Patent Description:
Channel state information (CSI) feedback may be used to address interference and enhance system performance. For example, CSI provided by a UE can be used by a base station for beamforming, nulling, link adaptation, rank selection, etc. to remediate interference and/or other issues in the communication channel which may otherwise substantially degrade performance. Existing methods for feedback of CSI may be based on quantized feedback. For example, a UE may provide preferred rank indicator (RI), precoding matrix indicator (PMI), channel quality indicator (CQI), etc. by evaluating different options. Evaluating the various options, however, can be compute-intensive. Moreover, PMI codebooks are heavily structured and reported for a given granularity (e.g., wide-band or sub-band). <CIT> relates to wireless communications, and more particularly, to techniques for reducing overhead for channel state in channel state information (CSI). In <FIG>, the UE receives a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) and determines one or more feedback components associated with a CSI feedback type based on the CSI-RS. Further, if the UE identifies that a payload of the one or more feedback components is to be compressed, it compresses the payload and reports the compressed payload. In <FIG>, the BS receives a compressed payload of one or more feedback components associated with a channel state information feedback type and decompresses the compressed payload. Then, the BS determines a precoding to use for multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communications based on the decompressed payload and may apply the precoding to MIMO communications with the UE.

The following summarizes some aspects of the present disclosure to provide a basic understanding of the discussed technology. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the d sclosure in summary form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presentec later.

In one aspect of the disclosure, a method of wireless communication is provided. A method may include receiving, by a first network node from a second network node, encoded channel state information (CSI). The CSI may be included in a structured payload. The structured payload may include various portions, such as an interpretable payload portion that is interpretable (e.g., without decoding) and an uninterpretable payload portion that is uninterpretable (e.g., without decoding). The encoded CSI may be included in the uninterpretable payload portion of the structured payload. A method may also include receiving, by the first network node from the second network node, a reference signal (RS). A method may also include generating, by the first network node, RS based side information (e.g., based on and/or using the RS). The RS based side information may be information in addition to the CSI that is configured for use in association with the CSI. A method may further include decoding, by the first network node, the encoded CSI (e.g., from the uninterpretable payload portion) using information from the interpretable payload portion and the RS based side information to provide reconstructed channel information.

In an additional aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided. An apparatus may include means for receiving, by a first network node from a second network node, encoded CSI. The CSI may be included in a structured payload. The Structured payload may include various portions, such as an interpretable payload portion that is interpretable (e.g., without decoding) and an uninterpretable payload portion that is uninterpretable (e.g., without decoding). The encoded CSI may be included in the uninterpretable payload portion of the structured payload. An apparatus may also include means for receiving, by the first network node from the second network node, a RS. An apparatus may also include means for generating, by the first network node, RS based side information (e.g., based on and/or using the RS). The RS based side information may be information in addition to the CSI that is configured for use in association with the CSI. An apparatus may further include means for decoding, by the first network node, the encoded CSI (e.g., from the uninterpretable payload portion) using information from the interpretable payload portion and the RS based side information to provide reconstructed channel information.

In an additional aspect of the disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon for wireless communication is provided. The program code may include code to receive, by a first network node from a second network node, encoded CSI. The CSI may be included in a structured payload. The structured payload may include an interpretable payload portion that is interpretable (e.g., without decoding) and an uninterpretable payload portion that is uninterpretable (e.g., without decoding). The encoded CSI may be included in the uninterpretable payload portion of the structured payload. The program code may also include code to receive, by the first network node from the second network node, a RS. The program code may also include code to generate, by the first network node, RS based side information (e.g., based on and/or using the RS). The RS based side information may be information in addition to the CSI that is configured for use in association with the CSI. The program code may further include code to decode, by the first network node, the encoded CSI (e.g., from the uninterpretable payload portion) using information from the interpretable payload portion and the RS based side information to provide reconstructed channel information.

In an additional aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus configured for wireless communication is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The processor may be configured to receive, by a first network node from a second network node, encoded CSI. The CSI may be included in a structured payload. The structured payload may include an interpretable payload portion that is interpretable (e.g., without decoding) and an uninterpretable payload portion that is uninterpretable (e.g., without decoding). The encoded CSI may be included in the uninterpretable payload portion of the structured payload. The processor may also be configured to receive, by the first network node from the second network node, a RS. The processor may also be configured to generate, by the first network node, RS based side information (e.g., based on and/or using the RS). The RS based side information may be information in addition to the CSI that is configured for use in association with the CSI. The processor may further be configured to decode, by the first network node, the encoded CSI (e.g., from the uninterpretable payload portion) using information from the interpretable payload portion and the RS based side information to provide reconstructed channel information.

In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the foregoing systems, methods, and apparatuses may be implemented in combination with one or more additional features, such as the following features whether alone or in combination. For example, the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include signaling, by the first network node to the second network node, to indicate that the structured payload is to be used for feedback of the encoded CSI. The above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include signaling, by the first network node to the second network node, to indicate that the encoded CSI of the uninterpretable payload portion is to be encoded with consideration of the RS based side information. The above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include inputting a RS estimated channel to a neural-network to generate low dimensional information for the RS based side information provided to a CSI decoder decoding the reconstructed channel information from the encoded CSI of the uninterpretable payload portion. The encoded CSI in the uninterpretable payload portion of the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include size reduced CSI encoded by a CSI encoder using neural-network based channel compression. The encoded CSI in the uninterpretable payload portion of the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may be reduced in size based on the RS based side information. The encoded CSI in the uninterpretable payload portion of the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include CSI information regarding an estimated channel as observed by the second network node, wherein the CSI information is regarding the estimated channel as observed by the second network node. The interpretable payload portion of the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include information configured to facilitate early decisions by the first network node with respect to decoding the encoded CSI or utilization of the reconstructed channel information. The information of the interpretable payload portion of the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include at least one of burst interference information, recommended rank information, modulation and coding scheme (MCS) information, or information regarding which reference signal encoding of the encoded CSI is based upon. The above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include training a CSI decoder configured to perform the decoding of the encoded CSI from the uninterpretable payload portion using an autoencoder framework based on online data collection at the first network node, wherein the online data collection includes CSI information collected from the second network node and reference signal information monitored by the first network node, and wherein the encoded CSI in the uninterpretable payload portion is compressed using encoder parameters derived from the autoencoder framework. The interpretable payload portion and the uninterpretable payload portion of the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may be generated by a CSI encoder, wherein the CSI encoder has been trained using the autoencoder framework used in training the CSI decoder. The uninterpretable payload portion of the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may be generated by a CSI encoder and the interpretable payload portion is added to the structured payload after encoding of the uniterpretable payload portion by the CSI encoder.

In one aspect of the disclosure, a method of wireless communication is provided. A method may include transmitting, by a first network node, a RS. A method may also include encoding, by the first network node, CSI to provide encoded CSI. The encoded CSI may be based at least partially on the RS. A method may further include transmitting, by the first network node to a second network node, the encoded CSI using a structured payload. The structured payload may include various portions, such as an interpretable payload portion that is interpretable (e.g., without decoding) and an uninterpretable payload portion that is uninterpretable (e.g., without decoding). The encoded CSI may be included in the uninterpretable payload portion of the structured payload.

In an additional aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for wireless communication is provided. An apparatus may include means for transmitting, by a first network node, a RS. An apparatus may also include means for encoding, by the first network node, CSI to provide encoded CSI. The encoded CSI may be based at least partially on the RS. An apparatus may further include means for transmitting, by the first network node to a second network node, the encoded CSI using a structured payload. The structured payload may include various portions, such as an interpretable payload portion that is interpretable (e.g., without decoding) and an uninterpretable payload portion that is uninterpretable (e.g., without decoding). The encoded CSI may be included in the uninterpretable payload portion of the structured payload.

