Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses that a wireless device receives configuration parameters of a cell that comprise: first parameters indicating: configuration of SRSs of the cell; whether a first accumulated power control adjustment for the SRSs is enabled; and second parameters. The second parameters indicate: configuration of an uplink data channel of the cell; and whether a second accumulated power control adjustment for the uplink data channel is enabled. A first transmission power is determined for the SRSs based on the first accumulated power control adjustment and a first power control command. The SRSs are transmitted, via the cell, with the first transmission power. A second transmission power is determined for the uplink data channel of the cell based on the second accumulated power control adjustment and a second power control command. One or more transport blocks are transmitted, via the uplink data channel of the cell, with the second transmission power. <NPL> is a discussion and decision document on beam indication. <CIT> discloses techniques for performing reference signal measurement filtering in systems that support multi-beam operation are provided.

In some aspects as described herein there is claimed a method of wireless communication, performed by a base station in accordance with claim <NUM>.

In some aspects, there is claimed a method of wireless communication, performed by a UE in accordance with claim <NUM>.

Aspects of the present invention are provided in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are provided in the dependent claims.

The scope of the present invention is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

It should be understood that the scope of the present invention is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform one or more techniques associated with reference signal (RS) update timing for uplink signals, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. For example, controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform or direct operations of, for example, process <NUM> of <FIG> and/or other processes as described herein. Memories <NUM> and <NUM> may store data and program codes for base station <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively. In some aspects, memory <NUM> and/or memory <NUM> may comprise a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions for wireless communication. For example, the one or more instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the base station <NUM> and/or the UE <NUM>, may perform or direct operations of, for example, process <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes as described herein.

In some aspects, UE <NUM> may include means for receiving a message, from a base station, instructing the UE to activate or update an RS corresponding to an uplink communication transmitted by the UE, and means for communicating with the base station, after a time period, using a beam configuration of the UE for transmitting the RS that corresponds to a beam configuration of the base station, the time period being based at least in part on a determination of whether the UE identified the beam configuration of the base station, and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of UE <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>, such as controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, antenna <NUM>, DEMOD <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, and/or the like.

In some aspects, base station <NUM> may include means for transmitting a message, to a UE, instructing the UE to activate or update an RS corresponding to an uplink communication transmitted by the UE, and means for communicating with the UE, after a time period, using a beam configuration of the base station that corresponds to a beam configuration of the UE for transmitting the RS, the time period being based at least in part on a determination of whether the UE identified the beam configuration of the base station, and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of base station <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>, such as antenna <NUM>, DEMOD <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, antenna <NUM>, and/or the like.

In some aspects, "wireless communication structure" may refer to a periodic time-bounded communication unit defined by a wireless communication standard and/or protocol.

An interlace structure may be used for each of the downlink and uplink for FDD in certain telecommunications systems (e.g., NR). For example, Q interlaces with indices of <NUM> through Q - <NUM> may be defined, where Q may be equal to <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or some other value. Each interlace may include slots that are spaced apart by Q frames. In particular, interlace q may include slots q, q + Q, q + 2Q, etc., where q ∈ <NUM>,. , Q - <NUM>}.

New Radio (NR) may refer to radios configured to operate according to a new air interface (e.g., other than Orthogonal Frequency Divisional Multiple Access (OFDMA)-based air interfaces) or fixed transport layer (e.g., other than Internet Protocol (IP)). In aspects, NR may utilize OFDM with a CP (herein referred to as cyclic prefix OFDM or CP-OFDM) and/or SC-FDM on the uplink, may utilize CP-OFDM on the downlink and include support for half-duplex operation using time division duplexing (TDD).

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> showing an example of a DL-centric slot or wireless communication structure. The DL-centric slot may include a control portion <NUM>. The control portion <NUM> may exist in the initial or beginning portion of the DL-centric slot. The control portion <NUM> may include various scheduling information and/or control information corresponding to various portions of the DL-centric slot. In some aspects, the control portion <NUM> may include legacy PDCCH information, shortened PDCCH (sPDCCH) information, a control format indicator (CFI) value (e.g., carried on a physical control format indicator channel (PCFICH)), one or more grants (e.g., downlink grants, uplink grants, and/or the like), and/or the like.

