Patent ID: 12212439

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The following acronyms and abbreviations that may be found in the specification and/or the drawing figures are defined as follows:2D two dimensional3 GPP third generation partnership project5G fifth generation5GC 5G core networkAMF access and mobility management functionBWP bandwidth partCDF cumulative distribution functionCSI channel state informationCU central unitDFT discrete Fourier transformDL downlinkDU distributed unitDSP digital signal processoreNB (or eNodeB) evolved Node B (e.g., an LTE base station)EN-DC E-UTRA-NR dual connectivityen-gNB or En-gNB node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and acting as secondary node in EN-DCETF explicit time-domain feedbackE-UTRA evolved universal terrestrial radio access, i.e., the LTE radio access technologyFDD frequency division duplexgNB (or gNodeB) base station for 5G/NR, i.e., a node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface to the 5GCI/F interfaceLC linear combinationLTE long term evolutionMAC medium access controlMIMO multiple-input/multiple-outputMME mobility management entityng or NG new generationng-eNB or NG-eNB new generation eNBNR new radioN/W or NW networkPCA principal component analysisPDA personal digital assistantPDCP packet data convergence protocolPHY physical layerPMI precoding matrix indicatorPRB physical resource blocksRAN radio access networkRB resource blockRel. releaseRLC radio link controlRRH remote radio headRRC radio resource controlRU radio unitRx receiverSB subbandSDAP service data adaptation protocolSGW serving gatewaySMF session management functionSVD singular value decompositionTx transmitterUCI uplink control informationUE user equipment (e.g., a wireless, typically mobile device)UL uplinkUMi urban microcellsUPF user plane functionUPT user perceived throughputWB widebandWI work itemWID work item description

Turning toFIG.1, this figure shows a block diagram of one possible and non-limiting example in which the examples may be practiced. A user equipment (UE)110, radio access network (RAN) node170, and network element(s)190are illustrated. In the example ofFIG.1, the user equipment (UE)110is in wireless communication with a wireless network100. A UE is a wireless device that can access the wireless network100. The UE110includes one or more processors120, one or more memories125, and one or more transceivers130interconnected through one or more buses127. Each of the one or more transceivers130includes a receiver, Rx,132and a transmitter, Tx,133. The one or more buses127may be address, data, or control buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optics or other optical communication equipment, and the like. The one or more transceivers130are connected to one or more antennas128. The one or more memories125include computer program code123. The UE110includes a module140, comprising one of or both parts140-1and/or140-2, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The module140may be implemented in hardware as module140-1, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors120. The module140-1may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the module140may be implemented as module140-2, which is implemented as computer program code123and is executed by the one or more processors120. For instance, the one or more memories125and the computer program code123may be configured to, with the one or more processors120, cause the user equipment110to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. The UE110communicates with RAN node170via a wireless link111.

The RAN node170in this example is a base station that provides access by wireless devices such as the UE110to the wireless network100. The RAN node170may be, for example, a base station for 5G, also called New Radio (NR). In 5G, the RAN node170may be a NG-RAN node, which is defined as either a gNB or an ng-eNB. A gNB is a node providing NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface to a 5GC (such as, for example, the network element(s)190). The ng-eNB is a node providing E-UTRA user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE, and connected via the NG interface to the 5GC. The NG-RAN node may include multiple gNBs, which may also include a central unit (CU) (gNB-CU)196and distributed unit(s) (DUs) (gNB-DUs), of which DU195is shown. Note that the DU may include or be coupled to and control a radio unit (RU). The gNB-CU is a logical node hosting radio resource control (RRC), SDAP and PDCP protocols of the gNB or RRC and PDCP protocols of the en-gNB that controls the operation of one or more gNB-DUs. The gNB-CU terminates the F1 interface connected with the gNB-DU. The F1 interface is illustrated as reference198, although reference198also illustrates a link between remote elements of the RAN node170and centralized elements of the RAN node170, such as between the gNB-CU196and the gNB-DU195. The gNB-DU is a logical node hosting RLC, MAC and PHY layers of the gNB or en-gNB, and its operation is partly controlled by gNB-CU. One gNB-CU supports one or multiple cells. One cell is supported by only one gNB-DU. The gNB-DU terminates the F1 interface198connected with the gNB-CU. Note that the DU195is considered to include the transceiver160, e.g., as part of a RU, but some examples of this may have the transceiver160as part of a separate RU, e.g., under control of and connected to the DU195. The RAN node170may also be an eNB (evolved NodeB) base station, for LTE (long term evolution), or any other suitable base station or node.

The RAN node170includes one or more processors152, one or more memories155, one or more network interfaces (N/W I/F(s))161, and one or more transceivers160interconnected through one or more buses157. Each of the one or more transceivers160includes a receiver, Rx,162and a transmitter, Tx,163. The one or more transceivers160are connected to one or more antennas158. The one or more memories155include computer program code153. The CU196may include the processor(s)152, memories155, and network interfaces161. Note that the DU195may also contain its own memory/memories and processor(s), and/or other hardware, but these are not shown.

