TECHNICAL FIELD

The following exemplary embodiments relate to wireless communication.

BACKGROUND

In wireless communication, a user device may comprise multiple antenna panels with different capabilities. However, there is a challenge in how to support dynamic/fast antenna panel switching between the multiple antenna panels.

SUMMARY

The scope of protection sought for various exemplary embodiments is set out by the claims. The exemplary embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various exemplary embodiments.

According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: obtain a first capability value set of the apparatus, wherein the first capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of sounding reference signal, SRS, ports or antenna ports; determine a first number of bits for reading from a first full downlink control information, DC1, field bit-size; and extract a first entry from a first table based at least partly on the first number of bits and the first capability value set, wherein the extracted first entry indicates information for uplink transmission.

According to another aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one transmitter, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: obtain a first capability value set of the apparatus, wherein the first capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of sounding reference signal, SRS, ports or antenna ports; determine a first number of bits for reading from a first full downlink control information, DC1, field bit-size; and extract a first entry from a first table based at least partly on the first number of bits and the first capability value set, wherein the extracted first entry indicates information for uplink transmission; and wherein the at least one transmitter is configured to: transmit the uplink transmission based at least partly on the extracted first entry. According to an aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to: obtain a first capability value set of the apparatus, wherein the first capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of sounding reference signal, SRS, ports or antenna ports; determine a first number of bits for reading from a first full downlink control information, DC1, field bit-size; and extract a first entry from a first table based at least partly on the first number of bits and the first capability value set, wherein the extracted first entry indicates information for uplink transmission.

According to another aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for: obtaining a first capability value set of the apparatus, wherein the first capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of sounding reference signal, SRS, ports or antenna ports; determining a first number of bits for reading from a first full downlink control information, DC1, field bit-size; and extracting a first entry from a first table based at least partly on the first number of bits and the first capability value set, wherein the extracted first entry indicates information for uplink transmission.

According to another aspect, there is provided a method comprising: obtaining, by a user device, a first capability value set of the user device, wherein the first capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of sounding reference signal, SRS, ports or antenna ports; determining, by the user device, a first number of bits for reading from a first full downlink control information, DC1, field bit-size; and extracting, by the user device, a first entry from a first table based at least partly on the first number of bits and the first capability value set, wherein the extracted first entry indicates information for uplink transmission.

According to another aspect, there is provided a computer program product comprising program instructions which, when run on a computing apparatus, cause the computing apparatus to perform at least the following: obtaining a first capability value set of the apparatus, wherein the first capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of sounding reference signal, SRS, ports or antenna ports; determining a first number of bits for reading from a first full downlink control information, DC1, field bitsize; and extracting a first entry from a first table based at least partly on the first number of bits and the first capability value set, wherein the extracted first entry indicates information for uplink transmission.

According to another aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: obtaining a first capability value set of the apparatus, wherein the first capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of sounding reference signal, SRS, ports or antenna ports; determining a first number of bits for reading from a first full downlink control information, DC1, field bit-size; and extracting a first entry from a first table based at least partly on the first number of bits and the first capability value set, wherein the extracted first entry indicates information for uplink transmission.

According to another aspect, there is provided a computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: obtaining a first capability value set of the apparatus, wherein the first capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of sounding reference signal, SRS, ports or antenna ports; determining a first number of bits for reading from a first full downlink control information, DC1, field bit-size; and extracting a first entry from a first table based at least partly on the first number of bits and the first capability value set, wherein the extracted first entry indicates information for uplink transmission.

According to another aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the following: obtaining a first capability value set of the apparatus, wherein the first capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of sounding reference signal, SRS, ports or antenna ports; determining a first number of bits for reading from a first full downlink control information, DC1, field bit-size; and extracting a first entry from a first table based at least partly on the first number of bits and the first capability value set, wherein the extracted first entry indicates information for uplink transmission.

According to another aspect, there is provided a system comprising at least a user device and a network node of a wireless communication network. The user device is configured to: obtain a first capability value set of the user device, wherein the first capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of sounding reference signal, SRS, ports or antenna ports; determine a first number of bits for reading from a first full downlink control information, DC1, field bit-size; extract a first entry from a first table based at least partly on the first number of bits and the first capability value set, wherein the extracted first entry indicates information for uplink transmission; and transmit the uplink transmission based at least partly on the extracted first entry. The network node is configured to: receive the uplink transmission.

According to another aspect, there is provided a system comprising at least a user device and a network node of a wireless communication network. The user device comprises means for: obtaining a first capability value set of the user device, wherein the first capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of sounding reference signal, SRS, ports or antenna ports; determining a first number of bits for reading from a first full downlink control information, DC1, field bit-size; extracting a first entry from a first table based at least partly on the first number of bits and the first capability value set, wherein the extracted first entry indicates information for uplink transmission; and transmitting the uplink transmission based at least partly on the extracted first entry. The network node comprises means for: receiving the uplink transmission.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, various exemplary embodiments will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a cellular communication network;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a user device with multiple antenna panels with different numbers of antenna ports;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of fast/dynamic uplink antenna panel switching with different antenna panel capabilities in terms of the maximum supported number of sounding reference signal (SRS) ports or antenna ports;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart according to an exemplary embodiment; FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates a signaling diagram according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example for determining a field size;

FIG. 11 illustrates an example for determining a field size; FIG. 12 illustrates an apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 illustrates an apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following embodiments are exemplifying. Although the specification may refer to “an”, “one”, or “some” embodiment(s) in several locations of the text, this does not necessarily mean that each reference is made to the same embodiment(s), or that a particular feature only applies to a single embodiment. Single features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments.

In the following, different exemplary embodiments will be described using, as an example of an access architecture to which the exemplary embodiments may be applied, a radio access architecture based on long term evolution advanced (LTE Advanced, LTE-A), new radio (NR, 5G), or beyond 5G, without restricting the exemplary embodiments to such an architecture.

However, it is obvious for a person skilled in the art that the exemplary 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 may be the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) radio access network (UTRAN or E-UTRAN), long term evolution (LTE, substantially the same as E-UTRA), wireless local area network (WLAN or Wi-Fi), 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.

FIG. 1 depicts examples of simplified system architectures showing some elements and functional entities, all being logical units, whose implementation may differ from what is shown. The connections shown in FIG. 1 are logical connections; the actual physical connections may be different. It is apparent to a person skilled in the art that the system may also comprise other functions and structures than those shown in FIG. 1.

The exemplary 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. The example of FIG. 1 shows a part of an exemplifying radio access network.

FIG. 1 shows user devices 100 and 102 configured to be in a wireless connection on one or more communication channels in a cell with an access node 104, such as an evolved Node B (abbreviated as eNB or eNodeB) or a next generation Node B (abbreviated as gNB or gNodeB), providing the cell. The physical link from a user device to an access node may be called uplink or reverse link, and the physical link from the access node to the user device may be called downlink or forward link. It should be appreciated that access nodes or their functionalities may be implemented by using any node, host, server or access point etc. entity suitable for such a usage.

A communication system may comprise more than one access node, in which case the access nodes 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 access node may be a computing device configured to control the radio resources of communication system it is coupled to.

The access node 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 access node may include or be coupled to transceivers. From the transceivers of the access node, a connection may be 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 access node may further be connected to core network 110 (CN or next generation core NGC). Depending on the system, the counterpart on the CN side may be a serving gateway (S-GW, routing and forwarding user data packets), packet data network gateway (P-GW) for providing connectivity of user devices to external packet data networks, mobility management entity (MME), access and mobility management function (AMF), or location management function (LMF), etc.

The user device illustrates one type of an apparatus to which resources on the air interface may be allocated and assigned, and thus any feature described herein with a user device may be implemented with a corresponding apparatus, such as a relay node. The user device may also be called a subscriber unit, mobile station, remote terminal, access terminal, user terminal, terminal device, or user equipment (UE) just to mention but a few names or apparatuses. An example of such a relay node may be a layer 3 relay (self-backhauling relay) towards the base station. The self-backhauling relay node may also be called an integrated access and backhaul (1AB) node. The 1AB node may comprise two logical parts: a mobile termination (MT) part, which takes care of the backhaul link(s) (i.e., link(s) between 1AB node and a donor node, also known as a parent node) and a distributed unit (DU) part, which takes care of the access link(s), i.e., child link(s) between the 1AB node and user device(s), and/or between the 1AB node and other 1AB nodes (multi-hop scenario).

An example of such a relay node may be a layer 1 relay called a repeater. The repeater may amplify the signal received from a base station or user device to the user device or base station.

