EP4690521A1

EP4690521A1 - Unified channel state information (csi) framework for spatial and power domain adaptation for network energy saving

Info

Publication number: EP4690521A1
Application number: EP24716793.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Stephen Grant; Ajit Nimbalker; Ravikiran Nory; Sina MALEKI; Helka-Liina MÄÄTTÄNEN; Ali Nader; Andres Reial
Original assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Current assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
Priority date: 2023-04-04
Filing date: 2024-04-04
Publication date: 2026-02-11
Also published as: MX2025011863A; CN121219977A; WO2024208978A1

Abstract

A method, network node and user equipment (UE) for a unified channel state information (CSI) framework for spatial and power domain adaptation for network energy saving are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method in a UE includes receiving at least one channel state information, CSI, reporting subconfiguration configured within a CSI reporting configuration, each of the at least one CSI reporting subconfigurations having at least one of a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting. The method also includes receiving at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within an aperiodic trigger state, each of the at least one subconfiguration indicator indicating at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration within the CSI reporting configuration, and receiving an indication of the aperiodic trigger state. The method includes, in response to the indication of the aperiodic trigger state, measuring and reporting at least one CSI based on at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state.

Description

UNIFIED CHANNEL STATE INFORMATION (CSI) FRAMEWORK FOR SPATIAL

AND POWER DOMAIN ADAPTATION FOR NETWORK ENERGY SAVING

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and in particular, to a unified channel state information (CSI) framework for spatial and power domain adaptation for network energy saving.

BACKGROUND

The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has developed and is developing standards for Fourth Generation (4G) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE)) and Fifth Generation (5G) (also referred to as New Radio (NR)) wireless communication systems. Such systems provide, among other features, broadband communication between network nodes, such as base stations, and mobile wireless devices (WD) or user equipments (UE), as well as communication between network nodes and between UEs. The 3 GPP is also developing standards for Sixth Generation (6G) wireless communication networks.

NW energy consumption

The network (NW) power consumption for NR is said to be lower than for LTE because of its lean design. In the current implementation, however, NR will most likely consume more power compared to LTE, e.g., due to the higher bandwidth and more so due to introduction of additional elements such as 64 transmi t/receive (TX/RX) ports with associated digital radio frequency (RF) chains. As the network node is expected to be able to support the UE with its maximum capability (e.g., throughput, coverage, etc.), the network node may need to use full configuration even when the maximum network node support is actually rarely needed by the UEs.

In addition, an increased number of TX/RX ports also leads to an increase to the number of reference signals (e.g., channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS)) needed to be transmitted by the network node (and to be measured by the UE) for proper signal detection. Thus, the additional TX/RX ports may result in additional power consumption, i.e., to transmit a larger number of CSI-RS to the UEs. Furthermore, it should also be noted that the larger number of CSI-RS transmissions may also consume valuable network node resources.

NW energy saving by applying antenna muting To provide high-rate cell-edge coverage and high spatial resolution, an NR network node may deploy large antenna arrays with hundreds of antenna elements and often up to 32 digital ports (or more). The energy cost associated with RF (power amplifier (PA) and low noise amplifier (LNA)), digital processing and baseband processing associated with such an array is high. FIG. 1 shows an example of an active antenna array arranged in sub-arrays with 4 antenna elements per sub-array with two different polarizations: +45 and -45 degrees. This example consists of 4 x 8 = 32 subarrays. The total number of antenna elements is 32 x 4 = 128.

Each sub-array is typically connected to two transceiver chains, one per polarization, as shown in the example of FIG. 2. In this example, each transceiver chain corresponds to a digital antenna port. An antenna port is what is “seen” by the baseband (Open Systems Interconnection Layer 1 (LI) processing) in the sense that digital beamforming weights may be applied at baseband across the multiple ports to steer a beam toward a scheduled user. In this example, there are two antenna ports per sub-array corresponding to the two polarizations.

It is quite common that such network nodes, e.g., base stations, are equipped with 64 transceiver chains, and more are foreseen in the future, especially at higher frequencies. The energy consumed by the multitude of these transceiver chains stands for a major part of total consumed network energy.

In some scenarios (few users, low load, reduced user or latency requirements), maintaining sufficient user and system performance may not require a full antenna array at the network node. The network node may then deactivate or mute parts of the antenna panel and transmit with a subset of antenna elements to reduce energy consumption, as shown in the example of FIG. 3.

There is a tradeoff between energy saving gains and UE performance loss. To avoid recurrent reconfigurations and excessive UE performance loss caused by transceiver muting, it is necessary for the network node to acquire knowledge of what performance the different muting patterns would result in prior to the actual transceiver muting decision. This requires the UE to have the ability to report not only channel state information (CSI) for a current transceiver configuration, e.g., 64 transceivers (64 ports), but also CSI for other candidate configuration(s), e.g., 32, 16, or 8. It is useful to note that current 3GPP specifications only define up to 32 CSI-RS ports for obtaining CSI feedback; however, extending this to 64 is currently being considered.

In 3 GPP RAN1#112, two types of antenna muting have been defined according to the following:

For the purpose of further discussions in RANI on network energy savings (NES) spatial domain adaptations, consider the following cases:

• Type 1: all antenna elements associated to a logical antenna port is disabled/enabled; and

• Type 2: part/subset of antenna elements associated to a logical antenna port is disabled/enabled.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, there are 64 digital antenna ports with 2 ports per sub-array corresponding to the two polarizations. Type-1 antenna muting is when all antenna elements corresponding to a port are disabled. Since there are two elements per port, both of them would be muted.

Type-2 antenna muting is more relevant to millimeter wave (mmWave) applications in frequency range 2 when there are a small number of ports (e.g., 2), but many antenna elements associated with each port. In this case there is typically a power amplifier (PA) associated with each antenna element, so energy may be saved by muting antenna elements within a port.

CSI-RS multiplexing and mapping to physical resources

In NR, the UE estimates CSI based on a CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) resource with a certain number of ports, where the number of ports is consistent with the deployed antenna array. A CSI-RS resource used for CSI reporting may span 1, 2, or 4 orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) symbols:

• One symbol for 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 ports;

• Two symbols for 4, 8, 12, 16 ports; and

• Four symbols for 24, 32 ports.

A CSI-RS resource may start at any symbol (0-13) within a slot:

• Defined by a single start symbol for 1 symbol CSI-RS, 2 symbol CSI-RS, and 4 symbols with time domain orthogonal cover code (TD-OCC span 4); and

• Defined by two start symbol indices in the 4 symbol CSI-RS 2+2 with TD-OCC span 2.

As shown in the example of FIG. 4, components may be mapped to frequencies with granularity of component size, 1, 2, or 4 subcarriers. The same subcarriers may be used across all symbols in a resource.

Resource element level multiplexing with tracking reference signals (TRS) and/or demodulation reference signals (ZD MRS) is possible in the same OFDM symbol. In most cases, RE level multiplexing with DMRS is not possible anyway.

In NR, CSI-RS resources are generally configured in sets where a set may contain one or more CSI-RS resources. Typically when CSI is requested, a CSI-RS resource set is indicated to the UE, and the UE may perform CSI measurements on the resources within the set.

CSI-RS Power Offsets

A non-zero power CSI-RS resource is configured with a number of parameters within the information element (IE), NZP-CSI-RS-Resource, as follows:

NZP-CSI-RS-Resource information element

NZP-CSI-RS-Resource ::= SEQUENCE { nzp-CSI-RS-Resourceld NZP-CSI-RS-Resourceld, resourceMapping CSI-RS-ResourceMapping, powerControlOffset INTEGER (-8 .15), powerControlOffsetSS ENUMERATED {db-3, dbO, db3, db6} OPTIONAL, - Need R scramblingID Scrambling! d, periodicityAndOffset CSI-ResourcePeriodicityAndOffset OPTIONAL, - Cond

PeriodicOrSemiPersistent qcl-InfoPeriodicCSI-RS TCI-Stateld OPTIONAL, — Cond Periodic

The information element informs the UE of two different power offsets. The first one, powerControlOffset, is the power offset (in dB) between physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and CSI-RS that the UE may assume when it estimates and reports CSI for future PDSCH scheduling decisions made by the network node. Since the PDSCH and CSI-RS powers are generally different, and the UE estimates the channel based on CSI-RS samples, the UE uses this offset to correctly scale its CSI estimates appropriately to account for the power difference.

The second offset powerControlOffsetSS is the power offset (in dB) between CSI- RS and synchronization signal block (SSB). The UE may use this offset to compute the absolute power of the CSI-RS since the transmission power of the SSB is signaled to the UE separately.

CSI-RS transmission types

In NR, the following three types of CSI-RS transmissions are supported:

• Aperiodic CSI-RS Transmission: This is a one-shot CSI-RS transmission that may be triggered by a network node via downlink control information (DCI) in any slot. Here, one-shot means that CSI-RS transmission only happens once per trigger in one slot. The CSI-RS resources (i.e. , the resource element locations which consist of subcarrier locations and OFDM symbol locations) for aperiodic CSI-RS are preconfigured to UEs via higher layer signaling. The transmission of aperiodic CSI-RS is triggered via downlink control information (DCI). As shown in Table 1, aperiodic CSI-RS may be used for aperiodic CSI reporting.

• Periodic CSI-RS Transmission: These CSI-RS transmissions are preconfigured by higher layer signaling and the pre-configuration includes parameters such as periodicity and slot offset. Periodic CSI-RS is controlled by higher layer signaling only. That is, the periodic CSI-RS transmission starts following radio resource control (RRC) configuration following the configured parameters. As shown in Table 1, periodic CSI-RS may be used for periodic CSI reporting, semi-persistent CSI reporting and aperiodic CSI reporting.

