Patent ID: 12213018

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some wireless communications systems, a user equipment (UE) may communicate with one or more network entities or cells using one or more beams for uplink communications, downlink communications, or both. In some examples, a connection between the UE and a network entity over a given cell may deteriorate (e.g., the connection may be lost, channel characteristics such as a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) or a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) may drop), which may result in inefficient, less reliable, or terminated communication between the UE and the network entity. In order to improve the connection with the network entity or to establish a connection with another network entity, the UE may perform a cell detection (e.g., cell search) or beam measurement procedure to determine whether to perform a cell handover or a beam switch procedure. For example, a network entity may periodically transmit resources as reference signals (e.g., synchronization signal blocks (SSBs), physical broadcast channel (PBCH) transmissions) to the UE, and the UE may measure the reference signals using a beam based on the procedure performed by the UE. The UE may perform cell search by using a wide angle beam, such as a layer 1 beam, an omnidirectional beam, or a pseudo-omnidirectional beam to receive and measure a reference signal. Alternatively, the UE may perform beam measurement by using a narrow angle beam, such as a layer 2 or layer 3 beam to receive and measure the reference signal. Based on a measurement of the reference signal, the UE may determine whether to perform the cell handover procedure (e.g., if the wide angle beam is used) or the beam switch procedure (e.g., if the narrow angle beam is used).

In some examples, the UE may enter a cell panic mode (e.g., trigger cell panic) in an attempt to reduce a latency of cell handover or cell recovery through increased cell search. For example, triggering cell panic may result in the UE increasing a periodicity at which the UE performs cell search and decreasing a periodicity at which the UE performs beam measurement. Increasing cell search periodicity may increase the frequency at which the UE uses a wide angle beam to measure a reference signal, which may reduce cell handover or recovery latency, for example, by increasing opportunities for successfully performing cell handover or recovery based on a measurement of the reference signal.

In some examples, the UE may trigger cell panic in response to determining that a channel metric (e.g., SNR, RSRQ) fails to satisfy (e.g., is less than, is less than or equal to) a threshold (e.g., −6 decibel (dB), −18 dB, or some other threshold). In some cases, however, triggering cell panic may be unnecessary and may result in inefficient resource utilization due to performing cell search more frequently. For example, in the case where the UE is stationary and not located at a cell edge, a sub-optimal beam may be the most likely cause of the channel metric failing to satisfy the threshold. Here, performing beam measurement, rather than performing cell search, may reduce recovery time and may result in greater resource efficiency and reduced power consumption. Therefore, triggering cell panic based solely on the channel metric failing to satisfy the threshold may result in delayed recovery and increased power consumption.

Techniques, systems, and devices are described herein to enable sensor-assisted cell panic triggering, which may reduce the frequency at which cell panic is triggered. For example, sensor-assisted cell panic triggering may modify the criteria for triggering cell panic to be based on an output of a sensor of the UE. For instance, the UE may include a motion sensor such as an inertial motion unit (IMU) that measures a movement of the UE, a rotation of the UE, or a combination thereof. The UE may be configured to trigger cell panic if the channel metric fails to satisfy the threshold and the motion sensor indicates that the UE is moving (e.g., that a movement of the UE satisfies a movement threshold). For example, the movement of the UE in addition to the failure of the channel metric to satisfy the threshold may indicate an increased likelihood that cell failure or deterioration cause the channel metric to drop rather than beam failure. Therefore, the UE may trigger cell panic in response to determining that the channel metric fails to satisfy the threshold and the motion sensor indicating that the movement of the UE satisfies the movement threshold (e.g., within some threshold period of time before the channel metric fails to satisfy the threshold).

Alternatively, if the channel metric satisfies the threshold, the movement of the UE fails to satisfy the movement threshold, or both, the UE may refrain from triggering cell panic. In this example, refraining from triggering cell panic may result in decreasing cell search performance frequency while increasing beam measurement performance frequency compared to if cell panic were triggered. Therefore, the modified criteria for the UE to trigger cell panic may reduce a frequency at which the UE triggers cell panic, thereby reducing the performance of unnecessary cell search and increasing the performance of beam measurement when the channel metric fails to satisfy the threshold. This may result in increased power efficiency, reduced beam recovery or switching latency, improved resource utilization, and increased battery life, among other benefits.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of wireless communications systems. Aspects of the disclosure are additionally described in the context of a communication sequence and a process flow. Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management.

FIG.1illustrates an example of a wireless communications system100that supports techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system100may include one or more network entities105, one or more UEs115, and a core network130. In some examples, the wireless communications system100may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) network, an LTE-A Pro network, a New Radio (NR) network, or a network operating in accordance with other systems and radio technologies, including future systems and radio technologies not explicitly mentioned herein.

The network entities105may be dispersed throughout a geographic area to form the wireless communications system100and may include devices in different forms or having different capabilities. In various examples, a network entity105may be referred to as a network element, a mobility element, a radio access network (RAN) node, or network equipment, among other nomenclature. In some examples, network entities105and UEs115may wirelessly communicate via one or more communication links125(e.g., a radio frequency (RF) access link). For example, a network entity105may support a coverage area110(e.g., a geographic coverage area) over which the UEs115and the network entity105may establish one or more communication links125. The coverage area110may be an example of a geographic area over which a network entity105and a UE115may support the communication of signals according to one or more radio access technologies (RATs).

The UEs115may be dispersed throughout a coverage area110of the wireless communications system100, and each UE115may be stationary, or mobile, or both at different times. The UEs115may be devices in different forms or having different capabilities. Some example UEs115are illustrated inFIG.1. The UEs115described herein may be able to communicate with various types of devices, such as other UEs115or network entities105, as shown inFIG.1.

As described herein, a node of the wireless communications system100, which may be referred to as a network node, or a wireless node, may be a network entity105(e.g., any network entity described herein), a UE115(e.g., any UE described herein), a network controller, an apparatus, a device, a computing system, one or more components, or another suitable processing entity configured to perform any of the techniques described herein. For example, a node may be a UE115. As another example, a node may be a network entity105. As another example, a first node may be configured to communicate with a second node or a third node. In one aspect of this example, the first node may be a UE115, the second node may be a network entity105, and the third node may be a UE115. In another aspect of this example, the first node may be a UE115, the second node may be a network entity105, and the third node may be a network entity105. In yet other aspects of this example, the first, second, and third nodes may be different relative to these examples. Similarly, reference to a UE115, network entity105, apparatus, device, computing system, or the like may include disclosure of the UE115, network entity105, apparatus, device, computing system, or the like being a node. For example, disclosure that a UE115is configured to receive information from a network entity105also discloses that a first node is configured to receive information from a second node.

In some examples, network entities105may communicate with the core network130, or with one another, or both. For example, network entities105may communicate with the core network130via one or more backhaul communication links120(e.g., in accordance with an S1, N2, N3, or other interface protocol). In some examples, network entities105may communicate with one another over a backhaul communication link120(e.g., in accordance with an X2, Xn, or other interface protocol) either directly (e.g., directly between network entities105) or indirectly (e.g., via a core network130). In some examples, network entities105may communicate with one another via a midhaul communication link162(e.g., in accordance with a midhaul interface protocol) or a fronthaul communication link168(e.g., in accordance with a fronthaul interface protocol), or any combination thereof. The backhaul communication links120, midhaul communication links162, or fronthaul communication links168may be or include one or more wired links (e.g., an electrical link, an optical fiber link), one or more wireless links (e.g., a radio link, a wireless optical link), among other examples or various combinations thereof. A UE115may communicate with the core network130through a communication link155.

One or more of the network entities105described herein may include or may be referred to as a base station140(e.g., a base transceiver station, a radio base station, an NR base station, an access point, a radio transceiver, a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB), a next-generation NodeB or a giga-NodeB (either of which may be referred to as a gNB), a 5G NB, a next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), a Home NodeB, a Home eNodeB, or other suitable terminology). In some examples, a network entity105(e.g., a base station140) may be implemented in an aggregated (e.g., monolithic, standalone) base station architecture, which may be configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically integrated within a single network entity105(e.g., a single RAN node, such as a base station140).

In some examples, a network entity105may be implemented in a disaggregated architecture (e.g., a disaggregated base station architecture, a disaggregated RAN architecture), which may be configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically distributed among two or more network entities105, such as an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network, an open RAN (O-RAN) (e.g., a network configuration sponsored by the O-RAN Alliance), or a virtualized RAN (vRAN) (e.g., a cloud RAN (C-RAN)). For example, a network entity105may include one or more of a central unit (CU)160, a distributed unit (DU)165, a radio unit (RU)170, a RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC)175(e.g., a Near-Real Time RIC (Near-RT RIC), a Non-Real Time RIC (Non-RT RIC)), a Service Management and Orchestration (SMO)180system, or any combination thereof. An RU170may also be referred to as a radio head, a smart radio head, a remote radio head (RRH), a remote radio unit (RRU), or a transmission reception point (TRP). One or more components of the network entities105in a disaggregated RAN architecture may be co-located, or one or more components of the network entities105may be located in distributed locations (e.g., separate physical locations). In some examples, one or more network entities105of a disaggregated RAN architecture may be implemented as virtual units (e.g., a virtual CU (VCU), a virtual DU (VDU), a virtual RU (VRU)).

