Beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments

Techniques are described for selecting transmit beam sets in multi-stream environments as part of beam selection procedures. The selection procedures and the reporting procedures of the beam selection procedures may include reporting information about potential sources of interference for the selected transmit beams. A base station may transmit reference signals to a user equipment (UE) as part of a beam sweep of directional beams. The UE may measure signal quality parameters associated with the reference signals and may select a plurality of transmit beam set candidates based on the signal quality parameters. The UE may report to the base station information related to inter-beam interference in multi-stream environments. The base station may determine which transmit beams to use to transmit information to the UE based on the report received from the UE that include information about inter-beam interference.

BACKGROUND

The following relates generally to wireless communications, and more specifically to beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments.

Some wireless communication systems may communicate using directional beams. The base station and the UE may perform beam selection procedures to establish beam pair links or revise the beams being used for a communication link. Selection of beam pairs may involve challenges in multi-stream environments.

SUMMARY

The described techniques relate to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments. Generally, the described techniques provide for selecting transmit beam sets in multi-stream environments as part of beam selection procedures. The selection procedures and the reporting procedures of the beam selection procedures may include reporting information about potential sources of interference for the selected transmit beams. The base station may transmit reference signals to a user equipment (UE) as part of a beam sweep of directional beams. The UE may measure signal quality parameters associated with the reference signals and may select a plurality of transmit beam set candidates based on the signal quality parameters. The UE may transmit a report to the base station including information related to inter-beam interference in multi-stream environments. The base station may determine which transmit beams to use to transmit information to the UE based on the report received from the UE that includes information about inter-beam interference.

A method of wireless communication at a user equipment is described. The method may include receiving, from a base station, reference signals associated with a set of transmission beams, selecting a set of transmission beam sets associated with a beam selection procedure based on receiving one or more of the reference signals, where the set of transmission beam sets includes a first transmission beam set including a first transmission beam associated with a first receive beam and a second transmission beam associated with a second receive beam, and transmitting, to the base station based on selecting the set of transmission beam sets, a message indicating signal quality information for each transmission beam set of the set of transmission beam sets, where the signal quality information for the first transmission beam set is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmission beam via the first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmission beam via the first receive beam.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment is described. The apparatus may include a processor, memory coupled with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to receive, from a base station, reference signals associated with a set of transmission beams, select a set of transmission beam sets associated with a beam selection procedure based on receiving one or more of the reference signals, where the set of transmission beam sets includes a first transmission beam set including a first transmission beam associated with a first receive beam and a second transmission beam associated with a second receive beam, and transmit, to the base station based on selecting the set of transmission beam sets, a message indicating signal quality information for each transmission beam set of the set of transmission beam sets, where the signal quality information for the first transmission beam set is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmission beam via the first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmission beam via the first receive beam.

Another apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment is described. The apparatus may include means for receiving, from a base station, reference signals associated with a set of transmission beams, selecting a set of transmission beam sets associated with a beam selection procedure based on receiving one or more of the reference signals, where the set of transmission beam sets includes a first transmission beam set including a first transmission beam associated with a first receive beam and a second transmission beam associated with a second receive beam, and transmitting, to the base station based on selecting the set of transmission beam sets, a message indicating signal quality information for each transmission beam set of the set of transmission beam sets, where the signal quality information for the first transmission beam set is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmission beam via the first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmission beam via the first receive beam.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a user equipment is described. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to receive, from a base station, reference signals associated with a set of transmission beams, select a set of transmission beam sets associated with a beam selection procedure based on receiving one or more of the reference signals, where the set of transmission beam sets includes a first transmission beam set including a first transmission beam associated with a first receive beam and a second transmission beam associated with a second receive beam, and transmit, to the base station based on selecting the set of transmission beam sets, a message indicating signal quality information for each transmission beam set of the set of transmission beam sets, where the signal quality information for the first transmission beam set is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmission beam via the first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmission beam via the first receive beam.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the signal quality information for the first transmission beam set may be based on a third signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmission beam via the second receive beam and a fourth signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmission beam via the second receive beam.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the message includes a first field indicating the first signal quality parameter, a second field indicating the second signal quality parameter, a third field indicating the third signal quality parameter, and a fourth field indicating the fourth signal quality parameter.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for identifying a first signal quality ratio between the first signal quality parameter and the second signal quality parameter and a second signal quality ratio between the third signal quality parameter and the fourth signal quality parameter, where the message includes a first field indicating the first signal quality ratio and a second field indicating the second signal quality ratio.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for identifying a first signal quality ratio between the first signal quality parameter and a combination of the second signal quality parameter and a first noise measurement associated with the first receive beam and a second signal quality ratio between the third signal quality parameter and a combination of the fourth signal quality parameter and a second noise measurement associated with the second receive beam, where the message includes a first field indicating the first signal quality ratio and a second field indicating the second signal quality ratio.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the first receive beam may be associated with a first antenna panel of the user equipment and the second receive beam may be associated with a second antenna panel of the user equipment.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for identifying a set of ranks for one or more transmissions, where selecting the set of transmission beam sets includes selecting one or more transmission beam sets for each rank of the set of ranks.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for selecting a rank from a set of ranks for reporting to the base station, where the signal quality information of the message includes signal quality information associated with the selected rank of the set of ranks.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for identifying transmission configuration indices associated with the set of transmission beams, where the message indicates a selected subset of the transmission configuration indices.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for identifying a rank for one or more transmissions, and identifying a quantity of transmission beams in each transmission beam set of the set of transmission beam sets based on identifying the rank, where selecting the set of transmission beam sets may be based on identifying the quantity of transmission beams in each transmission beam set.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving, from the base station, a reporting configuration for the beam selection procedure, where selecting the set of transmission beam sets may be based on receiving the reporting configuration.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the signal quality information of the message includes signal quality information associated with each rank of a set of ranks for one or more transmissions.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, receiving the reference signals further may include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving a first reference signal at a first antenna panel coupled with a radio frequency chain, and receiving a second reference signal at a second antenna panel coupled with a second radio frequency chain.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the first transmission beam may be selected for a first antenna panel and the second transmission beam may be selected for a second antenna panel.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for evaluating each combination of each the set of transmission beams received via each of a set of receive beams, where selecting the set of transmission beam sets may be based on evaluating the each combination.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, selecting the set of transmission beam sets further may include operations, features, means, or instructions for identifying a set of transmission beams including the set of transmission beams, selecting transmission beam sets for the set of transmission beam sets, the selecting including, selecting, for one or more additional antenna panels of the set of antenna panels, a transmission beam having a next-highest signal quality from the set of transmission beams, and removing the selected transmission beams from the set of transmission beams.

A method of wireless communication at a base station is described. The method may include receiving, from a user equipment, a message indicating signal quality information for a set of transmission beam sets, where the signal quality information of a first transmission beam set including a first transmission beam and a second transmission beam is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmission beam via a first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmission beam via the first receive beam, selecting one or more transmission beams from the set of transmission beam sets for communicating information with the user equipment based on receiving the message, and communicating the information with the user equipment using the one or more transmission beams.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station is described. The apparatus may include a processor, memory coupled with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to receive, from a user equipment, a message indicating signal quality information for a set of transmission beam sets, where the signal quality information of a first transmission beam set including a first transmission beam and a second transmission beam is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmission beam via a first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmission beam via the first receive beam, select one or more transmission beams from the set of transmission beam sets for communicating information with the user equipment based on receiving the message, and communicate the information with the user equipment using the one or more transmission beams.

Another apparatus for wireless communication at a base station is described. The apparatus may include means for receiving, from a user equipment, a message indicating signal quality information for a set of transmission beam sets, where the signal quality information of a first transmission beam set including a first transmission beam and a second transmission beam is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmission beam via a first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmission beam via the first receive beam, selecting one or more transmission beams from the set of transmission beam sets for communicating information with the user equipment based on receiving the message, and communicating the information with the user equipment using the one or more transmission beams.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a base station is described. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to receive, from a user equipment, a message indicating signal quality information for a set of transmission beam sets, where the signal quality information of a first transmission beam set including a first transmission beam and a second transmission beam is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmission beam via a first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmission beam via the first receive beam, select one or more transmission beams from the set of transmission beam sets for communicating information with the user equipment based on receiving the message, and communicate the information with the user equipment using the one or more transmission beams.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the message includes a first field indicating the first signal quality parameter of the first transmission beam and a second field indicating the second signal quality parameter of the second transmission beam.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the message includes a field indicating a signal quality ratio of the first transmission beam and the second transmission beam of the first transmission beam set.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the signal quality ratio includes a signal-to-interference ratio of the first transmission beam and the second transmission beam.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the signal quality ratio includes a ratio of the first signal quality parameter to a sum of the second signal quality parameter and a noise measurement associated with the first receive beam.

In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, the signal quality information of the message includes signal quality information of transmission beams sets associated with a set of ranks.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for selecting a rank from a set of ranks for one or more transmissions based on receiving the message, where selecting the one or more transmission beams may be based on selecting the rank.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for identifying transmission configuration indices associated with each beam of the set of transmission beam sets, and identifying a subset of transmission configuration indices for the one or more transmission beams based on receiving the message, where selecting the one or more transmission beams may be based on identifying the subset of transmission configuration indices.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting, to the user equipment, a reference signal, where receiving the message may be based on transmitting the reference signal.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting, to the user equipment, a reporting configuration for a beam selection procedure, where receiving the message may be based on transmitting the reporting configuration.

Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein may further include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving messages from a set of user equipments, where the set of user equipments include the user equipment, where identifying the one or more transmission beams may be based on receiving the messages from the set of user equipments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Some wireless communication systems may communicate using directional beams. The base station and the user equipment (UE) may perform beam selection procedures to establish beam pair links or revise the beams being used for a communication link. Measurement or reporting of signal quality for transmit beams may be used by the base station or the UE for beam selection. However, in various environments, beam selection based on measured or reported signal quality may result in sub-optimal beam selection because of inter-beam interference.