The user device may refer 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 may be 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 may be provided with the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to- computer interaction. 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 may be carried out in the cloud. The user device (or in some exemplary embodiments a layer 3 relay node) may be configured to perform one or more of user equipment functionalities.

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 may have inherent mobility, are a subcategory of cyber-physical systems. Examples of mobile physical systems include mobile robotics and electronics transported by humans or animals.

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.

Radio network, e.g., fifth generation of cellular networks (5G), enables using multiple-input and multiple-output (M1M0) antennas, many more base stations or nodes than the LTE (a so-called small cell concept), including macro sites operating in cooperation with smaller stations and employing a variety of radio technologies depending on service needs, use cases and/or spectrum available.

Mobile communications, e.g., 5G system (5GS) may support 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 may be expected to have multiple radio interfaces, namely below 6GHz, cmWave and mmWave, and also being integrable 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 may be provided by the LTE, and 5G radio interface access may come from small cells by aggregation to the LTE. In other words, 5G may support both inter-RAT operability (such as LTE-5G) and inter-Rl 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 may be network slicing in which multiple independent and dedicated virtual sub-networks (network instances) may be created within the substantially same infrastructure to run services that have different requirements on latency, reliability, throughput and mobility.

The architecture in LTE networks may be fully distributed in the radio and fully centralized in the core network. The low latency applications and services in 5G may need to bring the content close to the radio which leads to local break out and multiaccess edge computing (MEC).

5G may enable analytics and knowledge generation to occur at the source of the data. This approach may need leveraging resources that may not be continuously connected to a network such as laptops, smartphones, tablets and sensors. MEC may provide a distributed computing environment for application and service hosting. It may also have the ability to store and process content in close proximity to cellular subscribers for faster response time.

Edge computing may cover 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).

The communication system may also be able to communicate with other networks, such as a public switched telephone network or the Internet 112, 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. 1 by “cloud” 114). 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.

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 (RRH) or a radio unit (RU), or a base station comprising radio parts. It may also be possible that node operations will be distributed among a plurality of servers, nodes or hosts. Carrying out the RAN realtime functions at the RAN side (in a distributed unit, DU 104) and non-real time functions in a centralized manner (in a central unit, CU 108) may be enabled for example by application of cloud RAN architecture.

It should also be understood that the distribution between core network operations and base station operations may differ from that of the LTE or even be nonexistent. Some other technology advancements that may be used includes big data and all-lP, which may change the way networks are being constructed and managed. 5G (or new radio, NR) networks may be designed to support multiple hierarchies, where MEC servers may be placed between the core and the base station or access node. It should be appreciated that MEC may be applied in 4G networks as well.

5G may also utilize non-terrestrial communication, for example satellite communication, to enhance or complement the coverage of 5G service, for example by providing backhauling. Possible use cases may be providing service continuity for machine-to-machine (M2M) or Internet of Things (loT) devices or for passengers on board of vehicles, or ensuring service availability for critical communications, and future railway/maritime/aeronautical communications. 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). At least one satellite 106 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 104 or by a gNB located on-ground or in a satellite.

It is obvious for a person skilled in the art 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 access nodes, the user device may have an access to a plurality of radio cells and the system may also comprise other apparatuses, such as physical layer relay nodes or other network elements, etc. At least one of the access nodes may be a Home eNodeB or a Home gNodeB.

Furthermore, the access node may also be split into: a radio unit (RU) comprising a radio transceiver (TRX), i.e., a transmitter (Tx) and a receiver (Rx); one or more distributed units (DUs) that may be used for the so-called Layer 1 (LI) processing and real-time Layer 2 (L2) processing; and a central unit (CU) (also known as a centralized unit) that may be used for non-real-time L2 and Layer 3 (L3) processing. The CU may be connected to the one or more DUs for example by using an Fl interface. Such a split may enable the centralization of CUs relative to the cell sites and DUs, whereas DUs may be more distributed and may even remain at cell sites. The CU and DU together may also be referred to as baseband or a baseband unit (BBU). The CU and DU may also be comprised in a radio access point (RAP).

The CU may be defined as a logical node hosting higher layer protocols, such as radio resource control (RRC), service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) and/or packet data convergence protocol (PDCP), of the access node. The DU may be defined as a logical node hosting radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) and/or physical (PHY) layers of the access node.

The operation of the DU may be at least partly controlled by the CU. The CU may comprise a control plane (CU-CP), which may be defined as a logical node hosting the RRC and the control plane part of the PDCP protocol of the CU for the access node. The CU may further comprise a user plane (CU-UP), which may be defined as a logical node hosting the user plane part of the PDCP protocol and the SDAP protocol of the CU for the access node.

Cloud computing platforms may also be used to run the CU and/or DU. The CU may run in a cloud computing platform, which may be referred to as a virtualized CU (vCU). In addition to the vCU, there may also be a virtualized DU (vDU) running in a cloud computing platform.

Furthermore, there may also be a combination, where the DU may use so- called bare metal solutions, for example application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or customer-specific standard product (CSSP) system-on-a-chip (SoC) solutions. It should also be understood that the distribution of labour between the above-mentioned base station units, or different core network operations and base station operations, may differ.

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 may be large cells having a diameter of up to tens of kilometers, or smaller cells such as micro-, femto- or picocells. The access node(s) 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. In multilayer networks, one access node may provide one kind of a cell or cells, and thus a plurality of access nodes may be needed to provide such a network structure.

For fulfilling the need for improving the deployment and performance of communication systems, the concept of “plug-and-play” access nodes may be introduced. A network which may be able to use “plug-and-play” access nodes, may include, in addition to Home eNodeB(s) or Home gNodeB(s), a Home NodeB gateway, or HNB-GW (not shown in FIG. 1). An HNB-GW, which may be installed within an operator’s network, may aggregate traffic from a large number of Home eNodeBs or Home gNodeBs back to a core network.

A user device may comprise multiple antenna panels for communicating with one or more transmission and reception points (TRPs) through these antenna panels. The user device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE) or a terminal device herein.

The UE can be configured in two different modes for physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) multi-antenna precoding: codebook-based transmission or non- codebook-based transmission.

For codebook-based dynamic grant (DG) PUSCH, the UE may determine sounding reference signal resource indicator (SRI) and transmit precoding-matrix indicator (TPM1) information (via precoding information and number of layers) from the corresponding fields in downlink control information (DC1). The SRI provides the uplink (UL) beam information, and TPM1 provides UL precoder information.

For non-codebook-based DG PUSCH, in contrast to the codebook-based mode, the UE may determine its precoder and transmission rank based on downlink (DL) measurements. However, the UE selection of a precoder (and the number of layers) for each scheduled PUSCH may be modified by the network (e.g., in case multiple SRS resources are configured) by omitting some columns from the precoder that the UE has selected. This latter step may done by indicating, via SRI comprised in DC1, a subset of the configured sounding reference signal (SRS) resources.

The following multi-TRP PUSCH enhancements may be supported in NR Release 17 (Rel-17):

Two beams, or SRls, may be indicated via single DC1.

For codebook-based PUSCH, two SRls may be indicated via two SRI fields, and two TPMls may be indicated via two 'precoding information and number of layers’ fields (the second field does not indicate number of layers).

For non-codebook-based PUSCH, two SRls may be indicated via two SRI fields (the second field does not indicate number of layers).

The same number of layers per TRP may be assumed, for both codebook-based and non-codebook-based modes.

NR Rel-17 introduces a unified transmission configuration indicator (TCI) framework. The unified TCI framework means that TCI states, which have been used to provide quasi-co-location (QCL) assumptions for the reception of DL signals and channels, may also be used to provide spatial sources for the transmission of UL signals and channels.

Furthermore, the unified TCI framework defines the concept of “indicated TCI state”. The indicated TCI state may be a joint DL and UL TCI state, or a separate DL TCI state and a separate UL TCI state. The indicated TCI state provides a QCL source for the set of DL signals and channels, and a spatial source for the set of UL signals and channels. In NR Rel-17, there can be one indicated joint DL and UL TCI state for the UE, or one indicated DL TCI state and one indicated UL TCI state for the UE.

The unified TCI framework may comprise the following functionalities:

A common TCI state (a.k.a. indicated TCI) for a set of signals and channels at a time. The TCI state can be a joint DL and UL TCI state, or separate DL TCI state and UL TCI state.

RRC configures a set (or pool) of joint and/or separate TCI states.

MAC activates a number (e.g., 8) of joint and/or separate TCI states.