In an additional aspect of the disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon for wireless communication is provided. The program code may include code to transmit, by a first network node, a RS. The program code may also include code to encode, by the first network node, CSI to provide encoded CSI. The encoded CSI may be based at least partially on the RS. The program code may further include code to transmit, by the first network node to a second network node, the encoded CSI using a structured payload. The structured payload may include various portions, such as an interpretable payload portion that is interpretable (e.g., without decoding) and an uninterpretable payload portion that is uninterpretable (e.g., without decoding). The encoded CSI may be included in the uninterpretable payload portion of the structured payload.

In an additional aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus configured for wireless communication is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one processor, and a memory coupled to the processor. The processor may be configured to transmit, by a first network node, a RS. The processor may also be configured to encode, by the first network node, CSI to provide encoded CSI. The encoded CSI may be based at least partially on the RS. The processor may further be configured to transmit, by the first network node to a second network node, the encoded CSI using a structured payload. The structured payload may include various portions, such as an interpretable payload portion that is interpretable (e.g., without decoding) and an uninterpretable payload portion that is uninterpretable (e.g., without decoding). The encoded CSI may be included in the uninterpretable payload portion of the structured payload.

In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, the foregoing systems, methods, and apparatuses may be implemented in combination with one or more additional features, such as the following features whether alone or in combination. For example, the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include receiving, by the first network node from the second network node, an indication that the structured payload is to be used with respect to the encoded CSI. The above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include signaling, by the first network node to the second network node, to indicate that the structured payload is being used for feedback of the encoded CSI. The above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include receiving, by the first network node from the second network node, an indication that the encoded CSI of the uninterpretable payload portion is to be encoded with consideration of the RS based side information. The RS of the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include a SRS. The encoded CSI in the uninterpretable payload portion of the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include information compressed by a CSI encoder using neural-network based channel compression. Encoded CSI of the uninterpretable payload portion of the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include CSI information regarding an estimated channel as observed by the first network node, wherein the CSI information is regarding the estimated channel as observed by the first network node. The interpretable payload portion of the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include information configured to facilitate early decisions by the second network node with respect to decoding the encoded CSI or utilization of reconstructed channel information obtained by decoding the encoded CSI. The information of the interpretable payload portion of the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include at least one of burst interference information, recommended rank information, MCS information, or information regarding which reference signal encoding of the encoded CSI is based upon. The above systems, methods, and apparatuses may include training a CSI encoder configured to perform the encoding of the CSI of the uninterpretable payload portion using an autoencoder framework based on online data collected at the first network node, wherein the online data collection includes reference signal observation information and decoder parameters derived from observation of the reference collected from the second network node and CSI reference signal information monitored by the first network node, and wherein the encoded CSI in the uninterpretable payload portion is compressed using encoder parameters derived from the autoencoder framework. Both the interpretable payload portion and the uninterpretable payload portion of the above systems, methods, and apparatuses may be generated by the CSI encoder. The uninterpretable payload portion of the above systems methods, and apparatuses may be generated by the CSI encoder and the interpretable payload portion is added to the structured CSI feedback channel compression after encoding of the uniterpretable payload portion by the CSI encoder.

In similar fashion, while exemplary embodiments may be discussed below as device, system, or method embodiments the exemplary embodiments can be implemented in various devices, systems, and methods.

This disclosure relates generally to providing or participating in communication as between two or more wireless devices in one or more wireless communications systems, also referred to as wireless communications networks. In various embodiments, the techniques and apparatus may be used for wireless communication networks such as code division multiple access (CDMA) networks, time division multiple access (TDMA) networks, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) networks, orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) networks, LTE networks, GSM networks, <NUM>th Generation (<NUM>) or new radio (NR) networks (sometimes referred to as "<NUM> NR" networks/systems/devices), as well as other communications networks. As described herein, the terms "networks" and "systems" may be used interchangeably.

A TDMA network may, for example implement a radio technology such as GSM. 3GPP defines standards for the GSM EDGE (enhanced data rates for GSM evolution) radio access network (RAN), also denoted as GERAN. GERAN is the radio component of GSM/EDGE, together with the network that joins the base stations (for example, the Ater and Abis interfaces) and the base station controllers (A interfaces, etc.). The radio access network represents a component of a GSM network, through which phone calls and packet data are routed from and to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and Internet to and from subscriber handsets, also known as user terminals or user equipments (UEs). A mobile phone operator's network may comprise one or more GERANs, which may be coupled with Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Networks (UTRANs) in the case of a UMTS/GSM network. An operator network may also include one or more LTE networks, and/or one or more other networks. The various different network types may use different radio access technologies (RATs) and radio access networks (RANs).

UTRA, E-UTRA, GSM, UMTS and LTE are described in documents provided from an organization named "<NUM>th.

Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP), and cdma2000 is described in documents from an organization named "<NUM>rd Generation Partnership Project <NUM>" (3GPP2). For example, the <NUM>rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a collaboration between groups of telecommunications associations that aims to define a globally applicable third generation (<NUM>) mobile phone specification. 3GPP LTE is a 3GPP project which was aimed at improving the universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) mobile phone standard.

<NUM> networks contemplate diverse deployments, diverse spectrum, and diverse services and devices that may be implemented using an OFDM-based unified, air interface. To achieve these goals, further enhancements to LTE and LTE-A are considered in addition to development of the new radio technology for <NUM> NR networks. The <NUM> NR will be capable of scaling to provide coverage (<NUM>) to a massive Internet of things (IoTs) with an ultra-high density (e.g., ~<NUM> nodes/km<NUM>), ultra-low complexity (e.g., ~<NUM> of bits/sec), ultra-low energy (e.g., ~<NUM>+ years of battery life), and deep coverage with the capability to reach challenging locations; (<NUM>) including mission-critical control with strong security to safeguard sensitive personal, financial, or classified information, ultra-high reliability (e.g., ~<NUM>% reliability), ultra-low latency (e.g., ~ <NUM>), and users with wide ranges of mobility or lack thereof; and (<NUM>) with enhanced mobile broadband including extreme high capacity (e.g., ~ <NUM> Tbps/km<NUM>), extreme data rates (e.g., multi-Gbps rate, <NUM>+ Mbps user experienced rates), and deep awareness with advanced discovery and optimizations.

<NUM> NR devices, networks, and systems may be implemented to use optimized OFDM-based waveform features. These features may include scalable numerology and transmission time intervals (TTIs); a common, flexible framework to efficiently multiplex services and features with a dynamic, low-latency time division duplex (TDD)/frequency division duplex (FDD) design; and advanced wireless technologies, such as massive multiple input, multiple output (MIMO), robust millimeter wave (mmWave) transmissions, advanced channel coding, and device-centric mobility. Scalability of the numerology in <NUM> NR, with scaling of subcarrier spacing, may efficiently address operating diverse services across diverse spectrum and diverse deployments. For example, in various outdoor and macro coverage deployments of less than <NUM> FDD/TDD implementations, subcarrier spacing may occur with <NUM>, for example over <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and the like bandwidth. For other various outdoor and small cell coverage deployments of TDD greater than <NUM>, subcarrier spacing may occur with <NUM> over <NUM>/<NUM> bandwidth. For other various indoor wideband implementations, using a TDD over the unlicensed portion of the <NUM> band, the subcarrier spacing may occur with <NUM> over a <NUM> bandwidth. Finally, for various deployments transmitting with mmWave components at a TDD of <NUM>, subcarrier spacing may occur with <NUM> over a <NUM> bandwidth.

The scalable numerology of <NUM> NR facilitates scalable TTI for diverse latency and quality of service (QoS) requirements.

