Patent Description:
Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth generation (<NUM>) systems such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) systems, LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems, and fifth generation (<NUM>) systems which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems.

In some wireless communications systems, a UE may communicate with a base station using one or more beams. In such systems, a beam used for communications between a base station and a UE may fail, and it may be appropriate for the UE to perform a beam recovery procedure (e.g., if it is possible to recover a beam for communications). Conventional techniques for performing beam recovery may be deficient.

<CIT> discusses uplink resources for beam recovery, and in particular discusses the configuration of dedicated resources for one or more UEs to covey a beam recovery request. <NPL>" discusses mechanusms for the detection of beam failure, the identification of new beams, and the transmitting of beam failure recovery requests.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for wireless communication at a UE as set out in claim <NUM>, an apparatus for wireless communication at at UE as set out in claim <NUM>, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a UE as set out in claim <NUM>. Other aspects of the invention can be found in the dependent claims.

In the following detailed description, embodiments of the invention are described with reference to <FIG> and the associated passages. Further passages in the description, falling in the scope of the claims, are indicated as "embodiment of the present invention". Other figures and passages are presented for illustrative purposes allowing a better understanding of the invention, even when indicated as embodiment, aspect or example.

In some wireless communications systems, a user equipment (UE) may communicate with a base station using one or more beams. In the event of a beam failure, it may be appropriate for a UE to identify and report a new beam for communicating with the base station (e.g., if a candidate beam with suitable quality is available for communications with the base station). For instance, after a beam failure of a beam used for communicating with a base station (secondary cell (SCell) in all embodiments of the present invention), a UE may declare beam failure and identify a new candidate beam in or after a beam failure recovery request (BFRQ). In some cases, however, it may be challenging for a UE to perform beam reporting since the UE may or may not identify a suitable beam for communicating with a base station, and the decision on whether to report a new beam for communicating with the base station may depend on multiple thresholds (e.g., a detection threshold and a beam identification threshold).

As described herein, a UE may support efficient techniques for determining whether to transmit a beam report (e.g., in a beam failure recovery request (BFRQ) or a beam failure recovery (BFR) procedure) indicating a new beam for communicating with a base station after a current beam used for communications with the base station fails. In one example, after detecting beam failure, a UE may compare a quality of each available candidate beam (e.g., available for communicating with a base station) to a beam identification threshold, and the UE may perform beam reporting based on the comparisons (e.g., refrain from transmitting a beam report if the quality of each of the candidate beams is lower than the beam identification threshold). In another example, after detecting beam failure, a UE may compare a quality of each available candidate beam (e.g., available for communicating with a base station) to a beam detection threshold, and the UE may perform beam reporting based on the comparisons.

Aspects of the disclosure introduced herein are described below in the context of wireless communications systems. Examples of processes and signaling exchanges that support beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure are then described. Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a wireless communications system <NUM> that supports beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system <NUM> includes base stations <NUM>, UEs <NUM>, and a core network <NUM>. In some examples, the wireless communications system <NUM> may be a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, an LTE-A Pro network, or a New Radio (NR) network. In some cases, wireless communications system <NUM> may support enhanced broadband communications, ultra-reliable (e.g., mission critical) communications, low latency communications, or communications with low-cost and low-complexity devices.

In some examples, different geographic coverage areas <NUM> associated with different technologies may overlap and overlapping geographic coverage areas <NUM> associated with different technologies may be supported by the same base station <NUM> or by different base stations <NUM>.

The term "cell" may refer to a logical communication entity used for communication with a base station <NUM> (e.g., over a carrier), and may be associated with an identifier for distinguishing neighboring cells (e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCID), a virtual cell identifier (VCID)) operating via the same or a different carrier.

The term "carrier" may refer to a set of radio frequency spectrum resources having a defined physical layer structure for supporting communications over a communication link <NUM>. A carrier may be associated with a pre-defined frequency channel (e.g., an evolved universal mobile telecommunication system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) absolute radio frequency channel number (EARFCN)) and may be positioned according to a channel raster for discovery by UEs <NUM>. Carriers may be downlink or uplink (e.g., in an frequency division duplexing (FDD) mode), or be configured to carry downlink and uplink communications (e.g., in a time-division duplexing (TDD) mode). In some examples, signal waveforms transmitted over a carrier may be made up of multiple sub-carriers (e.g., using multi-carrier modulation (MCM) techniques such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM)).

Duplexing in unlicensed spectrum may be based on FDD, TDD, or a combination of both.

For example, wireless communications system <NUM> may use a transmission scheme between a transmitting device (e.g., a base station <NUM>) and a receiving device (e.g., a UE <NUM>), where the transmitting device is equipped with multiple antennas and the receiving device is equipped with one or more antennas.

Each of the multiple signals may be referred to as a separate spatial stream and may carry bits associated with the same data stream (e.g., the same codeword) or different data streams.

In one example, a base station <NUM> may use multiple antennas or antenna arrays to conduct beamforming operations for directional communications with a UE <NUM>. For instance, some signals (e.g., synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals) may be transmitted by a base station <NUM> multiple times in different directions, which may include a signal being transmitted according to different beamforming weight sets associated with different directions of transmission. Transmissions in different beam directions may be used to identify (e.g., by the base station <NUM> or a receiving device, such as a UE <NUM>) a beam direction for subsequent transmission and/or reception by the base station <NUM>.

Some signals, such as data signals associated with a particular receiving device, may be transmitted by a base station <NUM> in a single beam direction (e.g., a direction associated with the receiving device, such as a UE <NUM>). In some examples, the beam direction associated with transmissions along a single beam direction may be determined based at least in in part on a signal that was transmitted in different beam directions. For example, a UE <NUM> may receive one or more of the signals transmitted by the base station <NUM> in different directions, and the UE <NUM> may report to the base station <NUM> an indication of the signal it received with a highest signal quality, or an otherwise acceptable signal quality. Although these techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted in one or more directions by a base station <NUM>, a UE <NUM> may employ similar techniques for transmitting signals multiple times in different directions (e.g., for identifying a beam direction for subsequent transmission or reception by the UE <NUM>) or transmitting a signal in a single direction (e.g., for transmitting data to a receiving device).

