Patent ID: 12261795

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A user equipment (UE) and a base station may communicate using one or more beams (e.g., communication beams, shaped using beamforming techniques). For example, for uplink communications, the UE may use a transmit beam (e.g., an uplink transmit beam) for transmitting information or data to the base station, and the base station may use a receive beam (e.g., uplink receive beam) to receive the transmitted information or data. In the uplink, the UE may transmit one or more sounding reference signals (SRS) to the base station, where an applicability or usage of the SRS (e.g., of a corresponding SRS resource set) may be configured by the base station to be for beam management. An uplink beam for SRS transmissions may be configured (e.g., by the base station) by pointing to or indicating a downlink reference signal corresponding to the uplink beam or another SRS corresponding to the uplink beam.

In some examples, the UE and the base station may communicate in the uplink via one or more uplink nodes. In such cases, the uplink nodes may be connected to the base station and may receive uplink signals and/or channels from the UE and forward associated uplink data or uplink information to the base station. Downlink signals and/or channels may be transmitted to the UE from the base station, which may represent a different communication node (e.g., at a different location) than any uplink nodes used for uplink communications. Additionally or alternatively, the UE and the base station may communicate in the uplink via a supplementary uplink (SUL) carrier, where the UE may be configured with two uplink carriers (e.g., one of which may be configured as SUL) for one downlink carrier of a same serving cell.

In cases where the UE communicates with the base station in the uplink via an uplink node, uplink transmit and receive beams may be associated with the uplink node (e.g., and not with downlink beams from the base station). Similarly, in cases where the UE communicates with the base station using an SUL carrier, uplink transmit and receive beams for the SUL carrier may not be associated with any corresponding beams for the associated downlink carrier. As such, when the UE communicates in the uplink via an uplink node, or via an SUL carrier, a beam correspondence may not exist between downlink and uplink beams (e.g., for use in uplink beam management). A downlink reference signal may therefore not be used to indicate an uplink beam because the uplink and downlink beams may not correspond to each other in these communication scenarios. In such cases, uplink beams may be indicated using SRS. However, in some cases, an SRS resource set configuration for uplink beam management that is based on SRS (e.g., previously transmitted SRS) may fail to distinguish between receive and transmit beam adjustment within resources of the SRS resource set.

The present disclosure provides techniques for indicating transmit and receive beam patterns within an SRS resource set configured for beam management. For example, the base station may configure the UE with an SRS resource set for beam management, where the configuration of the SRS resource set may indicate a transmit beam pattern. The SRS resource set may include one or more groups of SRS resources, where a transmit beam (e.g., a spatial relation filter) may be the same for each SRS resource within a respective group, but may be different across different groups. This grouping of SRS resources may be referred to as a transmit beam pattern, and may be indicated in the configuration of the SRS resource set by indicating an explicit group pattern, a size of a group of SRS resources, or a number of groups of SRS resources in the set, among other examples. The pattern may be defined for one time period or across multiple time periods, for example, for semi-persistent or periodic SRS.

The UE may transmit one or more SRS (e.g., on resources of the SRS resource set) to the base station (e.g., via an uplink node or an SUL carrier), where each SRS may be transmitted using the transmit beam according to the configuration. For example, the UE may transmit multiple SRS signals, where those associated with a same group of resources may share a same transmit beam and those associated with different groups of resources may have different transmit beams. The base station may perform UE transmit beam sweeping using SRS received on different groups of SRS resources and may perform base station receive beam sweeping using SRS received within a same group of SRS resources and may determine a transmit beam and/or a receive beam for uplink communications based on the respective beam sweeping. The base station may indicate the transmit beam to the UE, such that the UE and the base station may use the determined transmit and/or receive beams for uplink communications between the UE and the base station (e.g., via an uplink node or an SUL carrier).

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 resource configurations, a process flow, apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts that relate to reference signal patterns for beam management.

FIG.1illustrates an example of a wireless communications system100that supports reference signal patterns for beam management 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 sub-band, a BWP) or all of a carrier bandwidth.

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.

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 Nfmay represent the maximum supported discrete Fourier transform (DFT) size. Time intervals of a communications resource may be organized according to radio frames each having a specified duration (e.g., 10 milliseconds (ms)). Each radio frame may be identified by a system frame number (SFN) (e.g., ranging from 0 to 1023).

Each frame may include multiple consecutively numbered subframes or slots, and each subframe or slot may have the same duration. In some examples, a frame may be divided (e.g., in the time domain) into subframes, and each subframe may be further divided into a 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.

Each base station105may provide communication coverage via one or more cells, for example a macro cell, a small cell, a hot spot, or other types of cells, or any combination thereof. The term “cell” may refer to a logical communication entity used for communication with a base station105(e.g., over a carrier) and may be associated with an identifier for distinguishing neighboring cells (e.g., a physical cell identifier (PCID), a virtual cell identifier (VCID), or others). In some examples, a cell may also refer to a geographic coverage area110or a portion of a geographic coverage area110(e.g., a sector) over which the logical communication entity operates. Such cells may range from smaller areas (e.g., a structure, a subset of structure) to larger areas depending on various factors such as the capabilities of the base station105. For example, a cell may be or include a building, a subset of a building, or exterior spaces between or overlapping with geographic coverage areas110, among other examples.

A macro cell generally covers a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access by the UEs115with service subscriptions with the network provider supporting the macro cell. A small cell may be associated with a lower-powered base station105, as compared with a macro cell, and a small cell may operate in the same or different (e.g., licensed, unlicensed) frequency bands as macro cells. Small cells may provide unrestricted access to the UEs115with service subscriptions with the network provider or may provide restricted access to the UEs115having an association with the small cell (e.g., the UEs115in a closed subscriber group (CSG), the UEs115associated with users in a home or office). A base station105may support one or multiple cells and may also support communications over the one or more cells using one or multiple component carriers.

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

In some examples, a 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, 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, 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 sub-bands. The base station105may transmit a reference signal (e.g., a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS)), which may be precoded or unprecoded. The UE115may provide feedback for beam selection, which may be a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) or codebook-based feedback (e.g., a multi-panel type codebook, a linear combination type codebook, a port selection type codebook). Although these techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted 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).

The wireless communications system100may be a packet-based network that operates according to a layered protocol stack. In the user plane, communications at the bearer or Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer may be IP-based. A Radio Link Control (RLC) layer may perform packet segmentation and reassembly to communicate over logical channels. A Medium Access Control (MAC) layer may perform priority handling and multiplexing of logical channels into transport channels. The MAC layer may also use error detection techniques, error correction techniques, or both to support retransmissions at the MAC layer to improve link efficiency. In the control plane, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol layer may provide establishment, configuration, and maintenance of an RRC connection between a UE115and a base station105or a core network130supporting radio bearers for user plane data. At the physical layer, transport channels may be mapped to physical channels.

In some cases, wireless communications system may include one or more uplink nodes155. Uplink nodes155may represent uplink receive points that are configured for reception of uplink transmissions from UEs115(e.g., via a communication link125), but may not be configured for transmission of downlink transmissions to UEs115. The uplink nodes155may communicate or forward received uplink transmissions to an associated base station105, such as via a backhaul link120. In some cases, a UE115and a base station105may communicate in the uplink via an SUL carrier.

In cases where the UE115communicates with the base station105in the uplink via an uplink node155or via an SUL carrier, uplink transmit and receive beams for the SUL carrier or the uplink node155may not be associated with any corresponding downlink beams. The base station105may therefore indicate transmit and receive beam patterns within an SRS resource set configured for beam management. For example, the base station105may configure the UE115with an SRS resource set for beam management, where the configuration of the SRS resource set may indicate a transmit beam pattern. The SRS resource set may include one or more groups of SRS resources, where a transmit beam (e.g., a spatial relation filter) may be the same for each SRS resource within a respective group, but may be different across different groups. This grouping of SRS resources may be referred to as a transmit beam pattern. The UE115may transmit one or more SRS (e.g., on resources of the SRS resource set) to the base station105(e.g., via an uplink node155or an SUL carrier), according to the transmit beam pattern. The base station105may indicate a transmit beam to the UE115based on the transmitted SRS.

FIG.2illustrates an example of a wireless communications system200that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, wireless communications system200may implement some aspects of wireless communications system100. For example, wireless communications system200may include a UE115-aand a base station105-a, which may be examples of the corresponding devices as described with reference toFIG.1. In some cases, wireless communications system200may also include one or more uplink nodes220, which may be examples of an uplink node155described with reference toFIG.1.

As described with reference toFIG.1, UE115-aand base station105-amay communicate using one or more beams210(e.g., communication beams210, shaped using beamforming techniques). For example, for uplink communications, UE115-amay use a transmit beam210(e.g., uplink transmit beam210) for transmitting information or data to base station105-a, and base station105-amay use a receive beam210(e.g., uplink receive beam210) to receive the transmitted information or data. In the uplink, UE115-amay transmit one or more SRS215to base station105-a, where an applicability or usage of the SRS215(e.g., of a corresponding SRS resource set) may be configured by base station105-a(e.g., using a higher layer parameter, such as a usage parameter within an SRS-ResourceSet configuration) and may, for example, be indicated by base station105-ato UE115-a.