The split of functionality between a CU160, a DU165, and an RU175is flexible and may support different functionalities depending upon which functions (e.g., network layer functions, protocol layer functions, baseband functions, RF functions, and any combinations thereof) are performed at a CU160, a DU165, or an RU175. For example, a functional split of a protocol stack may be employed between a CU160and a DU165such that the CU160may support one or more layers of the protocol stack and the DU165may support one or more different layers of the protocol stack. In some examples, the CU160may host upper protocol layer (e.g., layer 3 (L3), layer 2 (L2)) functionality and signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC), service data adaption protocol (SDAP), Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP)). The CU160may be connected to one or more DUs165or RUs170, and the one or more DUs165or RUs170may host lower protocol layers, such as layer 1 (L1) (e.g., physical (PHY) layer) or L2 (e.g., radio link control (RLC) layer, medium access control (MAC) layer) functionality and signaling, and may each be at least partially controlled by the CU160. Additionally, or alternatively, a functional split of the protocol stack may be employed between a DU165and an RU170such that the DU165may support one or more layers of the protocol stack and the RU170may support one or more different layers of the protocol stack. The DU165may support one or multiple different cells (e.g., via one or more RUs170). In some cases, a functional split between a CU160and a DU165, or between a DU165and an RU170may be within a protocol layer (e.g., some functions for a protocol layer may be performed by one of a CU160, a DU165, or an RU170, while other functions of the protocol layer are performed by a different one of the CU160, the DU165, or the RU170). A CU160may be functionally split further into CU control plane (CU-CP) and CU user plane (CU-UP) functions. A CU160may be connected to one or more DUs165via a midhaul communication link162(e.g., F1, F1-c, F1-u), and a DU165may be connected to one or more RUs170via a fronthaul communication link168(e.g., open fronthaul (FH) interface). In some examples, a midhaul communication link162or a fronthaul communication link168may be implemented in accordance with an interface (e.g., a channel) between layers of a protocol stack supported by respective network entities105that are in communication over such communication links.

In wireless communications systems (e.g., wireless communications system100), infrastructure and spectral resources for radio access may support wireless backhaul link capabilities to supplement wired backhaul connections, providing an IAB network architecture (e.g., to a core network130). In some cases, in an IAB network, one or more network entities105(e.g., IAB nodes104) may be partially controlled by each other. One or more IAB nodes104may be referred to as a donor entity or an IAB donor. One or more DUs165or one or more RUs170may be partially controlled by one or more CUs160associated with a donor network entity105(e.g., a donor base station140). The one or more donor network entities105(e.g., IAB donors) may be in communication with one or more additional network entities105(e.g., IAB nodes104) via supported access and backhaul links (e.g., backhaul communication links120). IAB nodes104may include an IAB mobile termination (IAB-MT) controlled (e.g., scheduled) by DUs165of a coupled IAB donor. An IAB-MT may include an independent set of antennas for relay of communications with UEs115, or may share the same antennas (e.g., of an RU170) of an IAB node104used for access via the DU165of the IAB node104(e.g., referred to as virtual IAB-MT (vIAB-MT)). In some examples, the IAB nodes104may include DUs165that support communication links with additional entities (e.g., IAB nodes104, UEs115) within the relay chain or configuration of the access network (e.g., downstream). In such cases, one or more components of the disaggregated RAN architecture (e.g., one or more IAB nodes104or components of IAB nodes104) may be configured to operate according to the techniques described herein.

In the case of the techniques described herein applied in the context of a disaggregated RAN architecture, one or more components of the disaggregated RAN architecture may be configured to support techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management as described herein. For example, some operations described as being performed by a UE115or a network entity105(e.g., a base station140) may additionally, or alternatively, be performed by one or more components of the disaggregated RAN architecture (e.g., IAB nodes104, DUs165, CUs160, RUs170, RIC175, SMO180).

A UE115may include or may be referred to as a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, a handheld device, or a subscriber device, or some other suitable terminology, where the “device” may also be referred to as a unit, a station, a terminal, or a client, among other examples. A UE115may also include or may be referred to as a personal electronic device such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal computer. In some examples, a UE115may include or be referred to as a wireless local loop (WLL) station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything (IoE) device, or a machine type communications (MTC) device, among other examples, which may be implemented in various objects such as appliances, or vehicles, meters, among other examples.

The UEs115described herein may be able to communicate with various types of devices, such as other UEs115that may sometimes act as relays as well as the network entities105and the network equipment including macro eNBs or gNBs, small cell eNBs or gNBs, or relay base stations, among other examples, as shown inFIG.1.

The UEs115and the network entities105may wirelessly communicate with one another via one or more communication links125(e.g., an access link) over one or more carriers. The term “carrier” may refer to a set of RF spectrum resources having a defined physical layer structure for supporting the communication links125. For example, a carrier used for a communication link125may include a portion of a RF spectrum band (e.g., a bandwidth part (BWP)) that is operated according to one or more physical layer channels for a given radio access technology (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR). Each physical layer channel may carry acquisition signaling (e.g., synchronization signals, system information), control signaling that coordinates operation for the carrier, user data, or other signaling. The wireless communications system100may support communication with a UE115using carrier aggregation or multi-carrier operation. A UE115may be configured with multiple downlink component carriers and one or more uplink component carriers according to a carrier aggregation configuration. Carrier aggregation may be used with both frequency division duplexing (FDD) and time division duplexing (TDD) component carriers. Communication between a network entity105and other devices may refer to communication between the devices and any portion (e.g., entity, sub-entity) of a network entity105. For example, the terms “transmitting,” “receiving,” or “communicating,” when referring to a network entity105, may refer to any portion of a network entity105(e.g., a base station140, a CU160, a DU165, a RU170) of a RAN communicating with another device (e.g., directly or via one or more other network entities105).

The communication links125shown in the wireless communications system100may include downlink transmissions (e.g., forward link transmissions) from a network entity105to a UE115, uplink transmissions (e.g., return link transmissions) from a UE115to a network entity105, or both, among other configurations of transmissions. Carriers may carry downlink or uplink communications (e.g., in an FDD mode) or may be configured to carry downlink and uplink communications (e.g., in a TDD mode).

Signal waveforms transmitted over a carrier may be made up of multiple subcarriers (e.g., using multi-carrier modulation (MCM) techniques such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM)). In a system employing MCM techniques, a resource element may refer to resources of one symbol period (e.g., a duration of one modulation symbol) and one subcarrier, in which case the symbol period and subcarrier spacing may be inversely related. The quantity of bits carried by each resource element may depend on the modulation scheme (e.g., the order of the modulation scheme, the coding rate of the modulation scheme, or both) such that the more resource elements that a device receives and the higher the order of the modulation scheme, the higher the data rate may be for the device. A wireless communications resource may refer to a combination of an RF spectrum resource, a time resource, and a spatial resource (e.g., a spatial layer, a beam), and the use of multiple spatial resources may increase the data rate or data integrity for communications with a UE115.

The time intervals for the network entities105or the UEs115may be expressed in multiples of a basic time unit which may, for example, refer to a sampling period of Ts=1/(Δfmax·Nf) seconds, where Δfmaxmay represent the maximum supported subcarrier spacing, and Nfmay represent the maximum supported discrete Fourier transform (DFT) size. Time intervals of a communications resource may be organized according to radio frames each having a specified duration (e.g., 10 milliseconds (ms)). Each radio frame may be identified by a system frame number (SFN) (e.g., ranging from 0 to 1023).

Each frame may include multiple consecutively numbered subframes or slots, and each subframe or slot may have the same duration. In some examples, a frame may be divided (e.g., in the time domain) into subframes, and each subframe may be further divided into a quantity of slots. Alternatively, each frame may include a variable quantity of slots, and the quantity of slots may depend on subcarrier spacing. Each slot may include a quantity of symbol periods (e.g., depending on the length of the cyclic prefix prepended to each symbol period). In some wireless communications systems100, a slot may further be divided into multiple mini-slots containing one or more symbols. Excluding the cyclic prefix, each symbol period may contain one or more (e.g., Nf) sampling periods. The duration of a symbol period may depend on the subcarrier spacing or frequency band of operation.

A subframe, a slot, a mini-slot, or a symbol may be the smallest scheduling unit (e.g., in the time domain) of the wireless communications system100and may be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI). In some examples, the TTI duration (e.g., a quantity of symbol periods in a TTI) may be variable. Additionally, or alternatively, the smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system100may be dynamically selected (e.g., in bursts of shortened TTIs (sTTIs)).