Techniques are described for selecting transmit beam sets in multi-stream environments as part of beam selection procedures. The selection procedures and the reporting procedures of the beam selection procedures may include reporting information about potential sources of interference for the selected transmit beams. The base station may transmit reference signals to the UE as part of a beam sweep of directional beams. The UE may measure signal quality parameters associated with the reference signals and may select a plurality of transmit beam set candidates based on the signal quality parameters. The UE may transmit a report to the base station including information based on received signal quality (e.g., for a beam pair) and inter-beam interference in multi-stream environments. The base station may determine which transmit beams to use to transmit information to the UE based on the report received from the UE that includes or is based on information about inter-beam interference.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of wireless communications systems. Aspects of the disclosure are described in the context of a process flow and diagrams. Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments.

The base station105and one or more UEs115may perform beam selection procedures to establish or modify beam pair links. In multi-stream environments, the beam selection procedures may not consider inter-beam interference between selected transmit beams. Techniques are described for UEs115to identify inter-beam interference, report inter-beam interference to the base station105, or select transmit beams based on inter-beam interference as part of a beam selection procedure. The base station105may be configured to select transmit beams based on information about inter-beam interference as part of a beam selection procedure. The base station105or the UEs115may be configured to perform rank adaptation based on the inter-beam interference information.

FIG. 2illustrates an example of a wireless communications system200that supports beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the wireless communications system200may implement aspects of the wireless communications system100. The wireless communications system200may include one or more base stations205and one or more UEs210. The base stations205may be examples of the base stations105described with reference toFIG. 1. The UEs210may be examples of the UEs115described with reference toFIG. 1.

The wireless communications system200may support beam selection procedures to identify or select transmit beams215, receptions beams220or both. In some cases, beam selection procedures may be used as part of or after an initial access phase of the UE210with the base station205. Additionally, or alternatively, beams may become misaligned, for example, as the UE210moves throughout the coverage area of the base station105. As the beams become misaligned, the signal quality of the communication link between the base station205and the UE210may degrade. To address such issues, the base station205and the UE210may implement beam selection procedures to determine whether new transmit beams or reception beams should be used.

In some beam selection procedures, beam sweeping may occur at both the base station205and the UE210. The base station205may sweep through a plurality of transmit beams215over a duration of time. Each transmit beam215may have an associated beam index. The UE210may, over the same duration, sweep through a plurality of receive beams220. A receive beam220may refer to a receive configuration or a receive beam configuration used for directional listening. In some examples, the receive beam220may refer to post processing techniques applied to energy received at an antenna panel of the UE210. In some cases, the beam sweeping performed by the base station205and the beam sweeping performed by the UE210are coordinated such that multiple combinations (e.g., every combination) of transmit beams215and receive beams220are measured.

The UE210may measure and select one or more beam pairs based on the beam sweeping. A beam pair may refer to a transmit beam215and a receive beam220. The UE210may measure a signal quality parameter, such as reference signal received power (RSRP), for each beam pair. In an example in which there are two transmit beams215(e.g., Tx0 and Tx1) and two receive beams220(e.g., Rx0 and Rx1) in the beam selection procedure, the possible beam pairs are Tx0-Rx0, Tx1-Rx0, Tx0-Rx1, and Tx1-Rx1. The UE210may measure the signal quality parameter for each of these beam pairs. The UE210may select one or more of these beam pairs to report back to the base station205as part of the beam selection procedure.

The UE210may transmit a report to the base station205indicating the signal quality parameters for the beam pairs selected by the UE210during the beam selection procedure. The base station205may use the report to select the transmit beam215that will be used after the beam selection procedure. In some cases, the report may include a beam index for the selected transmit beam(s)215and the signal quality parameter for the selected transmit beam(s)215. In some cases, the UE210may refrain from reporting information about the receive beams220used to obtain the signal quality parameter. Rather, in some cases, the UE210may manage which receive beam220to use based on the transmit beam215selected by the base station205(e.g., based on the selected beam pairs). In other cases, the report may include information about the receive beams220or the beam pairs. In some of these cases, the base station205may select a receive beam220for the UE to use and communicate an indication of the selected receive beam220to the UE210.

When the base station205and the UE210are communicating in a multiple stream environment, enhanced beam selection procedures and reporting procedures may be used. Examples of multi-stream environments may include an environment in which the UE210has multiple antenna panels225and each antenna panel225has its own radio frequency chain, an environment in which the UE210has a single antenna panel225with multiple radio frequency chains, or a combination thereof. A group of antenna elements, which may include two or more antenna elements in one or more antenna arrays or sub-arrays may be referred to herein as an antenna panel, which may correspond to a physical antenna panel or hardware module at a UE or to a virtual antenna panel that may include two or more antenna elements that are a subset of antenna elements at a physical antenna module or that span multiple antenna modules.

Additional multi-stream environments may include multiple UEs being served by the base station205, where the base station205transmits to different UEs using different spatial resources or transmission configuration indexes (TCIs). Each UE in a multi-stream environment may be associated with a rank or a rank indicator. The rank may be a measure indicating how many paths (e.g., streams) the channel between the base station205and the UE210offers. In an example in which the rank is one, the channel may support a single path or stream. In an example in which the rank is two, the channel may support two paths or streams. In an example in which the UE210is capable of supporting N number of paths or streams, the UE210may be capable of communicating using rank one to rank N. In an example in which the UE210is capable of supporting 4 streams, the rank for the communications between the UE210and the base station205may be rank one, rank two, rank three, or rank four. Multi-stream environments may be examples of multiple-in multiple-out (MIMO) environments.

The upper limit for the number of streams or rank supported by the UE210may be determined based on the number of panels or radio frequency chains supported by the UE210. In the illustrative example ofFIG. 2, the UE210includes a first antenna panel225-awith a first radio frequency chain and a second antenna panel225-bwith a second radio frequency chain. In some examples, the UE210may include any number of antenna panels and any number of radio frequency chains.

For multi-stream environments, the beam selection procedures may be configured to select transmit beams for one or more streams being used to communicate between the base station205and the UE210. As part of a beam selection procedure, the UE210may perform group-based beam reporting. In a first example, the UE210may report the signal quality parameters (e.g., RSRPs) of the best (e.g., based on criteria, for example, the signal quality parameters) K transmit beams215per each of antenna panels225-aand225-b, where K may be predetermined or configured for different ranks. In some cases, a group may be defined as associated with an antenna panel (e.g., a number of groups equals a number of antenna panels). In some cases, a group may be defined as a radio frequency chain (e.g., a number of groups equals a number of radio frequency chains). For the example shown inFIG. 2, the UE210with the two antenna panels225-aand225-bmay report two groups of transmit beams215, one group of K transmit beams215for antenna panel225-a, and a second group of K transmit beams215for antenna panel225-b. For group reporting, transmit beams215for different groups may be received simultaneously at the UE210while transmit beams215for the same group may not be able to be received simultaneously at the UE210. That is, the base station205may select one transmit beam215from the first group and one transmit beam215from the second group.

In a second example, the UE210may report the signal quality parameters (e.g., RSRPs) of the best (e.g., based on criteria, for example, the signal quality parameters) M sets of transmit beams215, where M may be predetermined or configured for different ranks. In the second example, a group may be defined as a transmit beam set (e.g., a number of groups equals a number of transmit beam sets). That is, the transmit beams215for each group can be received simultaneously at the UE210while transmit beams215selected from different groups may not be received simultaneously at the UE210.

Beam selection procedures in multi-path environments that use such reporting procedures during beam selection procedures may not be able to find the best (e.g., based on criteria, for example, the signal quality parameters) transmit beam set for multi-beam operation and/or may not be able to perform proper rank adaption. Such reporting may not consider inter-beam interference230between a first transmit beam selected for a first antenna panel225-aand a second transmit beam selected for a second antenna panel225-b. In such cases, the signal quality parameters may be used to identify the best (e.g., based on criteria, for example, the signal quality parameters) transmit beams for each antenna panel individually, but the combination of the selected transmit beams may not be the best (e.g., based on additional criteria, for example, signal interference) set of transmit beams for communications between the base station205and the UE210more generally. In an example, the beam pair {Tx #5, Rx #15} and the beam pair {Tx #6, Rx #21} have the highest signal quality parameters (e.g., RSRP) for their respective antenna panels. However, although the beam pairs may have relatively high signal quality parameters, the rank-2 transmission with the Tx-beam set {Tx #5, Tx #6} may be negatively impacted due to interference (e.g., inter-beam interference230) between the two beams. In some cases, for example where the UE210reports the signal quality parameter for the transmit beams without additional information, the base station205may not be able to avoid such cases of inter-beam interference.

Additionally, in some cases in which the UE210reports the signal quality parameter for the transmit beams without additional information, the base station205may not be able to perform rank adaptation. Rank adaptation may refer to the selection (e.g., by the base station205or the UE210) of a number of streams should be used for communication between the base station205and the UE210. For example, in some cases, transmitting data using a single stream (e.g., rank one) may result in a communication link having improved performance (e.g., higher throughput, higher quality, etc.) compared to transmitting data using two streams (e.g., rank two) because of interference and other signal quality issues. For example, the signal quality parameters may indicate that the transmit beams {Tx #5, Tx #6} would have the highest signal quality parameters for their respective antenna panels. However, the signal quality parameters alone may not account for the inter-beam interference230, as the inter-beam interference230may negatively impact the transmit beam set. In some examples, a rank one transmission with Tx #5 may be better (e.g., based on criteria, for example, signal quality) than rank-2 transmission with the transmit beam set of {Tx #5, Tx #6} due to the interference230.

Techniques are described for selecting transmit beam sets in multi-stream environments as part of beam selection procedures. The selection procedures and the reporting procedures of the beam selection procedures may include reporting information about potential sources of interference. The base station205may transmit reference signals to the UE210as part of a beam sweep of directional beams. The UE210may measure signal quality parameters associated with the reference signals and may select a plurality of transmit beam set candidates based on the signal quality parameters. The UE210may report to the base station205information related to inter-beam interference in multi-stream environments. The base station205may determine which transmit beams215to use to transmit information to the UE210based on the report received from the UE210that includes information about inter-beam interference. Although discussed above in the case of a UE with two antenna panels, these techniques may be applied to UEs having any number of antenna panels. In addition, the techniques may be applied to any rank or number of ranks, including rank-1, rank-2, rank-3, rank-4, etc.

