Patent Description:
It has been agreed to facilitate power bosting of PTRS in the NR standardisation process. Details of the agreement are provided below.

"<NPL>, specifies and establishes the characteristics of the physicals layer procedures of data channels for <NUM>-NR and discusse a user equipment phase tracking reference signal (UE PT-RS) transmission procedure.

The present invention has been made to address at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are matter of the dependent claims.

A radio resource control (RRC) parameter is introduced to configure the PDSCH to PTRS energy per resource element (EPRE) ratio per PTRS port. The parameter has <NUM> bits and If PDSCH to PTRS EPRE ratio per PTRS port is not configured for the downlink, this parameter is set to a default value.

At least in the case of downlink (DL) single user, multiple input, multiple output (SU-MIMO) scheduling, the EPRE ratio between PTRS and PDSCH is by default implicitly indicated by the number of scheduled PTRS ports for the UE. The default EPRE ratio is 0dB for <NUM> PTRS port case and 3dB for <NUM> PTRS port case. Other combinations including EPRE up to 6dB are allowed by RRC configuration of association between number of DL PTRS ports and EPRE ratios.

A DL PTRS port and the DL DMRS port(s) within the associated DL DMRS port group are quasi co-located (QCLed) with respect to delay spread, Doppler spread, Doppler shift, average delay and spatial Rx parameters.

If one DL PTRS port is transmitted for two scheduled DL DMRS port groups, the PTRS port and the DMRS port(s) which are not in the associated DMRS port group are QCLed with respect to Doppler spread, Doppler shift and, potentially, spatial QCL parameters.

The PDSCH to PTRS EPRE ratio per layer is equal to: -<NUM>*log10(NPTRS) - A where the parameter A is given by the table shown at <FIG> using the RRC parameter : DL-PTRS-EPRE-ratio, with a default value of <NUM>.

When the UE is scheduled with NPTRS PTRS ports in downlink and the PTRS port i is associated to <MAT> DMRS ports, then if the UE is configured with the higher layer parameter epre-RATIO, the ratio of PDSCH EPRE to PTRS EPRE per layer per RE for PTRS port i (ρPTRS,i) is given by: <MAT> where αPTRS,i is as shown in the table in <FIG>, according to the epre-RATIO.

The UE may assume epre-RATIO is set to state "<NUM>" in <FIG> if not configured.

Embodiments of the present disclosure aim to address issues connected with boosting a power of a reference signal, regardless of whether such issues are mentioned herein or not.

According to the present disclosure there is provided an apparatus and method as set forth. Other features of the disclosure will be apparent from the description which follows.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of boosting the power of a reference signal, in a telecommunication system, across DMRS groups.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of boosting the power of a reference signal, in a telecommunication system, across DMRS groups, wherein one reference signal port is shared by a plurality of DMRS groups, wherein the reference signal associated with one of the plurality of DMRS groups borrows power from one of the others of the plurality of DMRS groups.

In the claimed embodiment, the reference signal is a reference signal associated with phase tracking.

In the claimed embodiment, for uplink transmission, two reference signal ports are configured.

In the claimed embodiment, the boosting power is limited on a per antenna or per port basis.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of boosting power of a phase tracking reference signal, PTRS, in a telecommunication system, wherein PTRS is used in an uplink transmission and two PTRS ports are configured and whereby the power boosting is defined by the table <NUM> which relates the power to a number of PUSCH layers.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of boosting power for codebook and non-codebook based uplink transmissions in a telecommunication system, wherein a power constraint is defined and signalled for the uplink transmissions on a per antenna or per antenna port basis.

In the claimed embodiment, a different power boosting scheme is applied depending upon whether the per antenna or per antenna port constraint is imposed upon a UE or a base station.

In the claimed embodiment, if the constraint is imposed upon the UE, this is derived from a UE capability report.

In an embodiment, if the constraint is imposed upon the base station, this is indicated using DCI, MAC CE, RRC or other form of downlink signaling, explicitly.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory data carrier carrying control code to implement the methods of any of the previous aspects.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided an apparatus arranged to perform the method of any of the previously defined aspects.

Although a few preferred embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure, as defined in the appended claims.

Advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

For a better understanding of the disclosure, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:.

Embodiments of the disclosure deal with power boosting issue for PTRS in downlink (DL) transmission. The equation below shows that power boosting can be divided into two parts: <MAT>.

The first term means that when multiple PTRS ports are configured to a UE, each associated with one DMRS port group, the power from the muted resource elements (REs) because of the orthogonal multiplexing of PTRS ports and PTRS port and data can be effectively borrowed for power boosting as shown in <FIG>. This figure shows two DMRS groups - <NUM> and <NUM> - each having two associated PTRS ports, since there are two related oscillators.