The RAN node170includes a module150, comprising one of or both parts150-1and/or150-2, which may be implemented in a number of ways. The module150may be implemented in hardware as module150-1, such as being implemented as part of the one or more processors152. The module150-1may be implemented also as an integrated circuit or through other hardware such as a programmable gate array. In another example, the module150may be implemented as module150-2, which is implemented as computer program code153and is executed by the one or more processors152. For instance, the one or more memories155and the computer program code153are configured to, with the one or more processors152, cause the RAN node170to perform one or more of the operations as described herein. Note that the functionality of the module150may be distributed, such as being distributed between the DU195and the CU196, or be implemented solely in the DU195.

The one or more network interfaces161communicate over a network such as via the links176and131. Two or more gNBs170may communicate using, e.g., link176. The link176may be wired or wireless or both and may implement, for example, an Xn interface for 5G, an X2 interface for LTE, or other suitable interface for other standards.

The one or more buses157may be address, data, or control buses, and may include any interconnection mechanism, such as a series of lines on a motherboard or integrated circuit, fiber optics or other optical communication equipment, wireless channels, and the like. For example, the one or more transceivers160may be implemented as a remote radio head (RRH)195for LTE or a distributed unit (DU)195for gNB implementation for 5G, with the other elements of the RAN node170possibly being physically in a different location from the RRH/DU, and the one or more buses157could be implemented in part as, for example, fiber optic cable or other suitable network connection to connect the other elements (e.g., a central unit (CU), gNB-CU) of the RAN node170to the RRH/DU195. Reference198also indicates those suitable network link(s).

It is noted that description herein indicates that “cells” perform functions, but it should be clear that equipment which forms the cell will perform the functions. The cell makes up part of a base station. That is, there can be multiple cells per base station. For example, there could be three cells for a single carrier frequency and associated bandwidth, each cell covering one-third of a 360 degree area so that the single base station's coverage area covers an approximate oval or circle. Furthermore, each cell can correspond to a single carrier and a base station may use multiple carriers. So if there are three 120 degree cells per carrier and two carriers, then the base station has a total of 6 cells.

The wireless network100may include a network element or elements190that may include core network functionality, and which provides connectivity via a link or links181with a further network, such as a telephone network and/or a data communications network (e.g., the Internet). Such core network functionality for 5G may include access and mobility management function(s) (AMF(S)) and/or user plane functions (UPF (s)) and/or session management function (s) (SMF(s)). Such core network functionality for LTE may include MME (Mobility Management Entity)/SGW (Serving Gateway) functionality. These are merely example functions that may be supported by the network element(s)190, and note that both 5G and LTE functions might be supported. The RAN node170is coupled via a link131to the network element190. The link131may be implemented as, e.g., an NG interface for 5G, or an S1 interface for LTE, or other suitable interface for other standards. The network element190includes one or more processors175, one or more memories171, and one or more network interfaces (N/W I/F(s))180, interconnected through one or more buses185. The one or more memories171include computer program code173. The one or more memories171and the computer program code173are configured to, with the one or more processors175, cause the network element190to perform one or more operations.

The wireless network100may implement network virtualization, which is the process of combining hardware and software network resources and network functionality into a single, software-based administrative entity, a virtual network. Network virtualization involves platform virtualization, often combined with resource virtualization. Network virtualization is categorized as either external, combining many networks, or parts of networks, into a virtual unit, or internal, providing network-like functionality to software containers on a single system. Note that the virtualized entities that result from the network virtualization are still implemented, at some level, using hardware such as processors152or175and memories155and171, and also such virtualized entities create technical effects.

The computer readable memories125,155, and171may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment and may be implemented using any suitable data storage technology, such as semiconductor based memory devices, flash memory, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory and removable memory. The computer readable memories125,155, and171may be means for performing storage functions. The processors120,152, and175may be of any type suitable to the local technical environment, and may include one or more of general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on a multi-core processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The processors120,152, and175may be means for performing functions, such as controlling the UE110, RAN node170, network element(s)190, and other functions as described herein.

In general, the various embodiments of the user equipment110can include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones such as smart phones, tablets, personal digital assistants (PDAs) having wireless communication capabilities, portable computers having wireless communication capabilities, image capture devices such as digital cameras having wireless communication capabilities, gaming devices having wireless communication capabilities, music storage and playback appliances having wireless communication capabilities, Internet appliances permitting wireless Internet access and browsing, tablets with wireless communication capabilities, as well as portable units or terminals that incorporate combinations of such functions.

To track a fast fading channel, one option is to increasing periodicity of channel state information (CSI) reporting. However, that requires higher signaling overhead. Another option is to use prediction. However, since type II CSI feedback corresponds to compressed and quantized eigenvectors, conventional prediction methods (e.g. Kalman filtering) cannot be used. The examples described herein perform and implement ‘geodesic’ prediction as a means for predicting CSI type II values.