The DL-centric slot may also include a DL data portion <NUM>. The DL data portion <NUM> may sometimes be referred to as the payload of the DL-centric slot.

The DL-centric slot may also include an UL short burst portion <NUM>. The UL short burst portion <NUM> may sometimes be referred to as an UL burst, an UL burst portion, a common UL burst, a short burst, an UL short burst, a common UL short burst, a common UL short burst portion, and/or various other suitable terms. In some aspects, the UL short burst portion <NUM> may include one or more reference signals. Additionally, or alternatively, the UL short burst portion <NUM> may include feedback information corresponding to various other portions of the DL-centric slot. For example, the UL short burst portion <NUM> may include feedback information corresponding to the control portion <NUM> and/or the data portion <NUM>. Non-limiting examples of information that may be included in the UL short burst portion <NUM> include an ACK signal (e.g., a PUCCH ACK, a PUSCH ACK, an immediate ACK), a NACK signal (e.g., a PUCCH NACK, a PUSCH NACK, an immediate NACK), a scheduling request (SR), a buffer status report (BSR), a HARQ indicator, a channel state indication (CSI), a channel quality indicator (CQI), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), PUSCH data, and/or various other suitable types of information. The UL short burst portion <NUM> may include additional or alternative information, such as information pertaining to random access channel (RACH) procedures, scheduling requests, and various other suitable types of information.

The foregoing is one example of a DL-centric wireless communication structure, and alternative structures having similar features may exist without necessarily deviating from the aspects described herein.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> showing an example of an UL-centric slot or wireless communication structure. The UL-centric slot may include a control portion <NUM>. The control portion <NUM> may exist in the initial or beginning portion of the UL-centric slot. The control portion <NUM> in <FIG> may be similar to the control portion <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. The UL-centric slot may also include an UL long burst portion <NUM>. The UL long burst portion <NUM> may sometimes be referred to as the payload of the UL-centric slot. The UL portion may refer to the communication resources utilized to communicate UL data from the subordinate entity (e.g., UE) to the scheduling entity (e.g., UE or BS). Alternatively, the UL portion may include the resources. In some configurations, the control portion <NUM> may be a physical DL control channel (PDCCH).

The UL-centric slot may also include an UL short burst portion <NUM>. The UL short burst portion <NUM> in <FIG> may be similar to the UL short burst portion <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>, and may include any of the information described above in connection with <FIG>. The foregoing is one example of an UL-centric wireless communication structure, and alternative structures having similar features may exist without necessarily deviating from the aspects described herein.

Generally, "sidelink signal" may refer to a signal communicated from one subordinate entity (e.g., UE1) to another subordinate entity (e.g., UE2) without relaying that communication through the scheduling entity (e.g., UE or BS), even though the scheduling entity may be utilized for scheduling and/or control purposes. In some aspects, the sidelink signals may be communicated using a licensed spectrum (unlike wireless local area networks, which typically use an unlicensed spectrum).

In one example, a wireless communication structure, such as a frame, may include both UL-centric slots and DL-centric slots. In this example, the ratio of UL-centric slots to DL-centric slots in a frame may be dynamically adjusted based at least in part on the amount of UL data and the amount of DL data that are transmitted. For example, if there is more UL data, then the ratio of UL-centric slots to DL-centric slots may be increased. Conversely, if there is more DL data, then the ratio of UL-centric slots to DL-centric slots may be decreased.

In NR, a BS (e.g., gNB) may transmit signals in different directions using transmitting beams and receive signals from different directions using receiving beams. A beam may be specified by a beam configuration. For a downlink communication, the beam configuration may be one or more transmission control indication (TCI) states. A TCI state may specify one or more antenna ports and/or a direction for an active beam for transmitting the downlink communication towards a UE. There may be one or more TCI states for each bandwidth part of one or more common carriers that the BS uses for transmission.

