Avoiding TCI reselection due to active BWP switching

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for avoiding transmission configuration indication (TCI) reselection (e.g., due to some bandwidth part (BWP) switching scenarios). An exemplary method generally includes configuring a UE with TCI state information for communication via multiple BWPs, wherein the TCI state information indicates quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types and determining whether to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE to reflect a BWP switch, based on one or more rules that define BWP switching for reference signals (RSs) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration. Other aspects and embodiments are also claimed and described.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to wireless communications, and more particularly, to techniques for avoiding transmission configuration indication reselection due to bandwidth part switching. Some aspects and techniques can be used to reduce signaling overhead and save power at certain devices within a communications network.

INTRODUCTION

SUMMARY

Certain aspects provide a method for wireless communications by a network entity. The method generally includes configuring a UE with transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs). TCI state information may indicate quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types. The method may also include determining whether to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE to reflect a BWP switch. The determination may be based on one or more rules. In some cases, the one or more rules may define BWP switching for reference signals (RSs) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration.

Certain aspects provide an apparatus for wireless communications by a network entity. The apparatus generally includes at least one processor configured to configure a UE with transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs). The TCI state information may indicate quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one processor may be further configured to determine whether to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE to reflect a BWP switch. The determination may be based on one or more rules. In some cases, the one or more rules define BWP switching for reference signals (RSs) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration. The apparatus also generally includes a memory coupled with the at least one processor.

Certain aspects provide an apparatus for wireless communications by a network entity. The apparatus generally includes means for configuring a UE with transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs). The TCI state information may indicate quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types. Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus may further include means for determining whether to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE to reflect a BWP switch. In some cases, the determination may be based on one or more rules. In some cases, the one or more rules may define BWP switching for reference signals (RSs) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration.

Certain aspects provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium for wireless communications by a network entity. The non-transitory computer-readable medium generally includes instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to configure a UE with transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs). The TCI state information may indicate quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types. Additionally or alternatively, the non-transitory computer-readable medium may further include instructions that cause the at least one processor to determine whether to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE to reflect a BWP switch. The determination may be based on one or more rules. In some cases, the one or more rules define BWP switching for reference signals (RSs) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration.

Certain aspects provide a method for wireless communications by a user equipment (UE). The method generally includes receiving transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs). The TCI state information may indicate quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types. Additionally or alternatively, the method may further comprise monitoring, according to a BWP switch, for at least a first reference signal (RS) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration.

Certain aspects provide an apparatus for wireless communications by a user equipment (UE). The apparatus generally includes at least one processor configured to receive transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs). The TCI state information may indicate quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one processor may be further configured to monitor, according to a BWP switch, for at least a first reference signal (RS) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration. The apparatus may also generally include a memory coupled with the at least one processor.

Certain aspects provide an apparatus for wireless communications by a user equipment (UE). The apparatus generally includes means for receiving transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs). The TCI state information may indicate quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types. Additionally or alternatively, the apparatus may further include means for monitoring, according to a BWP switch, for at least a first reference signal (RS) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration.

Certain aspects provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium for wireless communications by a user equipment (UE). The non-transitory computer-readable medium generally includes instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to receive transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs). The TCI state information may indicate quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types. Additionally or alternatively, the non-transitory computer-readable medium may further include instructions that cause the at least one processor to monitor, according to a BWP switch, for at least a first reference signal (RS) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for avoiding transmission configuration indication (TCI) reselection due to bandwidth part (BWP) switching. For example, due to current restrictions, many times when an active BWP (e.g., used by a user equipment (UE)) containing a particular type of quasi-colocated (QCL) of RS changes, a gNB must choose a new TCI state for the UE. This may occur even though only a BWP ID parameter may change within the TCI state configuration information due to the change in active BWP. This issue generally leads to inefficiencies of resource usage in a network. One unfavored result of TCI re-selection includes signaling overhead and power spent at a UE having to receive and decode additional signaling.