Before first indication, the first activated TCI state is the current indicated TCI state.

DC1 indicates one of the activated TCI states to be the indicated TCI state (which may be a common TCI state).

On the DCl-based TCI state indication, DC1 format 1_1 or 1_2 with and without DL assignment may be used to carry the TCI state indication. The indication may be confirmed by a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgement (ACK) by the UE. The application time of the beam indication may be the first slot that is at least X ms or Y symbols after the last symbol of the acknowledgment of the joint or separate DL/UL beam indication, where X>0 and Y>0. The TCI field codepoint may comprise a joint TCI state for both DL and UL. Alternatively, the TCI field codepoint for the case of separate DL and UL TCI states may comprise a pair of DL TCI state and UL TCI state, or a DL TCI state (keep the current UL TCI state), or a UL TCI state (keep the current DL TCI state).

On NR Rel-17 enhancements to facilitate UE-initiated antenna panel activation and selection via UE reporting a list of UE capability value sets, the correspondence between each reported channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) and/or synchronization signal block (SSB) resource index and one of the UE capability value sets in the reported list may be determined by the UE and informed to the network in a beam reporting instance.

The beam reporting framework of NR Rel-15 and Rel-16 may be used, i.e., the index of the corresponding UE capability value set may be reported along with a pair of SSB resource indicator (SSBRI) or CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI) and layer 1 reference signal received power (Ll-RSRP) or signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) (up to 4 pairs, with 7-bit absolute and 4-bit differential) in the beam-reporting uplink control information (UCI) and down-select between the following two options.

In the first option, the UE may report one index for all the reported CRIs or SSBRIs in one beam reporting.

In the second option, the UE may report one index for each reported CRI or SSBRI in one beam reporting.

NR Rel-17 may support an acknowledgement mechanism of the reported correspondence from network to UE. NR Rel-17 may also support the UE reporting a list of UE capability value sets, wherein a given capability value set indicates/comprises a maximum supported number of sounding reference signal (SRS) ports or antenna ports. The number of antenna ports (e.g., for a given antenna panel) may be the same as the maximum supported number of SRS ports. Alternatively, or additionally, the number of antenna ports may be the same as the number of SRS ports configured for an SRS resource (from the applicable SRS resource set). Alternatively, or additionally, the number of antenna ports may be equal to the maximum number of SRS ports configured among all the SRS resources (in the applicable SRS resource set). For any two different capability value sets, at least one capability value may be different.

Based on the above, fast UL antenna panel selection (beam selection) may be used for UL transmissions for a user device having two or more antenna panels with different or same capabilities. The different capabilities may refer to, for example, different maximum supported number of SRS ports or antenna ports.

It should be noted that herein a (UL) beam may also refer to spatial relation information, (separate) UL TCI state, joint or common TCI state, spatial filter, power control information (or power control parameters set), antenna panel or panel ID, quasi- co-location information Type-D (or any other type), etc. More generally, all these terms may be interchangeably used herein.

The term “beam” may refer to a communication resource. Different beams may be considered as different resources. A beam may also be represented as a spatial filter. A technology for forming a beam may be a beamforming technology or another technology. The beamforming technology may be specifically a digital beamforming technology, analog beamforming technology, or a hybrid digital/analog beamforming technology. A communication device (including the user device and the network device) may communicate with another communication device through one or more beams. One beam may include one or more antenna ports and be configured for a data channel, a control channel, or the like. One or more antenna ports forming one beam may also be considered as an antenna port set. A beam may be configured with a set of resources, or a set of resources for measurement. One example is a CS1 resource configuration, which may include a CSl-ResourceConfigld and CS1-RS resource set.

It should be noted that a given UE antenna panel may be identified by an index of a corresponding UE capability value set or by a panel identifier (ID). Alternatively, or additionally, a given antenna panel may be identified or associated by at least one DL reference signal (or more generally refence signal) or by a UL beam.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a user device 200 with multiple antenna panels with different capabilities, i.e., different numbers of antenna ports in the antenna panels. In this example, the user device 200 comprises three antenna panels 210, 220, 230.

In the example of FIG. 2, the first antenna panel 210 comprises two antenna ports 211, 212. The first antenna panel 210 may be associated with a capability value set index #0 indicating support for a maximum of two SRS ports or antenna ports.

In the example of FIG. 2, the second antenna panel 220 comprises two antenna ports 221, 222. The second antenna panel 220 may be associated with a capability value set index #1 indicating support for a maximum of two SRS ports or antenna ports. Alternatively, the second antenna panel 220 may be associated with the capability value set index #0, indicating support for a maximum of two SRS ports or antenna ports. In this example, the same index #0 may be used for both the first and second antenna panels with two antenna ports.

In the example of FIG. 2, the third antenna panel 230 comprises one antenna port 231. The third antenna panel 230 may be associated with a capability value set index #2 indicating support for a maximum of one SRS port or antenna port.

However, it should be noted that the number of antenna panels and the number of antenna ports in each antenna panel may also differ from what is shown in FIG. 2.

In the future, for example in NR Rel-18, the unified TCI framework may also be extended, so that there can be multiple indicated DL and UL TCI states, for example for multi-TRP operation.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of fast/ dynamic UL antenna panel switching with different antenna panel capabilities in terms of the maximum supported number of SRS ports or antenna ports.

Block 301 of FIG. 3 illustrates fast UL antenna panel switching for single-TRP operation, wherein a user device changes one antenna panel at a time. For example, the user device may switch from a first antenna panel (panel #0) to a second antenna panel (panel #1), and from the second antenna panel (panel #1) to a third antenna panel (panel #2). In single-TRP operation, there may be one field for any of the following: precoding information and number of layers, SRI for non-codebook-based mode, or SRI for codebook-based mode.

Block 302 of FIG. 3 illustrates fast UL antenna panel switching for multi-TRP operation, wherein a user device switches a pair of antenna panels at a time. For example, the user device may switch from a first pair (panel #0 and panel #1) to a second pair (panel #1 and panel #2). In multi-TRP operation, there may be two fields for any of the following: precoding information and number of layers, SRI for non-codebook-based mode, or SRI for codebook-based mode.

In the example of FIG. 3, panel #0 may support a maximum of four SRS ports or antenna ports (4-port capability), panel# 1 may support a maximum of two SRS ports or antenna ports (2-port capability), and panel#2 may support a maximum of one SRS port or antenna port (1-port capability).

When considering fast/dynamic switching of antenna panels (including one antenna panel at a time for single-TRP operation, or a pair of antenna panels at a time for multi-TRP operation), wherein each antenna panel may have a different capability for example in terms of the maximum supported number of SRS ports or antenna ports, the DC1 fields impacted by such change of panel and/or capability may need to be carefully considered. Such fields may be, for example, the 'precoding information and number of layers’ field(s) (including TPM1), and SRI field(s), etc. There is a challenge in how to interpret these DC1 fields depending on the applicable antenna panel and the corresponding capability.

Some exemplary embodiments may address the above challenge. Some exemplary embodiments may be used to facilitate fast UL transmit beam and antenna panel selection for multi-panel UEs (MP-UEs) with the use of the unified TCI framework. The Multi-panel UE is a user device that comprises two or more antenna panels.

For single-TRP PUSCH transmission/repetition, a field value in (UL) DC1 may be determined by looking up an indicated entry from a table (e.g., as defined in TS 38.212) corresponding to the maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports and/or max rank associated with or corresponding to or determined based on one or more of: (i) UE reporting of SSBRl(s) or CRl(s) together with corresponding capability value set index(es) to gNB, and/or (ii) TCI state indicated by the gNB corresponding to the UE report. The max rank may refer to a maximum number of M1M0 layers.

It should be noted that at least one of (i) and/or (ii) may define / determine the selected or scheduled UL antenna panel or capability value set and thus the applicable SRS resource set or SRS resources.

To determine the indicated entry, the UE may read the first (or last) N bits (e.g., N most significant bits) of the DC1 field, where N may correspond to the total number of entries (e.g., 2 ^N entries) in the table. Some of the entries in the table may be reserved entries. In this alternative, the size of the DC1 field may correspond to the maximum number of bits, denoted as M, required for this field considering all the capability value sets (and/or considering all the corresponding SRS resource sets). Thus, M may be greater than or equal to N. Alternatively, or additionally, to determine the indicated entry, the UE may assume that the size of the DC1 field is N bits, where N may correspond to the total number of entries (e.g., 2 ^N entries) in the table. Considering the definition of M above, the UE may assume that K = M — N bits are appended at the end of the DC1 in this case (for DC1 size alignment purpose). In this alternative, the size of the DC1 field may be assumed to correspond to N bits.