• Semi-Persistent CSI-RS Transmission: Similar to periodic CSI-RS, resources for semi-persistent CSI-RS transmissions are preconfigured via higher layer signaling with parameters such as periodicity and slot offset. However, unlike periodic CSI-RS, a dynamic allocation activation signaling via a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) is needed to begin transmission of semi-persistent CSI-RS on the preconfigured resources. Furthermore, semi-persistent CSI-RS is transmitted for a limited time duration until the activated semi-persistent CSI-RS is deactivated via a deactivation signaling via a MAC CE. As shown in Table 1, semi-persistent CSI-RS may be used for semi-persistent CSI reporting and aperiodic CSI reporting.

Table 1. Triggering/ Activation of CSI Reporting for the possible CSI-RS Configurations

A-CSI trigger states

The network node may wish to request the UE to report CSI based on one or more hypotheses of an antenna muting pattern and/or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)-to-CSI-RS power offset. Based on the CSI report(s), the network may identify if it may still serve the UE sufficiently well while at the same time reducing network node energy cost by muting certain antennas and/or reducing PDSCH transmission power. It is beneficial to be able to request such CSI reports from the UE in an aperiodic fashion when needed. In current specifications, aperiodic CSI reporting is triggered by the “CSI request” field in DCI 0 1 and/or DCI 0 2:

- CSI request - 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 bits determined by higher layer parameter reportTriggerSize .

Typically, for aperiodic CSI triggering and reporting, a UE in connected mode is configured with a first number of trigger states (e.g., 128) via RRC signaling. However, the DCI field size for A-CSI trigger state indication is limited to 6 bits, implying that only a maximum of 64 trigger states may be active at a time and only these may be triggered via the DCI (e.g., via DCI 0_l/0_2). A MAC CE may be used for Aperiodic CSI trigger state selection to indicate the active trigger states. The active trigger state budget is limited, and the trigger states are used for many purposes such as CSI measurement and reporting for link adaptation, beam management (including Ll- reference signal received power (RSRP) reporting, LI signal to interference plus noise (SINR) reporting, etc.). An example is shown in FIG. 5.

In 3GPP Technical Standard (TS) 38.331 the information element (IE) CSI- AperiodicTriggerStateList configures the UE with a list of trigger states. If the number of configured trigger states is more than what is possible to indicate to the UE using DCI, a MAC CE is used to down select from the RRC configured list.

Each trigger state consists of a list of CSI-AssociatedReportConflglnfo and each consists of association between (1) a resource configuration (CSI-ResourceConflg') in which channel and interference resources to be measured are defined, and (2) a reporting configuration (CSI-ReportConflg) which configures the UE how to report and what to report based on the measurements.

CSI-AperiodicTriggerStateList The CSI-AperiodicTriggerStateList IE is used to configure the UE with a list of aperiodic trigger states. Each codepoint of the DCI field "CSI request" is associated with one trigger state (see 3GPP TS 38.321 [3], clause 6.1.3.13). Upon reception of the value associated with a trigger state, the UE will perform measurement of CSI-RS, CSI-IM and/or synchronization signal block (SSB) (reference signals) and aperiodic reporting on LI according to all entries in the associatedReportConflglnfoList for that trigger state.

CSI-AperiodicTriggerStateList information element

- ASN1 START

- TAG-CSI-APERIODICTRIGGERSTATELIST-START

CSI-AperiodicTriggerStateList ::= SEQUENCE (SIZE (L.maxNrOfCSI- AperiodicTriggers)) OF CSI-AperiodicTriggerState

CSI-AperiodicTriggerState ::= SEQUENCE { associatedReportConflglnfoList SEQUENCE (SIZE(L.maxNrofReportConfigPerAperiodicTrigger)) OF CSI- AssociatedReportConfiglnfo,

[[ ap-CSI-MultiplexingMode-rl7 ENUMERATED {enabled}

OPTIONAL — Need R

CSI-AssociatedReportConfiglnfo ::= SEQUENCE { reportConfigld CSI-ReportConfigld, resourcesF orChannel CHOICE { nzp-CSI-RS SEQUENCE { resourceSet INTEGER (L.maxNrofNZP-CSI-RS-

ResourceSetsPerConfig), qcl-info SEQUENCE (SIZE(l..maxNrofAP-CSI-RS-

ResourcesPerSet)) OF TCI-Stateld

OPTIONAL — Cond

Aperiodic csi-SSB-ResourceSet INTEGER (L.maxNrofCSI-SSB-

ResourceSetsPerConfig) csi-IM-ResourcesForlnterference INTEGER(1..maxNrofCSI-IM-

ResourceSetsPerConfig) OPTIONAL, — Cond CSI-IM-Forlnterference nzp-CSI-RS-ResourcesForlnterference INTEGER (L.maxNrofNZP-CSI-RS- ResourceSetsPerConfig) OPTIONAL, — Cond NZP-CSI-RS-Forlnterference

[[ resourcesForChannel2-r!7 CHOICE { nzp-CSI-RS2-rl7 SEQUENCE { resourceSet2-r!7 INTEGER (L.maxNrofNZP-CSI-RS-

ResourceSetsPerConfig), qcl-info2-rl7 SEQUENCE (SIZE(l..maxNrofAP-CSI-RS-

ResourcesPerSet)) OF TCI-Stateld

OPTIONAL - Cond

Aperiodic csi-SSB-ResourceSet2-r!7 INTEGER (E.maxNrofCSI-SSB-

ResourceSetsPerConfigExt)

OPTIONAL, - Cond

NoUni fiedTCI csi-SSB-ResourceSetExt INTEGER (L.maxNrofCSI-SSB- ResourceSetsPerConfigExt) OPTIONAL — Need R

]]

- TAG-CSI-APERIODICTRIGGERSTATELIST-STOP

- ASN1STOP

A-CSI Reporting Configuration Framework

FIG. 6 shows a first example of CSI reporting and resource configuration used for the case of aperiodic reporting on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) which is triggered as described in the previous section. In this example, there are:

• S trigger states: o A trigger state includes an index that points to one CSI-RS resource set from a list CSI-RS resource sets configured in a CSI-ResourceConfig:

■ In this example, the trigger states point to the following CSI- RS resource sets:

• Trigger State 1 -> Ki-th set in the list within ResourceConfig 1;

• Trigger State 2 -> 2^nd set in the list within CSI- ResourceConfig 1; and/or

• Trigger State S -> 1^st set in the list within CSI- ResourceConfig 2; o A trigger state is “linked” to one or more CSI-ReportConfigs. Linking to multiple CSI-ReportConfigs is used in case it is desired to request the UE to report different types of CSI measurements:

■ In this example, Trigger State 1 is linked to two different CSI-ReportConfigs such that the UE reports two CSI measurements. In contrast, Trigger States 1 and S are linked to only one CSI-ReportConfig and thus reports only a single CSI measurement;

• M CSI-ReportConfigs: o A CSI-ReportConfig contains a collection of CSI reporting parameters, e.g., CSI reporting type, codebook configuration, reporting granularity (wideband/subband), measurement restriction, etc.; o A CSI-ReportConfig is “linked” to a CSI-ResourceConfig which contains one or more lists of resources used for CSI measurement for this report configuration:

■ In this example, both CSI-ReportConfig 1 and 2 are both linked to CSI-ResourceConfig 1 and CSI-ReportConfig M is linked to CSI- ReportConfig N;

• N CSI-ResourceConfigs: o A CSI-ResourceConfig contains one or more lists containing pointers to CSI-RS, SSB, and/or IM resource sets that the UE shall use for CSI measurement: o In this example there are:

■ Ki CSI-RS resource sets (NZP-CSI-RS-ResourceSet) in Resource Setting 1; and

■ KN CSI-RS resource sets (NZP-CSI-RS-ResourceSet) in Resource Setting N.

FIG. 7 shows a second, simpler example of CSI reporting and resource configuration used for the case of aperiodic reporting on PUS CH. In this example, there are only 2 trigger states, each linked to a different CSI-ReportConfig, but both pointing to the same CSI-RS resource set.

With the above CSI reporting framework, when the network node triggers a CSI report with a certain codepoint in the CSI Request field of DCI, the UE knows by configuration what kind of report(s) is/are requested, and on what measurement resources the report(s) should be based.

Related 3GPP Considerations

The following was considered in RANI# 112:

For spatial element adaptation, further study the following:

• A2-1) Independent/separate CSI report configurations where each CSI report configuration corresponds to one spatial adaptation pattern;

• A2-2) One CSI report configuration contains multiple CSI report sub-configurations where each sub-configuration corresponds to one spatial adaptation pattern:

- For future study (FFS): Details of sub-configuration

In A2-2 of these considerations, it was proposed to study creating a “subconfiguration” within CSI-ReportConfig that is associated with a spatial adaptation pattern which is equivalent to a muting pattern .

CSI reporting based on multiple power offsets to enable the network node to request the UE to perform CSI measurement and reporting on PUSCH based on multiple hypothesized values of the PDSCH-to-CSI-RS power offset parameter powerControlOffset were considered. This enables the network node to make energy saving decisions based on several hypotheses on PDSCH power reduction taking into account the channel quality reported by the UE.

In the 3GPP work item on network energy saving, two types of adaptation are being discussed: (1) power domain adaptation (see Section 2.2.4 on CSI-RS power offsets), and (2) spatial domain adaptation (see Section 2.2.2 on antenna muting). A method of CSI configuration, triggering, and reporting is disclosed only for (1); it does not disclose methods for (2). While the 3GPP RANI agreement mentions “subconfiguration” for spatial domain, it is an open problem on how to efficiently configure, trigger, and report CSI for spatial domain adaptation. Furthermore, it is an open problem on how to unify the configuration / triggering / reporting for both spatial and power domain adaptation. SUMMARY

Some embodiments advantageously provide methods, network nodes and UEs for a unified channel state information (CSI) framework for spatial and power domain adaptation for network energy saving.

