WO2025082927A1

WO2025082927A1 - Method for beam reporting

Info

Publication number: WO2025082927A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/078935
Authority: WO
Inventors: Timo Koskela; Sami-Jukka Hakola; Juha Pekka Karjalainen
Original assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Current assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
Priority date: 2023-10-20
Filing date: 2024-10-15
Publication date: 2025-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-20

Abstract

An apparatus comprising: means for receiving a configuration message for one or more transmission configuration indication (TCI) states from a network, said configuration message comprising one or more TCI states indicating quasi-colocation resources for a set of downlink signals and channels and/or spatial sources for a set of uplink signals and channels to be used for provision of activation information by the apparatus; means for receiving a configuration for transmitting the provision of the activation information; and means for transmitting a transmission configuration indication (TCI) activation information message to the network, said TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states indicated by the apparatus to be activated, wherein the TCI activation information message is transmitted as a part of an event triggered transmission procedure.

Description

METHOD FOR BEAM REPORTING

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to beam reporting procedures.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Beam Management defines a set of functionalities to assist a user equipment (UE) to set its reception and transmission (RX/TX) beams for downlink receptions and uplink transmissions, respectively. In 3GPP New Radio (NR), the beam management for both downlink and uplink is network controlled, including triggering of the beam reports from the UE.

[0003] A new carrier frequency range for 7-20 GHz is planned to be introduced in the next generation (6G) networks. The operation of the new carrier frequency range can be considered as a mix of Frequency Range 1 (0-6 GHz) and Frequency Range 2 (24-71 GHz). Due to possible usage of new bands, larger antenna arrays may be needed to cope additional path loss and peneration loss compared to operation below 6GHz bands. New bands may also enable larger bandwidths to be used compared to NR. To enable efficient utilization of larger bandwidths and large antenna arrays, analog or hybrid digital-analog beamforming architectures may be viable options for UE implementation for new bands. When UEs operating with antenna arrays and analog beamforming, combined beam management procedures for the gNB and UE beam alignment are required.

[0004] Thus, there is a need for a beam reporting procedure that could enable a faster link switch and provide the network with additional information for scheduling.

SUMMARY

[0005] Now, an improved method and technical equipment implementing the method has been invented, by which the above problems are alleviated. Various aspects include a method, an apparatus and a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program, or a signal stored therein, which are characterized by what is stated in the independent claims. Various details of the embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims and in the corresponding images and description. [0006] The scope of protection sought for various embodiments of the invention is set out by the independent claims. The embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention.

[0007] According to a first aspect, there is provided an apparatus means for receiving a configuration message for one or more transmission configuration indication (TCI) states from a network, said configuration message comprising one or more TCI states indicating quasi-colocation resources for a set of downlink signals and channels and/or spatial sources for a set of uplink signals and channels to be used for provision of activation information by the apparatus; means for receiving a configuration for transmitting the provision of the activation information; and means for transmitting a transmission configuration indication (TCI) activation information message to the network, said TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states indicated by the apparatus to be activated, wherein the TCI activation information message is transmitted as a part of an event triggered transmission procedure.

[0008] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for receiving a configuration for an event based transmission procedure; means for receiving a configuration for downlink reference signals for evaluation of uplink and/or downlink TCI states; means for performing a measurement of at least one downlink reference signal over a period of time; means for determining, based on the measurement, at least one event based transmission to be carried out and one or more TCI states indicated as being preferred by the apparatus to be activated for said event; and means for transmitting the at least one event based transmission along with the transmission coordination indication (TCI) activation information message to the network.

[0009] According to an embodiment, the event based transmission procedure is triggered based on at least one predetermined criteria.

[0010] According to an embodiment, said means for determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises means for triggering reporting based on observed maximum permissible exposure (MPE) status for resources in a resource set. [0011] According to an embodiment, said means for determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises means for determining that at least one downlink reference signal has a higher reference signal received power than the downlink reference signal of the current TCI state.

[0012] According to an embodiment, said means for determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises means for triggering the transmission of the TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states for at least uplink transmission or both uplink and downlink transmission based on the observed MPE status.

[0013] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for selecting resources and the corresponding TCI states for which the MPE status is clear or below a threshold value.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for prioritizing resources and the corresponding TCI states for which the MPE status is clear or below a threshold value.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for selecting downlink TCI state based on the reference signal received power.

[0016] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for selecting uplink or joint TCI state based on the reference signal received power.

[0017] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for determining used antenna panels for the measured reference signal received power; and means for selecting reference signals and TCI states per-panel basis.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for selecting uplink or joint TCI state based on whether the UE has completed a path loss measurement for the reference signals included in the TCI state.

[0019] According to an embodiment, said means for determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises means for selecting the reference signals associated to corresponding uplink or joint TCI states for which a primary antenna panel, or one of secondary antenna panels is usable for the uplink transmission. [0020] According to an embodiment, the TCI activation information message comprises a MAC Control Element.

[0021] An apparatus according to a second aspect comprises: at least one processor and at least one memory, said at least one memory stored with computer program code thereon, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receive a configuration message for one or more transmission configuration indication (TCI) states from a network, said configuration message comprising one or more TCI states indicating quasi-colocation resources for a set of downlink signals and channels and/or spatial sources for a set of uplink signals and channels to be used for provision of activation information by the apparatus; receive a configuration for transmitting the provision of the activation information; and transmit a transmission configuration indication (TCI) activation information message to the network, said TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states indicated by the apparatus to be activated, wherein the TCI activation information message is transmitted as a part of an event triggered transmission procedure.

[0022] A method according to a third aspect comprises receiving, by a user equipment, a configuration message for one or more transmission configuration indication (TCI) states from a network, said configuration message comprising one or more TCI states indicating quasi-colocation resources for a set of downlink signals and channels and/or spatial sources for a set of uplink signals and channels to be used for provision of activation information by the apparatus; receiving a configuration for transmitting the provision of the activation information; and transmitting a transmission configuration indication (TCI) activation information message to the network, said TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states indicated by the apparatus to be activated, wherein the TCI activation information message is transmitted as a part of an event triggered transmission procedure.

[0023] Computer readable storage media according to further aspects comprise code for use by an apparatus, which when executed by a processor, causes the apparatus to perform the above methods. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] For a more complete understanding of the example embodiments, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for incorporating a beam distribution arrangement according to the embodiments;

[0026] Fig. 2 shows schematically a layout of an apparatus according to an example embodiment;

[0027] Fig. 3 shows a part of an exemplifying radio access network;

[0028] Fig. 4 shows an example of radio beam alignment procedure between the gNB and the UE for both reception and transmission (Rx/Tx);

[0029] Fig. 5 shows the structure of Unified TCI States Activation/Deactivation MAC Control Element in a table;

[0030] Fig. 6 shows a flow chart for a beam reporting procedure according to an embodiment;

[0031] Fig. 7a shows a flow chart for a beam reporting procedure according to another embodiment; and

[0032] Fig. 7b shows a flow chart for a beam reporting procedure according to yet another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTON OF SOME EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0033] The following describes in further detail suitable apparatus and possible mechanisms carrying out the beam distribution. While the following focuses on 5G networks, the embodiments as described further below are by no means limited to be implemented in said networks only, but they are applicable in any network supporting beam distribution.

[0034] In this regard, reference is first made to Figures 1 and 2, where Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary apparatus or electronic device 50, which may incorporate the arrangement according to the embodiments. Figure 2 shows a layout of an apparatus according to an example embodiment. The elements of Figs. 1 and 2 will be explained next. [0035] The electronic device 50 may for example be a mobile terminal or user equipment of a wireless communication system. The apparatus 50 may comprise a housing 30 for incorporating and protecting the device. The apparatus 50 further may comprise a display 32 and a keypad 34. Instead of the keypad, the user interface may be implemented as a virtual keyboard or data entry system as part of a touch-sensitive display.