For clarity, certain aspects of the apparatus and techniques may be described below with reference to exemplary LTE implementations or in an LTE-centric way, and LTE terminology may be used as illustrative examples in portions of the description below; however, the description is not intended to be limited to LTE applications. Indeed, the present disclosure is concerned with shared access to wireless spectrum between networks using different radio access technologies or radio air interfaces, such as those of <NUM> NR.

Moreover, it should be understood that, in operation, wireless communication networks adapted according to the concepts herein may operate with any combination of licensed or unlicensed spectrum depending on loading and availability. Accordingly, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that the systems, apparatus and methods described herein may be applied to other communications systems and applications than the particular examples provided.

While aspects and embodiments are described in this application by illustration to some examples, those skilled in the art will understand that additional implementations and use cases may come about in many different arrangements and scenarios. Innovations described herein may be implemented across many differing platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, packaging arrangements. For example, embodiments and/or uses may come about via integrated chip embodiments and/or other non-module-component based devices (e.g., end-user devices, vehicles, communication devices, computing devices, industrial equipment, retail/purchasing devices, medical devices, AI-enabled devices, etc.). While some examples may or may not be specifically directed to use cases or applications, a wide assortment of applicability of described innovations may occur. Implementations may range from chip-level or modular components to non-modular, non-chip-level implementations and further to aggregated, distributed, or OEM devices or systems incorporating one or more described aspects. In some practical settings, devices incorporating described aspects and features may also necessarily include additional components and features for implementation and practice of claimed and described embodiments. It is intended that innovations described herein may be practiced in a wide variety of implementations, including both large/small devices, chip-level components, multi-component systems (e.g. RF-chain, communication interface, processor), distributed arrangements, end-user devices, etc. of varying sizes, shapes, and constitution.

<FIG> shows wireless network <NUM> for communication according to some embodiments. Wireless network <NUM> may, for example, comprise a <NUM> wireless network. As appreciated by those skilled in the art, components appearing in <FIG> are likely to have related counterparts in other network arrangements including, for example, cellular-style network arrangements and non-cellular-style-network arrangements (e.g., device to device or peer to peer or ad hoc network arrangements, etc.).

Wireless network <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes a number of base stations <NUM> and other network entities. A base station may be a station that communicates with the UEs and may also be referred to as an evolved node B (eNB), a next generation eNB (gNB), an access point, and the like. Each base station <NUM> may provide communication coverage for a particular geographic area. In 3GPP, the term "cell" can refer to this particular geographic coverage area of a base station and/or a base station subsystem serving the coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used. In implementations of wireless network <NUM> herein, base stations <NUM> may be associated with a same operator or different operators (e.g., wireless network <NUM> may comprise a plurality of operator wireless networks), and may provide wireless communications using one or more of the same frequencies (e.g., one or more frequency bands in licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or a combination thereof) as a neighboring cell. In some examples, an individual base station <NUM> or UE <NUM> may be operated by more than one network operating entity. In other examples, each base station <NUM> and UE <NUM> may be operated by a single network operating entity.

A base station may provide communication coverage for a macro cell or a small cell, such as a pico cell or a femto cell, and/or other types of cell. A base station for a macro cell may be referred to as a macro base station. A base station for a small cell may be referred to as a small cell base station, a pico base station, a femto base station or a home base station. In the example shown in <FIG>, base stations 105d and 105e are regular macro base stations, while base stations 105a-105c are macro base stations enabled with one of <NUM> dimension (3D), full dimension (FD), or massive MIMO. Base stations 105a-105c take advantage of their higher dimension MIMO capabilities to exploit 3D beamforming in both elevation and azimuth beamforming to increase coverage and capacity. Base station 105f is a small cell base station which may be a home node or portable access point. A base station may support one or multiple (e.g., two, three, four, and the like) cells.

Wireless network <NUM> may support synchronous or asynchronous operation. In some scenarios, networks may be enabled or configured to handle dynamic switching between synchronous or asynchronous operations.

UEs <NUM> are dispersed throughout the wireless network <NUM>, and each UE may be stationary or mobile. It should be appreciated that, although a mobile apparatus is commonly referred to as user equipment (UE) in standards and specifications promulgated by the <NUM>rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such apparatus may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a mobile station (MS), a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal (AT), a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a terminal, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, a gaming device, an augmented reality device, vehicular component device/module, or some other suitable terminology. Within the present document, a "mobile" apparatus or UE need not necessarily have a capability to move, and may be stationary. Some non-limiting examples of a mobile apparatus, such as may comprise embodiments of one or more of UEs <NUM>, include a mobile, a cellular (cell) phone, a smart phone, a session initiation protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a laptop, a personal computer (PC), a notebook, a netbook, a smart book, a tablet, and a personal digital assistant (PDA). A mobile apparatus may additionally be an "Internet of things" (IoT) or "Internet of everything" (IoE) device such as an automotive or other transportation vehicle, a satellite radio, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a logistics controller, a drone, a multi-copter, a quad-copter, a smart energy or security device, a solar panel or solar array, municipal lighting, water, or other infrastructure; industrial automation and enterprise devices; consumer and wearable devices, such as eyewear, a wearable camera, a smart watch, a health or fitness tracker, a mammal implantable device, gesture tracking device, medical device, a digital audio player (e.g., MP3 player), a camera, a game console, etc.; and digital home or smart home devices such as a home audio, video, and multimedia device, an appliance, a sensor, a vending machine, intelligent lighting, a home security system, a smart meter, etc. In one aspect, a UE may be a device that includes a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). In another aspect, a UE may be a device that does not include a UICC. In some aspects, UEs that do not include UICCs may also be referred to as IoE devices. UEs 115a-115d of the embodiment illustrated in <FIG> are examples of mobile smart phone-type devices accessing wireless network <NUM> A UE may also be a machine specifically configured for connected communication, including machine type communication (MTC), enhanced MTC (eMTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and the like. UEs 115e-<NUM> illustrated in <FIG> are examples of various machines configured for communication that access wireless network <NUM>.

A mobile apparatus, such as UEs <NUM>, may be able to communicate with any type of the base stations, whether macro base stations, pico base stations, femto base stations, relays, and the like. In <FIG>, a lightning bolt (e.g., communication link) indicates wireless transmissions between a UE and a serving base station, which is a base station designated to serve the UE on the downlink and/or uplink, or desired transmission between base stations, and backhaul transmissions between base stations. UEs may operate as base stations or other network nodes in some scenarios. Backhaul communication between base stations of wireless network <NUM> may occur using wired and/or wireless communication links.

In operation at wireless network <NUM>, base stations 105a-105c serve UEs 115a and 115b using 3D beamforming and coordinated spatial techniques, such as coordinated multipoint (CoMP) or multi-connectivity. Macro base station 105d performs backhaul communications with base stations 105a-105c, as well as small cell, base station 105f. Macro base station 105d also transmits multicast services which are subscribed to and received by UEs 115c and 115d.

Wireless network <NUM> of embodiments supports mission critical communications with ultra-reliable and redundant links for mission critical devices, such UE 115e, which is a drone. Redundant communication links with UE 115e include from macro base stations 105d and 105e, as well as small cell base station 105f. Other machine type devices, such as UE 115f (thermometer), UE <NUM> (smart meter), and UE <NUM> (wearable device) may communicate through wireless network <NUM> either directly with base stations, such as small cell base station 105f, and macro base station 105e, or in multi-hop configurations by communicating with another user device which relays its information to the network, such as UE 115f communicating temperature measurement information to the smart meter, UE <NUM>, which is then reported to the network through small cell base station 105f. Wireless network <NUM> may also provide additional network efficiency through dynamic, low-latency TDD/FDD communications, such as in a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) mesh network between UEs 115i-<NUM> communicating with macro base station 105e.