Methods are disclosed by which a UE is configured and dynamically triggered to measure and report CSI on an UL channel corresponding to one or more spatial domain adaptation settings and/or one or more power domain adaptation settings in a unified CSI framework applicable to both adaptation types, used in isolation or in combination.

The UE may be configured with at least one of:

1. One or more sub-configurations configured within a CSI reporting configuration (e.g., within the information element CSI-ReportConfig) where a subconfiguration contains a particular combination of spatial and/or power domain adaptation parameter settings;

2. One or more sub-configuration indicators configured within an aperiodic trigger state (e.g., within the information element CSI-AperiodicTriggerStateList) that each point to a sub-configuration within a CSI reporting configuration; and/or

3. One or more CSI resource configurations (e.g., the information element CSI-ResourceConfig) associated with the CSI reporting configuration which contains one or more CSI-RS resource sets on which the UE, when triggered, measures CSI based on the spatial and/or power domain adaptation parameter settings in a sub-configuration. Each CSI-RS resource set contains one or more CSI-RS resources or indicators (ID) of one or more CSI-RS resources.

In some embodiments, the UE is indicated a trigger state, and based on all, or a subset, of the indicated sub-configuration(s), the UE measures and reports one or more CSIs.

Embodiments may provide flexible and efficient configuration and reporting of multiple CSI reports for multiple hypotheses on power and spatial domain adaptation setting for network energy saving.

According to one aspect, a method in a user equipment, UE, configured to communicate with a network node is provided. The method includes receiving at least one channel state information, CSI, reporting subconfiguration configured within a CSI reporting configuration, each of the at least one CSI reporting subconfigurations having at least one of a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a power domain adaptation parameter setting, and at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a spatial domain adaption parameter setting. The method also includes receiving at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within an aperiodic trigger state, each of the at least one subconfiguration indicator indicating at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration within the CSI reporting configuration. The method also includes receiving an indication of the aperiodic trigger state. The method further includes, in response to the indication of the aperiodic trigger state, measuring and reporting at least one CSI based on at least one of the at least one CSI subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator within the aperiodic trigger state.

According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the measuring and reporting at least one CSI comprises measuring and reporting a CSI based on each of the CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state. In some embodiments, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprises both a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting. In some embodiments, when the at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprising both a spatial domain adaption parameter setting and a power domain adaption parameter setting is indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator within the aperiodic trigger state, the measuring and reporting of at least one CSI includes measuring and reporting CSI according to both the spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and the power domain adaptation parameter setting for the at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprising both the spatial domain adaption parameter setting and the power domain adaption parameter setting. In some embodiments, the measuring and reporting CSI comprises measuring CSI on at least one channel state information reference signal, CSI- RS, resource configured within a set of CSI-RS resources. In some embodiments, the indication of the aperiodic trigger state comprises a codepoint of a Downlink Control Information, DCI, field. In some embodiments, reporting the at least one CSI comprises reporting CSI on Physical Uplink Shared Control Channel, PUSCH. In some embodiments, the method includes reporting a capability of a maximum number of CSI reporting subconfigurations supported by the UE. In some embodiments, the spatial domain adaptation parameter setting comprises an antenna port muting pattern. In some embodiments, the antenna port muting pattern indicates a subset of ports on which to measure and report CSI. In some embodiments, the antenna ports are ports of a CSI-RS. In some embodiments, a spatial domain adaptation parameter comprises an indication of a codebook subset restriction. In some embodiments, a power domain adaptation parameter comprises a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, to CSI-RS power offset.

According to another aspect, a UE configured to communicate with a network node is provided. The UE is configured to receive at least one channel state information, CSI, reporting subconfiguration configured within a CSI reporting configuration, each of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having at least one of a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a power domain adaptation parameter setting, and at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a spatial domain adaption parameter. The UE is also configured to receive at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within an aperiodic trigger state, each of the at least one subconfiguration indicator indicating at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration within the CSI reporting configuration. The UE is configured to receive an indication of the aperiodic trigger state; and in response to the indication of the aperiodic trigger state, measure and report at least one CSI based on at least one of the at least one CSI subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within the aperiodic trigger state.

According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the UE is configured to measure and report a CSI based on each of the CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within the aperiodic trigger state. In some embodiments, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprises both a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting. In some embodiments the UE is configured to, when the at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprising both the spatial domain adaption parameter setting and a power domain adaption parameter setting is indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator within the aperiodic trigger state, measure and report CSI according to both the spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and the power domain adaptation parameter setting for the at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprising both the spatial domain adaption parameter setting and the power domain adaption parameter setting. In some embodiments, the UE is configured to measure CSI on at least one channel state information reference signal, CSI- RS, resource configured within a set of CSI-RS resources. In some embodiments, the indication of the aperiodic trigger state comprises a codepoint of a Downlink Control Information, DCI, field. In some embodiments, the UE is configured to report the at least one CSI comprises reporting CSI on Physical Uplink Shared Control Channel, PUSCH. In some embodiments, the UE is configured to report a capability of a maximum number of CSI reporting subconfigurations supported by the UE. In some embodiments, the spatial domain adaptation parameter setting comprises an antenna port muting pattern. In some embodiments, the antenna port muting pattern indicates a subset of ports on which to measure and report CSI. In some embodiments, the antenna ports are ports of a channelstate information resource signal (CSI-RS). In some embodiments, a spatial domain adaptation parameter comprises an indication of a codebook subset restriction. In some embodiments, a power domain adaptation parameter comprises a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, to CSI-RS power offset.

According to yet another aspect, a method in a network node configured to communicate with a user equipment, UE, is provided. The method includes transmitting at least one channel state information, CSI, reporting subconfiguration within a CSI reporting configuration, each of the at least one CSI reporting subconfigurations having at least one of a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a power domain adaptation parameter setting, and at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a spatial domain adaption parameter setting. The method includes transmitting at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within an aperiodic trigger state, each of the at least one subconfiguration indicator indicating at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration within the CSI reporting configuration. The method includes transmitting an indication of the aperiodic trigger state and, in response to the indication of the aperiodic trigger state, receiving at least one CSI based on at least of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state.

According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the receiving at least one CSI comprises receiving a CSI based on each of the CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state. In some embodiments, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprises both a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting. In some embodiments, the indication of the aperiodic trigger state comprises a codepoint of a Downlink Control Information, DCI, field. In some embodiments, a number of the at least one CSI reporting configuration is within a maximum number of CSI reporting configurations supported by the UE.

According to another aspect, a network node configured to communicate with a user equipment, UE, is provided. The network node is configured to transmit at least one channel state information, CSI, reporting subconfiguration within a CSI reporting configuration, each of the at least one CSI reporting subconfigurations having at least one of a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a power domain adaptation parameter setting, and at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a spatial domain adaption parameter setting. The network node is configured to transmit at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within an aperiodic trigger state, each of the at least one subconfiguration indicator indicating at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration within the CSI reporting configuration. The network node is further configured to transmit an indication of the aperiodic trigger state and, in response to the indication of the aperiodic trigger state, receive at least one CSI based on at least of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state.

According to this aspect, in some embodiments, the at least one CSI comprises a CSI based on each of the CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state. In some embodiments, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprises both a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting. In some embodiments, the indication of the aperiodic trigger state comprises a codepoint of a Downlink Control Information, DCI, field. In some embodiments, a number of the at least one CSI reporting configuration is within a maximum number of CSI reporting configurations supported by the UE.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an example antenna arrangement;

FIG. 2 is an example of polarizations connected to separate RX/TC chains; FIG. 3 illustrates different transceiver muting patterns;

FIG. 4 shows example mappings of CSI-RS to physical resources;

FIG. 5 illustrates trigger states for aperiodic CSI reporting;

FIG. 6 is an example of an A-CSI reporting configuration;

FIG. 7 is another example of an A-CSI reporting configuration;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of an example network architecture illustrating a communication system connected via an intermediate network to a host computer according to the principles in the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram of a host computer communicating via a network node with a wireless device over an at least partially wireless connection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for executing a client application at a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data at a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data from the wireless device at a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data at a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an example process in a network node for a unified channel state information (CSI) framework for spatial and power domain adaptation for network energy saving;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device for a unified channel state information (CSI) framework for spatial and power domain adaptation for network energy saving;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of another example process in a network node for a unified channel state information (CSI) framework for spatial and power domain adaptation for network energy saving;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of another example process in a wireless device for a unified channel state information (CSI) framework for spatial and power domain adaptation for network energy saving;

FIG. 18 is a first example of a CSI reporting configuration according to methods disclosed herein;

FIG. 19 is a second example of a CSI reporting configuration according to methods disclosed herein;

FIG. 20 is a third example of a CSI reporting configuration according to methods disclosed herein;

FIG. 21 is a fourth example of a CSI reporting configuration according to methods disclosed herein;

FIG. 22 is a fifth example of a CSI reporting configuration according to methods disclosed herein; and

FIG. 23 is a sixth example of a CSI reporting configuration according to methods disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing in detail example embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to a unified channel state information (CSI) framework for spatial and power domain adaptation for network energy saving. Accordingly, components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the concepts described herein. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

In embodiments described herein, the joining term, “in communication with” and the like, may be used to indicate electrical or data communication, which may be accomplished by physical contact, induction, electromagnetic radiation, radio signaling, infrared signaling or optical signaling, for example. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that multiple components may interoperate and modifications and variations are possible of achieving the electrical and data communication.

In some embodiments described herein, the term “coupled,” “connected,” and the like, may be used herein to indicate a connection, although not necessarily directly, and may include wired and/or wireless connections.

