Patent Description:
Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication and to techniques and apparatuses for an indoor communication mode for user equipment.

<CIT> (ERICSSON TELEFON AB L M [SE]) <NUM> August <NUM>, relates to handling of transmission parameters, related to whether or not the UE is indoors. <CIT> (VENKATRAMAN SAI PRADEEP [US] ET AL) <NUM> September <NUM>, relates to mobile positioning and/or navigation techniques.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE) includes determining that the UE is located in an indoor environment; and communicating using an indoor communication mode based at least in part on determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment.

In some aspects, a method of wireless communication performed by a wireless communication device includes determining that a UE is located in an indoor environment; and transmitting, to the UE, an environmental indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment.

In some aspects, a UE for wireless communication includes a memory and one or more processors coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors configured to: determine that the UE is located in an indoor environment; and communicate using an indoor communication mode based at least in part on determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment.

In some aspects, a wireless communication device for wireless communication includes a memory and one or more processors coupled to the memory, the memory and the one or more processors configured to: determine that a UE is located in an indoor environment; and transmit, to the UE, an environmental indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions for wireless communication includes one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a UE, cause the UE to: determine that the UE is located in an indoor environment; and communicate using an indoor communication mode based at least in part on determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment.

In some aspects, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions for wireless communication includes one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a wireless communication device, cause the wireless communication device to: determine that a UE is located in an indoor environment; and transmit, to the UE, an environmental indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication includes means for determining that the apparatus is located in an indoor environment; and means for communicating using an indoor communication mode based at least in part on determining that the apparatus is located in the indoor environment.

In some aspects, an apparatus for wireless communication includes means for determining that a UE is located in an indoor environment; and means for transmitting, to the UE, an environmental indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment.

While aspects are described in the present disclosure by illustration to some examples, those skilled in the art will understand that such aspects may be implemented in many different arrangements and scenarios. Techniques described herein may be implemented using different platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, and/or packaging arrangements. For example, some aspects may be implemented via integrated chip embodiments or other non-module-component based devices (e.g., end-user devices, vehicles, communication devices, computing devices, industrial equipment, retail/purchasing devices, medical devices, or artificial intelligence-enabled devices). Aspects may be implemented in chip-level components, modular components, non-modular components, non-chip-level components, device-level components, or system-level components. Devices incorporating described aspects and features may include additional components and features for implementation and practice of claimed and described aspects. For example, transmission and reception of wireless signals may include a number of components for analog and digital purposes (e.g., hardware components including antennas, radio frequency chains, power amplifiers, modulators, buffers, processors, interleavers, adders, or summers). It is intended that aspects described herein may be practiced in a wide variety of devices, components, systems, distributed arrangements, or end-user devices of varying size, shape, and constitution.

The transceiver may be used by a processor (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>) and memory <NUM> to perform aspects of any of the methods described herein (for example, as described with reference to <FIG>).

The transceiver may be used by a processor (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>) and memory <NUM> to perform aspects of any of the methods described herein (for example, as described with reference to <FIG>).

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 an indoor communication mode for UEs, 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>, 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 include a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions (e.g., code and/or program code) for wireless communication. For example, the one or more instructions, when executed (e.g., directly, or after compiling, converting, and/or interpreting) by one or more processors of the base station <NUM> and/or the UE <NUM>, may cause the one or more processors, the UE <NUM>, and/or the base station <NUM> to perform or direct operations of, for example, process <NUM> of <FIG>, process <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes as described herein. In some aspects, executing instructions may include running the instructions, converting the instructions, compiling the instructions, and/or interpreting the instructions, among other examples.

In some aspects, the UE includes means for obtaining, using a sensor, one or more sensor measurements associated with the indoor environment. In some aspects, the UE includes means for comparing the one or more sensor measurements to information in a knowledge database. In some aspects, the UE includes means for receiving an environmental indication from an access point. In some aspects, the UE includes means for receiving a signal from an access point or means for performing one or more measurements associated with the signal.

In some aspects, the UE includes means for detecting a transition of the UE from the indoor environment to an outdoor environment and/or means for communicating using an outdoor communication mode based at least in part on detecting the transition. In some aspects, the UE includes means for detecting a transition of the UE from the indoor environment to a partial indoor environment and/or means for communicating using a partial indoor communication mode based at least in part on detecting the transition. In some aspects, the UE includes means for transmitting, to a wireless communication device, an environmental status indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment.

