WO2025196643A1

WO2025196643A1 - Beam sweeping factor adaptation

Info

Publication number: WO2025196643A1
Application number: PCT/IB2025/052835
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo Baracca; Rafael Cauduro Dias De Paiva; Riikka Karoliina DIMNIK; Samantha Caporal Del Barrio; Smita SHETTY; Daniel Medina; A Phanikumar REDDY
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2024-03-18
Filing date: 2025-03-18
Publication date: 2025-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 2026-09-18

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for beam sweeping factor adaptation. A method may include transmitting, to a network element, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of a user equipment. The method may also include receiving, from the network element, a command to switch from a first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor. The method may further include switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor based on the command. In addition, the method may include performing a measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor.

Description

BEAM SWEEPING FACTOR ADAPTATION

FIELD:

[0001] Some example embodiments may generally relate to mobile or wireless telecommunication systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) or fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) access technology, or 5G beyond, or sixth generation (6G) access technology, or other communications systems. For example, certain example embodiments may relate to apparatuses, systems, and/or methods for beam sweeping factor adaptation.

BACKGROUND:

[0002] Examples of mobile or wireless telecommunication systems may include the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), Long Term Evolution (LTE) Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), MulteFire, LTE-A Pro, fifth generation (5G) radio access technology or new radio (NR) access technology and/or sixth generation (6G) radio access technology. Fifth generation (5G) and sixth generation (6G) wireless systems refer to the next generation (NG) of radio systems and network architecture. 5G and 6G network technology is mostly based on new radio (NR) technology, but the 5G/6G (or NG) network can also build on E-UTRAN radio. It is estimated that NR may provide bitrates on the order of 10-20 Gbit/s or higher, and may support at least enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and ultra-reliable low- latency communication (URLLC) as well as massive machine-type communication (mMTC). NR is expected to deliver extreme broadband and ultra-robust, low-latency connectivity and massive networking to support the Internet of Things (loT). SUMMARY:

[0003] Some example embodiments may be directed to a method. The method may include transmitting, to a network element, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of a user equipment. The method may also include receiving, from the network element, a command to switch from a first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor. The method may further include switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor based on the command. In addition, the method may include performing a measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor. [0004] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus. The apparatus may include at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the apparatus at least to transmit, to a network element, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the apparatus. The apparatus may also be caused to receive, from the network element, a command to switch from a first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor. The apparatus may further be caused to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor based on the command. In addition, the apparatus may be caused to perform a measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor.

[0005] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus. The apparatus may include means for transmitting, to a network element, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of apparatus. The apparatus may also include means for receiving, from the network element, a command to switch from a first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor. The apparatus may further include means for switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor based on the command. In addition, the apparatus may include means for performing a measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor.

[0006] In accordance with other example embodiments, a non-transitory computer readable medium may be encoded with instructions that may, when executed in hardware, perform a method. The method may include transmitting, to a network element, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of a user equipment. The method may also include receiving, from the network element, a command to switch from a first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor. The method may further include switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor based on the command. In addition, the method may include performing a measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor.

[0007] Other example embodiments may be directed to a computer program product that performs a method. The method may include transmitting, to a network element, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of a user equipment. The method may also include receiving, from the network element, a command to switch from a first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor. The method may further include switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor based on the command. In addition, the method may include performing a measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor.

[0008] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus that may include circuitry configured to transmit to a network element, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the apparatus. The apparatus may also include circuitry configured to receive, from the network element, a command to switch from a first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor. The apparatus may further include circuitry configured to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor based on the command. In addition, the apparatus may include circuitry configured to perform a measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor.

[0009] Further example embodiments may be directed to a method. The method may include receiving, from a user equipment, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the user equipment. The method may also include determining, based on the information, that a first beam sweeping factor should be reduced. The method may further include transmitting, to the user equipment, a command to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor.

[0010] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus. The apparatus may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive, from a user equipment, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the user equipment. The apparatus may also be caused to determine, based on the information, that a first beam sweeping factor should be reduced. The apparatus may also be caused to transmit, to the user equipment, a command to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor.

[0011] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus. The apparatus may include means for receiving, from a user equipment, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the user equipment. The apparatus may also include means for determining, based on the information, that a first beam sweeping factor should be reduced. The apparatus may further include means for transmitting, to the user equipment, a command to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor.

[0012] In accordance with other example embodiments, a non-transitory computer readable medium may be encoded with instructions that may, when executed in hardware, perform a method. The method may include receiving, from a user equipment, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the user equipment. The method may also include determining, based on the information, that a first beam sweeping factor should be reduced. The method may further include transmitting, to the user equipment, a command to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor.

[0013] Other example embodiments may be directed to a computer program product that performs a method. The method may include receiving, from a user equipment, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the user equipment. The method may also include determining, based on the information, that a first beam sweeping factor should be reduced. The method may further include transmitting, to the user equipment, a command to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor.