The term “network node” used herein may be any kind of network node comprised in a radio network which may further comprise any of base station (BS), radio base station, base transceiver station (BTS), base station controller (BSC), radio network controller (RNC), g Node B (gNB), evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB), Node B, multistandard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, multi-cell/multicast coordination entity (MCE), integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, relay node, donor node controlling relay, radio access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH), a core network node (e.g., mobile management entity (MME), self-organizing network (SON) node, a coordinating node, positioning node, MDT node, etc.), an external node (e.g., 3rd party node, anode external to the current network), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), a spectrum access system (SAS) node, an element management system (EMS), etc. The network node may also comprise test equipment. The term “radio node” used herein may be used to also denote a wireless device (WD).

In some embodiments, the non-limiting terms wireless device (WD) or a user equipment (UE) are used interchangeably. The UE herein may be any type of wireless device capable of communicating with a network node or another UE over radio signals, such as wireless device (WD). The UE may also be a radio communication device, target device, device to device (D2D) UE, machine type UE or UE capable of machine to machine communication (M2M), low-cost and/or low-complexity UE, a sensor equipped with UE, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, or a Narrowband loT (NB-IOT) device, etc.

Also, in some embodiments the generic term “radio network node” is used. It may be any kind of a radio network node which may comprise any of base station, radio base station, base transceiver station, base station controller, network controller, RNC, evolved Node B (eNB), Node B, gNB, Multi-cell/multicast Coordination Entity (MCE), IAB node, relay node, access point, radio access point, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH).

Note that although terminology from one particular wireless system, such as, for example, 3GPP LTE and/or New Radio (NR), may be used in this disclosure, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the disclosure to only the aforementioned system. Other wireless systems, including without limitation Wide Band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), may also benefit from exploiting the ideas covered within this disclosure.

Note further, that functions described herein as being performed by a wireless device or a network node may be distributed over a plurality of wireless devices and/or network nodes. In other words, it is contemplated that the functions of the network node and wireless device described herein are not limited to performance by a single physical device and, in fact, may be distributed among several physical devices.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

Some embodiments provide a unified channel state information (CSI) framework for spatial and power domain adaptation for network energy saving.

Returning to the drawing figures, in which like elements are referred to by like reference numerals, there is shown in FIG. 8 a schematic diagram of a communication system 10, according to an embodiment, such as a 3 GPP-type cellular network that may support standards such as LTE and/or NR (5G), which comprises an access network 12, such as a radio access network, and a core network 14. The access network 12 comprises a plurality of network nodes 16a, 16b, 16c (referred to collectively as network nodes 16), such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 18a, 18b, 18c (referred to collectively as coverage areas 18). Each network node 16a, 16b, 16c is connectable to the core network 14 over a wired or wireless connection 20. A first UE) 22a located in coverage area 18a is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding network node 16a. A second UE 22b in coverage area 18b is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding network node 16b. While a plurality of UEs 22a, 22b (collectively referred to as wireless devices 22) are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding network node 16. Note that although only two UEs 22 and three network nodes 16 are shown for convenience, the communication system may include many more UEs 22 and network nodes 16.

Also, it is contemplated that a UE 22 may be in simultaneous communication and/or configured to separately communicate with more than one network node 16 and more than one type of network node 16. For example, a UE 22 may have dual connectivity with a network node 16 that supports LTE and the same or a different network node 16 that supports NR. As an example, UE 22 may be in communication with an eNB for LTE/E-UTRAN and a gNB for NR/NG-RAN.

The communication system 10 may itself be connected to a host computer 24, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud- implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer 24 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The connections 26, 28 between the communication system 10 and the host computer 24 may extend directly from the core network 14 to the host computer 24 or may extend via an optional intermediate network 30. The intermediate network 30 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network. The intermediate network 30, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet. In some embodiments, the intermediate network 30 may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

The communication system of FIG. 8 as a whole enables connectivity between one of the connected UEs 22a, 22b and the host computer 24. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection. The host computer 24 and the connected UEs 22a, 22b are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via the OTT connection, using the access network 12, the core network 14, any intermediate network 30 and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection may be transparent in the sense that at least some of the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, a network node 16 may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from a host computer 24 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE 22a. Similarly, the network node 16 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE 22a towards the host computer 24.

A network node 16 is configured to include a CSI configuration unit 32 configured to determine at least one channel state information, CSI, sub-configuration. A wireless device 22 is configured to include a CSI reporting unit 34 which is configured to configure CSI reporting according to a CSI sub-configuration indicated by a sub-configuration indicator received from the network node.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE 22, network node 16 and host computer 24 discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to FIG. 9. In a communication system 10, a host computer 24 comprises hardware (HW) 38 including a communication interface 40 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 10. The host computer 24 further comprises processing circuitry 42, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. The processing circuitry 42 may include a processor 44 and memory 46. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 42 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 44 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) memory 46, which may comprise any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

Processing circuitry 42 may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by host computer 24. Processor 44 corresponds to one or more processors 44 for performing host computer 24 functions described herein. The host computer 24 includes memory 46 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 48 and/or the host application 50 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 44 and/or processing circuitry 42, causes the processor 44 and/or processing circuitry 42 to perform the processes described herein with respect to host computer 24. The instructions may be software associated with the host computer 24.

The software 48 may be executable by the processing circuitry 42. The software 48 includes a host application 50. The host application 50 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a UE 22 connecting via an OTT connection 52 terminating at the UE 22 and the host computer 24. In providing the service to the remote user, the host application 50 may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection 52. The “user data” may be data and information described herein as implementing the described functionality. In one embodiment, the host computer 24 may be configured for providing control and functionality to a service provider and may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The processing circuitry 42 of the host computer 24 may enable the host computer 24 to observe, monitor, control, transmit to and/or receive from the network node 16 and or the wireless device 22.

The communication system 10 further includes a network node 16 provided in a communication system 10 and including hardware 58 enabling it to communicate with the host computer 24 and with the UE 22. The hardware 58 may include a communication interface 60 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 10, as well as a radio interface 62 for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection 64 with a UE 22 located in a coverage area 18 served by the network node 16. The radio interface 62 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and/or one or more RF transceivers. The communication interface 60 may be configured to facilitate a connection 66 to the host computer 24. The connection 66 may be direct or it may pass through a core network 14 of the communication system 10 and/or through one or more intermediate networks 30 outside the communication system 10.

In the embodiment shown, the hardware 58 of the network node 16 further includes processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 may include a processor 70 and a memory 72. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 68 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 70 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) the memory 72, which may comprise any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

Thus, the network node 16 further has software 74 stored internally in, for example, memory 72, or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the network node 16 via an external connection. The software 74 may be executable by the processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by network node 16. Processor 70 corresponds to one or more processors 70 for performing network node 16 functions described herein. The memory 72 is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 74 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 70 and/or processing circuitry 68, causes the processor 70 and/or processing circuitry 68 to perform the processes described herein with respect to network node 16. For example, processing circuitry 68 of the network node 16 may include a CSI configuration unit 32 configured to determine at least one channel state information, CSI, sub-configuration.

The communication system 10 further includes the UE 22 already referred to. The UE 22 may have hardware 80 that may include a radio interface 82 configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 64 with a network node 16 serving a coverage area 18 in which the UE 22 is currently located. The radio interface 82 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and/or one or more RF transceivers.

The hardware 80 of the UE 22 further includes processing circuitry 84. The processing circuitry 84 may include a processor 86 and memory 88. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 84 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and/or control, e.g., one or more processors and/or processor cores and/or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and/or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 86 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and/or read from) memory 88, which may comprise any kind of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and/or buffer memory and/or RAM (Random Access Memory) and/or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and/or optical memory and/or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

Thus, the UE 22 may further comprise software 90, which is stored in, for example, memory 88 at the UE 22, or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the UE 22. The software 90 may be executable by the processing circuitry 84. The software 90 may include a client application 92. The client application 92 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the UE 22, with the support of the host computer 24. In the host computer 24, an executing host application 50 may communicate with the executing client application 92 via the OTT connection 52 terminating at the UE 22 and the host computer 24. In providing the service to the user, the client application 92 may receive request data from the host application 50 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 52 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 92 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

The processing circuitry 84 may be configured to control any of the methods and/or processes described herein and/or to cause such methods, and/or processes to be performed, e.g., by UE 22. The processor 86 corresponds to one or more processors 86 for performing UE 22 functions described herein. The UE 22 includes memory 88 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and/or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 90 and/or the client application 92 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 86 and/or processing circuitry 84, causes the processor 86 and/or processing circuitry 84 to perform the processes described herein with respect to UE 22. For example, the processing circuitry 84 of the wireless device 22 may include a CSI reporting unit 34 which is configured to configure CSI reporting according to a CSI sub-configuration indicated by the sub-configuration indicator.

In some embodiments, the inner workings of the network node 16, UE 22, and host computer 24 may be as shown in FIG. 9 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of FIG. 8.

In FIG. 9, the OTT connection 52 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host computer 24 and the wireless device 22 via the network node 16, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from the UE 22 or from the service provider operating the host computer 24, or both. While the OTT connection 52 is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network).

The wireless connection 64 between the UE 22 and the network node 16 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the UE 22 using the OTT connection 52, in which the wireless connection 64 may form the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of some of these embodiments may improve the data rate, latency, and/or power consumption and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user waiting time, relaxed restriction on file size, better responsiveness, extended battery lifetime, etc.

In some embodiments, a measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 52 between the host computer 24 and UE 22, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 52 may be implemented in the software 48 of the host computer 24 or in the software 90 of the UE 22, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT connection 52 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software 48, 90 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection 52 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the network node 16, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the network node 16. Some such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating the host computer’s 24 measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. In some embodiments, the measurements may be implemented in that the software 48, 90 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using the OTT connection 52 while it monitors propagation times, errors, etc. Thus, in some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 configured to provide user data and a communication interface 40 that is configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to the UE 22. In some embodiments, the cellular network also includes the network node 16 with a radio interface 62. In some embodiments, the network node 16 is configured to, and/or the network node’s 16 processing circuitry 68 is configured to perform the functions and/or methods described herein for preparing/initiating/maintaining/supporting/ending a transmission to the UE 22, and/or preparing/terminating/maintaining/ supporting/ending in receipt of a transmission from the UE 22.