<FIG> shows a block diagram of a design of a base station <NUM> and a UE <NUM>, which may be any of the base stations and one of the UEs in <FIG>. For a restricted association scenario (as mentioned above), base station <NUM> may be small cell base station 105f in <FIG>, and UE <NUM> may be UE 115c or 115D operating in a service area of base station 105f, which in order to access small cell base station 105f, would be included in a list of accessible UEs for small cell base station 105f. Base station <NUM> may also be a base station of some other type. As shown in <FIG>, base station <NUM> may be equipped with antennas 234a through 234t, and UE <NUM> may be equipped with antennas 252a through 252r for facilitating wireless communications.

At the base station <NUM>, a transmit processor <NUM> may receive data from a data source <NUM> and control information from a controller/processor <NUM>. The control information may be for the physical broadcast channel (PBCH), physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH), physical hybrid-ARQ (automatic repeat request) indicator channel (PHICH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), enhanced physical downlink control channel (EPDCCH), MTC physical downlink control channel (MPDCCH), etc. The data may be for the PDSCH, etc. The transmit processor <NUM> may process (e.g., encode and symbol map) the data and control information to obtain data symbols and control symbols, respectively. The transmit processor <NUM> may also generate reference symbols, e.g., for the primary synchronization signal (PSS) and secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and cell-specific reference signal. Transmit (TX) multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) processor <NUM> may perform spatial processing (e.g., precoding) on the data symbols, the control symbols, and/or the reference symbols, if applicable, and may provide output symbol streams to modulators (MODs) 232a through 232t. Each modulator <NUM> may additionally or alternatively process (e.g., convert to analog, amplify, filter, and upconvert) the output sample stream to obtain a downlink signal. Downlink signals from modulators 232a through 232t may be transmitted via the antennas 234a through 234t, respectively.

At the UE <NUM>, the antennas 252a through 252r may receive the downlink signals from the base station <NUM> and may provide received signals to the demodulators (DEMODs) 254a through 254r, respectively. MIMO detector <NUM> may obtain received symbols from demodulators 254a through 254r, perform MIMO detection on the received symbols if applicable, and provide detected symbols. Receive processor <NUM> may process (e.g., demodulate, deinterleave, and decode) the detected symbols, provide decoded data for the UE <NUM> to a data sink <NUM>, and provide decoded control information to a controller/processor <NUM>.

On the uplink, at the UE <NUM>, a transmit processor <NUM> may receive and process data (e.g., for the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)) from a data source <NUM> and control information (e.g., for the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH)) from the controller/processor <NUM>. Transmit processor <NUM> may also generate reference symbols for a reference signal. The symbols from the transmit processor <NUM> may be precoded by TX MIMO processor <NUM> if applicable, further processed by the modulators 254a through 254r (e.g., for SC-FDM, etc.), and transmitted to the base station <NUM>. At base station <NUM>, the uplink signals from UE <NUM> may be received by antennas <NUM>, processed by demodulators <NUM>, detected by MIMO detector <NUM> if applicable, and further processed by receive processor <NUM> to obtain decoded data and control information sent by UE <NUM>. Processor <NUM> may provide the decoded data to data sink <NUM> and the decoded control information to controller/processor <NUM>.

Controllers/processors <NUM> and <NUM> may direct the operation at base station <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively. Controller/processor <NUM> and/or other processors and modules at base station <NUM> and/or controller/processor <NUM> and/or other processors and modules at UE <NUM> may perform or direct the execution of various processes for the techniques described herein, such as to perform or direct the execution illustrated in <FIG>, and/or other processes for the techniques described herein. Memories <NUM> and <NUM> may store data and program codes for base station <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively. Scheduler <NUM> may schedule UEs for data transmission on the downlink and/or uplink.

In some cases, UE <NUM> and base station <NUM> may operate in a shared radio frequency spectrum band, which may include licensed or unlicensed (e.g., contention-based) frequency spectrum. In an unlicensed frequency portion of the shared radio frequency spectrum band, UEs <NUM> or base stations <NUM> may traditionally perform a medium-sensing procedure to contend for access to the frequency spectrum. For example, UE <NUM> or base station <NUM> may perform a listen before talk (LBT) procedure such as a clear channel assessment (CCA) prior to communicating in order to determine whether the shared channel is available. A CCA may include an energy detection procedure to determine whether there are any other active transmissions. For example, a device may infer that a change in a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of a power meter indicates that a channel is occupied. Specifically, signal power that is concentrated in a certain bandwidth and exceeds a predetermined noise floor may indicate another wireless transmitter. A CCA also may include detection of specific sequences that indicate use of the channel. For example, another device may transmit a specific preamble prior to transmitting a data sequence. In some cases, an LBT procedure may include a wireless node adjusting its own backoff window based on the amount of energy detected on a channel and/or the acknowledge/negative-acknowledge (ACK/NACK) feedback for its own transmitted packets as a proxy for collisions.

Despite the use of various techniques for the arbitration of resources among the different network nodes communicating in a wireless network, transmissions may nevertheless be degraded due to channel conditions. For example, terrain, foliage, physical obstacles, cityscape features, etc. may cause fading, multipath, and/or other signal propagation anomalies. Additionally, transmissions may nevertheless encounter interference, such as due to transmissions from neighbor base stations, neighbor UEs, and/or from other wireless radio frequency (RF) transmitters. Embodiments of network nodes (e.g., base stations <NUM> and UEs <NUM>) of wireless network <NUM> utilize channel state information (CSI), such as for beamforming, nulling, link adaptation, rank selection, etc., to improve the system performance.

In existing LTE/NR methods, UEs provide feedback of CSI to a base station. The feedback may comprise one or more quantized parameters based upon CSI as observed by the UE rather than full CSI information). For example, a UE may observe a wireless channel, analyze different options regarding rank indicator (RI), precoding matrix indicator (PMI), channel quality indicator (CQI), etc. for the channel as observed by UE, and provide feedback of preferred one or more of these parameters to a base station.

Evaluation of the different options with respect to the observed channel may be compute-intensive. That is, these operations may consume UE processing resources that may otherwise be used for other operations or remain idle to conserve power resources. As one example, a UE may devote large processing resources particularly for NR (e.g., CSI for Type-I single/multi panel and Type-II). Moreover, the limited resources available to the UE and the processing capability available to the UE often lead to the quantized feedback provided by the UE being suboptimal. For example, PMI codebooks are heavily structured and reported by the UE for a given granularity (e.g., wide-band or sub-band), and are known to be suboptimal.

Aspects of the present disclosure facilitate feedback of robust CSI. Aspects can include, providing full CSI feedback or otherwise providing CSI feedback. This feedback may or may not be quantized. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a neural-network (NN) based technique may be utilized. NN techniques may be used for facilitating one or more aspect of channel compression and/or reconstruction techniques. For example, CSI encoders and decoders used by network nodes may implement channel compression/reconstruction based upon NN training of collected channels. In some scenarios, NN-based compression and reconstruction may be optimized for a channel or otherwise tailored for real-world, dynamic channel conditions. A network node may, according to aspects of the disclosure, use a CSI encoder (e.g., implementing NN based encoder weights and/or other parameters) to provide channel compression. In some aspects, channel compression may yield CSI feedback that is carried as a size reduced payload relative to non-compressed CSI feedback. The channel compression provided according to some aspects of the disclosure supports feedback of robust CSI, in some instances including full CSI as observed by a particular network node (e.g., UE).

