Patent Description:
These systems may employ technologies such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform-spread-OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM).

Wireless communication systems may operate in millimeter wave (mmW) frequency ranges, e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. Wireless communications at these frequencies may be associated with increased signal attenuation (e.g., path loss), which may be influenced by various factors, such as temperature, barometric pressure, diffraction, etc. As a result, signal processing techniques, such as beamforming, may be used to coherently combine energy and overcome the path losses at these frequencies. Due to the increased amount of path loss in mmW communication systems, transmissions from the base station and/or the UE may be beamformed. Moreover, a receiving device may use beamforming techniques to configure antenna(s) and/or antenna array(s) such that transmissions are received in a directional manner.

In some aspects, wireless communication systems may utilize PUCCH transmissions for a variety of reasons. The PUCCH transmissions may be uplink transmissions from a UE to a base station. In a mmW network, the PUCCH transmissions may be used to support beam management functionality. As one example, a UE may rely on the reliability of the PUCCH signals to carry or otherwise convey an indication of periodic channel performance feedback reporting, e.g., channel state information (CSI) reporting. As another example, the PUCCH signals may carry or otherwise convey an indication of acknowledgement/negative-acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) feedback for physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), which may also carry a beam-control related medium access control (MAC) control element (CE). However, in some situations the beam used to transmit the PUCCH signal may suddenly degrade to a point that the beam (e.g., the beam configuration) no longer supports PUCCH transmissions reliably. In some aspects, the sudden loss of the beam used for PUCCH transmissions may result in a beam management failure condition occurring. Document <NPL> discusses the format of new MAC CEs that need to be defined to support DL and UL beam management and CSI acquisition. Document <NPL> proposes to introduce MAC-CE signalling to provide spatial relation information for a PUCCH resource to one of the entries in PUCCH-Spatial-relation-info. Document <NPL> further provides the details of design on UL beam management for NR. Document<NPL> proposes that it is up to UE implementation how to select the new candidate beam based on the configured candidate beam identification RS as long as the received power of the candidate beam identification RS satisfies the threshold. Document <NPL> considers fallback beam configuration and radio link failure criteria. A fallback beam set is either configured by the network based on the reported beam radio quality measurements, or selected by the UE based on measurements.

The described techniques relate to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) reliability enhancements in mmW. Generally, the described techniques provide a mechanism where a user equipment (UE) autonomously chooses a beam configuration to use for a PUCCH transmission. For example, the UE may receive a signal configuring multiple beam configurations for the UE. In some aspects, the multiple beam configurations may include two or more quasi-colocation (QCL) configurations that the UE can choose from to select a beam for the PUCCH transmission. The UE may, when the first PUCCH transmission is scheduled, determine that a performance level (e.g., a communication metric) of a first beam configuration fails to satisfy a threshold. For example, the reference signal receive power (RSRP) level for the first beam configuration may fall below a threshold. In another example, the UE may determine that an available transmit power level for transmitting using the first beam configuration may be below a threshold level. Accordingly, the UE may select a second configured beam configuration to use to perform the PUCCH transmission. In some aspects, the UE may perform the PUCCH transmission using the second beam configuration after a certain time offset, e.g., after an absolute or time delay from the time the PUCCH transmission using the first beam configuration was meant to occur. In another example, the time offset may be a certain number of slots configured for uplink communications that occur after a certain offset. Accordingly, the UE may autonomously determine which beam configuration (e.g., QCL) to use for the PUCCH transmission.

Some wireless communication systems may operate in millimeter wave (mmW) frequency ranges (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.). In some cases, wireless communication at these frequencies may be associated with increased signal attenuation (e.g., path loss), which may be influenced by various factors, such as temperature, barometric pressure, diffraction, etc. As a result, signal processing techniques such as beamforming (i.e., directional transmission) may be used to coherently combine signal energy and overcome the path loss in specific beam directions. In some cases, a device may select an active beam for communicating with a network by selecting the strongest beam from among a number of candidate beams.