Physical channels may be multiplexed on a carrier according to various techniques. A physical control channel and a physical data channel may be multiplexed on a downlink carrier, for example, using one or more of time division multiplexing (TDM) techniques, frequency division multiplexing (FDM) techniques, or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques. A control region (e.g., a control resource set (CORESET)) for a physical control channel may be defined by a set of symbol periods and may extend across the system bandwidth or a subset of the system bandwidth of the carrier. One or more control regions (e.g., CORESETs) may be configured for a set of the UEs115. For example, one or more of the UEs115may monitor or search control regions for control information according to one or more search space sets, and each search space set may include one or multiple control channel candidates in one or more aggregation levels arranged in a cascaded manner. An aggregation level for a control channel candidate may refer to an amount of control channel resources (e.g., control channel elements (CCEs)) associated with encoded information for a control information format having a given payload size. Search space sets may include common search space sets configured for sending control information to multiple UEs115and UE-specific search space sets for sending control information to a specific UE115.

A network entity105may provide communication coverage via one or more cells, for example a macro cell, a small cell, a hot spot, or other types of cells, or any combination thereof. The term “cell” may refer to a logical communication entity used for communication with a network entity105(e.g., over a carrier) and may be associated with an identifier for distinguishing neighboring cells (e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCID), a virtual cell identifier (VCID), or others). In some examples, a cell may also refer to a coverage area110or a portion of a coverage area110(e.g., a sector) over which the logical communication entity operates. Such cells may range from smaller areas (e.g., a structure, a subset of structure) to larger areas depending on various factors such as the capabilities of the network entity105. For example, a cell may be or include a building, a subset of a building, or exterior spaces between or overlapping with coverage areas110, among other examples.

A macro cell generally covers a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by the UEs115with service subscriptions with the network provider supporting the macro cell. A small cell may be associated with a lower-powered network entity105(e.g., a lower-powered base station140), as compared with a macro cell, and a small cell may operate in the same or different (e.g., licensed, unlicensed) frequency bands as macro cells. Small cells may provide unrestricted access to the UEs115with service subscriptions with the network provider or may provide restricted access to the UEs115having an association with the small cell (e.g., the UEs115in a closed subscriber group (CSG), the UEs115associated with users in a home or office). A network entity105may support one or multiple cells and may also support communications over the one or more cells using one or multiple component carriers.

In some examples, a carrier may support multiple cells, and different cells may be configured according to different protocol types (e.g., MTC, narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)) that may provide access for different types of devices.

In some examples, a network entity105(e.g., a base station140, an RU170) may be movable and therefore provide communication coverage for a moving coverage area110. In some examples, different coverage areas110associated with different technologies may overlap, but the different coverage areas110may be supported by the same network entity105. In some other examples, the overlapping coverage areas110associated with different technologies may be supported by different network entities105. The wireless communications system100may include, for example, a heterogeneous network in which different types of the network entities105provide coverage for various coverage areas110using the same or different radio access technologies.

The wireless communications system100may be configured to support ultra-reliable communications or low-latency communications, or various combinations thereof. For example, the wireless communications system100may be configured to support ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC). The UEs115may be designed to support ultra-reliable, low-latency, or critical functions. Ultra-reliable communications may include private communication or group communication and may be supported by one or more services such as push-to-talk, video, or data. Support for ultra-reliable, low-latency functions may include prioritization of services, and such services may be used for public safety or general commercial applications. The terms ultra-reliable, low-latency, and ultra-reliable low-latency may be used interchangeably herein.

In some examples, a UE115may be able to communicate directly with other UEs115over a device-to-device (D2D) communication link135(e.g., in accordance with a peer-to-peer (P2P), D2D, or sidelink protocol). In some examples, one or more UEs115of a group that are performing D2D communications may be within the coverage area110of a network entity105(e.g., a base station140, an RU170), which may support aspects of such D2D communications being configured by or scheduled by the network entity105. In some examples, one or more UEs115in such a group may be outside the coverage area110of a network entity105or may be otherwise unable to or not configured to receive transmissions from a network entity105. In some examples, groups of the UEs115communicating via D2D communications may support a one-to-many (1:M) system in which each UE115transmits to each of the other UEs115in the group. In some examples, a network entity105may facilitate the scheduling of resources for D2D communications. In some other examples, D2D communications may be carried out between the UEs115without the involvement of a network entity105.

The core network130may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The core network130may be an evolved packet core (EPC) or 5G core (5GC), which may include at least one control plane entity that manages access and mobility (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME), an access and mobility management function (AMF)) and at least one user plane entity that routes packets or interconnects to external networks (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW), a Packet Data Network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or a user plane function (UPF)). The control plane entity may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management for the UEs115served by the network entities105(e.g., base stations140) associated with the core network130. User IP packets may be transferred through the user plane entity, which may provide IP address allocation as well as other functions. The user plane entity may be connected to IP services150for one or more network operators. The IP services150may include access to the Internet, Intranet(s), an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), or a Packet-Switched Streaming Service.

The wireless communications system100may operate using one or more frequency bands, which may be in the range of 300 megahertz (MHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz). Generally, the region from 300 MHz to 3 GHz is known as the ultra-high frequency (UHF) region or decimeter band because the wavelengths range from approximately one decimeter to one meter in length. The UHF waves may be blocked or redirected by buildings and environmental features, which may be referred to as clusters, but the waves may penetrate structures sufficiently for a macro cell to provide service to the UEs115located indoors. The transmission of UHF waves may be associated with smaller antennas and shorter ranges (e.g., less than 100 kilometers) compared to transmission using the smaller frequencies and longer waves of the high frequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF) portion of the spectrum below 300 MHz.

The wireless communications system100may also operate in a super high frequency (SHF) region using frequency bands from 3 GHz to 30 GHz, also known as the centimeter band, or in an extremely high frequency (EHF) region of the spectrum (e.g., from 30 GHz to 300 GHz), also known as the millimeter band. In some examples, the wireless communications system100may support millimeter wave (mmW) communications between the UEs115and the network entities105(e.g., base stations140, RUs170), and EHF antennas of the respective devices may be smaller and more closely spaced than UHF antennas. In some examples, this may facilitate use of antenna arrays within a device. The propagation of EHF transmissions, however, may be subject to even greater atmospheric attenuation and shorter range than SHF or UHF transmissions. In some examples, UEs115and network entities105may be configured to communicate within an operating band such as a frequency band 1 (FR1) between 4.1 GHz and 7.125 GHz, or a frequency band 2 (FR2) between 24.25 GHz and 52.6 GHz, among other operating bands. The techniques disclosed herein may be employed across transmissions that use one or more different frequency regions, and designated use of bands across these frequency regions may differ by country or regulating body.

The wireless communications system100may utilize both licensed and unlicensed RF spectrum bands. For example, the wireless communications system100may employ License Assisted Access (LAA), LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technology in an unlicensed band such as the 5 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band. While operating in unlicensed RF spectrum bands, devices such as the network entities105and the UEs115may employ carrier sensing for collision detection and avoidance. In some examples, operations in unlicensed bands may be based on a carrier aggregation configuration in conjunction with component carriers operating in a licensed band (e.g., LAA). Operations in unlicensed spectrum may include downlink transmissions, uplink transmissions, P2P transmissions, or D2D transmissions, among other examples.

A network entity105(e.g., a base station140, an RU170) or a UE115may be equipped with multiple antennas, which may be used to employ techniques such as transmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications, or beamforming. The antennas of a network entity105or a UE115may be located within one or more antenna arrays or antenna panels, which may support MIMO operations or transmit or receive beamforming. For example, one or more base station antennas or antenna arrays may be co-located at an antenna assembly, such as an antenna tower. In some examples, antennas or antenna arrays associated with a network entity105may be located in diverse geographic locations. A network entity105may have an antenna array with a set of rows and columns of antenna ports that the network entity105may use to support beamforming of communications with a UE115. Likewise, a UE115may have one or more antenna arrays that may support various MIMO or beamforming operations. Additionally, or alternatively, an antenna panel may support RF beamforming for a signal transmitted via an antenna port.

The network entities105or the UEs115may use MIMO communications to exploit multipath signal propagation and increase the spectral efficiency by transmitting or receiving multiple signals via different spatial layers. Such techniques may be referred to as spatial multiplexing. The multiple signals may, for example, be transmitted by the transmitting device via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Likewise, the multiple signals may be received by the receiving device via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Each of the multiple signals may be referred to as a separate spatial stream and may carry information associated with the same data stream (e.g., the same codeword) or different data streams (e.g., different codewords). Different spatial layers may be associated with different antenna ports used for channel measurement and reporting. MIMO techniques include single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO), where multiple spatial layers are transmitted to the same receiving device, and multiple-user MIMO (MU-MIMO), where multiple spatial layers are transmitted to multiple devices.

