments implementing the system allow the
edge cloud server and the radio node as stand-alone apparatuses
communicating with each other via a radio path or via a wired
connection or they may be located in a same entity communicating
via a wired connection.
[0162] FIG. 8 is a logic flow diagram illustrating the operation of
an exemplary method or methods, resulting from an execution of
computer program instructions embodied on a computer readable
memory, and/or functions performed by logic implemented in hardware
or other means, in accordance with exemplary embodiments, which
would be possible.
[0163] Item 802 represents the UE requesting/reporting beam change
request. Item 804 represents the UE receiving a downlink control
information message from AP. Item 806 illustrates BCI via the DCI,
wherein the message indicates a PUCCH feedback resource and
comprises BCI but no MAC layer data is granted, while item 808
illustrates the BCI via MAC CE, wherein message indicates a
downlink grant which, when decoded by UE, discloses BCI MAC CE but
no CSI-feedback is scheduled for the PUCCH feedback resource. As a
result of either, the UE echoes a new beam index in PUCCH feedback
resource as shown by item 810. In item 812, if an SR resource was
included in the message, then the UE is triggered to transmit SR on
the indicated SR resource. In item 814, if no SR resource was
included, then UE is triggered to schedule SR procedure on periodic
SR resource.
[0164] An example of an embodiment, which can be referred to as
item 1, is a method that comprises receiving, by a user equipment
from an access point in a wireless communications network, a
downlink control information message; and in response to the
message indicating a physical uplink control channel feedback
resource and comprising a beam change indication wherein no MAC
layer data is granted, or the message indicating a downlink grant,
wherein the downlink grant is decoded by the user equipment to
detect a beam change indication MAC control element transmitted by
the network, and no CSI-feedback is scheduled for the physical
uplink control channel feedback resource, echoing a new beam index
by the user equipment in the physical uplink control channel
feedback resource.
[0165] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 2, is the method of item 1, where the beam change
indication comprises an indication of a new serving beam different
from a currently used serving beam by the access point for either
downlink transmission or uplink reception.
[0166] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 3, is the method of either item above, where the message or
the MAC control element indicates a scheduling request resource,
triggering by the user equipment transmission of a scheduling
request on the indicated scheduling request resource.
[0167] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 4, is the method of item 3, where the scheduling request is
transmitted using the new serving beam.
[0168] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 5, is the method of items 3 or 4, where the scheduling
request is triggered regardless of other scheduling request
triggers.
[0169] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 6, is the method of any item above, where the message or
the MAC control element does not indicate a scheduling request
resource, in response to the detection of the beam change
indication MAC control element, triggering a scheduling request
procedure on a periodic scheduling request resource.
[0170] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 7, is the method of any item above, where, when the message
indicates the physical uplink control channel feedback resource,
the physical uplink control channel feedback resource scheduled by
the network is allocated with a size of at least one beam reported
by the user equipment.
[0171] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 8, is the method of any item above, which further comprises
reporting by the user equipment a current serving beam to the
access point.
[0172] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 9, is the method of any item above, where reporting by the
user equipment the current serving beam informs the network whether
the user equipment changed the beam.
[0173] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 10, is the method of any item above, which further
comprises upon receiving an uplink resource by triggering the
scheduling request procedure, generating by the user equipment a
beam state information report
[0174] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 11, is the method of any item above, which further
comprises triggering the receiving by sending a beam change request
by the user equipment to the network.
[0175] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 12, is the method of item 11, where the beam change request
comprises a preferred network communication beam index or a beam
state information report.
[0176] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 13, is the method of any item above, which further
comprises in response to the user equipment receiving or detecting
the beam change indication, wherein the user equipment has not
previously reported beam state information for N measurement
periods of a beam reference signal, where N is configurable,
transmitting a scheduling request on a scheduling request resource
if indicated in the message or triggering a scheduling request
procedure if no scheduling request resource is indicated in the
message, to report the beam state information.
[0177] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 14, is the method of any item above, which further
comprises in response to the user equipment receiving or detecting
the beam change indication, wherein a new serving beam belongs to a
different beam group than a current serving beam, transmitting a
scheduling request on a scheduling request resource if indicated in
the message or triggering a scheduling request procedure if no
scheduling request resource is indicated in the message, to
validate a group change using the new serving beam
[0178] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 15, is the method of item 14, where groups are reported by
the user equipment.
[0179] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 16, is the method of items 14 or 15, where groups are
determined by reception direction of the user equipment.
[0180] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 17, is the method of any of items 14 through 16, where
changing the serving beam in a group does not change beam alignment
of the user equipment.