Some wireless communication systems, such as in a mmW network, support beam management functionality to maintain a current transmit beam at the base station and/or user equipment (UE), e.g., a transmit beam and/or receive beam at either device. The beam management procedure typically includes the UE transmitting channel state information (CSI) signals to the base station in a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signal. The PUCCH signal also contains other information necessary for the continued operation of the wireless network. Typically, the network configures the resources for the UE to use for the PUCCH signal transmission, e.g., the time resources, frequency resources, beam configuration, and the like. When the UE selects a configured resource for the PUCCH transmission, the UE typically selects the resource based on the size of the uplink control information (UCI) that will be communicated in the PUCCH signal. However, the performance of the beam to be used for the PUCCH transmission may suddenly degrade below an acceptable threshold to support the PUCCH transmission. For example, the propagation path of the beam may suddenly become blocked, may experience fading, and the like. However, conventional techniques do not support the UE selecting a different beam to use for the PUCCH transmission. Accordingly, the PUCCH signal transmission may be unsuccessful, which may result in failed communications and a link loss between the UE and the base station.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of a wireless communications system. Aspects of the present disclosure provide for an effective mechanism that supports the UE autonomously determining which beam configuration (e.g., which quasi-colocation (QCL) configuration) to use for a PUCCH signal transmission. The UE may be configured with multiple (e.g., two or more) beam configurations. A first beam configuration is referred to as a primary beam configuration that the UE is to use for a PUCCH signal transmission at a first PUCCH transmission occasion. A second beam configuration may be referred to as a secondary or supplemental beam configuration that the UE is to use for the PUCCH signal transmission at a second PUCCH transmission occasion. In some aspects, a time offset value may be the difference between the first PUCCH transmission occasion and the second PUCCH transmission occasion. At the first PUCCH transmission occasion, the UE may determine that the performance level (e.g., the communication metric) of the first beam configuration has fallen below an acceptable threshold level. Accordingly, the UE selects the second beam configuration to use to perform the PUCCH signal transmission at the second PUCCH transmission occasion. Thus, aspects of the described techniques support the UE having flexibility and autonomy in selecting the beam configuration for the PUCCH signal transmission to improve reliability.

Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to PUCCH reliability enhancements in mmW.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a wireless communications system <NUM> that supports PUCCH reliability enhancements 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 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).

Devices of the wireless communications system <NUM> (e.g., base stations <NUM> or UEs <NUM>) may have a hardware configuration that supports communications over a particular carrier bandwidth, or may be configurable to support communications over one of a set of carrier bandwidths. In some examples, the wireless communications system <NUM> may include base stations <NUM> and/or UEs <NUM> that can support simultaneous communications via carriers associated with more than one different carrier bandwidth.

Wireless communications systems such as an NR system may utilize any combination of licensed, shared, and unlicensed spectrum bands, among others. The flexibility of eCC symbol duration and subcarrier spacing may allow for the use of eCC across multiple spectrums. In some examples, NR shared spectrum may increase spectrum utilization and spectral efficiency, specifically through dynamic vertical (e.g., across the frequency domain) and horizontal (e.g., across the time domain) sharing of resources.

In some aspects, a UE <NUM> may receive a signal identifying a first beam configuration and a second beam configuration to be used for performing a beamformed transmission of a PUCCH signal. The UE <NUM> may determine, at a first PUCCH transmission occasion associated with the first beam configuration, that a communication metric associated with performing the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal using the first beam configuration fails to satisfy a threshold. The UE <NUM> may perform, at a second PUCCH transmission occasion and based at least in part on the determining, the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal according to the second beam configuration.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a wireless communication system <NUM> that supports PUCCH reliability enhancements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, wireless communication system <NUM> may implement aspects of wireless communication system <NUM>. In some aspects, wireless communication system <NUM> may include a base station <NUM> and a UE <NUM>, which may be examples of the corresponding devices described herein.

In some aspects, wireless communication system <NUM> may be a mmW network. For example, base station <NUM> may perform beamformed transmissions to UE <NUM> using beam <NUM> and UE <NUM> may perform beamformed transmissions to base station <NUM> using one of beams <NUM> or <NUM>. Generally, a beam may refer to a beamformed signal having an associated beam configuration. The beam configuration refers to a certain characteristic of the beam, such as beam direction, beam width, beam shape, QCL feature, and the like. The beam may refer to a transmit beam and/or a receive beam, or a beam association.