For example, base station105-amay configure a usage of an SRS resource set to be for beam management, codebook, non-codebook, or antenna switching, among other examples. In some cases, each SRS resource set may be configured (e.g., by base station105-a) with up to 16 SRS resources, and each SRS resource set may include aperiodic, semi-persistent, or periodic SRS resources. If usage of an SRS resource set is set to be for beam management (e.g., set to beamManagement), only one SRS resource in each SRS resource set may be used for SRS transmission at a time (e.g., at a given time instant), while SRS resources in different SRS resource sets with a same time domain behavior (e.g., and in a same BWP) may be used for SRS transmission simultaneously.

An uplink beam210for SRS transmission may be configured (e.g., by base station105-a), for example, by pointing to or indicating a reference signal for the uplink beam210(e.g., may include spatial relationship information for each SRS215, such as by using SRS-SpatialRelationInfo). For example, the configuration of the SRS resource set may indicate a synchronization signal block (SSB) index, a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource identifier (ID), or a combination thereof, for SRS resources of the SRS resource set. In such cases, UE115-amay transmit an SRS215, in an indicated SRS resource, using a same spatial domain transmission filter (e.g., for beamforming) used for reception of the corresponding, indicated CSI-RS or SSB (e.g., synchronization signal and/or physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block). For example, if the SRS resource set configuration indicates an SSB index or a CSI-RS ID corresponding to a downlink, receive beam210-a, UE115-amay use a spatial domain filter that corresponds to receive beam210-afor transmitting the associated SRS215.

Additionally or alternatively, the configuration of the SRS resource set may indicate an associated SRS resource ID for each SRS resource of the SRS resource set (e.g., to indicate a corresponding uplink beam210for each resource). In such cases, UE115-amay transmit an SRS215, in an indicated SRS resource, using a same spatial domain transmission filter used for transmission of the corresponding, indicated SRS. The configuration of the SRS resource set may, in some cases, include a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state for the SRS resources of the SRS resource set, which may have a similar functionality as the spatial relationship information (e.g., may indicate corresponding uplink beams210for the SRS resources).

In some cases, UE115-aand base station105-amay communicate in the uplink via one or more uplink nodes220(e.g., in an uplink dense deployment scenario). In such cases, UE115-amay transmit uplink signals and/or channels to an uplink receive point, which may be represented by an uplink node220(e.g., uplink node220-a). The uplink nodes220may be connected to base station105-a(e.g., a macro node) via backhaul links225(e.g., wired or wireless links, which may be examples of a backhaul link120described with reference toFIG.1), such that one or more uplink nodes220may receive the uplink signals and/or channels from UE115-aand forward associated uplink data or uplink information to base station105-a(e.g., transmit an indication of the uplink data or information, such as via the backhaul link225). Downlink signals and/or channels may be transmitted to UE115-afrom base station105-a(e.g., a macro node, serving cell, serving base station105), which may represent a different communication node (e.g., at a different location) than any uplink nodes220used for uplink communications.

An uplink dense deployment scenario as described herein may improve uplink coverage and/or capacity. For example, using one or more uplink nodes220for communications between UE115-aand base station105-amay reduce uplink pathloss (e.g., among other examples). The reduction in pathloss may increase uplink communication speed and throughput, which may in turn reduce a bottlenecking effect for the uplink communications (e.g., as compared to downlink communications). Additionally or alternatively, uplink dense deployment may reduce deployment cost and/or complexity for network entities (e.g., for uplink nodes220), while increasing coverage, because the uplink nodes220may not be configured to transmit downlink signals or perform configurations. For example, each uplink node220may be configured to receive uplink signals (e.g., from UE115-a) and send the uplink signals to base station105-a(e.g., with or without some processing).

In some cases, UE115-aand base station105-amay communicate in the uplink via an SUL carrier. In such cases, UE115-amay be configured with two uplink carriers for one downlink carrier of a same serving cell, where uplink transmissions on the two uplink carriers may not be simultaneous (e.g., may never be simultaneous). One of the uplink carriers may be configured as SUL (e.g., such that the other uplink carrier may be a non-SUL or normal uplink (NUL) carrier), and UE115-amay choose which uplink carrier to use for uplink transmissions. In one example, UE115-amay be configured with a TDD band (e.g., TDD uplink carrier) and SUL carrier, such that UE115-amay transmit uplink information on either the TDD band (e.g., non-SUL or NUL carrier) or on the SUL carrier.

In cases where UE115-acommunicates with base station105-ain the uplink via an uplink node220(e.g., uplink node220-a), uplink transmit and receive beams210may be associated with the uplink node220(e.g., and not with base station105-a). Similarly, in cases where UE115-acommunicates with base station105-ausing an SUL carrier, uplink transmit and receive beams210for the SUL carrier may not be associated with any corresponding beams210for the associated downlink carrier. As such, when UE115-acommunicates in the uplink via an uplink node220, or via an SUL carrier, a beam correspondence may not exist between downlink and uplink beams210(e.g., for use in uplink beam management). A downlink reference signal (e.g., CSI-RS and/or SSB) may therefore not be used to indicate an uplink beam210(e.g., via spatial relation information), for example, because the uplink and downlink beams210may not correspond to each other in these communication scenarios.

In such cases (e.g., where a correspondence does not exist between uplink and downlink beams210), uplink beam management (e.g., performing transmit and/or receive beam adjustment) may be performed based on SRS. For example, the SRS resource set configuration may indicate uplink beams210for the SRS resources of the set by indicating SRS associated with the uplink beams210. Performing receive beam adjustment may include fixing a transmit beam210at UE115-aand adjusting receive beams210for different SRS at base station105-a(e.g., at an uplink node220of base station105-a). Similarly, performing transmit beam adjustment may include adjusting transmit beams210for different SRS at UE115-a, such that base station105-amay select a best transmit beam210(e.g., a beam210resulting in a highest signal quality). However, in some cases, an SRS resource set configuration for uplink beam management that is based on SRS (e.g., previously transmitted SRS) may fail to distinguish between receive beam adjustment at base station105-aand transmit beam adjustment at UE115-a(e.g., may fail to distinguish between receive and transmit beam adjustment within resources of the SRS resource set).

In some cases, a closed loop power control adjustment (e.g., a transmit power control (TPC) command) may be applied at a beginning of each SRS resource within an SRS resource set (e.g., if a closed loop power control adjustment is the same for SRS and for a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)), which may result in different transmit powers for different SRS215. As such, UE115-amay not maintain a fixed transmit power for one instance of transmit and/or receive beam adjustment (e.g., transmit and/or receive beam sweeping) across SRS resources within an SRS resource set, which may result in skewed results of the transmit and/or receive beam adjustment. For example, base station105-amay be unable to select a best transmit beam or receive beam if transmit powers differ across SRS resources within an SRS resource set, because a signaling quality of the beams may be affected by the different power levels.

Additionally or alternatively, in some cases, an SRS configuration for uplink beam management based on SRS may fail to indicate a gap (e.g., a minimum gap) for beam switching at either UE115-a(e.g., to switch transmit beams210) or at base station105-a(e.g., to switch receive beams210). Such a gap may, for example, be relevant for higher frequency bands (e.g., 52.6 GHz to 71 GHz) because a subcarrier spacing (SCS) for the higher frequency bands may be increased (e.g., up to 960 kHz), which may result in a shorter cyclic prefix duration. In such cases, beam switching may not be absorbed (e.g., covered) by the cyclic prefix. As such, a gap may be configured between SRS transmissions for beam switching, such that the beam switching may take place within the gap.

The present disclosure provides techniques for indicating a transmit beam pattern within an SRS resource set configured for beam management (e.g., usage=beamManagement), as well as techniques for indicating or determining transmission power and transmission gaps for the SRS resource set. For example, base station105-amay configure UE115-awith an SRS resource set for beam management (e.g., via control signaling205), where the configuration of the SRS resource set may indicate a transmit beam pattern. The SRS resource set may include one or more groups of SRS resources, where a transmit beam210(e.g., a spatial relation filter) may be the same for each SRS resource within a respective group, but may be different across different groups. This grouping of SRS resources may be referred to as a transmit beam pattern, and may be indicated in the configuration of the SRS resource set by indicating an explicit group pattern, a size of a group of SRS resources, or a number of groups of SRS resources in the set, among other examples. The pattern may be defined for one time period or across multiple time periods, for example, for semi-persistent or periodic SRS.

In some cases, UE115-amay indicate a first time gap for adjusting transmit beams210at UE115-aand/or receive an indication (e.g., via control signaling205) of a second time gap associated with receive beam adjustment at base station105-a. In such cases, UE115-amay apply the first time gap between transmissions on different groups of SRS resources and/or apply the second time gap between transmission on SRS resources in a same group. UE115-amay additionally or alternatively refrain from performing power adjustments when transmitting SRS215using a same SRS resource set, for example, based on ignoring a TPC command or based on being configured with a separate power control adjustment state for the SRS resource set.