For example, a receiving device may try multiple receive directions by receiving via different antenna subarrays, by processing received signals according to different antenna subarrays, by receiving according to different receive beamforming weight sets applied to signals received at a set of antenna elements of an antenna array, or by processing received signals according to different receive beamforming weight sets applied to signals received at a set of antenna elements of an antenna array, any of which may be referred to as "listening" according to different receive beams or receive directions. The single receive beam may be aligned in a beam direction determined based on listening according to different receive beam directions (e.g., a beam direction determined to have a highest signal strength, highest signal-to-noise ratio, or otherwise acceptable signal quality based on listening according to multiple beam directions).

As described herein, wireless communications system <NUM> may support communications between a UE <NUM> and a base station <NUM> (e.g., an SCell) using one or more beams. In the event of a beam failure, it may be appropriate for a UE <NUM> to identify and report a new beam for communicating with the base station (e.g., if a candidate beam with suitable quality is available for communications with the base station). In one aspect (e.g., for SCell BFR), the UE <NUM> may declare beam failure and identify a new candidate beam in or after a BFRQ. In this aspect, the UE <NUM> may report new beam information by or after a BFRQ, and reference signals for new candidate downlink beams may be configured (e.g., using RRC signaling or in a MAC control element (MAC-CE)) and may be based on channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) or synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) (e.g., in a same component carrier as or a different component carrier from a current component carrier used for communications between UE <NUM> and a base station <NUM>).

In another aspect (e.g., for SCell BFR), the UE <NUM> may declare beam failure in a BFRQ. In this aspect, the UE <NUM> may declare beam failure in the BFRQ, and the UE <NUM> may provide new beam identification in a downlink beam management procedure. In yet another aspect (e.g., for SCell BFR), the UE <NUM> may transmit a BFRQ if the UE declares beam failure. In this aspect, the UE <NUM> may report new beam information during a BFR procedure, and reference signals for new candidate downlink beams may be configured (e.g., using RRC signaling or in a MAC-CE) and may be based on CSI-RSs or SSBs (e.g., in a same component carrier as or a different component carrier from a current component carrier used for communications between UE <NUM> and a base station <NUM>. The UE <NUM> may determine whether or not to declare beam failure and provide an indication of a new beam in parallel.

In some cases, however, it may be challenging for a UE <NUM> to perform beam reporting since the UE <NUM> may or may not identify a suitable beam for communicating with a base station, and the decision on whether to report a new beam for communicating with the base station may depend on multiple thresholds. For instance, the decision on whether to report a new beam for communicating with the base station <NUM> may depend on a detection threshold (e.g., a threshold used to detect whether a beam is suitable for communications with a base station <NUM> based on UE capability) or a beam identification threshold (e.g., a threshold used to otherwise detect whether a beam is suitable for communications with a base station <NUM>). UEs <NUM> in wireless communications system <NUM> may support efficient techniques for determining whether to transmit a beam report (e.g., in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure) indicating a new beam for communicating with a base station <NUM> after a current beam used for communications with the base station <NUM> fails.

The actions performed by the UE <NUM> as described herein may be implemented to realize one or more potential advantages. One implementation may allow a UE <NUM> to save power and increase battery life by improving the process of beam selection and reselection. For example, a UE <NUM> may have improved quality and reliability of service based on efficiently reporting beam failures and performing measurements of other beams in order to improve wireless communications at the UE <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a wireless communications system <NUM> that supports beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Wireless communications system <NUM> includes base station <NUM>-a, which may be an example of a base station <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. Wireless communications system <NUM> also includes UE <NUM>-a, which may be an example of a UE <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. Base station <NUM>-a may provide communication coverage for a respective coverage area <NUM>-a, which may be an example of a coverage area <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. Wireless communications system <NUM> may implement aspects of wireless communications system <NUM>. For example, UE <NUM>-a in wireless communications system <NUM> may support efficient techniques for determining whether to transmit a beam report indicating a new beam for communicating with base station <NUM>-a after a current beam used for communications with base station <NUM>-a fails.

In one aspect, after detecting beam failure, UE <NUM>-a may compare a quality (e.g., reference signal received power (RSRP)) of each candidate beam available for communicating with base station <NUM>-a to a beam identification threshold, and UE <NUM>-a may perform beam reporting based on the comparisons. For instance, if UE <NUM>-a determines that the quality of a candidate beam is above the beam identification threshold, UE <NUM>-a may transmit a beam report (e.g., in or after a BFRQ) identifying the candidate beam as a new beam for communicating with base station <NUM>-a. In some cases, UE <NUM>-a may also include an indication of the quality of the candidate beam in the beam report. Alternatively, if UE <NUM>-a determines that the quality of each candidate beam is lower than the beam identification threshold, UE <NUM>-a may refrain from transmitting a beam report identifying a new beam for communicating with base station <NUM>-a.

In another aspect, after detecting beam failure, UE <NUM>-a may compare a quality (e.g., RSRP) of each candidate beam available for communicating with base station <NUM>-a to a beam detection threshold, and UE <NUM>-a may perform beam reporting based on the comparisons. For instance, if UE <NUM>-a determines that the quality of a candidate beam is above the beam detection threshold, UE <NUM>-a may transmit a beam report (e.g., in or after a BFRQ) identifying the candidate beam as a new beam for communicating with base station <NUM>-a (e.g., regardless of whether the quality of the candidate beam is above a beam identification threshold). In some cases, UE <NUM>-a may also include an indication of the quality of the candidate beam in the beam report. Alternatively, if UE <NUM>-a determines that the quality of each candidate beam is lower than the beam detection threshold, UE <NUM>-a may indicate to base station <NUM>-a that none of the candidate beams are suitable for communicating with base station <NUM>-a (e.g., using one of a number of techniques).

