WO2022151148A1

WO2022151148A1 - Downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state

Info

Publication number: WO2022151148A1
Application number: PCT/CN2021/071746
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chenxi Zhu; Bingchao LIU; Wei Ling; Yi Zhang; Lingling Xiao
Original assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited
Priority date: 2021-01-14
Filing date: 2021-01-14
Publication date: 2022-07-21

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for downlink control information indicating application of a TCI state. One method (500) includes transmitting (502) a MAC CE message comprising information defining one or more common TCI channel groups. A channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common TCI channel group of the one or more common TCI channel groups have the same TCI state. The method (500) includes transmitting (504) DCI indicating a TCI state and indicating whether the TCI state applies to each common TCI channel group of the one or more common TCI channel groups. The method (500) includes applying (506) the TCI state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common TCI channel group of the one or more common TCI channel groups indicated that the TCI state applies.

Description

DOWNLINK CONTROL INFORMATION INDICATING APPLICATION OF A TRANSMISSION CONFIGURATION INDICATOR STATE

FIELD

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to wireless communications and more particularly relates to downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state.

BACKGROUND

The following abbreviations are herewith defined, at least some of which are referred to within the following description: Third Generation Partnership Project ( “3GPP” ) , 5G Globally Unique Temporary UE Identifier ( “5G-GUTI” ) , 5G QoS Indicator ( “5QI” ) , Authentication Authorization and Accounting ( “AAA” ) , Acknowledge Mode ( “AM” ) , Access and Mobility Management Function ( “AMF” ) , Aperiodic ( “AP” ) , Authentication Server Function ( “AUSF” ) , Backhaul ( “BH” ) , Broadcast Multicast ( “BM” ) , Buffer Occupancy ( “BO” ) , Base Station ( “BS” ) , Buffer Status Report ( “BSR” ) , Bandwidth ( “BW” ) , Bandwidth Part ( “BWP” ) , Carrier Aggregation ( “CA” ) , Code Block Group ( “CBG” ) , CBG Flushing Out Information ( “CBGFI” ) , CBG Transmission Information ( “CBGTI” ) , Component Carrier ( “CC” ) , Control Channel Element ( “CCE” ) , Code Division Multiplexing ( “CDM” ) , Control Element ( “CE” ) , Coordinated Multipoint ( “CoMP” ) , Categories of Requirements ( “CoR” ) , Control Resource Set ( “CORESET” ) , Cyclic Prefix ( “CP” ) , Cyclic Prefix OFDM ( “CP-OFDM” ) , Cyclic Redundancy Check ( “CRC” ) , CSI-RS Resource Indicator ( “CRI” ) , Cell RNTI ( “C-RNTI” ) , Channel State Information ( “CSI” ) , CSI IM ( “CSI-IM” ) , CSI RS ( “CSI-RS” ) , Channel Quality Indicator ( “CQI” ) , Central Unit ( “CU” ) , Codeword ( “CW” ) , Downlink Assignment Index ( “DAI” ) , Downlink Control Information ( “DCI” ) , Downlink Feedback Information ( “DFI” ) , Downlink ( “DL” ) , Discrete Fourier Transform Spread OFDM ( “DFT-s-fOFDM” ) , Demodulation Reference Signal ( “DMRS” or “DM-RS” ) , Data Radio Bearer ( “DRB” ) , Dedicated Short-Range Communications ( “DSRC” ) , Distributed Unit ( “DU” ) , Enhanced Mobile Broadband ( “eMBB” ) , Evolved Node B ( “eNB” ) , Enhanced Subscriber Identification Module ( “eSIM” ) , Enhanced ( “E” ) , Edge Application Server ( “EAS” ) , Edge Configuration Server ( “ECS” ) , Edge Enabler Client ( “EEC” ) , Edge Enabler Server ( “EES” ) , Frequency Division Duplex ( “FDD” ) , Frequency Division Multiplexing ( “FDM” ) , Frequency Division Multiple Access ( “FDMA” ) , Fully-Qualified Domain Name ( “FQDN” ) , Frequency Range ( “FR” ) , 450 MHz –6000 MHz ( “FR1” ) , 24250 MHz –52600 MHz ( “FR2” ) , Globally Unique Temporary UE Identifier ( “GUTI” ) , Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request ( “HARQ” ) , High-Definition Multimedia Interface ( “HDMI” ) , High-Speed Train ( “HST” ) , Integrated Access Backhaul ( “IAB” ) , Identity or Identifier or Identification ( “ID” ) , Information Element ( “IE” ) , Interference Measurement ( “IM” ) , International Mobile Subscriber Identity ( “IMSI” ) , Internet-of-Things ( “IoT” ) , Internet Protocol ( “IP” ) , Joint Transmission ( “JT” ) , Key Derivation Function ( “KDF” ) , Level 1 ( “L1” ) , L1 RSRP ( “L1-RSRP” ) , L1 SINR ( “L1-SINR” ) , Level 2 ( “L2” ) , Logical Channel ( “LCH” ) , Logical Channel Group ( “LCG” ) , Logical Channel ID ( “LCID” ) , Logical Channel Prioritization ( “LCP” ) , Layer Indicator ( “LI” ) , Least-Significant Bit ( “LSB” ) , Long Term Evolution ( “LTE” ) , Levels of Automation ( “LoA” ) , Medium Access Control ( “MAC” ) , Message Authentication Code for Integrity ( “MAC-I” ) , Modulation Coding