According to the examples described herein, UE115-amay transmit one or more SRS215(e.g., on the SRS resource set) for beam management to base station105-a(e.g., via an uplink node220or an SUL carrier), where each SRS215may be transmitted using the transmit beam according to the configuration (e.g., one or more SRS215may use a transmit beam210-bor210-c). For example, UE115-amay transmit multiple SRS signals215, where those associated with a same group of resources may share a same transmit beam210and those associated with different groups of resources may have different transmit beams210. Base station105-amay perform UE transmit beam sweeping using SRS215received on different groups of SRS resources and may perform base station receive beam sweeping using SRS215received within a same group of SRS resources.

Base station105-amay determine a transmit beam210and/or a receive beam210(e.g., used by base station105-a) for uplink communications based on the SRS215and may indicate the transmit beam210to UE115-a(e.g., via an indication230). For example, base station105-amay indicate that the transmit beam210is to be used for other SRS transmissions (e.g., for SRS resource sets with usage set to beam management or to another usage), for a data channel (e.g., a PUSCH), for a control channel (e.g., a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH)), or any combination thereof. Base station105-amay indicate the transmit beam210by indicating an ID of an SRS resource associated with the transmit beam, or by indicating an ID of an SRS resource group associated with the transmit beam210(e.g., which may reduce signaling overhead because all SRS resources in a same group may be associated with a same transmit beam210).

UE115-aand base station105-amay use the determined transmit and/or receive beams210for uplink communications between UE115-aand base station105-a(e.g., via an uplink node220or an SUL carrier). For example, UE115-amay use a same transmit beam210(e.g., spatial domain transmission filter) used for transmission of the SRS215on SRS resources indicated by the SRS resource ID or group resource ID. Using the determined transmit and/or receive beams210may result in an increase in communication quality between base station105-aand UE115-a, for example, based on a decrease in uplink pathloss, an increase in uplink throughput, an increase in uplink coverage, or any combination thereof.

FIG.3illustrates an example of a resource configuration300that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, resource configuration300may implement or be implemented by some aspects of wireless communications system100or200. For example, resource configuration300may be an example of a configuration communicated from a base station105to a UE115, which may be examples of the corresponding devices as described with reference toFIGS.1and2. Resource configuration300may indicate an SRS resource set305and one or more groups310of SRS resources, for example, as described with reference toFIG.2.

The base station105may configure the UE115with the SRS resource set305, with usage of the SRS resource set305set to beam management. The resource configuration300may indicate a transmit beam pattern using the one or more groups310of SRS resources. As described with reference toFIG.2, a transmit beam (e.g., a spatial relation filter) may be the same for each SRS resource within a respective group310, but may be different across different groups310. In a first example of the resource configuration300, the SRS resource set305may include SRS resource groups310-a,310-b, and310-c. SRS resources within group310-a(e.g., SRS resources 1-4) may be associated with a first transmit beam, SRS resources within group310-b(e.g., SRS resources 5-8) may be associated with a second transmit beam, and SRS resources within group310-c(e.g., SRS resources 9-12) may be associated with a third transmit beam.

This grouping of SRS resources may be referred to as a transmit beam pattern, and may be indicated in the resource configuration300as described with reference toFIG.2. In some cases, the indication of the transmit beam pattern, or the groups310of SRS resources, may be based on whether spatial relationship information (e.g., SRS-SpatialRelationInfo) or an uplink TCI state is configured for the SRS resource set305. For example, if one or both of the spatial relationship information or the uplink TCI state is configured, the beams for the SRS resource set305may be indicated by the spatial relationship information or the uplink TCI state. As such, the pattern indicated by the groups310of SRS resources may not be applicable to the SRS resource set305(e.g., and the UE115and/or the base station105may ignore or refrain from configuring such a pattern).

In a second example of the resource configuration300(e.g., additionally or alternatively), the base station105may indicate to the UE115that the SRS resource set305includes one group310of SRS resources for the entire SRS resource set305. In this example, the grouping may indicate for the UE115to transmit all the SRS over the SRS resource set305with a same transmit beam. This configuration may be applicable for receive beam adjustment at the base station105, such that the base station105may change different receive beams while the UE115maintains a same transmit beam.

In a third example of the resource configuration300(e.g., additionally or alternatively), the base station105may indicate to the UE115that each resource of the SRS resource set305belongs to a different group310(e.g., each group310includes one resource). In this example, the grouping may indicate for the UE115to transmit each SRS over the SRS resource set305with a different, respective transmit beam. This configuration may be applicable for transmit beam adjustment, such that the base station105may select a transmit beam from the set of transmit beams used for the SRS.

Other examples of resource grouping may apply to resource configuration300without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, any number of groups310may be included in the SRS resource set305, where each group310may include any number of resources. Such groups and configurations may be based on the number of SRS resources within the SRS resource set305, one or more characteristics of a beam management procedure (e.g., performing transmit beam adjustment, receive beam adjustment, or both), or any combination thereof.

According to the examples described herein, the UE115may transmit one or more SRS signals (e.g., using the SRS resource set305) to the base station105. Each SRS signal may be transmitted using a transmit beam according to the resource configuration300. For example, an SRS signal may be transmitted using a transmit beam corresponding to the group310of SRS resources used for transmission of the SRS signal (e.g., one SRS resource of the group310may be used for transmission the SRS signal). The base station105may perform UE transmit beam sweeping using SRS received on different groups310of SRS resources and may perform base station receive beam sweeping using SRS received within a same group310of SRS resources. In some cases, if an SRS resource includes more than one symbol (e.g., two or four symbols), the base station105may use the SRS resource for receive beam adjustment on different symbols. For example, the base station105may use a different receive beam on each symbol of the SRS resource, or may use a different receive beam for different subsets of symbols of the SRS resource.

The base station105may determine a transmit beam and/or a receive beam for uplink communications based on the received SRS and may indicate the transmit beam to the UE115. The UE115and the base station105may use the determined transmit and/or receive beams for uplink communications between the UE115and the base station105. For example, the UE115may use a same transmit beam (e.g., spatial domain transmission filter) used for transmission of the SRS on SRS resources indicated by the base station (e.g., using an SRS resource ID or group resource ID). Using the determined transmit and/or receive beams may result in an increase in communication quality between the base station105and the UE115, for example, based on a decrease in uplink pathloss, an increase in uplink throughput, an increase in uplink coverage, or any combination thereof.

FIGS.4A and4Billustrate examples of resource configurations401and402that support reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, resource configurations401and402may implement or be implemented by some aspects of wireless communications system100or200. For example, resource configurations401and402may be an example of a configuration communicated from a base station105to a UE115, which may be examples of the corresponding devices as described with reference toFIGS.1and2. Resource configurations401and402may indicate an SRS resource set405and one or more groups410of SRS resources, for example, as described with reference toFIGS.2and3.

In some examples, resource configurations401or402, or any other resource configuration, may be indicated by the base station105to the UE115. For example, a pattern of groups410(e.g., a transmit and/or receive beam switching pattern) for a respective SRS resource set405may be configured via RRC signaling, indicated by a MAC control element (MAC-CE) message, dynamically indicated by downlink control information (DCI) (e.g., that triggers an aperiodic SRS resource set405), or any combination thereof.

In some examples, a pattern of SRS resource groups410may be determined (e.g., by the base station105, the UE115, or both) based on a number (e.g., m1) of groups410within the SRS resource set405, a number (e.g., m2) of SRS resources within a group410, or both. The number of groups410(e.g., m1) may represent a number of different transmit beams for the SRS resource set405(e.g., a maximum number of transmit beams) and the number of resources within a group410(e.g., m2) may represent a number of resources with a same transmit beam (e.g., a maximum number of resources with the same transmit beam).

The base station105may determine or be preconfigured with m1, m2, or both. In some cases, the base station105may indicate m1, m2, or both, to the UE115, or the UE115may be configured with one or more of these numbers. If m1 is configured, m2 may be determined as a total number of SRS resources in the SRS resource set405divided by m1 (e.g., N/m1). If m2 is configured, m1 may be determined as a total number of SRS resources in the SRS resource set405divided by m2 (e.g., N/m2).

In a first example illustrated byFIG.4A, the pattern of groups410may be based on a time domain position of the SRS resources of an SRS resource set405-a. For example, a first m2 resources (e.g., in time) of the SRS resource set405-amay belong to a first group410-a. These resources may be used to transmit SRS with a same, first transmit beam. A next m2 resources of the SRS resource set405-amay belong to a second group410-b, and these resources may be used to transmit SRS with a second transmit beam. The SRS resource set405-amay include any number of resource groups410in this manner, up to a total number of resources in the SRS resource set405-a.

In one example, SRS resource IDs 1, 5, 2, and 3 may come first in a time domain, and thus these SRS resources may belong to group410-a. Similarly, SRS resource IDs 6, 7, 8 and 4 may come next in the time domain and may belong to group410-b. This type of configuration may result in first performing receive beam sweeping (e.g., by the base station105, using resources in a same group410), then performing transmit beam sweeping by the UE115(e.g., using resources across different groups410).

In a second example illustrated byFIG.4B, the pattern of groups410may be based on SRS resource IDs for an SRS resource set405-b. For example, a first m2 SRS resource IDs (e.g., m2 smallest resource IDs) of the SRS resource set405-bmay belong to a first group410-c. These resources may be used to transmit SRS with a same, first transmit beam. A next m2 SRS resource IDs (e.g., having the next smallest IDs) of the SRS resource set405-bmay belong to a second group410-d, and these resources may be used to transmit SRS with a second transmit beam. The SRS resource set405-bmay include any number of resource groups410in this manner, up to a total number of resources in the SRS resource set405-b.