A UE may also transmit signals in different directions using transmitting beams and receive signals from different directions using receiving beams. The UE may also identify the transmitting beam of the BS. Sometimes, the UE may perform a beam sweep to identify the transmitting beam of the BS. A UE may perform the beam sweep by transmitting beams in all predefined directions in a burst in a regular interval. The UE may then perform one or more measurements on one or more samples of beams to identify a beam to use. A beam configuration for uplink communications may be referred to as an uplink spatial filter.

The UE may use a reference signal (RS) to identify characteristics of downlink communications in order to improve a receiving beam setting of the UE. The BS may transmit a message to activate or update the RS that corresponds to downlink communications. After a time period, the base station may expect that the UE has been able to update or activate the RS and the base station may proceed with communicating with the UE through an activated or updated receiving beam configuration. The time period from transmission of an RS activation message to communication between the BS and the UE may be referred to as an activation timeline.

An activation timeline for an RS corresponding to downlink channels depends on whether a beam configuration (e.g., target TCI state) of the BS is known or unknown to the UE. The BS may determine that a UE has already identified and stored (e.g., in an active TCI list) the beam configuration of the BS based on a number of conditions, such as by receiving a measurement report or detecting that a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for a TCI state is greater than or equal to a certain threshold. It may be said that the UE knows the TCI state of the BS. For example, if a TCI state is known (in an active TCI state list), the UE may receive a medium access control control element (MAC CE) to activate a reference signal corresponding to a downlink channel at slot n and receive a PDCCH message a period of time after slot n, where the period of time includes a time from downlink data transmission to acknowledgement (THARQ) plus <NUM>. The time period may be as long as <NUM> measurement samples or less.

If a target TCI state is not in the active TCI state list for PDSCH (not known to the UE), time is added to the activation timeline that is equal to a time to a first synchronization signal block (SSB) transmission (Tfirst-SSB) after the MAC CE command is decoded (TSSB-proc). Also, measurement time for beam refinement (TL1-RSRP) is added.

While BSs may extend an activation timeline for RSs that correspond to downlink signals, there is presently no activation timeline that may be extended for RSs that correspond to uplink signals. Without an activation timeline that varies based on whether the UE knows the TCI state of the BS, the BS may prematurely proceed with communicating with the UE. The UE may not have had time to utilize an RS for uplink signals and set a proper uplink spatial relation of the UE. This may result in transmissions from the UE that are poor in quality or that require retransmissions. The BS and UE may waste power, processing, and signaling resources that may be involved with poorer quality transmissions or a transmission power that is not sufficient for a particular beam arrangement.

The BS is configured to instruct the UE to activate or update an RS corresponding to uplink signals (e.g., path loss RS for communication on a physical uplink channel). The BS is configured to wait an appropriate time period based on a determination of whether the beam configuration (or activated signal) of the BS is known or unknown to the UE. The BS is configured to, after the appropriate time period, proceed with communicating with the UE. In some aspects, the BS may wait an appropriate time period in response to activation of another RS that is quasi co-located with the RS. The UE may use such a resource to find a parameter of the RS (e.g., direction, spread, Doppler shift, and/or the like).

In some aspects, the UE is configured to use the RS for uplink signals to identify a proper uplink transmission power for communicating with the BS. For example, the UE may activate a particular uplink spatial relation that was refined by information from an uplink pathloss RS or an aperiodic sounding RS. The UE may transmit multiple uplink communications with refined beams, with the UE centered on an initial beam that the UE identified to communicate with the BS. In this way, the BS and UE may communicate with beam configurations that benefit from accurate RS information for uplink signals. The BS and UE may communicate with an improved quality and save power, processing, and signaling resources that may have resulted from handling communications with poorer quality or insufficient transmission power for a particular beam arrangement.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> of activating or updating an RS for uplink communications, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. <FIG> shows a BS <NUM> that is configured to communicate with a UE <NUM> using a beam configuration <NUM>.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, BS <NUM> may transmit a message to UE <NUM>, which in this example is a MAC CE. The MAC CE may instruct UE <NUM> to activate or update an RS corresponding to uplink communications from UE <NUM>. The RS from UE <NUM> may be, for example, a path loss RS for a physical uplink channel, such as a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for control communications and/or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for data communications. The RS from UE <NUM> may be, in another example, an aperiodic sounding RS (AP-SRS) or a semi-persistent sounding RS (SP-SRS).