In some aspects, a wireless communication device includes means for determining that a UE is located in an indoor environment and/or means for transmitting, to the UE, an environmental indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment. In some aspects, the means for the wireless communication device to perform operations described herein may include, for example, one or more of transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, modulator <NUM>, antenna <NUM>, demodulator <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, or scheduler <NUM>. In some aspects, the means for the wireless communication device to perform operations described herein may include, for example, one or more of antenna <NUM>, demodulator <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, modulator <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, or memory <NUM>.

In some aspects, the wireless communication device includes means for receiving a signal from the UE or means for performing one or more measurements associated with the signal. In some aspects, the wireless communication device includes means for detecting a transition of the UE from the indoor environment to a partial indoor environment and/or means for transmitting, to the UE, an environmental indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment. In some aspects, the wireless communication device includes means for transmitting, to an additional wireless communication device, an environmental status indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example associated with wireless communication environments, in accordance with the present disclosure. <FIG> depicts an outdoor environment <NUM> and an indoor environment <NUM>.

In some aspects, an outdoor environment may include a wireless communication environment that is located outdoors and an indoor environment may include a wireless communication environment that is located indoors. In some implementations, an indoor environment may be an environment that causes a specified amount of radio signal loss associated with a radio signal being transmitted between a device in the indoor environment and a device in the outdoor environment. In some implementations, an indoor environment may be an environment in which a device is completely enclosed. For example, an indoor environment may be an environment in which a signal transmitted between a device located in an indoor environment to a device located in an adjacent outdoor environment is attenuated by a physical barrier. In some implementations, an indoor environment may be an environment that provides protection to one or more communication links in an adjacent outdoor environment from receiving a level of interference from a UE located in the indoor environment that satisfies an indoor environment condition. For example, the indoor environment condition may include an interference threshold, among other examples. In various implementations, an indoor environment may include an interior of a building, a vehicle, and/or a cave, among other examples.

A partially indoor environment may include an environment that includes one or more characteristics of an indoor environment and one or more characteristics of an outdoor environment. For example, a partially indoor environment may be an environment in which a signal transmitted between a device located in an indoor environment to a device located in an adjacent outdoor environment is attenuated by a physical barrier, where the attenuation is less than that associated with an indoor environment. In some implementations, a partially indoor environment may be an environment that provides protection to one or more communication links being transmitted in an adjacent outdoor environment from receiving a level of interference from a UE located in the indoor environment that satisfies a partially indoor environment condition. For example, the partially indoor environment condition may include an interference threshold that is less than an interference threshold associated with an indoor environment. For example, a partially indoor environment may include a covered deck, a patio with an umbrella, a parking garage, and/or an interior of a tent, among other examples.

The wireless communications depicted in <FIG> may utilize millimeter wave communications. Co-primary licensed millimeter wave use may be enabled by taking advantage of the highly directive nature of communication links in this high band spectrum. For example, millimeter wave frequencies may allow for use of advanced antenna arrays for beamforming and beam tracking to provide connectivity in both line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight conditions by leveraging path diversity and reflections.

As shown in <FIG>, a base station <NUM> may communicate with a base station <NUM> via a communication link <NUM>. A pair of beams <NUM> may be associated with the communication link <NUM>. The communication link <NUM> may be referred to as an incumbent link, and the base stations <NUM> and <NUM> may be referred to as incumbent devices. Incumbent devices and/or incumbent links are devices and/or links, respectively, that have been established prior to introduction of a new wireless communication paradigm. In the case of millimeter wave communication, incumbent links often include fixed point-to-point links between fixed devices. In some implementations, for example, base stations <NUM> and/or <NUM> may provide backhaul services for an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network. In some cases, regulations may require protection of incumbent communication links when carriers introduce new communication paradigms (e.g., when implementing a mobile millimeter wave network).

In many cases, incumbent links in millimeter wave wireless communication systems involve line-of-sight communications between the transmitter and receiver, as the beams are often fairly narrow. When a new base station is introduced, for example, coexistence of communication links may be enabled based on interference analysis, which may be performed by base stations and/or UEs. For example, a new base station <NUM> may be introduced and, to protect the incumbent link <NUM>, certain communication directions may be restricted (e.g., prohibited and/or restricted to certain beams, bandwidths, and/or transmission power), as indicated by the dashed arrows associated with beams <NUM>. Other links may be permitted without restriction, as indicated by the solid arrows associated with beams <NUM>. These links may be between the base station <NUM> and one or more other base stations, relay devices, and/or UEs <NUM>, among other examples.