In one example, SRS resource IDs 1, 2, 3, and 4 may have the smallest SRS resource IDs, and thus these SRS resources may belong to group410-c. Similarly, SRS resource IDs 5, 6, 7, and 8 may come next and may belong to group410-d. This type of configuration may result in performing receive beam sweeping and transmit beam sweeping without a fixed order. For example, the beam sweeping may be based on the SRS resource IDs and the configuration of the SRS resources, which may be different for different SRS resource sets405.

According to the examples described herein, the UE115may transmit one or more SRS signals (e.g., using the SRS resource set405) to the base station105. Each SRS signal may be transmitted using a transmit beam according to the resource configuration. For example, an SRS signal may be transmitted using a transmit beam corresponding to the group410of SRS resources used for transmission of the SRS signal (e.g., corresponding to the SRS resource used for transmission). The base station105may determine a transmit beam and/or a receive beam for uplink communications based on the received SRS and may indicate the transmit beam to the UE115. The UE115and the base station105may use the determined transmit and/or receive beams for uplink communications between the UE115and the base station105, which may result in an increase in communication quality between the base station105and the UE115.

FIG.5illustrates an example of a resource configuration500that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, resource configuration500may implement or be implemented by some aspects of wireless communications system100or200. For example, resource configuration500may be an example of a configuration communicated from a base station105to a UE115, which may be examples of the corresponding devices as described with reference toFIGS.1and2. Resource configuration500may indicate an SRS resource set505and one or more time gaps, for example, as described with reference toFIG.2.

In some cases, the UE115may indicate to the base station105(e.g., via UE capability signaling) whether a time gap (e.g., a first gap515) is requested for transmit beam switching, for example, between SRS resources associated with different transmit beams (e.g., belonging to different groups510). In some examples, the first gap515may have a fixed duration, such as a one symbol duration (e.g., one OFDM symbol duration), which may be applied based on the indication from the UE115. In some examples, the UE115may indicate a value (e.g., an amount of time) for the first gap515to the base station, via the same signaling or different signaling. For example, the UE115may indicate a number of symbols (e.g., OFDM symbols) for transmit beam switching (e.g., if more than one symbol is used for transmit beam switching). The first gap515may, in some cases, be applicable to higher frequency bands with larger SCS, in which a cyclic prefix duration may be smaller and a timing of transmit beam switching may not be absorbed by the smaller cyclic prefix.

In some cases, the base station105may also use a time gap (e.g., a second gap520) for adjusting a receive beam. The base station105may be configured with or determine the second gap520and may indicate the second gap520to the UE115, for example, when configuring the SRS resource set505. The second gap520may be applicable to gaps between SRS resources associated with different receive beams at the base station105. The second gap520may be applicable to resources within a same group510, as well as resources of different groups510. For example, the second gap520(e.g., a time gap having a value equal to or greater than the second gap520, such as the second gap520or the first gap515) may be applied between an SRS transmission on a last resource of a group510-aand an SRS transmission on a first resource of a group510-b.

The configuration of the groups510of SRS resources within the SRS resource set505may take into account the first gap515, the second gap520, or both (e.g., as used by the UE115or the base station105for beam switching). Thus, the pattern of transmit and receive beam switching (and corresponding transmit and receive beam sweeping procedures) may be based on the configured groups510and may support any time gap(s) used for transmit beam switching, receive beam switching, or both. In some cases (e.g., when groups510are not contiguous time resources), such time gap(s) may still apply as described herein, for example, to resources associated with a same group510or resources associated with a different group510.

According to the examples described herein, the UE115may transmit one or more SRS signals (e.g., using the SRS resource set505) to the base station105. For example, the UE115may transmit SRS signals on resources within a same group510, having at least the second gap520between the SRS signals. The UE115may additionally or alternatively transmit SRS signals on resources within different groups510, having the first gap515or the second gap520between the SRS signals. The base station105and the UE115may perform the corresponding beam switching (e.g., receive and transmit beam switching, respectively) in the corresponding time gaps. Based on the SRS signals, the base station105may determine a transmit beam and/or a receive beam for uplink communications may indicate the transmit beam to the UE115. The UE115and the base station105may use the determined transmit and/or receive beams for uplink communications between the UE115and the base station105, which may result in an increase in communication quality between the base station105and the UE115.

FIG.6illustrates an example of a resource configuration600that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, resource configuration600may implement or be implemented by some aspects of wireless communications system100or200. For example, resource configuration600may be an example of a configuration communicated from a base station105to a UE115, which may be examples of the corresponding devices as described with reference toFIGS.1-5. Resource configuration600may indicate an SRS resource set605and one or more groups610of SRS resources, for example, as described with reference toFIGS.2and3. Resource configuration600may also indicate a transmit beam pattern for the SRS resource set605over one or more time periods.

For example, resource configuration600may indicate a beam consistency across different periodicities615for periodic SRS, semi-persistent SRS, or both (e.g., where the beam consistency may not be applicable to aperiodic SRS). A periodicity615may be configured per SRS resource (e.g., for periodic SRS and/or semi-persistent SRS) and may be the same across all SRS resources belonging to an SRS resource set605. For SRS resources configured to be periodic and/or semi-persistent, the SRS resources may repeat in time (e.g., with the periodicity615between repetitions of same SRS resources). For example, an SRS resource set605may repeat after a defined periodicity615. The resource configuration600may therefore indicate whether to use a same transmit beam across different periodicities615(e.g., for same groups610of SRS resources at the different periodicities615, as repeated in time).

For a periodic and/or semi-persistent SRS resource set605with usage set to beam management, and configured with a periodicity (e.g., which defines one or more periods in which the SRS resource set605is located), the resource configuration600may therefore indicate how a transmit beam pattern is configured over multiple periodicities. In a first example, the transmit beam pattern may be defined within each period, and a same transmit beam may be used for an SRS resource across different periods. For example, a same transmit beam may be used for group610-aof SRS resources across multiple periodicities615. In this example, receive beam adjustment at the base station105may be performed across one or multiple periods (e.g., over one or more periodicities615).

In a second example, the transmit beam pattern may be defined within each period, and the UE115may change the transmit beam used for an SRS resource across different periods. For example, the UE115may not be limited to using a same transmit beam across different periods for a group610-aor610-b, but may, in some cases, determine to do so. In a third example, the transmit beam pattern may be defined within each period, and a larger periodicity (e.g., a “mega-periodicity”) may be defined to include an integer number of periodicities615(e.g., of periods). In such cases, a same transmit beam may be used for an SRS resource across different periods within the larger periodicity (e.g., for a first two repetitions), while the UE115may change the transmit beam used for an SRS resource across the larger periodicities (e.g., between the second and third repetitions).

In a fourth example, the resource configuration600may define the transmit beam pattern across different periodicities615or periods within a larger period (e.g., “mega-period”) that includes multiple periods. For example, the resource configuration600may define which transmit beams (e.g., same or different transmit beams) to use for an SRS resource within each period of the larger period. In such cases, the resource configuration600may for example, indicate whether to use same or different transmit beams for a first repetition, second repetition, and so forth of the different groups610within the SRS resource set605.

FIG.7illustrates an example of a process flow700that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, process flow700may implement or be implemented by some aspects of wireless communications system100or200, as well as one or more of resource configurations300,401,402,500, and600. For example, process flow700may be implemented by a base station105-band UE115-b, which may represent respective examples of a base station105and UEs115described with reference toFIGS.1-6. In some cases, process flow may additionally be implemented by an uplink node220-b, which may be an example of an uplink node220or155as described with reference toFIGS.1and2. As described herein, base station105-bmay configure UE115-bwith a transmit beam pattern for one or more beam management SRS, where the SRS may be used to determine an uplink transmit beam for UE115-b.

In the following description of process flow700, the operations may be performed in a different order than the order shown, or the operations performed by UE115-band base station105-bmay be performed in different orders or at different times. For example, some operations may also be left out of process flow700, or other operations may be added to process flow700. As another example, operations shown as performed in a single instance (e.g., a single transmission) may in some cases be performed as multiple instances (e.g., multiple transmissions) over some duration of time. Although UE115-band base station105-bare shown performing the operations of process flow700, some aspects of some operations may also be performed by one or more other wireless devices. For example, some operations described as being performed by base station105-bmay additionally or alternatively be performed by another base station105or by uplink node220-b.

At705, in some cases, UE115-bmay transmit an indication of a first time gap to base station105-b(e.g., directly, such as via an SUL, or by transmitting to uplink node220-b). The first time gap may be a time gap between SRS resources within different SRS resource groups, and may represent a time gap for switching transmit beams at UE115-b. As described herein, the indication of the first time gap may be transmitted via capability signaling.