Beamforming, which may also be referred to as spatial filtering, directional transmission, or directional reception, is a signal processing technique that may be used at a transmitting device or a receiving device (e.g., a network entity105, a UE115) to shape or steer an antenna beam (e.g., a transmit beam, a receive beam) along a spatial path between the transmitting device and the receiving device. Beamforming may be achieved by combining the signals communicated via antenna elements of an antenna array such that some signals propagating at particular orientations with respect to an antenna array experience constructive interference while others experience destructive interference. The adjustment of signals communicated via the antenna elements may include a transmitting device or a receiving device applying amplitude offsets, phase offsets, or both to signals carried via the antenna elements associated with the device. The adjustments associated with each of the antenna elements may be defined by a beamforming weight set associated with a particular orientation (e.g., with respect to the antenna array of the transmitting device or receiving device, or with respect to some other orientation).

A network entity105or a UE115may use beam sweeping techniques as part of beamforming operations. For example, a network entity105(e.g., a base station140, an RU170) may use multiple antennas or antenna arrays (e.g., antenna panels) to conduct beamforming operations for directional communications with a UE115. Some signals (e.g., synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals) may be transmitted by a network entity105multiple times along different directions. For example, the network entity105may transmit a signal according to different beamforming weight sets associated with different directions of transmission. Transmissions along different beam directions may be used to identify (e.g., by a transmitting device, such as a network entity105, or by a receiving device, such as a UE115) a beam direction for later transmission or reception by the network entity105.

Some signals, such as data signals associated with a particular receiving device, may be transmitted by transmitting device (e.g., a transmitting network entity105, a transmitting UE115) along a single beam direction (e.g., a direction associated with the receiving device, such as a receiving network entity105or a receiving UE115). In some examples, the beam direction associated with transmissions along a single beam direction may be determined based on a signal that was transmitted along one or more beam directions. For example, a UE115may receive one or more of the signals transmitted by the network entity105along different directions and may report to the network entity105an indication of the signal that the UE115received with a highest signal quality or an otherwise acceptable signal quality.

In some examples, transmissions by a device (e.g., by a network entity105or a UE115) may be performed using multiple beam directions, and the device may use a combination of digital precoding or beamforming to generate a combined beam for transmission (e.g., from a network entity105to a UE115). The UE115may report feedback that indicates precoding weights for one or more beam directions, and the feedback may correspond to a configured set of beams across a system bandwidth or one or more sub-bands. The network entity105may transmit a reference signal (e.g., a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS)), which may be precoded or unprecoded. The UE115may provide feedback for beam selection, which may be a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) or codebook-based feedback (e.g., a multi-panel type codebook, a linear combination type codebook, a port selection type codebook). Although these techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted along one or more directions by a network entity105(e.g., a base station140, an RU170), a UE115may employ similar techniques for transmitting signals multiple times along different directions (e.g., for identifying a beam direction for subsequent transmission or reception by the UE115) or for transmitting a signal along a single direction (e.g., for transmitting data to a receiving device).

A receiving device (e.g., a UE115) may perform reception operations in accordance with multiple receive configurations (e.g., directional listening) when receiving various signals from a receiving device (e.g., a network entity105), such as synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals. For example, a receiving device may perform reception in accordance with multiple receive directions by receiving via different antenna subarrays, by processing received signals according to different antenna subarrays, by receiving according to different receive beamforming weight sets (e.g., different directional listening weight sets) applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of an antenna array, or by processing received signals according to different receive beamforming weight sets applied to signals received at multiple antenna elements of an antenna array, any of which may be referred to as “listening” according to different receive configurations or receive directions. In some examples, a receiving device may use a single receive configuration to receive along a single beam direction (e.g., when receiving a data signal). The single receive configuration may be aligned along a beam direction determined based on listening according to different receive configuration directions (e.g., a beam direction determined to have a highest signal strength, highest signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), or otherwise acceptable signal quality based on listening according to multiple beam directions).

A UE115may support the performance of a cell search procedure, a beam measurement procedure, or both, using reference signals transmitted by a network entity105. For example, the network entity105may periodically transmit reference signals, such as SSBs (e.g., SSB bursts) or PBCH transmissions, to the UE115, and the UE115may measure the reference signals using a beam that is based on the procedure performed by the UE115. For instance, the UE115may perform cell search (e.g., cell detection) by using a wide angle beam, such as a layer 1 beam, an omnidirectional beam, or a pseudo-omnidirectional beam, to receive and measure a reference signal. Measuring the reference signal may enable the UE115to determine a cell quality (e.g., a quality of a connection with the network entity105over the cell), and based on the cell quality, the UE115may determine whether to initiate cell handover or perform cell recovery. In some examples, the UE115may perform cell search on a given reference signal (e.g., a given SSB burst) in accordance with a SSB-based measurement timing configuration (SMTC) window. For example, the network entity105may transmit SSB bursts according to a first periodicity (e.g., 5 milliseconds (ms), 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, etc.), and the UE115may perform cell search based on the SSB bursts according to a periodicity of the SMTC window, which may be the same as or different than the first periodicity. For instance, if the SSB burst periodicity is 5 ms and the SMTC window periodicity is 20 ms, the UE115may perform cell search on every fourth SSB burst. Remaining SSB bursts may be used to support other procedures, such as beam measurement (e.g., beam sweep) procedures.

For example, the UE115may perform beam measurement by using a narrow angle beam, such as a layer 2 or layer 3 beam, to receive and measure a reference signal transmitted by the network entity105. In some examples, the UE115may measure one or more SSBs of an SSB burst using one or more beams. For example, the UE115may sweep through a set of UE beams to receive and measure a burst of SSBs transmitted by the network entity105using a set network entity beams. Based on the measurements (e.g., a signal strength of an SSB using a particular UE beam), the UE115may select a beam from the set of UE beams for communicating with the network entity105, for example, that is associated with better communication characteristics relative to the other UE beams. In some examples, the UE115may select a new beam and switch to the new beam. In some examples, the UE115may determine to use a same beam based on the measurements. In some examples, the UE115may measure an SSB of an SSB burst using a current UE beam and determine whether to perform beam sweep based on a signal strength of the SSB.

In some examples, the UE115may enter a cell panic mode (e.g., trigger cell panic) in an attempt to reduce a latency of cell handover or cell recovery through increased cell search. For example, triggering cell panic may result in the UE115increasing the periodicity at which the UE115performs cell search and decreasing the periodicity at which the UE115performs beam measurement. For instance, triggering cell panic may increase a frequency of the SMTC window, thereby causing the UE115to perform cell search more frequently. As a result of the SMTC window frequency increasing, the UE115may perform beam measurement less frequently, for example, due to there being fewer SSB bursts available for beam measurement. In some examples, the competition for SSB resources between cell search and beam measurement may be frequency band dependent. For example, such SSB resource competition may occur if the UE115and the network entity105operate in the FR2 band. Triggering cell panic may reduce cell handover or recovery latency, for example, by increasing opportunities for successful cell handover or recovery based on the measurement of the reference signal.

In some cases, the UE115may trigger cell panic in response to determining that a channel metric, such as SNR, RSRQ, or both, fails to satisfy a threshold (e.g., if the SNR is less than −6 dB or the RSRQ is less than −18 dB). In some cases, however, triggering cell panic may be unnecessary and may result in inefficient resource utilization due to performing cell search more frequently. For example, in the case where the UE is stationary and not located at a cell edge, a sub-optimal beam may be the most likely cause of the channel metric failing to satisfy the threshold. Here, performing beam measurement, rather than performing cell search, may reduce recovery time and may result in greater resource efficiency. Therefore, triggering cell panic based solely on the channel metric failing to satisfy the threshold may result in delayed recovery and increased power consumption.

Various aspects of the described techniques support sensor-assisted cell panic triggering to reduce the unnecessary triggering of cell panic. For example, a UE115may be configured to trigger cell panic based on an output of a motion sensor of the UE, such as an IMU sensor. For instance, a lack of movement of the UE115in conjunction with a channel metric failing to satisfy a threshold may indicate that beam failure is a more likely cause of the channel metric deterioration rather than cell failure. Accordingly, if the UE115determines that the channel metric fails to satisfy the threshold and the motion sensor indicates that the UE115is moving (e.g., above a movement threshold) or has been moving recently (e.g., within the past second before the channel metric failed to satisfy the threshold), the UE115may trigger cell panic. Alternatively, if the motion sensor indicates that the UE115is stationary (e.g., or moving at a speed below the movement threshold), the UE115may refrain from triggering cell panic despite the channel metric failing to satisfy the threshold. In this way, the UE115may reduce the triggering of unnecessary cell panic.