For example, in order to enable mobile use cases, the interference analysis may prohibit transmission in a direction of the incumbent receiver. In some cases, mobile devices may be unlikely to be in line of site of the incumbent point to point link receivers and since the base station <NUM> may control communications with mobile devices <NUM>, the base station <NUM> may perform interference analysis to determine whether the mobile devices <NUM> may cause interference to the incumbent link <NUM>. In addition to, or in lieu of, restricting directions of communication, other techniques may be used to facilitate protection of incumbent links. For example, link redundancy and advanced beam management may enable flexibility for beam selection. Database aided protection may be used and/or measurement-aided protection may be used. Many of these protections may result in reduced capabilities of the UEs <NUM> and/or wireless networks serving the UEs <NUM>, which may degrade UE performance. These reductions in capability and performance may be present whether the UE <NUM> is located in an outdoor environment or an indoor environment.

However, communications in an indoor environment (or a partially indoor environment) may support advanced use cases while posing less risk of harmful interference to outdoor incumbent links than may be posed by communications in an outdoor environment due to the building entry and exit losses for corresponding frequencies. As shown in <FIG>, for example, a UE <NUM> located in an indoor environment may communicate with another UE <NUM> via a communication link <NUM> that is located in the indoor environment. The UE <NUM> may communicate with an access point <NUM> using a communication link <NUM>, and/or the UE <NUM> may communicate with the access point <NUM> using a communication link <NUM>. Because the communication links are located within the indoor environment, they may pose less risk of interference to the incumbent link <NUM> than outdoor communications such as the communication link <NUM> between the UE <NUM> and the base station <NUM>, and/or the communication link <NUM> between the access point <NUM> and the base station <NUM>. Professionally installed fixed indoor devices may be configured with increased functionality as they are unlikely to pose an interference risk to outdoor incumbent links. However, the UEs <NUM> and <NUM>, which may move between indoor and outdoor environments, may be configured with risk mitigation restrictions that may unnecessarily restrict functionality within the indoor environment <NUM>, leading to decreased device and/or network performance.

Aspects of techniques and apparatuses described herein may facilitate providing an indoor environment operating mode that allows a device to operate with enhanced functionality when the device is located in an indoor environment as compared to functionality of the device when the device is located in an outdoor environment. In some aspects, a UE may determine that the UE is located in an indoor environment and, based at least in part on the determination, may communicate using an indoor communication mode. The UE may determine that the UE is located in an indoor environment using a sensor such as a radar device and/or a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) device, among other examples. In some aspects, the UE may determine that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on receiving an environmental indication from an access point and/or based at least in part on performing measurements associated with a signal received from an access point. Similarly, in some aspects, the UE may detect a transition to a partially indoor environment and, based at least in part on that detection, may operate in accordance with a partially indoor communication mode.

In this way, aspects may facilitate enabling enhanced functionality of a UE when the UE is located in an indoor or partially indoor environment, while protecting incumbent links from interference by the UE while the UE is located in an outdoor environment. As a result, aspects may facilitate improved UE performance and/or improved network performance.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> associated with an indoor communication mode for a UE, in accordance with the present disclosure. As shown in <FIG>, a UE <NUM>, a wireless communication device <NUM>, and a wireless communication device <NUM> may communicate with one another. In some aspects, the wireless communication device <NUM> may be an access point and/or a base station. In some aspects, the wireless communication device <NUM> may be an access point and/or a base station.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may determine that the UE <NUM> is located in an indoor environment. In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may obtain, using a sensor, one or more sensor measurements associated with the indoor environment. The UE <NUM> may determine that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on the one or more sensor measurements. For example, the sensor may include a radar device and/or a LIDAR device, among other examples. In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may compare the one or more sensor measurements to information in a knowledge database and determine that the UE <NUM> is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on comparing the one or more sensor measurements to the information. For example, a database stored at the UE <NUM>, at a wireless communication device <NUM> (e.g., an access point), or other device may include a mapping between sensor measurements and environments.