In some aspects, base station <NUM> and UE <NUM> may perform beam management functions in order to maintain an active beam. The beam management functions may include base station <NUM> configuring UE <NUM> to transmit periodic CSI information, such as RSRP, RSRQ, CQI, error rate information, throughput level indications, and the like. The network uses the CSI information to configure resources for the UE <NUM>, which may include assigning time and/or frequency resources, beam configurations, and the like. The UE <NUM> periodically transmits the CSI reports to base station <NUM> in a PUCCH signal, e.g., as often as is configured by the base station. PUCCH transmissions can also be triggered by base station <NUM> using a DCI signal. The PUCCH transmissions can also carry other valuable information, such as ACK/NACK information for PUSCH signals.

When scheduling resources for the PUCCH transmissions, base station <NUM> typically schedules UE <NUM> with multiple PUCCH resource sets, with each PUCCH resource set being associated with a particular UCI size. For each PUCCH resource set, base station <NUM> may schedule multiple PUCCH resources, with each PUCCH resource having a configured time resource, frequency resources, and one QCL (e.g., spatial relation information) indicating the beam to be used for the PUCCH transmission. When the PUCCH transmission is DCI triggered, the PUCCH resource for UE <NUM> to use is indicated in the DCI. When the PUCCH transmission is for a periodic CSI reporting, the PUCCH resource for UE <NUM> to use is indicated in the configuration for the periodic CSI reporting. Accordingly, UE <NUM> must typically use the beam that base station <NUM> indicates for the PUCCH transmission.

However, in some situations the beam to be used for the PUCCH transmission may suddenly degrade to below an acceptable performance threshold. For example, the beam may degrade due to blocking or fading, an available transmit power for the beam may be below a threshold (e.g., due to MPE limitations, limited transmit power due to other high priority transmissions in another carrier or cell group), and the like. Moreover, these sudden changes in the communication metrics may not be known by the network (e.g., base station <NUM>) and therefore, if UE <NUM> uses the configured beam for the PUCCH transmission, the PUCCH transmission may fail. A PUCCH transmission failure may mean that the beam management function, the ACK/NACK reporting function, and other critical network functions may fail.

Accordingly, aspects of the described techniques improve the reliability of the PUCCH transmission to improve performance. Generally, the described techniques provide a mechanism where UE <NUM> can autonomously choose the best beam to use for the PUCCH transmission in order to ensure high reliability of the PUCCH signal. Aspects of the described techniques may consider network complexity and efficiency, power efficiency at the UE <NUM>, and the like. Generally, the described techniques provide for the network to configure, for a PUCCH resource, two (or more) beams for UE <NUM> to use for the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal. The two (or more) beams may refer to the beam configuration, e.g., the QCL feature, of the beam for UE <NUM> to use. One of the configured QCL (e.g., a first beam configuration) is considered a primary beam (e.g., beam <NUM>) and a second of the configured QCL may be considered a secondary or supplemental beam (e.g., beam <NUM>).

When UE <NUM> is configured for a beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal (e.g., at a first PUCCH transmission occasion), UE <NUM> may determine if there is a potential problem with performing the PUCCH transmission using the first beam configuration (e.g., beam <NUM>). For example, UE <NUM> may determine whether a communication metric associated with using he first beam configuration has fallen below a threshold level. In some examples, this may include UE <NUM> determining that the RSRP, RSRQ, a SNR, a SINR, a throughput level, an error rate, and the like (e.g., a channel performance parameter), for the first beam configuration has fallen below an acceptable threshold level. In some examples, this may include UE <NUM> determining that an available transmit power for the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal has fallen below an acceptable threshold level. This may be based on a MPE limit for the UE, based on the UE <NUM> performing other high-priority transmissions on different carriers or cell groups, and the like. Accordingly, the available transmit power may be the remaining transmit power available after UE <NUM> transmits the other signals. In the situation where UE <NUM> determines that there is no potential problem (e.g., the first beam configuration satisfies the threshold) with performing the PUCCH transmission using the first beam configuration, UE <NUM> may select the first beam configuration to use to perform the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal. However, when there is a potential problem (e.g., the first beam configuration fails to satisfy the threshold), UE <NUM> may select the second beam configuration (e.g., beam <NUM>) to use to perform the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal.

