Patent ID: 12238556

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In some wireless communications systems, a base station (or other transmitting device such as a user equipment (UE)) may transmit reference signals that each span a channel to a UE, where each of the reference signals is associated with a different transmit beam. The UE may then perform channel measurements based on each of the received reference signals and indicate the channel measurements to the base station. Thus, the base station and UE may identify one of the transmit beams associated with more reliable communications when compared to the remaining transmit beams. In some cases, the channel may include a set of subbands that each span a subset of the channel. Here, the base station and UE may communicate using one or more of the subbands (e.g., instead of the entire channel). In some examples, a reliability of communications associated with a single transmit beam may differ between various subbands of a channel. That is, communications transmitted via a first subband and associated with a first transmit beam may be more reliable than communications transmitted via a second subband and associated with the first transmit beam. Thus, it may be desirable for the UE to indicate a signal quality that is associated with one of the transmit beams and one of the subbands.

Generally, the described techniques provide for a UE to report a measured signal quality associated with a subband of a channel that is less than a bandwidth spanned by the channel. For example, upon receiving a set of reference signals, the UE may measure signal qualities corresponding to one of the set of reference signals (e.g., one of the set of transmit beams) and one of the set of subbands. Thus, each measured signal quality may be associated with one of the transmit beams and one of the subbands of the channel. The UE may then indicate at least one of the signal qualities to the base station.

The UE may indicate the at least one signal quality according to a reporting configuration that may be configured by the base station or selected by the UE. In one example, the reporting configuration may indicate one or more of the transmit beams. Here, the UE may transmit one or more signal qualities for each of the indicated transmit beams, where each of the one or more signal qualities are associated with different subbands. In another example, the reporting configuration may indicate one or more of the subbands. Here, the UE may transmit one or more signal qualities for each of the indicated subbands, where each of the one or more signal qualities are associated with different transmit beams. In another example, the reporting configuration may indicate for the UE to identify a certain quantity of the best pairs of transmit beams and subbands. Here, the UE may indicate the quantity of transmit beam and subband pairs associated with the highest measured signal qualities.

Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of wireless communications systems. Aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described with reference to a process flow, apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to subband reference signal measurements.

FIG.1illustrates an example of a wireless communications system100that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system100may include one or more base stations105, 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, or a New Radio (NR) network. In some examples, the wireless communications system100may support enhanced broadband communications, ultra-reliable (e.g., mission critical) communications, low latency communications, communications with low-cost and low-complexity devices, or any combination thereof.

The base stations105may be dispersed throughout a geographic area to form the wireless communications system100and may be devices in different forms or having different capabilities. The base stations105and the UEs115may wirelessly communicate via one or more communication links125. Each base station105may provide a coverage area110over which the UEs115and the base station105may establish one or more communication links125. The coverage area110may be an example of a geographic area over which a base station105and a UE115may support the communication of signals according to one or more radio access technologies.

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 UEs115, the base stations105, or network equipment (e.g., core network nodes, relay devices, integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes, or other network equipment), as shown inFIG.1.

The base stations105may communicate with the core network130, or with one another, or both. For example, the base stations105may interface with the core network130through one or more backhaul links120(e.g., via an S1, N2, N3, or other interface). The base stations105may communicate with one another over the backhaul links120(e.g., via an X2, Xn, or other interface) either directly (e.g., directly between base stations105), or indirectly (e.g., via core network130), or both. In some examples, the backhaul links120may be or include one or more wireless links.

One or more of the base stations105described herein may include or may be referred to by a person having ordinary skill in the art as a base transceiver station, a radio 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 Home NodeB, a Home eNodeB, or other suitable terminology.

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 base stations105and 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 base stations105may wirelessly communicate with one another via one or more communication links125over one or more carriers. The term “carrier” may refer to a set of radio frequency 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 radio frequency 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.

In some examples (e.g., in a carrier aggregation configuration), a carrier may also have acquisition signaling or control signaling that coordinates operations for other carriers. A carrier may be associated with a frequency channel (e.g., an evolved universal mobile telecommunication system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) absolute radio frequency channel number (EARFCN)) and may be positioned according to a channel raster for discovery by the UEs115. A carrier may be operated in a standalone mode where initial acquisition and connection may be conducted by the UEs115via the carrier, or the carrier may be operated in a non-standalone mode where a connection is anchored using a different carrier (e.g., of the same or a different radio access technology).

The communication links125shown in the wireless communications system100may include uplink transmissions from a UE115to a base station105, or downlink transmissions from a base station105to a UE115. 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).

A carrier may be associated with a particular bandwidth of the radio frequency spectrum, and in some examples the carrier bandwidth may be referred to as a “system bandwidth” of the carrier or the wireless communications system100. For example, the carrier bandwidth may be one of a number of determined bandwidths for carriers of a particular radio access technology (e.g., 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, or 80 megahertz (MHz)). Devices of the wireless communications system100(e.g., the base stations105, the UEs115, or both) may have hardware configurations that support communications over a particular carrier bandwidth or may be configurable to support communications over one of a set of carrier bandwidths. In some examples, the wireless communications system100may include base stations105or UEs115that support simultaneous communications via carriers associated with multiple carrier bandwidths.

In some examples, each served UE115may be configured for operating over portions (e.g., a subband, a BWP) or all of a carrier bandwidth. For example, a carrier bandwidth may be associated with a channel spanning a first bandwidth of the radio frequency spectrum. The channel may include a set of subbands that collectively span the channel. Here, each served UE115may communicate with a base station105over the channel using one or more of the subbands.

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 consist of one symbol period (e.g., a duration of one modulation symbol) and one subcarrier, where the symbol period and subcarrier spacing are inversely related. The number 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). Thus, the more resource elements that a UE115receives and the higher the order of the modulation scheme, the higher the data rate may be for the UE115. A wireless communications resource may refer to a combination of a radio frequency spectrum resource, a time resource, and a spatial resource (e.g., spatial layers or beams), and the use of multiple spatial layers may further increase the data rate or data integrity for communications with a UE115.

One or more numerologies for a carrier may be supported, where a numerology may include a subcarrier spacing (Δf) and a cyclic prefix. A carrier may be divided into one or more BWPs having the same or different numerologies. In some examples, a UE115may be configured with multiple BWPs. In some examples, a single BWP for a carrier may be active at a given time and communications for the UE115may be restricted to one or more active BWPs.

The time intervals for the base stations105or 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 N f may 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 number of slots. Alternatively, each frame may include a variable number of slots, and the number of slots may depend on subcarrier spacing. Each slot may include a number 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., the number 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 number 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 a number 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.

In some examples, a base station105may be movable and therefore provide communication coverage for a moving geographic coverage area110. In some examples, different geographic coverage areas110associated with different technologies may overlap, but the different geographic coverage areas110may be supported by the same base station105. In other examples, the overlapping geographic coverage areas110associated with different technologies may be supported by different base stations105. The wireless communications system100may include, for example, a heterogeneous network in which different types of the base stations105provide coverage for various geographic 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) or mission critical communications. The UEs115may be designed to support ultra-reliable, low-latency, or critical functions (e.g., mission critical functions). Ultra-reliable communications may include private communication or group communication and may be supported by one or more mission critical services such as mission critical push-to-talk (MCPTT), mission critical video (MCVideo), or mission critical data (MCData). Support for mission critical functions may include prioritization of services, and mission critical services may be used for public safety or general commercial applications. The terms ultra-reliable, low-latency, mission critical, and ultra-reliable low-latency may be used interchangeably herein.

