Patent Publication Number: US-2023156632-A1

Title: Method and apparatus for power control

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the technology of wireless communication, and in particular, to methods and apparatuses for power control. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This section introduces aspects that may facilitate better understanding of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the statements of this section are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is in the prior art or what is not in the prior art. 
     In a wireless communication system, beamforming may be used to reinforce a power of a signal, with a help of antenna array and massive MIMO (Multi Input Multi Output). In the beamforming, the antenna array may adjust its phase and power when sending signals, to form an electromagnetic wave “beam” from the antenna array to multiple user equipments (UEs). The stronger the beam power is, the clearer signal and power gain the UE can receive. 
     However, in many scenarios, it&#39;s not encouraged to make the beam power too strong. Too strong beam power may cause strong interference to other wireless devices. On the other hand, there may be some regulatory rules to restrict UE perceived EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power) not exceed a certain limit. For example, the exposure limitation may be based on the guidelines from the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), but it may take different forms in different countries and regions. 
     SUMMARY 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     A traditional/legacy method of the EIRP control is to limit a transmission power of the antenna array. This means that the transmission power of the antenna array is fixed and shared for all UEs served by the antenna array. This may cause some problems. For example, normally the UE-specific beamforming gain (traffic channel) is larger than the broadcast beamforming gain (broadcast channel). To accommodate a unified EIRP regulation, some transmission modes (TM) as described in 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) TS 36.213 V16.1.0 (the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety), such as TM7/8/9 SU-MIMO (Single User MIMO), may not be allowed otherwise the EIRP may exceed the limit. Therefore only some TMs such as TM3/4 may be used. It may cause a performance degradation in cell edge areas. 
     In order to ensure wireless equipment performance and respect the EIRP limit, the transmission power of the antenna array may rely on the max antenna gain of UE-specific beams. While under this configuration, the cell coverage may be impacted and reduced which in turn may result in more call drops. 
     In addition, if there are multiple UEs scheduled (e.g., MU-MIMO (multi user MIMO)), each UE may take a share (such as same share) from total configured transmission power. As the transmission power of the antenna array is limited by the single UE case, obviously each UE cannot reach its max allowed EIRP, yielding not best performance in this case. 
     Some solutions do not allow the SU-MIMO and just allow MU-MIMO scheduling when the number of UEs is over than a threshold, in order to control each UE&#39;s EIRP within the limit (e.g., the transmission power of the antenna array may be evenly distributed among all co-scheduled wireless devices in this case). It may lose MU-MIMO opportunity to some extend which would cause performance degradation from the whole cell point of view. 
     When multiple UEs are co-located (e.g., in MU-MIMO case), the beams may have an overlap area in which the EIRP may be even higher. To respect the EIRP limit, additional penalty may be necessary. Some solutions just simply apply for additional 3dB of power back-off for all MU-MIMO cases. But it is not necessary if the UEs have good angular separation. 
     To overcome or mitigate at least one of the above mentioned problems or other problems, embodiments of the present disclosure propose an improved power control solution. 
     A first aspect of the present disclosure provides a method at a network node. The method comprises determining a value of power back-off for a first wireless device based on at least one of a number of wireless devices including the first wireless device, wherein the wireless devices including the first wireless device are co-scheduled by the network node, and an estimated max power increase in an overlap area where two or more beams are to be overlapped, wherein one of the two or more beams is for the first wireless device. The method further comprises transmitting a message or data over the beam for the first wireless device, wherein an output power of the beam for the first wireless device is controlled based on the value of power back-off for the first wireless device. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the value of power back-off for the first wireless device may be determined further based on effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) max and EIRP limit, wherein the EIRP max indicates a maximum value of EIRP of the first wireless device and the EIRP limit indicates a limit value of EIRP. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the number of wireless devices including the first wireless device may be used to quantify a compensation of power back-off when beamforming is used for the wireless devices. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the estimated max power increase in the overlap area may be determined by a table indicating an association between the estimated max power increase in the overlap area and at least one beamforming parameter. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the estimated max power increase in the overlap area or the table may be determined by simulation or testing. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one beamforming parameter may comprise at least one of an orthogonality factor between two or more beams for respective wireless devices in the overlap area; and a beam angular separation. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the value of power back-off for the first wireless device may be determined in a scheduling interval. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first wireless device may be in a multiuser multiple input multiple output, MU-MIMO, mode. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the method may further comprise determining channel information of the wireless devices including the first wireless device. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the network node may be a base station and/or the wireless devices may be terminal devices. 
     A second aspect of the present disclosure provides a method implemented at a first wireless device. The method comprises receiving a message or data over a beam for the first wireless device from a network node. An output power of the beam for the first wireless device is controlled based on a value of power back-off for the first wireless device. The value of power back-off for the first wireless device is determined based on at least one of a number of wireless devices including the first wireless device, wherein the wireless devices including the first wireless device are co-scheduled by the network node, and an estimated max power increase in an overlap area where two or more beams are to be overlapped, wherein one of the two or more beams is for the first wireless device. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the method may further comprise transmit at least one reference signal to the network node. 
     A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a network node. The network node comprises a processor; and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor, whereby the network node is operative to determine a value of power back-off for a first wireless device based on at least one of a number of wireless devices including the first wireless device, wherein the wireless devices including the first wireless device are co-scheduled by the network node, and an estimated max power increase in an overlap area where two or more beams are to be overlapped, wherein one of the two or more beams is for the first wireless device. The network node is further operative to transmit a message or data over the beam for the first wireless device, wherein an output power of the beam for the first wireless device is controlled based on the value of power back-off for the first wireless device. 
     A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides a first wireless device. The first wireless device comprises a processor; and a memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processor, whereby the first wireless device is operative to receive a message or data over a beam for the first wireless device from a network node. An output power of the beam for the first wireless device is controlled based on a value of power back-off for the first wireless device. The value of power back-off for the first wireless device is determined based on at least one of a number of wireless devices including the first wireless device, wherein the wireless devices including the first wireless device are co-scheduled by the network node, and an estimated max power increase in an overlap area where two or more beams are to be overlapped, wherein one of the two or more beams is for the first wireless device. 
     A fifth aspect of the present disclosure provides a network node. The network node comprises a determining module and a transmitting module. The determining module may be configured to determine a value of power back-off for a first wireless device based on at least one of a number of wireless devices including the first wireless device, wherein the wireless devices including the first wireless device are co-scheduled by the network node and an estimated max power increase in an overlap area where two or more beams are to be overlapped, wherein one of the two or more beams is for the first wireless device. The transmitting module may be configured to transmit a message or data over the beam for the first wireless device, wherein an output power of the beam for the first wireless device is controlled based on the value of power back-off for the first wireless device. 
     A sixth aspect of the present disclosure provides a first wireless device. The first wireless device comprises a receiving module. The receiving module may be configured to receive a message or data over a beam for the first wireless device from a network node. An output power of the beam for the first wireless device is controlled based on a value of power back-off for the first wireless device. The value of power back-off for the first wireless device is determined based on at least one of a number of wireless devices including the first wireless device, wherein the wireless devices including the first wireless device are co-scheduled by the network node, and an estimated max power increase in an overlap area where two or more beams are to be overlapped, wherein one of the two or more beams is for the first wireless device. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the first wireless device may further comprise a transmitting module. The transmitting module may be configured to transmit at least one reference signal to the network node. 
     A seventh aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer program product comprising instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out any of the methods according to the first and second aspects of the disclosure. 
     An eighth aspect of the present disclosure provides a communication system including a host computer including: processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and a communication interface configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a terminal device. The cellular network includes a network node above mentioned, and/or the terminal device is above mentioned. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the system further includes the terminal device, wherein the terminal device is configured to communicate with the network node. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; and the terminal device includes processing circuitry configured to execute a client application associated with the host application. 
     A ninth aspect of the present disclosure provides a communication system including a host computer including: a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a terminal device; a network node. The transmission is from the terminal device to the network node. The network node is above mentioned, and/or the terminal device is above mentioned. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application. The terminal device is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data to be received by the host computer. 
     A tenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method implemented in a communication system which may include a host computer, a network node and a UE. The method may comprise providing user data at the host computer. Optionally, the method may comprise, at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the network node which may perform any step of the method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure. 
     An eleventh aspect of the present disclosure provides a communication system including a host computer. The host computer may comprise processing circuitry configured to provide user data, and a communication interface configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a UE. The cellular network may comprise a network node having a radio interface and processing circuitry. The network node&#39;s processing circuitry may be configured to perform any step of the method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure. 
     A twelfth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method implemented in a communication system which may include a host computer, a network node and a UE. The method may comprise providing user data at the host computer. Optionally, the method may comprise, at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the network node. The UE may perform any step of the method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. 