In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may generate a sensing measurement report. The sensing measurement report may include any number of different types of information associated with the one or more sensor measurements. For example, the sensing measurement report may indicate the one or more sensor measurements, settings associated with the sensors, measurement times, measurement locations, and/or information derived from any of the above, among other examples. The UE <NUM> may transmit the sensing measurement report to the wireless communication device <NUM>. In some aspects, the wireless communication device <NUM> may determine an environmental status (e.g., whether the UE <NUM> is in an indoor environment, an outdoor environment, or a partial indoor environment) associated with the UE <NUM> based at least in part on the sensing measurement report. The wireless communication device <NUM> may configure, based at least in part on determining the environmental status associated with the UE <NUM>, a set of transmission parameters associated with the UE <NUM>. In some aspects, the wireless communication device <NUM> may transmit the set of transmission parameters to the UE <NUM>.

In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may receive an environmental indication from an access point and determine that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on the environmental indication. The environmental indication may be an explicit indication that indicates that the UE <NUM> is located in the indoor environment. In some aspects, the environmental indication may include an implicit indication (e.g., a measurement associated with a sensor and/or a transmitted signal) that the UE <NUM> is located in the indoor environment. In some aspects, for example, a wireless communication device <NUM> may receive a signal from the UE <NUM> and determine, based at least in part on one or more measurements associated with the signal, that the UE <NUM> is located in an indoor environment. The wireless communication device <NUM> may indicate to the UE <NUM> that the UE <NUM> is in the indoor environment. In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may receive a signal from the UE <NUM> and perform one or more measurements associated with the signal. The UE <NUM> may determine that the UE <NUM> is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on the one or more measurements associated with the signal.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may transmit, to the wireless communication device <NUM> (e.g., an access point), an environmental status indication that indicates that the UE <NUM> is located in the indoor environment. As shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may, alternatively or additionally, transmit an environmental status indication to the wireless communication device <NUM> (e.g., a base station). As shown by reference number <NUM>, the wireless communication device <NUM> may transmit an environmental status indication indicating that the UE <NUM> is located in the indoor environment to the wireless communication device <NUM>.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may communicate using an indoor communication mode based at least in part on determining that the UE <NUM> is located in the indoor environment. In some aspects, an indoor communication mode may be a mode in which one or more communication parameters are adjusted as compared to an outdoor communication mode. For example, in an indoor communication mode, a transmission power level may be greater than a transmission power level in an outdoor communication mode and/or a different beam and/or frequency may be used than would be used for an outdoor communication mode, among other examples.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may detect a transition of the UE <NUM> from the indoor environment to an outdoor environment. In some aspects, detecting the transition of the UE <NUM> from the indoor environment to the outdoor environment may include detecting the transition based at least in part on determining that a transition time condition is satisfied. For example, in some aspects, a time condition may be established such that the UE <NUM> may detect the transition only if a change in sensor measurements and/or signal measurements has a duration that satisfies the time condition. In this way, for example, if the UE <NUM> moves to the outdoor environment and then returns to the indoor environment quickly, the communication mode need not be changed twice. In some aspects, the UE <NUM> may detect a transition of the UE <NUM> from the indoor environment to a partial indoor environment.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may communicate using an outdoor communication mode based at least in part on detecting the transition to the outdoor environment. As also shown by reference number <NUM>, the UE <NUM> may communicate using a partial indoor communication mode based at least in part on detecting the transition to the partial indoor environment.

As described above, aspects may facilitate enabling enhanced functionality of a UE <NUM> when the UE <NUM> is located in an indoor or partially indoor environment, while protecting incumbent links from interference by the UE <NUM> while the UE <NUM> is located in an outdoor environment. As a result, aspects may facilitate improved UE <NUM> performance and/or improved network performance.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a UE, in accordance with the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where the UE (e.g., UE <NUM>) performs operations associated with an indoor communication mode for UEs.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include determining that the UE is located in an indoor environment (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (e.g., using determination component <NUM>, depicted in <FIG>) may determine that the UE is located in an indoor environment, as described above.

As further shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include communicating using an indoor communication mode based at least in part on determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment (block <NUM>). For example, the UE (e.g., using reception component <NUM> and/or transmission component <NUM>, depicted in <FIG>) may communicate using an indoor communication mode based at least in part on determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment, as described above.