FIG.2illustrates an example of a wireless communications system200that supports techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, wireless communications system200may implement aspects of wireless communications system100. For example, wireless communications system200may include a network entity105-aand a UE115-a, which may be examples of the corresponding devices described with reference toFIG.1. The wireless communications system200may support the sensor-based triggering of cell panic by the UE115-a, which may support reduced power consumption, reduced beam recovery or switching latency, reduced cell recovery or handover latency, improved resource utilization, and increased battery life, among other benefits.

The wireless communications system200may support communications between the UE115-aand the network entity105-a(e.g., within a coverage area110-aof the network entity105-a). For example, the UE115-aand the network entity105-amay communicate message over a communication link205, which may be an example of a communication link125described with reference toFIG.1. The wireless communications system200may additionally support beamformed communications between the network entity105-aand the UE115-a. For example, the network entity105-amay transmit and receive messages using one or more beams, and the UE115-amay transmit and receive messages using one or more beams210or one or more beams215.

The network entity105-amay transmit reference signals220to the UE115-ato support cell search, beam measurement, or both. For example, the network entity105-amay periodically transmit reference signals220(e.g., reference signal220-athrough reference signal220-n), that the UE115-amay use perform cell search or beam measurement based on a beam used to measure a given reference signal. In some examples, the UE115-amay use a beam210, which may correspond to a wide angle beam, to measure a reference signal220if performing cell search. That is, the beam210may be associated with (e.g., used for) detecting or measuring a cell for communicating with the network entity105-a. In some examples, the UE115-amay use a beam215(e.g., a beam215-a, a beam215-b, other beams215, or a combination thereof), which may correspond to a narrow angle beam having a beam width that is less than a beam width of the beam210, to measure a reference signal220if performing beam measurement. That is, the beams215may be associated with beam measurement (e.g., beam sweeping) for selection of a beam215to communicate with the network entity105-a. In some examples, the reference signals220may correspond to a burst of reference signals. For example, the reference signal220-amay correspond to an SSB burst transmitted by the network entity105-a.

The UE115-amay measure the reference signals220using the beam210or one or more beams215in accordance with configured periodicities and based on an operating mode of the UE115-a. For example, if operating in a non-panic mode (e.g., a normal mode of operation, not in a cell panic mode), the UE115-amay measure the reference signals220using the beam210according to a first periodicity and may measure the reference signals220using the one or more beams215according to a second periodicity. The first periodicity and the second periodicity may indicate which reference signals220are measured using the beam210and which reference signals220are measured using the one or more beams215. In some examples, the second periodicity may be greater than the first periodicity such that the UE115-auses the one or more beams215to measure a reference signal220more frequently than it uses the beam210.

Alternatively, if the UE115-aoperates in a panic mode, such as a cell panic mode, the UE115-amay alter the periodicities at which the UE115-auses the beam210and the one or more beams215to measure the reference signals220. For example, while operating in the cell panic mode, the UE115-amay measure the reference signals220using the beam210according to a third periodicity and may measure the reference signals220using the one or more beams215according to a fourth periodicity. Here, the third periodicity may be greater than the first periodicity and the fourth periodicity may be less than the second periodicity. That is, based on operating in the cell panic mode, the UE115-amay use the beam210more frequently to measure the reference signals220and use the one or more beams215less frequently to measure the reference signals220compared to when not operating in the cell panic mode. Such periodicity adjustments may support faster cell recovery or cell handover, for example, by increasing the frequency at which cell search is performed.

In accordance with examples disclosed herein, the UE115-amay be configured to trigger cell panic based on an output of a motion sensor of the UE115-a. For example, the UE115-amay be configured to trigger cell panic in response to a channel metric, such as an SNR or an RSRQ, falling below a threshold. For instance, if an SNR measurement falls below a threshold SNR (e.g., −6 db, or some other dB value) or an RSRQ measurement falls below a threshold RSRQ (e.g., −18 dB, or some other dB value), the UE115-amay be configured to trigger cell panic to enable faster cell recovery or cell handover. In some cases, however, deterioration of the channel metric may be caused by some other factor, such as beam failure, and triggering cell panic may delay beam recovery or beam switch by unnecessarily increasing cell search performance.

Triggering cell panic based on a motion sensor output may reduce the unnecessary triggering of cell panic. For example, the motion sensor (e.g., an IMU sensor) may indicate whether the UE115-ais stationary, rotating, or moving (e.g., accelerating). In some examples, the motion sensor may include or be an accelerator that outputs a relatively small value (e.g., less than a movement threshold) if the UE115-ais stationary or moving at a relatively slow speed and outputs a relatively large value (e.g., greater than a movement threshold) if the UE115-ais moving at a relatively higher speed. In some examples, the motion sensor may include or be a gyroscope that outputs a relatively small value of the UE115-ais stationary or rotating at a relatively slow speed and outputs a relatively large value if the UE115-ais rotating at a relatively high speed. If the UE115-ais stationary (e.g., or moving at a speed below a movement threshold), beam failure may be a more likely cause of channel metric deterioration than cell failure. Accordingly, if the motion sensor indicates to the UE115-athat the UE115-ais moving at a speed below the movement threshold (e.g., is stationary), the UE115-amay refrain from triggering cell panic even if the channel metric fails to satisfy the threshold. Alternatively, if the motion sensor indicates to the UE115-athat the UE115-ais moving at a speed greater than the movement threshold, the UE115-amay trigger cell panic if the channel metric also fails to satisfy the threshold.

The UE115-amay enter and exit the cell panic mode based on the movement of the UE115-a, the channel metric, or a combination thereof. For example, during a first time period, the UE115-amay not be in the cell panic mode and may measure the reference signals220using the beam210and the one or more beams215according to the first periodicity and the second periodicity, respectively. The UE115-amay determine that the criteria of the channel metric failing to satisfy the threshold and the movement of the UE115-asatisfying (e.g., being greater than, greater than or equal to) the movement threshold are met and may enter the cell panic mode. Thus, during a second time period after the first time period, the UE115-amay measure the reference signals220using the beam210and the one or more beams215according to the third periodicity and the fourth periodicity, respectively, based on entering the cell panic mode. If the either of the criteria fail to be met, the UE115-amay exit the cell panic mode. For example, if either the movement of the UE115-afails to satisfy the movement threshold or the channel metric increases to be above the threshold, the UE115-amay exit the cell panic mode. Thus, during a third time period, the UE115-amay return to measuring the reference signals220using the beam210and the one or more beams215according to the first periodicity and the second periodicity, respectively.

In some examples, the UE115-amay initiate a cell handover procedure more quickly based on triggering cell panic. For example, the UE115-amay initiate the cell handover procedure based reference signal measurements performed during cell search. Additionally or alternatively, the UE115-amay initiate the cell handover procedure in response to a connection between the network entity105-aand the UE115-aover the cell deteriorating (e.g., as indicated by a drop in the channel metric). Accordingly, by triggering cell panic, the UE115-amay measure the reference signals220using the beam210more frequently (e.g., during the second time period) which may increase a likelihood that the UE115-ainitiates the cell handover procedure.

FIG.3illustrates an example of a communication sequence300that supports techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The communication sequence300may implement aspects of the wireless communications systems100and200or may be implemented by aspects of the wireless communications system100and200as described with reference toFIGS.1and2, respectively. For example, the communication sequence300may be implemented by a UE115and a network entity105to support sensor-based triggering of cell panic by the UE115.

The communication sequence300depicts reference signals305(e.g., reference signals220) that may be periodically transmitted by a network entity105to a UE115. In some examples, the reference signals305may be examples of an SSB or an SSB burst transmitted by the network entity105. The UE115may perform cell search310or beam measurement315based on a reference signal305and according to configured periodicities. For example, the UE115may periodically perform cell search310(e.g., cell detection) by using a first beam associated with detecting a cell (e.g., a wide angle beam) to receive and measure a reference signal305. Additionally or alternatively, the UE115may periodically perform beam measurement315(e.g., beam sweeping) by using a second beam associated with beam sweeping (e.g., a narrow angle beam) to receive and measure a reference signal305. In some examples, the UE115may be unable to perform both cell search310and beam measurement315for a given reference signal305. Instead, the UE115may be configured to perform either cell search310or beam measurement315in accordance with respective periodicities.

The UE115may adjust the periodicity at which it performs cell search310and beam measurement315based on an operating mode of the UE115. For example, during a time period320, the UE115may measure the reference signals305using the first beam (e.g., perform cell search310) according to a first periodicity and measure the reference signals305using the second beam (e.g., perform beam measurement315) according to a second periodicity. In some examples, the second periodicity may be greater than the first periodicity. That is, the UE115may perform beam measurement315more frequently than the UE115performs cell search310. For instance, in the example ofFIG.3, the first periodicity may indicate for the UE115to perform cell search310once for every six reference signals305received, and the second periodicity may indicate for the UE115to perform beam measurement for the remaining five reference signals305received (e.g., for five out every six reference signals305received). It is noted that the periodicities described inFIG.3are example periodicities and that the techniques described herein may be adapted and applied such that the UE115may perform cell search310and beam measurement315according to any configured periodicities.