In some examples, a UE115may also be able to communicate directly with other UEs115over a device-to-device (D2D) communication link135(e.g., using a peer-to-peer (P2P) or D2D protocol). One or more UEs115utilizing D2D communications may be within the geographic coverage area110of a base station105. Other UEs115in such a group may be outside the geographic coverage area110of a base station105or be otherwise unable to receive transmissions from a base station105. In some examples, groups of the UEs115communicating via D2D communications may utilize a one-to-many (1:M) system in which each UE115transmits to every other UE115in the group. In some examples, a base station105facilitates the scheduling of resources for D2D communications. In other cases, D2D communications are carried out between the UEs115without the involvement of a base station105.

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 base stations105associated 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.

Some of the network devices, such as a base station105, may include subcomponents such as an access network entity140, which may be an example of an access node controller (ANC). Each access network entity140may communicate with the UEs115through one or more other access network transmission entities145, which may be referred to as radio heads, smart radio heads, or transmission/reception points (TRPs). Each access network transmission entity145may include one or more antenna panels. In some configurations, various functions of each access network entity140or base station105may be distributed across various network devices (e.g., radio heads and ANCs) or consolidated into a single network device (e.g., a base station105).

The wireless communications system100may operate using one or more frequency bands, typically 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, 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 utilize both licensed and unlicensed radio frequency 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, the 2.4 GHz band, the 60 GHz band, the 3.6 GHz band, the 900 MHz band, the scientific, and medical (ISM) band. When operating in unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands, devices such as the base stations105and 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 base station105or 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 base station105or 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 base station105may be located in diverse geographic locations. A base station105may have an antenna array with a number of rows and columns of antenna ports that the base station105may 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 radio frequency beamforming for a signal transmitted via an antenna port.

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 base station105, 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 base station105or a UE115may use beam sweeping techniques as part of beam forming operations. For example, a base station105may 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 base station105multiple times in different directions. For example, the base station105may transmit a signal according to different beamforming weight sets associated with different directions of transmission. Transmissions in different beam directions may be used to identify (e.g., by a transmitting device, such as a base station105, or by a receiving device, such as a UE115) a beam direction for later transmission or reception by the base station105.

Some signals, such as data signals associated with a particular receiving device, may be transmitted by a base station105in a single beam direction (e.g., a direction associated with the receiving device, such as a 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 in one or more beam directions. For example, a UE115may receive one or more of the signals transmitted by the base station105in different directions and may report to the base station105an 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 base station105or a UE115) may be performed using multiple beam directions or multiple transmit beams, and the device may use a combination of digital precoding or radio frequency beamforming to generate a combined beam for transmission (e.g., from a base station105to a UE115). The UE115may report feedback that indicates precoding weights for one or more beam directions, and the feedback may correspond to a configured number of beams across a system bandwidth or one or more subbands. The base station105may transmit a reference signal (e.g., a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a synchronization signal block (SSB)), 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).

In some cases, a base station105may transmit, to a UE115, reference signals that each span a channel, where each of the reference signals is associated with a different transmit beam. The UE115may then perform channel measurements based on each of the received reference signals and indicate the channel measurements to the base station105. Thus, the base station105and UE115may identify one of the transmit beams associated with more reliable communications when compared to the remaining transmit beams. In some cases, the channel may include a set of subbands that each span a subset of the channel. Here, the base station105and UE115may communicate using a portion of the channel corresponding to a subband of the channel.

In some examples, a reliability of communications associated with a single transmit beam may differ between various subbands of a channel. That is, communications transmitted via a first subband and associated with a first transmit beam may be more reliable than communications transmitted via a second subband and associated with the first transmit beam. For example, the base station105may utilize transmit beams that are optimized for a certain frequency. Here, a reliability of communications transmitted via a subband associated with the optimized frequency for a transmit beam may be greater than communications transmitted via a different subband (e.g., not associated with the optimized frequency for the transmit beam). In some cases, the reliability of communications via subbands other than the subband including the optimized may be decreased due to beam squinting. Because of the variability of reliability of communications across different subbands, it may be desirable for the UE115to indicate a signal quality that is associated with one of the transmit beams and one of the subbands.

In the example of wireless communications system100, the UE115report a measured signal quality associated with a subband of a channel that is less than a bandwidth spanned by the channel. For example, upon receiving a set of reference signals, the UE115may measure signal qualities corresponding to one of the set of reference signals (e.g., one of the set of transmit beams) and one of the set of subbands. Thus, each measured signal quality may be associated with one of the transmit beams and one of the subbands of the channel. The UE115may then indicate at least one of the signal qualities to the base station105.

The UE115may indicate the at least one signal quality according to a reporting configuration that may be configured by the base station105or selected by the UE115. In one example, the reporting configuration may indicate one or more of the transmit beams. Here, the UE115may transmit one or more signal qualities for each of the indicated transmit beams, where each of the one or more signal qualities are associated with different subbands. In another example, the reporting configuration may indicate one or more of the subbands. Here, the UE115may transmit one or more signal qualities for each of the indicated subbands, where each of the one or more signal qualities are associated with different transmit beams. In another example, the reporting configuration may indicate for the UE115to identify a certain quantity of the best pairs of transmit beams and subbands. Here, the UE115may indicate the quantity of transmit beam and subband pairs associated with the highest measured signal qualities.

Although these techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted in one or more directions by a base station105, a UE115may employ similar techniques for transmitting signals multiple times in different directions (e.g., for identifying a beam direction for subsequent transmission or reception by the UE115) or for transmitting a signal in a single direction (e.g., for transmitting data to a receiving device).

A receiving device (e.g., a UE115) may try multiple receive configurations (e.g., directional listening) when receiving various signals from the base station105, such as synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals. For example, a receiving device may try 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 in 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).

FIG.2illustrates an example of a wireless communications system200that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the wireless communications system200may implement aspects of wireless communications system100. The wireless communications system200may include a UE115-aand a base station105-a, which may be examples of a UE115and a base station105, respectively, as described with reference toFIG.1.

The base station105-amay be in communication with the UE115-avia the channels205and210. In some cases, the channels205and210may be associated with a same set of frequency resources. In some other cases, the channels205and210may be associated with a different set of frequency resources. Additionally, the channel205may be associated with downlink communications (e.g., from the base station105-ato the UE115-a) and the channel210may be associated with uplink communications (e.g., from the UE115-ato the base station105-a). In some cases, the channel210may be a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH). The channel205may span a set of frequency resources associated with a set of subbands215. That is, each subband215may be associated with a portion of the frequency resources associated with the channel205. In some cases, the channel205may be a wideband channel205and the subbands215may collectively span the wideband channel205. In some cases, each subband215may span a same quantity of frequency resources (e.g., may be a same bandwidth). In some other cases, the subbands215may span different quantities of frequency resources (e.g., may be different bandwidths). For example, the subband215-amay include more frequency resources than the subband215-b.

In one example, the base station105-amay identify the subbands215. Here, base station105-amay transmit the configuration235to the UE115-aindicating the subbands215that span the channel205. For example, the configuration235may indicate, for each subband215, a set of frequency resources associated with the subbands215. In another example, the UE115-amay select the subbands215for the channel205. For example, the UE115-amay identify each of the subbands215for the channel205. In this example, the base station105-amay not transmit the configuration235to the UE115-a.