Scheme ( “MCS” ) , Multi DCI ( “M-DCI” ) , Mobile Edge Computing ( “MEC” ) , Master Information Block ( “MIB” ) , Multiple Input Multiple Output ( “MIMO” ) , Maximum Permissible Exposure ( “MPE” ) , Most-Significant Bit ( “MSB” ) , Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number ( “MSISDN” ) , Mobile-Termination ( “MT” ) , Machine Type Communication ( “MTC” ) , Multi PDSCH ( “Multi-PDSCH” ) , Multi TRP ( “M-TRP” ) , Multi-User ( “MU” ) , Multi-User MIMO ( “MU-MIMO” ) , Minimum Mean Square Error ( “MMSE” ) , Negative-Acknowledgment ( “NACK” ) or ( “NAK” ) , Network Access Identifier ( “NAI” ) , Non Access Stratum ( “NAS” ) , Non-Coherent Joint Transmission ( “NCJT” ) , Network Exposure Function ( “NEF” ) , Next Generation ( “NG” ) , Next Generation Node B ( “gNB” ) , Generic Public Subscription Identifier ( “GPSI” ) , New Radio ( “NR” ) , Non-Zero Power ( “NZP” ) , NZP CSI-RS ( “NZP-CSI-RS” ) , Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing ( “OFDM” ) , Peak-to-Average Power Ratio ( “PAPR” ) , Physical Broadcast Channel ( “PBCH” ) , Physical Downlink Control Channel ( “PDCCH” ) , Physical Downlink Shared Channel ( “PDSCH” ) , PDSCH Configuration ( “PDSCH-Config” ) , Policy Control Function ( “PCF” ) , Packet Data Convergence Protocol ( “PDCP” ) , Packet Data Network ( “PDN” ) , Protocol Data Unit ( “PDU” ) , Permanent Equipment Identifier ( “PEI” ) , Public Land Mobile Network ( “PLMN” ) , Precoding Matrix Indicator ( “PMI” ) , ProSe Per Packet Priority ( “PPPP” ) , ProSe Per Packet Reliability ( “PPPR” ) , Physical Resource Block ( “PRB” ) , Packet Switched ( “PS” ) , Physical Sidelink Control Channel ( “PSCCH” ) , Physical Sidelink Shared Channel ( “PSSCH” ) , Phase Tracking RS ( “PTRS” or “PT-RS” ) , Physical Uplink Control Channel ( “PUCCH” ) , Physical Uplink Shared Channel ( “PUSCH” ) , Quasi Co-Located ( “QCL” ) , Quality of Service ( “QoS” ) , Random Access Channel ( “RACH” ) , Radio Access Network ( “RAN” ) , Radio Access Technology ( “RAT” ) , Resource Element ( “RE” ) , Radio Frequency ( “RF” ) , Rank Indicator ( “RI” ) , Radio Link Control ( “RLC” ) , Radio Link Failure ( “RLF” ) , Radio Network Temporary Identifier ( “RNTI” ) , Resource Pool ( “RP” ) , Radio Resource Control ( “RRC” ) , Remote Radio Head ( “RRH” ) , Reference Signal ( “RS” ) , Reference Signal Received Power ( “RSRP” ) , Reference Signal Received Quality ( “RSRQ” ) , Redundancy Version ( “RV” ) , Receive ( “RX” ) , Security Association ( “SA” ) , Service Based Architecture ( “SBA” ) , Single Carrier Frequency Domain Spread Spectrum ( “SC-FDSS” ) , Secondary Cell ( “SCell” ) , Spatial Channel Model ( “SCM” ) , Sub Carrier Spacing ( “SCS” ) , Single DCI ( “S-DCI” ) , Spatial Division Multiplexing ( “SDM” ) , Service Data Unit ( “SDU” ) , Single Frequency Network ( “SFN” ) , Subscriber Identity Module ( “SIM” ) , Signal-to-Interference Ratio ( “SINR” ) , Sidelink ( “SL” ) , Session Management Function ( “SMF” ) , Sequence Number ( “SN” ) , Semi Persistent ( “SP” ) , Scheduling Request ( “SR” ) , SRS Resource Indicator ( “SRI” ) , Sounding Reference Signal ( “SRS” ) , Synchronization Signal ( “SS” ) , SS/PBCH Block ( “SSB” ) , Subscription Concealed Identifier ( “SUCI” ) , Subscription Permanent Identifier ( “SUPI” ) , Transport Block ( “TB” ) , Transmission Configuration Indication ( “TCI” ) , Time Division Duplex ( “TDD” ) , Time Division Multiplexing ( “TDM” ) , Temporary Mobile Subscriber Identity ( “TMSI” ) , Transmit Power Control ( “TPC” ) , Transmitted Precoding Matrix Indicator ( “TPMI” ) , Transmission Reception Point ( “TRP” ) , Transmission Reference Signal ( “TRS” ) , Technical Standard ( “TS” ) , Transmit ( “TX” ) , Unified Data Management ( “UDM” ) , User Data Repository ( “UDR” ) , User Entity/Equipment (Mobile Terminal) ( “UE” ) , Universal Integrated Circuit Card ( “UICC” ) , Uplink ( “UL” ) , Uplink Power Control ( “UL-PC” ) , Unacknowledged Mode ( “UM” ) , Universal Mobile Telecommunications System ( “UMTS” ) , LTE Radio Interface ( “Uu interface” ) , User Plane ( “UP” ) , User Plane Function ( “UPF” ) , Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication ( “URLLC” ) , Universal Subscriber Identity Module ( “USIM” ) , Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network ( “UTRAN” ) , Vehicle to Everything ( “V2X” ) , Voice Over IP ( “VoIP” ) , Visited Public Land Mobile Network ( “VPLMN” ) , Virtual Resource Block ( “VRB” ) , Vehicle RNTI ( “V-RNTI” ) , Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access ( “WiMAX” ) , Zero Forcing ( “ZF” ) , Zero Power ( “ZP” ) , and ZP CSI-RS ( “ZP-CSI-RS” ) . As used herein, “HARQ-ACK” may represent collectively the Positive Acknowledge ( “ACK” ) and the Negative Acknowledge ( “NAK” ) . ACK means that a TB is correctly received while NAK means a TB is erroneously received.