FIG. 3illustrates an example of a process flow300that supports beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the process flow300may implement aspects of the wireless communications systems100and200. The process flow300may include functions performed and communications exchanged between a base station305and a UE310. The base station305may be an example of the base stations105and205described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2. The UE310may be an example of the UEs115and210described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2.

The process flow300may illustrate techniques for measuring and reporting information related to interference for beam selection procedures in multi-stream environments. Such techniques may support identifying transmit beam sets that minimize or otherwise reduce inter-beam interference and provide improved (e.g., higher) link quality than other techniques. A transmit beam set may refer to a set of transmit beams composed of a number of transmit beams, which may be related to the rank. For example, for a rank-1 case, the transmit beam set may include a first transmit beam selected for a first antenna panel, a second antenna panel, or both the first and second antenna panels. In another example, for a rank-2 case, the transmit beam set may include a first transmit beam selected for a first antenna panel and a second transmit beam selected for a second antenna panel.

As part of a beam selection procedure, the base station305may transmit a reporting configuration message315to the UE310. The reporting configuration message315may indicate whether the UE310is to measure and/or provide a report associated with multi-stream environments as part of beam selection procedures. The reporting configuration message315may indicate information the UE310is to measure and report. For example, the reporting configuration message315may indicate a type of signal quality parameter (e.g., RSRPs or ratios) the UE310is to include in a reporting message345. In some cases, the reporting configuration message315may be an example of system information, downlink control information, or a radio resource control (RRC) message.

At320, the UE310may configure procedures (e.g., beam reporting procedures by the UE310) based on the information included in the reporting configuration message315. The UE310may identify the information in the reporting configuration message315.

The base station305may transmit one or more reference signals325to the UE310as part of the beam selection procedure. The reference signals325may include a plurality of directional transmit beams transmitted in a plurality of directions as part of a beam sweeping procedure. During a beam selection procedure, the base station305may identify one or more transmit beam candidates and sweep through each transmit beam candidate as part of the beam sweeping procedure. Each directional transmit beam may be an example of a reference signal325that is transmitted with a consistent set of parameters. The UE310may monitor (e.g., listen) for the reference signals325. The UE310may sweep through one or more receive beams when monitoring (e.g., listening) for the reference signals325. In some cases, the beam sweep procedure may be coordinated such that the UE310may measure or attempt to measure multiple combinations (e.g., every possible combination) of transmit beam and receive beam pairs.

At330, the UE310may measure one or more signal quality parameters associated with the reference signals325. The signal quality parameters may be associated with a transmit-receive (Tx-Rx) beam pair and inter-beam interference between Tx-Rx beam pairs. For example, the UE310may measure a first signal quality parameter for first transmit beam and a first receive beam, a second signal quality parameter for a second transmit beam and the first receive beam, a third signal quality parameter for the second transmit beam and a second receive beam, and a fourth signal quality parameter for the first transmit beam and the second receive beam. In an example in which the number of transmit beams in a transmit beam set is represented by M, the UE310may measure M number of signal quality parameters for each Tx-Rx beam pair, one for each transmit beam associated with a Tx-Rx beam pair, and M−1 inter-beam interference parameters for interference from other transmit beams of the transmit beam set.

In examples in which the UE310includes multiple antenna panels, multiple radio frequency chains, or combinations thereof, the UE310may measure the signal quality parameter for each Tx-Rx beam pair for each antenna panel or radio frequency chain. For example, for a Tx-Rx beam pair, the UE310may measure a first signal quality parameter received by the first antenna panel (or the first radio frequency chain) and may measure a second signal quality parameter received by the second antenna panel (or the second radio frequency chain). In some aspects, by measuring the signal quality parameter for each antenna panel, the UE310may measure information about interference (e.g., an amount of interference) between transmit beams as seen by different panels. The UE310may use the measured information to select which transmit beams to include in a transmit beam set.

The signal quality parameter may include a single quantity or a set of quantities. In some cases, the signal quality parameter may be an example of RSRP of the transmit beam at a panel. In some examples, the signal quality parameter may include information about the receive beam used to determine the signal quality parameter. In other examples, the signal quality parameter may not include the information about the receive beam. Examples of signal quality parameters may include RSRP, reference signal received quality (RSRQ), received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a signal-plus-interference-to-noise ratio (SINR), a signal-to-interference ratio (SIR), or various combinations thereof.

In some examples, the UE310may identify signal quality ratios between different transmit beams in a multi-stream environment. In an example in which the UE310is operating in a rank-2 environment, the UE310may select a first transmit beam candidate for a first antenna panel and a second transmit beam candidate for a second antenna panel. The UE310may determine a first signal quality ratio based on a comparison between the signal quality parameter for the first transmit beam candidate at the first antenna panel and the signal quality parameter for the second transmit beam candidate at the first antenna panel. The UE310may also determine a second signal quality ratio based on a comparison between the signal quality parameter for the second transmit beam candidate at the second antenna panel and the signal quality parameter for the first transmit beam candidate at the second antenna panel.

Examples of equations for calculating signal quality ratios are provided below with reference to Equation 1 and Equation 2.
RSRP(Tx#2 atP0)/RSRP(Tx#4 atP0)  (1)
In Equation 1, the term P0 may refer to an antenna panel that may be used to measure the respective RSRPs. In an example, the term Tx #2 may refer to a first transmit beam received by a first antenna panel and the term Tx #4 may refer to a second transmit beam received by the first antenna panel. Equation 1 may be used to determine a ratio for any combination of transmit beams as received by any combination of antenna panels. Equation 1 may be an example of a calculation of SIR of transmit beams, in which one of the transmit beams (e.g., the numerator) represents the selected transmit beam for an antenna panel and the other transmit beam (e.g., the denominator) represents a potentially interfering transmit beam for the antenna panel.
RSRP(Tx#2 atP0)/(γ+RSRP(Tx#4 atP0))  (2)
In Equation 2, the term γ may refer to a noise parameter. The term P0 may refer to an antenna panel that may be used to measure the respective RSRPs. In an example, the term Tx #2 may refer to a first transmit beam received by a first antenna panel and the term Tx #4 may refer to a second transmit beam received by the first antenna panel. Equation 2 may be used to determine a ratio for any combination of transmit beams as received by any combination of panels. Equation 2 may be an example of a calculation of SINR of transmit beams, in which one of the transmit beams (e.g., the numerator) represents the selected transmit beam for an antenna panel and the other transmit beam (e.g., the denominator) represents a potentially interfering transmit beam for the antenna panel.

At335, the UE310may select a plurality of transmit beam sets based on receiving the reference signals325or measuring the signal quality parameters. The UE310may select at least one transmit beam for each antenna panel or radio frequency chain in a rank. The transmit beam set may include the selected transmit beams. In some aspects, the transmit beam set may include transmit beams that may interfere with the selected transmit beams. In some examples, the UE310may select a plurality of transmit beams for each rank. In such examples, the base station305may be configured to select the transmit beam for each rank from the plurality of transmit beams. In some aspects, the transmit beam set may include plurality of interfering transmit beams associated with each selected transmit beam.

The number of transmit beams to be included in a transmit beam set may be selected based on the rank. For example, for a rank K (e.g., K may be equal to 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, etc.), the UE310may select a number N of transmit beam sets, and a transmit beam set may include a number Q of selected transmit beams. In some examples, the number Q of transmit beams in each transmit beam set may be equal to the rank K associated with the transmit beam set. For example, for rank-1, the UE310may select one transmit beam to be included in the transmit beam set. For rank-2, the UE310may select two transmit beams to include the transmit beam set.

The UE310may determine the number N of transmit beam sets selected for a given rank. In some aspects, the number N of transmit beam sets may be selected such that the transmit beam sets have the highest approximate sum rate per rank as defined by Equation 3, Equation 4, or Equation 5, or combinations thereof.

Equation 3 provides an example of determining the number N of transmit beam sets for a rank-1 system.

In Equation 3, the terms r1 and r2 may refer to receive beams used by the UE310and the term t may refer to the transmit beam used by the base station305. The terms α and β may refer to optimization parameters. In some examples, the term α may be 1 or zero. In some examples, the term β may refer to a noise power.

Equation 4 provides an example of determining the number N of transmit beam sets for a rank-2 system. Equation 5 provides an alternative example of determining the number N of transmit beam sets for a rank-2 system.

R⁢a⁢t⁢eapprox(R⁢a⁢n⁢k-2)⁡({r1,t1},{r2,t2})=∑k=1rank⁢log(α+R⁢S⁢RP⁡(rk,tk)γ+∑m≠k2⁢RS⁢RP⁡(rk,tm))(4)Rat⁢eapprox(R⁢a⁢n⁢k-2)⁡({r1,t1},{r2,t2})=∏k=1rank⁢(α+R⁢S⁢RP⁡(rk,tk)γ+∑m≠k2⁢RSRP⁡(rk,tm))(5)
In Equations 4 and 5, the terms r1 and r2 may refer to receive beams used by the UE310and the terms t1 and t2 may refer to the transmit beams used by the base station305. The terms α and β may refer to optimization parameters. In some examples, the term α may be 1 or zero. In some examples, the term β and the term γ may refer to a noise power. In some examples, the term “rank” may be number equal to the rank of the system, in this example the number may be 2.

In some aspects, Equations 4 and 5 may be applied to ranks higher than rank-2. For example, Equations 4 and 5 may be applied to rank-3, rank-4, rank-5, rank-6, rank-7, rank-8, and so forth.

To identify transmit beams to include in a transmit beam set for a given rank, the UE310may use a variety of approaches. In some examples, the UE310may use an exhaustive search algorithm. In some examples, the UE310may use a greedy search algorithm.