     A thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a communication system including a host computer. The host computer may comprise processing circuitry configured to provide user data, and a communication interface configured to forward user data to a cellular network for transmission to a UE. The UE may comprise a radio interface and processing circuitry. The UE&#39;s processing circuitry may be configured to perform any step of the method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. 
     A fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method implemented in a communication system which may include a host computer, a network node and a UE. The method may comprise, at the host computer, receiving user data transmitted to the network node from the UE which may perform any step of the method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. 
     A fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a communication system including a host computer. The host computer may comprise a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a UE to a network node. The UE may comprise a radio interface and processing circuitry. The UE&#39;s processing circuitry may be configured to perform any step of the method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. 
     A sixteenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a method implemented in a communication system which may include a host computer, a network node and a UE. The method may comprise, at the host computer, receiving, from the network node, user data originating from a transmission which the network node has received from the UE. The network node may perform any step of the method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure. 
     A seventeenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a communication system which may include a host computer. The host computer may comprise a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a UE to a network node. The network node may comprise a radio interface and processing circuitry. The network node&#39;s processing circuitry may be configured to perform any step of the method according to the second aspect of the present disclosure. 
     An eighteenth aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out any of the methods according to the first and second aspects of the disclosure. 
     Embodiments herein afford many advantages, of which a non-exhaustive list of examples follows. In some embodiments herein, TM7/8/9 SU-MIMO (beamforming) may be allowed to improve cell edge performance, compared to using TM3/4. In some embodiments herein, MU-MIMO may not be limited by the number of paired UEs. Even there are only 2 UEs, MU-MIMO can still work. In some embodiments herein, in the case of MU-MIMO, each UE can reach its max allowed EIRP regardless of how many UEs got paired, to ensure its performance. In some embodiments herein, even in the beam overlap areas (e.g., some UEs are very close to each other), the total EIRP may be still under control. In some embodiments herein, no blindly overlap penalty may be applied. The embodiments herein are not limited to the features and advantages mentioned above. A person skilled in the art will recognize additional features and advantages upon reading the following detailed description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The above and other aspects, features, and benefits of various embodiments of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent, by way of example, from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals or letters are used to designate like or equivalent elements. The drawings are illustrated for facilitating better understanding of the embodiments of the disclosure and not necessarily drawn to scale, in which: 
         FIG.  1    depicts a schematic system, in which some embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented; 
         FIG.  2    schematically depicts beam forming for SU-MIMO according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    schematically depicts beam forming for MU-MIMO according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5   a    shows an example of beam overlap illustration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  5   b    shows an example of beam overlap illustration according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    shows an analysis example that how the orthogonality factor (OF) varies with the beam angular separation according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    shows a flowchart of a method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8   a    is a block diagram showing an apparatus suitable for practicing some embodiments of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  8   b    is a block diagram showing a network node according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  8   c    is a block diagram showing a first wireless device according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic showing a wireless network in accordance with some embodiments; 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic showing a user equipment in accordance with some embodiments; 
         FIG.  11    is a schematic showing a virtualization environment in accordance with some embodiments; 
         FIG.  12    is a schematic showing a telecommunication network connected via an intermediate network to a host computer in accordance with some embodiments; 
         FIG.  13    is a schematic showing a host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection in accordance with some embodiments; 
         FIG.  14    is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment in accordance with some embodiments; 
         FIG.  15    is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment in accordance with some embodiments; 
         FIG.  16    is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment in accordance with some embodiments; and 
         FIG.  17    is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these embodiments are discussed only for the purpose of enabling those skilled persons in the art to better understand and thus implement the present disclosure, rather than suggesting any limitations on the scope of the present disclosure. Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present disclosure should be or are in any single embodiment of the disclosure. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the disclosure may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the disclosure. 
     As used herein, the term “network” refers to a network following any suitable wireless communication standards. For example, the wireless communication standards may comprise new radio (NR), long term evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), high-speed packet access (HSPA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Address (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA) and other wireless networks. A CDMA network may implement a radio technology such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), etc. UTRA includes WCDMA and other variants of CDMA. A TDMA network may implement a radio technology such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA network may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDMA, Ad-hoc network, wireless sensor network, etc. In the following description, the terms “network” and “system” can be used interchangeably. Furthermore, the communications between two devices in the network may be performed according to any suitable communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the wireless communication protocols as defined by a standard organization such as 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) or the wired communication protocols. For example, the wireless communication protocols may comprise the first generation (1G), 2G, 3G, 4G, 4.5G, 5G communication protocols, and/or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. 
     The term “network node” or “network side node” refers to a network device with accessing function in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses to the network and receives services therefrom. The network node may include a base station (BS), an access point (AP), a multi-cell/multicast coordination entity (MCE), a controller or any other suitable device in a wireless communication network. The BS may be, for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), a next generation NodeB (gNodeB or gNB), a remote radio unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, and so forth. 
     Yet further examples of the network node comprise multi-standard radio (MSR) radio equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, positioning nodes and/or the like. More generally, however, the network node may represent any suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged, and/or operable to enable and/or provide a terminal device access to a wireless communication network or to provide some service to a terminal device that has accessed to the wireless communication network. 
     The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that can access a communication network and receive services therefrom. By way of example and not limitation, the terminal device refers to a mobile terminal, user equipment (UE), or other suitable devices. The UE may be, for example, a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a portable computer, an image capture terminal device such as a digital camera, a gaming terminal device, a music storage and a playback appliance, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, a voice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a tablet, a wearable device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable computer, a desktop computer, a wearable terminal device, a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mounted equipment (LME), a USB dongle, a smart device, a wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE) and the like. In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably. As one example, a terminal device may represent a UE configured for communication in accordance with one or more communication standards promulgated by the 3GPP, such as 3GPP′ LTE standard or NR standard. As used herein, a “user equipment” or “UE” may not necessarily have a “user” in the sense of a human user who owns and/or operates the relevant device. In some embodiments, a terminal device may be configured to transmit and/or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a terminal device may be designed to transmit information to a network on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the communication network. Instead, a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but that may not initially be associated with a specific human user. 
     As yet another example, in an Internet of Things (IoT) scenario, a terminal device may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and/or measurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and/or measurements to another terminal device and/or network equipment. The terminal device may in this case be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as a machine-type communication (MTC) device. As one particular example, the terminal device may be a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT) standard. Particular examples of such machines or devices are sensors, metering devices such as power meters, industrial machinery, or home or personal appliances, for example refrigerators, televisions, personal wearables such as watches etc. In other scenarios, a terminal device may represent a vehicle or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and/or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation. 
     As used herein, a downlink, DL, transmission refers to a transmission from a network device to a terminal device, and an uplink, UL, transmission refers to a transmission in an opposite direction. 
     References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. 
     It shall be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed terms. 
     As used herein, the phrase “at least one of A and B” should be understood to mean “only A, only B, or both A and B.” The phrase “A and/or B” should be understood to mean “only A, only B, or both A and B.” 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and/or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and/or combinations thereof. 
     It is noted that these terms as used in this document are used only for ease of description and differentiation among nodes, devices or networks etc. With the development of the technology, other terms with the similar/same meanings may also be used. 
     In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs. 
     It is noted that some embodiments of the present disclosure are mainly described in relation to the cellular network as defined by 3GPP being used as non-limiting examples for certain exemplary network configurations and system deployments. As such, the description of exemplary embodiments given herein specifically refers to terminology which is directly related thereto. Such terminology is only used in the context of the presented non-limiting examples and embodiments, and does naturally not limit the present disclosure in any way. Rather, any other system configuration or radio technologies such as wireless sensor network may equally be utilized as long as exemplary embodiments described herein are applicable. 
       FIG.  1    depicts a schematic system, in which some embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. As shown in  FIG.  1   , the system  100  comprises a network node  110 . For example, the network node  110  may refer to function elements on the network side as compared to a user equipment. For example, the network node  110  may be a network node such as an eNB, a gNB, a Home eNode B, a femto Base Station (BS), a pico BS or any other node capable to serve one or more wireless devices in the system  100 . The solid lines  120  and  124  indicate desired transmissions between the wireless devices and the network node  110  on the downlink and uplink. It is well known that a cellular radio system may comprise a network of radio cells each served by a transmitting station, known as a cell site or base transceiver station. The radio network provides wireless communications service for a plurality of transceivers (in most cases mobile). The network of network nodes working in collaboration allows for wireless service which is greater than the radio coverage provided by a single network node. The individual network node may be connected by another network (in many cases a wired network, not shown), which includes additional controllers for resource management and in some cases access to other network systems (such as the Internet) or metropolitan area networks (MANs). The circle  130  schematically indicates a coverage range of the network node  110 . The wireless devices are within the coverage range, therefore the wireless devices may have a direct connection with the network node  110 . 
     In other embodiments, the network node  110  may be a sink node used for collecting information from the wireless devices, or a task node for distributing a task to the wireless devices, or any other suitable functionality node. 