Thus, as noted, aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques, apparatus, processing systems, and computer readable media, for avoiding TCI state reselecting/reconfiguration. Though reselection/reconfiguration may be due to active BWP switching in some instances, other states can also cause this behavior. Avoiding TCI state reselection and reconfiguration may result in reduce signaling overhead and power savings for communication devices (e.g., UEs and BSs).

The following description provides examples of techniques for avoiding TCI reselection (e.g., due to BWP switching), and is not limiting of the scope, applicability, or examples set forth in the claims. Changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements discussed without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Various examples may omit, substitute, or add various procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, the methods described may be performed in an order different from that described, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also, features described with respect to some examples may be combined in some other examples. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover such an apparatus or method which is practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to, or other than, the various aspects of the disclosure set forth herein. It should be understood that any aspect of the disclosure disclosed herein may be embodied by one or more elements of a claim. The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects.

The techniques described herein may be used for various wireless networks and radio technologies. For clarity, while aspects may be described herein using terminology commonly associated with 3G, 4G, and/or 5G new radio (NR) wireless technologies, aspects of the present disclosure can be applied in other generation-based communication systems, including later technologies.

NR may utilize orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) on the downlink and/or uplink and single-carrier frequency division multiplexing (SC-FDM) on the uplink and/or downlink. NR may support half-duplex operation using time division duplexing (TDD). OFDM and SC-FDM partition the system bandwidth into multiple orthogonal subcarriers, are referred to as tones, bins, etc. Each subcarrier may be modulated with data. Modulation symbols may be sent in the frequency domain with OFDM and in the time domain with SC-FDM. The spacing between adjacent subcarriers may be fixed, and the total number of subcarriers may be dependent on the system bandwidth. For example, the based subcarrier spacing (SCS) may be 15 kHz and other SCS may be defined with respect to the base SCS (e.g., 30 kHz, 60 kHz, 120 kHz, 240 kHz, etc.). The minimum resource allocation (e.g., a resource block (RB)) may be 12 consecutive subcarriers (or 180 kHz). The system bandwidth may also be partitioned into subbands covering multiple RBs. In NR, a subframe is 1 ms, but the basic transmission time interval (TTI) is referred to as a slot. A subframe contains a variable number of slots (e.g., 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, . . . slots) depending on the SCS. The symbol, slot lengths, and CP scale with the SCS.

NR may support beamforming and beam direction may be dynamically configured. Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmissions with precoding may also be supported. In some examples, MIMO configurations in the DL may support up to 8 transmit antennas with multi-layer DL transmissions up to 8 streams and up to 2 streams per UE. In some examples, multi-layer transmissions with up to 2 streams per UE may be supported. Aggregation of multiple cells may be supported with up to 8 serving cells.

FIG.1illustrates an example wireless communication network100in which aspects of the present disclosure may be performed. For example, the wireless communication network100may be an NR system (e.g., a 5G NR network). As shown inFIG.1, the wireless communication network100may be in communication with a core network132. The core network132may in communication with one or more base station (BSs)110and/or user equipment (UE)120in the wireless communication network100via one or more interfaces.

The BSs110communicate with UEs120a-y(each also individually referred to herein as UE120or collectively as UEs120) in the wireless communication network100. The UEs120(e.g.,120x,120y, etc.) may be dispersed throughout the wireless communication network100, and each UE120may be stationary or mobile. Wireless communication network100may also include relay stations (e.g., relay station110r), also referred to as relays or the like, that receive a transmission of data and/or other information from an upstream station (e.g., a BS110aor a UE120r) and sends a transmission of the data and/or other information to a downstream station (e.g., a UE120or a BS110), or that relays transmissions between UEs120, to facilitate communication between devices.

According to certain aspects, the BSs110and UEs120may be configured for avoiding transmission configuration indication (TCI) reselection. In some instances, such reselection may be due to bandwidth part switching. As shown inFIG.1, the BS110aincludes a TCI module112. The TCI module112may be configured to perform the operations illustrated in one or more ofFIG.4A, as well as other operations disclosed herein for avoiding TCI reselection due to bandwidth part switching, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Additionally, as shown inFIG.1, the UE120aincludes a TCI module122. The TCI module122may be configured to perform the operations illustrated inFIG.4B, as well as other operations disclosed herein for avoiding TCI reselection due to bandwidth part switching, in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG.2illustrates example components of BS110aand UE120a(e.g., in the wireless communication network100ofFIG.1), which may be used to implement aspects of the present disclosure.