[0014] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus that may include circuitry configured to receive, from a user equipment, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the user equipment. The apparatus may also include circuitry configured to determine, based on the information, that a first beam sweeping factor should be reduced. The apparatus may further include circuitry configured to transmit, to the user equipment, a command to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

[0015] For a proper understanding of example embodiments, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an example multi-panel user equipment (MPUE) measuring synchronization signal blocks (SSBs).

[0017] FIG. 2A illustrates an example of UE beam refinement.

[0018] FIG. 2B illustrates an example of another UE beam refinement.

[0019] FIG. 2C illustrates an example of a further UE beam refinement.

[0020] FIG. 2D illustrates an example of yet another UE beam refinement. [0021] FIG. 3 illustrates an example multi-Rx UE.

[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates an example signal diagram, according to certain example embodiments.

[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates an example flow diagram of a method, according to certain example embodiments.

[0024] FIG. 6 illustrates an example flow diagram of another method, according to certain example embodiments.

[0025] FIG. 7 illustrates a set of apparatuses, according to certain example embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

[0026] It will be readily understood that the components of certain example embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. The following is a detailed description of some example embodiments of systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for beam sweeping factor adaptation.

[0027] The features, structures, or characteristics of example embodiments described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more example embodiments. For example, the usage of the phrases “certain embodiments,” “an example embodiment,” “some embodiments,” or other similar language, throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in certain embodiments,” “an example embodiment,” “in some embodiments,” “in other embodiments,” or other similar language, throughout this specification do not necessarily refer to the same group of embodiments, and the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more example embodiments. Further, the terms “base station”, “cell”, “node”, “gNB”, “network” or other similar language throughout this specification may be used interchangeably.

[0028] As used herein, “at least one of the following: <a list of two or more elements>” and “at least one of <a list of two or more elements>” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or,” mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates an example multi-panel user equipment (MPUE) measuring synchronization signal blocks (SSBs). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the MPUE may have 4 panels, and may sequentially measure SSBs per UE panel, averaging over 3 samples before reporting to the network with an SSB periodicity of 20 ms. For mmWave operation (e.g., frequency range 2 (FR2) 24-52.6 Ghz), a UE implementation may have multiple antenna panels to perform beam steering over a large solid angle. Thus, a MPUE may require a long time (e.g., 240 ms) to perform measurements and averaging for reporting. [0030] FIGs. 2A-2D illustrate examples of UE beam refinement with a half power beam width (HPBW) at 90 degrees, HPBW at 45 degrees, HPBW at 22 degrees, and HPBW at 45 degrees with phase shifter relative difference of 110 degrees, respectively. In particular, FIGs. 2A-2D illustrate UE beam refinement with increasing number of active elements. As such, the equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) and UE beam steering is increased with analog phase shifters (FIG. 2D). As illustrated in FIGs. 2A-2D, FR2 UEs may refine and steer their beam to have a narrow and highly directive beams towards the gNodeB which results in increased link budget and uplink (UL) coverage.

[0031] The specifications of the 3^rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) define a Layer 1 (LI) radio link monitoring-reference signal (RLM-RS) measurement delay requirement in FR2-1 with a scaling factor N (e.g., beam sweeping factor), which results in a longer measurement delay than in FR1 to address a continuous UE FR2 panel selection and UE FR2 beam refinement. As a result, the complete measurement duration and evaluation times for LI procedures are scaled by a factor N for FR2-1 UEs. The beam sweeping factor N may be related to the number of beams/panels that are measured at the UE side. An example of SSB evaluation periods for RLM measurements are shown in Table 1 and Table 2 for FR1 and FR2, respectively, which show the additional delay in FR2 due to the beam sweeping factor N.

Table 1: Evaluation period TEvaiuate out SSB and TEvaiuate in SSB for FR1

Table 2: Evaluation period TEvaiuate out SSB and TEvaiuate in SSB for FR2

[0032] 3GPP also defines a fixed N factor equal to 8 as a baseline value in FR2-1 and equal to 12 in FR2-2. For example, the resulting LI -reference signal received power (Ll-RSRP) measurement periods are calculated in

Table 3.

Table 3: Numerical examples for N=1 and N=8 of LI measurement periods for FR2-1 UE

[0033] In multi-Rx work in RAN4 of 3GPP, a multi-Rx UE may define new optional UE capabilities for UE beam sweeping factor reduction for SSB- based Ll-RSRP measurement if the UE is capable of multi-Rx operations. For instance, candidate values for beam sweeping factor reduction may include {2, 4, 6} for FR2-1. In fast beam sweeping with multi-Rx chain downlink (DL) reception, the fast beam sweeping may be based on UE capabilities where candidate values for beam sweeping factor reduction may include { 2, 4, 6 } for FR2- 1. Fast beam sweeping for multi-Rx may be applicable for SSB- based LI measurements and channel state information-reference signal (CSI- RS) based LI measurements except RLM and beam failure detection/candidate beam detection (BFD/CBD). The reduced beam sweeping factor may be used for defining the evaluation period of SSB based and CSI-RS based LI measurements in FR2-1.