     The system  100  may further comprise one or more wireless devices  104 . For example, the wireless devices  104  may refer to function elements on the terminal side as compared to a network node. For example, the wireless devices  104  may be terminal devices. In some embodiments, the wireless devices  104  may be a wireless relay node for relaying traffic between the network node and other wireless device. 
     Some embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented in a telecom massive MIMO radio system. 
       FIG.  2    schematically depicts beam forming for SU-MIMO.  FIG.  3    schematically depicts beam forming for MU-MIMO. In coordination with the FIGS. 1 - 3 , the following detailed description describes some embodiments in both generally and with specific examples. The embodiments presented herein are for illustration purposes only and should not be construed as limiting. With respect to the FIGS. 2 - 3 , for the purpose of illustration, the beam shape means the mainlobe shaping sending data to UEs, ignoring the other sidelobes. 
     Wireless communication networks include at least one network node, e.g., a base station, which typically transmits downlink (DL) signals to multiple wireless devices and receives uplink (UL) signals from the wireless devices. As shown in  FIG.  2   , the exemplary wireless network comprises a network node  101  and a wireless device  103 . The network node  101  encodes signals for transmission to the wireless device  103  through an antenna array. With the beamforming technique, the wireless signal is encoded and formed up a “beam” by adjusting the amplitude and phase of antennas in the antenna array. Generally speaking, there may be one strongest beam (main lobe)  102  and several side lobes illustrated as dotted lines. From EIRP power point of view, the side lobes have a weaker power than the main lobe. As used herein, the term “beam” refers to the main lobe. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates a further complex scenario than  FIG.  2   , that is Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) scenario, in which the downlink data may be sent to multiple wireless devices at the same time. To simplify the  FIG.  3   , just three wireless devices are shown. In actual case the number of wireless devices could be any certain number bigger the three co-scheduled wireless devices  202 ,  203  and  204 . Among them, two wireless devices  202  and  203  are close to each other in location, while the wireless device  204  is stand alone and far away from the wireless device  202 ,  203 . Because the wireless devices  202 ,  203 ,  204  are co-scheduled, the network node  201  can transmit data to these three wireless devices simultaneously. This means there may be three main lobes  205 ,  206 ,  207  for the wireless devices  202 ,  203 ,  204  correspondingly. In this example, because the wireless devices  202  and  203  are close to each other, the beams  205  and  206  may have an overlap area labeled as  208 . The power concentrated in this overlap area  208  may be higher than the non-overlap area. 
     From EIRP power perspective, if the legacy way of restricting antenna power to a certain level is used, there may be a dilemma. On one hand, when more wireless devices are co-scheduled, each wireless device can get a less power. This means a weaker EIRP power and may be bad for improving SINR (Signal over Interference and Noise rate). On the other hand, if the antenna power is set to a higher level, then in some situation(s) such as SU-MIMO situation, etc., it may exceed the EIRP limit. Another problem is, if the wireless devices are close to each other (like wireless devices  202  and  203  in  FIG.  3   ), the EIRP in the beam overlap would be even higher. 
     Some embodiments presented herein may address at least one of the above problems by dynamically adjusting the power of the antenna array, so that the power assigned to each wireless device may be strong enough, but do not exceed the EIRP limit (i.e., the limit value of EIRP). The EIRP of wireless devices in the overlap area may not exceed the EIRP limit, by estimating the overlapped power increase. 
       FIG.  4    shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, which may be performed by an apparatus implemented in/as a network node or communicatively coupled to the network node. As such, the apparatus may provide means or modules for accomplishing various parts of the method  400  as well as means or modules for accomplishing other processes in conjunction with other components. 
     At block  402 , optionally, the network node may determine channel information of the wireless devices including a first wireless device, wherein the wireless devices including the first wireless device are co-scheduled by the network node. The channel information of the wireless devices may be used for beamforming. The channel information may include any suitable information, such as the direction and/or location of first wireless device. Beamforming is a technique that focuses a wireless signal towards a specific receiving device, rather than having the signal spread in all directions from a broadcast antenna. The network node may determine channel information of the wireless devices in various ways. For example, the network node may determine or obtain the locations of the wireless devices, and then determine the channel information of the wireless devices based on the locations of the wireless devices. As another example, the network node may collect the channel information from all connected wireless devices from respective uplink (UL) signals of the wireless devices. The channel information of the wireless devices may be determined by evaluating the cell reference signal or UE-specific reference signal from the wireless devices. The amplitude and phase difference of different antennas in the antenna array may be collected. After extracting the information, the channel information of the wireless devices can be identified. In the network node, the channel information may be stored so that later downlink (DL) beamforming can use the channel information (such as the direction of the wireless devices) to send back data to the wireless devices by using wireless signal beams. 
     At block  404 , the network node may determine a value of power back-off for the first wireless device based on at least one of (a) a number of wireless devices including the first wireless device, wherein the wireless devices including the first wireless device are co-scheduled by the network node and (b) an estimated max power increase in an overlap area where two or more beams are to be overlapped. One of the two or more beams is for the first wireless device. 
     In an embodiment, the number of wireless devices including the first wireless device may be used to quantify a compensation of power back-off when beamforming is used for the wireless devices. For example, when the power of the antenna array is evenly distributed on the wireless devices co-scheduled by the network node, the number of co-scheduled wireless devices can be taken in account. For example, if the power back-off of SU-MIMO is 6 dB, in the 2-UEs MU-MIMO case, the power back-off of first wireless device may be 3 dB (i.e., the compensation of the power back-off of first wireless device is 3 dB), and if four wireless devices are co-scheduled by the network node, it may not need to do any power back-off (i.e., the compensation of the power back-off of first wireless device is 6 dB). When the power of the antenna array is not evenly distributed on the wireless devices co-scheduled by the network node, the power back-off of first wireless device may be determined accordingly. 
     In an embodiment, when the power of the antenna array is evenly distributed on the wireless devices co-scheduled by the network node, the compensation of the power back-off of first wireless device may be determined by using formula (1): 
         P   split =10*log 10 ( N )   (1)
 
     P split  quantifies the compensation of power back-off due to MU-MIMO scheduling. N denotes the number of wireless devices including the first wireless device that are co-scheduled by the network node. When SU-MIMO schema is selected, P split  is 0. 
     It is not the case that the number of wireless devices including the first wireless device that are co-scheduled by the network node needs to be considered always. For example, if the power of the beam for the first wireless device is not changed with the number of wireless devices including the first wireless device that are co-scheduled by the network node, then the number of wireless devices including the first wireless device that are co-scheduled by the network node may not be considered when determining the value of power back-off for the first wireless device. 
     The estimated max power increase in the overlap area may be determined in various ways. For example, the network node may identify the channel correlation between each pair of wireless devices related to the overlap area. This can be done before or after the co-scheduling decision to specific wireless devices is made. The channel correlation between each pair of wireless devices can be estimated from the channel information by using orthogonality factor (OF), which represents the channel spatial orthogonality between a pair of wireless devices. The channel spatial orthogonality may be directly impacted by the channel correlation (and vice versa), where a high channel correlation corresponds to a low channel spatial orthogonality, which in turn corresponds to a high OF. Take  FIG.  3    for example, supposed wireless devices  202 ,  203 ,  204  can be co-scheduled for data transmission at the same time, the channel correlation between each pair of the wireless devices ( 202  and  203 ,  202  and  204 ,  203  and  204 ) can be calculated. Since the wireless devices  202  and  203  are close to each other, hence their channel correlation may be higher. 
     In an embodiment, the OF may be calculated as the product of the channel estimate for one of the wireless devices in a pair with the conjugate of the channel estimate of the other wireless device in the pair, where this product is normalized by the product of the mathematical function norm applied to each channel estimate. As such, the OF will be a value between 0 and 1.0, where 1.0 implies no orthogonality (and high channel correlation) and 0 implies perfect orthogonality (and low channel correlation). 
     For example, the network node may estimate the channel correlations by explicitly calculating the channel correlations or the network node may indirectly estimate the channel correlations by calculating a variable representative of the channel correlation, e.g., the OF. For the wireless devices  202  and  203 , for example, the network node estimates the correlation of the channel between the network node and the wireless device  202  and the channel between the network node and the wireless device  203 . The network node repeats this estimation for each of the remaining pairs of wireless devices. While  FIG.  3    only explicitly shows one pair of wireless devices  202  and  203 , it will be appreciated that the network node estimates the channel correlation for each unique pair of wireless devices served by the network node. 
     The estimated max power increase (P overlap ) in the overlap area represents additional power increase due to beam overlap impact. For SU-MIMO, it will be 0 as there is no beam overlap. For MU-MIMO, the channel correlation check (or OF check) may be performed to determine this value. 