In a first aspect, process <NUM> includes obtaining, using a sensor, one or more sensor measurements associated with the indoor environment, wherein determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment comprises determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on the one or more sensor measurements.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the sensor comprises a radar device.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the sensor comprises a light detection and ranging device.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, process <NUM> includes comparing the one or more sensor measurements to information in a knowledge database, wherein determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment comprises determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on comparing the one or more sensor measurements to the information.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, process <NUM> includes generating a sensing measurement report that indicates the one or more sensor measurements, transmitting the sensing measurement report to a wireless communication device, and receiving an environmental indication from the wireless communication device, wherein the environmental indication is based at least in part on the sensing measurement report.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with the fifth aspect, process <NUM> includes receiving a set of transmission parameters from the wireless communication device, wherein the set of transmission parameters is based at least in part on the environmental indication.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, process <NUM> includes receiving an environmental indication from an access point, wherein determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment comprises determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on the environmental indication.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, process <NUM> includes receiving a signal from an access point, and performing one or more measurements associated with the signal, wherein determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment comprises determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on the one or more measurements associated with the signal.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, process <NUM> includes detecting a transition of the UE from the indoor environment to an outdoor environment, and communicating using an outdoor communication mode based at least in part on detecting the transition.

In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with the ninth aspect, detecting the transition of the UE from the indoor environment to the outdoor environment comprises detecting the transition of the UE from the indoor environment to the outdoor environment based at least in part on determining that a transition time condition is satisfied.

In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through tenth aspects, process <NUM> includes detecting a transition of the UE from the indoor environment to a partial indoor environment, and communicating using a partial indoor communication mode based at least in part on detecting the transition.

In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eleventh aspects, process <NUM> includes transmitting, to a wireless communication device, an environmental status indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment.

In a thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with the twelfth aspect, the wireless communication device comprises a base station.

In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with the twelfth aspect, the wireless communication device comprises an access point.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a wireless communication device, in accordance with the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where the wireless communication device (e.g., wireless communication device <NUM> and/or wireless communication device <NUM>) performs operations associated with an indoor communication mode for UEs.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include determining that a UE is located in an indoor environment (block <NUM>). For example, the wireless communication device (e.g., using determination component <NUM>, depicted in <FIG>) may determine that a UE is located in an indoor environment, as described above.

As further shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include transmitting, to the UE, an environmental indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment (block <NUM>). For example, the wireless communication device (e.g., using transmission component <NUM>, depicted in <FIG>) may transmit, to the UE, an environmental indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment, as described above.

In a first aspect, process <NUM> includes receiving, from the UE, a sensing measurement report that indicates one or more sensor measurements, wherein determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment comprises determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on the sensing measurement report; and transmitting an environmental indication to the UE.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, process <NUM> includes configuring, based at least in part on determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment, a set of transmission parameters associated with the UE.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with the second aspect, process <NUM> includes transmitting the set of transmission parameters to the UE.

In a fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through third aspects, process <NUM> includes receiving a signal from the UE, and performing one or more measurements associated with the signal, wherein determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment comprises determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on the one or more measurements associated with the signal.

In a fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourth aspects, process <NUM> includes detecting a transition of the UE from the indoor environment to a partial indoor environment, and transmitting, to the UE, an environmental indication that indicates that the UE is located in the partial indoor environment.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, process <NUM> includes transmitting, to an additional wireless communication device, an environmental status indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with the sixth aspect, the additional wireless communication device comprises a base station.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with the sixth aspect, the wireless communication device comprises an access point.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an example apparatus <NUM> for wireless communication. The apparatus <NUM> may be a UE, or a UE may include the apparatus <NUM>. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> includes a reception component <NUM> and a transmission component <NUM>, which may be in communication with one another (for example, via one or more buses and/or one or more other components). As shown, the apparatus <NUM> may communicate with another apparatus <NUM> (such as a UE, a base station, or another wireless communication device) using the reception component <NUM> and the transmission component <NUM>. As further shown, the apparatus <NUM> may include a determination component <NUM>, among other examples.

In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> may be configured to perform one or more operations described herein in connection with <FIG>. Additionally, or alternatively, the apparatus <NUM> may be configured to perform one or more processes described herein, such as process <NUM> of <FIG>. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> and/or one or more components shown in <FIG> may include one or more components of the UE described above in connection with <FIG>. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more components shown in <FIG> may be implemented within one or more components described above in connection with <FIG>. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more components of the set of components may be implemented at least in part as software stored in a memory. For example, a component (or a portion of a component) may be implemented as instructions or code stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by a controller or a processor to perform the functions or operations of the component.