In some aspects, UE <NUM> may determine the performance (e.g., communication metric) of both the first beam configuration (e.g., beam <NUM>) and the second beam configuration (e.g., beam <NUM>) and select from the best performing beam configuration. For example, at the first PUCCH transmission occasion the UE <NUM> may determine the communication metric of the first and second beam configuration to determine which beam satisfies an acceptable threshold level, e.g., which beam configuration can provide the best performance for the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal. In the situation where neither beam configuration satisfies the threshold level, UE <NUM> may identify which beam configuration will perform best for the PUCCH transmission. Accordingly, UE <NUM> may choose between the better of the two beam configurations to use for the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal.

In some aspects, UE <NUM> may select the second beam configuration to use for the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal at a second PUCCH transmission occasion. The second PUCCH transmission occasion may occur a time offset after the first PUCCH transmission occasion. In some aspects, the time offset can be configured by the network. In some aspects, the time offset may be configured as zero (<NUM>) such that UE <NUM> simply chooses the best performing beam configuration and uses it to transmit the PUCCH signal. In some aspects, the time offset may be configured as an absolute time offset, e.g., a fixed time that UE <NUM> waits after the first PUCCH transmission occasion before performing the PUCCH transmission using the second beam configuration. In some aspects, the time offset may be a relative time offset, e.g., a first uplink configured slot that occurs after the first PUCCH transmission occasion.

In some aspects, the first and second beam configurations may also have different associated frequency resources. For example, a PRB offset can be configured (e.g., as in the PUCCH resource configuration) to allow the second beam configuration (e.g., the supplemental beam) to use different frequency resources.

In some aspects, instead of two beam configurations (e.g., QCLs) for a PUCCH resource, the network may configure a supplementary PUCCH resource for one or multiple PUCCH resources. The supplementary PUCCH resource may be a frequency and/or time resource that is different from the primary resources. The QCL in the supplementary resource may differ from the QCL of any of its primary resource. The time offset may be defined for the supplementary resource.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a timing diagram <NUM> that supports PUCCH reliability enhancements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, timing diagram <NUM> may implement aspects of wireless communication systems <NUM>/<NUM>. Aspects of timing diagram <NUM> may be implemented by a UE <NUM>, which may be an example of the corresponding device described herein.

Generally, timing diagram <NUM> illustrates aspects of a time offset <NUM>. UE <NUM> may be configured with a beam <NUM> (e.g., a first beam configuration) and with a beam <NUM> (e.g., a second beam configuration). The beams may be configured for a beamformed transmission of a PUCCH signal. At a first PUCCH transmission occasion <NUM> (which occurs at symbol t), UE <NUM> may determine that a communication metric associated with using the first beam configuration (e.g., beam <NUM>) fails to satisfy a threshold level. For example, a channel performance parameter (e.g., RSRP, RSRQ, CQI, SNR, etc.), an available transmit power level, and the like, may have degraded to an unacceptable performance level. Accordingly, UE <NUM> may select the second beam configuration (e.g., beam <NUM>) to use to perform the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal at a second PUCCH transmission occasion <NUM>. The second PUCCH transmission occasion may occur at a symbol t plus a time offset <NUM>).

Generally, the time offset <NUM> may refer to the time period between the first PUCCH transmission occasion <NUM> and the second PUCCH transmission occasion <NUM>. Generally, the time offset <NUM> may refer to an absolute time or a relative time. The time offset <NUM> may refer to a positive integer. In some aspects, the time offset <NUM> may be configurable and can be zero (e.g., in the situation where the network is able to receive over the two beams simultaneously). In the example timing diagram <NUM>, the time offset <NUM> is not configured as zero. In some aspects, the time offset <NUM> can be an element in a PUCCH resource configuration. For efficiency of resources, the network may configure the time offset <NUM> large enough so that upon successful decoding of the PUCCH over the primary beam (e.g., beam <NUM>), the frequency-time resource associated with the supplementary beam (e.g., beam <NUM>) can be scheduled for other purposes. In a TDD configuration, the transmit time of the supplementary beam may be the earliest time after symbol t plus the time offset <NUM> that is available for an uplink PUCCH transmission based on network configuration/signal, such as a slot format indicator (SFI).

<FIG> illustrates an example of a process <NUM> that supports PUCCH reliability enhancements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, process <NUM> may implement aspects of wireless communication systems <NUM>/<NUM> and/or timing diagram <NUM>. Aspects of process <NUM> may be implemented by base station <NUM> and UE <NUM>, which may be examples of the corresponding devices described herein.