At a time330, the UE115may adjust the periodicities at which it performs cell search310and beam measurement315in response to triggering cell panic. For example, in response to triggering cell panic at time330, the UE115may adjust the first periodicity and the second periodicity to perform cell search310according to a third periodicity and beam measurement according to a fourth periodicity during a time period325. The third periodicity may be greater than the first periodicity and the fourth periodicity may be less than the second periodicity. That is, during the time period325, the UE115may perform cell search310more frequently than during the time period320and may perform beam measurement315less frequently than during the time period320. In the example ofFIG.3, the third periodicity may indicate for the UE115to perform cell search310for every other reference signal305received, and the fourth periodicity may indicate for the UE115to perform beam measurement315for the other reference signals305received.

To avoid the unnecessary triggering of cell panic (e.g., at time330), the UE115may be configured to support sensor-assisted cell panic triggering, which may reduce the frequency at which cell panic is triggered by modifying the criteria for triggering cell panic. For example, the UE115may trigger cell panic at the time330in response to determining that a movement of the UE115satisfies a movement threshold and that a channel metric fails to satisfy a threshold. In some examples, the UE115may trigger cell panic if the movement of the UE115satisfies the movement threshold within a threshold duration before the channel metric fails to satisfy the threshold. For example, if the UE115determine that the channel metric fails to satisfy the threshold at time330, the UE115may determine whether a motion sensor of the UE115indicated that the movement of the UE satisfied the movement threshold within some threshold duration (e.g., 0.5 seconds, 1 second, or some other threshold duration) before the time330.

In some examples, the motion sensor may measure and indicate the movement of the UE115at different times than when the UE115measures the channel metric. Determining whether the movement threshold was satisfied within the threshold duration of the time330may enable the criteria for cell panic triggering to be met without happening at a same time. Therefore, the channel metric failing to satisfy the threshold may or may not be simultaneous with the motion sensor indicating that the movement threshold is satisfied, which may support increased flexibility in triggering cell panic.

In some examples, the UE115may not trigger cell panic at the time330if the movement of the UE115fails to satisfy the movement threshold, the channel metric satisfies the threshold, or both. Here, the UE115may refrain from increasing the frequency of performing cell search310and reducing the frequency of performing beam measurement315.

FIG.4illustrates an example of a process flow400that supports techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, process flow400may implement aspects of wireless communications system100and wireless communications system200. For example, process flow400may be implemented by a network entity105-band a UE115-b, which may be examples of the corresponding devices described with reference toFIG.1andFIG.2. The process flow400may be implemented by the network entity105-band the UE115-bto support sensor-based triggering of cell panic by the UE115-b.

In the following description of the process flow400, the operations may be performed in different orders or at different times. Some operations may also be omitted from the process flow400, and other operations may be added to the process flow400.

At405, the network entity105-bmay transmit reference signals to the UE115-b. For example, the network entity105-bmay periodically transmit reference signals, such as SSBs, SSB bursts, PBCH transmissions, or a combination thereof.

At410, the UE115-bmay measure the reference signals using a first beam or a second beam. The first beam may be a wide angle beam, such as a layer 1 beam, an omni-directional beam, or both, and the first beam may be associated with cell search (e.g., detecting a cell for wireless communication between the network entity105-band the UE115-b). The second beam may be a narrow angle beam, such as a layer 2 or a layer 3 beam, and the second beam may be associated with beam measurement (e.g., beam sweeping). During a first time period, the UE115-bmay measure the reference signals using the first beam (e.g., perform cell search) according to a first periodicity and may measure the reference signals using the second beam (e.g., perform beam measurement) according to a second periodicity. The first time period may correspond to a time period during which the UE115-bis not in a cell panic mode. Additionally, the UE115-bmay measure a channel metric, such as SNR, RSRQ, or both.

At415, the UE115-bmay determine whether a movement of the UE115-bsatisfies a movement threshold value. For example, the UE115-bmay include a motion sensor that indicates the movement of the UE115-b. The UE115-bmay be configured with a movement threshold value (e.g., by the network entity105-b) to which the UE115-bcompares the movement of the UE115-bindicated by the motion sensor.

At420, the UE115-bmay determine whether the channel metric fails to satisfy a threshold value. For example, the UE115-bmay determine whether an SNR is less than a threshold SNR, an RSRQ is less than a threshold RSRQ, or both.

At425, the UE115-bmay trigger cell panic based on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold and the channel metric failing to satisfy the threshold. As a result, the UE115-bmay measure the reference signals using the first beam according to a third periodicity and measure the reference signals using the second beam according to a fourth periodicity during a second time period corresponding to a time period during which cell panic is triggered. The third periodicity may be greater than the first periodicity and may correspond to the UE115-bincreasing the frequency of cell search performance using the first beam. Additionally, the fourth periodicity may be less than the second periodicity and may correspond to the UE115-bdecreasing the frequency of beam measurement performance using the second beam.

At430, in some examples, the UE115-bmay initiate cell handover based on performing cell search and triggering cell panic. For example, to restore communications with a network, the UE115-bmay initiate the cell handover based on a measurement of a reference signal using the first beam during the second time period.

At435, in some examples, the UE115-bmay measure the reference signals during a third time period based on the movement of the UE115-bfailing to satisfy the movement threshold, the channel metric satisfying the threshold, or both. For example, the UE115-bmay exit the cell panic mode in response to determining that the movement of the UE115-bfails to satisfy the movement threshold, the channel metric satisfies the threshold, or both. Accordingly, during the third time period, the UE115-bmay return to measuring the reference signals using the first beam and the second beam according to the first periodicity and the second periodicity, respectively. In some examples, the UE115-bmay subsequently enter the cell panic mode, for example, if the criteria for entering cell panic mode are again met.

FIG.5shows a block diagram500of a device505that supports techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device505may be an example of aspects of a UE115as described herein. The device505may include a receiver510, a transmitter515, and a communications manager520. The device505may also include one or more processors, memory coupled with the one or more processors, and instructions stored in the memory that are executable by the one or more processors to enable the one or more processors to perform the sensor-assisted cell panic triggering features discussed herein. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver510may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management). Information may be passed on to other components of the device505. The receiver510may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter515may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device505. For example, the transmitter515may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management). In some examples, the transmitter515may be co-located with a receiver510in a transceiver module. The transmitter515may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The communications manager520, the receiver510, the transmitter515, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management as described herein. For example, the communications manager520, the receiver510, the transmitter515, or various combinations or components thereof may support a method for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

In some examples, the communications manager520, the receiver510, the transmitter515, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in communications management circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a central processing unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a microcontroller, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure. In some examples, a processor and memory coupled with the processor may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by executing, by the processor, instructions stored in the memory).

Additionally, or alternatively, in some examples, the communications manager520, the receiver510, the transmitter515, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in code (e.g., as communications management software or firmware) executed by a processor. If implemented in code executed by a processor, the functions of the communications manager520, the receiver510, the transmitter515, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, a microcontroller, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices (e.g., configured as or otherwise supporting a means for performing the functions described in the present disclosure).

In some examples, the communications manager520may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, monitoring, outputting, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver510, the transmitter515, or both. For example, the communications manager520may receive information from the receiver510, send information to the transmitter515, or be integrated in combination with the receiver510, the transmitter515, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager520may support wireless communication at a UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager520may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring, during a first time period and according to a first periodicity, a reference signal using a first beam associated with detecting a cell for the wireless communication. The communications manager520may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining, based on an indication from a motion sensor, that a movement of the UE satisfies a movement threshold value. The communications manager520may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring, during a second time period and according to a second periodicity, the reference signal using the first beam based on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value, where the second periodicity is greater than the first periodicity and corresponds to a more frequent measurement of the reference signal using the first beam than the first periodicity.

By including or configuring the communications manager520in accordance with examples as described herein, the device505(e.g., a processor controlling or otherwise coupled with the receiver510, the transmitter515, the communications manager520, or a combination thereof) may support techniques for reduced power consumption and increased processing utilization, for example, reducing unnecessary cell search performance.