UE <NUM>-a may transmit a BFRQ including an indication of a beam failure. UE <NUM>-a may receive an uplink grant from base station <NUM>-a. UE <NUM>-a may then transmit the beam report in or after the BFRQ to base station <NUM>-a based on the uplink grant, where the beam report may include MAC-CE signaling.

In one example, UE <NUM>-a may refrain from transmitting a beam report identifying a new beam for communicating with base station <NUM>-a. In all embodiments of the present invention, UE <NUM>-a transmits a beam report indicating that no new beam is identified for communicating with base station <NUM>-a by transmitting a reserved beam index value or a reserved beam quality value, such as a minimum reported RSRP value or a fixed value (e.g., -<NUM> dBm). Base station <NUM>-a may receive the beam report indicating that no new beam is identified for communicating with base station <NUM>-a, and base station <NUM>-a may initiate a BFR procedure to identify a new beam for communicating with UE <NUM>-a. In yet another example, UE <NUM>-a may transmit a beam report indicating that no new beam is identified for communicating with the base station <NUM>-a and that communications with the base station <NUM>-a is unrecoverable. In this example, base station <NUM>-a may receive the beam report indicating that no new beam is identified for communicating with base station <NUM>-a and that communications with base station <NUM>-a is unrecoverable, and base station <NUM>-a may refrain from initiating a BFR procedure to identify a new beam for communicating with UE <NUM>-a.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a process flow <NUM> that supports beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. Process flow <NUM> illustrates aspects of techniques performed by a base station <NUM>-b (e.g., an SCell), which may be an example of a base station <NUM> described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. Process flow <NUM> also illustrates aspects of techniques performed by UE <NUM>-b, which may be an example of a UE <NUM> described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. In the examples described herein, a beam report may refer to a message used to report a new beam for communications between UE <NUM>-b and base station <NUM>-b, and the beam report may be transmitted by UE <NUM>-b in a BFRQ or after the BFRQ (e.g., in a BFR procedure).

At <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b may communicate with base station <NUM>-b to select a beam for communications. At <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b may identify that the beam used for communicating with base station <NUM>-b has failed (e.g., based on failing to receive a scheduled downlink transmission). Accordingly, it may be appropriate for UE <NUM>-b to identify and report a new beam for communicating with base station <NUM>-b (e.g., if a suitable beam is available for communicating with base station <NUM>-b). At <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b may identify one or more candidate beams available for communicating with base station <NUM>-b, the one or more candidate beams being different from the current beam selected for communicating with base station <NUM>-b (e.g., at <NUM>), and UE <NUM>-b may compare the quality of each of the candidate beams to a beam identification threshold or a detection threshold (e.g., where the detection threshold is based on UE capability and is different from (e.g., lower than) the beam identification threshold) to determine whether to report a candidate beam for future communications with base station <NUM>-b.

In one example, UE <NUM>-b may compare the quality of each of the candidate beams to the beam identification threshold, and UE <NUM>-b may perform beam reporting based on the comparisons. If the UE <NUM>-b determines that the quality of a candidate beam is above the beam identification threshold, at <NUM>, UE <NUM>-b may transmit a beam report (e.g., in or after a BFRQ) identifying the candidate beam as a new beam for communicating with the base station <NUM>-b. Alternatively, if the UE <NUM>-b determines that the quality of each of the candidate beams is lower than the beam identification threshold, UE <NUM>-b may refrain from transmitting a beam report identifying a new beam for communicating with the base station <NUM>-b (i.e., based on the quality of each of the candidate beams being lower than the beam identification threshold).

In another example, UE <NUM>-b may compare the quality of each of the candidate beams to the detection threshold, and UE <NUM>-b may perform beam reporting based on the comparisons. If the UE <NUM>-b determines that the quality of a candidate beam is above the detection threshold, UE <NUM>-b may transmit a beam report (e.g., in or after a BFRQ) identifying the candidate beam as a new beam for communicating with the base station <NUM>-b (e.g., regardless of whether the quality of the candidate beam is above or below the beam identification threshold). In all embodiments of the present invention, if the UE <NUM>-b determines that the quality of each of the candidate beams is lower than the beam identification threshold, UE <NUM>-b refrains from transmitting a beam report identifying a new beam for communicating with the base station <NUM>-b, and transmits a beam report indicating that no new beam is identified for communicating with the base station <NUM>-b by transmitting a reserved beam index value or a reserved beam quality value. In an example useful for understanding the invention it may transmit a beam report indicating that no new beam is identified for communicating with the base station <NUM>-b and that communications with the base station <NUM>-b is unrecoverable. In some cases, UE <NUM>-b may transmit, to base station <NUM>-b, a BFRQ including an indication of beam failure. UE <NUM>-b may receive an uplink grant from base station <NUM>-b, and UE <NUM>-b may then transmit the beam report in or after the BFRQ to base station <NUM>-b based on the uplink grant, where the beam report may include MAC-CE signaling. For example, the beam report may be carried by MAC-CE signaling.