In operation according to embodiments, a structured payload is utilized for facilitating feedback of CSI using channel compression techniques in accordance with concepts of the present disclosure. A structured payload of embodiments may be structured in that the payload includes multiple pre-defined portions configured for carrying differently configured payload. For example, a structured payload of embodiments can include an interpretable portion and an uninterpretable portion. The interpretable portion can be interpreted without decoding corresponding to a compression encoding implemented by a CSI encoder. The uninterpretable payload portion can be uninterpretable without decoding corresponding to a compression encoding implemented by the CSI encoder. The uninterpretable payload portion of the structured payload may be utilized to carry a size reduced CSI encoded payload (e.g., full or partial CSI information encoded so as to be size reduced relative to non-compressed CSI feedback). The interpretable payload portion of the structured payload may be utilized to carry information for use by a CSI decoder. The CSI decoder can use information from the interpretable payload portion to reduce reconstruction time with respect to the CSI of the uninterpretable payload portion and/or to make early decisions by a network node receiving the CSI feedback. In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, signaling may be used to indicate that structured payload is to be utilized with respect to CSI feedback.

A CSI decoder may utilize side information according to aspects of the disclosure for facilitating channel reconstruction. Side information is information in addition to CSI feedback that is configured for use in association with the CSI feedback, such as to supplement or complete CSI of the CSI feedback. In some deployments, information regarding one or more RSs (e.g., a sounding reference signal (SRS) transmitted by a corresponding network node providing the CSI feedback and observed by the network node receiving the CSI feedback) may be utilized by a CSI decoder of embodiments in channel reconstruction. RS information that is not completely outdated (or has yet to become stale) and available at a CSI decoder can be used as side information for channel reconstruction. Following this approach, the CSI-encoded payload size can be reduced as compared when this side information is not available. The size reduction degree in various embodiments, being significant in some scenarios. In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, signaling may be utilized to indicate when CSI-encoded payload is to be encoded with or without regard to side information.

In an example of operations, encoder and decoder parameters can be distributed by and/or between UE <NUM> and base station <NUM>. These parameters may be pre-programed (or stored) in a base station and/or a UE, distributed over the air, generated dynamically, updated during communication operations, or communicated from other network nodes, etc. Where CSI feedback is provided by a UE to a corresponding base station, the base station may provide signaling to indicate or request that a UE send back or return a payload (e.g., a particular structured compressed payload). The base station may additionally or alternatively provide signaling to indicate or request that the UE encode the CSI to be provided as feedback with or without an assumption that side information (e.g., SRS) is to be used by the base station when recovering the CSI. Continuing with the example where CSI feedback is provided by a UE to a corresponding base station, the UE may encode the CSI with a CSI encoder using neural-network based channel compression. When the CSI is encoded with an assumption that side information is to be used by the base station in decoding the CSI, the UE may additionally or alternatively provide information regarding which reference signal (e.g., which SRS) the CSI encoded payload is based upon.

Having broadly described CSI feedback according to aspects of the disclosure, further details with respect to example implementations are provided with reference to <FIG>. The example implementation illustrated in <FIG> may operate to provide CSI feedback using NN based channel compression and reconstruction in accordance with concepts of the present disclosure. In particular, <FIG> shows CSI encoder <NUM> and corresponding CSI decoder <NUM> configured to provide robust CSI feedback, such as, for example, using NN based channel compression and reconstruction as described herein. For example, CSI encoder <NUM> and CSI decoder <NUM> of embodiments implement channel compression/reconstruction based upon NN training of the collected channels, wherein the NN based compression and reconstruction is optimized for the channel, or otherwise tailored for the channel conditions, and enables feedback of robust CSI information.

CSI encoder <NUM> may be implemented by one or more network nodes of wireless network <NUM> (e.g., ones of base stations <NUM> and/or UEs <NUM>). The CSI encoder may provide CSI feedback to a corresponding network node of a communication link in the wireless network <NUM>. In accordance with some embodiments, CSI encoder <NUM> may comprise logic or computer instructions (e.g., program code, such as may be stored by a respective one of memories <NUM> and <NUM>) executed by, and/or other circuitry (e.g., integrated circuits) of, a network node transmit processor (e.g., transmit processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, etc.) configured to provide operation as described herein. CSI encoder <NUM> of embodiments may operate under control of a network node controller/processor (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, etc.) in providing one or more functions of CSI feedback according to aspects of the disclosure.

CSI decoder <NUM> may be implemented by one or more network nodes of wireless network <NUM> (e.g., ones of base stations <NUM> and/or UEs <NUM>). The CSI decoder may receive CSI feedback from a corresponding network node of a communication link in the wireless network <NUM>. In accordance with some embodiments, CSI decoder <NUM> may comprise logic or computer instructions (e.g., program code, such as may be stored by a respective one of memories <NUM> and <NUM>) executed by, and/or other circuitry (e.g., integrated circuits) of, a network node transmit processor (e.g., transmit processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, etc.) configured to provide operation as described herein. CSI decoder <NUM> of embodiments may operate under control of a network node controller/processor (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, etc.) in providing one or more functions of CSI feedback according to aspects of the disclosure.

CSI encoder <NUM> and CSI decoder <NUM> may be trained in a variety of manners. A few examples include offline and/or online with respect to wireless communication services within the wireless network and/or based on an autoencoder (i.e., an artificial NN used to learn data codings in an unsupervised manner) framework in machine learning. For example, a recurrent NN (e.g., using long short-term memory (LSTM)/gated recurrent unit (GRU) units) may be utilized to determine parameters used to encode/decode channel over time for higher efficiency. The neural-network of the autoencoder framework may, for example, be implemented by one or more processors (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>, receiving processor <NUM>, and/or transmit processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller processor <NUM>, receiving processor <NUM>, and/or transmit processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, etc.) implementing functionality as described herein to determine encode and/or decode parameters used with respect to channel compression and reconstruction of aspects of the disclosure. The channel according to aspects of the disclosure is multi-dimensional (tone, antennas, and time as a time series). Encoder /decoder parameters may be derived using NN analysis of embodiments are provided with respect the multiple dimensions of the channel.

Various network nodes may be involved in encoding and decoding operations. In an example procedure of an autoencoder framework operable for CSI encoder/decoder training based on online data collection at a first network node (e.g., base station <NUM>), a second network node (e.g., UE <NUM>) has CSI-RS observations (e.g., observations based upon the second network node monitoring a RS, such as a CSI-RS, transmitted by the first network node). The second network node may utilize the CSI-RS observations to train instances of CSI encoder <NUM> and/or CSI decoder <NUM> implemented by the second network node for channel compression. In operation of the training procedure according to aspects of the disclosure, the second network node sends decoder parameters (e.g., derived from the RS observations) to the first network node and further sends compressed CSI-RS (e.g., compressed using CSI encoder <NUM> implementing the encoder parameters derived from the RS observations) to the first network node. The first network node has the RS, as transmitted by the first network node for observation by the second network node, and is operable to reconstruct the CSI-RS. Reconstruction may occur using CSI decoder <NUM> implementing the decoder parameters provided by the second network node. Using this CSI-RS and also the SRS as side information, the first network node trains instances of CSI encoder <NUM> and/or CSI decoder <NUM> implemented by the first network node for channel compression. The first network node provides new CSIRS-based CSI encoder parameters to the second network node for use in channel compression with respect to CSI feedback according to aspects of the disclosure.

Reference signals may also play a role in encoding/decoding operations in various aspects. In an example procedure of an autoencoder framework operable for CSI encoder/decoder training based on online data collection at the second network node (e.g., UE <NUM>), the first network node (e.g., base station <NUM>) has RS observations (e.g., observations based upon the second network node transmitted RS, such as a SRS) transmitted by the second network node. The first network node may utilize the RS observations to train instances of CSI encoder <NUM> and/or CSI decoder <NUM> implemented by the first network node for channel compression. In operation of the training procedure according to aspects of the disclosure, the first network node sends the decoder parameters derived from the RS observations to the second network node and further sends compressed RS (e.g., compressed using CSI encoder <NUM> implementing the encoder parameters derived from the RS observations) to the second network node. The second network node is operable to reconstructed the RS using CSI decoder <NUM> implementing the decoder parameters provided by the first network node and has the observed RS. Using this RS information as side information and also the CSI-RS observations, the second network node trains instances of CSI encoder <NUM> and/or CSI decoder <NUM> implemented by the second network node for channel compression. The second network node provides the new CSIRS-based decoder parameters to the first network node for use in channel reconstruction with respect to CSI feedback according to aspects of the disclosure.