[0034] FIG. 3 illustrates an example multi-Rx UE. The multi-Rx UE may have two layers per radio frequency (RF) panel. In particular, FIG. 3 illustrates a multi-Rx UE that uses one Rx chain to communicate or perform measurements with a serving transmit reception point 1 (TRP1), and another Rx chain to perform measurements toward a neighboring TRP2. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the neighboring TRP2 may represent a non-serving cell of the multi-Rx UE, and may represent a cell for handover of the multi-Rx. Whenever radio resource management (RRM) measurements need to be performed, a multi- Rx chain UE may switch at least one of its receivers from DL data reception mode to RRM measurement mode when performing measurements.

[0035] In 5G NR, an SSB-based RRM measurement timing configuration (SMTC) window is defined for use in notifying UEs and other devices regarding the measurement periodicity and timings of SSBs that the UEs can use for performing measurements. The SMTC may be configured with a radio resource control (RRC) configuration from a network to one or more UEs, and may not be dynamically updated. The UE may assume that the SSBs of all relevant neighbor cells may be found inside the SMTC window, which may require a certain level of synchronization among the SSBs transmitted by the neighbor cells.

[0036] According to 3GPP, various event-triggered measurement reports for mobility are defined. For instance, events for handover in 5G NR may include, but not be limited to: Event Al, where serving becomes better than a threshold; Event A2, where serving becomes worse than a threshold; Event A3, where a neighbor cell becomes offset better than a serving primary cell (SpCell); Event A4, where a neighbor becomes better than a threshold; Event A5, where SpCell becomes worse than a first threshold (thresholdl) and the neighbor becomes better than a second threshold (threshold2); Event A6, where a neighbor becomes offset better than the secondary cell (SCell); Event Bl, where an inter-radio access technology (inter- RAT) neighbor becomes better than a threshold; and Event B2, where a primary cell (PCell) becomes worse than thresholdl and an inter- RAT neighbor becomes better than threshold2.

[0037] According to certain example embodiments, the network may explicitly signal the UE to reduce the beam sweeping factor for measurements toward neighbor cells. For instance, the network may decide to reduce the beam sweeping factor of a UE, and inform the UE of the decision via a medium access control control element (MAC-CE). The UE may provide/inform the network, when reporting UE capabilities, whether the functionality of reducing the beam sweeping factor is enabled. The UE may also inform the network of the values of the beam sweeping factor N that are supported by the UE for this dynamic operation. In some example embodiments, the values of N may be legacy values (e.g., N= 2, 4, 6, 8, 12), a subset of legacy values, or new dedicated values (e.g., N= 2, 4, 6, 8, 12). In other example embodiments, the UE may dynamically provide a preference for a particular N value to apply for the neighbor cell measurements. In further example embodiments, the gNB may indicate the N value to apply for the neighbor cell measurements. Alternatively, in other example embodiments, the gNB may indicate the N value to apply for the neighbor cell measurements according to UE preferences. In some example embodiments, the network’s decision to reduce the beam sweeping factor may also be based on the set of the last RSRP reporting on a set of DL-RSs measured for the serving cell by the UE.

[0038] FIG. 4 illustrates an example signal diagram, according to certain example embodiments. In particular, FIG. 4 illustrates a signaling procedure between a UE 100 and a TRP 105 (e.g., network, gNB, etc.). After initial access 1 and configuring the multi-Rx UE with a “legacy operations” value of the beam sweeping factor N (e.g., N=8 in FR2-1), DL and UL communications between the UE 100 and TRP 105 take place. For instance, at 2, the UE 100 may inform the TRP 105 of the UE’s 100 capability to support multiple beam sweeping factors N, and inform the TRP 105 of the beam sweeping factor values N that are supported by the UE 100. In certain example embodiments, informing the TRP 105 of the UE’ s 100 capability may be performed via RRC. At 3, the UE 100 sets the “legacy operations” value at N=8. At 4 and 5, the TRP 105 and UE 100 perform DL and UL communications, respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the DL communications from the TRP 105 to the UE 100 may be performed via physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), and the UL communications from the UE 100 to the TRP 105 may be performed via physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), and reports Ll- RSRP.

[0039] At 7, the TRP 105 determines that a reduced beam sweeping factor N may be beneficial for the UE 100 and/or the TRP 105. In some example embodiments, when Ll-RSRP reports from the UE 100 informs the TRP 105 that the link between the UE 100 and the TRP 105 is deteriorating, the TRP 105 may decide to reduce the beam sweeping factor N at the UE 100. The reduction of the beam sweeping factor N may be used for performing faster L3 measurements toward neighbor cells. In other example embodiments, there may be other scenarios for which the network determines that a reduced beam sweeping factor N is beneficial and, thus, providing the dynamic capability of the UE 100 to reduce the beam sweeping factor N.

[0040] For instance, in some example embodiments, if the load in the cell is particularly high, although the UE-gNB link may not be particularly detrimental, the network may determine to reduce the beam sweeping factor at the UE 100, which may, for instance, be used for performing faster L3 measurements toward neighbor cells, as a handover of the UE 100 toward a neighbor cell may take place for load balancing reasons.