In a first example embodiment, the UE decides, based on a ‘chordal distance’ between a known channel estimate and a predicted channel estimate, whether or not to perform geodesic channel prediction. The decision is transmitted to the gNB via a bitmap, together with either a tangent vector (a predication related parameter from which the gNB estimates the channel estimate) or the channel estimate.

In a second example embodiment, the UE decides, whether or not to use an old value of the tangent vector. The decision is transmitted to the gNB via a bitmap, together with the tangent vector for the case that the UE decides that an old value should not be used.

In a third example embodiment, the UE feeds back, only the step size (another predication related parameter). The gNB then uses the step size to compute the tangent vector from previous channel estimates.

In Rel. 15, NR type II reporting is a scheme used by the UE to feed back a PMI to the gNB, which the latter should use as is (note that how the PMI is actually used by gNB is an implementation detail). This approach supports up to rank=2 transmission and is commonly understood as a way to convey information on the strongest eigenvectors measured at the UE, i.e., an approximation scheme for CSI feedback. For this reason, we will refer to this scheme as NR type II CSI reporting in the following, for simplicity. Furthermore, we may use the words PMI/CSI interchangeably, unless otherwise stated, given that their conceptual difference is not relevant in the context of this disclosure. Switching the focus back to the rank limitation of Rel. 15, NR type II reporting, we observe that such restriction is mostly due to the large feedback overhead that would result from a higher rank feedback. Indeed, the feedback overhead of NR type II would scale linearly with the rank of the PMI feedback, if the legacy framework were simply extended. This would require a significant increase of the necessary uplink resources to perform the feedback. Despite this limitation, legacy Type II codebook can achieve up to 36% performance enhancement over LTE at the cost of higher feedback overhead as compared to the latter [see, e.g., F. V. et al, “System level performance characteristics of sub-6 GHz massive MIMO deployments with the 3GPP New Radio,” in IEEE VTC Fall 2018, 2018].

An overview on NR type II reporting in Rel.15 is as follows [see, e.g., R1-1709232 “WF on Type I and II CSI codebooks” RAN1 #89 May 2017]. The final weighting vector at the gNB is a weighted linear combination of L orthogonal beams per polarization as
{tilde over (w)}r,l=Σi=0L-1bk1(i)k2(i)·pr,l,i(WB)pr,l,i(SB)·cr,l,i(1)

The term

bk1(i)⁢k2(i)
is the long-term two-dimensional (2D) discrete Fourier transform (DFT) beam, the term pr,l,i(WB)is the beam power scaling factor for wideband, the term pr,l,i(SB)is the beam power scaling factor for subband, and the term cr,l,iis the beam combining coefficient.

In order to build {tilde over (w)}r,l, the following steps are performed:1. Building the grid-of-beam matrix W1of size 2N1N2×2L: choose L orthogonal vectors/beams per polarization r from a set of oversampled O1O2N1N2DFT beams, where N1and N2are the number of antenna ports in horizontal and vertical domains. O1and O2are the oversampling factors in both dimensions. This collection of vectors can be used to approximate the eigenvectors of the channel covariance matrix by means of suitable weighted linear combinations. This operation achieves a compression in the spatial domain (SD), hence the resulting 2L beams are also referred to as SD components.2. Building the linear combination subband matrix W2: for every subband, calculate the coefficients to be used for the weighted linear combination of the columns of W1yielding the aforementioned approximation of the l strongest eigenvectors of the channel covariance matrix.3. Quantization of linear combining coefficients: the correlation between the coefficients of the different W2across all the subbands is exploited to achieve a reduction of the overall number of coefficients to feed back by means of a differential wideband+subband quantization.

Enhancement of type II reporting feedback for Rel. 16 was agreed in 3GPP based on exploiting the frequency correlation. A frequency domain compression scheme is applied on subband matrix W2. The precoder for each layer and across frequency-domain units W is derived as follows:
W=W1{tilde over (W)}2WfH(2)

Rel. 16 NR type II reporting could provide a significant gain over its Rel.15 counterpart, as shown in [R1-1902562 CSI Overhead Reduction for Type II codebook up to rank 2, Nokia, RAN1 #96 Athens].

Another problem which faces CSI feedback in a frequency division duplex (FDD) system is the fast fading channel. InFIG.2AandFIG.2B, the geometric mean user throughput is shown for two cases of user speed at 3 kmph (chart201) and 30 kmph (chart211) at an update periodicity of 10 ms in an urban microcells (UMi) channel. In charts201and211, bars202and212correspond to ETF NS=4xf=1 update=10/10, bars203and213correspond to ETF NS=4xf=1 update=10/50, bars204and214correspond to NR type II CSI update=10/10, and bars205and215correspond to PCA d=2 update 10/10. At 3 kmph, the explicit time domain feedback scheme is outperforming Rel.15 NR type II CSI. In the right chart, at 30 kmph, all schemes perform more or less the same and the overall UPT is reduced by more than 50% due to the effect of channel aging. In fact, in such a case it is best to resort to the least complex and smallest overhead scheme, because any gain is reduced by the channel aging effect.