At <NUM>, base station <NUM> may transmit (and UE <NUM> may receive) a signal that identifies a first beam configuration and a second beam configuration that are to be used to perform a beamformed transmission of a PUCCH signal. In some aspects, this may include UE <NUM> receiving a signal that configures a plurality of available PUCCH resources, with the plurality of available PUCCH resources including at least the first beam configuration and the second beam configuration. In some aspects, the first beam configuration may have an associated frequency resource that is different from the second beam configuration. In some aspects, the first beam configuration may have an associated QCL configuration that is different from a QCL configuration associated with the second beam configuration. In some aspects, the signal may be received in a DCI signal and/or a configuration signal.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> may determine, at a first PUCCH transmission occasion that is associated with the first beam configuration, that a communication metric associated with performing the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal using the first beam configuration fails to satisfy a threshold. In some aspects, this may include UE <NUM> determining that a communication metric associated with a second beam configuration satisfies the threshold. UE <NUM> may then select the second beam configuration to use to perform the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal based on the determination that the second beam configuration satisfies the threshold.

In some aspects, this determining at <NUM> may include UE <NUM> determining that a channel performance parameter associated with using the first beam configuration does not satisfy a threshold value. The communication metric may be based on the channel performance parameter. Examples of the channel performance parameter may include, but are not limited to, a RSRP, a RSRQ, a SNR, a SINR, and/or a throughput rate. In some aspects, this may include UE <NUM> determining that an available transmit power level is below a threshold value. For example, UE <NUM> may be configured with an MPE limit, which may limit UE <NUM> from performing the PUCCH signal transmission using the first beam configuration.

At <NUM>, UE <NUM> may perform, at a second PUCCH transmission occasion and based at least in part on the determination that the first beam configuration fails to satisfy the threshold, the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal according to the second beam configuration. In some aspects, this may include UE <NUM> identifying a time offset value that is associated with the time difference between the first PUCCH transmission occasion and the second PUCCH transmission occasion. The time offset value may in include a zero value, a positive integer value, an absolute time, and/or relative time. In some aspects, this may include UE <NUM> identifying a first available PUCCH transmission occasion that occurs after the time offset value following the first PUCCH transmission occasion. Accordingly, the second PUCCH transmission occasion may be based on the first available PUCCH transmission occasion.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a device <NUM> that supports PUCCH reliability enhancements 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 PUCCH reliability enhancements in mmW, 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 receive a signal identifying a first beam configuration and a second beam configuration to be used for performing a beamformed transmission of a PUCCH signal, determine, at a first PUCCH transmission occasion associated with the first beam configuration, that a communication metric associated with performing the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal using the first beam configuration fails to satisfy a threshold, and perform, at a second PUCCH transmission occasion and based on the determining, the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal according to the second beam configuration. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> described herein.

If implemented in code executed by a processor, the functions of the communications manager <NUM>, or its sub-components may be executed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described in the present disclosure.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a device <NUM> that supports PUCCH reliability enhancements 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 configuration manager <NUM>, a communication metric manager <NUM>, and a PUCCH transmission manager <NUM>. The communications manager <NUM> may be an example of aspects of the communications manager <NUM> described herein.

The configuration manager <NUM> may receive a signal identifying a first beam configuration and a second beam configuration to be used for performing a beamformed transmission of a PUCCH signal.

The communication metric manager <NUM> may determine, at a first PUCCH transmission occasion associated with the first beam configuration, that a communication metric associated with performing the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal using the first beam configuration fails to satisfy a threshold.

The PUCCH transmission manager <NUM> may perform, at a second PUCCH transmission occasion and based on the determining, the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal according to the second beam configuration.

<FIG> shows a block diagram <NUM> of a communications manager <NUM> that supports PUCCH reliability enhancements 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 configuration manager <NUM>, a communication metric manager <NUM>, a PUCCH transmission manager <NUM>, a beam configuration manager <NUM>, a time offset manager <NUM>, a channel performance manager <NUM>, a transmit power manager <NUM>, and a multi-PUCCH configuration manager <NUM>. Each of these modules may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The configuration manager <NUM> may receive a signal identifying a first beam configuration and a second beam configuration to be used for performing a beamformed transmission of a PUCCH signal. In some cases, the second beam configuration includes a frequency resource that is different from the first beam configuration. In some cases, the first beam configuration includes a first quasi-colocation (QCL) configuration that is different from a second QCL configuration of the second beam configuration. In some cases, the signal is received in at least one of a downlink control indicator (DCI) signal, or a configuration signal, or a combination thereof.