In certain wireless communications networks, TCIs may be used.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Methods for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state are disclosed. Apparatuses and systems also perform the functions of the methods. In one embodiment, the method includes transmitting a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state. In various embodiments, the method includes transmitting downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups. In some embodiments, the method includes applying the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.

An apparatus for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state, in one embodiment, includes a transmitter that: transmits a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state; and transmits downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes a processor that applies the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.

In various embodiments, a method for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state includes receiving a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state. In various embodiments, the method includes receiving downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups. In certain embodiments, the method includes applying the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.

In some embodiments, an apparatus for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state includes a receiver that: receives a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state; and receives downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups. In certain embodiments, the apparatus includes a processor that applies the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more particular description of the embodiments briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only some embodiments and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of scope, the embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a wireless communication system for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state;

Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an apparatus that may be used for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state;

Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating another embodiment of an apparatus that may be used for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state;

Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment of a MAC-CE indicating common TCI channel groups;

Figure 5 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state; and

Figure 6 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the embodiments may be embodied as a system, apparatus, method, or program product. Accordingly, embodiments may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc. ) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit, ” “module” or “system. ” Furthermore, embodiments may take the form of a program product embodied in one or more computer readable storage devices storing machine readable code, computer readable code, and/or program code, referred hereafter as code. The storage devices may be tangible, non-transitory, and/or non-transmission. The storage devices may not embody signals. In a certain embodiment, the storage devices only employ signals for accessing code.

Certain of the functional units described in this specification may be labeled as modules, in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom very-large-scale integration ( “VLSI” ) circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the like.

Modules may also be implemented in code and/or software for execution by various types of processors. An identified module of code may, for instance, include one or more physical or logical blocks of executable code which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may include disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, include the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module.

Indeed, a module of code may be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different computer readable storage devices. Where a module or portions of a module are implemented in software, the software portions are stored on one or more computer readable storage devices.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium may be utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable storage medium. The computer readable storage medium may be a storage device storing the code. The storage device may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, holographic, micromechanical, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the storage device would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory ( “RAM” ) , a read-only memory ( “ROM” ) , an erasable programmable read-only memory ( “EPROM” or Flash memory) , a portable compact disc read-only memory ( “CD-ROM” ) , an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Code for carrying out operations for embodiments may be any number of lines and may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages including an object oriented programming language such as Python, Ruby, Java, Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language, or the like, and/or machine languages such as assembly languages. The code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network ( “LAN” ) or a wide area network ( “WAN” ) , or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider) .

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment, ” “an embodiment, ” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment, ” “in an embodiment, ” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, but mean “one or more but not all embodiments” unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “including, ” “comprising, ” “having, ” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to, ” unless expressly specified otherwise. An enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms “a, ” “an, ” and “the” also refer to “one or more” unless expressly specified otherwise.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of programming, software modules, user selections, network transactions, database queries, database structures, hardware modules, hardware circuits, hardware chips, etc., to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of an embodiment.

Aspects of the embodiments are described below with reference to schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams of methods, apparatuses, systems, and program products according to embodiments. It will be understood that each block of the schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams, can be implemented by code. The code may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams block or blocks.

The code may also be stored in a storage device that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the storage device produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams block or blocks.

The code may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the code which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of apparatuses, systems, methods and program products according to various embodiments. In this regard, each block in the schematic flowchart diagrams and/or schematic block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which includes one or more executable instructions of the code for implementing the specified logical function (s) .

It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. Other steps and methods may be conceived that are equivalent in function, logic, or effect to one or more blocks, or portions thereof, of the illustrated Figures.

Although various arrow types and line types may be employed in the flowchart and/or block diagrams, they are understood not to limit the scope of the corresponding embodiments. Indeed, some arrows or other connectors may be used to indicate only the logical flow of the depicted embodiment. For instance, an arrow may indicate a waiting or monitoring period of unspecified duration between enumerated steps of the depicted embodiment. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart diagrams, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and code.

The description of elements in each figure may refer to elements of proceeding figures. Like numbers refer to like elements in all figures, including alternate embodiments of like elements.

Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of a wireless communication system 100 for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state. In one embodiment, the wireless communication system 100 includes remote units 102 and network units 104. Even though a specific number of remote units 102 and network units 104 are depicted in Figure 1, one of skill in the art will recognize that any number of remote units 102 and network units 104 may be included in the wireless communication system 100.

In one embodiment, the remote units 102 may include computing devices, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants ( “PDAs” ) , tablet computers, smart phones, smart televisions (e.g., televisions connected to the Internet) , set-top boxes, game consoles, security systems (including security cameras) , vehicle on-board computers, network devices (e.g., routers, switches, modems) , IoT devices, or the like. In some embodiments, the remote units 102 include wearable devices, such as smart watches, fitness bands, optical head-mounted displays, or the like. Moreover, the remote units 102 may be referred to as subscriber units, mobiles, mobile stations, users, terminals, mobile terminals, fixed terminals, subscriber stations, UE, user terminals, a device, or by other terminology used in the art. The remote units 102 may communicate directly with one or more of the network units 104 via UL communication signals and/or the remote units 102 may communicate directly with other remote units 102 via sidelink communication.

The network units 104 may be distributed over a geographic region. In certain embodiments, a network unit 104 may also be referred to as an access point, an access terminal, a base, a base station, a Node-B, an eNB, a gNB, a Home Node-B, a RAN, a relay node, a device, a network device, an IAB node, a donor IAB node, or by any other terminology used in the art. The network units 104 are generally part of a radio access network that includes one or more controllers communicably coupled to one or more corresponding network units 104. The radio access network is generally communicably coupled to one or more core networks, which may be coupled to other networks, like the Internet and public switched telephone networks, among other networks. These and other elements of radio access and core networks are not illustrated but are well known generally by those having ordinary skill in the art.