FIG.6shows a block diagram600of a device605that supports techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device605may be an example of aspects of a device505or a UE115as described herein. The device605may include a receiver610, a transmitter615, and a communications manager620. The device605may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver610may provide a means for receiving information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management). Information may be passed on to other components of the device605. The receiver610may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter615may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device605. For example, the transmitter615may transmit information such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, information channels related to techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management). In some examples, the transmitter615may be co-located with a receiver610in a transceiver module. The transmitter615may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The device605, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management as described herein. For example, the communications manager620may include a cell detection component625a movement component630, or any combination thereof. The communications manager620may be an example of aspects of a communications manager520as described herein. In some examples, the communications manager620, or various components thereof, may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, obtaining, monitoring, outputting, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver610, the transmitter615, or both. For example, the communications manager620may receive information from the receiver610, send information to the transmitter615, or be integrated in combination with the receiver610, the transmitter615, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager620may support wireless communication at a UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The cell detection component625may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring, during a first time period and according to a first periodicity, a reference signal using a first beam associated with detecting a cell for the wireless communication. The movement component630may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining, based on an indication from a motion sensor, that a movement of the UE satisfies a movement threshold value. The cell detection component625may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring, during a second time period and according to a second periodicity, the reference signal using the first beam based on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value, where the second periodicity is greater than the first periodicity and corresponds to a more frequent measurement of the reference signal using the first beam than the first periodicity.

In some cases, the cell detection component625and the movement component630may each be or be at least a part of a processor (e.g., a transceiver processor, or a radio processor, or a transmitter processor, or a receiver processor). The processor may be coupled with memory and execute instructions stored in the memory that enable the processor to perform or facilitate the features of the cell detection component625and the movement component630discussed herein. A transceiver processor may be collocated with and/or communicate with (e.g., direct the operations of) a transceiver of the device. A radio processor may be collocated with and/or communicate with (e.g., direct the operations of) a radio (e.g., an NR radio, an LTE radio, a Wi-Fi radio) of the device. A transmitter processor may be collocated with and/or communicate with (e.g., direct the operations of) a transmitter of the device. A receiver processor may be collocated with and/or communicate with (e.g., direct the operations of) a receiver of the device.

FIG.7shows a block diagram700of a communications manager720that supports techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager720may be an example of aspects of a communications manager520, a communications manager620, or both, as described herein. The communications manager720, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management as described herein. For example, the communications manager720may include a cell detection component725, a movement component730, a beam sweep component735, a channel metric component740, a handover component745, or any combination thereof. Each of these components may communicate, directly or indirectly, with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The communications manager720may support wireless communication at a UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The cell detection component725may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring, during a first time period and according to a first periodicity, a reference signal using a first beam associated with detecting a cell for the wireless communication. The movement component730may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining, based on an indication from a motion sensor, that a movement of the UE satisfies a movement threshold value. In some examples, the cell detection component725may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring, during a second time period and according to a second periodicity, the reference signal using the first beam based on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value, where the second periodicity is greater than the first periodicity and corresponds to a more frequent measurement of the reference signal using the first beam than the first periodicity.

In some examples, the beam sweep component735may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring, during the first time period and according to a third periodicity, the reference signal using a second beam associated with beam sweeping, where the reference signal is measured more frequently using the second beam than the first beam during the first time period based on the first periodicity and the third periodicity. In some examples, the beam sweep component735may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring, during the second time period and according to a fourth periodicity, the reference signal using the second beam associated with beam sweeping based on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value, where the fourth periodicity corresponds to a less frequent measurement of the reference signal using the second beam than the third periodicity.

In some examples, the first beam is associated with a first beam width and the second beam is associated with a second beam width that is greater than the first beam width.

In some examples, the channel metric component740may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining that a channel metric associated with the wireless communication fails to satisfy a threshold, where measuring the reference signal using the first beam according to the second periodicity is based on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value and the channel metric failing to satisfy the threshold.

In some examples, the movement component730may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining that the movement of the UE satisfies the movement threshold value within a threshold duration before the channel metric fails to satisfy the threshold, where measuring the reference signal using the first beam according to the second periodicity is based on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value within the threshold duration.

In some examples, the channel metric is at least an SNR measurement, or an RSRQ measurement, or a combination thereof.

In some examples, the channel metric component740may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining that a channel metric associated with the wireless communication fails to satisfy a threshold, where the channel metric failing to satisfy the threshold is associated with measuring the reference signal according to the second periodicity. In some examples, the movement component730may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining, based on a second indication from the motion sensor, that the movement of the UE fails to satisfy the movement threshold value. In some examples, the cell detection component725may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring, during a third time period, the reference signal using the first beam and according to the first periodicity based on the movement of the UE failing to satisfy the movement threshold value.

In some examples, the channel metric component740may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining, based on a second indication from the motion sensor, that the movement of the UE satisfies the movement threshold value. In some examples, the movement component730may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining that a channel metric associated with the wireless communication satisfies a threshold, where the channel metric satisfying the threshold is associated with measuring the reference signal according to the first periodicity. In some examples, the cell detection component725may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring, during a third time period, the reference signal using the first beam and according to the first periodicity based on the channel metric satisfying the threshold.

In some examples, the handover component745may be configured as or otherwise support a means for initiating a cell handover based on a measurement of the reference signal using the first beam during the second time period and according to the second periodicity.

In some examples, the first beam is at least a layer 1 beam, or an omni-directional beam, or a combination thereof.

In some examples, the motion sensor is an IMU that includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or both.

In some cases, the cell detection component725, the movement component730, the beam sweep component735, the channel metric component740, and the handover component745may each be or be at least a part of a processor (e.g., a transceiver processor, or a radio processor, or a transmitter processor, or a receiver processor). The processor may be coupled with memory and execute instructions stored in the memory that enable the processor to perform or facilitate the features of the cell detection component725, the movement component730, the beam sweep component735, the channel metric component740, and the handover component745discussed herein.

FIG.8shows a diagram of a system800including a device805that supports techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device805may be an example of or include the components of a device505, a device605, or a UE115as described herein. The device805may communicate (e.g., wirelessly) with one or more network entities105, one or more UEs115, or any combination thereof. The device805may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, such as a communications manager820, an input/output (I/O) controller810, a transceiver815, an antenna825, a memory830, code835, and a processor840. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., a bus845).

The I/O controller810may manage input and output signals for the device805. The I/O controller810may also manage peripherals not integrated into the device805. In some cases, the I/O controller810may represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral. In some cases, the I/O controller810may utilize an operating system such as iOS®, ANDROID®, MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®, OS/2®, UNIX®, LINUX®, or another known operating system. Additionally or alternatively, the I/O controller810may represent or interact with a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, or a similar device. In some cases, the I/O controller810may be implemented as part of a processor, such as the processor840. In some cases, a user may interact with the device805via the I/O controller810or via hardware components controlled by the I/O controller810.

In some cases, the device805may include a single antenna825. However, in some other cases, the device805may have more than one antenna825, which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions. The transceiver815may communicate bi-directionally, via the one or more antennas825, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, the transceiver815may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver815may also include a modem to modulate the packets, to provide the modulated packets to one or more antennas825for transmission, and to demodulate packets received from the one or more antennas825. The transceiver815, or the transceiver815and one or more antennas825, may be an example of a transmitter515, a transmitter615, a receiver510, a receiver610, or any combination thereof or component thereof, as described herein.

The memory830may include random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). The memory830may store computer-readable, computer-executable code835including instructions that, when executed by the processor840, cause the device805to perform various functions described herein. The code835may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. In some cases, the code835may not be directly executable by the processor840but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein. In some cases, the memory830may contain, among other things, a basic I/O system (BIOS) which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

The processor840may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic component, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor840may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor840. The processor840may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory830) to cause the device805to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management). For example, the device805or a component of the device805may include a processor840and memory830coupled with or to the processor840, the processor840and memory830configured to perform various functions described herein.

The communications manager820may support wireless communication at a UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring, during a first time period and according to a first periodicity, a reference signal using a first beam associated with detecting a cell for the wireless communication. The communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for determining, based on an indication from a motion sensor, that a movement of the UE satisfies a movement threshold value. The communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring, during a second time period and according to a second periodicity, the reference signal using the first beam based on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value, where the second periodicity is greater than the first periodicity and corresponds to a more frequent measurement of the reference signal using the first beam than the first periodicity.

By including or configuring the communications manager820in accordance with examples as described herein, the device805may support techniques for reduced latency, reduced power consumption, more efficient utilization of communication resources, and improved coordination between devices.

In some examples, the communications manager820may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the transceiver815, the one or more antennas825, or any combination thereof. Although the communications manager820is illustrated as a separate component, in some examples, one or more functions described with reference to the communications manager820may be supported by or performed by the processor840, the memory830, the code835, or any combination thereof. For example, the code835may include instructions executable by the processor840to cause the device805to perform various aspects of techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management as described herein, or the processor840and the memory830may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

FIG.9shows a flowchart illustrating a method900that supports techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method900may be implemented by a UE or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method900may be performed by a UE115as described with reference toFIGS.1through8. In some examples, a UE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At905, the method may include measuring, during a first time period and according to a first periodicity, a reference signal using a first beam associated with detecting a cell for the wireless communication. The operations of905may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of905may be performed by a cell detection component725as described with reference toFIG.7.