       FIG.  5   a    shows an example of beam overlap illustration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In this example, there are three UEs got co-scheduled, i.e., UE  1 , UE  2  and UE  3 . The beam separation for UE  2  and UE  3  is  5  degrees and the beam separation for UE  1  and UE  2  is 30 degrees, under a specific set of beamforming weights imposed (e.g., vendor specific/proprietary technology). The power in the overlap area could be about 3.1588 dB higher than that in the non-overlap areas. 
       FIG.  5   b    shows an example of beam overlap illustration according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. In this example, there are four UEs got co-scheduled, i.e., UE  1 , UE  2 , UE  3 and UE  4 . The beam separation for two neighboring UEs is 7 degrees, under a specific set of beamforming weights imposed (e.g., vendor specific/proprietary technology). The power in the overlap area could be about 1.6777 dB higher than that in the non-overlap areas. 
     P overlap  may have strong dependence on the beamforming technology details (beamforming weights design), such as the beam shape, side lobe leak. So for different vendors, this value may be varied. 
     It is not the case that P overlap  needs to be considered always. For example, if the co-scheduled wireless devices have good angular separation (for example, orthogonal beams are used), P overlap  can be ignored. This may be done by checking OF of each pair of the co-scheduled wireless devices. 
       FIG.  6    shows an analysis example that how the OF varies with the beam angular separation. AOD denotes angle of departure. Similar to P overlap , the OF also has strong dependence on the beamforming implementation details and is differentiated from different vendors. 
     In an embodiment, the estimated max power increase in the overlap area may be determined by a table indicating an association between the estimated max power increase in the overlap area and at least one beamforming parameter. 
     In an embodiment, the estimated max power increase in the overlap area or the table may be determined by simulation or testing. For example, the estimated max power increase in the overlap area may be determined by using a look-up table configured to describe an association between the estimated max power increase in the overlap area and at least one beamforming parameter. The beamforming parameter can be any suitable parameter which can be determined or obtained by the network node. 
     In an embodiment, the at least one beamforming parameter may comprise at least one of an orthogonality factor between two or more beams for respective wireless devices in the overlap area. 
     For example, the following mapping table can be created, in which the mapping from different OF value to corresponding P overlap  is stored. By looking up this mapping table, the network node can determine, for each OF value, what the value P overlap  should be applied for beam overlap penalty. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 OF value 
                 P_overlap (dB) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                   0~0.3 
                 0 (means it doesn&#39;t need to consider overlap) 
               
               
                   
                 0.3~0.5 
                 1.4 
               
               
                   
                 0.5~0.7 
                 1.7 
               
               
                   
                 0.7~0.8 
                 2.3 
               
               
                   
                 0.8~1.0 
                 3 (but generally speaking it&#39;s not suggested to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 transmit data at the same time if OF so high) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     It is noted that the mapping table is only for the purpose of illustration. In fact, for different bands, frequencies, antenna array arrangement, and spacing between antennas, the P overlap  may be different. 
     It is noted that the mapping table can be used to implement fast power back-off. In fact, the correspondence between P overlap  and OF can be of any other suitable forms. (e.g., continuous functions, discontinuous functions, etc.). 
     The mapping table may be a summary of many simulation results or real equipment evaluation. For example, it can simulate several times. In each time, it may try different angles between UEs (such as 2.5/5/7/10/12/15 degrees), it can draw the power of P overlap  under the specific frequency/antenna array. Finally, a mathematical method may be used to fit the amount of back power in each interval. 
     In an embodiment where there is not an overlap area related to the first wireless device and the power of the beam for the first wireless device is changed with the number of wireless devices including the first wireless device that are co-scheduled by the network node, the network node may determine the value of power back-off for the first wireless device based on the number of wireless devices including the first wireless device that are co-scheduled by the network node. 
     In an embodiment where there is an overlap area related to the first wireless device and the power of the beam for the first wireless device is not changed with the number of wireless devices including the first wireless device that are co-scheduled by the network node, the network node may determine the value of power back-off for the first wireless device based on the estimated max power increase in an overlap area where two or more beams overlap. 
     In an embodiment where there is an overlap area related to the first wireless device and the power of the beam for the first wireless device is changed with the number of wireless devices including the first wireless device that are co-scheduled by the network node, the network node may determine the value of power back-off for the first wireless device based on the number of wireless devices including the first wireless device that are co-scheduled by the network node and the estimated max power increase in an overlap area where two or more beams overlap. 
     In an embodiment, the value of power back-off for the first wireless device is determined further based on effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) max and EIRP limit, wherein the EIRP max indicates a maximum value of EIRP of the first wireless device and the EIRP limit indicates a limit value of EIRP. 
     For example, in order to calculate the required transmission power for downlink data transmission and control the EIRP within the limit. This may be done by calculating how much power (in unit of dB) should be reduced from the total configured transmission power. 
     For example, the maximum value of EIRP (or max EIRP) may be normally represented as: EIRP max =P+G. 
     Where: 
     P is the total configured transmission power. 
     G is the max antenna gain or beamforming gain from the antenna array. It may depend on the number of antennas in the antenna array and detailed beamforming algorithms (e.g., beamforming weight design). 
     In other embodiments, the maximum value of EIRP may be normally represented as: EIRP max =P+G−L, where L is the cable losses (possibly including antenna mismatch). Often the cable losses L can be neglected, as they are generally a small fraction of a dB. 
     Those two factors P and G are known to a specific radio product under a certain transmission power configuration. By reducing P while keeping G unchanged, the EIRP could be reduced and within the limit. 
     The delta between EIRP max , and EIRP unit  (EIRP limit or a limit value of EIPR, for example the max EIRP allowed by operators) is right the power back-off which may be applied for SU-MIMO scheduling since all the configured transmission power may be assigned to a single wireless device. 
     As described above, the network node may determine the value of power back-off for the first wireless device based on at least one of the number of wireless devices including the first wireless device that are co-scheduled by the network node and the estimated max power increase in the overlap area where two or more beams overlap. 
     Considering the factors mentioned above, the power back-off formula may be given as follow: 
         P   back_off =EIRP max −EIRP limit   −P   split   +P   overlap    (2)
 
     For the co-scheduled wireless devices, the correlation check should be performed to determine if there is overlap areas. 
     The formula (2) may be applicable for some scenarios such as SU-MIMO or MU-MIMO. In MU-MIMO case, no matter how many co-scheduled wireless devices, no matter if there is beam overlap, the formula (2) can work and resolve at least one of the problems mentioned above. 
     In an embodiment, the first wireless device is in a multiuser multiple input multiple output, MU-MIMO, mode. 
     In an embodiment, the value of power back-off for the first wireless device is determined in a scheduling interval. 
     With reference to  FIG.  4   , at block  406 , the network node may transmit message or data over the beam for the first wireless device. An output power of the beam for the first wireless device is controlled based on the value of power back-off for the first wireless device. For example, the message or data may be any suitable signaling messages or user data. For example, the value of power back-off may be sent to the antenna array or radio power control unit. The output power of the beam may be dynamically controlled (such as changed and/or reduced) in a scheduling interval according to the value of power back-off. In addition, the output power of the beam for the first wireless device may be controlled based on the value of power back-off for the first wireless device and any other suitable power control solution. 
     In an embodiment, the network node is a base station and/or the wireless devices are terminal devices. 
       FIG.  7    shows a flowchart of a method according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, which may be performed by an apparatus implemented in/as a first wireless device or communicatively coupled to the first wireless device. As such, the apparatus may provide means or modules for accomplishing various parts of the method  700  as well as means for accomplishing other processes in conjunction with other components. For some parts which have been described in the above embodiments, detailed description thereof is omitted here for brevity. 
     At block  702 , optionally, the first wireless device may transmit at least one reference signal to the network node. As described above, the channel information of the first wireless device may be determined by evaluating the cell reference signal or UE-specific reference signal from the first wireless device. 
     At block  704 , the first wireless device may receive a message or data over a beam for the first wireless device from a network node. As described above, an output power of the beam for the first wireless device may be controlled based on a value of power back-off for the first wireless device. The value of power back-off for the first wireless device may be determined based on at least one of a number of wireless devices including the first wireless device that are co-scheduled by the network node and an estimated max power increase in an overlap area where two or more beams are to be overlapped, wherein one of the two or more beams is for the first wireless device. 
     Some embodiments herein may resolve the power restriction problem by dynamically adjusting the antenna power, according to the MIMO manner (i.e. SU or MU) and the number of MU-MIMO UEs. In this way, the UE receiving power may not be too low to impact its performance. Some embodiments herein may calculate the co-efficiency of beams between each UE pair, to avoid too much power gain in case two or several UEs are very close so that the total EIRP may exceed the pre-defined limit. 