The base station105-amay transmit a set of reference signals220to the UE115-ato enable the UE115-ato determine channel state information (CSI) associated with the channel205. That is, the base station105-amay transmit the set of reference signals220as part of an initial access procedure, for resource management, as part of a handover procedure, or other radio resource management procedure. The base station105-amay transmit each reference signal225via one of a set of transmit beams. For example, the base station105-amay transmit the reference signal225-ausing a first transmit beam, the reference signal225-busing a second transmit beam, and the reference signal225-cusing a third transmit beam. Each of the reference signals225may span the frequency resources associated with the channel205. In some cases, the reference signals225may be CSI-RSs. In some other cases, the reference signals225may be SSBs.

Based on receiving the set of reference signals220, the UE115-amay perform one or more channel measurements to determine CSI associated with the channel205. That is, the UE115-amay measure a signal quality associated with one of the reference signals225-aacross one of the subbands215. For example, the UE115-amay measure a first signal quality associated with the reference signal225-aover the subband215-a. Additionally, the UE115-amay measure a second signal quality associated with the reference signal225-aover the subband215-b. In some cases, the measured signal quality may correspond to a reference signal received powers (RSRPs) (e.g., a layer one RSRP (L1-RSRP)).

In some cases, the UE115-amay perform channel quality measurements for each subband215on each reference signal225. That is, the UE115-amay detect a channel measurement for each transmit beam (e.g., corresponding to one of the reference signals225) and subband215pair. In some other cases, the UE115-amay perform channel quality measurements for a subset of the transmit beams (e.g., corresponding to a subset of the reference signals225) or a subset of the subbands215. Additionally or alternatively, the UE115-amay perform channel quality measurements for a subset of the subbands215depending on the associated transmit beam. That is, the UE115-amay perform channel quality measurements for a first subset of the subbands215on the reference signal225-aand for a second subset of the subbands215on the reference signal225-b. In one example, the base station105-amay indicate the subset of transmit beams or subbands215that the UE115-aperforms measurements on in the configuration235. In another example, the UE115-amay select the subset of transmit beams or subbands215. In some cases, the UE115-amay select the subset of transmit beams or subbands215based on historical data. That is, the UE115-amay select the subset of transmit beams or subbands215that have historically been associated with a higher signal quality than other transmit beams or subbands215.

After measuring the signal qualities associated with one or more transmit beam and subband215pairs, the UE115-amay transmit a signal quality indication230to the base station105-a. The signal quality indication230may include at least an indication of a first signal quality associated with one of the transmit beams (e.g., one of the reference signals225) and one of the subbands215. In some examples, the signal quality indication230may include an indication of a measured signal quality (e.g., an L1 RSRP) associated with one or more pairs of subbands215and transmit beams (e.g., reference signals225). Additionally or alternatively, the signal quality indication230may include an indication of the one or more pairs of subbands215and transmit beams (e.g., indices indicating the subband215and transmit beam pairs). The UE115-amay transmit the signal quality indication230according to a reporting configuration that indicates a set of signal qualities (e.g., each associated with one of a transmit beam and subband215pair) that the UE115-ashould include in the signal quality indication230.

In a first example, the base station105-amay indicate the reporting configuration to the UE115-a(e.g., via the configuration235). Here, the base station105-amay indicate, via the configuration235, the subset of subbands215, the subset of reference signals225, a quantity of measured signal qualities to report, or a combination thereof. In another example, the UE115-amay select the reporting configuration. Here, the base station105-amay not indicate the reporting configuration via the configuration235. In this example, the UE115-amay indicate (e.g., within the signal quality indication230) the subset of subbands215, the subset of reference signals225, a quantity of measured signal qualities reported, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the UE115-amay transmit the signal quality indication230periodically (e.g., according to a configured periodicity), aperiodically (e.g., in response to a trigger such as an indication from the base station105-a), or semi persistently.

In one example, the reporting configuration may indicate for the UE115-ato include, in the signal quality indication230, an indication of one or more measured signal qualities for a subset of the subbands215. In some cases, the reporting configuration may indicate for the UE115-ato include an indication of one or more measured signal qualities for all of the subbands215. In some other cases, the reporting configuration may indicate for the UE115-ato include an indication of one or more measured signal qualities for a portion of the subbands215(e.g., subband215-aand subband215-c). Here, the UE115-amay perform channel measurements on the subbands215that are included in the subset (e.g., subbands215-aand215-c) and may refrain from performing channel measurements on the subbands215not included in the subset.

In the example that the reporting configuration indicates for the UE115-ato include an indication of one or more measured signal qualities for the subset of subbands215, the reporting configuration may additionally indicate a quantity of measured signal qualities to report for each of the subbands215in the subset. Additionally, the quantity of measured signal qualities to report for each of the subbands215in the subset may be specific to each subband215. For example, if the subset of subbands215incudes subbands215-aand215-c, the UE115-amay indicate two measured signal qualities (each associated with one of the reference signals225) for the subband215-aand may indicate three measured signal qualities (each associated with one of the reference signals225) for the subband215-c. The UE115-amay indicate the measured signal qualities that are associated with a highest signal quality for that subband215. For example, the UE115-amay indicate the measured signal qualities associated with the two reference signals225having the higher signal quality in the subband215-athan the remaining reference signals225within the set of reference signals220. Additionally, the UE115-amay indicate the measured signal qualities associated with the three reference signals225having the higher signal quality in the subband215-cthan the remaining reference signals225within the set of reference signals220.

In another example, the reporting configuration may indicate for the UE115-ato include, in the signal quality indication230, an indication of one or more measured signal qualities for a subset of the transmission beams (e.g., each associated with one of the set of reference signals220). In some cases, the reporting configuration may indicate for the UE115-ato include an indication of one or more measured signal qualities for all of the reference signals225. In some other cases, the reporting configuration may indicate for the UE115-ato include an indication of one or more measured signal qualities for a subset of the reference signals225(e.g., reference signal225-aand reference signal225-b). Here, the UE115-amay perform channel measurements on the reference signals225that are included in the subset (e.g., reference signals225-aand225-b) and may refrain from performing channel measurements on the reference signals225not included in the subset.

In the example that the reporting configuration indicates for the UE115-ato include an indication of one or more measured signal qualities for the subset of reference signals225, the reporting configuration may additionally indicate a quantity of measured signal qualities to report for each of the reference signals225in the subset. Additionally, the quantity of measured signal qualities to report for each of the reference signals225in the subset may be specific to each reference signal225. For example, if the subset of reference signals225incudes reference signals225-aand225-b, the UE115-amay indicate two measured signal qualities (each associated with one of the subbands215) for the reference signal225-aand may indicate three measured signal qualities (each associated with one of the subbands215) for the reference signal225-b. The UE115-amay indicate the measured signal qualities that are associated with a highest signal quality for that reference signal225. For example, the UE115-amay indicate the measured signal qualities associated with the two subbands215having the higher signal quality for the reference signal225-athan the remaining subbands215within the channel205. Additionally, the UE115-amay indicate the measured signal qualities associated with the three subbands215having the higher signal quality for the reference signal225-bthan the remaining subbands215within the channel205.

In another example, the reporting configuration may indicate for the UE115-ato include, in the signal quality indication230, an indication of a quantity of pairs of transmit beams and subbands215that are associated with a highest signal quality. For example, the reporting configuration may indicate for the UE115-ato include an indication of the best three pairs of subbands215and transmit beams (e.g., each associated with one of the reference signals225). Here, the UE115-amay perform channel measurements on each of the pairs of subbands215and transmit beams and may indicate the three pairs having a higher signal quality (e.g., L1-RSRP) than the remaining pairs of subbands215and transmit beams. For example, the UE115-amay indicate the indices associated with the subbands215and transmit beams of the pairs of subbands215and transmit beams that have the highest signal qualities.