[0036] The apparatus may comprise a microphone 36 or any suitable audio input which may be a digital or analogue signal input. The apparatus 50 may further comprise an audio output device, such as anyone of: an earpiece 38, speaker, or an analogue audio or digital audio output connection. The apparatus 50 may also comprise a battery 40 (or the device may be powered by any suitable mobile energy device such as solar cell, fuel cell or clockwork generator). The apparatus may further comprise a camera 42 capable of recording or capturing images and/or video. The apparatus 50 may further comprise an infrared port 41 for short range line of sight communication to other devices. In other embodiments the apparatus 50 may further comprise any suitable short-range communication solution such as for example a Bluetooth wireless connection or a USB/firewire wired connection.

[0037] The apparatus 50 may comprise a controller 56 or processor for controlling the apparatus 50. The controller 56 may be connected to memory 58 which may store both user data and instructions for implementation on the controller 56. The memory may be random access memory (RAM) and/or read only memory (ROM). The memory may store computer-readable, computer-executable software including instructions that, when executed, cause the controller/processor to perform various functions described herein. In some cases, the software may not be directly executable by the processor but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein. The controller 56 may further be connected to codec circuitry 54 suitable for carrying out coding and decoding of audio and/or video data or assisting in coding and decoding carried out by the controller.

[0038] The apparatus 50 may comprise radio interface circuitry 52 connected to the controller and suitable for generating wireless communication signals for example for communication with a cellular communications network, a wireless communications system or a wireless local area network. The apparatus 50 may further comprise an antenna 44 connected to the radio interface circuitry 52 for transmitting radio frequency signals generated at the radio interface circuitry 52 to other apparatus(es) and for receiving radio frequency signals from other apparatus(es).

[0039] In the following, different exemplifying embodiments will be described using, as an example of an access architecture to which the embodiments may be applied, a radio access architecture based on Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE Advanced, LTE-A) or new radio (NR, 5G), without restricting the embodiments to such an architecture, however. A person skilled in the art appreciates that the embodiments may also be applied to other kinds of communications networks having suitable means by adjusting parameters and procedures appropriately. Some examples of other options for suitable systems are the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) radio access network (UTRAN or E-UTRAN), long term evolution (LTE, the same as E-UTRA), wireless local area network (WLAN or WiFi), worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX), Bluetooth®, personal communications services (PCS), ZigBee®, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), systems using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, sensor networks, mobile ad-hoc networks (MANETs) and Internet protocol multimedia subsystems (IMS) or any combination thereof.

[0040] Figure 3 depicts examples of simplified system architectures only showing some elements and functional entities, all being logical units, whose implementation may differ from what is shown. The connections shown in Figure 3 are logical connections; the actual physical connections may be different. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the system typically comprises also other functions and structures than those shown in Figure 3. The embodiments are not, however, restricted to the system given as an example but a person skilled in the art may apply the solution to other communication systems provided with necessary properties.

[0041] The example of Figure 3 shows a part of an exemplifying radio access network. [0042] Figure 3 shows user devices 300 and 302 configured to be in a wireless connection on one or more communication channels in a cell with an access node (such as (e/g)NodeB) 304 providing the cell. The physical link from a user device to a (e/g)NodeB is called uplink or reverse link and the physical link from the (e/g)NodeB to the user device is called downlink or forward link. It should be appreciated that (e/g)NodeBs or their functionalities may be implemented by using any node, host, server or access point etc. entity suitable for such a usage.

[0043] A communication system typically comprises more than one (e/g)NodeB in which case the (e/g)NodeBs may also be configured to communicate with one another over links, wired or wireless, designed for the purpose. These links may be used for signaling purposes. The (e/g)NodeB is a computing device configured to control the radio resources of communication system it is coupled to. The NodeB may also be referred to as a base station, an access point or any other type of interfacing device including a relay station capable of operating in a wireless environment. The (e/g)NodeB includes or is coupled to transceivers. From the transceivers of the (e/g)NodeB, a connection is provided to an antenna unit that establishes bi-directional radio links to user devices. The antenna unit may comprise a plurality of antennas or antenna elements. The (e/g)NodeB is further connected to core network 310 (CN or next generation core NGC). Depending on the system, the counterpart on the CN side can be a serving gateway (S-GW, routing and forwarding user data packets), packet data network gateway (P-GW), for providing connectivity of user devices (UEs) to external packet data networks, or mobile management entity (MME), etc. The CN may comprise network entities or nodes that may be referred to management entities. Examples of the network entities comprise at least an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF).

[0044] The user device (also called a user equipment (UE), a user terminal, a terminal device, a wireless device, a mobile station (MS) etc.) illustrates one type of an apparatus to which resources on the air interface are allocated and assigned, and thus any feature described herein with a user device may be implemented with a corresponding network apparatus, such as a relay node, an eNB, and an gNB. An example of such a relay node is a layer 3 relay (self-backhauling relay) towards the base station.

[0045] The user device typically refers to a portable computing device that includes wireless mobile communication devices operating with or without a subscriber identification module (SIM), including, but not limited to, the following types of devices: a mobile station (mobile phone), smartphone, personal digital assistant (PDA), handset, device using a wireless modem (alarm or measurement device, etc.), laptop and/or touch screen computer, tablet, game console, notebook, and multimedia device. It should be appreciated that a user device may also be a nearly exclusive uplink only device, of which an example is a camera or video camera loading images or video clips to a network. A user device may also be a device having capability to operate in Internet of Things (loT) network which is a scenario in which objects are provided with the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. Accordingly, the user device may be an loT-device. The user device may also utilize cloud. In some applications, a user device may comprise a small portable device with radio parts (such as a watch, earphones or eyeglasses) and the computation is carried out in the cloud.

The user device (or in some embodiments a layer 3 relay node) is configured to perform one or more of user equipment functionalities. The user device may also be called a subscriber unit, mobile station, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal or user equipment (UE) just to mention but a few names or apparatuses.

[0046] Various techniques described herein may also be applied to a cyber-physical system (CPS) (a system of collaborating computational elements controlling physical entities). CPS may enable the implementation and exploitation of massive amounts of interconnected ICT devices (sensors, actuators, processors microcontrollers, etc.) embedded in physical objects at different locations. Mobile cyber physical systems, in which the physical system in question has inherent mobility, are a subcategory of cyberphysical systems. Examples of mobile physical systems include mobile robotics and electronics transported by humans or animals.

[0047] Additionally, although the apparatuses have been depicted as single entities, different units, processors and/or memory units (not all shown in Fig. 1) may be implemented.

[0048] 5G enables using multiple input - multiple output (MIMO) antennas, many more base stations or nodes than the LTE (a so-called small cell concept), including macro sites operating in co-operation with smaller stations and employing a variety of radio technologies depending on service needs, use cases and/or spectrum available. The access nodes of the radio network form transmission/reception (TX/Rx) points (TRPs), and the UEs are expected to access networks of at least partly overlapping multi-TRPs, such as macro-cells, small cells, pico-cells, femto-cells, remote radio heads, relay nodes, etc. The access nodes may be provided with Massive MIMO antennas, i.e. very large antenna array consisting of e.g. hundreds of antenna elements, implemented in a single antenna panel or in a plurality of antenna panels, capable of using a plurality of simultaneous radio beams for communication with the UE. The UEs may be provided with MIMO antennas having an antenna array consisting of e.g. dozens of antenna elements, implemented in a single antenna panel or in a plurality of antenna panels. Thus, the UE may access one TRP using one beam, one TRP using a plurality of beams, a plurality of TRPs using one (common) beam or a plurality of TRPs using a plurality of beams.