Training of CSI encoder <NUM> and CSI decoder <NUM> is implemented relatively infrequently by embodiments. For example, training procedures, such as the above example procedures, may be implemented as part of an initial deployment process and/or in response to various changes in the channel or wireless environment (e.g., change of seasons due to deciduous foliage, changes in the cityscape features, changes in terrain, appreciable increase/decrease in interference, etc.). Additionally or alternatively, training procedures may be implemented periodically (e.g., particular times of the day/night, during periods of low communication traffic, each day, week, month, etc.). Irrespective of the particular frequency at which training is implemented, after training the encoder and/or decoder parameters are distributed to network nodes for use in channel compression according to aspects of the disclosure. Encoder and/or decoder parameters may be pre-programed (or stored) in CSI encoder <NUM> and/or CSI decoder <NUM> of embodiments. Additionally or alternatively, encoder and/or decoder parameters may be distributed over the air to CSI encoder <NUM> and/or CSI decoder <NUM> according to embodiments.

Irrespective of how, and the frequency at which, the network nodes obtain encoder and/or decoder parameters, the CSI encoders and decoders (e.g., CSI encoder <NUM> and CSI decoder <NUM>) of embodiments utilize the parameters for channel compression with respect to CSI feedback. For example, for each CSI feedback instance, a network node (e.g., UE <NUM>) may provide feedback of payload based on CSI-RS observations to a corresponding network node of a communication link in wireless network <NUM>. For example, estimated channel information <NUM> (e.g., CSI comprising a channel estimation based upon the network node monitoring a SRS transmitted by another network node) may be encoded by an instance of CSI encoder <NUM> implemented by UE <NUM> and utilizing the above described encoder parameters (e.g., implementing neural-network based channel compression) to provide size reduced CSI encoded payload (e.g., CSI encoded payload of structured payload <NUM>) as feedback to a corresponding base station <NUM>. Estimated channel information <NUM> of embodiments may be generated by logic of one or more processors of a network node (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>, receiving processor <NUM>, and/or transmit processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller processor <NUM>, receiving processor <NUM>, and/or transmit processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, etc.) based upon analysis of an observed RS (e.g., a SRS transmitted by a corresponding network node to which CSI feedback is to be provided).

A structured payload, such as structured payload <NUM>, is utilized with respect to CSI feedback according to aspects of the disclosure. Structured payload <NUM> of embodiments can include uninterpretable payload portion <NUM> and interpretable payload portion <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. One or more configurations for the particular structure of structured payload <NUM>, the type of information carried in the respective portions of the structured payload, the form and format of the information carried by the structured payload may be defined in a communication standard implemented by network nodes of wireless network <NUM>, may be predefined by an operator or network manager, etc..

In accordance with aspects of the disclosure, uninterpretable payload portion <NUM> of structured payload <NUM> may be utilized to carry CSI encoded payload (e.g., full or partial CSI information of estimated channel information <NUM>). For example, full or partial estimated channel information <NUM> may be encoded by an instance of CSI encoder <NUM> and provided as payload of uninterpretable payload portion <NUM>. Uninterpretable payload portion <NUM> may comprise information in addition to or in the alternative to encoded CSI, such as control information (e.g., ACK/NACK, random access procedure messages, resource requests, etc.). Signaling may be used to indicate that structured payload <NUM> is to be utilized with respect to CSI feedback. For example, a network node that is to receive CSI feedback (e.g., base station <NUM>) may provide signaling (e.g., as part of control channel information) to a corresponding network node that is to provide CSI feedback (e.g., UE <NUM>) using structured payload <NUM>. The signaling may, for example, comprise a bitmap for a list of items (e.g., when one bit is on, it means that item needs to be included in the structured payload), such as to facilitate a flexible structured payload implementation that can be changed based on the needs of a network node (e.g., base station <NUM>). Where a plurality of structured payload configurations are utilized, the signaling may indicate a particular configuration of structured payload to be implemented.

Interpretable payload portion <NUM> of structured payload <NUM> may be utilized to reduce reconstruction time with respect to the encoded payload of uninterpretable payload portion <NUM>. Channel reconstruction can take appreciable time, and thus interpretable payload may be utilized according to aspects of the disclosure in helping to make early decisions with respect to decoding and/or utilization of reconstructed channel information by CSI decoder <NUM>. For example, when burst interference is experienced on reference signal, the network node receiving the CSI feedback may decide not to decode current CSI. As another example, the network node providing the CSI feedback may provide information, such as recommended rank and/or modulation and coding scheme (MCS), utilized by the decoder when decoding the encoded CSI (e.g., base station <NUM> receiving the CSI feedback may utilize information, such as recommended rank and/or MCE to start to prepare PDSCH payload early). Interpretable payload portion <NUM> of structured payload <NUM> provided by CSI encoder <NUM> of embodiments may thus include a burst interference flag (e.g., to indicate burst interference experienced on an observed reference signal (RS)), one or more recommended parameters (e.g., rank and/or modulation and coding scheme (MCS)), information regarding which reference signal (e.g., which SRS) the CSI encoded payload is based upon, etc..

Structured payload <NUM> utilized according to embodiments of the disclosure may be generated using various techniques. In accordance with one generation technique, all payload (i.e., payload of uninterpretable payload portion <NUM> and payload of interpretable payload portion <NUM>) is generated directly by CSI encoder <NUM>. In accordance with another generation technique, CSI encoder <NUM> generates only uninterpretable payload of structured payload <NUM>.

In an example generation technique, the interpretable payload and the uninterpretable payload of structured payload <NUM> are generated directly by CSI encoder <NUM>. In such a generation technique, the interpretable payload may be determined, set, or otherwise established at training. As an example, the encoder/decoder may be trained based on a loss that combines the channel reconstruction and also the interpretable information in the payload according to the following: <MAT> Where H and H^' are the input and output of the NN, d and d' are the genie and predicted interpretable information in the payload, and λ is a parameter that balances the loss from both sources. This interpretable payload may later be directly provided by the encoder when generating structure payload <NUM>. Generation techniques where the interpretable payload and the uninterpretable payload are generated directly by the CSI encoder may operate more efficiently than techniques in which the interpretable payload is added to uninterpretable payload generated by the CSI encoder.

In another example generation technique, the uninterpretable payload of structured payload <NUM> is generated directly by CSI encoder <NUM> without the CSI encoder generating the interpretable payload. The interpretable payload may, for example, be added to structured payload <NUM> after the CSI encoding. In accordance to aspects of the disclosure implementing such a generation technique, payload of interpretable payload portion <NUM> may be generated by a NN or a classical approach (e.g., the UE calculates post MMSE SNR based on CSI-RS observation and this SNR is used to derive the recommended MCS, rank, PMI, etc., wherein this information may be added as interpretable payload portion based on needs).