[0041] In other example embodiments, if the Ll-RSRP reports from the UE 100 informs the TRP 105 that the link is stable (i.e. , not varying significantly), a reduced beam sweeping factor N may be beneficial to decrease the number of measurements at the UE 100 side toward neighbor cells (and not to perform faster measurements at the UE 100 side toward neighbor cells), thus increasing battery life at the UE.

[0042] According to certain example embodiments, if the Ll-RSRP reports from the UE 100 informs the TRP 105 that the link is good (e.g., above a certain threshold), a reduced beam sweeping factor may be beneficial to decrease the number of measurements at the UE 100 side toward neighbor cells (and not to perform faster measurements at the UE 100 side toward neighbor cells), thus increasing battery life at the UE 100.

[0043] After the TRP 105 determines that a reduced beam sweeping factor N would be beneficial, at 8, the TRP 105 determines a value of the reduced beam sweeping factor N for the UE 100. For instance, the TRP 105 may determine the value of the beam sweeping factor N is reduced from “legacy operations” N=8 to N=4 (or any value lower than the “legacy operations” value). In certain example embodiments, the reduction of N may depend on which values of N the UE 100 supports. However, the TRP 105 may be aware of the values of N supported by the UE 100 due to the UE capability reported in operation 2. [0044] At 9, the TRP 105 informs the UE 100 to use a reduced beam sweeping factor (e.g., N=4). In some example embodiments, after operation 9, the other operations that depend on the use of multi-Rx may be disabled. One of such operations may include the scheduling restrictions enhancements, where the UE 100 is able to receive data while performing measurements in different directions.

[0045] At 11, which is similar to operation 7, the TRP 105 determines that a reduced beam sweeping factor N may be beneficial for the UE 100 and/or the TRP 105. After determining that a reduced beam sweeping factor could be beneficial for the UE 100 and/or the TRP 105, at 12, the TRP 105 transmits a command to the UE 100 to reduce the beam sweeping factor N, but leaves it up to the UE 100 to decide the value of N. In some example embodiments, the value of N may be lower than the “legacy operations.” At 13, the UE 100 determines the reduced value of N (e.g., N=4, or any value lower than the “legacy operations” value). At 14, the UE 100 informs the TRP 105 about the reduced value. In some example embodiments, after operation 13, the other operations that depend upon the use of multi-Rx are disabled. One of such operations may include the scheduling of restriction enhancements where the UE 100 may be able to receive data while performing measurements in different directions.

[0046] In some example embodiments, DL and UL communications between the UE 100 and TRP 105 are performed before, during, and after reducing the beam sweeping factor N with operations 7-9 and 11-14. For example, at 15, the TRP 105 performs communications with the UE 100 via PDSCH and PDCCH. At 16, the UE 100 performs communications with the TRP 105 via PUSCH, PUCCH, and reports Ll-RSRP. If, for example, no handover takes place and the link quality between the UE 100 and TRP 105 is restored (and the network is aware that there is no handover and of the link quality based on the last Ll-RSRP reports), the TRP 105 may, at 17, determine to increase the beam sweeping factor N to the “legacy operations” value. The TRP 105 may also, at 18, inform the UE 100 to increase the beam sweeping factor N to the “legacy operations” value (e.g., N=8). In certain example embodiments, after the UE 100 is informed to increase the beam sweeping factor N, other multi- Rx operations may be resumed. One example multi-Rx operation may include scheduling restriction enhancements, where the UE 100 is able to receive data while performing measurements in different directions.

[0047] FIG. 5 illustrates an example flow diagram of a method, according to certain example embodiments. In an example embodiment, the method of FIG. 5 may be performed by a network entity, or a group of multiple network elements in a 3GPP system, such as LTE or 5G-NR. For instance, in an example embodiment, the method of FIG. 5 may be performed by a UE similar to one of apparatuses 10 or 20 illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0048] According to certain example embodiments, the method of FIG. 5 may include, at 500, transmitting, to a network element, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of a user equipment. The method may also include, at 505, receiving, from the network element, a command to switch from a first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor. The method may further include, at 510, switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor based on the command. In addition, the method may include, at 515, performing a measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor.

[0049] According to certain example embodiments, the command may include an indication of a specific value of the second beam sweeping factor to which a value of the first beam sweeping factor should reduce. According to some example embodiments, the command may inform the user equipment to reduce a value of the first beam sweeping factor. According to other example embodiments, the method may also include transmitting, to the network element, information based on another measurement performed on a first reference signal transmitted in a cell.

[0050] In certain example embodiments, the switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor may be dependent upon at least one value of the second beam sweeping factor that is supported by the user equipment. In some example embodiments, the second beam sweeping factor may be associated with the measurement to be performed on a second reference signal transmitted in a cell. In other example embodiments, the indication to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor may be dependent upon at least one of a load of a non- serving cell of the user equipment, a quality of a link between the user equipment and the network element, the quality of the link between the user equipment and the network element is above a predefined threshold, a stability of a link between the user equipment and the network element, or the stability of the link between the user equipment and the network element is above a predefined threshold.