In addition or alternatively to the maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports and/or max rank, the number of applicable SRS resources (determined based on at least one of (i) and/or (ii) as indicated above) may be used to determine the field value by looking up the indicated entry from the table corresponding to at least one of: the maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports, max rank, and/or number of SRS resources associated with or corresponding to or determined based on one or more of (i) and/or (ii) above.

In addition or alternatively to the maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports and/or max rank, the applicable SRS resource set or SRS resources may be used to determine the field value by looking up the indicated entry from the table corresponding to or determined based on at least one of: maximum supported number of SRS ports or antenna ports, max rank, applicable SRS resource set or SRS resources determined based on one or more of (i) and/or (ii) above, number of SRS resources in this SRS resource set. In some exemplary embodiments, the correspondence between the table and the applicable SRS resource set or SRS resources may be done through indicated SRS resource belonging to this SRS resource set or to these SRS resources. Specifically, this indicated SRS resource may be configured with a number of SRS ports, and the table is thus corresponding to a number of antenna ports that is equal to this number of SRS ports.

The DC1 field may be one of the following: a 'precoding information and number of layers’ field, an SRI field for non-codebook-based mode, or an SRI field for codebook-based mode.

In case there is an acknowledgment from the gNB for the reporting of SSBRl(s) or CRl(s) together with corresponding capability value set index(es) to the gNB, the above field interpretation operation may be applicable to the (UL) DCls or physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) received: immediately after UE receiving acknowledgment for the reporting, or a certain time period after this acknowledgment, or after a certain UL channel is transmitted in response to this acknowledgment.

The acknowledgment may be sent via one or more of the following: MAC CE, DC1/PDCCH, and/or implicitly for example by using indicated TCI state (where the indicated/activated TCI state includes as QCL-TypeD reference signal or is QCLed in terms of QCL-TypeD with one of the reported reference signals (SSBR1 or CS1-RS) in the report).

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart according to an exemplary embodiment for single-TRP PUSCH transmission/repetition. The steps illustrated in FIG. 4 may be performed by an apparatus such as, or comprised in, a user device. The user device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE) or a terminal device herein. The apparatus may comprise two or more antenna panels with different numbers of antenna ports. The apparatus may be capable of dynamic/fast antenna panel switching.

Referring to FIG. 4, in step 401, a capability value set of the apparatus may be obtained, wherein the capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports for a scheduled/active/selected/applicable antenna panel of the apparatus.

For example, the capability value set may be obtained based on at least one of: one or more SSBRls, one or more CRls, and/or a corresponding capability value set index associated with the capability value set, wherein the one or more SSBRls or the one or more CRls are reported by the apparatus to a network node (e.g., gNB) along with the corresponding capability value set index.

Alternatively, or additionally, the capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a TCI state indicated from the network node, wherein the TCI state corresponds to the one or more SSBRls or the one or more CRls reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding capability value set index.

Alternatively, or additionally, the capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a MAC control element (CE) or DC1/PDCCH received from the network node, wherein the MAC CE or the DC1/PDCCH corresponds to the one or more SSBRls or the one or more CRls reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding capability value set index.

In step 402, a number of bits may be determined for reading from a full DC1 field bit-size. In other words, the number of bits may define how many bits should be considered from the full-DCl field bit-size in order to correctly read an entry from a table. The number of bits may be lower than or equal to the full DC1 field bit-size. The number of bits may be determined based at least partly on the (obtained) capability value set index.

In step 403, the entry may be extracted, or obtained, from the table based at least partly on the number of bits and the capability value set. The number of bits may depend on a number of entries in the table. Herein the term “table” may refer to a data structure in an internal memory of the apparatus, or in an external memory.

The extracted entry may indicate information for uplink transmission. The information for uplink transmission may comprise M1M0 information. For example, the extracted entry may indicate one of: precoding information and number of layers, a TPM1, an SRI for non-codebook-based mode, or an SRI for codebook-based mode.

The table may comprise one of: a precoding information and number of layers table, or an SRI table.

The full DC1 field may comprise one of: a precoding information and number of layers field, an SRI field for non-codebook-based mode, or an SRI field for codebookbased mode.

A technical advantage provided by the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 is that it provides a mechanism for DC1 field interpretation depending on the applicable antenna panel and corresponding capability for example in case of fast/dynamic antenna panel switching/selection. This exemplary embodiment may be beneficial in order to correctly read, for example, the 'precoding information and number of layers’ field and/or SRI field indicated via DC1.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart according to another exemplary embodiment for single-TRP PUSCH transmission/repetition, wherein the maximum number of M1M0 layers (max rank) may be used to extract the entry. The steps illustrated in FIG. 5 may be performed by an apparatus such as, or comprised in, a user device. The user device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE) or a terminal device herein. The apparatus may comprise two or more antenna panels with different numbers of antenna ports. The apparatus may be capable of dynamic/fast antenna panel switching.

Referring to FIG. 5, in step 501, a capability value set of the apparatus may be obtained, wherein the capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports for a scheduled/active/selected/applicable antenna panel of the apparatus.

For example, the capability value set may be obtained based on at least one of: one or more SSBRls, one or more CRls, and/or a corresponding capability value set index associated with the capability value set, wherein the one or more SSBRls or the one or more CRls are reported by the apparatus to a network node (e.g., gNB) along with the corresponding capability value set index.

Alternatively, or additionally, the capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a TCI state indicated from the network node, wherein the TCI state corresponds to the one or more SSBRls or the one or more CRls reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding capability value set index.

Alternatively, or additionally, the capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a MAC CE or DC1 /PDCCH received from the network node, wherein the MAC CE or the DC1/PDCCH corresponds to the one or more SSBRls or the one or more CRls reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding capability value set index.

In step 502, a number of bits may be determined for reading from a full DC1 field bit-size. The number of bits may be lower than or equal to the full DC1 field bit-size. The number of bits may be determined based at least partly on the capability value set index.

In step 503, a maximum number of M1M0 layers may be determined based at least partly on the capability value set. The maximum number of M1M0 layers may also be referred to as max rank herein.

To determine a suitable max rank, the max rank may depend on the maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports (capability value set) associated with or corresponding to one or more of: the one or more SSBRls or CRls reported by the apparatus together with the corresponding capability value set index to the network node, and/or the TCI state indicated by the network node corresponding to the report. Alternatively, or additionally, the max rank may depend on the configured maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports associated with or corresponding to or determined based on one or more of: the one or more SSBRls or CRls reported by the apparatus together with the corresponding capability value set index to the network node, and/or the TCI state indicated by the network node corresponding to the report.

In one example, at least two values of max rank may be configured, where each max rank value may be associated with or corresponding to a specific capability value set. Hence, when the capability value set obtained in step 501 is applicable, the UE may assume the value of max rank corresponding to this capability value set.

Alternatively, if a single max rank value is configured, and if the applicable maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports (corresponding to the applicable capability value set obtained in step 501) is lower than this single max rank value, the UE may assume the value of max rank to be equal to the applicable maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports.

Each of the two alternatives above may be defined, or configured, separately per (UL) DCI format, such as DCI format 0_l and/or 0_2.

For calculation of limited buffer rate matching (LBRM), the UE may assume the maximum number of MIMO layers across all of its antenna panels or capability value sets. Alternatively, the UE may assume the maximum number of MIMO layers corresponding to the applicable capability value set (i.e., the scheduled/active/selected/applicable antenna panel).

In step 504, a table may be determined, or selected, from a plurality of tables based at least partly on at least one of: the (applicable) capability value set, and/or the (applicable) maximum number of MIMO layers (max rank).

For example, a field value in (UL) DCI may be determined by looking up an entry from one reference table among the tables associated to all the capability value sets of the apparatus, wherein this reference table corresponds to the largest maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports and/or largest max rank (if at least two max rank values are configured). For a given applicable capability value set, the valid entries in the reference table may be the entries comprised in the table corresponding to this capability value set.

In this case, the maximum number of MIMO layers determined in step 503 may be a largest maximum number of MIMO layers (max rank) among a plurality of maximum numbers of MIMO layers (max ranks), and the capability value set obtained in step 501 may indicate a largest maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports among a plurality of capability value sets. In step 505, the entry may be extracted, or obtained, from the table based at least partly on the number of bits, the capability value set, and/or the maximum number of M1M0 layers (max rank).