In operation according to the example of <FIG>, estimated channel information <NUM> is received by a network node as CSI encoded payload (e.g., included in structured payload <NUM>). The received payload may be analyzed (e.g., by determination logic <NUM> executed by one or more processors, such as receive processor <NUM> and/or controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, receive processor <NUM> and/or controller processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, etc.) to determine if the payload comprises channel compression with respect to CSI feedback, and thus is to be decoded using CSI decoder <NUM>. Determination logic <NUM> of embodiments may additionally or alternatively analyze various signaling (e.g., signaling indicating that structured payload is to be utilized with respect to CSI feedback, indicating that CSI encoded payload is encoded with or without regard to side information, etc.) Where it is determined that the received payload does not comprise channel compression with respect to CSI feedback, processing <NUM> providing processing other than decoding of CSI feedback by CSI decoder <NUM> may be performed. However, where it is determined that the received payload does comprise channel compression with respect to CSI feedback, the CSI encoded payload may be decoded by an instance of CSI decoder <NUM> implemented by base station <NUM>, utilizing the above described decoder parameters, to provide reconstructed channel information <NUM> (e.g., CSI as feedback by a corresponding UE <NUM>).

In accordance with some aspects of the disclosure, CSI decoder <NUM> may utilize side information <NUM> for facilitating channel reconstruction. As an example, CSI decoder <NUM> of a network node (e.g., base station <NUM>) may utilize information regarding a RS (e.g., SRS) observed by the network node that has been transmitted by the corresponding network node (e.g., UE <NUM>) that provides CSI feedback, in decoding CSI encoded payload to provide reconstructed channel information <NUM>. When the RS information is not completely outdated, CSI decoder <NUM> of embodiments can use this information as side information <NUM> for channel reconstruction, and thus the CSI encoded payload (e.g., payload of uninterpretable payload portion <NUM>) can be reduced significantly as compared when this side information is not available (e.g., for TDD the CSI feedback can approach or equal zero using the side information; for FDD, the amount of CSI feedback can be different based on settings). For example, in TDD operation, the downlink and uplink channels have a strong correlation. Channel reciprocity is to say that DL (CSI-RS)/UL (SRS) channel is highly correlated, or the same after some calibrations. Accordingly, for TDD operation, CSI payload (or payload can be compressed to <NUM>) is ideally not needed to recover the channel in situations where the side information is available and not outdated. However, ideal channel reciprocity and/or imperfect side information may not be available, resulting in the use of some reduced CSI payload in association with the side information for the reciprocal channel according to aspects of the disclosure. Accordingly, channel reciprocity can be utilized to recover the downlink or uplink channel based on information regarding the corresponding uplink/downlink channel. In FDD operation, some fading parameters (e.g., SNR, shadowing, certain multipath, channel correlation, etc.) can be related between the downlink and uplink channels. These fading parameters may be used implicitly by the encoder/decoder training, such as when the downlink and uplink shares similar fading parameters the NN determines a way to reuse (in SRS side information) for helping recover the channel. Accordingly, related fading parameters can be utilized to facilitate channel recovery.

Side information <NUM> utilized according to embodiments may be generated in various ways. For example, in accordance with aspects of the disclosure, side information <NUM> may be generated by a NN (e.g., implemented by one or more processors, such as controller/processor <NUM>, receiving processor <NUM>, and/or transmit processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller processor <NUM>, receiving processor <NUM>, and/or transmit processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, etc.), such as using RS estimated channel as an input to generate low dimensional information as input to CSI decoder. Logic (e.g., logic of the above mentioned NN) utilized with respect to side information <NUM> may additionally or alternatively be utilized to align the timing of the received SRS and the received CSI payload.

Signaling may be used to indicate that side information <NUM> is and/or is not to be utilized with respect to CSI feedback. For example, a network node that is to utilize side information <NUM> in decoding CSI feedback (e.g., base station <NUM>) may provide signaling (e.g., as part of control channel information) to a corresponding network node that is to provide the CSI feedback (e.g., UE <NUM>). In accordance with some aspects, side information signaling may be provided in the downlink control information (DCI) in an implementation where the base station controls the behavior. Additionally or alternatively, a UE may provide side information signaling (e.g., in an uplink control information or as part of interpretable payload) to the base station to indicate that the compressed payload is with/without side information. When side information is indicated as being used by CSI decoder <NUM> of the network node receiving the CSI feedback, the CSI encoded payload provided by CSI encoder <NUM> can be reduced as compared to CSI encoded payload provided without the use of side information.

Whether side information is utilized or not, CSI decoder <NUM> of embodiments operates to provide reconstructed channel information <NUM> from CSI encoded payload. For example, when a UE is providing feedback of CSI to a base station, reconstruction of a downlink channel may be provided at the base station by reconstructed channel information <NUM>. Similarly, when a base station is providing feedback of CSI to a UE, reconstruction of an uplink channel may be provided at the UE by reconstructed channel information <NUM>. Using the size reduced CSI encoded payload according to aspects of the disclosure, a network node (e.g., base station <NUM>, UE <NUM>, etc.) is enabled to obtain robust CSI (e.g., full CSI, partial CSI information, or CSI feedback that is otherwise not quantized). Reconstructed channel information <NUM> of embodiments may be utilized by one or more processors of a network node (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>, receiving processor <NUM>, and/or transmit processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller processor <NUM>, receiving processor <NUM>, and/or transmit processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, etc.) to provide an excellent, accurate, representation of a channel (e.g., comprising full information regarding the channel) between network nodes, such as for use in precoding signals for transmission of one or more signals through the channel.

<FIG> show flow diagrams of operation to provide channel state information feedback according to aspects of the disclosure. In particular, <FIG> shows example operation with respect to a network node (e.g., base station <NUM> or UE <NUM>) configured to receive CSI encoded payload according to embodiments. <FIG> shows example operation with respect to a corresponding network node (e.g., UE <NUM> or base station <NUM>) configured to transmit CSI encoded payload according to embodiments.

Flow <NUM> of the embodiment illustrated in <FIG> sets forth operation by a first network node configured to receive CSI encoded payload from a second network node according to some aspects of the disclosure. At block <NUM> of flow <NUM>, encoded CSI included in an uninterpretable payload portion of a structured payload including an interpretable payload portion that is interpretable without decoding and the uninterpretable payload portion that is uninterpretable without decoding is received. For example, the first network node (e.g., base station <NUM> or UE <NUM>) may receive structured payload including the encoded CSI from the second network node (e.g., UE <NUM> or base station <NUM>) of wireless network <NUM>. The interpretable payload portion may comprise information configured to facilitate early decisions by the first network node with respect to decoding the encoded CSI or utilization of the reconstructed channel information, such as burst interference information, recommended rank information, MCS information, information regarding which reference signal encoding of the encoded CSI is based upon, etc. The encoded CSI of the uninterpretable payload portion may, for example, comprise information regarding a reference signal observed by the second network node that is compressed by a CSI encoder using neural-network based channel compression, wherein the CSI information is information regarding the estimated channel other than quantized parameters determined from information regarding the estimated channel as observed by the second network node. In accordance with some aspects of the disclosure, the encoded CSI of the uninterpretable payload portion comprises full CSI information regarding an estimated channel as observed by the second network node. The encoded CSI in the uninterpretable payload portion according to some aspects is reduced in size based on an assumption or understanding that RS based side information is to be utilized in decoding the encoded CSI. The first network node may, according to some aspects of the disclosure, provide signaling to the second network node indicating that the structured payload is to be used for feedback of the encoded CSI.

At block <NUM>, a reference signal is received. For example, the first network node may receive a reference signal from the second network node. The reference signal of embodiments may comprise a SRS or other reference signal transmitted by the second network node suitable for generating side information utilized by the first network node in decoding the encoded CSI. In accordance with some aspects of the disclosure, the first network node may provide signaling to the second network node indicating that the encoded CSI of the uninterpretable payload portion is to be encoded with consideration of the RS based side information. Additionally or alternatively, the second network node may provide signaling to the first network node indicating which reference signal (e.g., which SRS) the CSI encoded payload is based upon.