In some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 and a communication interface 40 that is configured to a communication interface 40 configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a UE 22 to a network node 16. In some embodiments, the UE 22 is configured to, and/or comprises a radio interface 82 and/or processing circuitry 84 configured to perform the functions and/or methods described herein for preparing/initiating/maintaining/supporting/ending a transmission to the network node 16, and/or preparing/terminating/maintaining/ supporting/ending in receipt of a transmission from the network node 16.

Although FIGS. 8 and 9 show various “units” such as CSI configuration unit 32, and CSI reporting unit 34 as being within a respective processor, it is contemplated that these units may be implemented such that a portion of the unit is stored in a corresponding memory within the processing circuitry. In other words, the units may be implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software within the processing circuitry.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIGS. 8 and 2, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a UE 22, which may be those described with reference to FIG. 9. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (Block S100). In an optional substep of the first step, the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 50 (Block S102). In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE 22 (Block SI 04). In an optional third step, the network node 16 transmits to the UE 22 the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer 24 initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block SI 06). In an optional fourth step, the UE 22 executes a client application, such as, for example, the client application 92, associated with the host application 50 executed by the host computer 24 (Block S108).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 8, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a UE 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (Block SI 10). In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 50. In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE 22 (Block SI 12). The transmission may pass via the network node 16, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step, the UE 22 receives the user data carried in the transmission (Block SI 14).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 8, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a UE 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. In an optional first step of the method, the UE 22 receives input data provided by the host computer 24 (Block SI 16). In an optional substep of the first step, the UE 22 executes the client application 92, which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer 24 (Block SI 18). Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step, the UE 22 provides user data (Block S120). In an optional substep of the second step, the UE provides the user data by executing a client application, such as, for example, client application 92 (Block SI 22). In providing the user data, the executed client application 92 may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE 22 may initiate, in an optional third substep, transmission of the user data to the host computer 24 (Block SI 24). In a fourth step of the method, the host computer 24 receives the user data transmitted from the UE 22, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block SI 26).

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 8, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a UE 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. In an optional first step of the method, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the network node 16 receives user data from the UE 22 (Block SI 28). In an optional second step, the network node 16 initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer 24 (Block SI 30). In a third step, the host computer 24 receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the network node 16 (Block SI 32).

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an example process in a network node 16 for a unified channel state information (CSI) framework for spatial and power domain adaptation for network energy saving. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of network node 16 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 68 (including the CSI configuration unit 32), processor 70, radio interface 62 and/or communication interface 60. Network node 16 such as via processing circuitry 68 and/or processor 70 and/or radio interface 62 and/or communication interface 60 is configured to determine at least one channel state information, CSI, sub-configuration (Block SI 34). The process also includes transmitting a sub-configuration indicator to configure the UE 22 with at least one of the at least one CSI sub-configuration within a CSI reporting configuration, the CSI sub-configuration including an adaptation parameter setting for at least one of a spatial domain and a power domain (Block S136).

In some embodiments, the CSI reporting configuration is associated with at least one CSI resource configuration that contain at least one resource set on which the UE 22, when triggered, is configured to measure CSI based on the adaptation parameter setting. In some embodiments, a sub-configuration includes at least one of a power parameter, a number of antenna ports, a number of antenna elements, an adaptation delay, quasicollocation, QCL, source information, a number of CSI reports and a codebook subset restriction indication. In some embodiments, the method also includes indicating a trigger state to the UE 22 based on at least one of the at least one CSI sub-configuration. In some embodiments, the trigger state points to a CSI reference signal resource set.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of an example process in a UE 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of UE 22 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 84 (including the CSI reporting unit 34), processor 86, radio interface 82 and/or communication interface 60. UE 22 such as via processing circuitry 84 and/or processor 86 and/or radio interface 82 is configured to receive a sub-configuration indicator indicating at least one channel state information, CSI, sub-configuration within a CSI reporting configuration, the CSI sub-configuration including an adaptation parameter setting for at least one of a spatial domain and a power domain (Block SI 38). The process also includes configuring CSI reporting according to a CSI sub-configuration indicated by the sub-configuration indicator (Block S140).

In some embodiments, the CSI reporting configuration is associated with at least one CSI resource configuration that contain at least one resource set on which the UE 22, when triggered, is configured to measure CSI based on the adaptation parameter setting. In some embodiments, a sub-configuration includes at least one of a power parameter, a number of antenna ports, a number of antenna elements, an adaptation delay, quasicollocation, QCL, source information, a number of CSI reports and a codebook subset restriction indication. In some embodiments, the method further includes receiving a trigger state indication indicating at least one of the at least one CSI sub-configuration. In some embodiments, the trigger state points to a CSI reference signal resource set.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of an example process in a network node 16 for a unified channel state information (CSI) framework for spatial and power domain adaptation for network energy saving. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of network node 16 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 68 (including the CSI configuration unit 32), processor 70, radio interface 62 and/or communication interface 60. Network node 16 such as via processing circuitry 68 and/or processor 70 and/or radio interface 62 and/or communication interface 60 is configured to transmit at least one channel state information, CSI, reporting subconfiguration within a CSI reporting configuration, each of the at least one CSI reporting subconfigurations having at least one of a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a power domain adaptation parameter setting, and at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a spatial domain adaption parameter setting (Block SI 42). The method includes transmitting at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within an aperiodic trigger state, each of the at least one subconfiguration indicator indicating at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration within the CSI reporting configuration (Block S144). The method further includes transmitting an indication of the aperiodic trigger state and, in response to the indication of the aperiodic trigger state, receiving at least one CSI based on at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state (Block SI 46). In some embodiments, the receiving at least one CSI comprises receiving a CSI based on each of the CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state. In some embodiments, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprises both a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting. In some embodiments, the indication of the aperiodic trigger state comprises a codepoint of a Downlink Control Information, DCI, field. In some embodiments, a number of the at least one CSI reporting configuration is within a maximum number of CSI reporting configurations supported by the UE.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of an example process in a UE 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of UE 22 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 84 (including the CSI reporting unit 34), processor 86, radio interface 82 and/or communication interface 60. UE 22 such as via processing circuitry 84 and/or processor 86 and/or radio interface 82 is configured to receive at least one channel state information, CSI, reporting subconfiguration configured within a CSI reporting configuration, each of the at least one CSI reporting subconfigurations having at least one of a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a power domain adaptation parameter setting, and at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a spatial domain adaption parameter setting (Block S148). The method also includes receiving at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within an aperiodic trigger state, each of the at least one subconfiguration indicator indicating at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration within the CSI reporting configuration (Block S150). The method also includes receiving an indication of the aperiodic trigger state (Block SI 52). The method further includes, in response to the indication of the aperiodic trigger state, measuring and reporting at least one CSI based on at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state (Block SI 54).

It should be appreciated that the at least one of the CSI reporting subconfiguration having a power domain adaption parameter setting and the at least one of the at least on CSI reporting subconfiguration having a spatial domain adaption parameter setting may be the same CSI reporting subconfiguration or different CSI reporting subconfigurations. In some embodiments, the measuring and reporting at least one CSI comprises measuring and reporting a CSI based on each of the CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state. In some embodiments, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprises both a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting. In some embodiments, when the at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprising both a spatial domain adaption parameter setting and a power domain adaption parameter setting is indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator within the aperiodic trigger state, the measuring and reporting of at least one CSI includes measuring and reporting CSI according to both the spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and the power domain adaptation parameter setting for the at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprising both the spatial domain adaption parameter setting and the power domain adaption parameter setting. In some embodiments, the measuring and reporting CSI comprises measuring CSI on at least one channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS, resource configured within a set of CSI-RS resources. In some embodiments, the indication of the aperiodic trigger state comprises a codepoint of a Downlink Control Information, DCI, field. In some embodiments, reporting the at least one CSI comprises reporting CSI on Physical Uplink Shared Control Channel, PUSCH. In some embodiments, the method includes reporting a capability of a maximum number of CSI reporting subconfigurations supported by the UE. In some embodiments, the spatial domain adaptation parameter setting comprises an antenna port muting pattern. In some embodiments, the antenna port muting pattern indicates a subset of ports on which to measure and report CSI. In some embodiments, the antenna ports are ports of a CSI-RS. In some embodiments, a spatial domain adaptation parameter comprises an indication of a codebook subset restriction. In some embodiments, a power domain adaptation parameter comprises a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, to CSI-RS power offset.

Having described the general process flow of arrangements of the disclosure and having provided examples of hardware and software arrangements for implementing the processes and functions of the disclosure, the sections below provide details and examples of arrangements for a unified channel state information (CSI) framework for spatial and power domain adaptation for network energy saving.

Disclosed herein are methods by which a UE 22 is configured and dynamically triggered to measure and report CSI on an UL channel corresponding to one or more spatial domain adaptation settings and/or one or more power domain adaptation settings in a unified CSI framework applicable to both adaptation types, used in isolation or in combination.

Embodiment #1

The UE 22 may be configured with the following:

3. One or more CSI resource configurations (e.g., the information element CSI-ResourceConfig) associated with the CSI reporting configuration which contains one or more CSI-RS resource sets on which the UE 22, when triggered, measures CSI based on the spatial and/or power domain adaptation parameter settings in a sub-configuration. Each CSI-RS resource set contains one or more CSI-RS resources or indicators (ID) of one or more CSI-RS resources.