[0051] According to certain example embodiments, the method may also include receiving, from the network element based on a link quality between the user equipment and a serving cell of the user equipment, instructions to increase a value of the second beam sweeping factor to a value of the first beam sweeping value. According to some example embodiments, the method may further include notifying the network element about the switch from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor.

[0052] FIG. 6 illustrates an example flow diagram of another method, according to certain example embodiments. In an example embodiment, the method of FIG. 6 may be performed by a network entity, or a group of multiple network elements in a 3GPP system, such as LTE or 5G-NR. For instance, in an example embodiment, the method of FIG. 6 may be performed by a gNB, network, or TRP similar to one of apparatuses 10 or 20 illustrated in FIG 7.

[0053] According to certain example embodiments, the method of FIG. 6 may include, at 600, receiving, from a user equipment, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the user equipment. The method may also include, at 605, determining, based on the information, that a first beam sweeping factor should be reduced. The method may further include, at 610, transmitting, to the user equipment, a command to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor.

[0054] According to certain example embodiments, the command may include an indication of a specific value of the second beam sweeping factor to which a value of the first beam sweeping factor should reduce. According to some example embodiments, the command may inform the user equipment to reduce a value of the first beam sweeping factor. According to other example embodiments, the method may further include receiving, from the user equipment, information based on a first measurement performed on a first reference signal transmitted in a cell. [0055] In certain example embodiments, the method may also include receiving, from the user equipment, a second measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor. In some example embodiments, the switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor may be dependent upon at least one value of the second beam sweeping factor that is supported by the user equipment. In other example embodiments, the second beam sweeping factor may be associated with the second measurement to be performed on a second reference signal transmitted in a cell.

[0056] According to certain example embodiments, the reduction of the first beam sweeping factor is dependent upon at least one of a load of a non-serving cell of the user equipment, a quality of a link between the user equipment and a network element, the quality of the link between the user equipment and the network element is above a predefined threshold, a stability of a link between the user equipment and the network element, or the stability of the link between the user equipment and the network element is above a predefined threshold. According to some example embodiments, the method may also include transmitting, to the user equipment based on a link quality between the user equipment and a non-serving cell of the user equipment, instructions to increase a value of the second beam sweeping factor to a value of the first beam sweeping value.

[0057] FIG. 7 illustrates a set of apparatuses 10 and 20 according to certain example embodiments. In certain example embodiments, apparatuses 10 and 20 may be elements in a communications network or associated with such a network. For example, apparatus 10 may be a UE or other similar radio communication computer device, and apparatus 20 may be a network (i.e., gNB, or TRP).

[0058] In some example embodiments, apparatuses 10 and 20 may include one or more processors, one or more computer-readable storage medium (for example, memory, storage, or the like), one or more radio access components (for example, a modem, a transceiver, or the like), and/or a user interface. In some example embodiments, apparatuses 10 and 20 may be configured to operate using one or more radio access technologies, such as GSM, LTE, LTE- A, NR, 5G, WLAN, WiFi, NB-IoT, Bluetooth, NFC, MulteFire, and/or any other radio access technologies. It should be noted that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that apparatuses 10 and 20 may include components or features not shown in FIG. 7.

[0059] As illustrated in the example of FIG. 7, apparatuses 10 and 20 may include or be coupled to a processors 12 and 22 for processing information and executing instructions or operations. Processors 12 and 22 may be any type of general or specific purpose processor. In fact, processors 12 and 22 may include one or more of general-purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, DSPs, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application- specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture, as examples. While a single processors 12 and 22 is shown in FIG. 7, multiple processors may be utilized according to other example embodiments. For example, it should be understood that, in certain example embodiments, apparatuses 10 and 20 may include two or more processors that may form a multiprocessor system (e.g., in this case processors 12 may represent a multiprocessor) that may support multiprocessing. According to certain example embodiments, the multiprocessor system may be tightly coupled or loosely coupled (e.g., to form a computer cluster).

[0060] Processors 12 and 22 may perform functions associated with the operation of apparatuses 10 and 20 including, as some examples, precoding of antenna gain/phase parameters, encoding and decoding of individual bits forming a communication message, formatting of information, and overall control of the apparatuses 10 and 20, including processes and examples illustrated in FIGs. 1-6. [0061] Apparatuses 10 and 20 may further include or be coupled to a memories 14 and 24 (internal or external), which may be respectively coupled to processors 12 and 24 for storing information and instructions that may be executed by processors 12 and 24. Memories 14 and 24 may be one or more memories and of any type suitable to the local application environment, and may be implemented using any suitable volatile or nonvolatile data storage technology such as a semiconductor-based memory device, a magnetic memory device and system, an optical memory device and system, fixed memory, and/or removable memory. For example, memories 14 and 24 can be comprised of any combination of random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), static storage such as a magnetic or optical disk, hard disk drive (HDD), or any other type of non-transitory machine or computer readable media. The instructions stored in memories 14 and 24 may include program instructions or computer program code that, when executed by processors 12 and 22, enable the apparatuses 10 and 20 to perform tasks as described herein.