If base station <NUM>-b receives a beam report indicating that no new beam is identified for communicating with the base station <NUM>-b (e.g., with no indication that communications with the base station <NUM>-b is unrecoverable), base station <NUM>-b may initiate a beam failure recovery procedure to identify a new beam for communicating with UE <NUM>-b. Alternatively, if base station <NUM>-b receives a beam report indicating that no new beam is identified for communicating with the base station <NUM>-b and that communications with the base station <NUM>-b is unrecoverable, base station <NUM>-b may refrain from initiating a beam failure recovery procedure to identify a new beam for communicating with UE <NUM>-b. In some cases, base station <NUM>-b may transmit and UE <NUM>-b may receive a beam reporting configuration indicating whether UE <NUM>-b should transmit an indication of a quality of a candidate beam in a beam report (e.g., when identifying the candidate beam as a new beam for communicating with the base station <NUM>-b), and UE <NUM>-b may transmit or refrain from transmitting the indication of the quality of the candidate beam in a beam report transmitted to base station <NUM>-b based on the beam reporting configuration.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a device <NUM> that supports beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a UE <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include a receiver <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, and a transmitter <NUM>. The device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver <NUM> may receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure, etc.). Information may be passed on to other components of the device <NUM>. The receiver <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the transceiver <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>. The receiver <NUM> may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

The communications manager <NUM> may detect a beam failure of a beam used for communicating with a base station, identify one or more candidate beams available for communicating with the base station, the one or more candidate beams being different from the failed beam, and refrain from transmitting a beam report identifying a new beam for communicating with the base station based on a quality of each of the candidate beams being lower than a beam identification threshold. The communications manager <NUM> may also detect a beam failure of a beam used for communicating with a base station, identify one or more candidate beams available for communicating with the base station, the one or more candidate beams being different from the failed beam, compare a quality of each of the candidate beams to a beam detection threshold in an attempt to identify a new beam for communicating with the base station, and perform beam reporting based on the comparing. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> described herein.

In some examples, the communications manager <NUM> described herein may be implemented as a chipset of a wireless modem, and the receiver <NUM> and the transmitter <NUM> may be implemented as sets of analog components (e.g., amplifiers, filters, phase shifters, antennas, etc.) The wireless modem may obtain and decode signals from the receiver <NUM> over a receive interface, and may output signals for transmission to the transmitter <NUM> over a transmit interface.

The actions performed by the communications manager <NUM> as described herein may be implemented to realize one or more potential advantages. One implementation may allow a UE <NUM> to save power and increase battery life by improving the process of beam selection and reselection. For example, a UE <NUM> may have improved quality and reliability of service based on efficiently reporting beam failures and performing measurements of other beams in order to improve wireless communications at the UE <NUM>,.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a device <NUM> that supports beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a device <NUM>, or a UE <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include a receiver <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, and a transmitter <NUM>. The device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> as described herein. The communications manager <NUM> may include a beam failure manager <NUM>, a candidate beam manager <NUM>, a beam reporting manager <NUM>, and a candidate beam quality manager <NUM>. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> described herein.

The beam failure manager <NUM> may detect a beam failure of a beam used for communicating with a base station. The candidate beam manager <NUM> may identify one or more candidate beams available for communicating with the base station, the one or more candidate beams being different from the failed beam. The beam reporting manager <NUM> may refrain from transmitting a beam report identifying a new beam for communicating with the base station based on a quality of each of the candidate beams being lower than a beam identification threshold.

The beam failure manager <NUM> may detect a beam failure of a beam used for communicating with a base station. The candidate beam manager <NUM> may identify one or more candidate beams available for communicating with the base station, the one or more candidate beams being different from the failed beam. The candidate beam quality manager <NUM> may compare a quality of each of the candidate beams to a beam detection threshold in an attempt to identify a new beam for communicating with the base station. The beam reporting manager <NUM> may perform beam reporting based on the comparing.

A processor of a UE <NUM> may (e.g., controlling the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, or the transceiver <NUM> as described with reference to <NUM>) may efficiently operate to save power and increase battery life of the UE <NUM>. For example, the processor of the UE <NUM> may efficiently operate the receiver <NUM> to detect a beam failure of a beam that may be used for communication with a base station <NUM>. The processor may also efficiently operate the transmitter <NUM> to perform beam reporting based on a comparison of beam quality. These functions performed by the processor may decrease latency and communication failures at the UE <NUM> by avoiding extensive beam failures and efficiently responding to beam failures.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a communications manager <NUM> that supports beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a communications manager <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, or a communications manager <NUM> described herein. The communications manager <NUM> may include a beam failure manager <NUM>, a candidate beam manager <NUM>, a beam reporting manager <NUM>, a candidate beam quality manager <NUM>, a beam measurement manager <NUM>, and a beam report configuration manager <NUM>. Each of these modules may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The beam failure manager <NUM> may detect a beam failure of a beam used for communicating with a base station. In some examples, the beam failure manager <NUM> may detect a beam failure of a beam used for communicating with a base station. In all embodiments of the present invention, the base station includes a secondary cell. The candidate beam manager <NUM> may identify one or more candidate beams available for communicating with the base station, the one or more candidate beams being different from the failed beam. In some examples, the candidate beam manager <NUM> may identify one or more candidate beams available for communicating with the base station, the one or more candidate beams being different from the failed beam.

The beam reporting manager <NUM> may refrain from transmitting a beam report identifying a new beam for communicating with the base station based on a quality of each of the candidate beams being lower than a beam identification threshold. In some examples, the beam reporting manager <NUM> may perform beam reporting based on the comparing. In some examples, the beam reporting manager <NUM> may transmit a beam report identifying the candidate beam as the new beam for communicating with the base station regardless of whether the quality of the candidate beam of the one or more candidate beams is above or below a beam identification threshold. In some examples, the beam reporting manager <NUM> may transmit the beam report in or after a BFRQ to the base station.