[0049] The 4G/LTE networks support some multi-TRP schemes, but in 5G NR the multi-TRP features are enhanced e.g. via transmission of multiple control signals via multi- TRPs, which enables to improve link diversity gain. Moreover, high carrier frequencies (e.g., mmWaves) together with the Massive MIMO antennas require new beam management procedures for multi-TRP technology.

[0050] 5G mobile communications supports a wide range of use cases and related applications including video streaming, augmented reality, different ways of data sharing and various forms of machine type applications (such as (massive) machine-type communications (mMTC), including vehicular safety, different sensors and real-time control. 5G is expected to have multiple radio interfaces, namely below 6GHz, cmWave and mmWave, and also capable of being integrated with existing legacy radio access technologies, such as the LTE. Integration with the LTE may be implemented, at least in the early phase, as a system, where macro coverage is provided by the LTE and 5G radio interface access comes from small cells by aggregation to the LTE. In other words, 5G is planned to support both inter-RAT operability (such as LTE-5G) and inter-RI operability (inter-radio interface operability, such as below 6GHz - cmWave, below 6GHz - cmWave - mmWave). One of the concepts considered to be used in 5G networks is network slicing in which multiple independent and dedicated virtual sub-networks (network instances) may be created within the same infrastructure to run services that have different requirements on latency, reliability, throughput and mobility.

[0051] Frequency bands for 5G NR are separated into two frequency ranges: Frequency Range 1 (FR1) including sub-6 GHz frequency bands, i.e. bands traditionally used by previous standards, but also new bands extended to cover potential new spectrum offerings from 410 MHz to 7125 MHz, and Frequency Range 2 (FR2) including frequency bands from 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz. Thus, FR2 includes the bands in the mmWave range, which due to their shorter range and higher available bandwidth require somewhat different approach in radio resource management compared to bands in the FR1.

[0052] The current architecture in LTE networks is fully distributed in the radio and fully centralized in the core network. The low latency applications and services in 5G require to bring the content close to the radio which leads to local break out and multiaccess edge computing (MEC). 5G enables analytics and knowledge generation to occur at the source of the data. This approach requires leveraging resources that may not be continuously connected to a network such as laptops, smartphones, tablets and sensors. MEC provides a distributed computing environment for application and service hosting. It also has the ability to store and process content in close proximity to cellular subscribers for faster response time. Edge computing covers a wide range of technologies such as wireless sensor networks, mobile data acquisition, mobile signature analysis, cooperative distributed peer-to-peer ad hoc networking and processing also classifiable as local cloud/fog computing and grid/mesh computing, dew computing, mobile edge computing, cloudlet, distributed data storage and retrieval, autonomic self-healing networks, remote cloud services, augmented and virtual reality, data caching, Internet of Things (massive connectivity and/or latency critical), critical communications (autonomous vehicles, traffic safety, real-time analytics, time-critical control, healthcare applications).

[0053] The communication system is also able to communicate with other networks, such as a public switched telephone network or the Internet 312, or utilize services provided by them. The communication network may also be able to support the usage of cloud services, for example at least part of core network operations may be carried out as a cloud service (this is depicted in Fig. 3 by “cloud” 314). The communication system may also comprise a central control entity, or a like, providing facilities for networks of different operators to cooperate for example in spectrum sharing.

[0054] Edge cloud may be brought into radio access network (RAN) by utilizing network function virtualization (NFV) and software defined networking (SDN). Using edge cloud may mean access node operations to be carried out, at least partly, in a server, host or node operationally coupled to a remote radio head or base station comprising radio parts. It is also possible that node operations will be distributed among a plurality of servers, nodes or hosts. Application of cloudRAN architecture enables RAN real time functions being carried out at the RAN side (in a distributed unit, DU) and non-real time functions being carried out in a centralized manner (in a centralized unit, CU 308).

[0055] It should also be understood that the distribution of labor between core network operations and base station operations may differ from that of the LTE or even be nonexistent. Some other technology advancements probably to be used are Big Data and all-IP, which may change the way networks are being constructed and managed. 5G (or new radio, NR) networks are being designed to support multiple hierarchies, where MEC servers can be placed between the core and the base station or nodeB (gNB). It should be appreciated that MEC can be applied in 4G networks as well. The gNB is a next generation Node B (or, new Node B) supporting the 5G network (i.e., the NR).

[0056] 5G may also utilize non-terrestrial nodes 306, e.g. access nodes, to enhance or complement the coverage of 5G service, for example by providing backhauling, wireless access to wireless devices, service continuity for machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, service continuity for Internet of Things (loT) devices, service continuity for passengers on board of vehicles, ensuring service availability for critical communications and/or ensuring service availability for future railway/maritime/aeronautical communications. The non-terrestrial nodes may have fixed positions with respect to the Earth surface or the non-terrestrial nodes may be mobile nonterrestrial nodes that may move with respect to the Earth surface. The non-terrestrial nodes may comprise satellites and/or HAPSs. Satellite communication may utilize geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite systems, but also low earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems, in particular mega-constellations (systems in which hundreds of (nano)satellites are deployed). Each satellite in the mega-constellation may cover several satellite-enabled network entities that create on-ground cells. The on-ground cells may be created through an on-ground relay node 304 or by a gNB located on-ground or in a satellite.

[0057] A person skilled in the art appreciates that the depicted system is only an example of a part of a radio access system and in practice, the system may comprise a plurality of (e/g)NodeBs, the user device may have an access to a plurality of radio cells and the system may comprise also other apparatuses, such as physical layer relay nodes or other network elements, etc. At least one of the (e/g)NodeBs or may be a Home(e/g)nodeB. Additionally, in a geographical area of a radio communication system a plurality of different kinds of radio cells as well as a plurality of radio cells may be provided. Radio cells may be macro cells (or umbrella cells) which are large cells, usually having a diameter of up to tens of kilometers, or smaller cells such as micro-, femto- or picocells. The (e/g)NodeBs of Fig. 1 may provide any kind of these cells. A cellular radio system may be implemented as a multilayer network including several kinds of cells. Typically, in multilayer networks, one access node provides one kind of a cell or cells, and thus a plurality of (e/g)NodeBs are required to provide such a network structure.

[0058] For fulfilling the need for improving the deployment and performance of communication systems, the concept of “plug-and-play” (e/g)NodeBs has been introduced. Typically, a network which is able to use “plug-and-play” (e/g)Node Bs, includes, in addition to Home (e/g)NodeBs (H(e/g)nodeBs), a home node B gateway, or HNB-GW (not shown in Fig. 1). A HNB Gateway (HNB-GW), which is typically installed within an operator’s network may aggregate traffic from a large number of HNBs back to a core network.

[0059] The Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol is used in various wireless communication systems for defining the air interface between the UE and a base station, such as eNB/gNB. This protocol is specified by 3GPP in in TS 36.331 for LTE and in TS 38.331 for 5G. In terms of the RRC, the UE may operate in LTE and in 5G in an idle mode or in a connected mode, wherein the radio resources available for the UE are dependent on the mode where the UE at present resides. In 5G, the UE may also operate in inactive mode. In the RRC idle mode, the UE has no connection for communication, but the UE is able to listen to page messages. In the RRC connected mode, the UE may operate in different states, such as CELL DCH (Dedicated Channel), CELL FACH (Forward Access Channel), CELL PCH (Cell Paging Channel) and URA PCH (URA Paging Channel). The UE may communicate with the eNB/gNB via various logical channels like Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH), Paging Control Channel (PCCH), Common Control Channel (CCCH), Dedicated Control Channel (DCCH), Dedicated Traffic Channel (DTCH).