An example work around is to perform the CSI feedback at a higher periodicity, however clearly this increases the UL overhead significantly. Examples disclosed herein provide a channel prediction framework for NR type II CSI with improved performance overhead trade-off

Channel prediction can be used for explicit CSI feedback [see, e.g., T. Wild, C. Hoek, G. Herzog and J. Koppenborg, “Multi-antenna OFDM channel feedback compression exploiting sparsity,” European Wireless 2013; 19th European Wireless Conference, Guildford, U K, 2013, pp. 1-6.], Algorithms based on Wiener filtering or Kalman filtering can provide very good performance. That is actually one of the motivation points for having explicit CSI feedback. In order to judge the deviation of the explicit CSI estimate, it is sufficient to compute the mean square error, defined as
e=∥H−Ĥ∥F(3)

In NR type II CSI in Rel. 15 and 16, approximated eigenvectors are possibly compressed (for Rel.16), quantized and fed back to the gNB. Naturally, channel eigenvectors cannot be predicted on the Euclidean space as in explicit CSI case. Two (non-zero) vectors s1,s2∈Mare called equivalent s1˜s2in terms of subspaces if and only if there exists a (non-zero) scalar a∈such that s1=as2. A different criterion to judge the deviation between two normalized eigenvectors s1and s2would be to compute the chordal distance, which is sine of the angle between the two eigenvectors on the Grassmannian manifold GM,1, represented as:
dc(s1,s2)=sin(θ1,2)=√{square root over (1−∥s1Hs2∥)}  (4)

Certain examples disclosed herein implement the chordal distance to develop an algorithm for predicting CSI type II values and to judge the performance of the example algorithms.

The Grassmannian manifold GM,Nis a representation of subspaces of dimension M in CN. Such a subspace can be described as the linear span of an orthonormal basis, and that basis can be captured by the columns of a matrix XM×Nthat satisfies XHX=I. As there is a continuum of matrices that can represent a given subspace, these matrices can be deemed to form an equivalence class in terms of representing subspaces. Each “point” on the Grassmannian manifold is a single matrix that represents this equivalence class for the given subspace.

The concept of prediction on the Grassmannian manifold is related to the geodesic path between two points on the Grassmannian manifold. The geodesic path is a generalization of a shortest straight line connecting two points on a curved space (e.g. Grassmannian manifold). InFIG.3, the geodesic trajectory of evolution of the channel eigenvector over time on the Grassmannian manifold GM,1is depicted as item300.

Assuming a channel eigenvector for one subband at 3 time instances (at 5 ms, at 10 ms and 15 ms): s1, s2and s3for a user at speed 30 kmph in a DUMa channel at 4 GHz, 10 MHz bandwidth and N3=13 subbands and a drop of 210 users. siQis the compressed and quantized PMI according to NR type II CSI Rel.15 or Rel.16. Both Rel. 15 and Rel.16 NR type II CSI used L=4 spatial beams per polarization. InFIG.4, the chordal distance cumulative distribution function (CDF) is shown for Rel. 15 and 16 with and without channel aging effect as chart400. Plot401corresponds to Q error Rel. 15 dc(s3,s3Q), plot402corresponds to Q error Rel. 16 dc(s3,s3Q), plot403corresponds to Q error+channel aging Rel. 15 dc(s3,s2Q), and plot404corresponds to Q error+channel aging Rel. 16 dc(s3,s2Q). Release 16 used M=7 and K0=42. As shown, by comparing the solid curves significant improvement is brought by Rel. 16 compression and quantization. However, most of this gain is lost when the effect of channel aging is considered (or when channel aging manifests), i.e., when comparing s3against s2Qfrom 5 ms earlier.

Geodesic prediction is described as follows. To write an equation for the geodesic from the point [s(t)] on the manifold to the point [s(t+1)], the tangent to the manifold at the point [s(t)] in the direction of the point [s(t+1)] is used. Such tangent can be written as (refer to, e.g., T. Inoue and R. W. Heath, “Geodesic prediction for limited feedback multiuser MIMO systems in temporally correlated channels,” in Proc. IEEE Radio Wireless Symp., January 2009)1.

b[t+1]=(tan-1(β))⁢(α⁢s⁡(t+1)-s⁡(t))βWhere

α=1s⁡(t+1)H⁢s⁡(t),β=∥αs(t+1)−s(t)∥2. Apply thin singular value decomposition (SVD) of tangent vector b[t+1]=u (tan−1({tilde over (σ)})) v*3. Compute scaled tangent vector: γ(t+1)=∈∥b[t+1]∥4. Given knowledge of ŝ(t), build {umlaut over (s)}(t+1)=ŝ(t)v cos(γ(t+1){tilde over (σ)})+u sin(γ(t+1){tilde over (σ)})

A graphical depiction of the tangent vector b[t+1]500is shown inFIG.5.