     In some embodiments herein, the network node may get the UE channel information when antenna array receiving the reference signal. (Such as the phase &amp; power difference per different antennas, UE location, etc.); calculate the co-efficiency of channels of every 2 UEs to predict how much overlap if beamforming is utilized to send data to these UEs; calculate the value of power back-off according to the number of UE and the co-efficiency consequently; and implement the power back-off to each antenna of the antenna array. In this way, the UE receiving power may be controlled to a suitable level. 
       FIG.  8   a    is a block diagram showing an apparatus suitable for practicing some embodiments of the disclosure. For example, any one of the network node and the first wireless device described above may be implemented as or through the apparatus  800 . 
     The apparatus  800  comprises at least one processor  821 , such as a digital processor (DP), and at least one memory (MEM)  822  coupled to the processor  821 . The apparatus  820  may further comprise a transmitter TX and receiver RX  823  coupled to the processor  821 . The MEM  822  stores a program (PROG)  824 . The PROG  824  may include instructions that, when executed on the associated processor  821 , enable the apparatus  820  to operate in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure. A combination of the at least one processor  821  and the at least one MEM  822  may form processing means  825  adapted to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by computer program executable by one or more of the processor  821 , software, firmware, hardware or in a combination thereof. 
     The MEM  822  may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memories and removable memories, as non-limiting examples. 
     The processor  821  may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. 
     In an embodiment where the apparatus is implemented as or at the network node, the memory  822  contains instructions executable by the processor  821 , whereby the network node operates according to the method  400  as described in reference to  FIG.  4   . 
     In an embodiment where the apparatus is implemented as or at the first wireless device, the memory  822  contains instructions executable by the processor  821 , whereby the first wireless device operates according to the method  700  as described in reference to  FIG.  7   . 
       FIG.  8   b    is a block diagram showing a network node according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown, the network node  850  comprises a determining module  852  and a transmitting module  854 . The determining module  852  may be configured to determine a value of power back-off for a first wireless device based on at least one of a number of wireless devices including the first wireless device that are co-scheduled by the network node and an estimated max power increase in an overlap area where two or more beams are to be overlapped, wherein one of the two or more beams is for the first wireless device. The transmitting module  854  may be configured to transmit message or data over the beam for the first wireless device, wherein an output power of the beam for the first wireless device is controlled based on the value of power back-off for the first wireless device. 
       FIG.  8   c    is a block diagram showing a first wireless device according to an embodiment of the disclosure. As shown, the first wireless device  860  comprises a receiving module  862 . The receiving module  862  may be configured to receive a message or data over a beam for the first wireless device from a network node. An output power of the beam for the first wireless device is controlled based on a value of power back-off for the first wireless device. The value of power back-off for the first wireless device is determined based on at least one of a number of wireless devices including the first wireless device that are co-scheduled by the network node, and an estimated max power increase in an overlap area where two or more beams are to be overlapped, wherein one of the two or more beams is for the first wireless device. The first wireless device  860  may further comprise a transmitting module  864  (optionally). The transmitting module  864  may be configured to transmit at least one reference signal to the network node. 
     The term unit may have conventional meaning in the field of electronics, electrical devices and/or electronic devices and may include, for example, electrical and/or electronic circuitry, devices, modules, processors, memories, logic solid state and/or discrete devices, computer programs or instructions for carrying out respective tasks, procedures, computations, outputs, and/or displaying functions, and so on, as such as those that are described herein. 
     With function units, the network node or the first wireless device may not need a fixed processor or memory. The introduction of virtualization technology and network computing technology may improve the usage efficiency of the network resources and the flexibility of the network. 
     Further, the exemplary overall commutation system including the terminal device and the network node such as base station will be introduced as below. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a communication system including a host computer including: processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and a communication interface configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a terminal device. The cellular network includes a base station above mentioned, and/or the terminal device is above mentioned. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the system further includes the terminal device, wherein the terminal device is configured to communicate with the base station. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; and the terminal device includes processing circuitry configured to execute a client application associated with the host application. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a communication system including a host computer including: a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a terminal device; a base station. The transmission is from the terminal device to the base station. The base station is above mentioned, and/or the terminal device is above mentioned. 
     In embodiments of the present disclosure, the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application. The terminal device is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data to be received by the host computer. 
       FIG.  9    is a schematic showing a wireless network in accordance with some embodiments. 
     Although the subject matter described herein may be implemented in any appropriate type of system using any suitable components, the embodiments disclosed herein are described in relation to a wireless network, such as the example wireless network illustrated in  FIG.  9   . For simplicity, the wireless network of  FIG.  9    only depicts network  1006 , network nodes  1060  (corresponding to network side node) and  1060   b,  and WDs (corresponding to terminal device)  1010 ,  1010   b,  and  1010   c.  In practice, a wireless network may further include any additional elements suitable to support communication between wireless devices or between a wireless device and another communication device, such as a landline telephone, a service provider, or any other network node or end device. Of the illustrated components, network node  1060  and wireless device (WD)  1010  are depicted with additional detail. The wireless network may provide communication and other types of services to one or more wireless devices to facilitate the wireless devices&#39; access to and/or use of the services provided by, or via, the wireless network. 
     The wireless network may comprise and/or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and/or radio network or other similar type of system. In some embodiments, the wireless network may be configured to operate according to specific standards or other types of predefined rules or procedures. Thus, particular embodiments of the wireless network may implement communication standards, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and/or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G standards; wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 standards; and/or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave and/or ZigBee standards. 
     Network  1006  may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks, IP networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), packet data networks, optical networks, wide-area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), wired networks, wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks to enable communication between devices. 
     Network node  1060  and WD  1010  comprise various components described in more detail below. These components work together in order to provide network node and/or wireless device functionality, such as providing wireless connections in a wireless network. In different embodiments, the wireless network may comprise any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, base stations, controllers, wireless devices, relay stations, and/or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signals whether via wired or wireless connections. 
     As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a wireless device and/or with other network nodes or equipment in the wireless network to enable and/or provide wireless access to the wireless device and/or to perform other functions (e.g., administration) in the wireless network. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)). Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and may then also be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS). Yet further examples of network nodes include multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi-cell/multicast coordination entities (MCEs), core network nodes (e.g., MSCs, MMEs), O&amp;M nodes, OSS nodes, SON nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs), and/or MDTs. As another example, a network node may be a virtual network node as described in more detail below. More generally, however, network nodes may represent any suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged, and/or operable to enable and/or provide a wireless device with access to the wireless network or to provide some service to a wireless device that has accessed the wireless network. 
     In  FIG.  9   , network node  1060  includes processing circuitry  1070 , device readable medium  1080 , interface  1090 , auxiliary equipment  1084 , power source  1086 , power circuitry  1087 , and antenna  1062 . Although network node  1060  illustrated in the example wireless network of  FIG.  9    may represent a device that includes the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that a network node comprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Moreover, while the components of network node  1060  are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, a network node may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g., device readable medium  1080  may comprise multiple separate hard drives as well as multiple RAM modules). 
     Similarly, network node  1060  may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which network node  1060  comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeB&#39;s. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, network node  1060  may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate device readable medium  1080  for the different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., the same antenna  1062  may be shared by the RATs). Network node  1060  may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node  1060 , such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node  1060 . 
     Processing circuitry  1070  is configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being provided by a network node. These operations performed by processing circuitry  1070  may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry  1070  by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination. 
     Processing circuitry  1070  may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node  1060  components, such as device readable medium  1080 , network node  1060  functionality. For example, processing circuitry  1070  may execute instructions stored in device readable medium  1080  or in memory within processing circuitry  1070 . Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussed herein. In some embodiments, processing circuitry  1070  may include a system on a chip (SOC). 
     In some embodiments, processing circuitry  1070  may include one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry  1072  and baseband processing circuitry  1074 . In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry  1072  and baseband processing circuitry  1074  may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry  1072  and baseband processing circuitry  1074  may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units 
     In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being provided by a network node, base station, eNB or other such network device may be performed by processing circuitry  1070  executing instructions stored on device readable medium  1080  or memory within processing circuitry  1070 . In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry  1070  without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry  1070  can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry  1070  alone or to other components of network node  1060 , but are enjoyed by network node  1060  as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally. 
     Device readable medium  1080  may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry  1070 . Device readable medium  1080  may store any suitable instructions, data or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry  1070  and, utilized by network node  1060 . Device readable medium  1080  may be used to store any calculations made by processing circuitry  1070  and/or any data received via interface  1090 . In some embodiments, processing circuitry  1070  and device readable medium  1080  may be considered to be integrated. 