BS <NUM> is be configured to use beam configuration <NUM> to transmit the message. Beam configuration <NUM> may be one or more transmission control indication (TCI) states, each of which specifies one or more antenna ports and/or a direction for an active beam for communications towards UE <NUM>. Beam configuration <NUM> may have one or more TCI state identifiers for each bandwidth part of one or more common carriers.

BS <NUM> is be configured to use beam configuration <NUM> for control communications and data communications to and from UE <NUM>, once BS <NUM> determines that UE <NUM> is configured with a beam configuration that corresponds to beam configuration <NUM> of BS <NUM>.

In some aspects, the message may activate another, second RS with a resource (e.g., antenna port) that is quasi co-located (QCLed) or spatially correlated to a resource for the RS, which may be referred to as a first RS. The first RS and/or the second RS may be a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), synchronization signal block (SSB), tracking RS, demodulation RS, or path tracking RS, another type of UE RS, and/or the like.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating example <NUM> for activating or updating an RS for uplink communications, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, UE <NUM> is configured to identify a beam configuration of UE <NUM> that corresponds to beam configuration <NUM> of BS <NUM>. If UE <NUM> had already identified and stored (in an active TCI list) the beam configuration of UE <NUM>, a time period for identifying the beam configuration for UE <NUM> is shorter than if UE <NUM> had not identified and stored the beam configuration for UE <NUM>. Extra time may be needed for UE <NUM> to identify the beam configuration for UE <NUM> from among a plurality of candidate beams <NUM>.

To identify the beam configuration for UE <NUM> from among a plurality of candidate beams <NUM>, UE <NUM> may perform a beam sweep. A beam sweep may include transmitting beams in all predefined directions in a burst at a regular interval. UE <NUM> may then perform one or more measurements on one or more samples of candidate beams <NUM>. UE <NUM> is configured to identify the beam configuration of UE <NUM> that corresponds to beam configuration <NUM> ofBS <NUM>.

In <FIG>, UE <NUM> may have identified a beam configuration of UE <NUM> that corresponds to beam configuration <NUM> of BS <NUM>. In some aspects, beam configuration <NUM> of BS <NUM> may be in a beam pair link with beam configuration <NUM> of UE <NUM>. As shown by reference number <NUM>, BS <NUM> may determine whether UE <NUM> has identified beam configuration <NUM> of UE <NUM> corresponding to beam configuration <NUM> of BS <NUM>. This may take one time period if beam configuration <NUM> of UE <NUM> if UE <NUM> had already identified and stored beam configuration <NUM> (known) on UE <NUM>. This may take a longer period of time if UE <NUM> had not already stored and identified beam configuration <NUM> on UE <NUM>.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, BS <NUM> may wait a first time period based at least in part on a determination that UE <NUM> has already identified and stored beam configuration <NUM> of UE <NUM>, or BS <NUM> may wait a second time period based at least in part on a determination that UE <NUM> has not already identified beam configuration <NUM> of UE <NUM>. BS <NUM> may determine that the UE identified the beam configuration of BS <NUM> based at least in part on a determination that at least one of: the message is transmitted by BS <NUM> within a certain time period (e.g., <NUM>) since a transmission was received from a resource UE <NUM> is configured to use for beam reporting or measurement, a measurement report for beam configuration <NUM> is received from UE <NUM>, beam configuration <NUM> for BS <NUM> remains detectable during a switch period for the beam configuration of BS <NUM>, an SSB associated with beam configuration <NUM> remains detectable during a switch period for beam configuration <NUM>, or an SNR of beam configuration <NUM> is greater than a threshold (e.g., -<NUM> dB). In some aspects, conditions for determining whether UE <NUM> has already identified beam configuration <NUM> of BS <NUM> (TCI state is known) may include those defined in<NPL>).