[0060] The transitions between the states is controlled by a state machine of the RRC. When the UE is powered up, it is in a disconnected mode/idle mode. The UE may transit to RRC connected mode with an initial attach or with a connection establishment. If there is no activity from the UE for a short time, eNB/gNB may suspend its session by moving to RRC Inactive and can resume its session by moving to RRC connected mode. The UE can move to the RRC idle mode from the RRC connected mode or from the RRC inactive mode.

[0061] The actual user and control data from network to the UEs is transmitted via downlink physical channels, which in 5G include Physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) which carries the necessary downlink control information (DCI), Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), which carries the user data and system information for user, and Physical broadcast channel (PBCH), which carries the necessary system information to enable a UE to access the 5G network.

[0062] The user and control data from UE to the network is transmitted via uplink physical channels, which in 5G include Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), which is used for uplink control information including HARQ feedback acknowledgments, scheduling request, and downlink channel-state information for link adaptation, Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), which is used for uplink data transmission, and Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH), which is used by the UE to request connection setup referred to as random access.

[0063] For the 5G technology, one of the most important design goals has been improved metrics of reliability and latency, in addition to network resilience and flexibility. [0064] Especially when considering the operating of the UE in the Frequency Range 2 (FR2; 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz) including the mmWave range, the UE implementation is expected to have multiple antenna panels (Multi-Panel UE, MPUE) to perform beam steering over a large solid angle aiming to maximize the reliability.

[0065] Beam Management defines a set of functionalities to assist the UE to set its reception and transmission (RX/TX) beams for downlink receptions and uplink transmissions, respectively. In NR, the beam management for both downlink and uplink is network controlled, including triggering of the beam reports from the UE. The functionalities of the beam management can be categorized roughly according to four groups:

1. Beam Indication - Assist the UE to set its RX and TX beam properly for the reception of DL and transmission of UL, respectively.

2. Beam Acquisition, Measurements and Reporting

- Procedures for providing the gNB knowledge about feasible DL and UL beams for the UE.

3. Beam Recovery

- For rapid link reconfiguration against sudden blockages, i.e. fast re-alignment of the gNB and the UE beams.

4. Beam Tracking and Refinement

- Set of procedures to refine the gNB and the UE side beams.

[0066] Regarding downlink beam management and especially for Beam Acquisition, Measurements and Reporting, the following beam management procedures P-1, P-2 and P- 3 as identified in Figure 4 are supported within one or multiple TRPs of the serving cell: a) P-1 is used to enable UE measurement on different TRP Tx beams to support selection of TRP Tx beams/UE Rx beam(s)

- For beamforming at TRP, it typically includes an intra/inter-TRP Tx beam sweep from a set of different beams. For beamforming at UE, it typically includes a UE Rx beam sweep from a set of different beams. b) P-2 is used to enable UE measurement on different TRP Tx beams to possibly change inter/intra-TRP Tx beam(s)

- P-2 may be performed from a possibly smaller set of beams for beam refinement than in P-1. It is noted that P-2 can be a special case of P-1. c) P-3 is used to enable UE measurement on the same TRP Tx beam to change UE Rx beam in the case UE uses beamforming.

[0067] Regarding downlink beam indication, a quasi-colocation (QCL) indication functionality has been defined. The principle to receive certain physical signal or physical channel is: the UE is either configured with or the UE implicitly determines a source/reference signal (RS) that UE has received and measured earlier, which defines how to set RX beam for the reception of the downlink (target) physical signal or channel to be received. To provide the UE with QCL characteristics for the target signal (to be received), a Transmission Coordination Indication (TCI) framework has been defined using which the UE can be configured with TCI state(s) so as to provide the UE with source RS(s) for determining QCL characteristics. Each TCI state includes one or two source RSs that provide the UE QCL with TypeA, TypeB, TypeC and/or TypeD parameters. Different types provide the parameters as follows:

- QCL-TypeA: {Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread}

- QCL-TypeB: {Doppler shift, Doppler spread}

- QCL-TypeC: {Doppler shift, average delay}

- QCL-TypeD: {Spatial Rx parameter}

[0068] In uplink, the UE is provided with a parameter called spatial relation info providing a spatial source RS, based on which the UE determines the uplink transmit beam. The spatial source RS can be DL RS (SSB or CSI-RS) or UL RS (SRS). For each PUCCH and SRS resource, the gNB provides explicitly spatial source while for PUSCH, an indirect indication is provided:

- PUSCH scheduled using DCI format 0 0, the spatial source is the same as with a certain PUCCH resource

- PUSCH scheduled using DCI format 0 1, the spatial source is the same as indicated SRS resource(s) o One SRS resource indicated in codebook based transmission scheme o One or multiple SRS resources indicated in non-codebook based transmission scheme

[0069] 3GPP Release 16 (Rell6) introduced a default spatial relation for dedicated PUCCH/SRS (except SRS with usage = ‘beamManagement’ and SRS with usage = ‘nonCodeBook’ and configured with associated CSI-RS) where, if the spatial relation is not configured in FR2, the UE determines the spatial source as follows:

In case when CORESET(s) are configured on the CC, the spatial source is the TCI state / QCL assumption of the CORESET with the lowest ID.

In case when any CORESETs are not configured on the CC, the spatial source is the activated TCI state with the lowest ID applicable to PDSCH in the active DL- BWP of the CC.

[0070] Rell6 further introduced a default spatial relation for PUSCH scheduled by DCI format 0 0 where the UE determines the spatial relation as follows: when there is no PUCCH resources configured on the active UL BWP CC: o The default spatial relation is the TCI state / QCL assumption of the CORESET with the lowest ID. o The default pathloss RS is the QCL-TypeD RS of the same TCI state / QCL assumption of the CORESET with the lowest ID. when there is no PUCCH resources configured on the active UL BWP CC in FR2 and in RRC-connected mode: o The default spatial relation is the TCI state / QCL assumption of the CORESET with the lowest ID.

[0071] The default pathloss RS is the QCL-TypeD RS of the same TCI state / QCL assumption of the CORESET with the lowest ID.

[0072] Rell7 introduced a unified TCI framework, meaning that the TCI states used so far for providing QCL assumptions for the reception of DL signals and channels would also be used to provide spatial sources for the transmission of UL signals and channels to determine UL TX spatial filter. Furthermore, the unified TCI framework defines the concept of indicated TCI state, meaning that one or multiple (in case of multi-TRP for instance) of the configured TCI states is/are indicated TCI state(s) at a time. The indicated TCI state can be joint DL and UL TCI state or separate DL and separate UL TCI states. The indicated TCI state provides QCL source (DL) and spatial source (UL) for the set of downlink signals and channels and for the set of uplink signals and channels, respectively. According to Rell7, there can be one indicated joint DL and UL TCI state, or one indicated DL TCI state and one indicated UL TCI state for the UE.

[0073] Rell8 further extends the unified TCI framework so that there can be multiple indicated DL and UL TCI states.