In one implementation, the wireless communication system 100 is compliant with the 5G or NG (Next Generation) standard of the 3GPP protocol, wherein the network unit 104 transmits using NG RAN technology. More generally, however, the wireless communication system 100 may implement some other open or proprietary communication protocol, for example, WiMAX, among other protocols. The present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the implementation of any particular wireless communication system architecture or protocol.

The network units 104 may serve a number of remote units 102 within a serving area, for example, a cell or a cell sector via a wireless communication link. The network units 104 transmit DL communication signals to serve the remote units 102 in the time, frequency, and/or spatial domain.

In various embodiments, a network unit 104 may transmit a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups. A channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state. In various embodiments, the network unit 104 may transmit downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups. In some embodiments, the network unit 104 may apply the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies. Accordingly, a network unit 104 may be used for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state.

In some embodiments, a remote unit 102 may receive a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups. A channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state. In various embodiments, the remote unit 102 may receive downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups. In certain embodiments, the remote unit 102 may apply the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies. Accordingly, a remote unit 102 may be used for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state.

Figure 2 depicts one embodiment of an apparatus 200 that may be used for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state. The apparatus 200 includes one embodiment of the remote unit 102. Furthermore, the remote unit 102 may include a processor 202, a memory 204, an input device 206, a display 208, a transmitter 210, and a receiver 212. In some embodiments, the input device 206 and the display 208 are combined into a single device, such as a touchscreen. In certain embodiments, the remote unit 102 may not include any input device 206 and/or display 208. In various embodiments, the remote unit 102 may include one or more of the processor 202, the memory 204, the transmitter 210, and the receiver 212, and may not include the input device 206 and/or the display 208.

The processor 202, in one embodiment, may include any known controller capable of executing computer-readable instructions and/or capable of performing logical operations. For example, the processor 202 may be a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a central processing unit ( “CPU” ) , a graphics processing unit ( “GPU” ) , an auxiliary processing unit, a field programmable gate array ( “FPGA” ) , or similar programmable controller. In some embodiments, the processor 202 executes instructions stored in the memory 204 to perform the methods and routines described herein. The processor 202 is communicatively coupled to the memory 204, the input device 206, the display 208, the transmitter 210, and the receiver 212.

The memory 204, in one embodiment, is a computer readable storage medium. In some embodiments, the memory 204 includes volatile computer storage media. For example, the memory 204 may include a RAM, including dynamic RAM ( “DRAM” ) , synchronous dynamic RAM ( “SDRAM” ) , and/or static RAM ( “SRAM” ) . In some embodiments, the memory 204 includes non-volatile computer storage media. For example, the memory 204 may include a hard disk drive, a flash memory, or any other suitable non-volatile computer storage device. In some embodiments, the memory 204 includes both volatile and non-volatile computer storage media. In some embodiments, the memory 204 also stores program code and related data, such as an operating system or other controller algorithms operating on the remote unit 102.

The input device 206, in one embodiment, may include any known computer input device including a touch panel, a button, a keyboard, a stylus, a microphone, or the like. In some embodiments, the input device 206 may be integrated with the display 208, for example, as a touchscreen or similar touch-sensitive display. In some embodiments, the input device 206 includes a touchscreen such that text may be input using a virtual keyboard displayed on the touchscreen and/or by handwriting on the touchscreen. In some embodiments, the input device 206 includes two or more different devices, such as a keyboard and a touch panel.

The display 208, in one embodiment, may include any known electronically controllable display or display device. The display 208 may be designed to output visual, audible, and/or haptic signals. In some embodiments, the display 208 includes an electronic display capable of outputting visual data to a user. For example, the display 208 may include, but is not limited to, an LCD display, an LED display, an OLED display, a projector, or similar display device capable of outputting images, text, or the like to a user. As another, non-limiting, example, the display 208 may include a wearable display such as a smart watch, smart glasses, a heads-up display, or the like. Further, the display 208 may be a component of a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a television, a table computer, a notebook (laptop) computer, a personal computer, a vehicle dashboard, or the like.

In certain embodiments, the display 208 includes one or more speakers for producing sound. For example, the display 208 may produce an audible alert or notification (e.g., a beep or chime) . In some embodiments, the display 208 includes one or more haptic devices for producing vibrations, motion, or other haptic feedback. In some embodiments, all or portions of the display 208 may be integrated with the input device 206. For example, the input device 206 and display 208 may form a touchscreen or similar touch-sensitive display. In other embodiments, the display 208 may be located near the input device 206.

In various embodiments, the receiver 212: receives a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state; and receives downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups. In some embodiments, the processor 202 applies the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.

Although only one transmitter 210 and one receiver 212 are illustrated, the remote unit 102 may have any suitable number of transmitters 210 and receivers 212. The transmitter 210 and the receiver 212 may be any suitable type of transmitters and receivers. In one embodiment, the transmitter 210 and the receiver 212 may be part of a transceiver.

Figure 3 depicts another embodiment of an apparatus 300 that may be used for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state. The apparatus 300 includes one embodiment of the network unit 104. Furthermore, the network unit 104 may include a processor 302, a memory 304, an input device 306, a display 308, a transmitter 310, and a receiver 312. As may be appreciated, the processor 302, the memory 304, the input device 306, the display 308, the transmitter 310, and the receiver 312 may be substantially similar to the processor 202, the memory 204, the input device 206, the display 208, the transmitter 210, and the receiver 212 of the remote unit 102, respectively.

In some embodiments, the transmitter 310: transmits a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state; and transmits downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups. In certain embodiments, the processor 302 applies the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.