At710, in some cases, base station105-bmay identify a transmit beam pattern for an SRS resource set. The transmit beam pattern may, for example, identify one or more groups of SRS resources within the SRS resource set, where each SRS resource of an SRS resource group may share a same transmit beam (e.g., and where transmit beams may be different across different SRS groups). In some cases, the one or more groups of SRS resources may be based on a time domain position of the SRS resources of the SRS resource set, and a number of SRS resources per group. For example, each group of SRS resources may include resources that are consecutive in time, for the number of resources per group. In some cases, the one or more groups of SRS resources may be based on SRS resource ID of each of the SRS resources of the SRS resource set, and a number of SRS resources per group. For example, each group of SRS resources may include resources that are consecutive with respect to SRS resource IDs, for the number of resources per group. Grouping techniques for the transmit beam pattern are further described with reference toFIGS.4A and4B.

At715, base station105-bmay transmit, to UE115-b, a control signal that indicates an SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within the SRS resource set. The control signal may, for example, identify the transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups, as described herein with reference toFIGS.2-6. For example, as described herein, each group of SRS resources may be associated with a transmit beam (e.g., a same transmit beam), for transmitting SRS via the resources and different groups of SRS resources may be associated with different transmit beams.

In some cases, as described herein with reference toFIGS.4A and4B, the control signal may additionally indicate the one or more SRS resource groups by indicating a number of SRS resources in each of the one or more groups, by indicating a number of the one or more SRS groups within the SRS resource set, or both. The groups of SRS resources, and the corresponding transmit beam pattern for SRS on the SRS resource set, may be based on (e.g., identified using) the number of resources or the number of groups.

In some cases, as described herein with reference toFIG.5, the control signal may additionally indicate a second time gap, where the second time gap may be applicable between SRS resources within a same SRS group. The second time gap may represent a time gap for adjusting a receive beam at base station105-b. In some cases, the control signal, or other control signaling, may indicate a power control adjustment state for the SRS resource set. For example, base station105-bmay configure UE115-bwith a power control adjustment state for the SRS resource set (e.g., a “separateClosedLoop” in srs-PowerControlAdjustmentStates) that may be different from a PUSCH power control adjustment state (e.g., power control may be decoupled for PUSCH and SRS). In such cases, configuring the SRS resource set to use a same power control adjustment state as a PUSCH may be an invalid configuration (e.g., as defined by the network or by a wireless communications standard).

In some cases, the control signaling may represent a MAC-CE, for example, if base station105-bconfigures the SRS resource set as a semi-persistent SRS resource set. In such cases, the MAC-CE may indicate or update spatial relation information for each SRS resource within the SRS resource set. In some cases, such spatial relation information may not be used by UE115-bif the usage of the SRS resource set is set to beam management. For example, in such cases, selection of an uplink transmit beam may be performed by UE115-b(e.g., instead of being indicated by the MAC-CE). In cases where the spatial relationship information is not used by UE115-bany fields that include this information may increase overhead and may cause potential problems at UE115-b(e.g., because UE115-bmay not expect the spatial relationship information for beam management SRS).

Accordingly, in some cases (e.g., if a MAC-CE activates a semi-persistent SRS resource set), a field or bit of the MAC-CE may be used to indicate whether the MAC-CE includes fields (e.g., octets) related to spatial relation information (e.g., updated spatial relationship information for SRS resources of the SRS resource set). In some cases, such an indication may be one or more reserved bits in the MAC-CE. The indication of whether the spatial relation information is included may be applicable to SRS resource sets that are configured with usage set to beam management, or may be applicable to one or more other SRS resource sets (e.g., may be applicable in general, such as in frequency range1(FR1), if spatial relation information is not needed for one or more other usages of SRS resource sets). If the field or bit of the MAC-CE used for the indication is set to a value (e.g., ‘1’), the octets and/or fields related to spatial relation information updates may be present in the MAC-CE, and otherwise they may not be present.

At720, in some cases, UE115-bmay identify the transmit beam pattern for the SRS resource set, for example, based on the received control signal. As described herein, in some cases, the one or more groups of SRS resources may be based on a time domain position of the SRS resources of the SRS resource set, and a number of SRS resources per group. For example, each group of SRS resources may include resources that are consecutive in time, for the number of resources per group. In some cases, the one or more groups of SRS resources may be based on SRS resource ID of each of the SRS resources of the SRS resource set, and a number of SRS resources per group. For example, each group of SRS resources may include resources that are consecutive with respect to SRS resource IDs, for the number of resources per group. Grouping techniques for the transmit beam pattern are further described with reference toFIGS.4A and4B.

At725, UE115-bmay transmit one or more SRS each using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set, and using a corresponding transmit beam based on an SRS resource group to which the corresponding SRS resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration. UE115-bmay transmit the one or more SRS to base station105-b(e.g., via an SUL carrier) or may transmit the one or more SRS to uplink node220-b(e.g., which may forward an indication of the one or more SRS to base station105-b). In some cases, UE115-bmay transmit the one or more SRS according to the transmit beam pattern and over one or more periods, or one or more periodicities, as described with reference toFIG.6.

As described with reference toFIG.5, UE115-bmay transmit the one or more SRS according to the first time gap, the second time gap, or both. For example, in each group of SRS resources, UE115-bmay transmit the one or more SRS with at least the first time gap between each of the SRS resources of the group. Additionally or alternatively, UE115-bmay transmit SRS associated with different resource groups with at least the second time gap between the SRS.

In some cases, UE115-bmay delay power control adjustment until after transmission of all SRS associated with the SRS resource set. For example, UE115-bmay update the power control adjustment (e.g., based on a TPC command) at a beginning of a first transmitted SRS (e.g., within a first resource of the SRS resource set) and may refrain from performing power control adjustments for any other SRS transmitted using resources of the SRS resource set (e.g., refrain from performing power control adjustments between transmission of SRS). UE115-bmay also refrain from performing power control adjustments for PUSCH within a same time period (e.g., overlapping with the SRS resource set), for example, if a power control adjustment state is common, or shared, between the SRS resource set and the PUSCH.

In some cases, UE115-bmay not expect to receive a DCI with a TPC command (e.g., that results in a transmit power change) within an instance of SRS transmissions using different SRS resources within the SRS resource set. For example, receiving such TPC commands (e.g., which result in applying the TPC command within the SRS resource set) may be defined as an error case (e.g., by a wireless communications standard), and UE115-bmay ignore or disregard such TPC commands.

Base station105-bmay receive the one or more SRS according to the transmit beam pattern. For example, base station105-bmay configure a respective receive beam for each SRS resource (e.g., and corresponding SRS) within an SRS group.

At730, in some cases, base station105-bmay determine a first transmit beam for UE115-bto use for uplink communications. The first transmit beam may be one of the respective transmit beams of the transmit beam pattern. Base station105-bmay determine or select the first transmit beam based on a signal quality of the one or more transmitted SRS. For example, the first transmit beam may be associated with an SRS resource that is used by base station105-bto receive an SRS with a highest signal quality or received power. Additionally or alternatively, base station105-bmay determine or select a first receive beam (e.g., of the respective receive beams used by base station105-b) for uplink communications with UE115-b. For example, the first receive beam may be associated with an SRS resource that is used by base station105-bto receive an SRS with a highest signal quality or received power.

At735, base station105-bmay transmit, to UE115-b, an indication of the first transmit beam. For example, base station105-bmay indicate a resource ID of an SRS resource associated with the first transmit beam, or may indicate a resource group ID of an SRS resource group associated with the first transmit beam (e.g., because each group may be associated with a same transmit beam).

At740, UE115-band base station105-b(e.g., base station105-bor uplink node220-b) may communicate in the uplink using the first transmit beam and/or the first receive beam. For example, UE115-bmay transmit one or more uplink communications to base station105-b(e.g., or to uplink node220-b) using the first transmit beam, and base station105-b(e.g., uplink node220-b) may attempt to receive the one or more uplink communications from UE115-busing the first receive beam.

FIG.8shows a block diagram800of a device805that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device805may be an example of aspects of a UE115as 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 reference signal patterns for beam management 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 reference signal patterns for beam management). 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 reference signal patterns for beam management). 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 reference signal patterns for beam management 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 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 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 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 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 communication at a UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a base station, a control signal that indicates a SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within a SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups. The communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting one or more SRS each using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and using a corresponding transmit beam based on a SRS resource group to which the corresponding SRS resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration. The communications manager820may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the base station, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications.

The actions performed by the communications manager820, among other examples herein, may be implemented to realize one or more potential advantages. For example, communications manager820may increase available battery power and communication quality at a wireless device (e.g., a UE115) by supporting transmit beam patterns within a configured SRS resource set. The increase in communication quality may result in increased link performance and decreased overhead based on using a configured SRS resource set, and corresponding transmit beam pattern, for transmission of one or more SRS. Accordingly, communications manager820may save power and increase battery life at a wireless device (e.g., a UE115) by strategically increasing a quality of communications at a wireless device (e.g., a UE115).

FIG.9shows a block diagram900of a device905that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device905may be an example of aspects of a device805or a UE115as 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 reference signal patterns for beam management). 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 reference signal patterns for beam management). 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 reference signal patterns for beam management as described herein. For example, the communications manager920may include a configuration reception component925, an SRS transmission component930, a beam indication reception 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 communication at a UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The configuration reception component925may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a base station, a control signal that indicates a SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within a SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups. The SRS transmission component930may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting one or more SRS each using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and using a corresponding transmit beam based on a SRS resource group to which the corresponding SRS resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration. The beam indication reception component935may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the base station, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications.