[0074] According to 3GPP TS 38.321, the activation and deactivation of the unified TCI states is carried out by a Unified TCI States Activation/D eactivation MAC CE (Media Access Control layer Control Element) illustrated in Figure 5. The Unified TCI States Activation/Deactivation MAC CE is identified by a MAC subheader with a predetermined eLCID (Extended Logical Channel ID) and has a variable size consisting of following fields: Serving Cell ID: This field indicates the identity of the Serving Cell for which the MAC CE applies. The length of the field is 5 bits. If the indicated Serving Cell is configured as part of a simultaneousU-TCI-UpdateListl, simultaneousU-TCI-UpdateList2, simultaneousU-TCI-UpdateList3 or simultaneousU-TCI-UpdateList4 as specified in TS 38.331, this MAC CE applies to all the Serving Cells in the set simultaneousU-TCI- UpdateListl, simultaneousU-TCI-UpdateList2, simultaneousU-TCI-UpdateList3 or simultaneousU-TCI-UpdateList4, respectively;

DL BWP ID: This field indicates a DL BWP for which the MAC CE applies as the codepoint of the DCI bandwidth part indicator field as specified in TS 38.212. The length of the BWP ID field is 2 bits;

UL BWP ID: This field indicates a UL BWP for which the MAC CE applies as the codepoint of the DCI bandwidth part indicator field as specified in TS 38.212. The length of the BWP ID field is 2 bits;

Pi: This field indicates whether each TCI codepoint has multiple TCI states or single TCI state. If Pi field is set to 1, it indicates that i^th TCI codepoint includes the DL TCI state and the UL TCI state. If Pi field is set to 0, it indicates that i^th TCI codepoint includes only the DL/joint TCI state or the UL TCI state. The codepoint to which a TCI state is mapped is determined by its ordinal position among all the TCI state ID fields;

D/U: This field indicate whether the TCI state ID in the same octet is for joint/downlink or uplink TCI state. If this field is set to 1, the TCI state ID in the same octet is for joint/downlink. If this field is set to 0, the TCI state ID in the same octet is for uplink;

TCI state ID: This field indicates the TCI state identified by TCLStateld as specified in TS 38.331. If D/U is set to 1, 7-bits length TCI state ID i.e. TCI-Stateld as specified in TS 38.331 is used. If D/U is set to 0, the most significant bit of TCI state ID is considered as the reserved bit and remainder 6 bits indicate the UL-TCI State-Id as specified in TS 38.331. The maximum number of activated TCI states is 16;

R: Reserved bit, set to 0.

[0075] Beam reporting is to provide the UE measurement results on best DL RSs representing beam reference signals to the network. The gNB/network utilizes the UE measurement results to make decisions about the used beam pair link for both downlink and uplink. The UE can be configured to report either Ll-RSRP or Ll-SINR value(s) for the reported DL RS(s). The reporting can be periodic, semi-persistent or aperiodic reporting triggered by the gNB via DCI command on PDCCH.

[0076] A new carrier frequency range for 7-20 GHz is planned to be introduced in the next generation (6G) networks. The operation of the new carrier frequency range can be considered as a mix of FR1 (0-6 GHz) and FR2 (24-71 GHz). Due to possible usage of new bands, e.g. >6GHz up to 20GHz, larger antenna arrays may be needed to cope additional path loss and peneration loss compared to operation below 6GHz bands. New bands may also enable larger bandwidths to be used compared to NR. To enable efficient utilization of larger bandwidths and large antenna arrays, analog or hybrid digital-analog beamforming architectures may be viable options for UE implementation for new bands. When UEs operating with antenna arrays and analog beamforming, combined beam management procedures for the gNB and UE beam alignment are required.

[0077] Also, the current 5G/NR networks would benefit from UE initiated beam reporting that could enable a faster link switch, provide the network with additional information for scheduling and reduce overhead by enabling UE beam reporting when there is actually need for the reporting instead of periodic reporting or pinging by gNB using aperiodic reporting.

[0078] In the following, an enhanced method for UE initiated beam reporting will be described in more detail, in accordance with various embodiments.

[0079] The method, which is disclosed in flow chart of Figure 6 as reflecting the operation of a terminal apparatus, such as a user equipment (UE), wherein the method comprises receiving (600), by a user equipment, a configuration message for one or more transmission configuration indication (TCI) states from a network, said configuration message comprising one or more TCI states indicating quasi-colocation (QCL) resources for a set of downlink signals and channels and/or spatial resources for a set of uplink signals and channels to be used for provision of activation information by the user equipment; receiving (602) a configuration for transmitting the provision of the activation information; and transmitting (604), by said user equipment, a transmission configuration indication (TCI) activation information message to the network, said TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states indicated by the user equipment to be activated.

[0080] Thus, the UE may be configured to transmit a TCI activation information message, such as a MAC CE, to the network, the TCI activation information message comprising activation information referring to ‘activation information for one or more TCI states’ indicating that UE prefers the one or more TCI states included in the message as TCI states to be activated. Providing the activation message to the network indicates the UE preference for TCI state IDs. Thus, transmitting the TCI activation information message to the network enables faster beam switching of DL and UL or both DL/UL. [0081] In the following, the term ‘TCI activation information message’ may also be referred to as ‘TCI state activation information message’, wherein both terms may be used interchangeably as referring to the UE provision of information on one or more TCI states. [0082] According to an embodiment, the one or more TCI states provided in the TCI activation information message comprise at least one TCI state in addition to one or more TCI states activated by the network.

[0083] According to an embodiment, the one or more TCI states provided in the TCI activation information message comprise at least one TCI state to replace one or more TCI states activated by the network.

[0084] Hence, the TCI activation information message transmitted by the UE may activate one or more TCI states additionally to the network activated TCI states or it may replace one or more currently network activated TCI states.

[0085] According to an embodiment, the one or more TCI states comprise at least one of: TCI states for UE centric or UE preferred indication or TCI states to be activated by a further configuration message from the network.

[0086] Thus, the TCI activation information message transmitted by the UE may comprise either an indication to prefer new TCI states as UE centric/UE preferred TCI states or it may comprise an indication to prefer one or more TCI states as indicated by the network. UE centric, as recited herein, may refer to UE initiated or UE determined actions, such as transmitting or triggering a transmission of a message or a signal or any other corresponding action relating to communication. The network may then activate the TCI states by a new configuration message. As an example, the further configuration message may be a TCI state activation (and deactivation) MAC CE used to activate one or more RRC configured TCI States (downlink and/or uplink).

[0087] According to an embodiment, TCI activation information message further comprises an indication for the at least one TCI State applied as an indicated TCI state for downlink and/or uplink.

[0088] The UE may be configured to indicate, for example in the TCI activation information message, to the network that the UE applies the TCI state(s) for downlink and/or uplink according to configuration message, such as the Unified TCI States Activation/Deactivation MAC CE, from the network. Accordingly, at least one of the TCI state(s) of the activation information provided in the configuration message is applied as indicated TCI State(s). Thus, the network may receive a rather immediate confirmation about the used TCI state(s) for downlink and/or uplink.

[0089] According to an embodiment, said TCI activation information message comprises an indication that the user equipment can be switched to at least one of said TCI states without a switching delay or within a beam application time.

[0090] Thus, the UE’s provision of TCI states may indicate to the network that no TCI State switching delay is required and/or all the TCI States are known, and the UE can be switched to the TCI state IDs within the beam application time.

[0091] According to an embodiment, said TCI activation information message comprises an indication that the user equipment can be switched to at least one of said TCI states within a reduced beam application time.

[0092] The UE’s provision of TCI states may indicate to the network that a reduced beam application time UE triggered can be used for these TCI states. In this case, the network may, for example, confirm the beam switch to a certain reported TCI state by responding with DCI on PDCCH and the reduced beam application time would then be applied.

[0093] The preferred TCI states may be associated with a codepoint value, i.e. a first TCI state ID is a first code point value (e.g. a joint TCI State), a second TCI state ID is a second codepoint value, etc. Alternatively, the first two TCI states may be mapped to one codepoint value (i.e. separate or joint). [0094] According to an embodiment, the user equipment is configured to expect no response to said TCI activation information message from the network.