In some aspects, the first time period may include a time period that BS <NUM> determines is needed for UE <NUM> to transmit the RS in order to find an uplink transmit power for communications. The first time period may include a time period that BS <NUM> determines is needed for UE <NUM> to perform measurements on a specified number of (e.g., <NUM> or fewer) samples for beam detection. The specified number of samples may be consecutive samples for layer <NUM> filtering during a connected state of a discontinuous reception (C-DRX) mode. After a specified (e.g., fifth) measurement sample, UE <NUM> may settle a tracking filter of UE <NUM> and transmit uplink communications with a transmission power determined based at least in part on information from using the tracking filter.

In some aspects, UE <NUM> may use known measurements for an RS. For example, UE <NUM> may reuse a higher layer filtered RSRP for pathloss measurement after receiving an activation MAC CE. A filtered RSRP value for a previous pathloss RS may be used before communication proceeds at a next slot after a fifth measurement sample (referred to as an application time), where the first measurement sample corresponds to be a first instance, <NUM> after sending ACK for the MAC CE.

In some aspects, the second time period may include a time that BS <NUM> determines is needed for UE <NUM> to identify beam configuration <NUM> of UE <NUM>, from among the plurality of candidate beam configurations <NUM>, that corresponds to beam configuration <NUM> of BS <NUM>. Extra time may be needed for UE <NUM> to perform layer <NUM> RSRP (L1-RSRP) measurement for receiving beam refinement, before filtering one or more RSRP values to update an uplink transmit power. UE <NUM> may use a filtered RSRP value for a previous pathloss RS for uplink signals until the L1-RSRP measurement is performed. The second time period may also include a time period that UE <NUM> takes to transmit the RS.

In some aspects, the second time period includes a time period that BS <NUM> determines is needed for UE <NUM> to perform measurements on more than a specified number of (e.g., more than <NUM>) samples for beam detection. The more than the specified number of samples may be consecutive samples for layer <NUM> filtering during a C-DRX mode. In some aspects, the more than the specified number of samples may include a time to measure <NUM> samples or <NUM> samples. There may be <NUM> samples because there may be <NUM> samples in a time slot, for example.

In some aspects, an activation timeline should ensure that UE <NUM> performs measurements on a consecutive required number of samples. UE <NUM> may need consecutive samples to perform layer <NUM> filtering. In discontinuous reception (DRX) mode, UE <NUM> may sleep and wake up to receive signals at certain periods. If UE <NUM> is in DRX mode, an RS may be valid only if the RS falls in a time period of the C-DRX mode. Otherwise, there may be too much of a gap between samples, and accuracy may be lost. Therefore, BS <NUM> may wait, after activating an RS, for a time period sufficient to allow UE <NUM> to perform measurements on, for example, <NUM> back-to-back RS samples within one active DRX duration.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, BS <NUM> may communicate with UE <NUM>. These communications may include control communications and/or data communications distinct from a message to activate or update an RS for uplink communications. The communications may be downlink communications. The communications may be uplink communications.

In some aspects, BS <NUM> may transmit the message through a first cell and communicate with the UE through a second cell. The first cell may be a primary cell and the second cell may be a secondary cell or primary secondary cell. The first cell may be a secondary cell (or primary secondary cell) and the second cell may be a primary cell.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a base station, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where a base station (e.g., BS <NUM>, BS <NUM>, and/or the like) performs operations associated with reference signal updating timing for uplink signals.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include transmitting a message, to a UE, instructing the UE to activate or update an RS corresponding to an uplink communication transmitted by the UE (block <NUM>). For example, the base station (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may transmit a message, to a UE, instructing the UE to activate or update an RS corresponding to an uplink communication transmitted by the UE, as described above in connection with <FIG>.