When PTRS Port <NUM> (<NUM>) is transmitted on DMRS group <NUM>, the corresponding PTRS port <NUM> (<NUM>) on DMRS group <NUM> can be muted, allowing PTRS port <NUM> (<NUM>) on DMRS group <NUM> to "borrow" some power to boost signals, as represented by the larger height of the column <NUM> in <FIG>.

Similarly, when PTRS Port <NUM> (<NUM>) on DMRS group <NUM> is transmitting, PTRS port <NUM> (<NUM>) on DMRS group <NUM> is muted, allowing PTRS port <NUM> (<NUM>) to "borrow" some power to boost signals.

The second term in the above equation means that within one DMRS group associated with one PTRS port, power can be borrowed across layers to boost PTRS port power as shown <FIG>.

This shows <NUM> layers - <NUM> and <NUM> - in a single DMRS group with a single PTRS port. Here, muting the PTRS port in one layer, enables the power in the corresponding PTRS port in the other layer to be boosted.

The power boosting mechanism can be successfully applied in the case where one PRTS port and one DMRS port group are configured and the PTRS port is associated to this DMRS port group. It can also be applied to the case where two PTRS ports and two DMRS port groups are configured and each PTRS port is associated with a different DMRS port group. In effect, one PTRS port can only be associated with one DMRS group.

However, in future systems, it has been agreed that one PTRS port can be transmitted for two scheduled DL DMRS port groups, and this PTRS port can be shared by two DMRS port groups because this PTRS port and the DMRS port(s) which are not in the associated DMRS port group are QCLed with respect to Doppler spread and Doppler shift. In such a case, the first term in the equation above is <NUM> and the power boosting is always derived from cross layer power borrowing as shown in <FIG>. In such a case, PTRS power is only boosted based on the number of PDSCH layers within the DMRS port group containing DMRS port associated with the PTRS port as shown in <FIG>. Here PTRS is boosted by <NUM> dB only and the power for the muted REs in DMRS group <NUM> is wasted.

However, if two DMRS groups can share the same power source, cross layer power borrowing is still possible and for the same assumption in <FIG>, PTRS port can be boosted by <NUM> dB as shown in <FIG>, where the vertical columns straddling all groups and layers indicate the degree of power borrowing possible.

Embodiments of the disclosure employ one of three alternative solutions to avoid wasting the power of the muted REs in another DMRS group when one PTRS is transmitted and two DMRS groups are scheduled.

In the first alternative, when one PTRS is configured and two DMRS port groups are scheduled, power boosting is limited to the DMRS port group associated with the PTRS port. Otherwise, two PTRS ports need to be configured if two DMRS port groups are scheduled.

In the second alternative, power borrowing can be cross DMRS groups when one PTRS port is configured for two scheduled DMRS groups. Adding an additional term to the previous equation gives: <MAT> where γPTRS,i is shown in the table of <FIG>. The third term γPTRS,i is only added under the condition that one PTRS port is configured and two DMRS port groups are scheduled.

In the third alternative, power borrowing can be cross DMRS groups when one PTRS port is configured for two scheduled DMRS groups. This requires a revision of αPTRS,i and the table of <FIG>, where m is the number of PDSCH layers not within the DMRS port group containing DMRS port associated with the PTRS port i. Here the total number of PDSCH layers in two scheduled DMRS groups is reflected in third row of the table. It may be noted that the third row is only used when one PTRS port is configured for two scheduled DMRS groups.

As a further alternative, it is possible to apply multiple tables based on m under the condition that one PTRS port is configured and two DMRS port groups are scheduled. <FIG> show the different tables to be applied for values of m between <NUM> and <NUM> respectively. These tables are indexed by m, representing the number of PDSCH layers, as shown upper left, in each case.

In the claimed embodiment of the present disclosure, when one UL PTRS port is transmitted, PUSCH to PTRS power ratio per layer per resource element (RE) = - A, where A is given by the table shown in <FIG> using the RRC parameter, UL-PTRS-EPRE-ratio, with default value of <NUM>.

Since sharing the same power source is always possible at the UE, the same table can be used when two PTRS ports are configured as well.

The previous embodiments were concerned with DL power boost, but there is no reason why the same rationale cannot be applied to UL transmissions. Here, the UE may use <NUM> panels, each one using the same power source and embodiments make use of the inventive concept that <NUM> PTRS ports can be configured using the same table (as shown in <FIG>) for each of the PTRS ports. Embodiments of the disclosure may be further configured to use more than <NUM> PTRS ports as required, with each using the same table.

Another embodiment deals with an issue concerning constraints on the ability to "borrow" power. If there is a constraint on per antenna/antenna port power, because RF chain cost is higher without such a constraint, power boosting may be adjusted to include such constraint.