A processor of a wireless device (e.g., controlling the receiver910, the transmitter915, or the transceiver1115as described with reference toFIG.11) may increase available battery power and communication quality. The increased communication quality may increase available battery power and throughput (e.g., via implementation of system components described with reference toFIG.10) compared to other systems and techniques, for example, that do not support transmit beam patterns within a configured SRS resource set. Further, the processor of the wireless device may identify one or more aspects of the SRS resource set and corresponding transmit beam pattern, which may result in increased communication quality, as well as save power and increase battery life at the wireless device (e.g., by strategically supporting transmit beam patterns within transmitted SRS), among other benefits.

In some cases, the configuration reception component925, the SRS transmission component930, and the beam indication reception 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 configuration reception component925, the SRS transmission component930, and the beam indication reception 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 reference signal patterns for beam management 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 reference signal patterns for beam management as described herein. For example, the communications manager1020may include a configuration reception component1025, an SRS transmission component1030, a beam indication reception component1035, an SRS grouping component1040, a time gap indication component1045, 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 communication at a UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The configuration reception component1025may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a base station, a control signal that indicates a SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within a SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups. The SRS transmission component1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting one or more SRS each using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and using a corresponding transmit beam based on a SRS resource group to which the corresponding SRS resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration. The beam indication reception component1035may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the base station, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications.

In some examples, to support receiving the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration, the configuration reception component1025may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, via the control signal, an additional indication of a number of SRS resources in each of the one or more SRS resource groups, where the transmit beam pattern is based on the number of SRS resources in each of the one or more SRS resource groups. In some examples, to support receiving the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration, the configuration reception component1025may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, via the control signal, an additional indication of a number of the one or more SRS resource groups in the SRS resource set, where the transmit beam pattern is based on the number of the one or more SRS resource groups.

In some examples, the SRS grouping component1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for identifying the one or more SRS resource groups based on a time domain position of SRS resources of the SRS resource set and a number of SRS resources for each of the one or more SRS resource groups, where the transmit beam pattern is based on identifying the one or more SRS resource groups. In some examples, the SRS grouping component1040may be configured as or otherwise support a means for identifying the one or more SRS resource groups based on an additional identifier of each SRS resource of the SRS resource set and a number of SRS resources for each of the one or more SRS resource groups, where the transmit beam pattern is based on identifying the one or more SRS resource groups.

In some examples, to support receiving the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration, the configuration reception component1025may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, via the control signal, an additional indication of a time gap between SRS resources within a same SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups, where transmitting the one or more SRS is based on the time gap. In some examples, to support transmitting the one or more SRS, the SRS transmission component1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting the one or more SRS each using the corresponding SRS resource within a first SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups with at least the time gap between each of the SRS resources of the first SRS resource group.

In some examples, the time gap indication component1045may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting an additional indication of a time gap between SRS resources within different SRS resource groups of the one or more SRS resource groups, where transmitting the one or more SRS is based on the time gap. In some examples, to support transmitting the one or more SRS, the SRS transmission component1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting a first SRS using a corresponding first SRS resource of a first SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups. In some examples, to support transmitting the one or more SRS, the SRS transmission component1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting a second SRS using a corresponding second SRS resource of a second SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups with at least the time gap between the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource.

In some examples, to support transmitting the one or more SRS, the SRS transmission component1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for refraining from performing a power control adjustment between transmission of SRS using the corresponding SRS resources of the SRS resource set. In some examples, to support receiving the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration, the configuration reception component1025may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, via the control signal, an additional indication of a power control adjustment state for the SRS resource set, where transmitting the one or more SRS is based on the power control adjustment state.

In some examples, to support receiving the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration, the configuration reception component1025may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving the control signal configuring the SRS resource set as a semi-persistent SRS resource set, the control signal including a field indicating whether the control signal includes spatial relationship information for the SRS resource set.

In some examples, the SRS transmission component1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting the one or more SRS during a first period and based on the transmit beam pattern indicated by the SRS beam management configuration. In some examples, the SRS transmission component1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting additional SRS during a second period using respective transmit beams that are based on the transmit beam pattern indicated by the SRS beam management configuration.

In some examples, to support receiving the indication of the first transmit beam, the beam indication reception component1035may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving signaling indicative of a first SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups, where the first SRS resource group is associated with the first transmit beam.

In some examples, to support transmitting the one or more SRS, the SRS transmission component1030may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting the one or more SRS towards an uplink node or via a supplementary uplink carrier.

In some cases, the configuration reception component1025, the SRS transmission component1030, the beam indication reception component1035, the SRS grouping component1040, and the time gap indication component1045may 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 configuration reception component1025, the SRS transmission component1030, the beam indication reception component1035, the SRS grouping component1040, and the time gap indication component1045discussed herein.

FIG.11shows a diagram of a system1100including a device1105that supports reference signal patterns for beam management 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 UE115as 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, an input/output (I/O) controller1110, a transceiver1115, an antenna1125, a memory1130, code1135, and a processor1140. 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 bus1145).

The I/O controller1110may manage input and output signals for the device1105. The I/O controller1110may also manage peripherals not integrated into the device1105. In some cases, the I/O controller1110may represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral. In some cases, the I/O controller1110may 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 controller1110may represent or interact with a modem, a keyboard, a mouse, a touchscreen, or a similar device. In some cases, the I/O controller1110may be implemented as part of a processor, such as the processor1140. In some cases, a user may interact with the device1105via the I/O controller1110or via hardware components controlled by the I/O controller1110.

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 random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (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 basic I/O system (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 reference signal patterns for beam management). 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 communications manager1120may support wireless communication at a UE in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager1120may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from a base station, a control signal that indicates a SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within a SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups. The communications manager1120may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting one or more SRS each using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and using a corresponding transmit beam based on a SRS resource group to which the corresponding SRS resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration. The communications manager1120may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving, from the base station, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications.

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 reference signal patterns for beam management as described herein, or the processor1140and the memory1130may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

FIG.12shows a block diagram1200of a device1205that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device1205may be an example of aspects of a base station105as described herein. The device1205may include a receiver1210, a transmitter1215, and a communications manager1220. The device1205may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver1210may 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 reference signal patterns for beam management). Information may be passed on to other components of the device1205. The receiver1210may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter1215may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device1205. For example, the transmitter1215may 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 reference signal patterns for beam management). In some examples, the transmitter1215may be co-located with a receiver1210in a transceiver module. The transmitter1215may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The communications manager1220, the receiver1210, the transmitter1215, or various combinations thereof or various components thereof may be examples of means for performing various aspects of reference signal patterns for beam management as described herein. For example, the communications manager1220, the receiver1210, the transmitter1215, 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 manager1220, the receiver1210, the transmitter1215, 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 manager1220, the receiver1210, the transmitter1215, 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 manager1220, the receiver1210, the transmitter1215, 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 manager1220may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver1210, the transmitter1215, or both. For example, the communications manager1220may receive information from the receiver1210, send information to the transmitter1215, or be integrated in combination with the receiver1210, the transmitter1215, or both to receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager1220may support wireless communication at a base station in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager1220may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to a UE, a control signal that indicates a SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within a SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups. The communications manager1220may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving one or more SRS each transmitted by the UE using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and on a corresponding transmit beam based on a SRS resource group to which the corresponding sounding reference resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration. The communications manager1220may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the UE, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications.

FIG.13shows a block diagram1300of a device1305that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device1305may be an example of aspects of a device1205or a base station105as described herein. The device1305may include a receiver1310, a transmitter1315, and a communications manager1320. The device1305may also include a processor. Each of these components may be in communication with one another (e.g., via one or more buses).

The receiver1310may 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 reference signal patterns for beam management). Information may be passed on to other components of the device1305. The receiver1310may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The transmitter1315may provide a means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device1305. For example, the transmitter1315may 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 reference signal patterns for beam management). In some examples, the transmitter1315may be co-located with a receiver1310in a transceiver module. The transmitter1315may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

The device1305, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of reference signal patterns for beam management as described herein. For example, the communications manager1320may include a configuration transmission component1325, an SRS reception component1330, a beam indication transmission component1335, or any combination thereof. The communications manager1320may be an example of aspects of a communications manager1220as described herein. In some examples, the communications manager1320, or various components thereof, may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the receiver1310, the transmitter1315, or both. For example, the communications manager1320may receive information from the receiver1310, send information to the transmitter1315, or be integrated in combination with the receiver1310, the transmitter1315, or both to receive information, transmit information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

The communications manager1320may support wireless communication at a base station in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The configuration transmission component1325may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to a UE, a control signal that indicates a SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within a SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups. The SRS reception component1330may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving one or more SRS each transmitted by the UE using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and on a corresponding transmit beam based on a SRS resource group to which the corresponding sounding reference resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration. The beam indication transmission component1335may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the UE, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications.