After transmitting the signal quality indication230to the base station105-a, the UE115-aand base station105-amay communicate using a subband215and transmit beam pair (e.g., associated with a relatively high signal quality when compared to other pairs of subbands215and transmit beams).

FIG.3illustrates an example of a process flow300that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the UE115-bmay be an example of the UEs115as described with respect toFIGS.1and2. Additionally, the base station105-bmay be an example of the base stations105as described with respect toFIGS.1and2. In the process flow300, the UE115-amay report CSI for one or more subbands of a channel.

At305, the base station105-bmay optionally transmit a configuration to the UE115-b. For example, the base station105-bmay transmit an indication of a subband configuration which identifies one or more subbands of a channel for which the UE115-bis to obtain and transmit measured signal qualities. In this example, the UE115-bmay not select one or more subbands of the channel to obtain and transmit measured signal qualities (e.g., at310).

In another example, the base station105-bmay transmit an indication of a reporting configuration for the UE115-bto report measured signal qualities to the base station105-b. In one case, the reporting configuration may indicate a first quantity of a set of transmit beams (e.g., used by the base station105-bto transmit communications to the UE115-b) for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the set of subbands. In another case, the reporting configuration may indicate first quantity of the set of subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams. In another case, the base station105-bmay indicate (e.g., in the reporting configuration) an indicator of multiple pairs of subbands and transmit beams. Here, the base station105-bmay additionally indicate a first quantity of the multiple pairs of subbands for which the UE is to include corresponding measured signal qualities in the indication transmitted to the base station, the first quantity being equal to a number of the one or more pairs.

At310, the UE115-bmay optionally select a configuration. For example, the UE115-bmay select a subband configuration (e.g., in a case that the base station105-bdoes not indicate the subband configuration to the UE115-bat305). Here, the UE115-bmay select one or more subbands of the channel for which the UE115-bis to obtain and transmit the measured signal qualities.

In another example, the UE115-bmay select a reporting configuration for the UE115-bto report measured signal qualities to the base station105-b. In one case, the UE115-bmay select a value of a first quantity of a set of transmit beams (e.g., used by the base station105-bto transmit communications to the UE115-b) for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the set of subbands. Here, the UE115-bmay report the selected value of the first quantity to the base station105-b(e.g., at325). In another case, the UE115-bmay select a value of first quantity of the set of subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams. Here, the UE115-bmay report the selected value of the first quantity to the base station105-b(e.g., at325).

At315, the base station105-bmay transmit a set of reference signals to the UE115-b. That is, the UE115-bmay receive the set of reference signals from the base station105-b, where each of the set of reference signals spans the channel and is associated with one of the set of transmit beams from the base station105-b. In some cases, the sizes of the subbands may be unequal. Additionally, the set of reference signals may include CSI-RSs, SSBs, or both.

At320, the UE115-bmay measure a signal quality of each of the set of reference signals, each measured signal quality corresponding to one of a set of subbands of the channel.

At325, the UE115-bmay transmit, to the base station105-b, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of the set of subbands and a first transmit beam of the set of transmit beams. That is, the UE115-bmay indicate one or more measured signal qualities to the base station105-bin accordance with a reporting configuration. In one example, transmitting the indication of at least the first signal quality includes including in the indication one or more of the measured signal qualities for each of one or more of the set of subbands. Here, each of the one or more of the measured signal qualities associated with an individual subband of the one or more of the set of subbands corresponding to different ones of the set of transmit beams. Additionally, the UE115-bmay identify (e.g., based on the reporting configuration indicated at305or selected at310) a first quantity of the set of transmit beams for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the set of subbands, where a number of the one or more of the measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the set of subbands is less than or equal to the first quantity of the set of transmit beams. In some cases, the first quantity may be subband-specific. Additionally, the UE115-bmay select the one or more of the measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the set of subbands based on respective strengths of the measured signal qualities of each of the set of reference signals.

In another example, the UE115-bmay include, in the indication of at least the first signal quality, one or more of the measured signal qualities for each of one or more of the set of transmit beams. Here, each of the one or more of the measured signal qualities may be associated with an individual transmit beam of the one or more of the set of transmit beams corresponding to different ones of the set of subbands. Additionally, the UE115-bmay identify (e.g., based on the reporting configuration indicated at305or selected at310) a first quantity of the set of subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams. Here, a number of the one or more of the measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams is less than or equal to the first quantity of the set of subbands. In some cases, the value of the first quantity may be transmit beam-specific. Additionally, the UE115-bmay select the one or more of the measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams based on respective strengths of the measured signal qualities of each of the set of reference signals.

In another example, the UE115-bmay include, in the indication of at least the first signal quality, one or more of the measured signal qualities for each of one or more pairs of subbands and transmit beams from the set of subbands and transmit beams from the set of transmit beams. Here, the UE115-bmay transmit, to the base station105-b, indices of the one or more pairs selected from the multiple pairs.

At330, the UE115-band base station105-bmay communicate via transmissions over the first subband and the first transmit beam based on the UE115-btransmitting the indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of the set of subbands and a first transmit beam of the set of transmit beams.

FIG.4shows a block diagram400of a device405that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device405may be an example of aspects of a UE115as described herein. The device405may include a receiver410, a transmitter415, and a communications manager420. The device405may 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 subband reference signal measurement features discussed herein. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver410may 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 subband reference signal measurements). Information may be passed on to other components of the device405. The receiver410may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter415may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device405. For example, the transmitter415may 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 subband reference signal measurements). In some examples, the transmitter415may be co-located with a receiver410in a transceiver module. The transmitter415may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The communications manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of subband reference signal measurements as described herein. For example, the communications manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, 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 manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, 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), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a 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 manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, 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 manager420, the receiver410, the transmitter415, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a central processing unit (CPU), an ASIC, an FPGA, 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 manager420may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver410, the transmitter415, or both. For example, the communications manager420may receive information from the receiver410, send information to the transmitter415, or be integrated in combination with the receiver410, the transmitter415, or both to receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager420may support wireless communications at a UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager420may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving a set of reference signals from a base station, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station. The communications manager420may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring a signal quality of each of the set of reference signals, each measured signal quality corresponding to one of a set of multiple subbands of the channel. The communications manager420may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the base station, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of the set of multiple subbands and a first transmit beam of the set of transmit beams.

By including or configuring the communications manager420in accordance with examples as described herein, the device405(e.g., a processor controlling or otherwise coupled to the receiver410, the transmitter415, the communications manager420, or a combination thereof) may support techniques for more reliable communications by enabling measurement reporting for subbands.

FIG.5shows a block diagram500of a device505that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device505may be an example of aspects of a device405or a UE115as described herein. The device505may include a receiver510, a transmitter515, and a communications manager520. The device505may also include a processor. 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 subband reference signal measurements). 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 subband reference signal measurements). 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 device505, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of subband reference signal measurements as described herein. For example, the communications manager520may include a reference signal receiver525, a measurement component530, a signal quality indication manager535, or any combination thereof. The communications manager520may be an example of aspects of a communications manager420as described herein. In some examples, the communications manager520, or various components thereof, may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, 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 receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager520may support wireless communications at a UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The reference signal receiver525may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving a set of reference signals from a base station, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station. The measurement component530may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring a signal quality of each of the set of reference signals, each measured signal quality corresponding to one of a set of multiple subbands of the channel. The signal quality indication manager535may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the base station, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of the set of multiple subbands and a first transmit beam of the set of transmit beams.