The beam configuration manager <NUM> may determine that the communication metric associated with the second beam configuration satisfies the threshold. In some examples, the beam configuration manager <NUM> may select the second beam configuration to use to perform the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal based on the determining.

The time offset manager <NUM> may identify, based on the signal, a time-offset value associated with a time difference between the first PUCCH transmission occasion and the second PUCCH transmission occasion. In some examples, the time offset manager <NUM> may identify a first available PUCCH transmission occasion that occurs after a time-offset value following the first PUCCH transmission occasion, where the second PUCCH transmission occasion is based on the first available PUCCH transmission occasion. In some cases, the time-offset value includes at least one of a zero value, or a positive integer value, or an absolute time, or a relative time.

The channel performance manager <NUM> may determine that a channel performance parameter associated with using the first beam configuration does not satisfy a threshold value, where the communication metric is based on the channel performance parameter. In some cases, the channel performance parameter includes at least one of a RSRP value, or a RSRQ value, or a SNR, or a SINR, or a throughput rate for the channel, or a combination thereof.

The transmit power manager <NUM> may determine, based on a MPE limit, that an available transmit power level is below a threshold value, where the communication metric is based on the determining.

The multi-PUCCH configuration manager <NUM> may receive the signal configuring a set of available PUCCH resources, where the set of available PUCCH resources include at least the first beam configuration and the second beam configuration.

<FIG> shows a diagram of a system <NUM> including a device <NUM> that supports PUCCH reliability enhancements 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 directly or indirectly coupled with each other, such as via one or more buses (e.g., bus <NUM>).

The communications manager <NUM> may receive a signal identifying a first beam configuration and a second beam configuration to be used for performing a beamformed transmission of a PUCCH signal, determine, at a first PUCCH transmission occasion associated with the first beam configuration, that a communication metric associated with performing the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal using the first beam configuration fails to satisfy a threshold, and perform, at a second PUCCH transmission occasion and based on the determining, the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal according to the second beam configuration.

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 PUCCH reliability enhancements in mmW).

<FIG> shows a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> that supports PUCCH reliability enhancements 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 receive a signal identifying a first beam configuration and a second beam configuration to be used for performing a beamformed transmission of a PUCCH signal. 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 configuration manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may determine, at a first PUCCH transmission occasion associated with the first beam configuration, that a communication metric associated with performing the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal using the first beam configuration fails to satisfy a 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 communication metric manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may perform, at a second PUCCH transmission occasion and based on the determining, the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal according to the second beam configuration. 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 PUCCH transmission manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a flowchart illustrating a method <NUM> that supports PUCCH reliability enhancements 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 determine that the communication metric associated with the second beam configuration satisfies the 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 configuration manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may select the second beam configuration to use to perform the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal based on the determining at <NUM>. 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 configuration manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

At <NUM>, the UE may identify, based on the signal, a time-offset value associated with a time difference between the first PUCCH transmission occasion and the second PUCCH transmission occasion. 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 time offset manager as described with reference to <FIG>.

By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media may include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (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 (<NUM>) for wireless communication at a user equipment, UE (<NUM>), comprising:
receiving (<NUM>) a signal identifying a first beam (<NUM>) configuration and a second beam (<NUM>) configuration to be used for performing a beamformed transmission of a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH signal, wherein a beam configuration refers to a characteristic of the respective beam, including a beam direction, a beam width, a beam shape, and/or a quasi-colocation, QCL feature;
selecting the first beam (<NUM>) configuration as a primary configuration to be used for performing the beamformed transmission;
determining (<NUM>), for a first PUCCH transmission occasion associated with the first beam (<NUM>) configuration, that a performance level associated with performing the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal using the first beam (<NUM>) configuration fails to satisfy a threshold;
autonomously selecting the second beam (<NUM>) configuration to use to perform the PUCCH signal transmission;
identifying a first available PUCCH transmission occasion that occurs after a time-offset value following the first PUCCH transmission occasion, wherein a second PUCCH transmission occasion is based on the first available PUCCH transmission occasion; and
performing (<NUM>), at the second PUCCH transmission occasion, the beamformed transmission of the PUCCH signal according to the selected second beam (<NUM>) configuration.