FIG.14shows a block diagram1400of a communications manager1420that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The communications manager1420may be an example of aspects of a communications manager1220, a communications manager1320, or both, as described herein. The communications manager1420, or various components thereof, may be an example of means for performing various aspects of reference signal patterns for beam management as described herein. For example, the communications manager1420may include a configuration transmission component1425, an SRS reception component1430, a beam indication transmission component1435, a beam selection component1440, an SRS grouping component1445, a time gap reception component1450, 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 manager1420may support wireless communication at a base station in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. The configuration transmission component1425may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to a UE, a control signal that indicates a SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within a SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups. The SRS reception component1430may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving one or more SRS each transmitted by the UE using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and on a corresponding transmit beam based on a SRS resource group to which the corresponding sounding reference resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration. The beam indication transmission component1435may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the UE, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications.

In some examples, the SRS reception component1430may be configured as or otherwise support a means for configuring a respective receive beam for each SRS resource within a SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups. In some examples, the beam selection component1440may be configured as or otherwise support a means for selecting a first receive beam of the respective receive beams to use for uplink communications with the UE based on receipt of the one or more SRS using the first receive beam. In some examples, the beam selection component1440may be configured as or otherwise support a means for selecting the first transmit beam based on a signal quality associated with the one or more SRS.

In some examples, to support transmitting the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration, the configuration transmission component1425may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, via the control signal, an additional indication of a number of SRS resources in each of the one or more SRS resource groups, where the transmit beam pattern is based on the number of SRS resources in each of the one or more SRS resource groups. In some examples, to support transmitting the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration, the configuration transmission component1425may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, via the control signal, an additional indication of a number of the one or more SRS resource groups for the SRS resource set, where the transmit beam pattern is based on the number of SRS resource groups.

In some examples, the SRS grouping component1445may be configured as or otherwise support a means for identifying the one or more SRS resource groups based on a time domain position of SRS resources of the SRS resource set and a number of SRS resources for each of the one or more SRS resource groups, where transmitting the control signal indicating the transmit beam pattern is based on identifying the one or more SRS resource groups. In some examples, the SRS grouping component1445may be configured as or otherwise support a means for identifying the one or more SRS resource groups based on an additional identifier of each SRS resource of the SRS resource set and a number of SRS resources for each of the one or more SRS resource groups, where transmitting the control signal indicating the transmit beam pattern is based on identifying the one or more SRS resource groups.

In some examples, to support transmitting the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration, the configuration transmission component1425may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, via the control signal, an additional indication of a time gap between SRS resources within a same SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups, where receiving the one or more SRS is based on the time gap. In some examples, the time gap reception component1450may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving an additional indication of a time gap between SRS resources within different SRS resource groups of the one or more SRS resource groups, where receiving the one or more SRS is based on the time gap.

In some examples, to support transmitting the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration, the configuration transmission component1425may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, via the control signal, an additional indication of a power control adjustment state for the SRS resource set, where receiving the one or more SRS is based on the power control adjustment state. In some examples, to support transmitting the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration, the configuration transmission component1425may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting the control signal configuring the SRS resource set as a semi-persistent SRS resource set, the control signal including a field indicating whether the control signal includes spatial relationship information for the SRS resource set.

In some examples, to support transmitting the indication of the first transmit beam, the beam indication transmission component1435may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting signaling indicative of a first SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups, where the first SRS resource group is associated with the first transmit beam.

In some examples, to support receiving the one or more SRS, the SRS reception component1430may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving the one or more SRS via an uplink node or via a supplementary uplink carrier.

FIG.15shows a diagram of a system1500including a device1505that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device1505may be an example of or include the components of a device1205, a device1305, or a base station105as described herein. The device1505may communicate wirelessly with one or more base stations105, UEs115, or any combination thereof. The device1505may include components for bi-directional voice and data communications including components for transmitting and receiving communications, such as a communications manager1520, a network communications manager1510, a transceiver1515, an antenna1525, a memory1530, code1535, a processor1540, and an inter-station communications manager1545. 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 bus1550).

The network communications manager1510may manage communications with a core network130(e.g., via one or more wired backhaul links). For example, the network communications manager1510may manage the transfer of data communications for client devices, such as one or more UEs115.

In some cases, the device1505may include a single antenna1525. However, in some other cases the device1505may have more than one antenna1525, which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions. The transceiver1515may communicate bi-directionally, via the one or more antennas1525, wired, or wireless links as described herein. For example, the transceiver1515may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bi-directionally with another wireless transceiver. The transceiver1515may also include a modem to modulate the packets, to provide the modulated packets to one or more antennas1525for transmission, and to demodulate packets received from the one or more antennas1525. The transceiver1515, or the transceiver1515and one or more antennas1525, may be an example of a transmitter1215, a transmitter1315, a receiver1210, a receiver1310, or any combination thereof or component thereof, as described herein.

The memory1530may include RAM and ROM. The memory1530may store computer-readable, computer-executable code1535including instructions that, when executed by the processor1540, cause the device1505to perform various functions described herein. The code1535may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as system memory or another type of memory. In some cases, the code1535may not be directly executable by the processor1540but may cause a computer (e.g., when compiled and executed) to perform functions described herein. In some cases, the memory1530may contain, among other things, a BIOS which may control basic hardware or software operation such as the interaction with peripheral components or devices.

The processor1540may 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 processor1540may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, a memory controller may be integrated into the processor1540. The processor1540may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory1530) to cause the device1505to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting reference signal patterns for beam management). For example, the device1505or a component of the device1505may include a processor1540and memory1530coupled to the processor1540, the processor1540and memory1530configured to perform various functions described herein.

The inter-station communications manager1545may 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 manager1545may coordinate scheduling for transmissions to UEs115for various interference mitigation techniques such as beamforming or joint transmission. In some examples, the inter-station communications manager1545may provide an X2 interface within an LTE/LTE-A wireless communications network technology to provide communication between base stations105.

The communications manager1520may support wireless communication at a base station in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. For example, the communications manager1520may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to a UE, a control signal that indicates a SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within a SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups. The communications manager1520may be configured as or otherwise support a means for receiving one or more SRS each transmitted by the UE using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and on a corresponding transmit beam based on a SRS resource group to which the corresponding sounding reference resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration. The communications manager1520may be configured as or otherwise support a means for transmitting, to the UE, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications.

In some examples, the communications manager1520may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receiving, monitoring, transmitting) using or otherwise in cooperation with the transceiver1515, the one or more antennas1525, or any combination thereof. Although the communications manager1520is illustrated as a separate component, in some examples, one or more functions described with reference to the communications manager1520may be supported by or performed by the processor1540, the memory1530, the code1535, or any combination thereof. For example, the code1535may include instructions executable by the processor1540to cause the device1505to perform various aspects of reference signal patterns for beam management as described herein, or the processor1540and the memory1530may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

FIG.16shows a flowchart illustrating a method1600that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1600may be implemented by a UE or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1600may be performed by a UE115as described with reference toFIGS.1through11. 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.

At1605, the method may include receiving, from a base station, a control signal that indicates a SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within a SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups. 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 reception component1025as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1610, the method may include transmitting one or more SRS each using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and using a corresponding transmit beam based on a SRS resource group to which the corresponding SRS resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration. The operations of1610may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1610may be performed by an SRS transmission component1030as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1615, the method may include receiving, from the base station, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications. The operations of1615may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1615may be performed by a beam indication reception component1035as described with reference toFIG.10.

FIG.17shows a flowchart illustrating a method1700that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1700may be implemented by a UE or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1700may be performed by a UE115as described with reference toFIGS.1through11. 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.

At1705, the method may include transmitting an indication of a time gap between SRS resources within different SRS resource groups of one or more SRS resource groups. The operations of1705may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1705may be performed by a time gap indication component1045as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1710, the method may include receiving, from a base station, a control signal that indicates a SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within a SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups. The operations of1710may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1710may be performed by a configuration reception component1025as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1715, the method may include transmitting one or more SRS each using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and using a corresponding transmit beam based on a SRS resource group to which the corresponding SRS resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration, where transmitting the one or more SRS is based on the time gap. The operations of1715may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1715may be performed by an SRS transmission component1030as described with reference toFIG.10.

At1720, the method may include receiving, from the base station, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications. The operations of1720may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1720may be performed by a beam indication reception component1035as described with reference toFIG.10.

FIG.18shows a flowchart illustrating a method1800that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1800may be implemented by a base station or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1800may be performed by a base station105as described with reference toFIGS.1through7and12through15. 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.

At1805, the method may include transmitting, to a UE, a control signal that indicates a SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within a SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups. The operations of1805may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1805may be performed by a configuration transmission component1425as described with reference toFIG.14.

At1810, the method may include receiving one or more SRS each transmitted by the UE using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and on a corresponding transmit beam based on a SRS resource group to which the corresponding sounding reference resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration. The operations of1810may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1810may be performed by an SRS reception component1430as described with reference toFIG.14.

At1815, the method may include transmitting, to the UE, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications. The operations of1815may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1815may be performed by a beam indication transmission component1435as described with reference toFIG.14.