In some cases, the reference signal receiver525, measurement component530, and signal quality indication manager535may 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 reference signal receiver525, measurement component530, and signal quality indication manager535discussed 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.6shows a block diagram600of a communications manager620that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager620may be an example of aspects of a communications manager420, a communications manager520, or both, as described herein. The communications manager620, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of subband reference signal measurements as described herein. For example, the communications manager620may include a reference signal receiver625, a measurement component630, a signal quality indication manager635, a configuration manager640, 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 manager620may support wireless communications at a UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The reference signal receiver625may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving a set of reference signals from a base station, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station. The measurement component630may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring a signal quality of each of the set of reference signals, each measured signal quality corresponding to one of a set of multiple subbands of the channel. The signal quality indication manager635may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the base station, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of the set of multiple subbands and a first transmit beam of the set of transmit beams.

In some examples, the configuration manager640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the base station, a configuration which identifies one or more subbands of the channel for which the UE is to obtain and transmit the measured signal qualities.

In some cases, the configuration manager640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for selecting, at the UE, one or more subbands of the channel for which the UE is to obtain and transmit the measured signal qualities.

In some instances, to support transmitting the indication of at least the first signal quality associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam, the signal quality indication manager635may be configured as or otherwise support a means for including in the indication one or more of the measured signal qualities for each of one or more of the set of multiple subbands, each of the one or more of the measured signal qualities associated with an individual subband of the one or more of the set of multiple subbands corresponding to different ones of the set of transmit beams.

In some examples, the configuration manager640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for identifying a first quantity of the set of transmit beams for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the set of multiple subbands, where a number of the one or more of the measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the set of multiple subbands is less than or equal to the first quantity of the set of transmit beams.

In some cases, to support identifying the first quantity of the set of transmit beams for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported, the configuration manager640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving an indicator of the first quantity from the base station.

In some instances, to support identifying the first quantity of the set of transmit beams for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported, the configuration manager640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for selecting a value of the first quantity at the UE.

In some examples, the signal quality indication manager635may be configured as or otherwise support a means for reporting to the base station the selected value of the first quantity. In some examples, a value of the first quantity is subband-specific.

In some cases, the configuration manager640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for selecting the one or more of the measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the set of multiple subbands based on respective strengths of the measured signal qualities of each of the set of reference signals.

In some instances, to support transmitting the indication of at least the first signal quality associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam, the signal quality indication manager635may be configured as or otherwise support a means for including in the indication one or more of the measured signal qualities for each of one or more of the set of transmit beams, each of the one or more of the measured signal qualities associated with an individual transmit beam of the one or more of the set of transmit beams corresponding to different ones of the set of multiple subbands.

In some examples, the configuration manager640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for identifying a first quantity of the set of multiple subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams, where a number of the one or more of the measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams is less than or equal to the first quantity of the set of multiple subbands.

In some cases, to support identifying the first quantity of the set of multiple subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported, the configuration manager640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving an indicator of the first quantity from the base station.

In some instances, to support identifying the first quantity of the set of multiple subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported, the configuration manager640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for selecting a value of the first quantity at the UE.

In some examples, the signal quality indication manager635may be configured as or otherwise support a means for reporting to the base station the selected value of the first quantity. In some cases, a value of the first quantity is transmit beam-specific.

In some instances, the configuration manager640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for selecting the one or more of the measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams based on respective strengths of the measured signal qualities of each of the set of reference signals.

In some examples, to support transmitting the indication of at least the first signal quality associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam, the signal quality indication manager635may be configured as or otherwise support a means for including in the indication one or more of the measured signal qualities for each of one or more pairs of subbands and transmit beams from the set of multiple subbands and transmit beams from the set of transmit beams.

In some cases, the configuration manager640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the base station, an indicator of multiple pairs of subbands and transmit beams from which the one or more pairs are selected. In some examples, the configuration manager640may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the base station, a first quantity of the multiple pairs of subbands and transmit beams for which the UE is to include corresponding measured signal qualities in the indication transmitted to the base station, the first quantity being equal to a number of the one or more pairs. In some instances, the signal quality indication manager635may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the base station, indices of the one or more pairs selected from the multiple pairs.

In some examples, a first size of the first subband of the set of multiple subbands is different than a second size of a second subband of the set of multiple subbands. In some cases, the set of reference signals include SSBs, CSI-RSs, or a combination thereof. In some instances, the indication of at least the first signal quality includes an indicator of an RSRP associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam.

In some cases, the reference signal receiver625, measurement component630, signal quality indication manager635, and configuration manager640may 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 reference signal receiver625, measurement component630, signal quality indication manager635, and configuration manager640discussed herein.

FIG.7shows a diagram of a system700including a device705that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device705may be an example of or include the components of a device405, a device505, or a UE115as described herein. The device705may communicate wirelessly with one or more base stations105, UEs115, or any combination thereof. The device705may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, such as a communications manager720, an input/output (I/O) controller710, a transceiver715, an antenna725, a memory730, code735, and a processor740. 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 bus745).

The I/O controller710may manage input and output signals for the device705. The I/O controller710may also manage peripherals not integrated into the device705. In some cases, the I/O controller710may represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral. In some cases, the I/O controller710may 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 controller710may represent or interact with a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, or a similar device. In some cases, the I/O controller710may be implemented as part of a processor, such as the processor740. In some cases, a user may interact with the device705via the I/O controller710or via hardware components controlled by the I/O controller710.

In some cases, the device705may include a single antenna725. However, in some other cases, the device705may have more than one antenna725, which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions. The transceiver715may communicate bi-directionally, via the one or more antennas725, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, the transceiver715may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver715may also include a modem to modulate the packets, to provide the modulated packets to one or more antennas725for transmission, and to demodulate packets received from the one or more antennas725. The transceiver715, or the transceiver715and one or more antennas725, may be an example of a transmitter415, a transmitter515, a receiver410, a receiver510, or any combination thereof or component thereof, as described herein.

The memory730may include random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). The memory730may store computer-readable, computer-executable code735including instructions that, when executed by the processor740, cause the device705to perform various functions described herein. The code735may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. In some cases, the code735may not be directly executable by the processor740but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein. In some cases, the memory730may 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 processor740may 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 processor740may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor740. The processor740may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory730) to cause the device705to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting subband reference signal measurements). For example, the device705or a component of the device705may include a processor740and memory730coupled to the processor740, the processor740and memory730configured to perform various functions described herein.

The communications manager720may support wireless communications at a UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager720may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving a set of reference signals from a base station, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station. The communications manager720may be configured as or otherwise support a means for measuring a signal quality of each of the set of reference signals, each measured signal quality corresponding to one of a set of multiple subbands of the channel. The communications manager720may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the base station, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of the set of multiple subbands and a first transmit beam of the set of transmit beams.

By including or configuring the communications manager720in accordance with examples as described herein, the device705may support techniques improved communications reliability.