At the BS110a, a transmit processor220may receive data from a data source212and control information from a controller/processor240. The control information may be for the physical broadcast channel (PBCH), physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH), physical hybrid ARQ indicator channel (PHICH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), group common PDCCH (GC PDCCH), etc. The data may be for the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), etc. A medium access control (MAC)-control element (MAC-CE) is a MAC layer communication structure that may be used for control command exchange between wireless nodes. The MAC-CE may be carried in a shared channel such as a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), or a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH).

The memories242and282may store data and program codes for BS110aand UE120a, respectively. A scheduler244may schedule UEs for data transmission on the downlink and/or uplink.

Antennas252, processors266,258,264, and/or controller/processor280of the UE120aand/or antennas234, processors220,230,238, and/or controller/processor240of the BS110amay be used to perform the various techniques and methods described herein. For example, as shown inFIG.2, the controller/processor240of the BS110aincludes a TCI module241that may be configured to perform the operations illustrated in one or more ofFIG.4A, as well as other operations disclosed herein for avoiding TCI reselection due to bandwidth part switching, according to aspects described herein. As shown inFIG.2, the controller/processor280of the UE120aincludes TCI module281that may be configured to perform the operations illustrated in one or more ofFIG.4B, as well as other operations disclosed herein for avoiding TCI reselection due to bandwidth part switching, according to aspects described herein. Although shown at the Controller/Processor, other components of the UE120aand BS110amay be used performing the operations described herein.

Example Beam Indications

Quasi-colocation (QCL) signaling can be used for reference signals (RSs) and channels across a number of communication scenarios. Some such scenarios may involve multiple cells, such as coordinated multipoint (CoMP) scenarios. CoMP communication generally involves multiple transmit receive points (TRPs) with integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes each having their own cell identification (ID).

QCL assumptions generally refer to assumptions that, for a set of signals or channels considered to be ‘QCL related’ (or simply “QCL'd” for short), certain characteristics derived for (measured from) one of the signals or channels may be applied to the other. That is, channels and/or signals may be termed QCL'd when characteristics associated with one channel or signal apply to another signal channel or signal. As an example, if PDSCH DMRS is QCL'd with other DL RS, a UE may process PDSCH based on measurements of the other DL RS. In some cases, this may lead to more efficient processing, allowing a UE to use (re-use) previous measurements of the QCL'd RS, which may speed processing of a current channel.

In some cases, QCL assumptions for receptions/transmissions of signals and channels may be signaled via a mechanism referred to as Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) states. TCI states may also sometimes be referred to as Transmission Configuration Indicator states. In some cases, a UE may be configured with multiple TCI states via radio resource control (RRC) signaling, while one of the TCI states may be indicated by an N bit (e.g., 3-bits) DCI field for PDSCH. A field (e.g., a qcl-info) in an RRC message can list references to TCI States for providing the QCL source and QCL type for associated resources. The TCI states may be indicated by an ID (e.g., a TCI-Stateld). An RRC message (e.g., PDSCH-Config field) can contain a field with a list of TCI states indicating a transmission configuration which includes QCL-relationships between the DL RSs in one RS set and the PDSCH DMRS ports. A TCI state associates DL RSs (e.g., one or two) with a corresponding QCL type. A DL BWP and cell, in which the RS is located in may also be indicated.

FIG.3illustrates an example of how RSs associated with TCI states may be configured via RRC signaling. The QCL assumptions may be grouped into different types that correspond to the parameters that may be assumed QCL'd for a set of QCL'd signals. For example, for a set of QCL'd signals, Type A may indicate that Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread can be assumed QCL'd, while Type B may indicate only Doppler shift and Doppler spread, Type C may indicate a still different set of parameters, such as average delay and Doppler shift. In some cases, spatial QCL assumptions (e.g., a spatial TX/RX parameter) may be indicated, for example, by Type D. Spatial QCL may mean a (Tx or Rx) beam selected based on a certain signal measurement may be applied to the QCL related signal. If at least spatial QCL is configured/indicated, an RRC field (e.g., a tci-PresentInDCI field) can indicate if TCI field is present or not present in DL-related DCI and when the field is absent the UE considers the TCI to be absent/disabled.