Channel prediction schemes based on explicit CSI feedback or based on machine learning are possible solutions for proposal to 3GPP [see, e.g., ZTE, “ZTE's View on Rel-17—ZTE 5G Solution” CMCC workshop 2019]. Another alternative proposal is geodesic prediction for NR type II CSI. Several options for the communication of the step size and the tangent vector between the gNB and the UE are disclosed herein.

In particular, disclosed herein is a novel framework based on geodesic channel prediction for radio communication to mitigate and compensate for the problem of channel aging. The method disclosed herein exploit the temporal correlation of each eigenvector inside the linear combination subband matrix W2which is of size 2L×N3or on the full eigenvector subband matrix W=W1W2which is of size 2N1N2×N3. Differential information is fed back per subband (or group of subbands) from the UE to the gNB based on the geodesic path of the eigenvectors in the time domain, namely a tangent vector and/or step size parameter. The proposed scheme can significantly reduce required UL overhead. Required UL overhead is reduced because instead of feeding back a full update, only differential information based on the geodesic path of the eigenvector across time is going to be fed back, which requires lower UL overhead.

Several options for the signaling schemes of the differential information and the processing at the gNB and the UE is provided in detail. Simulation results indicate a very low UL overhead (e.g., approximately 26 bits), and that the proposed scheme reduces the chordal distance error for NR type II CSI Rel. 15 and Rel. 16.

In general, a UE can be configured to use geodesic prediction (depending on its UE capability) by the gNB in RRC signaling.

Embodiment 1. In a first example embodiment, the UE decides whether or not to perform geodesic channel prediction for every subband. The decision is transmitted to the gNB via a bit-map p. Depending on the bit-map value, the UE is going to feedback the geodesic parameters for the selected subbands for channel prediction.

The first example embodiment is shown in the UE-gNB procedure600ofFIG.6. At time instant n+1 (where time instant n+1 occurs at a later time than prior time instant n), for every subband k:1. The UE finds (at610) the best step size parameter E which minimizes the chordal distance between wk[n+1] and the predicted[n+1] derived according to steps 1 to 4 (identical to steps a to d below) for writing the equation for the geodesic explained before, where s(t) is mapped to[n] derived according to NR type II CSI in previous feedback instant n and s(t+1) is mapped to wk[n+1]:a.

b[n+1]=(tan-1(β))i. where

α=β=∥αwk[n+1]*−[n]∥b. Apply thin SVD of tangent vector b[n+1]=u (tan−1({tilde over (σ)})) v*c. Compute scaled tangent vector: γ(n+1)=∈∥b[n+1]∥d. Given knowledge of[n], build[n+1]=[n]v cos(γ(n+1){tilde over (σ)})+u sin(γ(n+1){tilde over (σ)})2. Depending on the possible minimum chordal distance, the UE decides (at620) whether or not channel prediction is performed on that particular subband.3. The UE feeds back (at630) a bit-map p(n+1,k) of size N3×1 in a first part of uplink control signalling, where a value of ‘1’ means that this subband will be predicted and a value of ‘0’ means this subband will not be predicted. Using that bit-map, the gNB can predict the UL overhead in the next step (at640). For instance if NR type II feedback scheme is used this signaling could occur in uplink control information (UCI) part1.4. For all subbands which had a value of ‘1’ inside the bit-map, the UE feeds back the tangent vector b[n+1] or the step size ∈ or both (at650) in a second part of uplink control signaling. For instance if NR type II feedback scheme is used this signaling could occur in UCI part2.5. For all subbands which had a value of ‘0’ inside the bit-map, the UE feeds back wk[n+1] (at660). As in standard.

Embodiment 2. In a second example embodiment, the UE decides whether or not to use the old value of the tangent vector for every subband. The decision is transmitted to the gNB via a bit-map p′. Depending on the bit-map value, the UE is going to feedback the tangent vector for the selected subbands inside the bit-map p′.

The second example embodiment is shown in the UE-gNB procedure ofFIG.7.1. After building p(n+1,k) as in first 4 steps of Embodiment 1 (at710,720,730, and740).2. The UE decides (at750) whether or not the gNB should use the old value of the tangent vector i.e. bk[n+1]=bk[n].3. The UE communicates (at760) to the gNB a bit-map tangent prediction vector pi(n+1,k) in a first part of uplink control signalling, with which and in addition to p(n+1,k), the gNB (at770) can estimate the UL overhead.4. For all subbands which had a value of ‘1’ inside p′(n+1,k), the UE is going to feed back a new value for the tangent vector b[n+1] (at780) in a second part of uplink control signaling.5. For all subbands which had a value of ‘0’ inside p′(n+1,k), the gNB is going to use bk[n+1]=bk[n] and UE is going to only send the step size parameter (at790) in a second part of uplink control signaling (or maybe send nothing and gNB will then use the older value of ∈).