FIG.19shows a flowchart illustrating a method1900that supports reference signal patterns for beam management in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The operations of the method1900may be implemented by a base station or its components as described herein. For example, the operations of the method1900may be performed by a base station105as described with reference toFIGS.1through7and12through15. 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.

At1905, the method may include transmitting, to a UE, a control signal that indicates a SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within a SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups. The operations of1905may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1905may be performed by a configuration transmission component1425as described with reference toFIG.14.

At1910, the method may include receiving one or more SRS each transmitted by the UE using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and on a corresponding transmit beam based on a SRS resource group to which the corresponding sounding reference resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration. The operations of1910may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1910may be performed by an SRS reception component1430as described with reference toFIG.14.

At1915, the method may include configuring a respective receive beam for each SRS resource within a SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups. The operations of1915may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1915may be performed by an SRS reception component1430as described with reference toFIG.14.

At1920, the method may include selecting a first receive beam of the respective receive beams to use for uplink communications with the UE based on receipt of the one or more SRS using the first receive beam. The operations of1920may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1920may be performed by a beam selection component1440as described with reference toFIG.14.

At1925, the method may include transmitting, to the UE, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications. The operations of1925may be performed in accordance with examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of1925may be performed by a beam indication transmission component1435as described with reference toFIG.14.

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

Aspect 1: A method for wireless communication at a UE, comprising: receiving, from a base station, a control signal that indicates an SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within an SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups; transmitting one or more SRS each using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and using a corresponding transmit beam based on an SRS resource group to which the corresponding SRS resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration; and receiving, from the base station, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications.

Aspect 2: The method of aspect 1, wherein receiving the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration comprises: receiving, via the control signal, an additional indication of a number of SRS resources in each of the one or more SRS resource groups, wherein the transmit beam pattern is based at least in part on the number of SRS resources in each of the one or more SRS resource groups.

Aspect 3: The method of any of aspects 1 through 2, wherein receiving the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration comprises: receiving, via the control signal, an additional indication of a number of the one or more SRS resource groups in the SRS resource set, wherein the transmit beam pattern is based at least in part on the number of the one or more SRS resource groups.

Aspect 4: The method of any of aspects 1 through 3, further comprising: identifying the one or more SRS resource groups based at least in part on a time domain position of SRS resources of the SRS resource set and a number of SRS resources for each of the one or more SRS resource groups, wherein the transmit beam pattern is based at least in part on identifying the one or more SRS resource groups.

Aspect 5: The method of any of aspects 1 through 3, further comprising: identifying the one or more SRS resource groups based at least in part on an additional ID of each SRS resource of the SRS resource set and a number of SRS resources for each of the one or more SRS resource groups, wherein the transmit beam pattern is based at least in part on identifying the one or more SRS resource groups.

Aspect 6: The method of any of aspects 1 through 5, wherein receiving the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration comprises: receiving, via the control signal, an additional indication of a time gap between SRS resources within a same SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups, wherein transmitting the one or more SRS is based at least in part on the time gap.

Aspect 7: The method of aspect 6, wherein transmitting the one or more SRS comprises: transmitting the one or more SRS each using the corresponding SRS resource within a first SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups with at least the time gap between each of the SRS resources of the first SRS resource group.

Aspect 8: The method of any of aspects 1 through 7, further comprising: transmitting an additional indication of a time gap between SRS resources within different SRS resource groups of the one or more SRS resource groups, wherein transmitting the one or more SRS is based at least in part on the time gap.

Aspect 9: The method of aspect 8, wherein transmitting the one or more SRS comprises: transmitting a first SRS using a corresponding first SRS resource of a first SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups; and transmitting a second SRS using a corresponding second SRS resource of a second SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups with at least the time gap between the first SRS resource and the second SRS resource.

Aspect 10: The method of any of aspects 1 through 9, wherein transmitting the one or more SRS comprises: refraining from performing a power control adjustment between transmission of SRS using the corresponding SRS resources of the SRS resource set.

Aspect 11: The method of any of aspects 1 through 10, wherein receiving the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration comprises: receiving, via the control signal, an additional indication of a power control adjustment state for the SRS resource set, wherein transmitting the one or more SRS is based at least in part on the power control adjustment state.

Aspect 12: The method of any of aspects 1 through 11, wherein receiving the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration comprises: receiving the control signal configuring the SRS resource set as a semi-persistent SRS resource set, the control signal comprising a field indicating whether the control signal comprises spatial relationship information for the SRS resource set.

Aspect 13: The method of any of aspects 1 through 12, further comprising: transmitting the one or more SRS during a first period and based at least in part on the transmit beam pattern indicated by the SRS beam management configuration; and transmitting additional SRS during a second period using respective transmit beams that are based at least in part on the transmit beam pattern indicated by the SRS beam management configuration.

Aspect 14: The method of any of aspects 1 through 13, wherein receiving the indication of the first transmit beam comprises: receiving signaling indicative of a first SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups, wherein the first SRS resource group is associated with the first transmit beam.

Aspect 15: The method of any of aspects 1 through 14, wherein transmitting the one or more SRS comprises: transmitting the one or more SRS towards an uplink node or via an SUL carrier.

Aspect 16: A method for wireless communication at a base station, comprising: transmitting, to a UE, a control signal that indicates an SRS beam management configuration that identifies one or more SRS resource groups within an SRS resource set and a transmit beam pattern that indicates a respective transmit beam for each of the one or more SRS resource groups; receiving one or more SRS each transmitted by the UE using a corresponding SRS resource of the SRS resource set and on a corresponding transmit beam based on an SRS resource group to which the corresponding sounding reference resource belongs, in accordance with the SRS beam management configuration; and transmitting, to the UE, an indication of a first transmit beam of the respective transmit beams that the UE is to use for uplink communications.

Aspect 17: The method of aspect 16, further comprising: configuring a respective receive beam for each SRS resource within an SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups; and selecting a first receive beam of the respective receive beams to use for uplink communications with the UE based at least in part on receipt of the one or more SRS using the first receive beam.

Aspect 18: The method of any of aspects 16 through 17, further comprising: selecting the first transmit beam based at least in part on a signal quality associated with the one or more SRS.

Aspect 19: The method of any of aspects 16 through 18, wherein transmitting the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration comprises: transmitting, via the control signal, an additional indication of a number of SRS resources in each of the one or more SRS resource groups, wherein the transmit beam pattern is based at least in part on the number of SRS resources in each of the one or more SRS resource groups.

Aspect 20: The method of any of aspects 16 through 19, wherein transmitting the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration comprises: transmitting, via the control signal, an additional indication of a number of the one or more SRS resource groups for the SRS resource set, wherein the transmit beam pattern is based at least in part on the number of SRS resource groups.

Aspect 21: The method of any of aspects 16 through 20, further comprising: identifying the one or more SRS resource groups based at least in part on a time domain position of SRS resources of the SRS resource set and a number of SRS resources for each of the one or more SRS resource groups, wherein transmitting the control signal indicating the transmit beam pattern is based at least in part on identifying the one or more SRS resource groups.

Aspect 22: The method of any of aspects 16 through 20, further comprising: identifying the one or more SRS resource groups based at least in part on an additional ID of each SRS resource of the SRS resource set and a number of SRS resources for each of the one or more SRS resource groups, wherein transmitting the control signal indicating the transmit beam pattern is based at least in part on identifying the one or more SRS resource groups.

Aspect 23: The method of any of aspects 16 through 22, wherein transmitting the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration comprises: transmitting, via the control signal, an additional indication of a time gap between SRS resources within a same SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups, wherein receiving the one or more SRS is based at least in part on the time gap.

Aspect 24: The method of any of aspects 16 through 23, further comprising: receiving an additional indication of a time gap between SRS resources within different SRS resource groups of the one or more SRS resource groups, wherein receiving the one or more SRS is based at least in part on the time gap.

Aspect 25: The method of any of aspects 16 through 24, wherein transmitting the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration comprises: transmitting, via the control signal, an additional indication of a power control adjustment state for the SRS resource set, wherein receiving the one or more SRS is based at least in part on the power control adjustment state.

Aspect 26: The method of any of aspects 16 through 25, wherein transmitting the control signal that indicates the SRS beam management configuration comprises: transmitting the control signal configuring the SRS resource set as a semi-persistent SRS resource set, the control signal comprising a field indicating whether the control signal comprises spatial relationship information for the SRS resource set.

Aspect 27: The method of any of aspects 16 through 26, wherein transmitting the indication of the first transmit beam comprises: transmitting signaling indicative of a first SRS resource group of the one or more SRS resource groups, wherein the first SRS resource group is associated with the first transmit beam.

Aspect 28: The method of any of aspects 16 through 27, wherein receiving the one or more SRS comprises: receiving the one or more SRS via an uplink node or via a SUL carrier.

Aspect 29: An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, comprising a processor; memory coupled with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method of any of aspects 1 through 15.

Aspect 30: An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 1 through 15.

Aspect 31: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a UE, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of any of aspects 1 through 15.

Aspect 32: An apparatus for wireless communication 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 16 through 28.

Aspect 33: An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station, comprising at least one means for performing a method of any of aspects 16 through 28.

Aspect 34: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a base station, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform a method of any of aspects 16 through 28.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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