Although only one transmitter 310 and one receiver 312 are illustrated, the network unit 104 may have any suitable number of transmitters 310 and receivers 312. The transmitter 310 and the receiver 312 may be any suitable type of transmitters and receivers. In one embodiment, the transmitter 310 and the receiver 312 may be part of a transceiver.

In certain embodiments, if a DCI-based beam indication is applied, a DCI format (e.g., DCI format 1_1, DCI format 1_2) may be sent to a UE to signal a new beam. The new beam may be used for PDSCH, PDCCH, PUSCH, PUCCH, CSI-RS resources, and/or SRS resources. In various embodiments, one or more channels to which the new beam applies may be signaled using MAC-CE and DCI.

In some embodiments, a DCI format (e.g., DCI format 1_1, DCI format 1_2) includes a TCI field that may be used to signal to a UE an RX filter (e.g., QCL relationships) that is applied to receive PDSCH that the DCI format schedules. The TCI field may signal to the UE the RX filter it is to apply to receive future DL transmissions (e.g., PDSCH and/or PDCCH) . Thus, the TCI field provides a common beam for upcoming DL transmissions (e.g., if the DCI scheduling the PDSCH does not carry the TCI field) , or as a default beam if the UE does not have enough time to switch to the RX beam indicated by another TCI-carrying-DCI. For PDCCH, different CORESETs may be transmitted with different beams, so a UE needs to know how an indicated TCI is to be applied to receive different CORESETs. If there is a TX and/or RX beam correspondence at the UE, a DL RS (e.g., CSI-RS or SSB) may be used as spatial relation information to indicate a TX beam a UE is to use to transmit on PUSCH, PUCCH, and/or SRS resources. In certain embodiments, because different PUSCH, PUCCH, and/or SRS resources may use different TX beams (e.g., spatial relation information) , a UE may need to be informed which UL channel or resources a signaled TCI in DCI is used for. In various embodiments, if DCI carries an indication field to indicate how a UE receiving the DCI is to apply TCI, the indication field may indicate to the UE unambiguously that the TCI applies to which DL and/or UL channel. This may especially be true if DL TCI and UL TCI (e.g., spatial relation information) share the same TCI state pool, and a TCI state may be used by the UE for a DL RX beam and an UL TX beam. In such embodiments, a gNB may signal only a TCI state and have it applied to multiple channels by the UE. In some embodiments, if some channels always share the same TCI, a gNB may only need to signal in DCI that the TCI applies to one of the channels or all these channels as a group, and UE applies the TCI to the other channels or all the channels in the group. As an example, if PDSCH and PDCCH always share the same TCI, if a DCI format (e.g., DCI format 1_1, DCI format 1_2) signals the TCI state to be applied to PDSCH, the same TCI is applied to the PDCCH automatically. This may eliminate the need for DCI to explicitly signal the TCI for PDCCH if the gNB has configured for the UE that it will always use the same RX beam (e.g., TCI state) to receive PDSCH and PDCCH. As described herein, a MAC-CE message may be used for a gNB to configure for a UE channels that always share the same TCI state. Moreover, a MAC-CE combined with DCI may be used to indicate how TCI is to be used by a UE. In certain embodiments, if different channels or resources always share the same TCI (e.g., QCL relationship for DL, UL TCI or spatial relation information for UL) , these channels or resources may be defined as a common TCI channel group and signaled in a MAC-CE. For example, if PDSCH, PUSCH, all CORESETs, and all PUSCH resources always share the same common TCI state, a single common TCI channel group may be defined to include PDSCH, PUSCH, all CORESETs, and all PUSCH resources. As another example, if PDSCH and all CORESETs always share the same common TCI state, they may be part of a same common TCI channel group.

Figure 4 illustrates one embodiment of a MAC-CE 400 indicating common TCI channel groups. The MAC-CE 400 includes a reserved bit R, a serving cell ID, a BWP ID, and bits T0-T23. As may be appreciated, additional bits may be added as needed.

In Figure 4, each common TCI channel group is represented by a number of M contiguous bits, where each bit represents a channel (e.g., PDSCH, PUSCH) or a resource group (e.g., CORESET group, PUCCH resource group) . The number of M, and the channel or resource group represented by each of the M bits, may be defined in a higher layer via RRC signaling. As an example, 8 channels or resource groups may be defined (M=8) , where the first bit in a byte (e.g., T7, T15, T23, …) represents a PDSCH, a second bit (e.g., T6, T14, T22, …) represent a first CORESET group, a third bit (e.g., T5, T13, T21, …) represent a second CORESET group, a fourth bit (e.g., T4, T12, T20, …) represent a third CORESET group, a fifth bit (e.g., T3, T11, T19, …) represent a PUSCH, a sixth bit (e.g., T2, T10, T18, …) represent a first PUCCH resource group, a seventh bit (e.g., T1, T9, T17, …) represent a second PUCCH resource group, and an eight bit (e.g., T0, T8, T16, …) represent a third PUCCH resource group. Because M=8, each row (e.g., byte) represent a common TCI channel group. If the T7-T0 byte is 0b11100000, it signals to the UE the PDSCH and the first and second CORESET groups are in the first common TCI channel group and they always share the same TCI. If the T15-T8 byte is 0b00001100, it signals the PUSCH and the first PUCCH resource group are in the second common TCI channel group, and they always share the same (e.g., UL) TCI. If the T23-T16 byte is 0b00000011, the second and the third PUCCH resource groups are in third common TCI channel group and they always share the same (e.g., UL) TCI. So, in this example, three common TCI groups are defined by the MAC-CE.

Besides PDSCH, PDCCH, PUSCH, and PUCCH, reference signals (e.g., CSI-RS and SRS) may also be included in a common TCI channel group membership bitmap. For example, a bit may be reserved for a particular CSI-RS resource or SRS resource to indicate whether they are part of a common TCI channel group. For a CSI-RS resource or an SRS resource that is part of a common TCI channel group indicated by a corresponding bit set to 1, a TCI state of the group also applies to the CSI-RS resource or SRS resource. A number of bits reserved for CSI-RS resources and SRS resources, and a resource corresponding to each bit may be configurable by RRC signaling.