[0062] In certain example embodiments, apparatuses 10 and 20 may further include or be coupled to (internal or external) a drive or port that is configured to accept and read an external computer readable storage medium, such as an optical disc, USB drive, flash drive, or any other storage medium. For example, the external computer readable storage medium may store a computer program or software for execution by processors 12 and 22 and/or apparatuses 10 and 20 to perform any of the methods and examples illustrated in FIGs. 1-6.

[0063] In some example embodiments, apparatuses 10 and 20 may also include or be coupled to one or more antennas 15 and 25 for receiving a downlink signal and for transmitting via an UL from apparatuses 10 and 20. Apparatuses 10 and 20 may further include a transceivers 18 and 28 configured to transmit and receive information. The transceivers 18 and 28 may also include a radio interface (e.g., a modem) coupled to the antennas 15 and 25. The radio interface may correspond to a plurality of radio access technologies including one or more of GSM, LTE, LTE-A, 5G, NR, WLAN, NB-IoT, Bluetooth, BT-LE, NFC, RFID, UWB, and the like. The radio interface may include other components, such as filters, converters (for example, digital-to-analog converters and the like), symbol demappers, signal shaping components, an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) module, and the like, to process symbols, such as OFDMA symbols, carried by a downlink or an UL.

[0064] For instance, transceivers 18 and 28 may be configured to modulate information on to a carrier waveform for transmission by the antennas 15 and 25 and demodulate information received via the antenna 15 and 25 for further processing by other elements of apparatuses 10 and 20. In other example embodiments, transceivers 18 and 28 may be capable of transmitting and receiving signals or data directly. Additionally or alternatively, in some example embodiments, apparatus 10 may include an input and/or output device (I/O device). In certain example embodiments, apparatuses 10 and 20 may further include a user interface, such as a graphical user interface or touchscreen.

[0065] In certain example embodiments, memories 14 and 24 store software modules that provide functionality when executed by processors 12 and 22. The modules may include, for example, an operating system that provides operating system functionality for apparatuses 10 and 20. The memory may also store one or more functional modules, such as an application or program, to provide additional functionality for apparatuses 10 and 20. The components of apparatuses 10 and 20 may be implemented in hardware, or as any suitable combination of hardware and software. According to certain example embodiments, apparatuses 10 and 20 may optionally be configured to communicate each other (in any combination) via a wireless or wired communication links 70 according to any radio access technology, such as NR.

[0066] According to certain example embodiments, processors 12 and 22 and memories 14 and 24 may be included in or may form a part of processing circuitry or control circuitry. In addition, in some example embodiments, transceivers 18 and 28 may be included in or may form a part of transceiving circuitry.

[0067] For instance, in certain example embodiments, apparatus 10 may be controlled by memory 14 and processor 12 to transmit, to a network element, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the apparatus. Apparatus 10 may also be controlled by memory 14 and processor 12 to receive, from the network element, a command to switch from a first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor. Apparatus 10 may further be controlled by memory 14 and processor 12 to switch, from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor based on the command. In addition, apparatus 10 may be controlled by memory 14 and processor 12 to perform a measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor .

[0068] In other example embodiments, apparatus 20 may be controlled by memory 24 and processor 22 to receive, from a user equipment, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the user equipment. Apparatus 20 may also be controlled by memory 24 and processor 22 to determine, based on the information, that a first beam sweeping factor should be reduced. Apparatus 20 may further be controlled by memory 24 and processor 22 to transmit, to the user equipment, a command to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor.

[0069] In some example embodiments, an apparatus (e.g., apparatus 10 and/or apparatus 20) may include means for performing a method, a process, or any of the variants discussed herein. Examples of the means may include one or more processors, memory, controllers, transmitters, receivers, and/or computer program code for causing the performance of the operations.

[0070] Certain example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus that includes means for performing any of the methods described herein including, for example, means for transmitting, to a network element, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the apparatus. The apparatus may also include means for receiving, from the network element, a command to switch from a first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor. The apparatus may further include means for switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor based on the command. In addition, the apparatus may include means for performing a measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor.

[0071] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus that includes means for performing any of the methods described herein including, for example, means for receiving, from a user equipment, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the user equipment. The apparatus may also include means for determining, based on the information, that a first beam sweeping factor should be reduced. The apparatus may further include means for transmitting, to the user equipment, a command to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor.

[0072] Although there may be some benefits for performing faster measurements with reduced N, doing so may result in increased power consumption by the UE, thereby reducing battery life. However, certain example embodiments described herein provide several technical improvements, enhancements, and /or advantages to mitigate, avoid, and/or prevent the above-mentioned drawbacks. For instance, in some example embodiments, it may be possible to optimize battery consumption by disabling reduced N for a configurable amount of time. It may also be possible to enable the benefits of reducing the measurements delay for mobility-related procedures when needed. In some example embodiments, when a UE is close to perform handover, the UE may reduce the beam sweeping factor to perform faster measurements to more quickly measure neighbor target cells. In further example embodiments, it may be possible for the network to reduce (or increase back) the beam sweeping factor more dynamically, thereby taking into account particular channel or load conditions of a given neighbor cell.