A sub-configuration may include one or more of the following power and/or spatial domain adaptation parameter settings for which the UE 22 may measure and report CSI. Non-limiting examples include:

• A PDSCH-to-CSI-RS power offset, e.g., parameter powerControlOffset;

• A CSI-RS to SSB power offset, e.g., parameter powerControlOffsetSS;

• PDSCH power;

• PDSCH DMRS-to-PDSCH power;

• A number of antenna ports;

• Indicator(s) of a subset of antenna ports within a codebook;

• Indicator(s) of a subset of antenna elements within a port;

• Indicator of a potential spatial or power adaptation delay, e.g., {0,0,5,l,1.5,..,3}ms or in terms of slots and so on;

• Quasi co-location (QCL) source information for the resources in a CSI-RS resource set;

• A number of CSI reports the UE 22 shall make if less than the number of sub-configurations indicated by the trigger state; and/or

• Indicator(s) of a codebook subset restriction. The UE 22 may be indicated a trigger state, and based on all, or a subset, of the indicated sub-configuration(s), the UE 22 may measure and report one or more CSIs, in some embodiments.

In a non-limiting example, the trigger state maps 1:1 to a codepoint (bit sequence) of a DCI field, e.g., DCI 0 1, DCI 0 2.

In a non-limiting example, the CSI is reported on PUSCH.

This embodiment is illustrated by way of an example shown in FIG. 16.

In this example, there are:

• 4 trigger states each containing one or more sub-configuration indicators;

• 1 report configuration (CSI-ReportConfig) linked to all of the trigger states which contains 3 sub-configurations: o The report configuration contains a set of common parameters that apply to all 3 sub-configurations; and

• 1 resource configuration (CSI-ResourceConfig) containing a single CSI-RS resource set with a single CSI-RS resource

In this example, all trigger states point to the same set of NZP CSI-RS resources configured within CSI-ResourceConfig, and the set contains a single CSI-RS resource on which the UE 22 measures CSI when triggered. Trigger State 1 is configured with a list of 3 sub-configuration indicators {1,2,3}, hence if the UE 22 is indicated with this trigger state, it measures and reports 3 CSIs according to the spatial and/or power domain adaptation settings in sub-configurations 1, 2, and 3, respectively. This trigger state may be used, for example, for the network node 16 to obtain CSIs for multiple spatial/power domain adaptation parameter settings. These may be considered as hypotheses, and the network node 16 may use them along with other power saving criteria to decide which settings it prefers to adapt.

After the network node 16 has selected which power/spatial domain parameter settings it prefers to use, it may indicate to the UE 22 one of the other trigger states that contain only a single sub-configuration indicator for future CSI requests. The trigger state may be the one that indicates the sub-configuration with the spatial/power domain adaptation parameter setting that the network node 16 selected. For example, if the network node 16 decides on the spatial/power domain parameter settings in subconfiguration 2, it may indicate Trigger State 3 to the UE 22 for future CSI requests. The UE 22 would then report CSI based on the power/spatial domain adaptation parameter settings in sub-configuration 2. This example configuration may be used at least for the following adaptation types (see above definition of Type 1 spatial domain adaptation):

• Power domain adaptation only: o In a non-limiting example, sub-configurations 1, 2, 3 each contain only a value of the PDSCH-to-CSI-RS power offset powerControlOffset, e.g., 0, - 3, -6 dB, respectively;

• Type-1 spatial domain adaptation only: o In a non-limiting example, sub-configurations 1, 2, 3 each contain only configuration information for 3 different antenna port muting patterns. For example, the information for each pattern could be as simple as a subset of ports on which to measure and report CSI;

• Both Power and Type-1 spatial domain adaptation: o In a non-limiting example, one or more sub-configurations contain both a value of the PDSCH-to-CSI-RS power offset powerControlOffset as well as configuration information for an antenna port muting pattern.

Embodiment #2

This embodiment is a variation of Embodiment # 1 in which:

• At least one trigger state points to a CSI-RS resource set within a CSI resource configuration (CSI-ResourceConfig) that contains N CSI-RS resources, where N > 1;

• The trigger state may be configured according to one of the following example methods: o Sub-configuration indicator is absent (not configured):

■ In this case, the CSI reporting configuration (CSI- ReportConfig) linked to this trigger state may or may not contain subconfigurations; o Sub-configuration indicator is present;

• The UE 22 reports N CSIs, one per CSI-RS resource in said CSI-RS resource set.

Additionally, the UE 22 is indicated either explicitly or implicitly to report multiple CSIs:

• Explicit method: o The UE 22 is configured with an RRC parameter indicating that multiple CSIs are requested as well as the reporting type: o In a non-limiting example, either a new value of the legacy RRC parameter reportQuantity is specified or a 2^nd parameter reportQuantity2 is specified where in each case the value of the parameter is ‘multi-RI-PMI-CQI’. This indicates that multiple CSIs are requested and that each CSI should contain rank indicator (RI), precoder matrix indicator (PMI), and channel quality indicator (CQI). This is an extension of the current type ‘cri-RI-PMI-CQI’ for which the UE 22 reports RI, PMI, and CQI for only one of the CSI-RS resources in the CSI-RS resource set, and CRI indicates which one of the resources to which the CSI report corresponds: o Non-limiting examples of where the RRC parameter may be configured are:

■ Within the CSI report configuration;

■ Within a sub-configuration; and/or

■ Within a trigger state.

• Implicit method: o The UE 22 reports N CSIs if one or more sub-configuration indicators are present in the trigger state. The presence of a sub-configuration indicator in the trigger state may be used as an implicit indicator that the UE 22 should report multiple CSIs.

In some embodiments, the UE 22 reports K CSIs where 2 < K < N where K is a parameter configured within the CSI reporting configuration or within a sub-configuration.

In some embodiments, the UE 22 reports M*N CSIs where M is the number of sub-configuration indicators configured in said trigger state, if present.

In some embodiments, the UE 22 reports M*K CSIs where M is the number of sub-configuration indicators configured in said trigger state, if present.

This embodiment is illustrated by way of an example shown in FIG. 17 In this example, there are:

• 4 trigger states: o A trigger state indicator is absent in all trigger states;

• 1 report configuration (CSI-ReportConfig) linked to all of the trigger states: o Sub-configurations are absent; o The report configuration contains the parameter reportQuanitity2 = ‘multi-RI-PMI-CQI’; o It is assumed that the legacy parameter reportQuantity is contained in the common parameters and is configured with value ‘cri-RI-PMI-CQI’;

• 1 resource configuration (CSI-ResourceConfig) containing 4 CSI-RS resource sets: o Set 1 contains 3 CSI-RS resources; and o Set 2,3, and 4 contain a single CSI-RS resource

In this example, each trigger state points to a single one amongst 4 different NZP CSI-RS resource sets configured within CSI-ResourceConfig.

Trigger State 1 points to a CSI-RS resource set configured with 3 CSI-RS resources. In this case, since the parameter reportQuantity2 = ‘multi-RI-PMI-CQI’ indicates that multiple CSIs will be reported, the UE 22 measures and reports {RI, PMI, CQI} for each of the 3 CSI-RS resources in the set. This trigger state may be used, for example, for the network node 16 to obtain CSIs for multiple Type 2 antenna muting patterns (see above for definition of Type2 antenna muting). In a non-limiting example, the 3 CSI-RS resources may be configured with three different values of the CSI-RS to SSB power offset parameter powerControlOffsetSS, e.g., 0, -3, -6 dB, respectively. These may be considered as hypotheses, and the network node 16 may use them along with other power saving criteria to decide which settings it prefers to adapt.

After the network node 16 has selected which antenna muting pattern it prefers to use, it may indicate to the UE 22 one of the other trigger states that point to a CSI-RS resource set with only a single CSI-RS resource for future CSI requests. In this case, the UE 22 may use the legacy parameter reportQuantity = ‘cri-RI-PMI-CQI’ which indicates that only a single CSI should be reported. For example, if the network node 16 decides on a Type-2 antenna muting pattern corresponding to powerControlOffsetSS = -3 dB, it would indicate Trigger State 3 to the UE 22 such that it knows that the CSI-RS power has changed.

Embodiment #3

This embodiment is a variation of Embodiment # 1 and/or 2 in which:

• At least one sub-configuration within a CSI reporting configuration (CSI- ReportConfig) contains a parameter that points to a CSI-RS resource set configured within a CSI resource configuration (CSI-ResourceConfig): o In a non-limiting example, the indicator may be a new RRC parameter, e.g., resourceSet2;

• At least one trigger state contains a sub-configuration indicator that indicates said sub-configuration; and/or • For said trigger state, the UE 22 ignores the legacy parameter resourceSet configured within said trigger state. Instead, the UE 22 measures and reports CSI(s) based on the CSI-RS resource indicated by said parameter within the said sub-configuration.

This embodiment is illustrated by way of an example shown in FIG. 18.

This example is the same as in FIG. 17, except:

• Each trigger state contains a sub-configuration indicator: o The UE 22 ignores the parameter resourceSet (marked with ‘X’);

• The report configuration (CSI-ReportConfig) contains 4 sub-configurations: o Each sub-configuration contains a new parameter resourceSet2 that indicates a CSI-RS resource set configured in the CSI resource configuration (CSI- ResourceConfig).

In the above description, the resourceSet parameter value was ignored and the CSI- ReportConfig sub-configurations were used to indicate the CSI resource sets to be used for each sub-configuration. In some embodiments, the parameter resourceSet may then be excluded from the trigger state IE for UEs supporting this enhanced CSI reporting mechanism.

In some embodiments, the resourceSet parameter in the trigger state definitions may be used, similar to legacy approaches, to identify the NZP-CSI-RS-ResourceSet to be used, while the CSI-ReportConfig sub-configurations indicate sub-configuration-specific reporting parameters, according to some embodiments. This may reduce the size of the sub-config IES in CSI-ReportConfig information and utilize the parameter resourceSet for useful signaling. See FIG. 19.