In some examples, the beam reporting manager <NUM> may transmit the indication of the quality of the candidate beam of the one or more candidate beams in the beam report based on the determining. In some examples, the beam reporting manager <NUM> may refrain from transmitting a beam report identifying a new beam for communicating with the base station based on the determining. In some examples, the beam reporting manager <NUM> may transmit a beam report indicating that no new beam is identified for communicating with the base station. In some embodiments of the present invention, the beam reporting manager <NUM> transmits a reserved beam index value or a reserved beam quality value in the beam report to indicate that no new beam is identified for communicating with the base station. In some examples, the beam reporting manager <NUM> may transmit a beam report indicating that no new beam is identified for communicating with the base station and that communications with the base station is unrecoverable.

The candidate beam quality manager <NUM> may compare a quality of each of the candidate beams to a beam detection threshold in an attempt to identify a new beam for communicating with the base station. In some examples, the candidate beam quality manager <NUM> may compare the quality of each of the candidate beams to the beam identification threshold based on detecting the beam failure. In some examples, the candidate beam quality manager <NUM> may determine that the quality of each of the candidate beams is lower than the beam identification threshold, where the refraining is based on the determining. In some examples, the candidate beam quality manager <NUM> may determine that the quality of a candidate beam of the one or more candidate beams is above the detection threshold. In some examples, the candidate beam quality manager <NUM> may determine that the quality of each of the candidate beams is lower than the detection threshold, where the attempt to identify the new beam for communicating with the base station has failed. In some cases, the detection threshold is based on a capability of the UE and is different from the beam identification threshold.

The beam measurement manager <NUM> may measure the quality of each of the candidate beams. In some cases, the quality of each of the candidate beams includes a reference signal received power. The beam report configuration manager <NUM> may receive a beam reporting configuration indicating whether the UE should transmit an indication of a quality of a new beam to be used for communicating with the base station in a beam report. In some examples, the beam report configuration manager <NUM> may receive a beam reporting configuration indicating whether the UE should transmit an indication of the quality of the candidate beam of the one or more candidate beams in the beam report. In some examples, the beam report configuration manager <NUM> may determine that the beam reporting configuration indicates that the UE should transmit the indication of the quality of the candidate beam of the one or more candidate beams in the beam report.

<FIG> shows a diagram of a system <NUM> including a device <NUM> that supports beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of or include the components of device <NUM>, device <NUM>, or a UE <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including a communications manager <NUM>, an I/O controller <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, an antenna <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and a processor <NUM>. These components may be in electronic communication via one or more buses (e.g., bus <NUM>).

The communications manager <NUM> may detect a beam failure of a beam used for communicating with a base station, identify one or more candidate beams available for communicating with the base station, the one or more candidate beams being different from the failed beam, and refrain from transmitting a beam report identifying a new beam for communicating with the base station based on a quality of each of the candidate beams being lower than a beam identification threshold. The communications manager <NUM> may also detect a beam failure of a beam used for communicating with a base station, identify one or more candidate beams available for communicating with the base station, the one or more candidate beams being different from the failed beam, compare a quality of each of the candidate beams to a beam detection threshold in an attempt to identify a new beam for communicating with the base station, and perform beam reporting based on the comparing.

In some cases, the memory <NUM> may contain, among other things, a basic I/O system (BIOS) which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

The processor <NUM> may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor <NUM> may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM>) to cause the device <NUM> to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure).

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a device <NUM> that supports beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a base station <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include a receiver <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, and a transmitter <NUM>. The device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The communications manager <NUM> may identify a beam used for communicating with a UE, transmit a beam reporting configuration to the UE indicating whether the UE should transmit an indication of a quality of a new beam along with an indication of the new beam in a beam report when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails, and receive the beam report from the UE in accordance with the beam reporting configuration when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> described herein.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a device <NUM> that supports beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a device <NUM>, or a base station <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include a receiver <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, and a transmitter <NUM>. The device <NUM> may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> as described herein. The communications manager <NUM> may include a beam identifier <NUM>, a beam report configuration manager <NUM>, and a beam report manager <NUM>. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> described herein.

The beam identifier <NUM> may identify a beam used for communicating with a UE. The beam report configuration manager <NUM> may transmit a beam reporting configuration to the UE indicating whether the UE should transmit an indication of a quality of a new beam along with an indication of the new beam in a beam report when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails. The beam report manager <NUM> may receive the beam report from the UE in accordance with the beam reporting configuration when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a communications manager <NUM> that supports beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of a communications manager <NUM>, a communications manager <NUM>, or a communications manager <NUM> described herein. The communications manager <NUM> may include a beam identifier <NUM>, a beam report configuration manager <NUM>, a beam report manager <NUM>, and a BFR procedure manager <NUM>. Each of these modules may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The beam identifier <NUM> may identify a beam used for communicating with a UE. The beam report configuration manager <NUM> may transmit a beam reporting configuration to the UE indicating whether the UE should transmit an indication of a quality of a new beam along with an indication of the new beam in a beam report when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails. In some examples, the beam report configuration manager <NUM> may transmit the beam reporting configuration indicating that the UE should transmit the indication of the quality of the new beam along with the indication of the new beam in the beam report when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails. In some examples, the beam report configuration manager <NUM> may transmit the beam reporting configuration indicating that the UE should not transmit the indication of the quality of the new beam along with the indication of the new beam in the beam report when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails.

The beam report manager <NUM> may receive the beam report from the UE in accordance with the beam reporting configuration when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails. In some examples, the beam report manager <NUM> may receive the beam report indicating the new beam to be used for communicating with the UE and the quality of the new beam when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails. In some examples, the beam report manager <NUM> may receive the beam report indicating the new beam to be used for communicating with the UE when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails, where the beam report does not indicate the quality of the new beam.

In some examples, the beam report manager <NUM> may receive the beam report indicating that no new beam is identified by the UE for communicating with the base station. In some examples, the beam report manager <NUM> may receive a reserved beam index value or a reserved beam quality value in the beam report indicating that no new beam is identified by the UE for communicating with the base station. In some examples, the beam report manager <NUM> may receive the beam report indicating that no new beam is identified for communicating with the base station and that communications with the base station is unrecoverable. The BFR procedure manager <NUM> may initiate a beam failure recovery procedure based on receiving the beam report. In some examples, the BFR procedure manager <NUM> may refrain from initiating a beam failure recovery procedure based on receiving the beam report.