[0073] A computer program product may include one or more computerexecutable components which, when the program is run, are configured to carry out some example embodiments. The one or more computer-executable components may be at least one software code or portions of it. Modifications and configurations required for implementing functionality of certain example embodiments may be performed as routine(s), which may be implemented as added or updated software routine(s). Software routine(s) may be downloaded into the apparatus.

[0074] As an example, software or a computer program code or portions of it may be in a source code form, object code form, or in some intermediate form, and it may be stored in some sort of carrier, distribution medium, or computer readable medium, which may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. Such carriers may include a record medium, computer memory, read-only memory, photoelectrical and/or electrical carrier signal, telecommunications signal, and software distribution package, for example. Depending on the processing power needed, the computer program may be executed in a single electronic digital computer or it may be distributed amongst a number of computers. The computer readable medium or computer readable storage medium may be a non-transitory medium.

[0075] In other example embodiments, the functionality may be performed by hardware or circuitry included in an apparatus (e.g., apparatus 10 or apparatus 20), for example through the use of an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable gate array (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or any other combination of hardware and software. In yet another example embodiment, the functionality may be implemented as a signal, a non-tangible means that can be carried by an electromagnetic signal downloaded from the Internet or other network.

[0076] According to certain example embodiments, an apparatus, such as a node, device, or a corresponding component, may be configured as circuitry, a computer or a microprocessor, such as single-chip computer element, or as a chipset, including at least a memory for providing storage capacity used for arithmetic operation and an operation processor for executing the arithmetic operation.

[0077] One having ordinary skill in the art will readily understand that the disclosure as discussed above may be practiced with procedures in a different order, and/or with hardware elements in configurations which are different than those which are disclosed. Therefore, although the disclosure has been described based upon these example embodiments, it would be apparent to those of skill in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions would be apparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of example embodiments. Although the above embodiments refer to 5G NR and LTE technology, the above embodiments may also apply to any other present or future 3GPP technology, such as LTE-advanced, and/or fourth generation (4G) technology.

[0078] Partial Glossary:

[0079] 3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project

[0080] 5G 5th Generation

[0081] 5GCN 5G Core Network

[0082] 5GS 5G System

[0083] BFD Beam Failure Detection

[0084] BM Beam Management

[0085] BS Base Station

[0086] CBD Candidate Beam Detection [0087] CSI Channel State Information

[0088] DCI Donwlink Control Indication

[0089] DL Downlink

[0090] DRX Discontinuous Reception

[0091] eNB Enhanced Node B

[0092] E-UTRAN Evolved UTRAN

[0093] FR Frequency Range

[0094] gNB 5G or Next Generation NodeB

[0095] HO Handover

[0096] LI Layer 1

[0097] L3 Layer 3

[0098] LTE Long Term Evolution

[0099] MAC CE Medium Access Control Control Element

[0100] MIMO Multiple Input Multiple Output

[0101] MPUE Multi-panel UE

[0102]M-TRP Multiple Transmit Receive Point

[0103] NR New Radio

[0104]PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel

[0105]PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel

[0106]PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel

[0107]PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared Channel

[0108] QCL Quasi Co Location

[0109] RLM Radio Link Monitoring

[0110] RRC Radio Resource Control

[0111] RRM Radio Resource Management

[0112] RS Reference Signal

[0113] RSRP RS Received Power

[0114] RSRQ RS Received Quality

[0115] RSSI Received Signal Strength Indicator [0116] SINR Signal to interference Plus Noise Ratio

[0117] SIB System Information Block

[0118] SMTC SSB-based RRM Measurement Timing Configuration

[0119] SRS Sounding Reference Signal

[0120] SSB Synchronization Signal/PBCH Block

[0121] TCI Transmission Configuration Indication

[0122] TRP Transmit Receive Point

[0123] UCI Uplink Control Information

[0124] UE User Equipment

[0125] UL Uplink

Claims

WE CLAIM:

1. A method, comprising: transmitting, to a network element, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of a user equipment; receiving, from the network element, a command to switch from a first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor; switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor based on the command; and performing a measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the command comprises an indication of a specific value of the second beam sweeping factor to which a value of the first beam sweeping factor should reduce.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the command informs the user equipment to reduce a value of the first beam sweeping factor.

4. The method according to any of claims 1-3, further comprising: transmitting, to the network element, information based on another measurement performed on a first reference signal transmitted in a cell.

5. The method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor is dependent upon at least one value of the second beam sweeping factor that is supported by the user equipment.

6. The method according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the second beam sweeping factor is associated with the measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor to be performed on a second reference signal transmitted in a cell.

7. The method according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the indication to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor is dependent upon at least one of the following: a load of a non-serving cell of the user equipment, a quality of a link between the user equipment and the network element, the quality of the link between the user equipment and the network element is above a predefined threshold, a stability of a link between the user equipment and the network element, or the stability of the link between the user equipment and the network element is above a predefined threshold.