In a first aspect, the RS is a path loss RS for a physical uplink channel.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the RS is a path loss RS for an aperiodic uplink sounding RS or a semi-persistent uplink sounding RS.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the RS is one of a channel state information RS, a synchronization signal block, a tracking RS, a demodulation RS, a phase tracking RS, or a UE RS.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, the second time period is longer than the first time period.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, the first time period includes a time that the base station determines is needed for the UE to determine one or more combinations of time, frequency, and received power of the RS in order to find an uplink transmit power for communications.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, the first time period includes a time that the base station determines is needed for the UE to perform measurements on a specified number of samples for beam detection. The specified number may be <NUM>, or the specified number may be fewer than <NUM>.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, the specified number of samples are consecutive samples for layer <NUM> filtering during a connected state of a discontinuous reception mode.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, the second time period includes a time that the base station determines is needed for the UE to identify the beam configuration of the UE, from among a plurality of candidate beam configurations, that corresponds to the beam configuration of the base station, and to transmit the RS.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, the second time period includes a time that the base station determines is needed for the UE to perform measurements on more than a specified number of samples for beam detection.

In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through ninth aspects, the more than the specified number of samples are consecutive samples for layer <NUM> filtering during a connected state of a discontinuous reception mode.

In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through tenth aspects, process <NUM> further comprises determining that the UE identified the beam configuration of the base station based at least in part on a determination that at least one of the message is transmitted by the base station within a certain time period since a transmission was received from a resource the UE is configured to use for beam reporting or measurement, a measurement report for the beam configuration is received from the UE, the beam configuration for the base station remains detectable during a switch period for the beam configuration of the base station, a synchronization signal block associated with the beam configuration remains detectable during a switch period for the beam configuration of the base station, or an SNR of the beam configuration of the base station is greater than a threshold.

In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eleventh aspects, the threshold is -<NUM> decibels (-<NUM> dB).

In a thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twelfth aspects, the certain time period is <NUM>.

In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through thirteenth aspects, the message is one of a downlink control information (DCI) message, a MAC CE message, or a radio resource control (RRC) message.

As further shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> includes communicating with the UE, after a time period, using a beam configuration of the base station that corresponds to a beam configuration of the UE for transmitting the RS. The time period is based at least in part on a determination of whether the UE identified the beam configuration of the base station (block <NUM>). For example, the base station (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) is configured to communicate with the UE, after a time period, using a beam configuration of the base station that corresponds to a beam configuration of the UE for transmitting the RS, as described above in connection with <FIG>. In some aspects, the time period is based at least in part on a determination of whether the UE identified the beam configuration of the base station.

In a fifteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourteenth aspects, transmitting the message includes transmitting the message through a first cell, and communicating with the UE includes communicating with the UE through a second cell.

In a sixteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifteenth aspects, the first cell is a primary cell and the second cell is a secondary cell.

In a seventeenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixteenth aspects, the first cell is a secondary cell and the second cell is a primary cell.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a base station, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where a UE (e.g., UE <NUM>, UE <NUM>, and/or the like) performs operations associated with reference signal updating timing for uplink signals.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> includes receiving a message, from a base station, instructing the UE to activate or update an RS corresponding to an uplink communication transmitted by the UE (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) is configured to receive a message, from a base station, instructing the UE to activate or update an RS corresponding to an uplink communication transmitted by the UE, as described above in connection with <FIG>.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, the time period is longer if the UE had not identified and stored the beam configuration of the base station than if the UE had identified and stored the beam configuration of the base station.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, process <NUM> further comprises determining, during the time period, one or more combinations of time, frequency, and received power of the RS in order to find an uplink transmit power for communications.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, process <NUM> further comprises performing, during the time period, measurements on a specified number of samples for beam detection. The specified number may be <NUM> or fewer.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, process <NUM> further comprises determining, during the time period, the beam configuration of the UE, from among a plurality of candidate beam configurations, that corresponds to the beam configuration of the base station.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, process <NUM> further comprises performing, during the time period, measurements on more than the specified number of samples for beam detection.

In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through tenth aspects, process <NUM> further comprises transmitting a measurement report for the beam configuration of the base station.

In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eleventh aspects, the message is one of a DCI message, a MAC CE message, or an RRC message.

As further shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> includes communicating with the base station, after a time period, using a beam configuration of the UE for transmitting the RS that corresponds to a beam configuration of the base station, the time period being based at least in part on a determination of whether the UE identified the beam configuration of the base station and a reference signal associated with the beam configuration (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) is configured to communicate with the base station, after a time period, using a beam configuration of the UE for transmitting the RS that corresponds to a beam configuration of the base station, as described above in connection with <FIG>. The time period is based at least in part on a determination of whether the UE identified the beam configuration of the base station and a reference signal associated with the beam configuration. The reference signal may be an SSB.