[0095] Thus, the provision of the TCI state IDs is considered completed when the TCI activation information message, such as the MAC CE, is successfully provisioned. In this option the network may provide a new TCI state activation message to the UE. The network TCI state activation may be a separate procedure from the UE procedure to provision the TCI activation information message.

[0096] In some examples, the network may acknowledge the reception of the MAC CE using downlink control signalling, whereupon the UE can determine that TCI activation information message is successfully provided to the network. In some examples, the UE may provide the TCI activation information message to the network and upon successful provision of the message, the provision of TCI activation information message is completed.

[0097] According to an embodiment, the method comprises monitoring for a response to said TCI activation information message from the network; and activating one or more TCI states according to the response from the network.

[0098] The UE may be configured to provide the TCI state IDs to the network and may be configured to monitor network response for the MAC CE.

[0099] According to an embodiment, the response comprises an indication that the one or more TCI states are activated.

[0100] According to an embodiment, the network may provide a TCI state activation command to the UE, wherein the activation command may include an activation for at least one TCI State (ID) provided by the UE.

[0101] The UE may determine this command as a response to the UE provision of TCI state activation information message. In one example, the UE may determine the reception of TCI state activation command as a response to the UE provisioned TCI state activation information message. The response from network may cause the UE to determine that the procedure for the provision of TCI state activation information message is completed. [0102] The network response may comprise, for example, an indication in a DCI message (e.g. 1 bit). If the the indication field (e.g. an N-bit field) is set to specific value (e.g. 1), it indicates to the UE that the UE provisioned list of TCI States are now the activated TCI State list for beam indication. The presence of the bitfield in the DCI may be associated with the configuration of ‘UE provision of preferred TCI States’.

[0103] According to an embodiment, the response comprises an indication for a TCI state codepoint that refers to the activated one or more TCI states.

[0104] According to an embodiment, the response comprises an indication for a TCI state codepoint that refers to the one or more TCI states provisioned by the UE in TCI activation information message.

[0105] Thus, the DCI message may comprise additionally or alternatively a field indicating a TCI state codepoint that refers to the UE provisioned TCI State list (i.e. most recent provisioned list). The indication of a TCI State codepoint also causes the UE to use the indicated TCI State list as currently activated list. The DCI message may comprise additionally or alternatively a field indicating a TCI state codepoint that refers to the network provisioned TCI State list (i.e. most recent provisioned list).

[0106] According to an embodiment, the method comprises maintaining at least two lists of activated TCI states in the user equipment.

[0107] The UE may thus maintain two list of activated TCI States, one provisioned by the network and another provisioned by the UE. A field in a DCI message may indicate whether the beam indication (a bit field which value indicated a codepoint) applies for the UE preferred list or network provided list.

[0108] According to an embodiment, an identification of the TCI State is provisioned in a PUCCH or PUSCH message. Thus, instead of reporting e.g. SSBRRI+RSRP in a bitfield of PUCCH, the UE may be configured to report TCI State ID in the bitfield.

[0109] According to an embodiment, the UE is configured to provide the TCI activation information message, such as the MAC CE, as a part of an event triggered transmission procedure.

[0110] There are various examples of transmission procedures triggered by an event, along which transmission procedure the TCI activation information message, such as the MAC CE, may be transmitted. The examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

In one example, the UE event triggered transmission may refer to generation of a MAC CE with uplink information and provide it to network on UL-SCH resources, if available. In one example, the UE event triggered transmission may refer to generation of a MAC CE with uplink information and provide it to network as part of the random access (RACH) procedure e.g. on Msg.3.

In one example, the UE event triggered event may refer to triggering of a scheduling request (SR) to indicate that a configured event has occurred. The SR may be specifically associated with an event where the UE is configured to provide uplink information.

In one example, the UE event trigger may be a DCI (sent by the network) requesting the UE to generate MAC CE for the preferred TCI state list for activation. The DCI may comprise a bit field indicating the request.

In one example, the UE event trigger may be a maximum permissible exposure (MPE).

[0111] Embodiments related to an event triggered transmission procedure and the TCI activation information message transmitted there along are described more in detail further below.

[0112] According to an embodiment, the TCI activation information message comprises information whether the TCI States are for a first or a second CORESETpool index or whether the TCI States are for the first or second indicated TCI state.

[0113] According to an embodiment, the TCI States may be associated with a cell with a PCI other than of a serving cell.

[0114] According to an embodiment, the TCI States indicated by the UE comprise the same TCI state list as used for the TCI States indicated by network.

[0115] According to an embodiment, the TCI States indicated by the UE comprise a specific TCI state list configured by RRC.

[0116] For this purpose, a new RRC parameter for the UE initiated TCI state provision, referred to for example as beamAppTime-UEinitiated, may be specified. The UE may provide the value for the beamAppTime-UEinitiated e.g. in a capability message. Value range may be e.g. expressed in slots. The beam application time defines in which time the UE is assumed to apply the beam application time.

[0117] According to an embodiment, the TCI activation information message comprises one or more of the following fields: TCI state ID (refers to RRC); whether the TCI is for DL or UL or a joint TCI; serving cell ID; bandwidth part (BWP) ID.

[0118] The TCI activation information message may, as a default, apply for the current BWP. However, if the TCI activation information message includes BWP ID referring to another BWP than the current BWP, the activation may apply for the said BWP.

[0119] Some embodiments relating to providing the TCI activation information message, such as the MAC CE, as a part of an event triggered transmission procedure are described hereinbelow. It is noted that these embodiments may be carried out either independently of the above embodiments or in combination of any of the above embodiments.

[0120] Thus, a method according to another aspect, as shown in the flow chart of Figure 7a as reflecting the operation of a terminal apparatus, such as a user equipment (UE), comprises receiving (700), by a user equipment, a configuration message for one or more transmission configuration indication (TCI) states from a network, said configuration message comprising one or more TCI states indicating quasi-colocation resources for a set of downlink signals and channels and/or spatial sources for a set of uplink signals and channels to be used for provision of activation information by the apparatus; receiving (702) a configuration for transmitting the provision of the activation information; and transmitting (704) a transmission configuration indication (TCI) activation information message to the network, said TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states indicated by the apparatus to be activated, wherein the TCI activation information message is transmitted as a part of an event triggered transmission procedure. [0121] Thus, the UE is either aware of an ongoing event based transmission procedure or the UE detects a configuration for an event based transmission procedure to be initiated. Such configuration may be received, for example, from the network. The ongoing or initiated event triggered transmission procedure may be, for example, one of the above- mentioned examples, whereupon the UE determines that the TCI activation information message, such as the MAC CE, may be advantageous to transmit as a part of such transmission procedure. [0122] Figure 7b illustrates an example implementation embodiment for providing the TCI activation information message, such as the MAC CE, as a part of an event triggered transmission procedure. The method comprises receiving (710), by a user equipment, a configuration for an event based transmission procedure; receiving (712) the transmission coordination indication (TCI) activation message from the network; receiving (714) a configuration for downlink reference signals for evaluation of uplink and/or downlink TCI states; performing (716) a measurement of at least one downlink reference signal over a period of time; determining (718), based on the measurement, at least one event based transmission to be carried out and one or more TCI states indicated as being preferred by the user equipment to be activated for said event; and transmitting (720), by said user equipment, the at least one event based transmission along with the transmission coordination indication (TCI) activation information message to the network.

[0123] Accordingly, in the example implementation embodiment of Figure 7b, the UE receives a configuration from the network for an event based transmission procedure to be initiated. This may refer, for example, to an event based indication and/or reporting. This may also refer to a non-event based reporting, for example, periodic, semi-persistent or aperiodic reporting, which may be event triggered.