The extracted entry may indicate information for uplink transmission. The information may comprise M1M0 information. For example, the extracted entry may indicate one of: precoding information and number of layers, a TPM1, or an SRI.

The table may comprise one of: a precoding information and number of layers table, or an SRI table.

It should be noted that, based on existing specifications, there may be different SRI tables and/or precoding information and number of layers tables from TS 38.212 depending on (i) whether partialAndNonCoherent, noncoherent, or fullyAndPartialAndNonCoherent is configured, (ii) whether ul-FullPowerTransmission- rl6 is not configured or configured to fullpowerMode2 or to fullpower, and/or (hi) whether transform precoder is enabled or disabled.

In step 506, an uplink transmission (e.g., PUSCH) may be transmitted via the scheduled/active/selected/applicable antenna panel based at least partly on the extracted entry.

A technical advantage provided by the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5 is that it provides a mechanism for DC1 field interpretation depending on the applicable antenna panel and corresponding capability for example in case of fast/dynamic antenna panel switching/selection. This exemplary embodiment may be beneficial in order to correctly read, for example, the 'precoding information and number of layers’ field and/or SRI field indicated via DC1.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart according to another exemplary embodiment for single-TRP PUSCH transmission/repetition, wherein the number of applicable SRS resources may be used to extract the entry. The steps illustrated in FIG. 6 may be performed by an apparatus such as, or comprised in, a user device. The user device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE) or a terminal device herein. The apparatus may comprise two or more antenna panels with different numbers of antenna ports. The apparatus may be capable of dynamic/fast antenna panel switching.

Referring to FIG. 6, in step 601, a capability value set of the apparatus may be obtained, wherein the capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports for a scheduled/active/selected/applicable antenna panel of the apparatus.

For example, the capability value set may be obtained based on at least one of: one or more SSBRls, one or more CRls, and/or a corresponding capability value set index associated with the capability value set, wherein the one or more SSBRls or the one or more CRls are reported by the apparatus to a network node (e.g., gNB) along with the corresponding capability value set index.

Alternatively, or additionally, the capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a TCI state indicated from the network node, wherein the TCI state corresponds to the one or more SSBRls or the one or more CRls reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding capability value set index.

Alternatively, or additionally, the capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a MAC CE or DC1 /PDCCH received from the network node, wherein the MAC CE or the DC1/PDCCH corresponds to the one or more SSBRls or the one or more CRls reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding capability value set index.

In step 602, a number of bits may be determined for reading from a full DC1 field bit-size. The number of bits may be lower than or equal to the full DC1 field bit-size. The number of bits may be determined based at least partly on the capability value set index.

In step 603, a maximum number of M1M0 layers may be determined based at least partly on the capability value set. The maximum number of M1M0 layers may also be referred to as max rank herein.

In step 604, a number of SRS resources and/or an SRS resource set may be determined based on at least one of: the one or more SSBRls, the one or more CRls, the corresponding capability value set index, and/or the TCI state.

In step 605, a table may be determined, or selected, from a plurality of tables based at least partly on at least one of: the capability value set, the maximum number of M1M0 layers (max rank), and/or the number of SRS resources.

In step 606, an entry may be extracted, or obtained, from the table based at least partly on at least one of: the number of bits, the capability value set, the maximum number of M1M0 layers (max rank), the number of SRS resources, and/or the SRS resource set. The extracted entry may indicate information for uplink transmission. The information may comprise MIMO information. For example, the extracted entry may indicate one of: precoding information and number of layers, a TPM1, or an SRI. For the SRI, if the applicable number of SRS resources at a given time is equal to one, then the UE may not read the SRI field as such, and the UE may assumes the SRI to be pointing to the single SRS resource.

The table may comprise one of: a precoding information and number of layers table, or an SRI table.

In step 607, an uplink transmission (e.g., PUSCH) may be transmitted via the scheduled/active/selected/applicable antenna panel based at least partly on the extracted entry.

A technical advantage provided by the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6 is that it provides a mechanism for DC1 field interpretation depending on the applicable antenna panel and corresponding capability for example in case of fast/dynamic antenna panel switching/selection. This exemplary embodiment may be beneficial in order to correctly read, for example, the 'precoding information and number of layers’ field and/or SRI field indicated via DC1.

For multi-TRP operation with simultaneous/parallel frequency-division multiplexed ( DMed), spatial-division multiplexed (SDMed), or time-division multiplexed (TDMed) PUSCH transmissions/repetitions, the size of a first field may be determined by considering the larger applicable maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports.

Then, the first field value in (UL) DC1 may be determined by looking up the indicated entry from the table (e.g., as defined TS 38.212) corresponding to the larger maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports and/or larger max rank associated with or corresponding to one or more of: (i) UE reporting of SSBRl(s)/CRl(s) together with corresponding capability value set indexes to gNB, and/or (ii) TCI state(s) indicated by the gNB corresponding to the UE report.

This TCI state update/indication may act as an acknowledgement for the UE reporting (i). Also, other means of acknowledgement may be possible, which may result in the UE having a maximum of two active capability value set indices and corresponding SRS resource sets or SRS resources at a time. At least one of (i) or (ii) may define the selected or scheduled or applicable UL antenna panels, and thus the applicable SRS resource sets or the applicable subsets ofSRS resources.

The size of a second field may be determined by considering the lower applicable maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports of the currently active capability value set indices.

Then, the second field value in (UL) DC1 may be determined by looking up the indicated entry from the table (e.g., as defined in TS 38.212) corresponding to the lower maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports and/or lower max rank associated with or corresponding to one or more of: (i) UE reporting of SSBRl(s)/CRl(s) together with corresponding capability value set indexes to gNB, and/or (ii) TCI state(s) indicated by the gNB corresponding to the UE report.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart according to an exemplary embodiment for multi-TRP operation with simultaneous/parallel FDMed, SDMed, or TDMed PUSCH transmissions/repetitions. The steps illustrated in FIG. 7 may be performed by an apparatus such as, or comprised in, a user device. The user device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE) or a terminal device herein. The apparatus may comprise two or more antenna panels with different numbers of antenna ports. The apparatus may be capable of dynamic/fast antenna panel switching.

Referring to FIG. 7, in step 701, a first capability value set of the apparatus may be obtained, wherein the first capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports for a first scheduled/active/selected/applicable antenna panel of the apparatus.

For example, the first capability value set may be obtained based on at least one of: one or more first SSBRls, one or more first CRls, and/or a corresponding first capability value set index associated with the first capability value set, wherein the one or more first SSBRls or the one or more first CRls are reported by the apparatus to a network node (e.g., gNB) along with the corresponding first capability value set index.

Alternatively, or additionally, the first capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a first TCI state indicated from the network node, wherein the first TCI state corresponds to the one or more first SSBRls or the one or more first CRls reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding first capability value set index. Alternatively, or additionally, the first capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a first MAC CE or first DC1/PDCCH received from the network node, wherein the first MAC CE or the first DC1/PDCCH corresponds to the one or more first SSBRls or the one or more first CRls reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding first capability value set index.

In step 702, a first number of bits may be determined for reading from a first full DC1 field bit-size. The first number of bits may be lower than or equal to the first full DC1 field bit-size. The first number of bits may be determined based at least partly on the first capability value set index.

In step 703, a first entry may be extracted, or obtained, from a first table based at least partly on the first number of bits and the first capability value set. The first number of bits may depend on a number of entries in the first table.

The extracted first entry may indicate information for a first uplink transmission. For example, the extracted first entry may indicate one of: a first precoding information and number of layers, a first TPM1, or a first SRI.

The first table may comprise one of: a precoding information and number of layers table, or an SRI table.

In step 704, a second capability value set of the apparatus may be obtained, wherein the second capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports for a second scheduled/active/selected/applicable antenna panel of the apparatus. The second capability value set may indicate a same or lower maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports than the maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports indicated by the first capability value set.

For example, the second capability value set may be obtained based on at least one of: one or more second SSBRls, one or more second CRls, and/or a corresponding second capability value set index associated with the second capability value set, wherein the one or more second SSBRls or the one or more second CRls are reported by the apparatus to a network node (e.g., gNB) along with the corresponding second capability value set index.

Alternatively, or additionally, the second capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a second TCI state indicated from the network node, wherein the second TCI state corresponds to the one or more second SSBRls or the one or more second CRIs reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding second capability value set index.