In some embodiments, For 8<M<16, the bitmaps of two common TCI channel groups may be either adjacent, or some reserved bits may be placed in between to make an LSB of each bitmap aligned to an LSB of a byte. For example, in Figure 4, the LSB of the first common TCI channel group is T0, the LSB of the second common TCI channel group is T16, and so forth. T15 to T (16-M) may be reserved.

In various embodiments, multiple common TCI channel groups may be defined as described herein. In such embodiments, in DCI, there may be a TCI update indicator field in which each common TCI channel group is represented by a bit. The TCI update indicator field may be a bitmap with length N, where N is the number of common TCI channel groups defined in the MAC-CE. In the bitmap, each bit corresponds to each of the N common TCI channel groups. If the bit corresponding to a common TCI channel group is 1, the TCI signaled in the DCI is applied to all the channels and resources in the group. If the bit corresponding to a common TCI channel group is 0, the TCI of all the channels and resources in the group are not updated by the DCI.

In one example, N=3. If the TCI update indicator field of the DCI is: a) 0b111: the TCI applies to all three common TCI channel groups; b) 0b100: the TCI applies to the first common TCI channel group; and c) 0b011: the TCI applies to the second and third common TCI channel groups.

In certain embodiments, such as for DL, a TCI state indicates one or two QCL relations for a UE to receive a DL signal with an RX filter. In some embodiments, such as for UL, an UL TCI state indicates a spatial filter (e.g., TX filter) the UE uses to transmit a UL channel or signal. In various embodiments, TCI states and TCI codepoints (e.g., if a gNB uses a MAC-CE message to configure the TCI codepoints) may be for DL only, for UL only, or for both UL and DL. In certain embodiments, depending on whether RRC configures a joint DL and UL TCI state pool, or separate DL TCI state and UL TCI state pools, a UE takes a TCI state in DCI as from the joint DL and UL TCI state pool, or separate DL TCI state an UL TCI state pools.

In some embodiments, if TCI states are common for DL and UL, a common TCI channel group may contain both DL and UL channels, and the TCI state of the DCI may apply to all DL and UL channels of a common TCI channel group if the bit in the TCI update indicator field corresponding to the group is set to 1.

In various embodiments, if TCI states are for DL or UL only, a common TCI channel group may contain only DL channels or UL channel, but not both. In a TCI update indicator field, only bits corresponding to DL common TCI channel groups, or bits corresponding to UL common TCI channel groups may be set to 1. In certain embodiments, a DL TCI state applies to DL common TCI channel groups. In some embodiments, an UL TCI state applies to UL common TCI channel groups. In various embodiments, a DCI may update a TCI state for DL channels or UL channels, but not both. In certain embodiments, if a UE receives a DCI with TCI, by checking whether the TCI update indicator field contains only groups for DL or groups for UL, the UE applies the TCI state from the DL TCI state pool or the UL TCI state pool.

In some embodiments, a DCI format (e.g., DCI format 0_1, DCI format 0_2, DCI format 1_1, DCI format 1_2) contains a carrier indicator field and a bandwidth part indicator field. TCI signaled in the DCI is applied to the PDSCH or PUSCH scheduled in the carrier indicated by the carrier indicator field and in the bandwidth part indicated by the bandwidth part indicator field. In certain embodiments, by default TCI applies to channels of indicated common TCI channel groups in a signaled carrier and bandwidth part. In some embodiments, the TCI may apply to the channels of indicated common TCI channel groups in other carriers and bandwidth parts depending on configurations made by RRC signaling.

In certain embodiments, an “TCI_all_bandwidth_parts” switch may be defined by RRC signaling and may be signaled to a UE to indicate whether a TCI state applies to all the bandwidth parts of a carrier or carriers. In such embodiments, if the “TCI_all_bandwidth_parts” switch is set to “Enabled” , the TCI state applies all the bandwidth parts; otherwise, the TCI state only applies to a bandwidth part signaled by a bandwidth part indicator field of DCI. The “TCI_all_bandwidth_parts” switch may be defined for a carrier or for a channel type. If the “TCI_all_bandwidth_parts” switch is defined for a carrier, the TCI state of the signaled channels and/or resource groups of all bandwidth parts in the carrier are updated if it is “Enabled” . If the carrier is part of a carrier group (e.g., simultaneous TCI update list) , the TCI state is applied to all the carriers of the carrier group. If the “TCI_all_bandwidth_parts” switch is defined per channel type, the TCI state of a corresponding channel or resource group for all bandwidth parts are updated with the TCI state if it is “Enabled” . In some embodiments, the TCI state update of a certain channel and/or resource group is always applied to all bandwidth parts of all channels of an indicated carrier. In such embodiments, this may be defined in a specification and no RRC parameter “TCI_all_bandwidth_parts” may be used. In other words, “TCI_all_bandwidth_parts” is always ‘Enabled” .

In certain embodiments, whether a TCI state applies to carriers other than a signaled carrier may depend on a channel type and corresponding RRC configuration.

For example, for PDSCH and PDCCH, if a carrier signaled in DCI is configured as part of a simultaneous (or concurrent) TCI update list (e.g., simultaneousTCI-UpdateList1-r16, simultaneousTCI-UpdateList2-r16, or another list of carriers defined by RRC signaling) , in addition to the PDSCH and CORESET groups in a signaled common TCI channel group, the TCI applies to PDSCH and corresponding CORESET groups in all serving cells in the same simultaneous (or concurrent) TCI update list.