Embodiment 3. In a third example embodiment, the UE is only going to feedback the step size parameter per subband. The gNB will either use an old value for the tangent vector or compute it itself from previous feedback transmissions, i.e. bk[n+1]=bk[n] on all subbands.

The third example embodiment is shown in the UE-gNB procedure800ofFIG.8. Possibly the least complex realization of the scheme, the third example embodiment is where it is assumed that gNB has wk[n−1] and wk[n] from previous transmissions and hence can compute b[n+1], alternatively gNB may also have an older value of b[n+1] via a feedback from UE. In any case:1. The UE builds the bit-map prediction vector (at810) indicating which subbands are going to be predicted and which subbands are not going to be predicted and feeds back (at820) in a first part of uplink control signaling.2. For all subbands which had a value of ‘1’ inside p′(n+1,k), the UE is going to feed back (at830) the optimum step size ∈kin a second part of uplink control signalling, for all other subbands, the UE is not going to feed back anything (at840). The gNB will just use the old value of wk[n] (at850), i.e. wk[n+1]=wk[n].

Considering the disclosed example embodiments further, more efficient transmission of ∈kcan be considered by exploiting the channel frequency correlation. For example, a) ∈kcan be assumed constant over a group of subbands; or b) ∈kcan be quantized differentially across the different subbands. Meaning that an average wideband (WB) value of ∈kis sent (e.g. ∈) and for every subband k only the differential information

ϵkϵ
is sent; or c) ∈kis fed back over only an equidistant subset of the subbands and the rest are provided via channel frequency interpolation.

∈kcan be layer common (same value of ∈kis used for all layers on 1 subband) or layer specific (different values of ∈{circumflex over ( )}k are used for each layer on 1 subband).

More efficient transmission of bk[n+1] can be implemented by exploiting the channel frequency correlation. For example, assuming a matrix of all tangent vectors for one layer B2L×N3=[b1[n+1], . . . , bN3[n+1]], two compression techniques can be proposed: a) by applying DFT compression on top of B2L×N3as in Rel. 16 NR type II CSI. This means that instead of feeding back quantized Br2L×N3, we shall apply codebook based DFT compression on top to arrive at {tilde over (B)}2L×Mb=B2L×N3Wfb, where Wfbis a matrix obtained from a DFT codebook. Instead of feeding back quantized B2L×N3we only need to feedback {tilde over (B)}2L×Mbwhere Mb<N3plus codebook indices needed to build Wfb. At the gNB side, B2L×N3can be reconstructed as B2L×N3={tilde over (B)}2L×MbWfbH; b) by applying differential quantization across subbands of B2L×N3as in NR type II CSI Rel.15. This means that a wideband vector of amplitudes for example defined as x of size 2L×1 is fed back to the gNB. In addition, subband amplitude is computed in a differential manner to the corresponding WB amplitude and fed back to the gNB. Phase information can be fed back per subband.

bk[n+1] and ∈kcan be updated at different feedback rates. It can make sense to use the fed back value of ∈kto deduce which subbands are going to be predicted and which are not going to be predicted instead of the bit-map vector p(n+1,0, i.e. not send p(n+1,0 at all. Note that ∈k=0 means it is best to do no prediction and to use the old value simply. This is especially relevant when the number of bits assigned to quantize ∈kis small (e.g., approximately 2-3 bits). For Rel. 16, and example embodiments 1 or 2, this is actually a must since what is fed back from UE is not the channel eigenvector per subband rather the compressed LC coefficients {tilde over (W)}2as explained above by the description of Equation (2), so there is no option for the UE to feed back channel eigenvector for a specific subband. Hence if ∈k=0 is an option in the quantizer of the step size parameter, the bit-map p(n+1,0 can be spared.

Alternatively, if the bit-map prediction vector p(n+1,0 is going to be fed back, the quantizer of the step size parameter can be designed not to include the value ∈k=0 in order to put more quantization levels in the interesting dynamic range and hence reduce quantization error.

Note that for Rel. 15 or for Rel.16 (and which is also relevant to the third example embodiment), if the bit-map vector p(n+1,0 is going to be fed back to the gNB, the quantization codebook of Ekcan be designed not to include the value 0. That is because the value 0 means that no prediction would occur and this information is already available at the gNB via knowledge of bit-map vector p(n+1,k). This in turn can lead into a reduced quantization error because more quantization steps can be assigned to the dynamic range.

The described example embodiments were implemented assuming rank=1 transmission, however the examples disclosed herein can also be extended to be applied on every layer independently. Alternatively the prediction can be done using all orthogonal layers on one subband simultaneously.