In some examples, the communications manager720may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the transceiver715, the one or more antennas725, or any combination thereof. Although the communications manager720is illustrated as a separate component, in some examples, one or more functions described with reference to the communications manager720may be supported by or performed by the processor740, the memory730, the code735, or any combination thereof. For example, the code735may include instructions executable by the processor740to cause the device705to perform various aspects of subband reference signal measurements as described herein, or the processor740and the memory730may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

FIG.8shows a block diagram800of a device805that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device805may be an example of aspects of a base station105as described herein. The device805may include a receiver810, a transmitter815, and a communications manager820. The device805may 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 subband reference signal measurement features discussed herein. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver810may 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 subband reference signal measurements). Information may be passed on to other components of the device805. The receiver810may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter815may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device805. For example, the transmitter815may 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 subband reference signal measurements). In some examples, the transmitter815may be co-located with a receiver810in a transceiver module. The transmitter815may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The communications manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of subband reference signal measurements as described herein. For example, the communications manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, 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 manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in communications management circuitry). The hardware may include a processor, a DSP, an ASIC, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, a 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 manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, 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 manager820, the receiver810, the transmitter815, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, 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 manager820may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver810, the transmitter815, or both. For example, the communications manager820may receive information from the receiver810, send information to the transmitter815, or be integrated in combination with the receiver810, the transmitter815, or both to receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager820may support wireless communications at a base station in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting a set of reference signals to a UE, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station. The communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the UE and in response to transmission of the set of reference signals, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of a set of multiple subbands that together span the channel and a first transmit beam of the base station. The communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for communicating with the UE via transmissions over the first subband and the first transmit beam based on receiving the indication.

By including or configuring the communications manager820in accordance with examples as described herein, the device805(e.g., a processor controlling or otherwise coupled to the receiver810, the transmitter815, the communications manager820, or a combination thereof) may support techniques for more reliable communications by enabling measurement reporting for subbands.

FIG.9shows a block diagram900of a device905that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device905may be an example of aspects of a device805or a base station105as described herein. The device905may include a receiver910, a transmitter915, and a communications manager920. The device905may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver910may 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 subband reference signal measurements). Information may be passed on to other components of the device905. The receiver910may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter915may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device905. For example, the transmitter915may 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 subband reference signal measurements). In some examples, the transmitter915may be co-located with a receiver910in a transceiver module. The transmitter915may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The device905, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of subband reference signal measurements as described herein. For example, the communications manager920may include a reference signal transmitter925, a signal quality indication receiver930, a communication component935, or any combination thereof. The communications manager920may be an example of aspects of a communications manager820as described herein. In some examples, the communications manager920, or various components thereof, may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver910, the transmitter915, or both. For example, the communications manager920may receive information from the receiver910, send information to the transmitter915, or be integrated in combination with the receiver910, the transmitter915, or both to receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager920may support wireless communications at a base station in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The reference signal transmitter925may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting a set of reference signals to a UE, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station. The signal quality indication receiver930may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the UE and in response to transmission of the set of reference signals, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of a set of multiple subbands that together span the channel and a first transmit beam of the base station. The communication component935may be configured as or otherwise support a means for communicating with the UE via transmissions over the first subband and the first transmit beam based on receiving the indication.

In some cases, the reference signal transmitter925, signal quality indication receiver930, and communication component935may 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 reference signal transmitter925, signal quality indication receiver930, and communication component935discussed 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.10shows a block diagram1000of a communications manager1020that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager1020may be an example of aspects of a communications manager820, a communications manager920, or both, as described herein. The communications manager1020, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of subband reference signal measurements as described herein. For example, the communications manager1020may include a reference signal transmitter1025, a signal quality indication receiver1030, a communication component1035, a configuration manager1040, 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 manager1020may support wireless communications at a base station in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The reference signal transmitter1025may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting a set of reference signals to a UE, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station. The signal quality indication receiver1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the UE and in response to transmission of the set of reference signals, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of a set of multiple subbands that together span the channel and a first transmit beam of the base station. The communication component1035may be configured as or otherwise support a means for communicating with the UE via transmissions over the first subband and the first transmit beam based on receiving the indication.

In some examples, the configuration manager1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the UE, a configuration which identifies one or more subbands of the channel for which the UE is to measure signal qualities, including the first subband.

In some cases, to support receiving the indication of at least the first signal quality associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam, the signal quality indication receiver1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving in the indication one or more measured signal qualities for each of one or more of the set of multiple subbands, each of the one or more measured signal qualities associated with an individual subband of the one or more of the set of multiple subbands corresponding to different ones of the set of transmit beams.

In some instances, the configuration manager1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for identifying a first quantity of the set of transmit beams for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the set of multiple subbands, where a number of the one or more measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the set of multiple subbands is less than or equal to the first quantity of the set of transmit beams.

In some examples, to support identifying the first quantity of the set of transmit beams for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported, the configuration manager1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting an indicator of the first quantity to the UE.

In some cases, to support identifying the first quantity of the set of transmit beams for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported, the configuration manager1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving a report from the UE of a UE-selected value of the first quantity. In some instances, a value of the first quantity is subband-specific.

In some examples, to support receiving the indication of at least the first signal quality associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam, the signal quality indication receiver1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving in the indication one or more measured signal qualities for each of one or more of the set of transmit beams, each of the one or more measured signal qualities associated with an individual transmit beam of the one or more of the set of transmit beams corresponding to different ones of the set of multiple subbands.

In some cases, the configuration manager1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for identifying a first quantity of the set of multiple subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams, where a number of the one or more measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams is less than or equal to the first quantity of the set of multiple subbands.

In some instances, to support identifying the first quantity of the set of multiple subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported, the configuration manager1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting an indicator of the first quantity to the UE.

In some examples, to support identifying the first quantity of the set of multiple subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported, the configuration manager1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving a report from the UE indicating a UE-selected value of the first quantity. In some cases, a value of the first quantity is transmit beam-specific.

In some instances, to support receiving the indication of at least the first signal quality associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam, the signal quality indication receiver1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving in the indication one or more measured signal qualities for each of one or more pairs of subbands and transmit beams from the set of multiple subbands and transmit beams from the set of transmit beams.

In some examples, the configuration manager1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the UE, an indicator of multiple pairs of subbands and transmit beams from which the one or more pairs are selected. In some examples, the configuration manager1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the UE, a first quantity of the multiple pairs of subbands and transmit beams for which the UE is to include corresponding measured signal qualities in the indication transmitted to the base station, the first quantity being equal to a number of the one or more pairs. In some cases, the signal quality indication receiver1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the UE, indices of the one or more pairs selected by the UE from the multiple pairs.

In some examples, a first size of the first subband of the set of multiple subbands is different than a second size of a second subband of the set of multiple subbands. In some cases, the set of reference signals include SSBs, CSI-RSs, or a combination thereof. In some instances, the indication of at least the first signal quality includes an indicator of an RSRP associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam.

In some cases, the reference signal transmitter1025, signal quality indication receiver1030, communication component1035, and configuration manager1040may 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 reference signal transmitter1025, signal quality indication receiver1030, communication component1035, and configuration manager1040discussed herein.

FIG.11shows a diagram of a system1100including a device1105that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device1105may be an example of or include the components of a device805, a device905, or a base station105as described herein. The device1105may communicate wirelessly with one or more base stations105, UEs115, or any combination thereof. The device1105may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, such as a communications manager1120, a network communications manager1110, a transceiver1115, an antenna1125, a memory1130, code1135, a processor1140, and an inter-station communications manager1145. 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 bus1150).

The network communications manager1110may manage communications with a core network130(e.g., via one or more wired backhaul links). For example, the network communications manager1110may manage the transfer of data communications for client devices, such as one or more UEs115.

In some cases, the device1105may include a single antenna1125. However, in some other cases the device1105may have more than one antenna1125, which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions. The transceiver1115may communicate bi-directionally, via the one or more antennas1125, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, the transceiver1115may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver1115may also include a modem to modulate the packets, to provide the modulated packets to one or more antennas1125for transmission, and to demodulate packets received from the one or more antennas1125. The transceiver1115, or the transceiver1115and one or more antennas1125, may be an example of a transmitter815, a transmitter915, a receiver810, a receiver910, or any combination thereof or component thereof, as described herein.