<FIG> shows a diagram of a system <NUM> including a device <NUM> that supports beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device <NUM> may be an example of or include the components of device <NUM>, device <NUM>, or a base station <NUM> as described herein. The device <NUM> may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including a communications manager <NUM>, a network communications manager <NUM>, a transceiver <NUM>, an antenna <NUM>, memory <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, and an inter-station communications manager <NUM>. These components may be in electronic communication via one or more buses (e.g., bus <NUM>).

The communications manager <NUM> may identify a beam used for communicating with a UE, transmit a beam reporting configuration to the UE indicating whether the UE should transmit an indication of a quality of a new beam along with an indication of the new beam in a beam report when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails, and receive the beam report from the UE in accordance with the beam reporting configuration when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails.

The processor <NUM> may include an intelligent hardware device, (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor <NUM> may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some cases, a memory controller may be integrated into processor <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory <NUM>) to cause the device <NUM> to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure).

The inter-station communications manager <NUM> may manage communications with other base station <NUM> and may include a controller or scheduler for controlling communications with UEs <NUM> in cooperation with other base stations <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> that supports beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method <NUM> may be implemented by a UE <NUM> or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of method <NUM> may be performed by a communications manager as described with reference to <FIG>. In some examples, a UE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the functions described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, a UE may perform aspects of the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At <NUM>, the UE may detect a beam failure of a beam used for communicating with a base station. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a beam failure manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may identify one or more candidate beams available for communicating with the base station, the one or more candidate beams being different from the failed beam. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a candidate beam manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may refrain from transmitting a beam report identifying a new beam for communicating with the base station based on a quality of each of the candidate beams being lower than a beam identification threshold. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a beam reporting manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may compare a quality of each of the candidate beams to a beam detection threshold in an attempt to identify a new beam for communicating with the base station. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a candidate beam quality manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may perform beam reporting based on the comparing. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a beam reporting manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> that supports beam reporting in a BFRQ or a BFR procedure in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of method <NUM> may be implemented by a base station <NUM> or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of method <NUM> may be performed by a communications manager as described with reference to <FIG>. In some examples, a base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station to perform the functions described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, a base station may perform aspects of the functions described herein using special-purpose hardware.

At <NUM>, the base station may identify a beam used for communicating with a UE. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a beam identifier as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the base station may transmit a beam reporting configuration to the UE indicating whether the UE should transmit an indication of a quality of a new beam along with an indication of the new beam in a beam report when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a beam report configuration manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the base station may receive the beam report from the UE in accordance with the beam reporting configuration when the beam used for communicating with the UE fails. The operations of <NUM> may be performed according to the methods described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of <NUM> may be performed by a beam report manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of an architecture FIG. <NUM> that supports determining sub-dominant clusters in a mmW channel in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, architecture FIG. <NUM> may implement aspects of wireless communication systems <NUM> or <NUM> or process flow <NUM>. In some aspects, diagram <NUM> may be an example of the transmitting device (e.g., a first wireless device) or a receiving device (e.g., a second wireless device) as described herein.

Broadly, <FIG> is a diagram illustrating example hardware components of a wireless device in accordance with particular aspects of the disclosure. The illustrated components may include those that may be used for antenna element selection or for beamforming for transmission of wireless signals. There are numerous architectures for antenna element selection and implementing phase shifting, one example of which is illustrated here. The architecture <NUM> includes a modem (modulator/demodulator) <NUM>, a digital to analog converter (DAC) <NUM>, a first mixer <NUM>, a second mixer <NUM>, and a splitter <NUM>. The architecture <NUM> also includes a plurality of first amplifiers <NUM>, a plurality of phase shifters <NUM>, a plurality of second amplifiers <NUM>, and an antenna array <NUM> that includes a plurality of antenna elements <NUM>. Transmission lines or other waveguides, wires, traces, or the like are shown connecting the various components to illustrate how signals to be transmitted may travel between components. Boxes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> indicate regions in the architecture <NUM> in which different types of signals travel or are processed. Specifically, box <NUM> indicates a region in which digital baseband signals travel or are processed, box <NUM> indicates a region in which analog baseband signals travel or are processed, box <NUM> indicates a region in which analog intermediate frequency (IF) signals travel or are processed, and box <NUM> indicates a region in which analog radio frequency (RF) signals travel or are processed. The architecture also includes a local oscillator A <NUM>, a local oscillator B <NUM>, and a communications manager <NUM>.

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

The modem <NUM> processes and generates digital baseband signals and may also control operation of the DAC <NUM>, first and second mixers <NUM>, <NUM>, splitter <NUM>, first amplifiers <NUM>, phase shifters <NUM>, or the second amplifiers <NUM> to transmit signals via one or more or all of the antenna elements <NUM>. The modem <NUM> may process signals and control operation in accordance with a communication standard such as a wireless standard discussed herein. The DAC <NUM> may convert digital baseband signals received from the modem <NUM> (and that are to be transmitted) into analog baseband signals. The first mixer <NUM> upconverts analog baseband signals to analog IF signals within an IF using a local oscillator A <NUM>. For example, the first mixer <NUM> may mix the signals with an oscillating signal generated by the local oscillator A <NUM> to "move" the baseband analog signals to the IF. In some cases, some processing or filtering (not shown) may take place at the IF. The second mixer <NUM> upconverts the analog IF signals to analog RF signals using the local oscillator B <NUM>. Similarly to the first mixer, the second mixer <NUM> may mix the signals with an oscillating signal generated by the local oscillator B <NUM> to "move" the IF analog signals to the RF, or the frequency at which signals will be transmitted or received. The modem <NUM> or the communications manager <NUM> may adjust the frequency of local oscillator A <NUM> or the local oscillator B <NUM> so that a desired IF or RF frequency is produced and used to facilitate processing and transmission of a signal within a desired bandwidth.