     Interface  1090  is used in the wired or wireless communication of signalling and/or data between network node  1060 , network  1006 , and/or WDs  1010 . As illustrated, interface  1090  comprises port(s)/terminal(s)  1094  to send and receive data, for example to and from network  1006  over a wired connection. Interface  1090  also includes radio front end circuitry  1092  that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, antenna  1062 . Radio front end circuitry  1092  comprises filters  1098  and amplifiers  1096 . Radio front end circuitry  1092  may be connected to antenna  1062  and processing circuitry  1070 . Radio front end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna  1062  and processing circuitry  1070 . Radio front end circuitry  1092  may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry  1092  may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters  1098  and/or amplifiers  1096 . The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna  1062 . Similarly, when receiving data, antenna  1062  may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry  1092 . The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry  1070 . In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. 
     In certain alternative embodiments, network node  1060  may not include separate radio front end circuitry  1092 , instead, processing circuitry  1070  may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna  1062  without separate radio front end circuitry  1092 . Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry  1072  may be considered a part of interface  1090 . In still other embodiments, interface  1090  may include one or more ports or terminals  1094 , radio front end circuitry  1092 , and RF transceiver circuitry  1072 , as part of a radio unit (not shown), and interface  1090  may communicate with baseband processing circuitry  1074 , which is part of a digital unit (not shown). 
     Antenna  1062  may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna  1062  may be coupled to radio front end circuitry  1090  and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. In some embodiments, antenna  1062  may comprise one or more omni-directional, sector or panel antennas operable to transmit/receive radio signals between, for example, 2 GHz and 66 GHz. An omni-directional antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals in any direction, a sector antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals from devices within a particular area, and a panel antenna may be a line of sight antenna used to transmit/receive radio signals in a relatively straight line. In some instances, the use of more than one antenna may be referred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, antenna  1062  may be separate from network node  1060  and may be connectable to network node  1060  through an interface or port. 
     Antenna  1062 , interface  1090 , and/or processing circuitry  1070  may be configured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly, antenna  1062 , interface  1090 , and/or processing circuitry  1070  may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment. 
     Power circuitry  1087  may comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node  1060  with power for performing the functionality described herein. Power circuitry  1087  may receive power from power source  1086 . Power source  1086  and/or power circuitry  1087  may be configured to provide power to the various components of network node  1060  in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). Power source  1086  may either be included in, or external to, power circuitry  1087  and/or network node  1060 . For example, network node  1060  may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry  1087 . As a further example, power source  1086  may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry  1087 . The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail. Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also be used. 
     Alternative embodiments of network node  1060  may include additional components beyond those shown in  FIG.  9    that may be responsible for providing certain aspects of the network node&#39;s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and/or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, network node  1060  may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into network node  1060  and to allow output of information from network node  1060 . This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node  1060 . 
     As used herein, wireless device (WD) refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and/or other wireless devices. Unless otherwise noted, the term WD may be used interchangeably herein with user equipment (UE). Communicating wirelessly may involve transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying information through air. In some embodiments, a WD may be configured to transmit and/or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a WD may be designed to transmit information to a network on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the network. Examples of a WD include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, a voice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless cameras, a gaming console or device, a music storage device, a playback appliance, a wearable terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, a tablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mounted equipment (LME), a smart device, a wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE), a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, etc. A WD may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and may in this case be referred to as a D2D communication device. As yet another specific example, in an Internet of Things (IoT) scenario, a WD may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and/or measurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and/or measurements to another WD and/or a network node. The WD may in this case be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, the WD may be a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT) standard. Particular examples of such machines or devices are sensors, metering devices such as power meters, industrial machinery, or home or personal appliances (e.g. refrigerators, televisions, etc.) personal wearables (e.g., watches, fitness trackers, etc.). In other scenarios, a WD may represent a vehicle or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and/or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation. A WD as described above may represent the endpoint of a wireless connection, in which case the device may be referred to as a wireless terminal. Furthermore, a WD as described above may be mobile, in which case it may also be referred to as a mobile device or a mobile terminal. 
     As illustrated, wireless device  1010  includes antenna  1011 , interface  1014 , processing circuitry  1020 , device readable medium  1030 , user interface equipment  1032 , auxiliary equipment  1034 , power source  1036  and power circuitry  1037 . WD  1010  may include multiple sets of one or more of the illustrated components for different wireless technologies supported by WD  1010 , such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, WiMAX, or Bluetooth wireless technologies, just to mention a few. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chips or set of chips as other components within WD  1010 . 
     Antenna  1011  may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected to interface  1014 . In certain alternative embodiments, antenna  1011  may be separate from WD  1010  and be connectable to WD  1010  through an interface or port. Antenna  1011 , interface  1014 , and/or processing circuitry  1020  may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a WD. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another WD. In some embodiments, radio front end circuitry and/or antenna  1011  may be considered an interface. 
     As illustrated, interface  1014  comprises radio front end circuitry  1012  and antenna  1011 . Radio front end circuitry  1012  comprise one or more filters  1018  and amplifiers  1016 . Radio front end circuitry  1014  is connected to antenna  1011  and processing circuitry  1020 , and is configured to condition signals communicated between antenna  1011  and processing circuitry  1020 . Radio front end circuitry  1012  may be coupled to or a part of antenna  1011 . In some embodiments, WD  1010  may not include separate radio front end circuitry  1012 ; rather, processing circuitry  1020  may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna  1011 . Similarly, in some embodiments, some or all of RF transceiver circuitry  1022  may be considered a part of interface  1014 . Radio front end circuitry  1012  may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry  1012  may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters  1018  and/or amplifiers  1016 . The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna  1011 . Similarly, when receiving data, antenna  1011  may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry  1012 . The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry  1020 . In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. 
     Processing circuitry  1020  may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software, and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other WD  1010  components, such as device readable medium  1030 , WD  1010  functionality. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features or benefits discussed herein. For example, processing circuitry  1020  may execute instructions stored in device readable medium  1030  or in memory within processing circuitry  1020  to provide the functionality disclosed herein. 
     As illustrated, processing circuitry  1020  includes one or more of RF transceiver circuitry  1022 , baseband processing circuitry  1024 , and application processing circuitry  1026 . In other embodiments, the processing circuitry may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. In certain embodiments processing circuitry  1020  of WD  1010  may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry  1022 , baseband processing circuitry  1024 , and application processing circuitry  1026  may be on separate chips or sets of chips. In alternative embodiments, part or all of baseband processing circuitry  1024  and application processing circuitry  1026  may be combined into one chip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry  1022  may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In still alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry  1022  and baseband processing circuitry  1024  may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processing circuitry  1026  may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet other alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry  1022 , baseband processing circuitry  1024 , and application processing circuitry  1026  may be combined in the same chip or set of chips. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry  1022  may be a part of interface  1014 . RF transceiver circuitry  1022  may condition RF signals for processing circuitry  1020 . 
     In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being performed by a WD may be provided by processing circuitry  1020  executing instructions stored on device readable medium  1030 , which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry  1020  without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry  1020  can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry  1020  alone or to other components of WD  1010 , but are enjoyed by WD  1010  as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally. 
     Processing circuitry  1020  may be configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being performed by a WD. These operations, as performed by processing circuitry  1020 , may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry  1020  by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored by WD  1010 , and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination. 
     Device readable medium  1030  may be operable to store a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry  1020 . Device readable medium  1030  may include computer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory (ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media (e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/or computer executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry  1020 . In some embodiments, processing circuitry  1020  and device readable medium  1030  may be considered to be integrated. 
     User interface equipment  1032  may provide components that allow for a human user to interact with WD  1010 . Such interaction may be of many forms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment  1032  may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the user to provide input to WD  1010 . The type of interaction may vary depending on the type of user interface equipment  1032  installed in WD  1010 . For example, if WD  1010  is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touch screen; if WD  1010  is a smart meter, the interaction may be through a screen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or a speaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected). User interface equipment  1032  may include input interfaces, devices and circuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interface equipment  1032  is configured to allow input of information into WD  1010 , and is connected to processing circuitry  1020  to allow processing circuitry  1020  to process the input information. User interface equipment  1032  may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity or other sensor, keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USB port, or other input circuitry. User interface equipment  1032  is also configured to allow output of information from WD  1010 , and to allow processing circuitry  1020  to output information from WD  1010 . User interface equipment  1032  may include, for example, a speaker, a display, vibrating circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other output circuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, and circuits, of user interface equipment  1032 , WD  1010  may communicate with end users and/or the wireless network, and allow them to benefit from the functionality described herein. 
     Auxiliary equipment  1034  is operable to provide more specific functionality which may not be generally performed by WDs. This may comprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for various purposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wired communications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliary equipment  1034  may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario. 
     Power source  1036  may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or power cells, may also be used. WD  1010  may further comprise power circuitry  1037  for delivering power from power source  1036  to the various parts of WD  1010  which need power from power source  1036  to carry out any functionality described or indicated herein. Power circuitry  1037  may in certain embodiments comprise power management circuitry. Power circuitry  1037  may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power from an external power source; in which case WD  1010  may be connectable to the external power source (such as an electricity outlet) via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Power circuitry  1037  may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliver power from an external power source to power source  1036 . This may be, for example, for the charging of power source  1036 . Power circuitry  1037  may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from power source  1036  to make the power suitable for the respective components of WD  1010  to which power is supplied. 