In a thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twelfth aspects, the message is received through a first cell, and the communicating with the base station is through a second cell.

In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through thirteenth aspects, the first cell is a primary cell and the second cell is a secondary cell.

In a fifteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourteenth aspects, the first cell is a secondary cell and the second cell is a primary cell.

<FIG> is a conceptual data flow diagram <NUM> illustrating data flow between different modules/means/components in an example apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> may be a BS (e.g., BS <NUM>, BS <NUM>, and/or the like). In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> includes a reception module <NUM>, a determination module <NUM>, and/or a transmission module <NUM>.

Reception module <NUM> may receive data <NUM> from UE <NUM> and transmit data <NUM> to determination module <NUM>.

In some aspects, determination module <NUM> may determine that the UE identified a beam configuration of the base station. Transmission module <NUM> may receive information about the UE identifying a beam configuration, as data <NUM>, and provide communications as data <NUM>.

Reception module <NUM> and transmission module <NUM> may communicate with the UE, after a time period, using a beam configuration of the base station that corresponds to a beam configuration of the UE for transmitting the RS, the time period being based at least in part on a determination of whether the UE identified the beam configuration of the base station.

The apparatus may include additional modules that perform each of the blocks of the algorithm in the aforementioned method <NUM> of <FIG> and/or the like. Each block in the aforementioned method <NUM> of <FIG> and/or the like may be performed by a module, and the apparatus may include one or more of those modules. The modules may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to carry out the stated processes/algorithm, implemented by a processor configured to perform the stated processes/algorithm, stored within a computer-readable medium for implementation by a processor, or a combination thereof.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus <NUM>' employing a processing system <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM>' may be a BS.

The processing system <NUM> may be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system <NUM> and the overall design constraints. The bus <NUM> links together various circuits including one or more processors and/or hardware modules, represented by the processor <NUM>, the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The bus <NUM> may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and therefore will not be described any further.

The processing system <NUM> may be coupled to a transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> is coupled to one or more antennas <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> provides a means for communicating with various other apparatuses over a transmission medium. The transceiver <NUM> receives a signal from the one or more antennas <NUM>, extracts information from the received signal, and provides the extracted information to the processing system <NUM>, specifically the reception module <NUM>. In addition, the transceiver <NUM> receives information from the processing system <NUM>, specifically the transmission module <NUM>, and based at least in part on the received information, generates a signal to be applied to the one or more antennas <NUM>. The processing system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The software, when executed by the processor <NUM>, causes the processing system <NUM> to perform the various functions described herein for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium / memory <NUM> may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor <NUM> when executing software. The processing system further includes at least module <NUM>. The modules may be software modules running in the processor <NUM>, resident/stored in the computer readable medium / memory <NUM>, one or more hardware modules coupled to the processor <NUM>, or a combination thereof. The processing system <NUM> may be a component of the eNB or gNB <NUM> and may include the memory <NUM> and/or at least one of the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>.

In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' for wireless communication includes means for transmitting a message, to a UE, instructing the UE to activate or update an RS corresponding to an uplink communication transmitted by the UE, and means for communicating with the UE, after a time period, using a beam configuration of the base station that corresponds to a beam configuration of the UE for transmitting the RS, the time period being based at least in part on a determination of whether the UE identified the beam configuration of the base station. The aforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementioned modules of the apparatus <NUM> and/or the processing system <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means. As described elsewhere herein, the processing system <NUM> may include the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the receive processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>. In one configuration, the aforementioned means may be the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the receive processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM> configured to perform the functions and/or operations recited herein.

<FIG> is a conceptual data flow diagram <NUM> illustrating data flow between different modules/means/components in an example apparatus <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM> may be a UE, such as UE <NUM>. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> includes a reception module <NUM>, a determination module <NUM>, and a transmission module <NUM>.