The memory1130may include RAM and ROM. The memory1130may store computer-readable, computer-executable code1135including instructions that, when executed by the processor1140, cause the device1105to perform various functions described herein. The code1135may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. In some cases, the code1135may not be directly executable by the processor1140but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein. In some cases, the memory1130may contain, among other things, a BIOS which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

The processor1140may 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 processor1140may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor1140. The processor1140may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory1130) to cause the device1105to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting subband reference signal measurements). For example, the device1105or a component of the device1105may include a processor1140and memory1130coupled to the processor1140, the processor1140and memory1130configured to perform various functions described herein.

The inter-station communications manager1145may manage communications with other base stations105, and may include a controller or scheduler for controlling communications with UEs115in cooperation with other base stations105. For example, the inter-station communications manager1145may coordinate scheduling for transmissions to UEs115for various interference mitigation techniques such as beamforming or joint transmission. In some examples, the inter-station communications manager1145may provide an X2 interface within an LTE/LTE-A wireless communications network technology to provide communication between base stations105.

The communications manager1120may support wireless communications at a base station in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager1120may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting a set of reference signals to a UE, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station. The communications manager1120may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the UE and in response to transmission of the set of reference signals, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of a set of multiple subbands that together span the channel and a first transmit beam of the base station. The communications manager1120may be configured as or otherwise support a means for communicating with the UE via transmissions over the first subband and the first transmit beam based on receiving the indication.

By including or configuring the communications manager1120in accordance with examples as described herein, the device1105may support techniques for improved communication reliability.

In some examples, the communications manager1120may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the transceiver1115, the one or more antennas1125, or any combination thereof. Although the communications manager1120is illustrated as a separate component, in some examples, one or more functions described with reference to the communications manager1120may be supported by or performed by the processor1140, the memory1130, the code1135, or any combination thereof. For example, the code1135may include instructions executable by the processor1140to cause the device1105to perform various aspects of subband reference signal measurements as described herein, or the processor1140and the memory1130may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

FIG.12shows a flowchart illustrating a method1200that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1200may be implemented by a UE or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1200may be performed by a UE115as described with reference toFIGS.1through7. 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.

At1205, the method may include receiving a set of reference signals from a base station, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station. The operations of1205may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1205may be performed by a reference signal receiver625as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1210, the method may include measuring a signal quality of each of the set of reference signals, each measured signal quality corresponding to one of a set of multiple subbands of the channel. The operations of1210may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1210may be performed by a measurement component630as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1215, the method may include transmitting, to the base station, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of the set of multiple subbands and a first transmit beam of the set of transmit beams. The operations of1215may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1215may be performed by a signal quality indication manager635as described with reference toFIG.6.

FIG.13shows a flowchart illustrating a method1300that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1300may be implemented by a UE or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1300may be performed by a UE115as described with reference toFIGS.1through7. 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.

At1305, the method may include receiving, from the base station, a configuration which identifies one or more subbands of the channel for which the UE is to obtain and transmit the measured signal qualities. The operations of1305may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1305may be performed by a configuration manager640as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1310, the method may include receiving a set of reference signals from a base station, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station. The operations of1310may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1310may be performed by a reference signal receiver625as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1315, the method may include measuring a signal quality of each of the set of reference signals, each measured signal quality corresponding to one of a set of multiple subbands of the channel. The operations of1315may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1315may be performed by a measurement component630as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1320, the method may include transmitting, to the base station, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of the set of multiple subbands and a first transmit beam of the set of transmit beams. The operations of1320may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1320may be performed by a signal quality indication manager635as described with reference toFIG.6.

FIG.14shows a flowchart illustrating a method1400that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1400may be implemented by a UE or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1400may be performed by a UE115as described with reference toFIGS.1through7. 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.

At1405, the method may include selecting, at the UE, one or more subbands of the channel for which the UE is to obtain and transmit the measured signal qualities. The operations of1405may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1405may be performed by a configuration manager640as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1410, the method may include receiving a set of reference signals from a base station, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station. The operations of1410may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1410may be performed by a reference signal receiver625as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1415, the method may include measuring a signal quality of each of the set of reference signals, each measured signal quality corresponding to one of a set of multiple subbands of the channel. The operations of1415may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1415may be performed by a measurement component630as described with reference toFIG.6.

At1420, the method may include transmitting, to the base station, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of the set of multiple subbands and a first transmit beam of the set of transmit beams. The operations of1420may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1420may be performed by a signal quality indication manager635as described with reference toFIG.6.

FIG.15shows a flowchart illustrating a method1500that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1500may be implemented by a base station or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1500may be performed by a base station105as described with reference toFIGS.1through3and8through11. In some examples, a base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1505, the method may include transmitting a set of reference signals to a UE, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station. The operations of1505may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1505may be performed by a reference signal transmitter1025as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1510, the method may include receiving, from the UE and in response to transmission of the set of reference signals, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of a set of multiple subbands that together span the channel and a first transmit beam of the base station. The operations of1510may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1510may be performed by a signal quality indication receiver1030as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1515, the method may include communicating with the UE via transmissions over the first subband and the first transmit beam based on receiving the indication. The operations of1515may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1515may be performed by a communication component1035as described with reference toFIG.10.

FIG.16shows a flowchart illustrating a method1600that supports subband reference signal measurements in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1600may be implemented by a base station or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1600may be performed by a base station105as described with reference toFIGS.1through3and8through11. In some examples, a base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may perform aspects of the described functions using special-purpose hardware.

At1605, the method may include transmitting, to the UE, a configuration which identifies one or more subbands of the channel for which the UE is to measure signal qualities, including the first subband. The operations of1605may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1605may be performed by a configuration manager1040as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1610, the method may include transmitting a set of reference signals to a UE, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station. The operations of1610may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1610may be performed by a reference signal transmitter1025as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1615, the method may include receiving, from the UE and in response to transmission of the set of reference signals, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of a set of multiple subbands that together span the channel and a first transmit beam of the base station. The operations of1615may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1615may be performed by a signal quality indication receiver1030as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1620, the method may include communicating with the UE via transmissions over the first subband and the first transmit beam based on receiving the indication. The operations of1620may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1620may be performed by a communication component1035as described with reference toFIG.10.