As another example, for PUSCH and PUCCH, if a carrier is configured as part of a simultaneous (or concurrent) spatial relation update list (e.g., simultaneousSpatial-UpdateList1-r16, simultaneousSpatial-UpdateList2-r16, or another list of carriers defined by RRC signaling) , in addition to the PUSCH and PUCCH resource groups in a signaled common TCI channel group, the TCI applies to PUSCH and corresponding PUCCH resource groups in all serving cells in the same simultaneous (or concurrent) spatial relation update list.

In certain embodiments, besides using a specific DCI format (e.g., DCI format 1_1, DCI format 1_2, DCI format 0_1, and/or DCI format 0_2) , a signaling method may be applied to other DCI formats, such as a new group common DCI format (e.g., DCI format 2_x) sent from a gNB to one or more UEs to update a common beam. In some embodiments, if DCI is for multiple UEs, the DCI may be scrambled with a specific new RNTI (e.g., TCI-update-RNTI) and there may be a block for each targeted UE. An index indicating which block corresponds to which UE may be defined by RRC signaling. Each block may contain the following fields for a UE: 1) a carrier indicator: 0 or 3 bits; 2) a bandwidth part indicator: 0, 1, or 2 bits as determined by a number of DL BWPs (e.g., nBWP, RRC) configured by higher layers, excluding an initial DL bandwidth part, or 0 bits if the TCI or spatial relation information is applied to all bandwidth parts, either defined in a specification or configured by TCI_all_bandwidth_parts=” Enabled” ; 3) a TCI state or spatial relation information ID; and/or 4) a TCI update indicator field. In certain embodiments, a start block index and/or a block length (e.g., number of bits for the information) may be configured by RRC signaling for each UE.

Figure 5 a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method 500 for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state. In some embodiments, the method 500 is performed by an apparatus, such as the network unit 104. In certain embodiments, the method 500 may be performed by a processor executing program code, for example, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a CPU, a GPU, an auxiliary processing unit, a FPGA, or the like.

The method 500 may include transmitting 502 a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state. In various embodiments, the method 500 includes transmitting 504 downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups. In some embodiments, the method 500 includes applying 506 the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.

In certain embodiments, the channel comprises a physical downlink shared channel, a physical uplink shared channel, or a combination thereof, and the resource group comprises a control resource set group, a physical uplink control channel resource group, channel state information reference signal resources, sounding reference signal resources, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the control resource set group is defined by radio resource control signaling to be a set of control resource sets that share the same transmission configuration indicator state. In various embodiments, the medium access control control element message comprises a bitmap that indicates group members in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups.

In one embodiment, the bitmap is configured by radio resource control signaling. In certain embodiments, in response to the carrier being part of a carrier list for concurrently updating the transmission configuration indicator, the transmission configuration indicator applies to the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof in all carriers of the carrier list. In some embodiments, the carrier list for concurrently updating the transmission configuration indicator is simultaneousTCI-UpdateList1-r16 or simultaneousTCI-UpdateList2-r16, and the channel comprises a physical downlink shared channel, a physical downlink control channel, control resource sets, channel state information reference signals, or a combination thereof.

In various embodiments, the carrier list for concurrently updating the transmission configuration indicator is simultaneousSpatial-UpdateList1-r16 or simultaneousSpatial- UpdateList2-r16, and the corresponding channels comprise a uplink downlink shared channel, a physical uplink control channel, sounding reference signal resources, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the transmission configuration indicator is applied to all bandwidth parts of the carriers of the carrier list. In certain embodiments, the transmission configuration indicator is applied to all bandwidth parts of the carriers of the carrier list in response to a parameter TCI_all_bandwidth_parts being configured as enabled.

In some embodiments, a transmission configuration indicator bitmap field in the downlink configuration information is configured by radio resource control signaling. In various embodiments, the downlink control information is a downlink control information format 0_1, 0_2, 1_1, or 1_2. In one embodiment, a downlink configuration information format comprises a transmission configuration indicator and a bitmap that indicates the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to which the transmission configuration indicator applies.

In certain embodiments, the transmission configuration indicator indicates the transmission configuration indicator state from a downlink transmission configuration indicator pool, an uplink transmission configuration indicator pool, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the downlink control information is common downlink control information for a plurality of user equipments, and the downlink control information is scrambled by a TCI-update-RNTI. In various embodiments, the downlink control information comprises a plurality of blocks, each block of the plurality of blocks corresponds to a user equipment of the plurality of user equipments, each block of the plurality of blocks has a corresponding index, and radio resource control signaling configures which block index corresponds to which user equipment.

In one embodiment, each block of the plurality of blocks comprises a carrier indicator, a bandwidth part indicator, a transmission configuration indicator state, a spatial information indicator, a transmission configuration indicator update indicator, or some combination thereof.

Figure 6 is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating another embodiment of a method 600 for downlink control information indicating application of a transmission configuration indicator state. In some embodiments, the method 600 is performed by an apparatus, such as the remote unit 102. In certain embodiments, the method 600 may be performed by a processor executing program code, for example, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a CPU, a GPU, an auxiliary processing unit, a FPGA, or the like.

The method 600 may include receiving 602 a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state. In various embodiments, the method 600 includes receiving 604 downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups. In certain embodiments, the method 600 includes applying 606 the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.

In one embodiment, a method comprises: transmitting a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state; transmitting downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups; and applying the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.

In certain embodiments, the channel comprises a physical downlink shared channel, a physical uplink shared channel, or a combination thereof, and the resource group comprises a control resource set group, a physical uplink control channel resource group, channel state information reference signal resources, sounding reference signal resources, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the control resource set group is defined by radio resource control signaling to be a set of control resource sets that share the same transmission configuration indicator state.

In various embodiments, the medium access control control element message comprises a bitmap that indicates group members in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups.

In one embodiment, the bitmap is configured by radio resource control signaling.