Further, as illustrated inFIG.3, TCI states may indicate one or more RSs (e.g., CSI-RS, SSB, etc.) that are QCL'd and an associated QCL type. The TCI state may also indicate a ServCelllndex, which is a short identity used to identify a serving cell, such as a primary cell (PCell) or a secondary cell (Scell) in a carrier aggregation (CA) deployment. Value 0 for this field may indicate the PCell, while the SCelllndex that has previously been assigned may apply for SCells.

In some examples, a UE can be configured with a list of up to M TCI states. UEs can be configured via a higher layer parameter to decode PDSCH according to a detected PDCCH with DCI intended for the UE and the given serving cell, where M depends on the UE capability. Each contains parameters for configuring a QCL relationship between one, two, or more downlink RSs and DM-RS ports of the PDSCH. QCL relationships can be configured by higher layer parameters for the first and second DL RSs, respectively. For the case of two DL RSs, QCL assumption types may not be the same, regardless of whether the references are to the same DL RS or different DL RSs. QCL assumption types corresponding to each DL RS are given by another higher layer parameter and may indicate the QCL type A, QCL type B, QCL type C, or QCL type D.

In some downlink examples, a UE may receive an activation command (e.g., in a MAC-CE). An activation command may be used to map one or more of the higher layer configured TCI states (e.g., up to 8 TCI states) to the codepoints of a TCI field in DCI.

Example Avoiding TCI Reselection Due to Active BWP Switching

In certain networks, such as 5G New Radio (NR) network, a user equipment may communicate with the network via one or more cells (e.g., one or more serving cells) and using one or more component carriers (or carrier bandwidths). In 5G, each component carrier may be defined by one or more bandwidth parts (BWPs). In some cases, a bandwidth part may be considered as a contiguous set of physical resource blocks, selected from a contiguous subset of the common resource blocks for a given numerology on a given carrier. In some cases, the UE may be configured with a maximum of four BWPs in the downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) for a given carrier.

Additionally, in certain cases, only one BWP for the given carrier may be active at any given time. For example, assuming that the UE is configured with four BWPs (BWP0, BWP1, BWP2, and BWP3), only one of the four BWPs may be active at a given time while the other BWPs remain inactive. However, while only one BWP may be active at a time, the active BWP may be switched to a different BWP. For example, assuming BWP1is the active BWP, the active BWP may be switched to, for example, BWP2or BWP3based on certain criteria.

In some cases, a UE may be configured with a set of beam indication sets for communicating in one or more BWPs. For uplink transmission, beam indication sets may be spatial relations. For downlink transmission, beam indication sets may be transmission configuration indication (TCI) states. The set of beam indications may be configured for a particular channel or type of transmission. Some UEs may be configured with the beam indication sets by higher layer signaling, such as radio resource control (RRC) signaling. In some examples, a subset of the configured sets may be activated via a medium access control control element (MAC-CE). In some examples, an indication in downlink control information (DCI) may indicate (e.g., via a 3-bit indicator) one of the beam indications for the transmission scheduled by the DCI. The indicated TCI state or spatial relation may indicate to the UE the receive beam or transmit beam to use, respectively.

As noted above, the TCI state may indicate one or more quasi-colocation (QCL) assumptions for receptions/transmissions of signals and channels. The QCL assumptions may be grouped into different types. For example, some types may have characteristics corresponding to one or more parameters that may be assumed QCL'd for a set of QCL'd counterparts (e.g., channels, signals, etc.). As noted, sample different QCL assumption types may include type A, type B, type C, and type D.

In 5G Release 15, for a particular TCI state, QCL type A and type B reference signals (RSs) must be in an active BWP on the serving cell of the UE where the TCI state is configured. However, QCL type C and type D RSs may be in the active BWP of a serving cell that is different from the serving cell where the TCI state is configured.