       FIG.  10    is a schematic showing a user equipment in accordance with some embodiments. 
       FIG.  10    illustrates one embodiment of a UE in accordance with various aspects described herein. As used herein, a user equipment or UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and/or operates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter). UE  1100  may be any UE identified by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a NB-IoT UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and/or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE. UE  1100 , as illustrated in  FIG.  10   , is one example of a WD configured for communication in accordance with one or more communication standards promulgated by the  3 rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 3GPP&#39;s GSM, UMTS, LTE, and/or 5G standards. As mentioned previously, the term WD and UE may be used interchangeable. Accordingly, although  FIG.  10    is a UE, the components discussed herein are equally applicable to a WD, and vice-versa. 
     In  FIG.  10   , UE  1100  includes processing circuitry  1101  that is operatively coupled to input/output interface  1105 , radio frequency (RF) interface  1109 , network connection interface  1111 , memory  1115  including random access memory (RAM)  1117 , read-only memory (ROM)  1119 , and storage medium  1121  or the like, communication subsystem  1131 , power source  1133 , and/or any other component, or any combination thereof. Storage medium  1121  includes operating system  1123 , application program  1125 , and data  1127 . In other embodiments, storage medium  1121  may include other similar types of information. Certain UEs may utilize all of the components shown in  FIG.  10   , or only a subset of the components. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc. 
     In  FIG.  10   , processing circuitry  1101  may be configured to process computer instructions and data. Processing circuitry  1101  may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute machine instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory, such as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, FPGA, ASIC, etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored program, general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or Digital Signal Processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuitry  1101  may include two central processing units (CPUs). Data may be information in a form suitable for use by a computer. 
     In the depicted embodiment, input/output interface  1105  may be configured to provide a communication interface to an input device, output device, or input and output device. UE  1100  may be configured to use an output device via input/output interface  1105 . An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a USB port may be used to provide input to and output from UE  1100 . The output device may be a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. UE  1100  may be configured to use an input device via input/output interface  1105  to allow a user to capture information into UE  1100 . The input device may include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, another like sensor, or any combination thereof. For example, the input device may be an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a digital camera, a microphone, and an optical sensor. 
     In  FIG.  10   , RF interface  1109  may be configured to provide a communication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna. Network connection interface  1111  may be configured to provide a communication interface to network  1143   a.  Network  1143   a  may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network  1143   a  may comprise a Wi-Fi network. Network connection interface  1111  may be configured to include a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate with one or more other devices over a communication network according to one or more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, SONET, ATM, or the like. Network connection interface  1111  may implement receiver and transmitter functionality appropriate to the communication network links (e.g., optical, electrical, and the like). The transmitter and receiver functions may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately. 
     RAM  1117  may be configured to interface via bus  1102  to processing circuitry  1101  to provide storage or caching of data or computer instructions during the execution of software programs such as the operating system, application programs, and device drivers. ROM  1119  may be configured to provide computer instructions or data to processing circuitry  1101 . For example, ROM  1119  may be configured to store invariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions such as basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokes from a keyboard that are stored in a non-volatile memory. Storage medium  1121  may be configured to include memory such as RAM, ROM, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, or flash drives. In one example, storage medium  1121  may be configured to include operating system  1123 , application program  1125  such as a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine or another application, and data file  1127 . Storage medium  1121  may store, for use by UE  1100 , any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems. 
     Storage medium  1121  may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), floppy disk drive, flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as a subscriber identity module or a removable user identity (SIM/RUIM) module, other memory, or any combination thereof. Storage medium  1121  may allow UE  1100  to access computer-executable instructions, application programs or the like, stored on transitory or non-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied in storage medium  1121 , which may comprise a device readable medium. 
     In  FIG.  10   , processing circuitry  1101  may be configured to communicate with network  1143   b  using communication subsystem  1131 . Network  1143   a  and network  1143   b  may be the same network or networks or different network or networks. Communication subsystem  1131  may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with network  1143   b.  For example, communication subsystem  1131  may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication such as another WD, UE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN) according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.11, CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, or the like. Each transceiver may include transmitter  1133  and/or receiver  1135  to implement transmitter or receiver functionality, respectively, appropriate to the RAN links (e.g., frequency allocations and the like). Further, transmitter  1133  and receiver  1135  of each transceiver may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the communication functions of communication subsystem  1131  may include data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. For example, communication subsystem  1131  may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and GPS communication. Network  1143   b  may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network  1143   b  may be a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and/or a near-field network. Power source  1113  may be configured to provide alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power to components of UE  1100 . 
     The features, benefits and/or functions described herein may be implemented in one of the components of UE  1100  or partitioned across multiple components of UE  1100 . Further, the features, benefits, and/or functions described herein may be implemented in any combination of hardware, software or firmware. In one example, communication subsystem  1131  may be configured to include any of the components described herein. Further, processing circuitry  1101  may be configured to communicate with any of such components over bus  1102 . In another example, any of such components may be represented by program instructions stored in memory that when executed by processing circuitry  1101  perform the corresponding functions described herein. In another example, the functionality of any of such components may be partitioned between processing circuitry  1101  and communication subsystem  1131 . In another example, the non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and the computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware. 
       FIG.  11    is a schematic showing a virtualization environment in accordance with some embodiments. 
       FIG.  11    is a schematic block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment  1200  in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to a node (e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node) or to a device (e.g., a UE, a wireless device or any other type of communication device) or components thereof and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components (e.g., via one or more applications, components, functions, virtual machines or containers executing on one or more physical processing nodes in one or more networks). 
     In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in one or more virtual environments  1200  hosted by one or more of hardware nodes  1230 . Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node), then the network node may be entirely virtualized. 
     The functions may be implemented by one or more applications  1220  (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Applications  1220  are run in virtualization environment  1200  which provides hardware  1230  comprising processing circuitry  1260  and memory  1290 . Memory  1290  contains instructions  1295  executable by processing circuitry  1260  whereby application  1220  is operative to provide one or more of the features, benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein. 
     Virtualization environment  1200 , comprises general-purpose or special-purpose network hardware devices  1230  comprising a set of one or more processors or processing circuitry  1260 , which may be commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitry including digital or analog hardware components or special purpose processors. Each hardware device may comprise memory  1290 - 1  which may be non-persistent memory for temporarily storing instructions  1295  or software executed by processing circuitry  1260 . Each hardware device may comprise one or more network interface controllers (NICs)  1270 , also known as network interface cards, which include physical network interface  1280 . Each hardware device may also include non-transitory, persistent, machine-readable storage media  1290 - 2  having stored therein software  1295  and/or instructions executable by processing circuitry  1260 . Software  1295  may include any type of software including software for instantiating one or more virtualization layers  1250  (also referred to as hypervisors), software to execute virtual machines  1240  as well as software allowing it to execute functions, features and/or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein. 
     Virtual machines  1240 , comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer  1250  or hypervisor. Different embodiments of the instance of virtual appliance  1220  may be implemented on one or more of virtual machines  1240 , and the implementations may be made in different ways. 
     During operation, processing circuitry  1260  executes software  1295  to instantiate the hypervisor or virtualization layer  1250 , which may sometimes be referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM). Virtualization layer  1250  may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to virtual machine  1240 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  11   , hardware  1230  may be a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware  1230  may comprise antenna  12225  and may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware  1230  may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or customer premise equipment (CPE)) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration (MANO)  12100 , which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications  1220 . 
     Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment. 
     In the context of NFV, virtual machine  1240  may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of virtual machines  1240 , and that part of hardware  1230  that executes that virtual machine, be it hardware dedicated to that virtual machine and/or hardware shared by that virtual machine with others of the virtual machines  1240 , forms a separate virtual network elements (VNE). 
     Still in the context of NFV, Virtual Network Function (VNF) is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more virtual machines  1240  on top of hardware networking infrastructure  1230  and corresponds to application  1220  in  FIG.  11   . 
     In some embodiments, one or more radio units  12200  that each include one or more transmitters  12220  and one or more receivers  12210  may be coupled to one or more antennas  12225 . Radio units  12200  may communicate directly with hardware nodes  1230  via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station. 
     In some embodiments, some signalling can be effected with the use of control system  12230  which may alternatively be used for communication between the hardware nodes  1230  and radio units  12200 . 
       FIG.  12    is a schematic showing a telecommunication network connected via an intermediate network to a host computer in accordance with some embodiments. 