Embodiment #4

The existing IE CSI-ReportConfig or IE CodebookConfig or both may be extended to enable network to configure aperiodic CSI, semipersistent CSI or periodic CSI. This enables UE 22 to derive and report CSI based on one or more of the following power and/or spatial domain adaptation parameter settings for which the UE 22 will measure and report CSI. The following are some non-limiting examples:

• A PDSCH-to-CSI-RS power offset, e.g., parameter powerControlOffset;

• A CSI-RS to SSB power offset, e.g., parameter powerControlOffsetSS;

• PDSCH power;

• PDSCH DMRS-to-PDSCH power;

• A number of antenna ports;

• Indicator(s) of a subset of antenna ports within a codebook; • Indicator(s) of a subset of antenna elements within a port;

• QCL source information for the resources in a CSI-RS resource set; and/or

• A number of CSI reports the UE 22 will make if less than the number of subconfigurations indicated by the trigger state.

In some embodiments, the resourceForChannel configured for aperiodic CSI in the CSI-AssociatedReportConfiglnfo, an element of list associatedReportConfiglnfoList in IE CSI-AperiodicTriggerState, points to a CSI-RS resource set within a CSI resource configuration (CSI-ResourceConfig) that contains N CSI-RS resources, where N > 1. In some embodiments, when UE 22 is triggered with one trigger state and calculates CSI corresponding to the configured CSI-AssociatedReportConfiglnfo, it further calculates CSI based on each channel hypothesis given in the list of CSI-RS resources. In some embodiments, the UE 22 reports based on all these hypothesis. In some embodiments, the UE 22 reports based on X best channel RS hypothesis together with the index of the CSI- RS. In some embodiments, how the UE 22 performs the reports may be specified. In some embodiments, it is network configured and may involve a threshold e.g., on rank, or CQI. Or it may include a rule specifying how to define “best”, it may be higher rank, or sum of CQIs. In some embodiments, a similar change is made to channel resources associated in the periodic or semipersistent reporting.

Embodiment #5

In some examples, a group common DCI or a group common control signal may be used in order to ask multiple UEs to measure CSI-RS resources related to nonexclusive examples of spatial or power adaptation, and report, e.g., on physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

In some embodiments, each UE 22 is configured with a dedicated adaptation configuration as disclosed herein. E.g., a first UE 22 may be configured with a first set of configurations, and a second UE 22 with a second set of configurations e.g., through RRC signaling. In some embodiments, the first and second configurations differ at least in one configuration parameter, e.g., based on the received UE 22 capabilities. In another example, the UEs may be configured with similar configurations, e.g., if they report the same capabilities, or based on the previous measurements, the UEs experience similar channel conditions, e.g., same rank, reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), or other parameters.

The UE 22 may receive a configuration regarding a DCI, e.g., and existing DCI associated with a group common radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) or a new DCI format, and additionally may receive a configuration of a bitfield that asks the UE 22 to measure and report CSI based on a set of CSI-RS resources. In one example, the UE 22 receives the size of the DCI as well as the starting and end of its associated bitfield through higher layer signaling.

In some embodiments, the resources over which the UE 22 should report the measurements is configured through higher layer signaling, while in some embodiments, the resources are indicated in the triggering DCI.

In some embodiments, the bitfield associated with a first UE 22 is the same as the bitfield associated with a second UE 22. This is particularly useful if both UEs is able to measure e.g., the same CSI-RS resources or report over the same resources, or based on pre-configured resources. Embodiment #6

In some embodiments, one single trigger state may point out multiple subconfigurations. For example, there may exist scenarios in which the network node 16 cannot or does not want to configure the UE 22 with multiple trigger states. For example, the UE 22 may not be capable of handling more than certain number of trigger states. E.g., the UE 22 capability maxNumberAperiodicCSI-triggeringStatePerCC is only set to n3 (i.e., three trigger states maximum per CC) and the network node 16 already needs those trigger states as regular (without sub-configuration) trigger states. Alternately, the various trigger states may have the same configuration parameters except for the subconfigurations and the network node 16 does not wish to maintain or repeat the very same configuration parameter in multiple trigger state configurations. Therefore, in some embodiments, the trigger states are extended with sub-configurations which are “latent’ ’/’’inactive” until explicitly triggered/activated by a DCI or an indicator in the DCI. Such a structure is shown in FIG. 20, in which Trigger State 1 is used both as a regular trigger state and as a trigger state with sub configurations. The behavior of the UE 22 with respect to this trigger state may be controlled via an indicator in the DCI (called SubConfigTriggerlndicator in the figure). Here, a binary indicator may be used in the DCI. If the Indicator is not present, or set to 0, the UE 22 acts as if the trigger state is a regular trigger state. If on the other hand, the SubConfigTriggerlndicator is present and set to 1, then the UE 22 treats the trigger state as one with sub-configuration indicator ({1,2,3} in this case).

Some embodiments may be extended to point out more than a single subconfiguration in the trigger state. For example, more bits may be used in the DCI to point out various sub-configurations of a certain trigger state. This is exemplified in FIG. 21, where 2 bits in the DCI are used to point out various sub-configurations of Trigger State 1. As an example, if the SubConfigTriggerlndicator of DCI is set to 00 or not present, then the UE 22 treats the Trigger State as a regular trigger state, whereas if the DCI is set to e.g., 01, it means that the first subConfigindicator of Trigger State 1 is activated.

UE capability

A UE 22 supporting the enhanced CSI reporting mechanism described in the above embodiments may indicate via UE 22 capability the maximum number of subconfigurations that it may support for the enhanced CSI calculation. In some embodiments, the total sub-configuration budget may be part of the total configuration budget, i.e., each sub-configuration may be counted as equivalent to a configuration in legacy signaling. In some embodiments, the configuration and sub-configuration budgets may be separate, e.g., if CSI estimates for multiple sub-configurations may be obtained with reduced measurement and/or computation effort compared to individual legacy configurations.

A UE 22 supporting the enhanced CSI reporting mechanism in the above embodiments may indicate via UE 22 capability the maximum number of simultaneous CSI reports indicated by sub-configuration indicators in a trigger state that it may support for the enhanced CSI reporting. In some embodiments, the total sub-configuration reporting budget may be part of the total configuration reporting budget, i.e. reporting each sub-configuration may be counted as equivalent to reporting a configuration in legacy signaling. In some embodiments, the configuration and sub-configuration reporting capability may be reported separately, e.g., if CSI reports for multiple sub-configurations may be performed with reduced effort compared to individual legacy configuration reporting.

A UE 22 supporting the enhanced CSI reporting mechanism in the above embodiments may indicate via UE 22, capability the maximum number of simultaneous CSI reports indicated by a sub-configuration indicator in a trigger state that it may support for the enhanced CSI reporting when one or more secondary cells (Scells) are deactivated or in a dormant bandwidth part (BWP). This may enable a UE 22 to borrow the CSI computation resources from another carrier when the other carrier is not in use (e.g., deactivated or in dormant bandwidth part (BWP)). The UE 22 may also indicate the Scells/ carriers from which CSI computation resources may be borrowed for the purposes of enhanced CSI reporting on a given cell/carrier. Embodiment Al . A network node configured to communicate with a wireless device (WD), the network node configured to, and/or comprising a radio interface and/or comprising processing circuitry configured to: determine at least one channel state information, CSI, sub-configuration; and transmit a sub-configuration indicator to configure the WD with at least one of the at least one CSI sub-configuration within a CSI reporting configuration, the CSI subconfiguration including an adaptation parameter setting for at least one of a spatial domain and a power domain.

Embodiment A2. The network node of Embodiment Al , wherein the CSI reporting configuration is associated with at least one CSI resource configuration that contain at least one resource set on which the WD, when triggered, is configured to measure CSI based at least in part on the adaptation parameter setting.

Embodiment A3. The network node of any of Embodiments Al and A2, wherein a sub-configuration includes at least one of a power parameter, a number of antenna ports, a number of antenna elements, an adaptation delay, quasi-collocation, QCL, source information, a number of CSI reports and a codebook subset restriction indication.

Embodiment A4. The network node of any of Embodiments Al -A3, wherein the network node, radio interface and/or processing circuitry are configured to indicate a trigger state to the WD based at least in part on at least one of the at least one CSI subconfiguration.

Embodiment A5. The network node of Embodiment A4, wherein the trigger state points to a CSI reference signal resource set.

Embodiment Bl . A method implemented in a network node, the method comprising: determining at least one channel state information, CSI, sub-configuration; and transmitting a sub-configuration indicator to configure the WD with at least one of the at least one CSI sub-configuration within a CSI reporting configuration, the CSI subconfiguration including an adaptation parameter setting for at least one of a spatial domain and a power domain.

Embodiment B2. The method of Embodiment Bl, wherein the CSI reporting configuration is associated with at least one CSI resource configuration that contain at least one resource set on which the WD, when triggered, is configured to measure CSI based at least in part on the adaptation parameter setting.

Embodiment B3. The method of any of Embodiments Bl and B2, wherein a sub-configuration includes at least one of a power parameter, a number of antenna ports, a number of antenna elements, an adaptation delay, quasi-collocation, QCL, source information, a number of CSI reports and a codebook subset restriction indication.

Embodiment B4. The method of any of Embodiments B1-B3, further comprising indicating a trigger state to the WD based at least in part on at least one of the at least one CSI sub-configuration.

Embodiment B5. The method of Embodiment B4, wherein the trigger state points to a CSI reference signal resource set.

Embodiment Cl . A wireless device (WD) configured to communicate with a network node, the WD configured to, and/or comprising a radio interface and/or processing circuitry configured to: receive a sub-configuration indicator indicating at least one channel state information, CSI, sub-configuration within a CSI reporting configuration, the CSI subconfiguration including an adaptation parameter setting for at least one of a spatial domain and a power domain; and configure CSI reporting according to a CSI sub-configuration indicated by the subconfiguration indicator.