RS based side information is generated using the RS at block <NUM> of flow <NUM>. For example, the first network node may generate the RS based side information from the RS received from the UE by inputting a RS estimated channel to a neural-network to generate low dimensional information for the RS based side information.

At block <NUM>, the CSI from the uninterpretable payload portion is decoded using information from the interpretable payload portion and the RS based side information to provide reconstructed channel information. For example, the RS based side information may be input to a CSI decoder of the first network node for decoding the encoded CSI of the uninterpretable payload portion. The CSI decoder of the first network node may additionally or alternatively be operated to utilize information, such as burst interference information, of the interpretable payload portion to determine if decoding of the encoded CSI is to be performed. The CSI decoder may similarly utilize information, such as which reference signal the CSI encoded payload is based upon, of the interpretable payload portion may be used in providing the RS based side information for the CSI decoder of the first network node decoding the encoded CSI.

Flow <NUM> of the embodiment illustrated in <FIG> sets forth operation by a first network node configured to transmit CSI encoded payload to a second network node according to some aspects of the disclosure. At block <NUM> of flow <NUM>, a RS is transmitted. For example, the first network node (e.g., UE <NUM> or base station <NUM>) may transmit a reference signal to the second network node (e.g., base station <NUM> or UE <NUM>) of wireless network <NUM>. The reference signal of embodiments may comprise a SRS or other reference signal suitable for generating side information utilized by the second network node in decoding the encoded CSI. In accordance with some aspects of the disclosure, the first network node may receive signaling from the second network node indicating that the encoded CSI of the uninterpretable payload portion is to be encoded with consideration of RS. Additionally or alternatively, the first network node may provide signaling to the second network node indicating which reference signal (e.g., which SRS) the CSI encoded payload is based upon.

At block <NUM>, CSI is encoded to provide encoded CSI, wherein the encoded CSI is reduced in size based on the RS. For example, the encoded CSI may, for example, comprise information regarding a reference signal observed by the first network node that is compressed by a CSI encoder using neural-network based channel compression, wherein the CSI information is information regarding the estimated channel other than quantized parameters determined from information regarding the estimated channel as observed by the first network node. In accordance with some aspects of the disclosure, the encoded CSI comprises full CSI information regarding an estimated channel as observed by the first network node. The encoded CSI in the uninterpretable payload portion according to some aspects is reduced in size based on an assumption or understanding that RS based side information is to be utilized in decoding the encoded CSI. In accordance with some aspects of the disclosure, the first network node may receive signaling from the second network node indicating that the encoded CSI of the uninterpretable payload portion is to be encoded with consideration of the RS signal. Additionally or alternatively, the first network node may provide signaling to the second network node indicating which reference signal (e.g., which SRS) the CSI encoded payload is based upon.

The encoded CSI is transmitted in an uninterpretable portion of a structured payload including an interpretable payload portion that is interpretable without decoding and the uninterpretable payload portion that is uninterpretable without decoding, at block <NUM>. For example, the first network node may transmit structured payload including the encoded CSI to the second network node. The first network node may, according to some aspects of the disclosure, receive signaling from the second network node indicating that the structured payload is to be used for feedback of the encoded CSI. The interpretable payload portion may comprise information configured to facilitate early decisions by the second network node with respect to decoding the encoded CSI or utilization of the reconstructed channel information, such as burst interference information, recommended rank information, MCS information, information regarding which reference signal encoding of the encoded CSI is based upon, etc. The uninterpretable payload portion of the structured payload comprises the encoded CSI according to aspects of the disclosure.

<FIG> discussed above show flow diagrams illustrating example blocks executed to implement aspects of the present disclosure. The example blocks will also be described with respect to base station <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> and UE <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating base station <NUM> configured according to one aspect of the present disclosure. Base station <NUM> includes the structure, hardware, and components as illustrated for base station <NUM> of <FIG>. For example, base station <NUM> includes controller/processor <NUM>, which operates to execute logic or computer instructions stored in memory <NUM>, as well as controlling the components of base station <NUM> that provide the features and functionality of base station <NUM>. Base station <NUM>, under control of controller/processor <NUM>, transmits and receives signals via wireless radios 701a-t and antennas 234a-t. Wireless radios 701a-t include various components and hardware, as illustrated in <FIG> for base station <NUM>, including modulator/demodulators 232a-t, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, and TX MIMO processor <NUM>. Base station <NUM> is configured to provide operation to receive encoded CSI and provide channel reconstruction, such as according to flow <NUM> of <FIG>, through utilization of CSI decoder logic <NUM> (implementing parameters of encoder/decoder parameters <NUM>) and RS side information generation logic <NUM> operable to provide functions as described above. Additionally or alternatively, base station <NUM> is configured to provide operation to transmit encoded CSI, such as according to flow <NUM> of <FIG>, though utilization of CSI encoder logic <NUM> (implementing parameters of encoder/decoder parameters <NUM>) operable to provide functions as described above. Autoencoder-based encoder/decoder parameter generation logic <NUM>, such as may comprise an artificial NN used to learn efficient data codings, may be operable to provide generation of encoder/decoder parameters <NUM> utilized by CSI decoder logic <NUM> and/or CSI encoder logic <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram illustrating UE <NUM> configured according to one aspect of the present disclosure. UE <NUM> includes the structure, hardware, and components as illustrated for UE <NUM> of <FIG>. For example, UE <NUM> includes controller/processor <NUM>, which operates to execute logic or computer instructions stored in memory <NUM>, as well as controlling the components of UE <NUM> that provide the features and functionality of UE <NUM>. UE <NUM>, under control of controller/processor <NUM>, transmits and receives signals via wireless radios 801a-r and antennas 252a-r. Wireless radios 801a-r include various components and hardware, as illustrated in <FIG> for UE <NUM>, including modulator/demodulators 254a-r, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, and TX MIMO processor <NUM>. UE <NUM> is configured to provide operation to transmit encoded CSI, such as according to flow <NUM> of <FIG>, though utilization of CSI encoder logic <NUM> (implementing parameters of encoder/decoder parameters <NUM>) operable to provide functions as described above. Additionally or alternatively, UE <NUM> is configured to provide operation to receive encoded CSI and provide channel reconstruction, such as according to flow <NUM> of <FIG>, through utilization of CSI decoder logic <NUM> (implementing parameters of encoder/decoder parameters <NUM>) and RS side information generation logic <NUM>, operable to provide functions as described above. Autoencoder-based encoder/decoder parameter generation logic <NUM>, such as may comprise an artificial NN used to learn efficient data codings, may be operable to provide generation of encoder/decoder parameters <NUM> utilized by CSI decoder logic <NUM> and/or CSI encoder logic <NUM>.

The functional blocks and modules described herein (e.g., the functional blocks and modules in <FIG>) may comprise processors, electronics devices, hardware devices, electronics components, logical circuits, memories, software codes, firmware codes, etc., or any combination thereof. In addition, features discussed herein relating feedback of encoded CSI may be implemented via specialized processor circuitry, via executable instructions, and/or combinations thereof.

Those of skill would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps (e.g., the logical blocks in <FIG>) described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both.

Disk and disc, as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), hard disk, solid state disk, and blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) of wireless communication, comprising:
receiving (<NUM>), by a first network node from a second network node, encoded channel state information, CSI, included in an uninterpretable payload portion of a structured payload including an interpretable payload portion that is interpretable without decoding and the uninterpretable payload portion that is uninterpretable without decoding;
generating (<NUM>), by the first network node, reference signal, RS, based side information based at least in partially on a RS, wherein the RS based side information is information in addition to the CSI that is configured for use in association with the CSI; and
decoding (<NUM>), by the first network node, the encoded CSI from the uninterpretable payload portion using information from the interpretable payload portion and the RS based side information to provide reconstructed channel information.