Alternatively, or additionally, the second capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a second MAC CE or second DC1/PDCCH received from the network node, wherein the second MAC CE or the second DC1/PDCCH corresponds to the one or more second SSBRls or the one or more second CRIs reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding second capability value set index.

In step 705, a second number of bits may be determined for reading from a second full DC1 field bit-size. The second number of bits may be lower than or equal to the second full DC1 field bit-size. The second number of bits may be determined based at least partly on the second capability value set index. Alternatively, or additionally, the second number of bits may depend at least partly on the first number of bits.

In step 706, a second entry may be extracted, or obtained, from the first table or from a second table based at least partly on the second number of bits and the second capability value set. In other words, the second entry may be extracted from the same table as the first entry, or the second entry may be extracted from a different table than the first entry.

The extracted second entry may indicate information for a second uplink transmission. For example, the extracted second entry may indicate one of: a second precoding information and number of layers, a second TPM1, or a second SRI.

The second table may comprise one of: a precoding information and number of layers table, or an SRI table.

The first full DC1 field may comprise one of: a first 'precoding information and number of layers’ field, a first SRI field for non-codebook-based mode, or a first SRI field for codebook-based mode.

The second full DC1 field may comprise one of: a second 'precoding information and number of layers’ field, a second SRI field for non-codebook-based mode, or a second SRI field for codebook-based mode.

A technical advantage provided by the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7 is that it provides a mechanism for DC1 field interpretation depending on the applicable antenna panel and corresponding capability for example in case of fast/dynamic antenna panel switching/selection. This exemplary embodiment may be beneficial in order to correctly read, for example, the 'precoding information and number of layers’ field and/or SRI field indicated via DC1.

FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart according to another exemplary embodiment for multi-TRP operation with simultaneous/parallel FDMed, SDMed, or TDMed PUSCH transmissions/repetitions, wherein max rank may be used to extract the entries. The steps illustrated in FIG. 8 may be performed by an apparatus such as, or comprised in, a user device. The user device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE) or a terminal device herein. The apparatus may comprise two or more antenna panels with different numbers of antenna ports. The apparatus may be capable of dynamic/fast antenna panel switching.

Referring to FIG. 8, in step 801, a first capability value set of the apparatus may be obtained, wherein the first capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports for a first scheduled/active/selected antenna panel of the apparatus.

For example, the first capability value set may be obtained based on at least one of: one or more first SSBRls, one or more first CRls, and/or a corresponding first capability value set index associated with the first capability value set, wherein the one or more first SSBRls or the one or more first CRls are reported by the apparatus to a network node (e.g., gNB) along with the corresponding first capability value set index.

Alternatively, or additionally, the first capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a first TCI state indicated from the network node, wherein the first TCI state corresponds to the one or more first SSBRls or the one or more first CRls reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding first capability value set index.

Alternatively, or additionally, the first capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a first MAC CE or first DC1 received from the network node, wherein the first MAC CE or the first DC1 corresponds to the one or more first SSBRls or the one or more first CRls reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding first capability value set index.

In step 802, a first number of bits may be determined for reading from a first full DC1 field bit-size. The first number of bits may be lower than or equal to the first full DC1 field bit-size. The first number of bits may be determined based at least partly on the first capability value set index. In step 803, a first maximum number of MIMO layers (first max rank) may be determined based at least partly on the first capability value set.

In step 804, a first entry may be extracted, or obtained, from a first table based at least partly on the first number of bits, the first capability value set, and/or the first maximum number of MIMO layers. The first number of bits may depend on a number of entries in the first table.

The extracted first entry may indicate information for a first uplink transmission. For example, the extracted first entry may indicate one of: a first precoding information and number of layers, a first TPMI, or a first SRI.

The first table may comprise one of: a precoding information and number of layers table, or an SRI table.

In step 805, a second capability value set of the apparatus may be obtained, wherein the second capability value set indicates at least a maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports for a second scheduled/active/selected antenna panel of the apparatus. The second capability value set may indicate a same or lower maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports than the maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports indicated by the first capability value set.

For example, the second capability value set may be obtained based on at least one of: one or more second SSBRIs, one or more second CRIs, and/or a corresponding second capability value set index associated with the second capability value set, wherein the one or more second SSBRIs or the one or more second CRIs are reported by the apparatus to a network node (e.g., gNB) along with the corresponding second capability value set index.

Alternatively, or additionally, the second capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a second TCI state indicated from the network node, wherein the second TCI state corresponds to the one or more second SSBRIs or the one or more second CRIs reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding second capability value set index.

Alternatively, or additionally, the second capability value set may be obtained based at least partly on a second MAC CE or second DCI received from the network node, wherein the second MAC CE or the second DCI corresponds to the one or more second SSBRIs or the one or more second CRIs reported by the apparatus along with the corresponding second capability value set index.

In step 806, a second number of bits may be determined for reading from a second full DC1 field bit-size. The second number of bits may be lower than or equal to the second full DC1 field bit-size. The second number of bits may be determined based at least partly on the second capability value set index. Alternatively, or additionally, the second number of bits may depend at least partly on the first number of bits.

In step 807, a second maximum number of M1M0 layers (second max rank) may be determined based at least partly on the second capability value set.

In step 808, a second entry may be extracted, or obtained, from the first table or from a second table based at least partly on the second number of bits, the second capability value set, and/or the second maximum number of M1M0 layers. In other words, the second entry may be extracted from the same table as the first entry, or the second entry may be extracted from a different table than the first entry.

The extracted second entry may indicate information for a second uplink transmission. For example, the extracted second entry may indicate one of: a second precoding information and number of layers, a second TPM1, or a second SRI.

The second table may comprise one of: a precoding information and number of layers table, or an SRI table.

In step 809, the first uplink transmission/repetition (e.g., PUSCH) may be transmitted via the first scheduled/active/selected/applicable antenna panel based at least partly on the extracted first entry and using the first (indicated) TCI state.

In step 810, the second uplink transmission/repetition (e.g., PUSCH) may be transmitted via the second scheduled/active/selected/applicable antenna panel based at least partly on the extracted second entry and using the second (indicated) TCI state. The second uplink transmission/repetition may be transmitted to a different TRP than the first uplink transmission/repetition.

The first uplink transmission/repetition and the second uplink transmission/repetition may be transmitted simultaneously by using frequency-division or spatial-division multiplexing. Alternatively, the first uplink transmission/repetition and the second uplink transmission/repetition may be transmitted at different time instants by using time-division multiplexing.

A technical advantage provided by the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8 is that it provides a mechanism for DCI field interpretation depending on the applicable antenna panel and corresponding capability for example in case of fast/dynamic antenna panel switching/selection. This exemplary embodiment may be beneficial in order to correctly read, for example, the 'precoding information and number of layers’ field and/or SRI field indicated via DCI.

FIG. 9 illustrates a signaling diagram according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, in step 901, a user device may transmit capability information about its antenna panel capabilities to a network node such as a gNB. The capability may comprise a plurality of capability value sets of the user device. The user device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE) or a terminal device herein.

As a non-limiting example, the capability information may comprise a capability value set index #0 indicating a maximum number of two SRS ports or antenna ports for a first antenna panel of the UE, a capability value set index #1 indicating a maximum of one SRS port or antenna port for a second antenna panel of the UE, and a capability value set index #2 indicating a maximum number of four SRS ports or antenna ports for a third antenna panel of the UE.

In step 902, the UE may indicate to the gNB that the UE supports transmission from one antenna panel at a time (not simultaneous multi-panel transmission).

In step 903, the gNB may configure the UE with codebook-based PUSCH (txConfig = codebook) and a max rank (i.e., maximum number of M1M0 layers). As a nonlimiting example, the configured max rank value may be four.

In step 904, the gNB may configure the UE with SRS resource sets. As a nonlimiting example, the UE may be configured with three SRS resource sets (resource sets #0, #l and #2).

The first SRS resource set (resource set #0) may comprise three SRS resources, each with two antenna ports (corresponding to capability value set index #0) The second SRS resource set (resource set #1) may comprise two SRS resources, each with one antenna port (corresponding to capability value set index #1).

The third SRS resource set (resource set #2) may comprise four SRS resources, each with four antenna ports (corresponding to capability value set index #2)

In step 905, the UE may determine, either implicitly or via explicit signaling, the current active SRS resource set. As a non-limiting example, with implicit determination, the UE may assume resource set #1 as the current active SRS resource set (with lowest capability).

In step 906, the gNB may configure the UE with Ll-RSRP and capability value set index reporting, as well as a set of SSB and/or CS1-RS resources for measurements.