In an exhaustive search algorithm, the UE310may evaluate all possible combinations of transmit beams for a selected rank. In an example in which the selected rank is rank-2, the UE310may evaluate the signal quality parameters for every combination of transmit beams selected for the first antenna panel and the second antenna panel.

In a greedy search algorithm, the UE310may apply a locally optimal choice at each stage with the goal of finding a global optimum value. The UE310may initialize the greedy algorithm with a set of candidate transmit beams and other variables. An example of the initialization of a greedy algorithm for a rank-2 example may be represented by Equation 6.
P={0,1}: panel index set for the rank-2 example
T={0,1, . . .NTxBeams−1}: Transmit beam index set at base station
Rp={0,1, . . .Np,RxBeams−1}: UE receive beam index set at UE antenna panelp(6)

From the initialized set, the UE310may find the best (e.g., based on criteria, for example, signal quality parameters) Tx-Rx beam pair among the pairs, regardless of the UE antenna panels involved. In some examples, at the n-th iteration, the UE310may find the n-th best (e.g., based on the same criteria or additional criteria) transmit beams among the remaining beams. An example of an algorithm for performing such a procedure for a rank-2 system may be represented by Equation 7.
(p(1),rp(1)(1),t(1))=argp∈P,rp∈Rp,t∈Tmax RSRP(rp,t)  (7)

The UE310may determine the second best Tx-Rx beam pair (e.g., based on criteria, for example, signal quality parameters) for the UE antenna panel that has not been selected. An example of an algorithm to perform such a procedure for a rank-2 system may be represented by Equation 8.
(p(2),rp(2)(2),t(2))=argp∈P/{p(1)},rp∈Rp,t∈T/{t(1)}max RateapproxRank-2({rp(1)(1),t(1)},{rp,t})  (8)
The UE310may repeat the first selection (an example of which is represented by Equation 7) and the second selection (an example of which is represented by Equation 8) until a selected number of transmit beam sets are selected.

In some examples, as part of the greedy algorithm, the UE310may identify a set of transmit beams including the plurality of transmit beams and select (e.g., iteratively) transmit beam sets for the plurality of transmit beam sets. In some examples, the selecting may include selecting, for one of a plurality of antenna panels, a transmit beam having a highest signal quality from the set of transmit beams, selecting, for one or more additional antenna panels of the plurality of antenna panels, a transmit beam having a next-highest signal quality from the set of transmit beams, and removing the selected transmit beams from the set of transmit beams. The UE may continue (e.g., iteratively) the selecting to identify each transmit beam set. An example of the UE310identifying a set of transmit beams and selecting transmit beam sets is described herein with reference toFIG. 5A.

In some aspects, Equations 6, 7, and 8 may be applied to ranks higher than rank-2. For example, Equations 6, 7, and 8 may be applied to rank-3, rank-4, rank-5, rank-6, rank-7, rank-8, and so forth.

At340, the UE310may optionally select a rank for future transmissions from the base station305to the UE310. In such examples, the UE310may report (e.g., via a reporting message345) the signal quality parameters, ratios, or other information for the selected rank. In such examples, the reporting message345may include an indication of the selected rank. In some examples, the reporting message345may include a rank index. In some examples, the reporting message345may include one or more transmission configuration indices, which may indicate the rank.

At350, the base station305may optionally select a rank for a future transmission from the base station305to the UE310. In such examples, the UE310may report (e.g., via a reporting message345) the signal quality parameters, ratios, or other information for a plurality of ranks. The base station305may select the rank based on the information in the reporting message345. In some implementations, each rank may have a different number of candidate groups. For example, the information for rank-1 in the reporting message345may include N1 transmit beam sets and the information for rank-2 in the reporting message345may include N2 transmit beam sets, and so forth.

The UE310may generate a reporting message345that indicates signal quality parameters for transmit beam sets and information related to inter-beam interference of the plurality of selected transmit beam sets. An example of the fields of the reporting message345are described in more detail with reference toFIG. 5B.

In a first example, the reporting message345may include the signal quality parameter for each of the selected transmit beams and the signal quality parameter of the interfering transmit beams. For example, in the rank-2 example, the reporting message345may include a first field indicating the signal quality parameter at a first antenna panel for a first transmit beam selected for the first antenna panel, a second field indicating the signal quality parameter of a second transmit beam at the first antenna panel (e.g., the beam that interferes with the first transmit beam), a third field indicating the signal quality parameter at a second antenna panel for the second transmit beam selected for the second antenna panel, and a fourth field indicating the signal quality parameter of the first transmit beam at the second antenna panel (e.g., the beam that interferes with the second transmit beam). In the rank-2 example, the reporting message345may include two fields for signal quality parameters for each antenna panel (e.g., the first field for the selected transmit beam and the third field for the interfering beam). In higher rank examples, such as rank-3, the reporting message345may include a larger number of fields compared to the lower rank examples. For example, in the rank-3 example, the reporting message345may include the following information for each antenna panel: a first field indicating the selected transmit beam for this antenna panel, a second field indicating a first interfering beam for this antenna panel, and a third field indicating a second interfering beam for this antenna panel. That is, for the first example, nine total fields may be included in the reporting message345for rank-3. Other configurations for rank-2 and other higher ranks are within the scope of this disclosure.

In a second example, the reporting message345may include a signal quality ratio based on a comparison between the signal quality parameter of the selected transmit beam and the signal quality parameter of the interfering beam. In some examples, the signal quality ratio may be an example of SIR. Examples of an equation that may be used to determine the signal quality ratio may be described with reference to the Example #2 row ofFIG. 5B. In the rank-2 example, the reporting message345may include one field for each antenna panel. A first field may be for the ratio associated with the first antenna panel and the second field may be for the ratio associated with the second antenna panel. In some examples, in higher rank examples, such as rank-3, the reporting message345may include a single field for each antenna panel. In such examples, the ratio may incorporate interference from multiple potentially interfering beams. In some higher rank examples, such as rank-3, the reporting message345may include more than one field for each antenna panel. For example, in the rank-3 example, the reporting message345may include the following information for each antenna panel: a first field indicating the ratio between the selected transmit beam and a first interfering beam and a second field indicating the ratio between the selected transmit beam and a second interfering beam. That is, for the second example, six total fields may be included in the reporting message345for rank-3. Other configurations for rank-2 and other higher ranks are within the scope of this disclosure.

In a third example, the reporting message345may include signal quality ratio based on the signal quality parameter of the selected transmit beam, the signal quality parameter of the interfering beam, and other noise (e.g., represented by γ inFIG. 5B). In some examples, the signal quality ratio may be an example of SINR. Examples of an equations that may be used to determine the signal quality ratio may be described with reference to the Example #3 row ofFIG. 5B. In the rank-2 example, the reporting message345may include one field for each antenna panel. A first field may be for the ratio associated with the first antenna panel and the second field may be for the ratio associated with the second antenna panel. In some examples, in higher rank examples, such as rank-3, the reporting message345may include a single field for each antenna panel. In such examples, the ratio may incorporate interference from multiple potentially interfering beams (e.g., a sum of interference from multiple interfering beams and noise γ. In some higher rank examples, such as rank-3, the reporting message345may include more than one field for each antenna panel. For example, in the rank-3 example, the reporting message345may include the following information for each antenna panel: a first field indicating the ratio between the selected transmit beam and a first interfering beam (e.g., plus noise γ) and a second field indicating the ratio between the selected transmit beam and a second interfering beam (e.g., plus noise γ). That is, for the rank-3 example, the reporting message345may include six measurements for a set of three antenna panels (e.g., two measurements for each antenna panel). Other configurations for rank-2 and other higher ranks are within the scope of this disclosure.

At355, the base station305may determine one or more transmit beams to use for transmission based on receiving the reporting message345. In some aspects, the base station305may use the information about inter-beam interference received from the UE310as part of the determination. In some other aspects, the base station305may use additional information such as scheduling information including inter-cell interference or inter-user interference. In some examples, the base station305may apply an approximate sum rate equation similar to one or more equations applied by the UE310and described above.

The base station305may transmit information360to the UE310using the selected transmit beams. The information360may include, for example, packets or data associated with various information channels (e.g., data channels). In some examples, the UE310may select the receive beams used for those transmissions based on the selected transmit beams. In some examples, the base station305may communicate the selected transmit beams to the UE310using signaling.

FIG. 4illustrates an example of an antenna module400that supports beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the antenna module400may implement aspects of the wireless communications system100or the wireless communications system200, as described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. In some examples, aspects of antenna module400may be an example of the antenna panels225as described with reference toFIG. 2. In some examples, the antenna module400may be incorporated in a transmitting device or a receiving device (e.g., a UE or a base station), as described herein.

FIG. 4is a diagram illustrating example hardware components of a wireless device in accordance with example aspects of the disclosure. The illustrated components may include those that may be used for antenna element selection and/or for beamforming for transmission of wireless signals. Further, some components illustrated inFIG. 4(e.g., modem, communications manager, oscillators, etc.) may be shared with one or more other antenna modules that may be included in a transmitting device or a receiving device. It is noted that there are numerous architectures for antenna element selection and implementing beamforming, an example of which is illustrated here. The antenna module400includes a modem (modulator/demodulator)402, a digital to analog converter (DAC)405, a first mixer406, a second mixer408, and a splitter410. The antenna module400also includes a plurality of first amplifiers412, a plurality of phase shifters415, a plurality of second amplifiers416, and an antenna array418that includes a plurality of antenna elements (AEs)420. Transmission lines or other waveguides, wires, traces, or the like are shown connecting the various components to illustrate how signals to be transmitted may propagate between components. Boxes422,425,426, and428indicate regions in the antenna module400in which different types of signals propagate or are processed. Specifically, box422indicates a region in which digital baseband signals propagate or are processed, box425indicates a region in which analog baseband signals propagate or are processed, box426indicates a region in which analog intermediate frequency (IF) signals propagate or are processed, and box428indicates a region in which analog radio frequency (RF) signals propagate or are processed. The architecture also includes a local oscillator A430, a local oscillator B432, and a communications manager435.