In the illustrated architecture <NUM>, signals upconverted by the second mixer <NUM> are split or duplicated into multiple signals by the splitter <NUM>. The splitter <NUM> in architecture <NUM> splits the RF signal into a plurality of identical or nearly identical RF signals, as denoted by its presence in box <NUM>. In other examples, the split may take place with any type of signal including with baseband digital, baseband analog, or IF analog signals. Each of these signals may correspond to an antenna element <NUM> and the signal travels through and is processed by amplifiers <NUM>, <NUM>, phase shifters <NUM>, or other elements corresponding to the respective antenna element <NUM> to be provided to and transmitted by the corresponding antenna element <NUM> of the antenna array <NUM>. In one example, the splitter <NUM> may be an active splitter that is connected to a power supply and provides some gain so that RF signals exiting the splitter <NUM> are at a power level equal to or greater than the signal entering the splitter <NUM>. In another example, the splitter <NUM> is a passive splitter that is not connected to power supply and the RF signals exiting the splitter <NUM> may be at a power level lower than the RF signal entering the splitter <NUM>.

After being split by the splitter <NUM>, the resulting RF signals may enter an amplifier, such as a first amplifier <NUM>, or a phase shifter <NUM> corresponding to an antenna element <NUM>. The first and second amplifiers <NUM>, <NUM> are illustrated with dashed lines because one or both of them might not be used in some implementations. In one implementation, both the first amplifier <NUM> and second amplifier <NUM> are present. In another, neither the first amplifier <NUM> nor the second amplifier <NUM> is present. In other implementations, one of the two amplifiers <NUM>, <NUM> is present but not the other. By way of example, if the splitter <NUM> is an active splitter, the first amplifier <NUM> may not be used. By way of further example, if the phase shifter <NUM> is an active phase shifter that can provide a gain, the second amplifier <NUM> might not be used. The amplifiers <NUM>, <NUM> may provide a desired level of positive or negative gain. A positive gain (positive dB) may be used to increase an amplitude of a signal for radiation by a specific antenna element <NUM>. A negative gain (negative dB) may be used to decrease an amplitude or suppress radiation of the signal by a specific antenna element. Each of the amplifiers <NUM>, <NUM> may be controlled independently (e.g., by the modem <NUM> or communications manager <NUM>) to provide independent control of the gain for each antenna element <NUM>. For example, the modem <NUM> or the communications manager <NUM> may have at least one control line connected to each of the splitter <NUM>, first amplifiers <NUM>, phase shifters <NUM>, or second amplifiers <NUM> which may be used to configure a gain to provide a desired amount of gain for each component and thus each antenna element <NUM>.

The phase shifter <NUM> may provide a configurable phase shift or phase offset to a corresponding RF signal to be transmitted. The phase shifter <NUM> could be a passive phase shifter not directly connected to a power supply. Passive phase shifters might introduce some insertion loss. The second amplifier <NUM> could boost the signal to compensate for the insertion loss. The phase shifter <NUM> could be an active phase shifter connected to a power supply such that the active phase shifter provides some amount of gain or prevents insertion loss. The settings of each of the phase shifters <NUM> are independent meaning that each can be set to provide a desired amount of phase shift or the same amount of phase shift or some other configuration. The modem <NUM> or the communications manager <NUM> may have at least one control line connected to each of the phase shifters <NUM> and which may be used to configure the phase shifters <NUM> to provide a desired amounts of phase shift or phase offset between antenna elements <NUM>.

In the illustrated architecture <NUM>, RF signals received by the antenna elements <NUM> are provided to one or more of first amplifier <NUM> to boost the signal strength. The first amplifier <NUM> may be connected to the same antenna arrays <NUM>, e.g., for TDD operations. The first amplifier <NUM> may be connected to different antenna arrays <NUM>. The boosted RF signal is input into one or more of phase shifter <NUM> to provide a configurable phase shift or phase offset for the corresponding received RF signal. The phase shifter <NUM> may be an active phase shifter or a passive phase shifter. The settings of the phase shifters <NUM> are independent, meaning that each can be set to provide a desired amount of phase shift or the same amount of phase shift or some other configuration. The modem <NUM> or the communications manager <NUM> may have at least one control line connected to each of the phase shifters <NUM> and which may be used to configure the phase sifters <NUM> to provide a desired amount of phase shift or phase offset between antenna elements <NUM>.

The outputs of the phase shifters <NUM> may be input to one or more second amplifiers <NUM> for signal amplification of the phase shifted received RF signals. The second amplifiers <NUM> may be individually configured to provide a configured amount of gain. The second amplifiers <NUM> may be individually configured to provide an amount of gain to ensure that the signal input to combiner <NUM> have the same magnitude. The amplifiers <NUM> or <NUM> are illustrated in dashed lines because they might not be used in some implementations. In one implementation, both the amplifier <NUM> and the amplifier <NUM> are present. In another, neither the amplifier <NUM> nor the amplifier <NUM> are present. In other implementations, one of the amplifiers <NUM>, <NUM> is present but not the other.

In the illustrated architecture <NUM>, signals output by the phase shifters <NUM> (via the amplifiers <NUM> when present) are combined in combiner <NUM>. The combiner <NUM> in architecture combines the RF signal into a signal, as denoted by its presence in box <NUM>. The combiner <NUM> may be a passive combiner, e.g., not connected to a power source, which may result in some insertion loss. The combiner <NUM> may be an active combiner, e.g., connected to a power source, which may result in some signal gain. When combiner <NUM> is an active combiner, it may provide a different (e.g., configurable) amount of gain for each input signal so that the input signals have the same magnitude when they are combined. When combiner <NUM> is an active combiner, it may not use the second amplifier <NUM> because the active combiner may provide the signal amplification.