In some aspects, reception module <NUM> may receive, as data <NUM> from base station <NUM>, a message, from a base station, instructing the UE to activate or update an RS corresponding to an uplink communication transmitted by the UE. Related data may be passed as data <NUM>. Determination module <NUM> may determine, during a time period, one or more combinations of time, frequency, and received power of the RS in order to find an uplink transmit power for communications. Such determinations may be passed to transmission module <NUM> as data <NUM>. Reception module <NUM> and transmission module <NUM> may communicate with the base station with data <NUM> and data <NUM>, after a time period, using a beam configuration of the UE for transmitting the RS that corresponds to a beam configuration of the base station, the time period being based at least in part on a determination of whether the UE identified the beam configuration of the base station.

The apparatus may include additional modules that perform each of the blocks of the algorithm in the aforementioned method <NUM> of <FIG> and/or the like. Each block in the aforementioned method <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or the like may be performed by a module and the apparatus may include one or more of those modules. The modules may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to carry out the stated processes/algorithm, implemented by a processor configured to perform the stated processes/algorithm, stored within a computer-readable medium for implementation by a processor, or a combination thereof.

<FIG> is a diagram <NUM> illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an apparatus <NUM>' employing a processing system <NUM>. The apparatus <NUM>' may be a UE.

The processing system <NUM> may be coupled to a transceiver <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> is coupled to one or more antennas <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> provides a means for communicating with various other apparatuses over a transmission medium. The transceiver <NUM> receives a signal from the one or more antennas <NUM>, extracts information from the received signal, and provides the extracted information to the processing system <NUM>, specifically the reception module <NUM>. In addition, the transceiver <NUM> receives information from the processing system <NUM>, specifically the transmission module <NUM>, and based at least in part on the received information, generates a signal to be applied to the one or more antennas <NUM>. The processing system <NUM> includes a processor <NUM> coupled to a computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The processor <NUM> is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory <NUM>. The software, when executed by the processor <NUM>, causes the processing system <NUM> to perform the various functions described herein for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium / memory <NUM> may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor <NUM> when executing software. The processing system further includes at least one of the modules <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The modules may be software modules running in the processor <NUM>, resident/stored in the computer readable medium / memory <NUM>, one or more hardware modules coupled to the processor <NUM>, or a combination thereof. The processing system <NUM> may be a component of the UE <NUM> and may include the memory <NUM> and/or at least one of the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>.

In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM>/<NUM>' for wireless communication includes means for receiving a message, from a base station, instructing the UE to activate or update an RS corresponding to an uplink communication transmitted by the UE and communicating with the base station, after a time period, using a beam configuration of the UE for transmitting the RS that corresponds to a beam configuration of the base station, the time period being based at least in part on a determination of whether the UE identified the beam configuration of the base station. The aforementioned means may be one or more of the aforementioned modules of the apparatus <NUM> and/or the processing system <NUM> of the apparatus <NUM>' configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means. As described elsewhere herein, the processing system <NUM> may include the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM>. In one configuration, the aforementioned means may be the TX MIMO processor <NUM>, the RX processor <NUM>, and/or the controller/processor <NUM> configured to perform the functions and/or operations recited herein.

It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes / flowcharts disclosed is an illustration of example approaches. The scope of the present invention is determined by the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A method of wireless communication performed by a base station (<NUM>, <NUM>), comprising:
transmitting (<NUM>, <NUM>) a message, to a user equipment, UE (<NUM>, <NUM>), instructing the UE to activate or update a reference signal, RS corresponding to an uplink communication transmitted by the UE;
determining a time period for the base station to wait before communicating with the UE,
wherein the time period is either a first time period based on a determination that the UE identified a beam configuration (<NUM>) of the base station or a second time period, longer than the first time period, based on a determination that the UE did not identify the beam configuration (<NUM>) of the base station;
communicating (<NUM>) with the UE (<NUM>), after the time period, using a beam configuration (<NUM>) of the base station that corresponds to a beam configuration of the UE for transmitting the RS, and wherein the time period includes a time for the UE to determine a received power of the RS in order to find an uplink transmit power for the uplink communication.