For instance, certain types of equipment, referred to here as "low-cost," it may not be possible to boost power on the basis of "borrowed" power from a muted RE. This would typically apply to the UE, but base stations could also be so affected.

For UL codebook-based partial coherent or non-coherent transmissions, there have been discussions regarding how to apply per antenna/antenna port constraints. However, there are currently certain configurations or scenarios which have not been resolved.

Firstly, the same principle is also applied to DL codebook-based partial or non-coherent transmission if the cost of the access point is limited.

Secondly, for non-codebook based transmission, the same per antenna/antenna port power constraint applies. If the per antenna/antenna port power constraint is γi for antenna/antenna port i and power boosting factor without constraint is β, the power boosting factor is scaled by γi/β subject to the per antenna/antenna port power constraint.

Thirdly, such per antenna/antenna port power constraint depends on UE or base station (e.g., gNB, eNB, NodeB) capability. If the UE or gNB has a high cost RF chain and such constraint may not be applied, power boosting may follow the original agreements as it increases the SINR of PTRS, which could potentially be used for channel estimation. Whether or not to adopt a per antenna/antenna port power constraint may be one of the UE or gNB features, determined as required. From the UE side, it may be included in a UE capability report or other explicit form of UE feedback. From the gNB side, it may be indicated to the UE using DCI, MAC CE, RRC or other form of downlink signaling, explicitly.

Two alternatives to handle such constraint form embodiments of the present disclosure.

In the first alternative corresponding to the claimed embodiment, by default, there is no per antenna/antenna port constraint and the original power boosting mechanism is applied. For UL, if the UE reports in the form of a UE capability report or other form of UE feedback to adopt per antenna/antenna port power constraint explicitly, the gNB expects that such constraint is applied and may adjust following procedure accordingly, if necessary. For DL, if the gNB signals to adopt per antenna/antenna port power constraint explicitly, the UE expects that such constraint is applied and may adjust following procedure accordingly, if necessary.

In the second alternative, there is no default mode. For UL, the UE always reports (or signals in some other form of UE feedback) that per antenna/antenna port power constraint is adopted. For DL, the gNB always reports, (using DCI, MAC CE, RRC or other form of signaling) to indicate to the UE that per antenna/antenna port power constraint is adopted.

The prior embodiments refer to PTRS as the reference signal, but the same principles apply to other reference signals, such as CSI-RS, DMRS, SRS and TRS where power boosting may be employed when necessary. The embodiments which refer to PTRS are to be considered as exemplary only and the skilled person will understand that benefits may be derived by applying the techniques of the present disclosure to other reference signals in a telecommunication system, as desired.

For DMRS, it has been agreed in the standardization process that DMRS port can be power boosted. The power boosting per antenna/antenna port limit may also apply to DMRS antenna port and in such a case, the two alternative solutions mentioned previously may also be applied to DMRS. For other Reference Signals, power boosting is still under active discussion but if it is agreed, per antenna/antenna port limits as described herein may also be applied.

At least some of the example embodiments described herein may be constructed, partially or wholly, using dedicated special-purpose hardware. Terms such as "component," "module" or "unit" used herein may include, but are not limited to, a hardware device, such as circuitry in the form of discrete or integrated components, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which performs certain tasks or provides the associated functionality. In some embodiments, the described elements may be configured to reside on a tangible, persistent, addressable storage medium and may be configured to execute on one or more processors.

These functional elements may in some embodiments include, by way of example, components, such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuitry, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. Although the example embodiments have been described with reference to the components, modules and units discussed herein, such functional elements may be combined into fewer elements or separated into additional elements. Various combinations of optional features have been described herein, and it will be appreciated that described features may be combined in any suitable combination. In particular, the features of any one example embodiment may be combined with features of any other embodiment, as appropriate, except where such combinations are mutually exclusive. Throughout this specification, the term "comprising" or "comprises" means including the component(s) specified but not to the exclusion of the presence of others.

Claim 1:
A method executed by a terminal for boosting power of a phase tracking reference signal, PTRS, in a telecommunication system, wherein a PTRS is used in an uplink transmission and at least one uplink PTRS port is configured and whereby the power boosting is defined by means of first information relating the power to a number of physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH, layers, the method comprising:
receiving, from a base station, the first information related to power of an uplink PTRS, wherein the first information is the RRC parameter UL-PTRS-energy per resource element, EPRE, ratio with default value of <NUM>;
identifying a factor related to a PUSCH to PTRS power ratio per layer per resource element, RE, wherein the factor is based on the first information and a number of PUSCH layers,
wherein the factor related to the PUSCH to PTRS power ratio per layer per RE is further based on a number of uplink PTRS ports (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
characterized in that
defining a power constraint for the uplink transmissions on a per antenna or per antenna port basis;
transmitting to the base station UE capability information related to per antenna or per antenna port power constraint.