Each of the antenna elements420may include one or more sub-elements (not shown) for radiating or receiving RF signals. For example, a single antenna element420may include a first sub-element cross-polarized with a second sub-element that can be used to independently transmit cross-polarized signals (e.g., in different ranks or layers). The antenna elements420may include patch antennas or other types of antennas arranged in a linear, two-dimensional, or other pattern. A spacing between antenna elements420may be such that signals with a desired wavelength transmitted separately by the antenna elements420may interact or interfere (e.g., to form a desired beam). For example, given an expected range of wavelengths or frequencies, the spacing may provide a quarter wavelength, half wavelength, or other fraction of a wavelength of spacing between neighboring antenna elements420to allow for interaction or interference of signals transmitted by the separate antenna elements420within that expected range.

The modem402processes and generates digital baseband signals and may also control operation of the DAC405, the first mixer406and the second mixer408, splitter410, first amplifiers412, phase shifters415, and/or the second amplifiers416to transmit signals via one or more or all of the antenna elements420. The modem402may process signals and control operation in accordance with a communications standard such as a wireless standard discussed herein. The DAC405may convert digital baseband signals received from the modem402(and that are to be transmitted) into analog baseband signals. The first mixer406upconverts analog baseband signals to analog IF signals within an IF using the local oscillator A430. For example, the first mixer406may mix the signals with an oscillating signal generated by the local oscillator A430to “move” the baseband analog signals to the IF. In some examples some processing or filtering (not shown) may take place at the IF. The second mixer408upconverts the analog IF signals to analog RF signals using the local oscillator B432. Similarly to the first mixer, the second mixer408may mix the signals with an oscillating signal generated by the local oscillator B432to “move” the IF analog signals to the RF, or the frequency at which signals will be transmitted or received. The modem402and/or the communications manager435may adjust the frequency of local oscillator A430and/or the local oscillator B432so that a desired IF and/or RF frequency is produced and used to facilitate processing and transmission of a signal within a desired bandwidth.

In the illustrated antenna module400, signals upconverted by the second mixer408may be split or duplicated into multiple signals by the splitter410. The splitter410in antenna module400may split the RF signal into a plurality of identical or nearly identical RF signals, as denoted by its presence in box428. In other examples, the split may take place with any type of signal including baseband digital, baseband analog, or IF analog signals. Each of these signals may correspond to an antenna element420. A signal corresponding to a respective antenna element420of the antenna array418may propagate through and be processed by amplifiers412,416, phase shifters415, and/or other elements corresponding to the respective antenna element420. In one example, the splitter410may be an active splitter that is connected to a power supply and may provide some gain so that RF signals output at the splitter410are at a power level equal to or greater than the signal entering the splitter410. In another example, the splitter410may be a passive splitter that is not connected to power supply and the RF signals output at the splitter410may be at a power level lower than the RF signal entering the splitter410.

Resulting RF signals output from the splitter410may enter an amplifier, such as a first amplifier412, or a phase shifter415corresponding to an antenna element420. The first amplifiers412and second amplifiers416may be included or omitted, for example, based on implementation and are illustrated with dashed lines. In one example implementation, both the first amplifier412and second amplifier416are present. In another, neither the first amplifier412nor the second amplifier416is present. In other example implementations, one of the first amplifier412or the second amplifier416may be present but not the other. In an example in which the splitter410is an active splitter, the first amplifier412may be omitted. By way of an example in which the phase shifter415is an active phase shifter configured to provide a gain, the second amplifier416may be omitted. The first amplifiers412and second amplifiers416may provide a desired level of positive or negative gain. A positive gain (positive dB) may be used to increase an amplitude of a signal for radiation by a specific antenna element420. A negative gain (negative dB) may be used to decrease an amplitude and/or suppress radiation of the signal by a specific antenna element420. Each of the first amplifiers412and second amplifiers416may be controlled independently (e.g., by the modem402or communications manager435) to provide independent control of the gain for each antenna element420. For example, the modem402and/or the communications manager435may have at least one control line connected to each of the splitter410, first amplifiers412, phase shifters415, and/or second amplifiers416which may be used to configure a gain to provide a desired amount of gain for each component and thus each antenna element420.

The phase shifter415may provide a configurable phase shift or phase offset to a corresponding RF signal to be transmitted. The phase shifter415may be a passive phase shifter not directly connected to a power supply. Passive phase shifters, in some cases, may introduce some insertion loss. The second amplifier416may boost the signal to compensate for the insertion loss. The phase shifter415may be an active phase shifter connected to a power supply such that the active phase shifter provides some amount of gain or prevents insertion loss. The settings of each of the phase shifters415may be independent of one another. For example, each of the phase shifters415may be set to provide a desired amount of phase shift, the same amount of phase shift, or some other configuration. The modem402and/or the communications manager435may have at least one control line connected to each of the phase shifters415and which may be used to configure the phase shifters415to provide a desired amounts of phase shift or phase offset between antenna elements420.

In the illustrated antenna module400, RF signals received by the antenna elements420may be provided to one or more of a third amplifier456to boost the signal strength. The third amplifier456may be connected to the antenna array418described herein, e.g., for TDD operations. The third amplifier456may be connected to different antenna arrays (e.g., different antenna arrays similar to antenna array418). Each RF signal (with or without amplification by a third amplifier456) may be input into a phase shifter454to provide a configurable phase shift or phase offset for the RF signal. The phase shifter454may be an active phase shifter or a passive phase shifter. The settings of the phase shifters454may be independent of one another. For example, each of the phase shifters454may be set to provide a desired amount of phase shift, the same amount of phase shift, or some other configuration. The modem402and/or the communications manager435may have at least one control line connected to each of the phase shifters454and which may be used to configure the phase shifters454to provide a desired amount of phase shift or phase offset between antenna elements420.

The outputs of the phase shifters454(e.g., phase shifted RF signals) may be input to one or more fourth amplifiers452for signal amplification. The fourth amplifiers452may be individually configured to provide a configured amount of gain. The fourth amplifiers452may be individually configured to provide an amount of gain to ensure that the signals input to combiner450from the fourth amplifiers452have the same magnitude. The fourth amplifiers452and/or third amplifiers456may be included or omitted, for example, based on implementation and are illustrated in dashed lines. In one example implementation, both the fourth amplifier452and the third amplifier456may be present. In another, neither the fourth amplifier452nor the third amplifier456may be present. In other example implementations, one of the fourth amplifier452or the third amplifier456may be present but not the other.

In the illustrated antenna module400, signals output by the phase shifters454(via the fourth amplifiers452when present) may be combined at combiner450. The combiner450in architecture combines the RF signal into a signal, as denoted by the presence of the combiner450in box428. The combiner450may be a passive combiner, e.g., not connected to a power source, which may result in some insertion loss. The combiner450may be an active combiner, e.g., connected to a power source, which may result in some signal gain. In an example in which the combiner450is an active combiner, the combiner450may provide a different (e.g., configurable) amount of gain for each input signal so that the input signals have the same magnitude when they are combined. In an example in which the combiner450is an active combiner (e.g., capable of providing the signal amplification), the fourth amplifier452may be omitted.

The output of the combiner450may be input into mixers458and457. Mixers458and457may generally down convert the received RF signal using inputs from local oscillator D472and local oscillator C470, respectively, to create intermediate or baseband signals that carry the encoded and modulated information. The output of the mixers458and457may be input into an analog-to-digital converter (ADC)455for conversion to analog signals. The analog signals output from ADC455may be input to modem402for baseband processing, e.g., decoding, de-interleaving, etc.

The antenna module400is described by way of example to illustrate an architecture for transmitting and/or receiving signals. It will be understood that the antenna module400and/or each portion of the antenna module400may be repeated multiple times within an architecture to accommodate or provide an arbitrary number of RF chains, antenna elements, and/or antenna panels. More generally, in one example implementation of an antenna panel, an antenna panel can include any set of antenna elements that are subject to the same power control. As such, all antenna elements420included in antenna array418may be an example of an antenna panel. An antenna panel may also include a virtual antenna panel, for example, where one or more antenna elements420are controllable by two different circuits. In an example in which n separate circuits similar to the chain shown inFIG. 4of DAC405, mixer406, mixer408, splitter410, first amplifier412, transmit phase shifter415, and/or second amplifier416under the control of modem402or communications manager435(and, similarly third amplifier456, receive phase shifter454, fourth amplifier452, combiner450, mixer458, mixer457, and/or ADC455under the control of modem402or communications manager435) are connected to one or more antenna elements420, there may be n virtual antenna panels, even in cases in which there n antenna arrays or less. Additionally, or alternatively, a beam-forming network may include circuits capable of forming a beam in an array of antennas, such as, for example, DAC405, mixer406, mixer408, splitter410, first amplifier412, transmit phase shifter415, and/or second amplifier416under the control of modem402or communications manager435(and, similarly third amplifier456, receive phase shifter454, fourth amplifier452, combiner450, mixer458, mixer457, and/or ADC455under the control of modem402or communications manager435). Such a beam-forming network may be connected to a plurality of antenna elements. A given plurality of antenna elements controllable by n beam-forming networks may define n virtual antenna panels. Furthermore, numerous alternate architectures may be possible and contemplated.

For example, although a single antenna array418is shown, two, three, or more antenna arrays may be included, each including one or more corresponding amplifiers, phase shifters, splitters, mixers, DACs, ADCs, and/or modems. For example, a single UE may include two, three, four, or more antenna panels or virtual antenna panels for transmitting or receiving signals at different physical locations on the UE or in different directions. Furthermore, mixers, splitters, amplifiers, phase shifters and other components may be located in different signal type areas (e.g., different ones of the boxes422,425,426, and/or428) in different implemented architectures. For example, the signal to be transmitted may be split into a plurality of signals at any of the analog RF, analog IF, analog baseband, or digital baseband frequencies in different examples. Similarly, amplification, and/or phase shifts may also take place at different frequencies. For example, in some contemplated implementations, one or more of the splitter410, first amplifiers412, second amplifiers416, or phase shifters415may be located between the DAC405and the first mixer406or between the first mixer406and the second mixer408.