Embodiment C2. The WD of Embodiment Cl, wherein the CSI reporting configuration is associated with at least one CSI resource configuration that contain at least one resource set on which the WD, when triggered, is configured to measure CSI based at least in part on the adaptation parameter setting.

Embodiment C3. The WD of any of Embodiments Cl and C2, wherein a subconfiguration includes at least one of a power parameter, a number of antenna ports, a number of antenna elements, an adaptation delay, quasi-collocation, QCL, source information, a number of CSI reports and a codebook subset restriction indication.

Embodiment C4. The WD of any of Embodiments C1-C3, wherein the network node, radio interface and/or processing circuitry are configured to receive a trigger state indication indicating at least one of the at least one CSI sub-configuration.

Embodiment C5. The WD of Embodiment C4, wherein the trigger state points to a CSI reference signal resource set.

Embodiment DI. A method implemented in a wireless device (WD), the method comprising: receiving a sub-configuration indicator indicating at least one channel state information, CSI, sub-configuration within a CSI reporting configuration, the CSI sub- configuration including an adaptation parameter setting for at least one of a spatial domain and a power domain; and configuring CSI reporting according to a CSI sub-configuration indicated by the sub-configuration indicator.

Embodiment D2. The method of Embodiment DI, wherein the CSI reporting configuration is associated with at least one CSI resource configuration that contain at least one resource set on which the WD, when triggered, is configured to measure CSI based at least in part on the adaptation parameter setting.

Embodiment D3. The method of any of Embodiments DI and D2, wherein a sub-configuration includes at least one of a power parameter, a number of antenna ports, a number of antenna elements, an adaptation delay, quasi-collocation, QCL, source information, a number of CSI reports and a codebook subset restriction indication.

Embodiment D4. The method of any of Embodiments D1-D3, further comprising receiving a trigger state indication indicating at least one of the at least one CSI sub-configuration.

Embodiment D5. The method of Embodiment D4, wherein the trigger state points to a CSI reference signal resource set.

As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the concepts described herein may be embodied as a method, data processing system, computer program product and/or computer storage media storing an executable computer program. Accordingly, the concepts described herein may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects all generally referred to herein as a “circuit” or “module.” Any process, step, action and/or functionality described herein may be performed by, and/or associated to, a corresponding module, which may be implemented in software and/or firmware and/or hardware. Furthermore, the disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a tangible computer usable storage medium having computer program code embodied in the medium that may be executed by a computer. Any suitable tangible computer readable medium may be utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, electronic storage devices, optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices.

Some embodiments are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, systems and computer program products. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, may be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer (to thereby create a special purpose computer), special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory or storage medium that may direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

It is to be understood that the functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. Although some of the diagrams include arrows on communication paths to show a primary direction of communication, it is to be understood that communication may occur in the opposite direction to the depicted arrows.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the concepts described herein may be written in an object oriented programming language such as Python, Java® or C++. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of the disclosure may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language. The program code may execute entirely on the user’s computer, partly on the user’s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user’s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user’s computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments may be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method in a user equipment, UE (22), configured to communicate with a network node (16), the method comprising: receiving (S148) at least one channel state information, CSI, reporting subconfiguration configured within a CSI reporting configuration, each of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having at least one of a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a power domain adaptation parameter setting, and at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a spatial power domain adaption parameter; receiving (SI 50) at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within an aperiodic trigger state, each of the at least one subconfiguration indicator indicating at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration within the CSI reporting configuration; receiving (SI 52) an indication of the aperiodic trigger state; and in response to the indication of the aperiodic trigger state, measuring and reporting (SI 54) at least one CSI based on at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within the aperiodic trigger state.

2. The method of Claim 1, wherein the measuring and reporting at least one CSI comprises measuring and reporting a CSI based on each of the CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state.

3. The method of Claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprises both a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting.

4. The method of Claim 3 wherein, when the at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprising both a spatial domain adaption parameter setting and a power domain adaption parameter setting is indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator within the aperiodic trigger state, the measuring and reporting of at least one CSI includes measuring and reporting CSI according to both the spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and the power domain adaptation parameter setting for the at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration.

5. The method of any preceding Claim, wherein the measuring and reporting at least one CSI comprises measuring CSI on at least one channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS, resource configured within a set of CSI-RS resources.

6. The method of any of Claims 1-5, wherein the indication of the aperiodic trigger state comprises a codepoint of a Downlink Control Information, DCI, field.

7. The method of any of Claims 1-6, wherein the measuring and reporting the at least one CSI comprises reporting CSI on Physical Uplink Shared Control Channel, PUSCH.

8. The method of any of Claims 1-7, further comprising reporting a capability of a maximum number of CSI reporting subconfigurations supported by the UE (22).

9. The method of any of Claims 1-9, wherein the spatial domain adaptation parameter setting comprises an antenna port muting pattern.

10. The method of Claim 9, wherein the antenna port muting pattern indicates a subset of ports on which to measure and report CSI.

11. The method of any of Claims 9 and 10, wherein the antenna ports are ports of a channel-state information reference signal, CSI-RS.

12. The method of any of Claims 1-11, wherein a spatial domain adaptation parameter comprises an indication of a codebook subset restriction.

13. The method of any of Claims 1-12, wherein a power domain adaptation parameter comprises a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, to CSI-RS power offset.

14. A user equipment, UE (22), configured to communicate with a network node (16), the UE (22) configured to: receive at least one channel state information, CSI, reporting subconfiguration configured within a CSI reporting configuration, each of the at least one CSI reporting subconfigurations having at least one of a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a power domain adaptation parameter setting, and at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a spatial domain adaption parameter setting; receive at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within an aperiodic trigger state, each of the at least one subconfiguration indicator indicating at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration within the CSI reporting configuration; receive an indication of the aperiodic trigger state; and in response to the indication of the aperiodic trigger state, measure and report at least one CSI based on at least one of the at least one CSI subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator within the aperiodic trigger state.

15. The UE (22) of Claim 14, wherein the UE is configured to measure and report a CSI based on each of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state.

16. The UE (22) of Claim 14 or 15, wherein at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprises both a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting.

17. The UE (22) of Claim 16, wherein, when the at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprising both a spatial domain adaption parameter setting and a power domain adaption parameter setting is indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator within the aperiodic trigger state, the UE is configured to measure and report CSI according to both the spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and the power domain adaptation parameter setting for the at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration.

18. The UE (22) of any of Claims 14-17, wherein the UE is configured to measure CSI on at least one channel state information resource signal, CSI-RS, resource configured within a set of CSI-RS resources.

19. The UE (22) of any of Claims 14-18, wherein the indication of the aperiodic trigger state comprises a codepoint of a Downlink Control Information, DCI, field.

20. The UE (22) of any of Claims 11-19, wherein the UE is configured to report the at least one CSI on Physical Uplink Shared Control Channel, PUSCH.

21. The UE (22) of any of Claims 14-20, wherein the UE (22) is configured to report a capability of a maximum number of CSI reporting subconfigurations supported by the UE (22).

22. The UE (22) of any of Claims 14-21, wherein the spatial domain adaptation parameter setting comprises an antenna port muting pattern.

23. The UE (22) of Claim 22, wherein the antenna port muting pattern indicates a subset of ports on which to measure and report CSI.

24. The UE (22) of any of Claims 22 and 23, wherein the antenna ports are ports of a channel-state information resource signal, CSI-RS.

25. The UE (22) of any of Claims 14-24, wherein the spatial domain adaptation parameter comprises an indication of a codebook subset restriction.

26. The UE (22) of any of Claims 14-25, wherein the power domain adaptation parameter comprises a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, to CSI-RS power offset.

27. A method in a network node (16) configured to communicate with a user equipment, UE (22), the method comprising: transmiting (SI 42) at least one channel state information, CSI, reporting subconfiguration within a CSI reporting configuration, each of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having at least one of a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter seting, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a power domain adaptation parameter seting, and at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a spatial domain adaption parameter seting; transmitting (SI 44) at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within an aperiodic trigger state, each of the at least one subconfiguration indicator indicating at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration within the CSI reporting configuration; transmiting an indication of the aperiodic trigger state; and in response to the indication of the aperiodic trigger state, receiving (SI 46) at least one CSI based on at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state.

28. The method of Claim 28, wherein the receiving at least one CSI comprises receiving a CSI based on each of the at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state.

29. The method of any of Claims 27-28, wherein a number of the at least one CSI reporting configuration is within a maximum number of CSI reporting configurations supported by the UE (22).

30. The method of any of Claims 27-29, wherein at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprises both a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter seting.

31. The method of any of Claims 27-29, wherein the indication of the aperiodic trigger state comprises a codepoint of a Downlink Control Information, DCI, field.

32. A network node (16) configured to communicate with a user equipment, UE (22), the network node (16) configured to: transmit (S142) at least one channel state information, CSI, reporting subconfiguration within a CSI reporting configuration, each of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having at least one of a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting, at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a power domain adaptation parameter setting, and at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration having a spatial domain adaption parameter setting; transmit (S144) at least one subconfiguration indicator configured within an aperiodic trigger state, each of the at least one subconfiguration indicator indicating at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration within the CSI reporting configuration; and receive (S146) at least one CSI based on at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state.

33. The network node (16) of Claim 32, wherein the network node is configured to receive a CSI based on each of the at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration indicated by the at least one subconfiguration indicator in the aperiodic trigger state.

34. The network node (16) of any of Claims 32-33, wherein a number of the at least one CSI reporting configuration is within a maximum number of CSI reporting configurations supported by the UE (22).

35. The network node (16) of any of Claim 32-34, wherein at least one of the at least one CSI reporting subconfiguration comprises both a spatial domain adaptation parameter setting and a power domain adaptation parameter setting.

36. The network node (16) of any of Claims 32-35, wherein the indication of the aperiodic trigger state comprises a codepoint of a Downlink Control Information, DCI, field.