Furthermore, the examples described herein are exploiting the correlation in time. However, the examples described herein can also be combined with a CSI compression scheme which works on the layer domain, e.g. Givens transformation.

FIG.9depicts the chordal distance CDF using the prediction scheme ofFIG.8(the third example embodiment) applied on Rel.15 and Rel.16 NR type II CSI as chart900. s3Pdenotes the predicted channel eigenvector at the third time instant 3 (15 ms). Plot901corresponds to No pred Rel. 15 dc(s3,s2Q), plot902corresponds to Pred Rel. 15 dc(s3,s3P), plot903corresponds to No pred Rel. 16 dc(s3,s2Q), and plot904corresponds to Pred Rel. 16 dc(s3,s3P). As shown, the proposed scheme in the third example embodiment could reduce the chordal distance error to the true value of the channel eigenvector s3. The simulation result was the outcome of the example third embodiment applied on 210 users with the same simulation conditions used to produceFIG.4. 2 bits of quantization were used to quantize Ek.

FIG.10Ashows the average chordal distance per user for Rel. 15 NR type II CSI.FIG.10Bshows the average chordal distance per user for Rel. 16 NR type II CSI. Chart1001shows the overall error for Rel. 15, and chart1011shows the overall error for Rel. 16. In chart1001, plot1002corresponds to No pred Rel. 15 dc(s3,s2Q), and plot1003corresponds to Pred Rel. 15 dc(s3,s2Q). In chart1011, plot1012corresponds to No pred Rel. 16 dc(s3,s2Q), and plot1013corresponds to Pred Rel. 16 dc(s3,s3P). As shown, geodesic prediction was quite helpful for users with high chordal distance, for users with small chordal distance that meant using the old value of the channel eigenvector was good enough and there was not necessarily a need for an update.

On average approximately 7 subbands were predicted. This required an overhead of 14 bits to feed back ∈k, in addition to the bit-map overhead the total UL overhead is 14+13=27 bits. In case ∈kis used as a bit-map instead of the bit-map prediction vector as in p(n+1,0, the overhead required is 26 bits, which is quite small compared to the overhead of Rel.15 type II CSI (350 bits) and Rel. 16 type II CSI (around 230 bits) for maximum rank=1.