For example, assume the UE communicates with a first cell on a first component carrier and with a second cell on a second component carrier and that a TCI state is configured for the first cell. Further, assume that, for the first component carrier, the UE is configured with two BWPs (BWP0and BWP1) with BWP0being active and that, for the second component carrier, the UE is configured with three BWPs (BWP0, BWP1, and BWP2). For QCL type A and B, the type A and type B RSs must be transmitted within active BWP1of the first component carrier of the first cell where the TCI state is configured. Since a TCI state is not configured for the second cell, the Type A and Type B RSs may not be transmitted within the second component carrier. However, with QCL type C or D, the RSs associated with these QCL assumption types may be within either the first component carrier of the first cell (e.g., where the TCI state is configured) or within the second component carrier of the second cell (e.g., where the TCI state is not configured).

Additionally, if a TCI state is configured and the RS comprises a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), the BWP ID for the RS must also be configured, as illustrated inFIG.3. For example, as illustrated inFIG.3, the parameter BWP ID is conditioned for CSI-RS-type RSs. In other words, when the RS is a CSI-RS, the BWP ID for that CSI-RS must be configured in the TCI state.

This restriction/rule that the BWP ID must be configured for CSI-RSs presents an issue for QCL type D CSI-RSs since the TCI state configuration needs to be changed if an active BWP containing the type D CSI-RS changes, even if the active BWP containing a type A RS remains the same. For example, every time that the active BWP containing a type D RS (e.g., CSI-RS) changes, the gNB must choose a new TCI state for the UE, even though the only difference in the TCI state configuration is the BWP ID of the type D RS in the TCI state. Thus, both signaling overhead and the total number of configured TCI states increases, leading to inefficiencies of resource usage in the network such as signaling overhead and power spent having to receive and decode the additional signaling.

Thus, aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques, apparatus, processing systems, and computer readable media, for avoiding TCI state reselecting/reconfiguration due to active BWP switching. Such techniques may be used to reduce signaling overhead and save power at UEs.

FIG.4Ais a flow diagram illustrating example operations400A for wireless communication, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. The operations400A may be performed, for example, by a network entity (e.g., such as a BS110in the wireless communication network100). Operations400A may be implemented as software components that are executed and run on one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor240ofFIG.2). Further, the transmission (e.g., configuring a UE) and reception of signals by the network entity may be enabled, for example, by one or more antennas (e.g., antennas234ofFIG.2). In certain aspects, the transmission and/or reception of signals by the network entity may be implemented via a bus interface of one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor240) obtaining and/or outputting signals. Though call-flow or operational descriptions herein may be described as certain actions as steps, the described actions or steps may be preferred in variety of arrangements or orders. By providing example logical descriptions, those of skill in the art will understand various permutations are achievable and possible.

Operations400A begin at402A with the network entity configuring a UE with transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs), wherein the TCI state information indicates quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types. In some cases, configuring a UE with the TCI state information may include transmitting the TCI state information to the UE.

At404A, the network entity determines whether to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE to reflect a BWP switch, based on one or more rules that define BWP switching for reference signals (RSs) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration. In some cases, the BWP switch may comprise a switch of active BWPs. Further, in some cases, operations400A may further comprise performing the BWP switch.

FIG.4Bis a flow diagram illustrating example operations400A for wireless communication, in accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure. The operations400B may be performed, for example, by a network entity (e.g., such as a UE120in the wireless communication network100). Operations400B may be implemented as software components that are executed and run on one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor280ofFIG.2). Further, the transmission and reception of signals (e.g., configuration information) by the network entity may be enabled, for example, by one or more antennas (e.g., antennas252ofFIG.2). In certain aspects, the transmission and/or reception of signals by the network entity may be implemented via a bus interface of one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor240) obtaining and/or outputting signals. As noted, though call-flow or operational descriptions herein may be described as certain actions as steps, the described actions or steps may be preferred in variety of arrangements or orders. By providing example logical descriptions, those of skill in the art will understand various permutations are achievable and possible.

Operations400B begin at402B with the UE receiving transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs), wherein the TCI state information indicates quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types.

At404B the UE monitors, according to a BWP switch, for at least a first reference signal (RS) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration. In some cases, operations400B may further include performing the BWP switch. Additionally, in some cases, the BWP switch may comprise a switch of active BWPs.