In one example, the functions of one or more of the components may be combined into one component. For example, the phase shifters415may perform amplification, and any of the first amplifiers412and/or second amplifiers416may be included or omitted. By way of another example, a phase shift may be implemented by the second mixer408such that a separate phase shifter415may be omitted. This technique is sometimes called local oscillator (LO) phase shifting. In one example implementation of this configuration, there may be a plurality of IF to RF mixers (e.g., for each antenna element chain) within the second mixer408and the local oscillator B432may supply different local oscillator signals (with different phase offsets) to each IF to RF mixer.

The modem402and/or the communications manager435may control one or more of the other components ofFIG. 4to select one or more antenna elements420and/or to form beams for transmission of one or more signals. For example, the antenna elements420may be individually selected or deselected for transmission of a signal (or signals) by controlling an amplitude of one or more corresponding amplifiers, such as the first amplifiers412and/or the second amplifiers416. Beamforming includes generation of a beam using a plurality of signals on different antenna elements in which one or more or all of the plurality signals are shifted in phase relative to each other. The formed beam may carry physical or higher layer reference signals or information. As each signal of the plurality of signals is radiated from a respective antenna element420, the radiated signals interact, interfere (constructive and destructive interference), and amplify each other to form a resulting beam. The shape (such as the amplitude, width, and/or presence of side lobes) and the direction (such as an angle of the beam relative to a surface of the antenna array418) may be dynamically controlled by modifying the phase shifts or phase offsets imparted by the phase shifters415and amplitudes imparted by the first amplifiers412and/or second amplifiers416of the plurality of signals relative to each other.

In some examples, a number of antenna panels (such as antenna modules400) may be present at a UE, and each of the multiple antenna panels may have an associated set of beams that may be supported at the antenna panel, as discussed herein.

FIGS. 5A and 5Billustrate an example of transmit beam sets and the contents of a reporting message that support beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.FIG. 5Arepresents a transmit beam set for a rank-2 example andFIG. 5Brepresents different examples of fields and information that may be included in a reporting message (e.g., reporting message345described with reference toFIG. 3) based on the selected transmit beams shown inFIG. 5A.

FIG. 5Aillustrates an example diagram505that supports beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The diagram505includes Tx-Rx beam pairs for a transmit beam set that includes six transmit beams (e.g., Tx beam 0 through Tx beam 5), a first receive beam set at a first antenna panel (e.g., UE Rx panel 0) that includes three receive beams (e.g., Rx beam 0 through Rx beam 2) and a second receive beam set at a second antenna panel (e.g., UE Rx panel 1) that includes three receive beams (e.g., Rx beam 0 through Rx beam 2). The illustrative example of diagram505is for a rank-2 example. The features of this example may be applied to higher rank examples (e.g., rank-3, rank-4, rank-5, rank-6, rank-7, rank-8 examples, and so forth).

The diagram505indicates that a UE selected a first transmit beam (e.g., Tx beam 2) for the first antenna panel (e.g., UE Rx panel 0) and a second transmit beam (e.g., Tx beam 4) for the second antenna panel (e.g., UE Rx panel 1). For example, as part of the greedy algorithm described herein, the UE may identify a set of transmit beams including a plurality of transmit beams (e.g., Tx beam 0 through Tx beam 5) and select (e.g., iteratively) transmit beam sets for a plurality of transmit beam sets. In some examples, the selecting may include selecting, for one of a plurality of antenna panels (e.g., UE Rx panel 0), a transmit beam having a highest signal quality (e.g., Tx beam 2) from the set of transmit beams, selecting, for one or more additional antenna panels (e.g., UE Rx panel 1) of the plurality of antenna panels, a transmit beam having a next-highest signal quality (e.g., Tx beam 4) from the set of transmit beams, and removing the selected transmit beams from the set of transmit beams. The UE may continue (e.g., iteratively) the selecting to identify each transmit beam set.

In multi-stream environment, the base station may transmit using both the first transmit beam and the second transmit beam at the same time. Hence, the first antenna panel using a first receive beam may detect some interference from the second transmit beam and the second antenna panel using the second receive beam may detect some interference from the first transmit beam. The diagram505visually depicts example relationships between the selected transmit beams and the inter-beam interference that may be detected by the UE.

FIG. 5Billustrates examples of a reporting message550that support beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The reporting message550includes fields for three different examples (e.g., Example #1, Example #2, and Example #3) for reporting the rank-2 example described with reference toFIG. 5A. The reporting message550may be an example of the reporting message345described with reference toFIG. 3. The illustrative example of the reporting message is for a rank-2 example. The features of this example may be applied to higher rank examples (e.g., rank-3, rank-4, rank-5, rank-6, rank-7, rank-8 examples, and so forth). In some cases, the ratio examples (e.g., examples 2 and 3) described herein may provide more efficient reporting compared to some beam selection procedures. For example, using the ratio examples described herein, the number of selected transmit beams NTxBeamsto the number of measurements NMmay be as follows: {NTxBeams, NM}={2,2}, {3, 6}, {4,12}, such that exponential growth may be equal to ((NTxBeams−1)×NTxBeams). In contrast, in some beam selection procedures, the number of selected transmit beams NTxBeamsto the number of measurements NMmay be as follows: {NTxBeams, NM}={2,4}, {3,9}, {4,16}, such that exponential growth may be equal to (NTxBeams)2. In some examples, the reporting message550may include fields for a single example (e.g., Example #1, Example #2, or Example #3). In some examples, the reporting message550may include fields from multiple examples at the same time.

The first example (e.g., Example #1) may include fields for separately reporting the signal quality parameter for each selected transmit beam and each interfering transmit beam. The first example (e.g., Example #1) may correspond to the first example of the reporting message345described with reference toFIG. 3.

The second example (e.g., Example #2) may include fields that report a signal quality ratio for each antenna panel. The second example (e.g., Example #2) may correspond to the second example of the reporting message345described with reference toFIG. 3.

The third example (e.g., Example #3) may include fields that report a signal quality ratio for each antenna panel. The term γ in the equation may refer to a noise coefficient. The third example (e.g., Example #3) may correspond to the third example of the reporting message345described with reference toFIG. 3.

FIG. 6shows a block diagram600of a device605that supports beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device605may be an example of aspects of a UE115as described herein. The device605may include a receiver610, a communications manager615, and a transmitter620. The device605may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver610may receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments, etc.). Information may be passed on to other components of the device605. The receiver610may be an example of aspects of the transceiver920described with reference toFIG. 9. The receiver610may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

The communications manager615may receive, from a base station, reference signals associated with a set of transmit beams, select a set of transmit beam sets associated with a beam selection procedure based on receiving one or more of the reference signals, where the set of transmit beam sets includes a first transmit beam set including a first transmit beam associated with a first receive beam and a second transmit beam associated with a second receive beam, and transmit, to the base station based on selecting the set of transmit beam sets, a message indicating signal quality information for each transmit beam set of the set of transmit beam sets, where the signal quality information for the first transmit beam set is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmit beam via the first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmit beam via the first receive beam. The communications manager615may be an example of aspects of the communications manager910described herein.

FIG. 7shows a block diagram700of a device705that supports beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device705may be an example of aspects of a device605, or a UE115as described herein. The device705may include a receiver710, a communications manager715, and a transmitter735. The device705may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver710may receive signaling740such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments, etc.). The signaling740may include a reporting configuration message which may include a set of bits indicating whether the device705is to measure or provide a report associated with multi-stream environments as part of beam selection procedures. In some aspects, the reporting configuration message may include a set of bits indicating information the device705is to measure and report. For example, the reporting configuration message may include a set of bits indicating a type of signal quality parameter (e.g., RSRPs or ratios) the device705is to include in a reporting message (e.g., reporting message765). In some cases, the reporting configuration message may be an example of system information, downlink control information, or a RRC message. The reporting configuration message may include examples of aspects of reporting configuration message315described with reference toFIG. 3.

The information in signaling740received from another device (e.g., a base station105) may be passed on to other components of the device705, such as the communications manager715. For example, the receiver710may provide the reporting configuration message745to the communications manager715. The receiver710may be an example of aspects of the transceiver920described with reference toFIG. 9. The receiver710may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

The communications manager715may be an example of aspects of the communications manager615as described herein. The communications manager715may include a reference signal manager720, a transmit beam set manager725, and a reporting manager730. The communications manager715may be an example of aspects of the communications manager910described herein.

The reference signal manager720may receive, from a base station (e.g., via receiver710), reference signals associated with a set of transmit beams. For example, signaling740may include reference signals associated with the set of transmit beams. The reference signal manager720may receive, from the receiver710, the reference signals750. The reference signal manager720may output reference signal information755to the reporting manager730and the transmit beam set manager725. The reference signal information755may include a set of bits indicating values of the reference signals750. The reference signal information755may include a set of bits indicative of signal characteristics (e.g., amplitude, phase, frequency, waveform) of the reference signals750.

The transmit beam set manager725may select a set of transmit beam sets associated with a beam selection procedure based on receiving one or more of the reference signals, where the set of transmit beam sets includes a first transmit beam set including a first transmit beam associated with a first receive beam and a second transmit beam associated with a second receive beam. For example, the transmit beam set manager725may receive, from the receiver710, the reference signals750. In some aspects, the transmit beam set manager725may receive, from the reference signal manager720, the reference signal information755. The transmit beam set manager725may select the set of transmit beam sets based on the reference signals750, the reference signal information755, or both. The transmit beam set manager725may output beam selection information760to the reporting manager730indicating the selected set of transmit beam sets. The beam selection information760may include a set of bits indicating the beam sets and the beams included in the beam sets (e.g., a set of bits indicating identifiers associated with the beams and the beam sets).