[0181] Embodiments herein may be implemented in software (executed
by one or more processors), hardware (e.g., an application specific
integrated circuit), or a combination of software and hardware. In
an example embodiment, the software (e.g., application logic, an
instruction set) is maintained on any one of various conventional
computer-readable media. In the context of this document, a
"computer-readable medium" may be any media or means that can
contain, store, communicate, propagate or transport the
instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction
execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer, with
one example of a computer described and depicted, e.g., in FIG. 7.
A computer-readable medium may comprise a computer-readable storage
medium (e.g., memories 725, 755, 771 or other device) that may be
any media or means that can contain, store, and/or transport the
instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction
execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer. A
computer-readable storage medium does not comprise propagating
signals. Moreover, modules YYY and ZZZ could be where embodiments
of the methods herein may be implemented in the UE and gNB,
respectively. [EMZ5]
[0182] Embodiments of the invention could be implemented as an
apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory
including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory
and the computer code are configured with the at least one
processor, to cause the apparatus to at least perform the any of
the methods disclosed herein can serve as an embodiment of this
invention.
[0183] Embodiments of the invention could also be implemented as a
computer program product embodied on a non-transitory
computer-readable medium, in which a computer program is stored
which, when being executed by a computer, is configured to provide
instructions to control or carry out any of the methods disclosed
herein can also serve as an embodiment of this invention.
[0184] An example of another embodiment of the present invention,
which can be referred to as item 18, is an apparatus comprising: at
least one processor; and at least one memory including computer
program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code
configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus
to perform at least the following: receiving, from an access point
in a wireless communications network, a downlink control
information message; and in response to the message indicating a
physical uplink control channel feedback resource and comprising a
beam change indication wherein no MAC layer data is granted, or the
message indicating a downlink grant, wherein the downlink grant is
decoded by the user equipment to detect a beam change indication
MAC control element transmitted by the network, and no CSI-feedback
is scheduled for the physical uplink control channel feedback
resource, echoing a new beam index in the physical uplink control
channel feedback resource.
[0185] Embodiments of the present invention may be a combination of
means or steps for performing particular aspects or features of the
invention which may cover a variety of corresponding structures,
materials, or acts and equivalents thereof as described in this
specification.
[0186] An example of another embodiment of the present invention,
which can be referred to as item 19, is an apparatus comprising:
means to receive, from an access point in a wireless communications
network, a downlink control information message; and in response to
the message indicating a physical uplink control channel feedback
resource and comprising a beam change indication wherein no MAC
layer data is granted, or the message indicating a downlink grant,
wherein the downlink grant is decoded by the user equipment to
detect a beam change indication MAC control element transmitted by
the network, and no CSI-feedback is scheduled for the physical
uplink control channel feedback resource, means to echo a new beam
index in the physical uplink control channel feedback resource.
[0187] Embodiments of the invention described herein may be
implemented in software (executed by one or more processors),
hardware (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit), or a
combination of software and hardware. In an example of an
embodiment, the software (e.g., application logic, an instruction
set, etc.) is maintained on any one of various conventional
computer-readable media. In the context of this document, a
"computer-readable medium" may be any media or means that can
contain, store, communicate, propagate or transport the
instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction
execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer. A
computer-readable medium may comprise a computer-readable storage
medium that may be any media or means that can contain or store the
instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction
execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer.
[0188] An example of another embodiment of the present invention,
which can be referred to as item 20 is a computer program
comprising code to perform any of the method described in items 1
through 17 above.
[0189] An example of a further embodiment, which can be referred to
as item 21, embodied on a computer program product comprising a
computer-readable medium bearing the computer program code of item
20 therein for use with a computer.
[0190] An example of another embodiment of the present invention,
which can be referred to as item 22, is a computer-readable medium
encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computer,
performs the methods of any of items 1 through 17.
[0191] If desired, the different functions discussed herein may be
performed in a different order and/or concurrently with each other.
Furthermore, if desired, one or more of the above-described
functions may be optional or may be combined.
[0192] Although various aspects of the invention are set out in the
independent claims, other aspects of the invention comprise other
combinations of features from the described embodiments and/or the
dependent claims with the features of the independent claims, and
not solely the combinations explicitly set out in the claims.
[0193] It is also noted herein that while the above describes
example embodiments of the invention, these descriptions should not
be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, there are several variations
and modifications which may be made without departing from the
scope of the present invention as defined in the appended
claims.
[0194] A technical problem that might be addressed by embodiments
of the invention discussed herein is shortening the time to detect
failure in beam change procedure.
[0195] If desired, the different functions discussed herein may be
performed in a different order and/or concurrently with each other.
Furthermore, if desired, one or more of the above-described
functions may be optional or may be combined.
[0196] Although various aspects are set out above, other aspects
comprise other combinations of features from the described
embodiments, and not solely the combinations described above.
[0197] It is also noted herein that while the above describes
examples of embodiments of the invention, these descriptions should
not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, there are several
variations and modifications which may be made without departing
from the scope of the present invention.
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