The determination component <NUM> may determine that the UE is located in an indoor environment. In some aspects, the determination component <NUM> may include one or more antennas, a modulator, a transmit MIMO processor, a transmit processor, a controller/processor, a memory, or a combination thereof, of the UE described above in connection with <FIG>. The reception component <NUM> and/or the transmission component <NUM> may communicate using an indoor communication mode based at least in part on determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment. The determination component <NUM> may obtain, using a sensor, one or more sensor measurements associated with the indoor environment wherein determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment comprises determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on the one or more sensor measurements.

The determination component <NUM> may compare the one or more sensor measurements to information in a knowledge database, wherein determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment comprises determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on comparing the one or more sensor measurements to the information. The reception component <NUM> may receive an environmental indication from an access point, wherein determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment comprises determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on the environmental indication.

The reception component <NUM> may receive a signal from an access point. The determination component <NUM> may perform one or more measurements associated with the signal, wherein determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment comprises determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on the one or more measurements associated with the signal. The determination component <NUM> may detect a transition of the UE from the indoor environment to an outdoor environment. The reception component <NUM> and/or transmission component <NUM> may communicate using an outdoor communication mode based at least in part on detecting the transition.

The determination component <NUM> may detect a transition of the UE from the indoor environment to a partial indoor environment. The reception component <NUM> and/or transmission component <NUM> may communicate using a partial indoor communication mode based at least in part on detecting the transition. The transmission component <NUM> may transmit, to a wireless communication device, an environmental status indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an example apparatus <NUM> for wireless communication. The apparatus <NUM> may be a wireless communication device (e.g., an access point or a base station), or a wireless communication device may include the apparatus <NUM>. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> includes a reception component <NUM> and a transmission component <NUM>, which may be in communication with one another (for example, via one or more buses and/or one or more other components). As shown, the apparatus <NUM> may communicate with another apparatus <NUM> (such as a UE, a base station, or another wireless communication device) using the reception component <NUM> and the transmission component <NUM>. As further shown, the apparatus <NUM> may include a determination component <NUM>, among other examples.

In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> may be configured to perform one or more operations described herein in connection with <FIG>. Additionally, or alternatively, the apparatus <NUM> may be configured to perform one or more processes described herein, such as process <NUM> of <FIG>. In some aspects, the apparatus <NUM> and/or one or more components shown in <FIG> may include one or more components of the wireless communication device described above in connection with <FIG>. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more components shown in <FIG> may be implemented within one or more components described above in connection with <FIG>. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more components of the set of components may be implemented at least in part as software stored in a memory. For example, a component (or a portion of a component) may be implemented as instructions or code stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and executable by a controller or a processor to perform the functions or operations of the component.

In some aspects, the reception component <NUM> may include one or more antennas, a demodulator, a MIMO detector, a receive processor, a controller/processor, a memory, or a combination thereof, of the wireless communication device described above in connection with <FIG>.

In some aspects, the transmission component <NUM> may include one or more antennas, a modulator, a transmit MIMO processor, a transmit processor, a controller/processor, a memory, or a combination thereof, of the wireless communication device described above in connection with <FIG>.

The determination component <NUM> may determine that a UE is located in an indoor environment. The transmission component <NUM> may transmit, to the UE, an environmental indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment. The reception component <NUM> may receive a signal from the UE. The determination component <NUM> may perform one or more measurements associated with the signal wherein determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment comprises determining that the UE is located in the indoor environment based at least in part on the one or more measurements associated with the signal.

The determination component <NUM> may detect a transition of the UE from the indoor environment to a partial indoor environment. The transmission component <NUM> may transmit, to the UE, an environmental indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment. The transmission component <NUM> may transmit, to an additional wireless communication device, an environmental status indication that indicates that the UE is located in the indoor environment.

Claim 1:
A user equipment, UE, (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) for wireless communication, comprising:
a memory (<NUM>); and
one or more processors (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), coupled to the memory (<NUM>), configured to:
obtain, using a sensor, one or more sensor measurements associated with an indoor environment (<NUM>), wherein the sensor comprises one or more of a radar device and a light detection and ranging device;
determine (<NUM>, <NUM>) that the UE (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is located in the indoor environment (<NUM>) based at least in part on the one or more sensor measurements; and
communicate (<NUM>, <NUM>) using an indoor communication mode based at least in part on determining that the UE (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is located in the indoor environment (<NUM>).