The output of the combiner <NUM> is input into mixers <NUM> and <NUM>. Mixers <NUM> and <NUM> generally down convert the received RF signal using inputs from local oscillators <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, to create intermediate or baseband signals that carry the encoded and modulated information. The output of the mixers <NUM> and <NUM> are input into an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) <NUM> for conversion to analog signals. The analog signals output from ADC <NUM> is input to modem <NUM> for baseband processing, e.g., decoding, de-interleaving, etc..

The architecture <NUM> is given by way of example to illustrate an architecture for transmitting or receiving signals. It will be understood that the architecture <NUM> or each portion of the architecture <NUM> may be repeated multiple times within an architecture to accommodate or provide an arbitrary number of RF chains, antenna elements, or antenna panels. Furthermore, numerous alternate architectures are possible and contemplated. For example, although only a single antenna array <NUM> is shown, two, three, or more antenna arrays may be included each with one or more of their own corresponding amplifiers, phase shifters, splitters, mixers, DACs, ADCs, or modems. For example, a single UE may include two, four or more antenna arrays for transmitting or receiving signals at different physical locations on the UE or in different directions. Furthermore, mixers, splitters, amplifiers, phase shifters and other components may be located in different signal type areas (e.g., different ones of the boxes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) in different implemented architectures. For example, a split of the signal to be transmitted into a plurality of signals may take place at the analog RF, analog IF, analog baseband, or digital baseband frequencies in different examples. Similarly, amplification, or phase shifts may also take place at different frequencies. For example, in some contemplated implementations, one or more of the splitter <NUM>, amplifiers <NUM>, <NUM>, or phase shifters <NUM> may be located between the DAC <NUM> and the first mixer <NUM> or between the first mixer <NUM> and the second mixer <NUM>. In one example, the functions of one or more of the components may be combined into one component. For example, the phase shifters <NUM> may perform amplification to include or replace the first or second amplifiers <NUM>, <NUM>. By way of another example, a phase shift may be implemented by the second mixer <NUM> to obviate the use of a separate phase shifter <NUM>. This technique is sometimes called local oscillator (LO) phase shifting. In one implementation of this configuration, there may be a plurality of IF to RF mixers (e.g., for each antenna element chain) within the second mixer <NUM> and the local oscillator B <NUM> would supply different local oscillator signals (with different phase offsets) to each IF to RF mixer.

The modem <NUM> or the communications manager <NUM> may control one or more of the other components <NUM>-<NUM> to select one or more antenna elements <NUM> or to form beams for transmission of one or more signals. For example, the antenna elements <NUM> may be individually selected or deselected for transmission of a signal (or signals) by controlling an amplitude of one or more corresponding amplifiers, such as the first amplifiers <NUM> or the second amplifiers <NUM>. Beamforming includes generation of a beam using a plurality of signals on different antenna elements where one or more or all of the plurality signals are shifted in phase relative to each other. The formed beam may carry physical or higher layer reference signals or information. As each signal of the plurality of signals is radiated from a respective antenna element <NUM>, the radiated signals interact, interfere (constructive and destructive interference), and amplify each other to form a resulting beam. The shape (such as the amplitude, width, or presence of side lobes) and the direction (such as an angle of the beam relative to a surface of the antenna array <NUM>) can be dynamically controlled by modifying the phase shifts or phase offsets imparted by the phase shifters <NUM> and amplitudes imparted by the amplifiers <NUM>, <NUM> of the plurality of signals relative to each other.

The communications manager <NUM> may, when architecture <NUM> is configured as a receiving device, transmit a first beam measurement report to a first wireless device, the first beam measurement report indicating a first set of beam measurements for a wireless channel between the first wireless device and the second wireless device. The communications manager <NUM> may receive from the first wireless device a cluster validity metric for at least one beam in the first beam measurement report. The communications manager <NUM> may transmit to the first wireless device a second beam measurement report based at least in part on the cluster validity metric, the second beam measurement report indicating a second set of beam measurements for the wireless channel, as discussed herein. The communications manager <NUM> may, when architecture <NUM> is configured as a transmitting device, receive a first beam measurement report from a second wireless device, the first beam measurement report indicating a first set of beam measurements for a wireless channel between the first wireless device and the second wireless device. The communications manager <NUM> may transmit to the second wireless device a cluster validity metric for at least one beam in the first beam measurement report. The communications manager <NUM> may receive from the second wireless device, in response to transmitting the cluster validity metric, a second beam measurement report indicating a second set of beam measurements for the wireless channel. The communications manager <NUM> may select a beam for transmitting to the second wireless device based at least in part on the first and second beam measurement reports, as discussed herein. The communications manager <NUM> may be located partially or fully within one or more other components of the architecture <NUM>. For example, the communications manager <NUM> may be located within the modem <NUM> in at least one implementation.

By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor.

Claim 1:
A method for wireless communication performed by a user equipment, UE, comprising the steps of:
detecting (<NUM>) a beam failure of a beam used for communicating with a secondary cell;
identifying (<NUM>) one or more candidate beams available for communicating with the secondary cell, the one or more candidate beams being different from the failed beam;
comparing (<NUM>) a quality of each of the candidate beams to a beam detection threshold in an attempt to identify a new beam for communicating with the secondary cell;
determining (<NUM>) that the quality of each of the candidate beams of the one or more candidate beams is lower than the detection threshold; and
transmitting (<NUM>) a reserved beam index value or a reserved beam quality value in a beam report to indicate that no new beam is identified for communicating with the secondary cell.