As noted, to alleviate the issue with TCI state configuration reselection caused by the BWP ID when an active BWP switches and for type D RSs, the network may determine whether to reconfigure/reselect the TCI state based on one or more rules define (e.g., allow) active BWP switching for RSs of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration.

For example, a first rule may involve allowing for the BWP ID of the RS to be unspecified in the TCI state configuration, resulting in a “floating” BWP ID as described below. For example, in some cases, the active BWP switch may be from a first BWP ID, in which an RS of a first QCL assumption type is supported, to a second BWP ID. In such a case, the first rule may allow for a BWP ID of the RS of the first QCL assumption type to be unspecified so that a TCI state of the UE does not need to be reconfigured, thereby eliminating the additional signaling overhead.

In some cases, the first rule may apply to QCL types A-D, and may be applicable when the RS type is CSI-RS. According to aspects, when the BWP ID is left unspecified (e.g., left to “float”), then the BWP ID of the RS may be assumed to be the BWP ID of the active BWP. For example, in some cases, the first rule may specify that the BWP ID of the RS of the first QCL assumption type is to be the second BWP ID after the active BWP switch. In this case, for example, based on the unspecified BWP ID, the UE may monitor using the first BWP ID as the second BWP ID. Thus, the TCI state configuration may remain the same (i.e., the network node does not need to reconfigure the TCI state) even if the active BWP containing the RS (e.g., Type D RS) changes, thereby reducing signaling overhead and power consumption at the UE. For example, when the BWP ID is left unspecified, determining whether to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE by the BS may include determining not to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE in response to the active BWP switch based, at least in part, on the first QCL assumption type being unspecified. Additionally, the UE may monitor, according to the active BWP switch, for at the RS of the first QCL assumption type without TCI state reconfiguration (e.g., without having to decode and reconfigure with new TCI state information) based on the unspecified BWP ID of the RS.

According to aspects, a second rule, which in some cases may apply to QCL types A-D, may allow for the BWP ID of the RS of at least a first QCL assumption type to be in an inactive BWP. For example, in some cases, the active BWP switch may be from a first BWP ID, in which the RS of the first QCL assumption type is supported, to a second BWP ID. Thus, in this case, the BWP ID of the RS of the first QCL assumption type may remain unchanged as the first BWP ID after the active BWP switch, allowing the TCI state of the UE to remain unchanged. In some cases, the BWP ID may be fixed within the TCI state configuration, Thus, in this case, the BWP ID may remain the fixed BWP ID (i.e., the network node does not need to reconfigure the TCI state) even when the active BWP switches, thereby reducing signaling overhead and power consumption at the UE. For example, when the BWP ID of the RS is allowed to be in an inactive BWP, determining whether to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE by the BS may include determining not to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE in response to the active BWP switch based, at least in part, on the unchanged first BWP ID. Additionally, the UE may monitor, according to the active BWP switch, for at the RS of the first QCL assumption type without TCI state reconfiguration (e.g., without having to decode and reconfigure with new TCI state information) based on the unchanged first BWP ID (e.g., due to the first QCL assumption type being allowed to be in an inactive BWP).

According to aspects, a third rule, which in some cases may apply to may apply to QCL type C and type D, may specify that the type of RS may not be an RS that has an associated BWP ID. For example, in some cases, the active BWP switch may be from a first BWP ID, in which an RS of the first QCL assumption type is supported, to a second BWP ID. In this case, the third rule may specify that the RS of the first QCL assumption type is to be a certain type of RS that does not have an associated BWP ID so the TCI state of the UE does not need to be reconfigured. For example, in some cases, the type of the RS may be a synchronization signal block (SSB)-based RS, which may not have an associated BWP ID in the TCI state configuration (e.g., as illustrated inFIG.3). Thus, in this case, the TCI state configuration may remain the same (i.e., the network node does not need to reconfigure the TCI state) even if an active BWP in the serving cell containing the RS changes, thereby reducing signaling overhead and power consumption at the UE. For example, based, at least in part, on the certain type of RS that does not have an associated BWP ID, determining whether to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE by the BS may include determining not to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE in response to the active BWP switch. Additionally, the UE may monitor, according to the active BWP switch, for at the RS of the first QCL assumption type without TCI state reconfiguration (e.g., without having to decode and reconfigure with new TCI state information), for example, based on the certain type of RS that does not have an associated BWP ID.