In accordance with an example method, a method may be provided comprising determining whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed; transmitting the determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, transmitting a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to determining that geodesic prediction is to be performed, transmitting either a determined current value of a tangent vector, or a determined step size parameter, or both the determined current value of the tangent vector and the determined step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling; wherein channel state information is predicted based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example method, a method may be provided comprising determining whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed; transmitting the determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, transmitting a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to determining that geodesic prediction is to be performed: determining whether or not a determined prior value of a tangent vector is to be used; transmitting the determination of whether or not the prior value of the tangent vector is to be used in the first part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that the prior value of the tangent vector is not to be used, transmitting either a determined current value of the tangent vector, or a determined step size parameter, or both the determined current value of the tangent vector and the determined step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that the prior value of the tangent vector is to be used, transmitting either a determined step size parameter or nothing in the second part of uplink control signaling; wherein channel state information is predicted based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example apparatus, an apparatus may be provided comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: determining whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed; transmitting the determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, transmitting a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to determining that geodesic prediction is to be performed, transmitting either a determined current value of a tangent vector, or a determined step size parameter, or both the determined current value of the tangent vector and the determined step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling; wherein channel state information is predicted based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example apparatus, an apparatus may be provided comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: determining whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed; transmitting the determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, transmitting a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to determining that geodesic prediction is to be performed: determining whether or not a determined prior value of a tangent vector is to be used; transmitting the determination of whether or not the prior value of the tangent vector is to be used in the first part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that the prior value of the tangent vector is not to be used, transmitting either a determined current value of the tangent vector, or a determined step size parameter, or both the determined current value of the tangent vector and the determined step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that the prior value of the tangent vector is to be used, transmitting either a determined step size parameter or nothing in the second part of uplink control signaling; wherein channel state information is predicted based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example non-transitory program storage device, a non-transitory program storage device may be provided comprising a non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising: determining whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed; transmitting the determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, transmitting a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to determining that geodesic prediction is to be performed, transmitting either a determined current value of a tangent vector, or a determined step size parameter, or both the determined current value of the tangent vector and the determined step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling; wherein channel state information is predicted based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example non-transitory program storage device, a non-transitory program storage device may be provided comprising a non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising: determining whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed; transmitting the determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, transmitting a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to determining that geodesic prediction is to be performed: determining whether or not a determined prior value of a tangent vector is to be used; transmitting the determination of whether or not the prior value of the tangent vector is to be used in the first part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that the prior value of the tangent vector is not to be used, transmitting either a determined current value of the tangent vector, or a determined step size parameter, or both the determined current value of the tangent vector and the determined step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that the prior value of the tangent vector is to be used, transmitting either a determined step size parameter or nothing in the second part of uplink control signaling; wherein channel state information is predicted based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example apparatus, an apparatus may be provided comprising means for determining whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed; means for transmitting the determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, means for transmitting a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to determining that geodesic prediction is to be performed, means for transmitting either a determined current value of a tangent vector, or a determined step size parameter, or both the determined current value of the tangent vector and the determined step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling; wherein channel state information is predicted based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example apparatus, an apparatus may be provided comprising: means for determining whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed; means for transmitting the determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, means for transmitting a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to determining that geodesic prediction is to be performed: means for determining whether or not a determined prior value of a tangent vector is to be used; means for transmitting the determination of whether or not the prior value of the tangent vector is to be used in the first part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that the prior value of the tangent vector is not to be used, means for transmitting either a determined current value of the tangent vector, or a determined step size parameter, or both the determined current value of the tangent vector and the determined step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling; in response to determining that the prior value of the tangent vector is to be used, means for transmitting either a determined step size parameter or nothing in the second part of uplink control signaling; wherein channel state information is predicted based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example method, a method may be provided comprising: receiving a determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, predicting channel state information based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and based on receiving a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is to be performed, predicting channel state information based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and based on receiving either a current value of a tangent vector, or a step size parameter, or both the current value of the tangent vector and the step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example method, a method may be provided comprising: receiving a determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, predicting channel state information based on information received in the first part of uplink control signaling and based on receiving a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is to be performed: predicting channel state information based on receiving a determination of whether or not a prior value of the tangent vector is to be used in the first part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that the prior value of the tangent vector is not to be used, predicting channel state information based on either receiving a current value of the tangent vector, or receiving a step size parameter, or both receiving the current value of the tangent vector and receiving the step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that the prior value of the tangent vector is to be used, predicting channel state information based on either receiving the step size parameter or nothing in the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example apparatus, an apparatus may be provided comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving a determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, predicting channel state information based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and based on receiving a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is to be performed, predicting channel state information based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and based on receiving either a current value of a tangent vector, or a step size parameter, or both the current value of the tangent vector and the step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example apparatus, an apparatus may be provided comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code; wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: receiving a determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, predicting channel state information based on information received in the first part of uplink control signaling and based on receiving a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is to be performed: predicting channel state information based on receiving a determination of whether or not a prior value of the tangent vector is to be used in the first part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that the prior value of the tangent vector is not to be used, predicting channel state information based on either receiving a current value of the tangent vector, or receiving a step size parameter, or both receiving the current value of the tangent vector and receiving the step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that the prior value of the tangent vector is to be used, predicting channel state information based on either receiving the step size parameter or nothing in the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example non-transitory program storage device, a non-transitory program storage device may be provided comprising a non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising: receiving a determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, predicting channel state information based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and based on receiving a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is to be performed, predicting channel state information based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and based on receiving either a current value of a tangent vector, or a step size parameter, or both the current value of the tangent vector and the step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example non-transitory program storage device, a non-transitory program storage device may be provided comprising a non-transitory program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, the operations comprising: receiving a determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, predicting channel state information based on information received in the first part of uplink control signaling and based on receiving a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is to be performed: predicting channel state information based on receiving a determination of whether or not a prior value of the tangent vector is to be used in the first part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that the prior value of the tangent vector is not to be used, predicting channel state information based on either receiving a current value of the tangent vector, or receiving a step size parameter, or both receiving the current value of the tangent vector and receiving the step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that the prior value of the tangent vector is to be used, predicting channel state information based on either receiving the step size parameter or nothing in the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example apparatus, an apparatus may be comprising: means for receiving a determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, means for predicting channel state information based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and based on receiving a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is to be performed, means for predicting channel state information based on information provided in the first part of uplink control signaling and based on receiving either a current value of a tangent vector, or a step size parameter, or both the current value of the tangent vector and the step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling.

In accordance with an example apparatus, an apparatus may be provided comprising: means for receiving a determination of whether or not geodesic prediction is to be performed in a first part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is not to be performed, means for predicting channel state information based on information received in the first part of uplink control signaling and based on receiving a current channel estimate in a second part of uplink control signaling; and in response to receiving a determination that geodesic prediction is to be performed: means for predicting channel state information based on receiving a determination of whether or not a prior value of the tangent vector is to be used in the first part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that the prior value of the tangent vector is not to be used, means for predicting channel state information based on either receiving a current value of the tangent vector, or receiving a step size parameter, or both receiving the current value of the tangent vector and receiving the step size parameter in the second part of uplink control signaling; in response to receiving a determination that the prior value of the tangent vector is to be used, means for predicting channel state information based on either receiving the step size parameter or nothing in the second part of uplink control signaling.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art. For example, features recited in the various dependent claims could be combined with each other in any suitable combination(s). In addition, features from different embodiments described above could be selectively combined into a new embodiment. Accordingly, the description is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.