[0124] The UE also receives configuration and activation of TCI states for uplink (joint or UL TCI states), for example in TCI activation message, for example in TCI States Activation/Deactivation MAC CE, from the network. The UE further receives a configuration of DL RSs for the evaluation of UL/DL TCI states. The UE performs measurements of the downlink reference signals over a period of time, wherein the measurement result may reveal a need for indicating that one or more new TCI states would be preferred to be activated. At least one event based transmission is initiated, along which a transmission coordination indication (TCI) activation information message is sent to the network, wherein the TCI activation information message comprises the one or more TCI states indicated as being preferred by the user equipment to be activated.

[0125] According to an embodiment, the event based transmission procedure is triggered based on at least one predetermined criteria.

[0126] Hence, the UE provision of the TCI activation information message (e.g. an indication of at least one TCI state to be activated or to be activated and indicated) may be based on a predetermined criteria or condition, which may be configured by the network or the criteria/condition may be UE implementation specific. Fulfilling the criteria/condition may cause the UE to trigger an event. The event may be, for example, a reporting event wherein the UE may generate and/or trigger at least one of an uplink signalling (e.g. a signal such as PRACH or a scheduling request) or message transmission on uplink (e.g. MAC CE or LI reporting on PUSCH/PUCCH).

[0127] According to an embodiment, said determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises triggering reporting based on observed maximum permissible exposure (MPE) status for resources in a resource set.

[0128] Thus, the UE may determine the reported resource and/or event based on the observed MPE status for the resources in the resource set. The UE may be programmed to perform event triggering of reporting based on the observed MPE status on the reference signal associated with current UL transmission. The MPE status may be determined, for example, based on the applied power backoff value (for the maximum power), if the UE applies at least X dB (X >0 dB backoff). The UE may notice that an UL TCI state may become unavailable due to power back off required for the transmission and therefore one or more new TCI state would be preferred to be activated. It is noted that the event based transmission does not necessarily involve an MPE indication, but the UE may rather trigger the event based reporting of TCI states instead of triggering an MPE indication. [0129] According to an embodiment, said determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises determining that at least one downlink reference signal has a higher reference signal received power than the downlink reference signal of the current TCI state.

[0130] Herein, the UE may determine that at least one measured DL RS mapping to a TCI state not currently used or indicated has higher Ll-RSRP compared to the RSRP of current indicated TCI State. Thus, based on the Ll-RSRP measurements the UE determines that specific set of DL RS(s) are more suitable (e.g. having higher RSRP) than the current TCI states. The UE may have a configuration of an internal timer value to determine whether to trigger an event for providing the information to the network. The internal timer may be configured to avoid back-and-forth signalling and too frequent event triggering. There may also be some hysteresis window between DL RS of the current activated TCI state(s) and DL RS that the UE measures stronger, where the hysteresis window may be expressed e.g. as X dB offset, meaning that a new DL RS needs be X dB better than the DL RS of the current activated TCI state(s) before the UE determines it better.

[0131] According to an embodiment, said determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises triggering the transmission of the TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states for at least uplink transmission or both uplink and downlink transmission based on the observed MPE status.

[0132] Thus, the UE may determine to provide the network with information of the preferred TCI states (TCI including one or more DL RS) for at least uplink transmission or uplink and downlink transmission/reception based on the MPE status evaluated for the RS including one or more TCI States. The MPE status may correspond to the determined dB values of power-management maximum power reduction (i.e. how much the UE has to apply power backoff if the selected RS is used as spatial reference for UL transmission). [0133] According to an embodiment, the method comprises selecting resources and the corresponding TCI states for which the MPE status is clear or below a threshold value. [0134] According to an embodiment, the method comprises prioritizing resources and the corresponding TCI states for which the MPE status is clear or below a threshold value. [0135] Thus, resources and the corresponding TCI states are selected or prioritized, for which no power backoff is applied if the resource is used for spatial relation for UL transmission.

[0136] According to an embodiment, the method comprises selecting downlink TCI state based on the reference signal received power.

[0137] According to an embodiment, the method comprises selecting uplink or joint TCI state based on the reference signal received power.

[0138] According to an embodiment, the method comprises determining used antenna panels for the measured reference signal received power; and selecting reference signals and TCI states per-panel basis. [0139] According to an embodiment, the method comprises selecting uplink or joint TCI state based on whether the UE has completed a path loss measurement for the reference signals included in the TCI state.

[0140] According to an embodiment, said determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises selecting the reference signals associated to corresponding UL (or joint) TCI states for which the primary antenna panel, or one of the secondary antenna panels is usable for the UL transmission.

[0141] Herein, the primary antenna panel refers to an antenna panel being capable of producing/emitting higher maximum output power than other (secondary) antenna panels. Said one of the secondary antenna panels refers to a secondary antenna capable of producing higher output power than other secondary antenna panels. For detecting the primary panel (and the higher capability secondary panel), the UE may be configured to transmit SRS on different panels, whereupon a network receiver may check the reception power.

[0142] An apparatus, such as a UE, according to an aspect comprises means for receiving a configuration message for one or more transmission configuration indication (TCI) states from a network, said configuration message comprising one or more TCI states indicating quasi-colocation resources for a set of downlink signals and channels and/or spatial sources for a set of uplink signals and channels to be used for provision of activation information by the apparatus; means for receiving a configuration for transmitting the provision of the activation information; and means for transmitting a transmission configuration indication (TCI) activation information message to the network, said TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states indicated by the apparatus to be activated, wherein the TCI activation information message is transmitted as a part of an event triggered transmission procedure.

[0143] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for receiving a configuration for an event based transmission procedure; means for receiving a configuration for downlink reference signals for evaluation of uplink and/or downlink TCI states; means for performing a measurement of at least one downlink reference signal over a period of time; means for determining, based on the measurement, at least one event based transmission to be carried out and one or more TCI states indicated as being preferred by the apparatus to be activated for said event; and means for transmitting the at least one event based transmission along with the transmission coordination indication (TCI) activation information message to the network.

[0144] According to an embodiment, the event based transmission procedure is triggered based on at least one predetermined criteria.

[0145] According to an embodiment, said means for determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises means for triggering reporting based on observed maximum permissible exposure (MPE) status for resources in a resource set.

[0146] According to an embodiment, said means for determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises means for determining that at least one downlink reference signal has a higher reference signal received power than the downlink reference signal of the current TCI state.

[0147] According to an embodiment, said means for determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises means for triggering the transmission of the TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states for at least uplink transmission or both uplink and downlink transmission based on the observed MPE status.

[0148] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for selecting resources and the corresponding TCI states for which the MPE status is clear or below a threshold value.

[0149] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for prioritizing resources and the corresponding TCI states for which the MPE status is clear or below a threshold value.

[0150] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for selecting downlink TCI state based on the reference signal received power.

[0151] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for selecting uplink or joint TCI state based on the reference signal received power. [0152] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for determining used antenna panels for the measured reference signal received power; and means for selecting reference signals and TCI states per-panel basis.

[0153] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises means for selecting uplink or joint TCI state based on whether the UE has completed a path loss measurement for the reference signals included in the TCI state.

[0154] According to an embodiment, said means for determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises means for selecting the reference signals associated to corresponding uplink or joint TCI states for which a primary antenna panel, or one of secondary antenna panels is usable for the uplink transmission.

[0155] According to an embodiment, the TCI activation information message comprises a MAC Control Element.