At910, the method may include determining, based on an indication from a motion sensor, that a movement of the UE satisfies a movement threshold value. The operations of910may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of910may be performed by a movement component730as described with reference toFIG.7.

At915, the method may include measuring, during a second time period and according to a second periodicity, the reference signal using the first beam based on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value, where the second periodicity is greater than the first periodicity and corresponds to a more frequent measurement of the reference signal using the first beam than the first periodicity. The operations of915may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of915may be performed by a cell detection component725as described with reference toFIG.7.

FIG.10shows a flowchart illustrating a method1000that supports techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1000may be implemented by a UE or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1000may be performed by a UE115as described with reference toFIGS.1through8. In some examples, a UE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1005, the method may include measuring, during a first time period and according to a first periodicity, a reference signal using a first beam associated with detecting a cell for the wireless communication. The operations of1005may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1005may be performed by a cell detection component725as described with reference toFIG.7.

At1010, the method may include measuring, during the first time period and according to a second periodicity, the reference signal using a second beam associated with beam sweeping, where the reference signal is measured more frequently using the second beam than the first beam during the first time period based on the first periodicity and the second periodicity. The operations of1010may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1010may be performed by a beam sweep component735as described with reference toFIG.7.

At1015, the method may include determining, based on an indication from a motion sensor, that a movement of the UE satisfies a movement threshold value. The operations of1015may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1015may be performed by a movement component730as described with reference toFIG.7.

At1020, the method may include measuring, during a second time period and according to a third periodicity, the reference signal using the first beam based on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value, where the third periodicity is greater than the first periodicity and corresponds to a more frequent measurement of the reference signal using the first beam than the first periodicity. The operations of1020may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1020may be performed by a cell detection component725as described with reference toFIG.7.

At1025, the method may include measuring, during the second time period and according to a fourth periodicity, the reference signal using the second beam associated with beam sweeping based on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value, where the fourth periodicity corresponds to a less frequent measurement of the reference signal using the second beam than the second periodicity. The operations of1025may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1025may be performed by a beam sweep component735as described with reference toFIG.7.

FIG.11shows a flowchart illustrating a method1100that supports techniques for sensor-assisted cell search management in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1100may be implemented by a UE or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1100may be performed by a UE115as described with reference toFIGS.1through8. In some examples, a UE may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally, or alternatively, the UE may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1105, the method may include measuring, during a first time period and according to a first periodicity, a reference signal using a first beam associated with detecting a cell for the wireless communication. The operations of1105may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1105may be performed by a cell detection component725as described with reference toFIG.7.

At1110, the method may include determining, based on an indication from a motion sensor, that a movement of the UE satisfies a movement threshold value. The operations of1110may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1110may be performed by a movement component730as described with reference toFIG.7.

At1115, the method may include determining that a channel metric associated with the wireless communication fails to satisfy a threshold. The operations of1115may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1115may be performed by a channel metric component740as described with reference toFIG.7.

At1120, the method may include measuring, during a second time period and according to a second periodicity, the reference signal using the first beam based on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value and the channel metric failing to satisfy the threshold, where the second periodicity is greater than the first periodicity and corresponds to a more frequent measurement of the reference signal using the first beam than the first periodicity. The operations of1120may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1120may be performed by a cell detection component725as described with reference toFIG.7.

The following provides an overview of aspects of the present disclosure:

Aspect 1: A method for wireless communication at a UE, comprising: measuring, during a first time period and according to a first periodicity, a reference signal using a first beam associated with detecting a cell for the wireless communication; determining, based at least in part on an indication from a motion sensor, that a movement of the UE satisfies a movement threshold value; measuring, during a second time period and according to a second periodicity, the reference signal using the first beam based at least in part on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value, wherein the second periodicity is greater than the first periodicity and corresponds to a more frequent measurement of the reference signal using the first beam than the first periodicity.

Aspect 2: The method of aspect 1, further comprising: measuring, during the first time period and according to a third periodicity, the reference signal using a second beam associated with beam sweeping, wherein the reference signal is measured more frequently using the second beam than the first beam during the first time period based at least in part on the first periodicity and the third periodicity; and measuring, during the second time period and according to a fourth periodicity, the reference signal using the second beam associated with beam sweeping based at least in part on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value, wherein the fourth periodicity corresponds to a less frequent measurement of the reference signal using the second beam than the third periodicity.

Aspect 3: The method of aspect 2, wherein the first beam is associated with a first beam width and the second beam is associated with a second beam width that is greater than the first beam width.

Aspect 4: The method of any of aspects 1 through 3, further comprising: determining that a channel metric associated with the wireless communication fails to satisfy a threshold, wherein measuring the reference signal using the first beam according to the second periodicity is based at least in part on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value and the channel metric failing to satisfy the threshold.

Aspect 5: The method of aspect 4, further comprising: determining that the movement of the UE satisfies the movement threshold value within a threshold duration before the channel metric fails to satisfy the threshold, wherein measuring the reference signal using the first beam according to the second periodicity is based at least in part on the movement of the UE satisfying the movement threshold value within the threshold duration.

Aspect 6: The method of any of aspects 4 through 5, wherein the channel metric is at least an SNR measurement, or an RSRQ measurement, or a combination thereof.

Aspect 7: The method of any of aspects 1 through 6, further comprising: determining that a channel metric associated with the wireless communication fails to satisfy a threshold, wherein the channel metric failing to satisfy the threshold is associated with measuring the reference signal according to the second periodicity; determining, based at least in part on a second indication from the motion sensor, that the movement of the UE fails to satisfy the movement threshold value; and measuring, during a third time period, the reference signal using the first beam and according to the first periodicity based at least in part on the movement of the UE failing to satisfy the movement threshold value

Aspect 8: The method of any of aspects 1 through 6, further comprising: determining, based at least in part on a second indication from the motion sensor, that the movement of the UE satisfies the movement threshold value; determining that a channel metric associated with the wireless communication satisfies a threshold, wherein the channel metric satisfying the threshold is associated with measuring the reference signal according to the first periodicity; and measuring, during a third time period, the reference signal using the first beam and according to the first periodicity based at least in part on the channel metric satisfying the threshold.

Aspect 9: The method of any of aspects 1 through 8, further comprising: initiating a cell handover based at least in part on a measurement of the reference signal using the first beam during the second time period and according to the second periodicity.

Aspect 10: The method of any of aspects 1 through 9, wherein the first beam is at least a layer 1 beam, or an omni-directional beam, or a combination thereof.

Aspect 11: The method of any of aspects 1 through 10, wherein the motion sensor is an IMU that includes an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or both.

Aspect 12: An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, comprising a processor; memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any of aspects 1 through 11.

Aspect 13: An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 1 through 11.

Aspect 14: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a UE, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of any of aspects 1 through 11.

It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possible implementations, and that the operations and the steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible. Further, aspects from two or more of the methods may be combined.

Although aspects of an LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR system may be described for purposes of example, and LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR terminology may be used in much of the description, the techniques described herein are applicable beyond LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR networks. For example, the described techniques may be applicable to various other wireless communications systems such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM, as well as other systems and radio technologies not explicitly mentioned herein.

Information and signals described herein may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

The various illustrative blocks and components described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed with a general-purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, a CPU, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

The functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of the disclosure and appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, functions described herein may be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or combinations of any of these. Features implementing functions may also be physically located at various positions, including being distributed such that portions of functions are implemented at different physical locations.

Computer-readable media includes both non-transitory computer storage media and communication media including any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer program from one place to another. A non-transitory storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media may include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, compact disk (CD) ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that may be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Also, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium. For example, if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies such as infrared, radio, and microwave are included in the definition of computer-readable medium. Disk and disc, as used herein, include CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and Blu-ray disc where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

As used herein, including in the claims, “or” as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items prefaced by a phrase such as “at least one of” or “one or more of”) indicates an inclusive list such that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Also, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an example step that is described as “based on condition A” may be based on both a condition A and a condition B without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase “based on” shall be construed in the same manner as the phrase “based at least in part on.”

The term “determine” or “determining” encompasses a variety of actions and, therefore, “determining” can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (such as via looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining” can include receiving (such as receiving information), accessing (such as accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, “determining” can include resolving, obtaining, selecting, choosing, establishing and other such similar actions.

In the appended figures, similar components or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label by a dash and a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If just the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label, or other subsequent reference label.

The description set forth herein, in connection with the appended drawings, describes example configurations and does not represent all the examples that may be implemented or that are within the scope of the claims. The term “example” used herein means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and not “preferred” or “advantageous over other examples.” The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing an understanding of the described techniques. These techniques, however, may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples.

The description herein is provided to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make or use the disclosure. Various modifications to the disclosure will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.