In step 907, the UE may determine a first number of precoding information and number of layers bits, as well as a first number of SRI bits. As a non-limiting example, the UE may determine the first number of precoding information and number of layers bits as zero (or zero valid ones, while the length of the field in the DC1 is according to highest capability), and the first number of SRI bits as one (or one valid ones, while the length of the field in DC1 has two bits according to highest number of SRS resources across different sets).

In step 908, the UE may receive a first DC1 with UL grant from the gNB.

In step 909, the UE may read the first DC1 to determine the reference SRS resource based on the first number of SRI bits, and to determine precoding information and number of layers based on the first number of precoding information and number of layers bits and the max rank (configured in step 903). In other words, the UE may determine the appropriate mapping table and/or extract the valid first entries from the mapping table.

In step 910, the UE may transmit a first PUSCH (i.e., a first uplink transmission) according to the information determined in step 909.

In step 911, the gNB may transmit a plurality of SSBs and/or a plurality of CS1- RSs.

In step 912, the UE may measure the SSBs and/or the CSl-RSs, and the UE may determine one or more best SSBs and/or one or more best CSl-RSs with highest Ll-RSRP values. The UE may determine, for each best SSB and/or CS1-RS, the corresponding capability value set index.

In step 913, the UE may report one or more SSBRls and/or one or more CRls corresponding with the one or more best SSBs and/or the one or more best CSl-RSs, as well as the corresponding capability value set index (e.g., capability value set index #2) .

In step 914, the UE may receive a command, or acknowledgement, from the gNB that activates a certain SRS resource set (e.g., SRS resource set #2). This may include that the gNB activates the UL TCI state having the UE-reported CS1-RS as QCL-TypeD reference signal, and/or the gNB updates the active spatial source reference signal of SRS resource(s) of the SRS resource set with the UE-reported CS1-RS, or any other command based on which the UE determines that the SRS resource set (e.g., SRS resource set #2) is now active.

In step 915, the UE may determine a second number of precoding information and number of layers bits, as well as a second number of SRI bits. As a non-limiting example, the UE may determine the second number of precoding information and number of layers bits as four (four bits configured, while the length of the field in the DC1 is according to highest capability), and the second number of SRI bits as two (corresponding to SRS resource set #2).

In step 916, the UE may receive a second DC1 with UL grant from the gNB.

In step 917, the UE may read the second DC1 to determine the reference SRS resource based on the second number of SRI bits, and to determine precoding information and number of layers based on the second number of precoding information and number of layers bits and the max rank (configured in step 903). In other words, the UE may determine the appropriate mapping table and/or extract the valid second entries from the mapping table (same or different table as in step 909).

In step 918, the UE may transmit a second PUSCH (i.e., a second uplink transmission) according to the information determined in step 917.

A technical advantage provided by the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 9 is that it provides a mechanism for DC1 field interpretation depending on the applicable antenna panel and corresponding capability for example in case of fast/dynamic antenna panel switching/selection. This exemplary embodiment may be beneficial in order to correctly read, for example, the 'precoding information and number of layers’ field and/or SRI field indicated via DC1.

The steps and/or blocks described above by means of FIGS. 4-9 are in no absolute chronological order, and some of them may be performed simultaneously or in an order differing from the described one. Other steps and/or blocks may also be executed between them or within them.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of how a user device may determine the SRI field size based on the reported capability value set index together with SSBRl(s)/CRl(s) and acknowledgment mechanism (in this example, TCI state indication acts as an acknowledgement mechanism). The user device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE) or a terminal device herein. After the acknowledgement, the UE and gNB may be aligned with the current assumption about the SRI field size and interpretation that reflects the current capability value set (and corresponding UE antenna panel) in use or active.

In the example of FIG. 10, the UE may comprise a first antenna panel (panel#0) with a maximum number of four SRS ports or antenna ports (4-port capability) corresponding to a capability value set index #0, a second antenna panel (panel# 1) with a maximum number of two SRS ports or antenna ports (2-port capability) corresponding to a capability value set index #1, and a third antenna panel (panel #2) with a maximum number of one SRS port or antenna port (1-port capability) corresponding to a capability value set index #2.

In the example of FIG. 10, a first full DC1 field bit-size 1010 may be considered for reading a first entry 1011. The first entry may be extracted from the table by looking up the value corresponding to four antenna ports (capability value set index #0).

A part of a second full DC1 field size 1020 may be considered for reading a second entry 1021, wherein this part corresponds to the number of bits needed to cover the second entry in the table. The second entry may be extracted from the table by looking up the value corresponding to two antenna ports (capability value set index #1).

Furthermore, a part of a third full DC1 field size 1030 may be considered for reading a third entry 1031, wherein this part corresponds to the number of bits needed to cover the third entry in the table. The third entry may be extracted from the table by looking up the value corresponding to one antenna port (capability value set index #2).

Alternatively, for non-codebook-based mode, the SRI field value in (UL) DC1 may be determined by looking up the indicated entry from the SRI table (e.g., in TS 38.212) corresponding to the max rank (i.e., the maximum number of M1M0 layers) associated with or corresponding to one or more of (i) UE reporting of SSBRl(s)/CRl(s) together with corresponding capability value set index(es) to gNB and (ii) TCI state indicated by the gNB. Note that at least one of (i) or (ii) may define the selected or scheduled UL antenna panel and thus the applicable SRS resource set or SRS resources

To determine the indicated entry, the UE may read the first (or last) Ni bits (i.e., Ni most-significant bits) of the field, where Ni may correspond to the total number of entries (e.g., 2 ^N1 entries) in the determined table (note that some of the entries may be reserved entries). Under this alternative, the SRI field size is assumed to correspond to the maximum number of bits, denoted Mi, required for this field considering all the capability value sets (and/or considering all the corresponding SRS resource sets); thus, Mi > N _r

Alternatively, or additionally, to determine the indicated entry, the UE may assume that the field size is Ni bits, where Ni may correspond to the total number of entries (e.g., 2 ^N1 entries) in the determined table. Considering the definition of Mi above, the UE may assume that Ki=Mi-Ni bits are appended at the end of the DCI in this case (for DCI size alignment purpose). Under this alternative, the SRI field size may correspond to Ni bits.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of how a user device may determine the TPMI field size based on the reported capability value set index together with SSBRI(s)/CRI(s) and acknowledgment mechanism (in this example, TCI state indication acts as an acknowledgement mechanism). The user device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE) or a terminal device herein. After the acknowledgement, the UE and gNB may be aligned with the current assumption about the TPMI field size and interpretation that reflects the current capability value set (and corresponding UE panel) in use or active.

In the example of FIG. 11, the UE may comprise a first antenna panel (panel#0) with a maximum number of four SRS ports or antenna ports (4-port capability) corresponding to a capability value set index #0, a second antenna panel (panel#l) with a maximum number of two SRS ports or antenna ports (2-port capability) corresponding to a capability value set index #1, and a third antenna panel (panel #2) with a maximum number of one SRS port or antenna port (1-port capability) corresponding to a capability value set index #2.

Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 11, the capability value set index #0 may be associated with a first max rank value (maxRank #0) of three, the capability value set index #1 may be associated with a second max rank value (maxRank #1) of two, and the capability value set index #2 may be associated with a third max rank value (maxRank #2) of one.

In the example of FIG. 11, a first full DCI field bit-size 1110 may be considered for reading a first entry 1111. The first entry may be extracted from the table by looking up the value corresponding to four antenna ports (capability value set index #0), and/or the first max rank value of three (maxRank #0 = 3).

A part of a second full DC1 field bit-size 1120 may be considered for reading a second entry 1121, wherein this part corresponds to the number of bits needed to cover the second entry in the table. The second entry may be extracted from the table by looking up the value corresponding to two antenna ports (capability value set index #1), and/or the second max rank value of two (maxRank #1 = 2).

Furthermore, a part of a third full DC1 field bit-size 1130 may be considered for reading a third entry 1131, wherein this part corresponds to the number of bits needed to cover the third entry in the table. The third entry may be extracted from the table by looking up the value corresponding to one antenna port (capability value set index #2), and/or the third max rank value of one (maxRank #2 = 1).

The precoding information may comprise the TPM1. The 'precoding information and number of layers’ field value in (UL) DC1 may be determined by looking up the indicated entry from the 'precoding information and number of layers’ table (e.g., in TS 38.212) corresponding to the maximum number of SRS ports or antenna ports and/or max rank associated with or corresponding to one or more of (i) UE reporting of SSBRl(s)/CRl(s) together with corresponding capability value set index(es) to gNB and (ii) TCI state indicated by the gNB.