The reporting manager730may transmit, to the base station based on selecting the set of transmit beam sets, a message indicating signal quality information for each transmit beam set of the set of transmit beam sets, where the signal quality information for the first transmit beam set is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmit beam via the first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmit beam via the first receive beam. The reporting manager730may receive, from the transmit beam set manager725, the beam selection information760indicating the selected set of transmit beam sets. The reporting manager730may receive, from the receiver710, the reporting configuration message745. The reporting manager730may pass a reporting message765indicating the selected set of transmit beam sets to other components of the device705for processing. The reporting message765may include a set of bits indicating the selected set of transmit beam sets. The reporting message765may include a set of bits indicating the selected set of transmit beam sets and signal quality information for each of the transmit beam sets. In some cases, the reporting manager730may pass the reporting message765(or other information based on information included in the reporting message765) to the transmitter735.

The transmitter735may transmit signals generated by other components of the device705. In some examples, the transmitter735may be collocated with a receiver710in a transceiver module. For example, the transmitter735may be an example of aspects of the transceiver920described with reference toFIG. 9. The transmitter735may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas. In an example, the transmitter735may receive the reporting message765and may identify time-frequency resources over which the reporting message765is to be transmitted. The transmitter1135may modulate the information over the identified time-frequency resources in order to transmit the reporting message765.

FIG. 8shows a block diagram800of a communications manager805that supports beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager805may be an example of aspects of a communications manager615, a communications manager715, or a communications manager910described herein. The communications manager805may include a reference signal manager810, a transmit beam set manager815, a reporting manager820, a rank manager825, a signal quality manager830, a transmit beam manager835, a configuration manager840, and a selection manager845. Each of these modules may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The reference signal manager810may receive, from a base station (e.g., via the receiver710), information811such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to retuning for flexible resource allocation, etc.). In an example, the information811may include reference signals associated with a set of transmit beams (e.g., reference signals750). In some examples, the reference signal manager810may receive a first reference signal at a first antenna panel coupled with a radio frequency chain. In some examples, the reference signal manager810may receive a second reference signal at a second antenna panel coupled with a second radio frequency chain.

In some aspects, the reference signal manager810may output reference signal information812to the reporting manager820and the transmit beam set manager815. The reference signal information812may include a set of bits indicating values of the reference signals. The reference signal information812may include a set of bits indicative of signal characteristics (e.g., amplitude, phase, frequency, waveform) of the reference signals.

The transmit beam set manager815may select a set of transmit beam sets associated with a beam selection procedure based on receiving one or more of the reference signals, where the set of transmit beam sets includes a first transmit beam set including a first transmit beam associated with a first receive beam and a second transmit beam associated with a second receive beam. In some cases, the signal quality information for the first transmit beam set is based on a third signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmit beam via the second receive beam and a fourth signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmit beam via the second receive beam. In some cases, the first transmit beam is selected for a first antenna panel and the second transmit beam is selected for a second antenna panel.

In some aspects, the transmit beam set manager815may receive, from the reference signal manager810, the reference signal information812. The transmit beam set manager815may select the set of transmit beam sets based on the reference signal information812, the transmission information836, and the selection information846. The transmit beam set manager815may output beam selection information816to the reporting manager820indicating the selected set of transmit beam sets. The beam selection information816may include a set of bits indicating the beam sets and the beams included in the beam sets (e.g., a set of bits indicating identifiers associated with the beams and the beam sets).

The reporting manager820may transmit, to the base station based on selecting the set of transmit beam sets, a message indicating signal quality information for each transmit beam set of the set of transmit beam sets, where the signal quality information for the first transmit beam set is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmit beam via the first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmit beam via the first receive beam. In some cases, the message includes a first field indicating the first signal quality parameter, a second field indicating the second signal quality parameter, a third field indicating the third signal quality parameter, and a fourth field indicating the fourth signal quality parameter. In some examples, the reporting manager820may receive, from the transmit beam set manager815, the beam selection information816indicating the selected set of transmit beam sets. The reporting manager820may receive, from the configuration manager840, the reporting configuration information842. The reporting manager820may output a reporting message821indicating the selected set of transmit beam sets. The reporting message821may include a set of bits indicating the selected set of transmit beam sets and signal quality information for each of the transmit beam sets.

The rank manager825may receive, from the base station (e.g., via the receiver710), information826such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to retuning for flexible resource allocation, etc.). In an example, the information826may include one or more transmissions. The rank manager825may identify a set of ranks for the one or more transmissions, where selecting the set of transmit beam sets (e.g., at the transmit beam set manager815) includes selecting one or more transmit beam sets for each rank of the set of ranks. In some examples, the rank manager825may select a rank from a set of ranks for reporting to the base station, where the signal quality information of the message includes signal quality information associated with the selected rank of the set of ranks. In some examples, the rank manager825may identify transmission configuration indices associated with the set of transmit beams, where the reporting message821output at the reporting manager820indicates a selected subset of the transmission configuration indices. In some examples, the rank manager825may output rank information827to the selection manager845, the transmit beam manager835, and the signal quality manager830. The rank information827may include a set of bits indicating the set of ranks for the one or more transmissions. In some aspects, the rank information827may include a set of bits indicating the transmission configuration indices.

The signal quality manager830may identify a first signal quality ratio between the first signal quality parameter and the second signal quality parameter and a second signal quality ratio between the third signal quality parameter and the fourth signal quality parameter, where the reporting message821includes a first field indicating the first signal quality ratio and a second field indicating the second signal quality ratio.

In some examples, the signal quality manager830may receive from the base station (e.g., via the receiver710), information811such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to retuning for flexible resource allocation, etc.). In an example, the information811may include the reference signals associated with a set of transmit beams (e.g., reference signals750). The signal quality manager830may identify a first signal quality ratio between the first signal quality parameter and a combination of the second signal quality parameter and a first noise measurement associated with the first receive beam and a second signal quality ratio between the third signal quality parameter and a combination of the fourth signal quality parameter and a second noise measurement associated with the second receive beam, where the reporting message821output at the reporting manager820includes a first field indicating the first signal quality ratio and a second field indicating the second signal quality ratio. In some cases, the first receive beam is associated with a first antenna panel of the user equipment and the second receive beam is associated with a second antenna panel of the user equipment.

In some cases, the signal quality information of the reporting message821includes signal quality information831associated with each rank of a set of ranks for one or more transmissions. In some examples, the signal quality manager830may receive rank information827from the rank manager825indicating the set of ranks for the one or more transmissions. In some examples, the signal quality manager830may receive the reporting configuration information842from the configuration manager840. In some examples, the signal quality manager830may output signal quality information831to the reporting manager820. The signal quality information831may include a set of bits indicating signal quality metrics (e.g., signal quality ratios).

The transmit beam manager835may identify a rank for one or more transmissions. In some examples, the transmit beam manager835may identify a quantity of transmit beams in each transmit beam set of the set of transmit beam sets based on identifying the rank, where selecting the set of transmit beam sets (e.g., at the transmit beam set manager815) is based on identifying the quantity of transmit beams in each transmit beam set. In some examples, the transmit beam manager835may receive rank information827from the rank manager825indicating the set of ranks for the one or more transmissions. The transmit beam manager835may output transmission information836including a set of bits indicating the identified rank(s) for a transmission(s). In some aspects, the transmission information836may include a set of bits indicating the identified quantity of transmit beams in each transmit beam set.

The configuration manager840may receive, from the base station (e.g., via the receiver710), information841such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to retuning for flexible resource allocation, etc.). In an example, the information841may include a reporting configuration for the beam selection procedure, where selecting the set of transmit beam sets at the transmit beam set manager815is based on receiving the reporting configuration. In some aspects, the configuration manager840may output reporting configuration information842to the transmit beam set manager815, the signal quality manager830, and the reporting manager820. The reporting configuration information842may include a set of bits indicating the reporting configuration.

The selection manager845may evaluate each combination of each the set of transmit beams received via each of a set of receive beams, where selecting the set of transmit beam sets at the transmit beam set manager815is based on evaluating each combination. In some examples, the selection manager845may identify a set of transmit beams including the set of transmit beams. In some examples, the selection manager845may select transmit beam sets for the set of transmit beam sets. In some examples, the selection manager845may select, for one or more additional antenna panels of the set of antenna panels, a transmit beam having a next-highest signal quality from the set of transmit beams. In some examples, the selection manager845may remove the selected transmit beams from the set of transmit beams. In some examples, the selection manager845may receive rank information827from the rank manager825indicating the set of ranks for the one or more transmissions. The selection manager845may output selection information846including a set of bits indicating the selected transmit beam sets.

FIG. 9shows a diagram of a system900including a device905that supports beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device905may be an example of or include the components of device605, device705, or a UE115as described herein. The device905may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including a communications manager910, an I/O controller915, a transceiver920, an antenna925, memory930, and a processor940. These components may be in electronic communication via one or more buses (e.g., bus945).

The communications manager910may receive, from a base station, reference signals associated with a set of transmit beams, select a set of transmit beam sets associated with a beam selection procedure based on receiving one or more of the reference signals, where the set of transmit beam sets includes a first transmit beam set including a first transmit beam associated with a first receive beam and a second transmit beam associated with a second receive beam, and transmit, to the base station based on selecting the set of transmit beam sets, a message indicating signal quality information for each transmit beam set of the set of transmit beam sets, where the signal quality information for the first transmit beam set is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmit beam via the first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmit beam via the first receive beam.

The receiver1010may receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments, etc.). Information may be passed on to other components of the device1005. The receiver1010may be an example of aspects of the transceiver1320described with reference toFIG. 13. The receiver1010may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

The communications manager1015may receive, from a user equipment, a message indicating signal quality information for a set of transmit beam sets, where the signal quality information of a first transmit beam set including a first transmit beam and a second transmit beam is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmit beam via a first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmit beam via the first receive beam, select one or more transmit beams from the set of transmit beam sets for communicating information with the user equipment based on receiving the message, and communicate the information with the user equipment using the one or more transmit beams. The communications manager1015may be an example of aspects of the communications manager1310described herein.