8. The method according to any of claims 1-7, further comprising: receiving, from the network element based on a link quality between the user equipment and a serving cell of the user equipment, instructions to increase a value of the second beam sweeping factor to a value of the first beam sweeping value.

9. The method according to any of claims 1-8, further comprising: notifying the network element about the switch from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor.

10. A method, comprising: receiving, from a user equipment, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the user equipment; determining, based on the information, that a first beam sweeping factor should be reduced; and transmitting, to the user equipment, a command to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the command comprises an indication of a specific value of the second beam sweeping factor to which a value of the first beam sweeping factor should reduce.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the command informs the user equipment to reduce a value of the first beam sweeping factor.

13. The method according to any of claims 10-12, further comprising: receiving, from the user equipment, information based on a first measurement performed on a first reference signal transmitted in a cell.

14. The method according to any of claims 10-13, further comprising: receiving, from the user equipment, a second measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor.

15. The method according to any of claims 10-14, wherein the switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor is dependent upon at least one value of the second beam sweeping factor that is supported by the user equipment.

16. The method according to any of claims 10-15, wherein the second beam sweeping factor is associated with the second measurement to be performed on a second reference signal transmitted in a cell.

17. The method according to any of claims 10-16, wherein the reduction of the first beam sweeping factor is dependent upon at least one of the following: a load of a non-serving cell of the user equipment, a quality of a link between the user equipment and a network element, the quality of the link between the user equipment and the network element is above a predefined threshold, a stability of a link between the user equipment and the network element, or the stability of the link between the user equipment and the network element is above a predefined threshold.

18. The method according to any of claims 10-17, further comprising: transmitting, to the user equipment based on a link quality between the user equipment and a non- serving cell of the user equipment, instructions to increase a value of the second beam sweeping factor to a value of the first beam sweeping value.

19. An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to transmit, to a network element, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the apparatus; receive, from the network element, a command to switch from a first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor; switch from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor based on the command; and perform a measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the command comprises an indication of a specific value of the second beam sweeping factor to which a value of the first beam sweeping factor should reduce.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the command informs the user equipment to reduce a value of the first beam sweeping factor.

22. The apparatus according to any of claims 19-21, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus at least to: transmit, to the network element, information based on another measurement performed on a first reference signal transmitted in a cell.

23. The apparatus according to any of claims 19-22, wherein the switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor is dependent upon at least one value of the second beam sweeping factor that is supported by the apparatus.

24. The apparatus according to any of claims 19-23, wherein the second beam sweeping factor is associated with the measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor to be performed on a second reference signal transmitted in a cell.

25. The apparatus according to any of claims 19-24, wherein the indication to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor is dependent upon at least one of the following: a load of a non-serving cell of the apparatus, a quality of a link between the apparatus and the network element, the quality of the link between the apparatus and the network element is above a predefined threshold, a stability of a link between the apparatus and the network element, or the stability of the link between the apparatus and the network element is above a predefined threshold.

26. The apparatus according to any of claims 19-25, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from the network element based on a link quality between the apparatus and a serving cell of the apparatus, instructions to increase a value of the second beam sweeping factor to a value of the first beam sweeping value.

27. The apparatus according to any of claims 19-26, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus at least to: notify the network element about the switch from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor.

28. An apparatus, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to receive, from a user equipment, information of supported beam sweeping factor values of the user equipment; determine, based on the information, that a first beam sweeping factor should be reduced; and transmit, to the user equipment, a command to switch from the first beam sweeping factor to a second beam sweeping factor.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the command comprises an indication of a specific value of the second beam sweeping factor to which a value of the first beam sweeping factor should reduce.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the command informs the user equipment to reduce a value of the first beam sweeping factor.

31. The apparatus according to any of claims 28-30, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from the user equipment, information based on a first measurement performed on a first reference signal transmitted in a cell.

32. The apparatus according to any of claims 28-31, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from the user equipment, a second measurement based on the second beam sweeping factor.

33. The apparatus according to any of claims 28-32, wherein the switching from the first beam sweeping factor to the second beam sweeping factor is dependent upon at least one value of the second beam sweeping factor that is supported by the user equipment.

34. The apparatus according to any of claims 28-33, wherein the second beam sweeping factor is associated with the second measurement to be performed on a second reference signal transmitted in a cell.

35. The apparatus according to any of claims 28-34, wherein the reduction of the first beam sweeping factor is dependent upon at least one of the following: a load of a non-serving cell of the user equipment, a quality of a link between the user equipment and the apparatus, the quality of the link between the user equipment and the network element is above a predefined threshold, a stability of a link between the user equipment and the network element, or the stability of the link between the user equipment and the network element is above a predefined threshold.

36. The apparatus according to any of claims 28-35, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus at least to: transmit, to the user equipment based on a link quality between the user equipment and a non- serving cell of the user equipment, instructions to increase a value of the second beam sweeping factor to a value of the first beam sweeping value.

37. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions stored thereon for performing the method according to any of claims 1-18.

38. An apparatus comprising circuitry configured to cause the apparatus to perform the process according to any of claims 1-18.

39. An apparatus comprising means for performing the process according to any of claims 1-18.