To determine the indicated entry, the UE may read the first (or last) N bits (i.e., N most-significant bits) of the field, where N may correspond to the total number of entries (e.g., be 2 ^N entries) in the determined table (note that some of the entries may be reserved entries).

Alternatively, or additionally, to determine the indicated entry, the UE may assume that the field size is N bits, where N may correspond to the total number of entries (which would be 2 ^N entries) in the determined table. Considering the definition of M above, the UE may assume that K=M-N bits are appended at the end of the DC1 in this case (for DC1 size alignment purpose).

FIG. 12 illustrates an apparatus 1200, which may be an apparatus such as, or comprised in, a user device, according to an exemplary embodiment. The user device may also be referred to as user equipment (UE) or a terminal device herein. The apparatus 1200 comprises a processor 1210. The processor 1210 interprets computer program instructions and processes data. The processor 1210 may comprise one or more programmable processors. The processor 1210 may comprise programmable hardware with embedded firmware and may, alternatively or additionally, comprise one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

The processor 1210 is coupled to a memory 1220. The processor is configured to read and write data to and from the memory 1220. The memory 1220 may comprise one or more memory units. The memory units may be volatile or non-volatile. It is to be noted that in some exemplary embodiments there may be one or more units of nonvolatile memory and one or more units of volatile memory or, alternatively, one or more units of non-volatile memory, or, alternatively, one or more units of volatile memory. Volatile memory may be for example random-access memory (RAM), dynamic randomaccess memory (DRAM) or synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM). Non-volatile memory may be for example read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, optical storage or magnetic storage. In general, memories may be referred to as non-transitory computer readable media. The memory 1220 stores computer readable instructions that are executed by the processor 1210. For example, non-volatile memory stores the computer readable instructions and the processor 1210 executes the instructions using volatile memory for temporary storage of data and/or instructions.

The computer readable instructions may have been pre-stored to the memory 1220 or, alternatively or additionally, they may be received, by the apparatus, via an electromagnetic carrier signal and/or may be copied from a physical entity such as a computer program product. Execution of the computer readable instructions causes the apparatus 1200 to perform one or more of the functionalities described above.

In the context of this document, a “memory” or “computer-readable media” or “computer-readable medium” may be any non-transitory media or medium or means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate or transport the instructions for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer.

The apparatus 1200 may further comprise, or be connected to, an input unit 1230. The input unit 1230 may comprise one or more interfaces for receiving input. The one or more interfaces may comprise for example one or more temperature, motion and/or orientation sensors, one or more cameras, one or more accelerometers, one or more microphones, one or more buttons and/or one or more touch detection units. Further, the input unit 1230 may comprise an interface to which external devices may connect to.

The apparatus 1200 may also comprise an output unit 1240. The output unit may comprise or be connected to one or more displays capable of rendering visual content, such as a light emitting diode (LED) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD) and/or a liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) display. The output unit 1240 may further comprise one or more audio outputs. The one or more audio outputs may be for example loudspeakers.

The apparatus 1200 further comprises a connectivity unit 1250. The connectivity unit 1250 enables wireless connectivity to one or more external devices. The connectivity unit 1250 comprises at least one transmitter and at least one receiver that may be integrated to the apparatus 1200 or that the apparatus 1200 may be connected to. The at least one transmitter comprises at least one transmission antenna, and the at least one receiver comprises at least one receiving antenna. The connectivity unit 1250 may comprise an integrated circuit or a set of integrated circuits that provide the wireless communication capability for the apparatus 1200. Alternatively, the wireless connectivity may be a hardwired application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The connectivity unit 1250 may comprise one or more components such as a power amplifier, digital front end (DFE), analog-to-digital converter (ADC), digital-to-analog converter (DAC), frequency converter, (de)modulator, and/or encoder/decoder circuitries, controlled by the corresponding controlling units.

It is to be noted that the apparatus 1200 may further comprise various components not illustrated in FIG. 12. The various components may be hardware components and/or software components.

The apparatus 1300 of FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus such as, or comprised in, a network node of a wireless communication network. The network node may also be referred to, for example, as a network element, a RAN node, a NodeB, an LTE evolved NodeB (eNB), a gNB, a base station, an NR base station, a 5G base station, an access node, an access point (AP), a relay node, a repeater, an integrated access and backhaul (1AB) node, an IAB donor node, a distributed unit (DU), a central unit (CU ), a baseband unit (BBU), a radio unit (RU), a radio head, a remote radio head (RRH), or a transmission and reception point (TRP).

The apparatus 1300 may comprise, for example, a circuitry or a chipset applicable for realizing some of the described exemplary embodiments. The apparatus 1300 may be an electronic device comprising one or more electronic circuitries. The apparatus 1300 may comprise a communication control circuitry 1310 such as at least one processor, and at least one memory 1320 storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus 1300 to carry out some of the exemplary embodiments described above. Such instructions may, for example, include a computer program code (software) 1322 wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code (software) 1322 are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus 1300 to carry out some of the exemplary embodiments described above. Herein computer program code may in turn refer to instructions that cause the apparatus 1300 to perform some of the exemplary embodiments described above. That is, the at least one processor and the at least one memory 1320 storing the instructions may cause said performance of the apparatus.

The processor is coupled to the memory 1320. The processor is configured to read and write data to and from the memory 1320. The memory 1320 may comprise one or more memory units. The memory units may be volatile or non-volatile. It is to be noted that in some exemplary embodiments there may be one or more units of non-volatile memory and one or more units of volatile memory or, alternatively, one or more units of non-volatile memory, or, alternatively, one or more units of volatile memory. Volatile memory may be for example random-access memory (RAM), dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) or synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM). Nonvolatile memory may be for example read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, optical storage or magnetic storage. In general, memories may be referred to as non-transitory computer readable media. The memory 1320 stores computer readable instructions that are executed by the processor. For example, non-volatile memory stores the computer readable instructions and the processor executes the instructions using volatile memory for temporary storage of data and/or instructions. The computer readable instructions may have been pre-stored to the memory 1320 or, alternatively or additionally, they may be received, by the apparatus, via an electromagnetic carrier signal and/or may be copied from a physical entity such as a computer program product. Execution of the computer readable instructions causes the apparatus 1300 to perform one or more of the functionalities described above.

The memory 1320 may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor-based memory devices, flash memory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and/or removable memory. The memory may comprise a configuration database for storing configuration data. For example, the configuration database may store a current neighbour cell list, and, in some exemplary embodiments, structures of the frames used in the detected neighbour cells.

The apparatus 1300 may further comprise a communication interface 1330 comprising hardware and/or software for realizing communication connectivity according to one or more communication protocols. The communication interface 1330 comprises at least one transmitter (Tx) and at least one receiver (Rx) that may be integrated to the apparatus 1300 or that the apparatus 1300 may be connected to. The communication interface 1330 provides the apparatus with radio communication capabilities to communicate in the cellular communication system. The communication interface may, for example, provide a radio interface to terminal devices. The apparatus 1300 may further comprise another interface towards a core network such as the network coordinator apparatus and/or to the access nodes of the cellular communication system. The apparatus 1300 may further comprise a scheduler 1340 that is configured to allocate resources. The scheduler 1340 may be configured along with the communication control circuitry 1310 or it may be separately configured.

As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following: a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry); and b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable): i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuit(s) with software/firmware and ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone, to perform various functions); and c) hardware circuit(s) and/or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (for example firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

The techniques and methods described herein may be implemented by various means. For example, these techniques may be implemented in hardware (one or more devices), firmware (one or more devices), software (one or more modules), or combinations thereof. For a hardware implementation, the apparatus(es) of exemplary embodiments may be implemented within one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphics processing units (GPUs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof. For firmware or software, the implementation can be carried out through modules of at least one chipset (for example procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. The software codes maybe stored in a memory unit and executed by processors. The memory unit may be implemented within the processor or externally to the processor. In the latter case, it can be communicatively coupled to the processor via various means, as is known in the art. Additionally, the components of the systems described herein may be rearranged and/or complemented by additional components in order to facilitate the achievements of the various aspects, etc., described with regard thereto, and they are not limited to the precise configurations set forth in the given figures, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as technology advances, the inventive concept may be implemented in various ways. The embodiments are not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, but may vary within the scope of the claims. Therefore, all words and expressions should be interpreted broadly, and they are intended to illustrate, not to restrict, the exemplary embodiments.