According to aspects, a fourth rule, which in some cases may apply to QCL type C and type D, may specify that the active BWP containing a QCL RS must remain fixed (i.e., no switching is allowed). That is, for example, the fourth rule may prevent an active BWP switch from an active BWP in which an RS of at least a first QCL assumption type is supported. In this case, the active BWP switch may performed in accordance with the fourth rule. Thus, in this case, the TCI state configuration may remain the same (i.e., the network node does not need to reconfigure the TCI state) since the BWP ID for the RS is fixed, thereby reducing signaling overhead and power consumption at the UE. For example, the UE may monitor, according to the active BWP switch, for at the RS of the first QCL assumption type without TCI state reconfiguration (e.g., without having to decode and reconfigure with new TCI state information).

FIG.5illustrates a communications device500that may include various components (e.g., corresponding to means-plus-function components). One or more of these components can be configured to perform operations for the techniques disclosed herein, such as the operations illustrated inFIG.4A. The communications device500includes a processing system502coupled to a transceiver508. The transceiver508is configured to transmit and receive signals for the communications device500via an antenna510, such as the various signals as described herein. The processing system502may be configured to perform processing functions for the communications device500, including processing signals received and/or to be transmitted by the communications device500.

The processing system502includes a processor504coupled to a computer-readable medium/memory512via a bus506. In certain aspects, the computer-readable medium/memory512is configured to store instructions (e.g., computer-executable code) that when executed by the processor504, cause the processor504to perform the operations illustrated inFIG.4A, or other operations for performing the various techniques discussed herein for avoiding TCI reselecting due to Active BWP switching. In certain aspects, computer-readable medium/memory512stores code514for configuring a UE with transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs), wherein the TCI state information indicates quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types; code516for performing an active BWP switch; and code518for determining whether to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE to reflect the active BWP switch, based on one or more rules that allow active BWP switching for reference signals (RSs) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration. In certain aspects, the processor504includes circuitry configured to implement the code stored in the computer-readable medium/memory512. For example, the processor504includes circuitry520for configuring a UE with transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs), wherein the TCI state information indicates quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types; circuitry522for performing an active BWP switch; and circuitry524for determining whether to reconfigure the TCI state of the UE to reflect the active BWP switch, based on one or more rules that allow active BWP switching for reference signals (RSs) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration.

FIG.6illustrates a communications device600that may include various components (e.g., corresponding to means-plus-function components) configured to perform operations for the techniques disclosed herein, such as the operations illustrated inFIG.4B. The communications device600includes a processing system602coupled to a transceiver608. The transceiver608is configured to transmit and receive signals for the communications device600via an antenna610, such as the various signals as described herein. The processing system602may be configured to perform processing functions for the communications device600, including processing signals received and/or to be transmitted by the communications device600.

The processing system602includes a processor604coupled to a computer-readable medium/memory612via a bus606. In certain aspects, the computer-readable medium/memory612is configured to store instructions (e.g., computer-executable code) that when executed by the processor604, cause the processor604to perform the operations illustrated inFIG.4B, or other operations for performing the various techniques discussed herein for avoiding TCI reselecting due to Active BWP switching. In certain aspects, computer-readable medium/memory612stores code614for receiving transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs), wherein the TCI state information indicates quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types; code616for performing an active BWP switch; and code618for monitoring, according to the active BWP switch, for at least a first reference signal (RS) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration. In certain aspects, the processor604includes circuitry configured to implement the code stored in the computer-readable medium/memory612. For example, the processor604includes circuitry620for receiving transmission configuration indication (TCI) state information for communication via multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs), wherein the TCI state information indicates quasi co-location (QCL) assumptions of at least first and second types; circuitry622for performing an active BWP switch; and circuitry624for monitoring, according to the active BWP switch, for at least a first reference signal (RS) of at least one of the QCL assumption types without TCI state reconfiguration.