In certain embodiments, in response to the carrier being part of a carrier list for concurrently updating the transmission configuration indicator, the transmission configuration indicator applies to the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof in all carriers of the carrier list.

In some embodiments, the carrier list for concurrently updating the transmission configuration indicator is simultaneousTCI-UpdateList1-r16 or simultaneousTCI-UpdateList2-r16, and the channel comprises a physical downlink shared channel, a physical downlink control channel, control resource sets, channel state information reference signals, or a combination thereof.

In various embodiments, the carrier list for concurrently updating the transmission configuration indicator is simultaneousSpatial-UpdateList1-r16 or simultaneousSpatial-UpdateList2-r16, and the corresponding channels comprise a uplink downlink shared channel, a physical uplink control channel, sounding reference signal resources, or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the transmission configuration indicator is applied to all bandwidth parts of the carriers of the carrier list.

In certain embodiments, the transmission configuration indicator is applied to all bandwidth parts of the carriers of the carrier list in response to a parameter TCI_all_bandwidth_parts being configured as enabled.

In some embodiments, a transmission configuration indicator bitmap field in the downlink configuration information is configured by radio resource control signaling.

In various embodiments, the downlink control information is a downlink control information format 0_1, 0_2, 1_1, or 1_2.

In one embodiment, a downlink configuration information format comprises a transmission configuration indicator and a bitmap that indicates the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to which the transmission configuration indicator applies.

In certain embodiments, the transmission configuration indicator indicates the transmission configuration indicator state from a downlink transmission configuration indicator pool, an uplink transmission configuration indicator pool, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the downlink control information is common downlink control information for a plurality of user equipments, and the downlink control information is scrambled by a TCI-update-RNTI.

In various embodiments, the downlink control information comprises a plurality of blocks, each block of the plurality of blocks corresponds to a user equipment of the plurality of user equipments, each block of the plurality of blocks has a corresponding index, and radio resource control signaling configures which block index corresponds to which user equipment.

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises: a transmitter that: transmits a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state; and transmits downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups; and a processor that applies the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.

In one embodiment, a method comprises: receiving a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state; receiving downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups; and applying the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.

In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises: a receiver that: receives a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state; and receives downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups; and a processor that applies the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.

Embodiments may be practiced in other specific forms. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

A method comprising:

transmitting a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state;

transmitting downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups; and

applying the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.
The method of claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a physical downlink shared channel, a physical uplink shared channel, or a combination thereof, and the resource group comprises a control resource set group, a physical uplink control channel resource group, channel state information reference signal resources, sounding reference signal resources, or a combination thereof, and the control resource set group is defined by radio resource control signaling to be a set of control resource sets that share the same transmission configuration indicator state.
The method of claim 1, wherein the medium access control control element message comprises a bitmap that indicates group members in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, and the bitmap is configured by radio resource control signaling.
The method of claim 1, wherein, in response to the carrier being part of a carrier list for concurrently updating the transmission configuration indicator, the transmission configuration indicator applies to the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof in all carriers of the carrier list.
The method of claim 4, wherein the carrier list for concurrently updating the transmission configuration indicator is simultaneousTCI-UpdateList1-r16 or simultaneousTCI-UpdateList2-r16, and the channel comprises a physical downlink shared channel, a physical downlink control channel, control resource sets, channel state information reference signals, or a combination thereof.
The method of claim 4, wherein the carrier list for concurrently updating the transmission configuration indicator is simultaneousSpatial-UpdateList1-r16 or simultaneousSpatial-UpdateList2-r16, and the corresponding channels comprise a uplink downlink shared channel, a physical uplink control channel, sounding reference signal resources, or a combination thereof.
The method of claim 4, wherein the transmission configuration indicator is applied to all bandwidth parts of the carriers of the carrier list.
The method of claim 4, wherein the transmission configuration indicator is applied to all bandwidth parts of the carriers of the carrier list in response to a parameter TCI_all_bandwidth_parts being configured as enabled.
The method of claim 1, wherein a transmission configuration indicator bitmap field in the downlink configuration information is configured by radio resource control signaling.
The method of claim 1, wherein the downlink control information is a downlink control information format 0_1, 0_2, 1_1, or 1_2.
The method of claim 1, wherein a downlink configuration information format comprises a transmission configuration indicator and a bitmap that indicates the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to which the transmission configuration indicator applies, and the transmission configuration indicator indicates the transmission configuration indicator state from a downlink transmission configuration indicator pool, an uplink transmission configuration indicator pool, or a combination thereof.
The method of claim 1, wherein the downlink control information is common downlink control information for a plurality of user equipments, and the downlink control information is scrambled by a TCI-update-RNTI.
The method of claim 12, wherein the downlink control information comprises a plurality of blocks, each block of the plurality of blocks corresponds to a user equipment of the plurality of user equipments, each block of the plurality of blocks has a corresponding index, radio resource control signaling configures which block index corresponds to which user equipment, and each block of the plurality of blocks comprises a carrier indicator, a bandwidth part indicator, a transmission configuration indicator state, a spatial information indicator, a transmission configuration indicator update indicator, or some combination thereof.
An apparatus comprising:

a transmitter that:

transmits a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state; and

transmits downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups; and

a processor that applies the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.
A method comprising:

receiving a medium access control control element message comprising information defining one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups, wherein a channel, a resource group, a reference signal resource, or some combination thereof in each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups have the same transmission configuration indicator state;

receiving downlink control information indicating a transmission configuration indicator state and indicating whether the transmission configuration indicator state applies to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups; and

applying the transmission configuration indicator state to transmissions carried by the channel, the resource group, the reference signal resource, or the combination thereof to each common transmission configuration indicator channel group of the one or more common transmission configuration indicator channel groups indicated that the transmission configuration indicator state applies.