FIG. 11shows a block diagram1100of a device1105that supports beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device1105may be an example of aspects of a device1005, or a base station105as described herein. The device1105may include a receiver1110, a communications manager1115, and a transmitter1135. The device1105may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver1110may receive signaling1140such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments, etc.). The signaling1140may include a reporting message which may include a set of bits indicating signal quality parameters for transmit beam sets. In some aspects, the signaling1140may include beam set information which may include a set of bits indicating the transmit beam sets. In some aspects, the reporting message may include inter-beam interference information related to inter-beam interference of a plurality of transmit beam sets which the device1105may use for communicating with a user equipment (e.g., UE115). The inter-beam interference information may include a set of bits indicating respective amounts of interference associated with the transmit beam sets. The reporting message may include examples of aspects of reporting message345described with reference toFIG. 3.

The information in signaling1140received from another device (e.g., a UE115) may be passed on to other components of the device1105, such as the communications manager1115. For example, the receiver1110may provide the reporting message1145and the beam set information1150to the communications manager1115. The receiver1110may be an example of aspects of the transceiver1320described with reference toFIG. 13. The receiver1110may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

The communications manager1115may be an example of aspects of the communications manager1015as described herein. The communications manager1115may include a reporting manager1120, a transmit beam manager1125, and an information manager1130. The communications manager1115may be an example of aspects of the communications manager1310described herein.

The reporting manager1120may receive, from a user equipment (e.g., UE115), a message (e.g., reporting message1145) indicating signal quality information for a set of transmit beam sets, where the signal quality information of a first transmit beam set including a first transmit beam and a second transmit beam is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmit beam via a first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmit beam via the first receive beam. For example, the reporting manager1120may receive, from the receiver1110, the reporting message1145and the beam set information1150. The reporting manager1120may output inter-beam interference information1155to the transmit beam manager1125and the information manager1130based on the reporting message1145and the beam set information1150. The inter-beam interference information1155may include a set of bits indicating the signal quality information of the transmit beams and transmit beam sets.

The transmit beam manager1125may select one or more transmit beams from the set of transmit beam sets for communicating information1165with the user equipment based on receiving the reporting message1145. For example, the transmit beam manager1125may select one or more transmit beams based on the inter-beam interference information1155received from the reporting manager1120. The transmit beam manager1125may output beam selection information1160to the transmitter1135. The beam selection information1160may include a set of bits indicating the one or more selected transmit beams for communicating information1165with the user equipment.

The information manager1130may communicate the information1165with the user equipment using the one or more selected transmit beams. The information1165may include, for example, packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments, etc.).

The transmitter1135may transmit signals generated by other components of the device1105. In some examples, the transmitter1135may be collocated with a receiver1110in a transceiver module. For example, the transmitter1135may be an example of aspects of the transceiver1320described with reference toFIG. 13. The transmitter1135may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas. In an example, the transmitter1135may receive the information1165and may identify selected transmit beams over which the information1165is to be transmitted. In some examples, the transmitter1135may receive the information1165and may identify time-frequency resources over which the information1165is to be transmitted. The transmitter1135may modulate the information over the identified time-frequency resources in order to transmit the information1165.

FIG. 12shows a block diagram1200of a communications manager1205that supports beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager1205may be an example of aspects of a communications manager1015, a communications manager1115, or a communications manager1310described herein. The communications manager1205may include a reporting manager1210, a transmit beam manager1215, an information manager1220, a rank manager1225, a reference signal manager1230, and a configuration manager1235. Each of these modules may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The reporting manager1210may receive, from a user equipment (e.g., via the receiver1110), information1211such as packets associated with various information channels (e.g., data channels, and information related to retuning for flexible resource allocation, etc.). In an example, the information1211may include a message (e.g., reporting message1145) indicating signal quality information for a set of transmit beam sets, where the signal quality information of a first transmit beam set including a first transmit beam and a second transmit beam is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmit beam via a first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmit beam via the first receive beam. In some examples, the reporting manager1210may receive messages (e.g., multiple reporting messages1145) from a set of user equipments, where the set of user equipments include the user equipment, where identifying the one or more transmit beams is based on receiving the messages from the set of user equipments. In some cases, the signal quality information of the message (or messages) includes signal quality information of transmit beams sets associated with a set of ranks. In some cases, the message (or messages) includes a first field indicating the first signal quality parameter of the first transmit beam and a second field indicating the second signal quality parameter of the second transmit beam. In some cases, the message (or messages) includes a field indicating a signal quality ratio of the first transmit beam and the second transmit beam of the first transmit beam set. In some cases, the signal quality ratio includes a signal-to-interference ratio of the first transmit beam and the second transmit beam. In some cases, the signal quality ratio includes a ratio of the first signal quality parameter to a sum of the second signal quality parameter and a noise measurement associated with the first receive beam.

In some aspects, the reporting manager1210may output inter-beam interference information1212to the transmit beam manager1215. The inter-beam interference information1212may include a set of bits indicating values of the reference signals. The inter-beam interference information1212may include a set of bits indicating the signal quality information (e.g., signal quality parameters, signal quality ratio) of the transmit beams and transmit beam sets described herein.

The transmit beam manager1215may select one or more transmit beams from the set of transmit beam sets for communicating information with the user equipment based on receiving the message (e.g., reporting message1145). In some aspects, the transmit beam set manager1215may receive the inter-beam interference information1212and rank information1226. The transmit beam manager1215may select the set of transmit beam sets based on the inter-beam interference information1212and the rank information1226. The transmit beam manager1215may output beam selection information1216(e.g., to information manager1220). The beam selection information1216may include a set of bits indicating the beam sets and the selected beams included in the beam sets (e.g., a set of bits indicating identifiers associated with the beams and the beam sets). The beam selection information1216may include a set of bits indicating the one or more selected transmit beams for communicating information with the user equipment.

The information manager1220may communicate the beam selection information1216with the user equipment in signaling1221using the one or more transmit beams. The signaling1221may include, for example, packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments, etc.).

The rank manager1225may receive, from a user equipment (e.g., via the receiver1110), information1211such as packets associated with various information channels (e.g., data channels, and information related to retuning for flexible resource allocation, etc.). In an example, the information1211may include a message (e.g., reporting message1145) as described herein. The rank manager1225may select a rank from a set of ranks for one or more transmissions based on receiving the message, where selecting the one or more transmit beams (e.g., at the transmit beam manager1215) is based on selecting the rank. In some examples, the rank manager1225may identify transmission configuration indices associated with each beam of the set of transmit beam sets. In some examples, the rank manager1225may identify a subset of transmission configuration indices for the one or more transmit beams based on receiving the message, where selecting the one or more transmit beams is based on identifying the subset of transmission configuration indices. In some aspects, the rank manager1225may output rank information1226to the transmit beam manager1215. The rank information1226may include a set of bits indicating the set of ranks for the one or more transmissions. In some aspects, the rank information1226may include a set of bits indicating the transmission configuration indices.

The reference signal manager1230may transmit, to the user equipment (e.g., via the transmitter1135), signaling1231such as a reference signal, where receiving the message (e.g., reporting message) is based on transmitting the reference signal.

The configuration manager1235may transmit, to the user equipment (e.g., via the transmitter1135), signaling1236such as packets or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., data channels, and information related to retuning for flexible resource allocation, etc.). In an example, the signaling1231may include a reporting configuration for a beam selection procedure, where receiving the message (e.g., reporting message) is based on transmitting the reporting configuration.

FIG. 13shows a diagram of a system1300including a device1305that supports beam selection procedures for multi-stream environments in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device1305may be an example of or include the components of device1005, device1105, or a base station105as described herein. The device1305may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including a communications manager1310, a network communications manager1315, a transceiver1320, an antenna1325, memory1330, a processor1340, and an inter-station communications manager1345. These components may be in electronic communication via one or more buses (e.g., bus1350).

The communications manager1310may receive, from a user equipment, a message indicating signal quality information for a set of transmit beam sets, where the signal quality information of a first transmit beam set including a first transmit beam and a second transmit beam is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmit beam via a first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmit beam via the first receive beam, select one or more transmit beams from the set of transmit beam sets for communicating information with the user equipment based on receiving the message, and communicate the information with the user equipment using the one or more transmit beams.

The memory1330may include RAM, ROM, or a combination thereof. The memory1330may store computer-readable code1335including instructions that, when executed by a processor (e.g., the processor1340) cause the device to perform various functions described herein. In some cases, the memory1330may contain, among other things, a BIOS which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

At1405, the UE may receive, from a base station, reference signals associated with a set of transmit beams. The operations of1405may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1405may be performed by a reference signal manager as described with reference toFIGS. 6 through 9.

At1410, the UE may select a set of transmit beam sets associated with a beam selection procedure based on receiving one or more of the reference signals, where the set of transmit beam sets includes a first transmit beam set including a first transmit beam associated with a first receive beam and a second transmit beam associated with a second receive beam. The operations of1410may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1410may be performed by a transmit beam set manager as described with reference toFIGS. 6 through 9.

At1415, the UE may transmit, to the base station based on selecting the set of transmit beam sets, a message indicating signal quality information for each transmit beam set of the set of transmit beam sets, where the signal quality information for the first transmit beam set is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmit beam via the first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmit beam via the first receive beam. The operations of1415may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1415may be performed by a reporting manager as described with reference toFIGS. 6 through 9.

At1505, the base station may receive, from a user equipment, a message indicating signal quality information for a set of transmit beam sets, where the signal quality information of a first transmit beam set including a first transmit beam and a second transmit beam is based on a first signal quality parameter associated with receiving the first transmit beam via a first receive beam and a second signal quality parameter associated with receiving the second transmit beam via the first receive beam. The operations of1505may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1505may be performed by a reporting manager as described with reference toFIGS. 10 through 13.

At1510, the base station may select one or more transmit beams from the set of transmit beam sets for communicating information with the user equipment based on receiving the message. The operations of1510may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1510may be performed by a transmit beam manager as described with reference toFIGS. 10 through 13.

At1515, the base station may communicate the information with the user equipment using the one or more transmit beams. The operations of1515may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1515may be performed by an information manager as described with reference toFIGS. 10 through 13.