     With reference to  FIG.  12   , in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system includes telecommunication network  1310 , such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises access network  1311 , such as a radio access network, and core network  1314 . Access network  1311  comprises a plurality of base stations  1312   a,    1312   b,    1312   c,  such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area  1313   a,    1313   b,    1313   c.  Each base station  1312   a,    1312   b,    1312   c  is connectable to core network  1314  over a wired or wireless connection  1315 . A first UE  1391  located in coverage area  1313 c is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station  1312   c.  A second UE  1392  in coverage area  1313   a  is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station  1312   a.  While a plurality of UEs  1391 ,  1392  are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station  1312 . 
     Telecommunication network  1310  is itself connected to host computer  1330 , which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. Host computer  1330  may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. Connections  1321  and  1322  between telecommunication network  1310  and host computer  1330  may extend directly from core network  1314  to host computer  1330  or may go via an optional intermediate network  1320 . Intermediate network  1320  may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; intermediate network  1320 , if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, intermediate network  1320  may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown). 
     The communication system of  FIG.  12    as a whole enables connectivity between the connected UEs  1391 ,  1392  and host computer  1330 . The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection  1350 . Host computer  1330  and the connected UEs  1391 ,  1392  are configured to communicate data and/or signalling via OTT connection  1350 , using access network  1311 , core network  1314 , any intermediate network  1320  and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. OTT connection  1350  may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which OTT connection  1350  passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, base station  1312  may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from host computer  1330  to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE  1391 . Similarly, base station  1312  need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE  1391  towards the host computer  1330 . 
       FIG.  13    is a schematic showing a host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection in accordance with some embodiments. 
     Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to  FIG.  13   . In communication system  1400 , host computer  1410  comprises hardware  1415  including communication interface  1416  configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system  1400 . Host computer  1410  further comprises processing circuitry  1418 , which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. In particular, processing circuitry  1418  may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Host computer  1410  further comprises software  1411 , which is stored in or accessible by host computer  1410  and executable by processing circuitry  1418 . Software  1411  includes host application  1412 . Host application  1412  may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as UE  1430  connecting via OTT connection  1450  terminating at UE  1430  and host computer  1410 . In providing the service to the remote user, host application  1412  may provide user data which is transmitted using OTT connection  1450 . 
     Communication system  1400  further includes base station  1420  provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware  1425  enabling it to communicate with host computer  1410  and with UE  1430 . Hardware  1425  may include communication interface  1426  for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system  1400 , as well as radio interface  1427  for setting up and maintaining at least wireless connection  1470  with UE  1430  located in a coverage area (not shown in  FIG.  13   ) served by base station  1420 . Communication interface  1426  may be configured to facilitate connection  1460  to host computer  1410 . Connection  1460  may be direct or it may pass through a core network (not shown in  FIG.  13   ) of the telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, hardware  1425  of base station  1420  further includes processing circuitry  1428 , which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Base station  1420  further has software  1421  stored internally or accessible via an external connection. 
     Communication system  1400  further includes UE  1430  already referred to. Its hardware  1435  may include radio interface  1437  configured to set up and maintain wireless connection  1470  with a base station serving a coverage area in which UE  1430  is currently located. Hardware  1435  of UE  1430  further includes processing circuitry  1438 , which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. UE  1430  further comprises software  1431 , which is stored in or accessible by UE  1430  and executable by processing circuitry  1438 . Software  1431  includes client application  1432 . Client application  1432  may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via UE  1430 , with the support of host computer  1410 . In host computer  1410 , an executing host application  1412  may communicate with the executing client application  1432  via OTT connection  1450  terminating at UE  1430  and host computer  1410 . In providing the service to the user, client application  1432  may receive request data from host application  1412  and provide user data in response to the request data. OTT connection  1450  may transfer both the request data and the user data. Client application  1432  may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides. 
     It is noted that host computer  1410 , base station  1420  and UE  1430  illustrated in  FIG.  13    may be similar or identical to host computer  1330 , one of base stations  1312   a,    1312   b,    1312   c  and one of UEs  1391 ,  1392  of  FIG.  12   , respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown in  FIG.  13    and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of  FIG.  12   . 
     In  FIG.  13   , OTT connection  1450  has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between host computer  1410  and UE  1430  via base station  1420 , without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from UE  1430  or from the service provider operating host computer  1410 , or both. While OTT connection  1450  is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network). 
     Wireless connection  1470  between UE  1430  and base station  1420  is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to UE  1430  using OTT connection  1450 , in which wireless connection  1470  forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve the latency, and power consumption for a reactivation of the network connection, and thereby provide benefits, such as reduced user waiting time, enhanced rate control. 
     A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection  1450  between host computer  1410  and UE  1430 , in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection  1450  may be implemented in software  1411  and hardware  1415  of host computer  1410  or in software  1431  and hardware  1435  of UE  1430 , or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which OTT connection  1450  passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software  1411 ,  1431  may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of OTT connection  1450  may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect base station  1420 , and it may be unknown or imperceptible to base station  1420 . Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signalling facilitating host computer  1410 &#39;s measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may be implemented in that software  1411  and  1431  causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using OTT connection  1450  while it monitors propagation times, errors etc. 
       FIG.  14    is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment in accordance with some embodiments. 
       FIG.  14    is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to  FIGS.  12  and  13   . For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to  FIG.  14    will be included in this section. In step  1510 , the host computer provides user data. In substep  1511  (which may be optional) of step  1510 , the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step  1520 , the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In step  1530  (which may be optional), the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step  1540  (which may also be optional), the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer. 
       FIG.  15    is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment in accordance with some embodiments. 
       FIG.  15    is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to  FIGS.  12  and  13   . For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to  FIG.  15    will be included in this section. In step  1610  of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step  1620 , the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step  1630  (which may be optional), the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission. 
       FIG.  16    is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment in accordance with some embodiments. 
       FIG.  16    is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to  FIGS.  12  and  13   . For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to  FIG.  16    will be included in this section. In step  1710  (which may be optional), the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in step  1720 , the UE provides user data. In substep  1721  (which may be optional) of step  1720 , the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In sub step  1711  (which may be optional) of step  1710 , the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE initiates, in substep  1730  (which may be optional), transmission of the user data to the host computer. In step  1740  of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. 
       FIG.  17    is a schematic showing methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment in accordance with some embodiments. 
       FIG.  17    is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to  FIGS.  12  and  13   . For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to  FIG.  17    will be included in this section. In step  1810  (which may be optional), in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. In step  1820  (which may be optional), the base station initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer. In step  1830  (which may be optional), the host computer receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the base station. 
     According to an aspect of the disclosure it is provided a computer program product being tangibly stored on a computer readable storage medium and including instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out any of the methods as described above. 
     According to an aspect of the disclosure it is provided a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out any of the methods as described above. 
     Embodiments herein afford many advantages, of which a non-exhaustive list of examples follows. In some embodiments herein, TM7/8/9 SU-MIMO (beamforming) may be allowed to improve cell edge performance, compared to using TM3/4. In some embodiments herein, MU-MIMO may not be limited by the number of paired UEs. Even there are only 2 UEs, MU-MIMO can still work. In some embodiments herein, in the case of MU-MIMO, each UE can reach its max allowed EIRP regardless of how many UEs got paired, to ensure its performance. In some embodiments herein, even in the beam overlap areas (e.g., some UEs are very close to each other), the total EIRP may be still under control. In some embodiments herein, no blindly overlap penalty may be applied. The embodiments herein are not limited to the features and advantages mentioned above. A person skilled in the art will recognize additional features and advantages upon reading the following detailed description. 
     In addition, the present disclosure may also provide a carrier containing the computer program as mentioned above, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium. The computer readable storage medium can be, for example, an optical compact disk or an electronic memory device like a RAM (random access memory), a ROM (read only memory), Flash memory, magnetic tape, CD-ROM, DVD, Blue-ray disc and the like. 
     The techniques described herein may be implemented by various means so that an apparatus implementing one or more functions of a corresponding apparatus described with an embodiment comprises not only prior art means, but also means for implementing the one or more functions of the corresponding apparatus described with the embodiment and it may comprise separate means for each separate function, or means that may be configured to perform two or more functions. For example, these techniques may be implemented in hardware (one or more apparatuses), firmware (one or more apparatuses), software (one or more modules), or combinations thereof. For a firmware or software, implementation may be made through modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) that perform the functions described herein. 
     Exemplary embodiments herein have been described above with reference to block diagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods and apparatuses. It will be understood that each block of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively, can be implemented by various means including computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. 
     Further, while operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, while several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the subject matter described herein, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. 
     While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any implementation or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments of particular implementations. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination. 
     It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as the technology advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The above described embodiments are given for describing rather than limiting the disclosure, and it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as those skilled in the art readily understand. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims. The protection scope of the disclosure is defined by the accompanying claims.