The following provides an overview of aspects of the present disclosure:Aspect 1: A method for wireless communications at a UE, the method comprising: receiving a set of reference signals from a base station, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station; measuring a signal quality of each of the set of reference signals, each measured signal quality corresponding to one of a plurality of subbands of the channel; and transmitting, to the base station, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of the plurality of subbands and a first transmit beam of the set of transmit beams.Aspect 2: The method of aspect 1, further comprising: receiving, from the base station, a configuration which identifies one or more subbands of the channel for which the UE is to obtain and transmit the measured signal qualities.Aspect 3: The method of any of aspects 1 through 2, further comprising: selecting, at the UE, one or more subbands of the channel for which the UE is to obtain and transmit the measured signal qualities.Aspect 4: The method of any of aspects 1 through 3, wherein transmitting the indication of at least the first signal quality associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam comprises: including in the indication one or more of the measured signal qualities for each of one or more of the plurality of subbands, each of the one or more of the measured signal qualities associated with an individual subband of the one or more of the plurality of subbands corresponding to different ones of the set of transmit beams.Aspect 5: The method of aspect 4, further comprising: identifying a first quantity of the set of transmit beams for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the plurality of subbands, wherein a number of the one or more of the measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the plurality of subbands is less than or equal to the first quantity of the set of transmit beams.Aspect 6: The method of aspect 5, wherein identifying the first quantity of the set of transmit beams for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported further comprises: receiving an indicator of the first quantity from the base station.Aspect 7: The method of any of aspects 5 through 6, wherein identifying the first quantity of the set of transmit beams for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported further comprises: selecting a value of the first quantity at the UE.Aspect 8: The method of aspect 7, further comprising: reporting to the base station the selected value of the first quantity.Aspect 9: The method of any of aspects 5 through 8, wherein a value of the first quantity is subband-specific.Aspect 10: The method of any of aspects 4 through 9, further comprising: selecting the one or more of the measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the plurality of subbands based at least in part on respective strengths of the measured signal qualities of each of the set of reference signals.Aspect 11: The method of any of aspects 1 through 10, wherein transmitting the indication of at least the first signal quality associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam comprises: including in the indication one or more of the measured signal qualities for each of one or more of the set of transmit beams, each of the one or more of the measured signal qualities associated with an individual transmit beam of the one or more of the set of transmit beams corresponding to different ones of the plurality of subbands.Aspect 12: The method of aspect 11, further comprising: identifying a first quantity of the plurality of subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams, wherein a number of the one or more of the measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams is less than or equal to the first quantity of the plurality of subbands.Aspect 13: The method of aspect 12, wherein identifying the first quantity of the plurality of subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported further comprises: receiving an indicator of the first quantity from the base station.Aspect 14: The method of any of aspects 12 through 13, wherein identifying the first quantity of the plurality of subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported further comprises: selecting a value of the first quantity at the UE.Aspect 15: The method of aspect 14, further comprising: reporting to the base station the selected value of the first quantity.Aspect 16: The method of any of aspects 12 through 15, wherein a value of the first quantity is transmit beam-specific.Aspect 17: The method of any of aspects 11 through 16, further comprising: selecting the one or more of the measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams based at least in part on respective strengths of the measured signal qualities of each of the set of reference signals.Aspect 18: The method of any of aspects 1 through 17, wherein transmitting the indication of at least the first signal quality associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam comprises: including in the indication one or more of the measured signal qualities for each of one or more pairs of subbands from the plurality of subbands and transmit beams from the set of transmit beams.Aspect 19: The method of aspect 18, further comprising: receiving, from the base station, an indicator of multiple pairs of subbands and transmit beams from which the one or more pairs are selected; and receiving, from the base station, a first quantity of the multiple pairs of subbands for which the UE is to include corresponding measured signal qualities in the indication transmitted to the base station, the first quantity being equal to a number of the one or more pairs.Aspect 20: The method of any of aspects 18 through 19, further comprising: transmitting, to the base station, indices of the one or more pairs selected from the multiple pairs.Aspect 21: The method of any of aspects 1 through 20, wherein a first size of the first subband of the plurality of subbands is different than a second size of a second subband of the plurality of subbands.Aspect 22: The method of any of aspects 1 through 21, wherein the set of reference signals comprise SSBs, CSI-RSs, or a combination thereof.Aspect 23: The method of any of aspects 1 through 22, wherein the indication of at least the first signal quality comprises an indicator of an RSRP associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam.Aspect 24: A method for wireless communications at a base station, the method comprising: transmitting a set of reference signals to a UE, each of the set of reference signals spanning a channel and associated with one of a set of transmit beams from the base station; receiving, from the UE and in response to transmission of the set of reference signals, an indication of at least a first signal quality associated with a first subband of a plurality of subbands that together span the channel and a first transmit beam of the base station; and communicating with the UE via transmissions over the first subband and the first transmit beam based at least in part on receiving the indicationAspect 25: The method of aspect 24, further comprising: transmitting, to the UE, a configuration which identifies one or more subbands of the channel for which the UE is to measure signal qualities, including the first subband.Aspect 26: The method of any of aspects 24 through 25, wherein receiving the indication of at least the first signal quality associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam comprises: receiving in the indication one or more measured signal qualities for each of one or more of the plurality of subbands, each of the one or more measured signal qualities associated with an individual subband of the one or more of the plurality of subbands corresponding to different ones of the set of transmit beams.Aspect 27: The method of aspect 26, further comprising: identifying a first quantity of the set of transmit beams for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the plurality of subbands, wherein a number of the one or more measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the plurality of subbands is less than or equal to the first quantity of the set of transmit beams.Aspect 28: The method of aspect 27, wherein identifying the first quantity of the set of transmit beams for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported further comprises: transmitting an indicator of the first quantity to the UE.Aspect 29: The method of any of aspects 27 through 28, wherein identifying the first quantity of the set of transmit beams for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported further comprises: receiving a report from the UE of a UE-selected value of the first quantity.Aspect 30: The method of any of aspects 27 through 29, wherein a value of the first quantity is subband-specific.Aspect 31: The method of any of aspects 24 through 30, wherein receiving the indication of at least the first signal quality associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam comprises: receiving in the indication one or more measured signal qualities for each of one or more of the set of transmit beams, each of the one or more measured signal qualities associated with an individual transmit beam of the one or more of the set of transmit beams corresponding to different ones of the plurality of subbands.Aspect 32: The method of aspect 31, further comprising: identifying a first quantity of the plurality of subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams, wherein a number of the one or more measured signal qualities included in the indication for each of the one or more of the set of transmit beams is less than or equal to the first quantity of the plurality of subbands.Aspect 33: The method of aspect 32, wherein identifying the first quantity of the plurality of subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported further comprises: transmitting an indicator of the first quantity to the UE.Aspect 34: The method of any of aspects 32 through 33, wherein identifying the first quantity of the plurality of subbands for which the measured signal qualities are to be reported further comprises: receiving a report from the UE indicating a UE-selected value of the first quantity.Aspect 35: The method of any of aspects 32 through 34, wherein a value of the first quantity is transmit beam-specific.Aspect 36: The method of any of aspects 24 through 35, wherein receiving the indication of at least the first signal quality associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam comprises: receiving in the indication one or more measured signal qualities for each of one or more pairs of subbands from the plurality of subbands and transmit beams from the set of transmit beams.Aspect 37: The method of aspect 36, further comprising: transmitting, to the UE, an indicator of multiple pairs of subbands and transmit beams from which the one or more pairs are selected; and transmitting, to the UE, a first quantity of the multiple pairs of subbands for which the UE is to include corresponding measured signal qualities in the indication transmitted to the base station, the first quantity being equal to a number of the one or more pairs.Aspect 38: The method of any of aspects 36 through 37, further comprising: receiving, from the UE, indices of the one or more pairs selected by the UE from the multiple pairs.Aspect 39: The method of any of aspects 24 through 38, wherein a first size of the first subband of the plurality of subbands is different than a second size of a second subband of the plurality of subbands.Aspect 40: The method of any of aspects 24 through 39, wherein the set of reference signals comprise SSBs, CSI-RSs, or a combination thereof.Aspect 41: The method of any of aspects 24 through 40, wherein the indication of at least the first signal quality comprises an indicator of an RSRP associated with the first subband and the first transmit beam.Aspect 42: An apparatus for wireless communications 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 23.Aspect 43: An apparatus for wireless communications at a UE, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 1 through 23.Aspect 44: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communications at a UE, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of any of aspects 1 through 23.Aspect 45: An apparatus for wireless communications at a base station, 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 24 through 41.Aspect 46: An apparatus for wireless communications at a base station, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 24 through 41.Aspect 47: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communications at a base station, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of any of aspects 24 through 41.

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.”

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.