[0156] An apparatus according to a further aspect comprises at least one processor and at least one memory, said at least one memory stored with computer program code thereon, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receive a configuration message for one or more transmission configuration indication (TCI) states from a network, said configuration message comprising one or more TCI states indicating quasi-colocation resources for a set of downlink signals and channels and/or spatial sources for a set of uplink signals and channels to be used for provision of activation information by the apparatus; receive a configuration for transmitting the provision of the activation information; and transmit a transmission configuration indication (TCI) activation information message to the network, said TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states indicated by the apparatus to be activated, wherein the TCI activation information message is transmitted as a part of an event triggered transmission procedure.

[0157] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to receive a configuration for an event based transmission procedure; receive a configuration for downlink reference signals for evaluation of uplink and/or downlink TCI states; perform a measurement of at least one downlink reference signal over a period of time; determine, based on the measurement, at least one event based transmission to be carried out and one or more TCI states indicated as being preferred by the apparatus to be activated for said event; and transmit the at least one event based transmission along with the transmission coordination indication (TCI) activation information message to the network.

[0158] According to an embodiment, the event based transmission procedure is triggered based on at least one predetermined criteria.

[0159] According to an embodiment, the computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to determine the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to trigger reporting based on observed maximum permissible exposure (MPE) status for resources in a resource set.

[0160] According to an embodiment, the computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to determine the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to determine that at least one downlink reference signal has a higher reference signal received power than the downlink reference signal of the current TCI state.

[0161] According to an embodiment, the computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to determine the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to trigger the transmission of the TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states for at least uplink transmission or both uplink and downlink transmission based on the observed MPE status.

[0162] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to select resources and the corresponding TCI states for which the MPE status is clear or below a threshold value.

[0163] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to prioritize resources and the corresponding TCI states for which the MPE status is clear or below a threshold value. [0164] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to select downlink TCI state based on the reference signal received power.

[0165] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to select uplink or joint TCI state based on the reference signal received power.

[0166] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to determine used antenna panels for the measured reference signal received power; and select reference signals and TCI states per-panel basis.

[0167] According to an embodiment, the apparatus comprises computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to select uplink or joint TCI state based on whether the UE has completed a path loss measurement for the reference signals included in the TCI state.

[0168] According to an embodiment, said computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to determine the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises computer program code configured to cause the apparatus to select the reference signals associated to corresponding uplink or joint TCI states for which a primary antenna panel, or one of secondary antenna panels is usable for the uplink transmission.

[0169] According to an embodiment, the TCI activation information message comprises a MAC Control Element. Such apparatuses may comprise e.g. the functional units disclosed in any of the Figures 1- 3 and 4a for implementing the embodiments.

[0170] A further aspect relates to a computer program product, stored on a non- transitory memory medium, comprising computer program code, which when executed by at least one processor, causes an apparatus at least to perform: : receive a configuration message for one or more transmission configuration indication (TCI) states from a network, said configuration message comprising one or more TCI states indicating quasicolocation resources for a set of downlink signals and channels and/or spatial sources for a set of uplink signals and channels to be used for provision of activation information by the apparatus; receive a configuration for transmitting the provision of the activation information; and transmit a transmission configuration indication (TCI) activation information message to the network, said TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states indicated by the apparatus to be activated, wherein the TCI activation information message is transmitted as a part of an event triggered transmission procedure.

[0171] In general, the various embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits or any combination thereof. While various aspects of the invention may be illustrated and described as block diagrams or using some other pictorial representation, it is well understood that these blocks, apparatus, systems, techniques or methods described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0172] Embodiments of the inventions may be practiced in various components such as integrated circuit modules. The design of integrated circuits is by and large a highly automated process. Complex and powerful software tools are available for converting a logic level design into a semiconductor circuit design ready to be etched and formed on a semiconductor substrate.

[0173] Programs, such as those provided by Synopsys, Inc. of Mountain View, California and Cadence Design, of San Jose, California automatically route conductors and locate components on a semiconductor chip using well established rules of design as well as libraries of pre stored design modules. Once the design for a semiconductor circuit has been completed, the resultant design, in a standardized electronic format (e.g., Opus, GDSII, or the like) may be transmitted to a semiconductor fabrication facility or "fab" for fabrication.

[0174] The foregoing description has provided by way of exemplary and non-limiting examples a full and informative description of the exemplary embodiment of this invention. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended examples. However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of this invention will still fall within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving a configuration message for one or more transmission configuration indication (TCI) states from a network, said configuration message comprising one or more TCI states indicating quasi-colocation resources for a set of downlink signals and channels and/or spatial sources for a set of uplink signals and channels to be used for provision of activation information by the apparatus; means for receiving a configuration for transmitting the provision of the activation information; and means for transmitting a transmission configuration indication (TCI) activation information message to the network, said TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states indicated by the apparatus to be activated, wherein the TCI activation information message is transmitted as a part of an event triggered transmission procedure.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising means for receiving a configuration for an event based transmission procedure; means for receiving a configuration for downlink reference signals for evaluation of uplink and/or downlink TCI states; means for performing a measurement of at least one downlink reference signal over a period of time; means for determining, based on the measurement, at least one event based transmission to be carried out and one or more TCI states indicated as being preferred by the apparatus to be activated for said event; and means for transmitting the at least one event based transmission along with the transmission coordination indication (TCI) activation information message to the network.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the event based transmission procedure is triggered based on at least one predetermined criteria.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said means for determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises means for triggering reporting based on observed maximum permissible exposure (MPE) status for resources in a resource set.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said means for determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises means for determining that at least one downlink reference signal has a higher reference signal received power than the downlink reference signal of the current TCI state.

6. The apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, said means for determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises means for triggering the transmission of the TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states for at least uplink transmission or both uplink and downlink transmission based on the observed MPE status.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, comprising means for selecting resources and the corresponding TCI states for which the MPE status is clear or below a threshold value.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, comprising means for prioritizing resources and the corresponding TCI states for which the MPE status is clear or below a threshold value.

9. The apparatus according to any of claims 6 - 8, comprising means for selecting downlink TCI state based on the reference signal received power.

10. The apparatus according to any of claims 6 - 9, comprising means for selecting uplink or joint TCI state based on the reference signal received power.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, comprising means for determining used antenna panels for the measured reference signal received power; and means for selecting reference signals and TCI states per-panel basis.

12. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising means for selecting uplink or joint TCI state based on whether the UE has completed a path loss measurement for the reference signals included in the TCI state.

13. The apparatus according to any of claims 2 - 12, wherein said means for determining the at least one event based transmission to be carried out and the one or more TCI states comprises means for selecting the reference signals associated to corresponding uplink or joint TCI states for which a primary antenna panel, or one of secondary antenna panels is usable for the uplink transmission.

14. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the TCI activation information message comprises a MAC Control Element.

15. A method comprising: receiving, by a user equipment, a configuration message for one or more transmission configuration indication (TCI) states from a network, said configuration message comprising one or more TCI states indicating quasi-colocation resources for a set of downlink signals and channels and/or spatial sources for a set of uplink signals and channels to be used for provision of activation information by the apparatus; receiving a configuration for transmitting the provision of the activation information; and transmitting a transmission configuration indication (TCI) activation information message to the network, said TCI activation information message comprising one or more TCI states indicated by the apparatus to be activated, wherein the TCI activation information message is transmitted as a part of an event triggered transmission procedure.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising receiving a configuration for an event based transmission procedure; receiving the TCI activation message from the network; receiving a configuration for downlink reference signals for evaluation of uplink and/or downlink TCI states; performing a measurement of at least one downlink reference signal over a period of time; determining, based on the measurement, at least one event based transmission to be carried out and one or more TCI states indicated as being preferred by the user equipment to be activated for said event; and transmitting the at least one event based transmission along with the TCI activation information message to the network.