METHOD OF CONFIGURING SETS OF TRANSCEIVERS/ANTENNAS TO BE ACTIVE OR CANDIDATES, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, PROCESSING UNIT AND WIRELESS DEVICES THEREFOR
20250071627 · 2025-02-27
Inventors
Cpc classification
H04W36/0058
ELECTRICITY
H04B7/0626
ELECTRICITY
International classification
Abstract
A method for a processing unit, the processing unit being comprisable in a wireless device, WD, and being connectable to a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver being connected to one or more antennas, the method comprising: configuring a first set of the plurality of transceivers and/or antennas to be active; configuring a second set of the plurality of transceivers and/or antennas to be candidates; receiving reconfiguration information; and updating the first and second sets of transceivers based on the received reconfiguration information. Corresponding computer program product, processing unit and wireless devices are also disclosed.
Claims
1. A method for a processing unit, the processing unit being comprisable in a wireless device (WD) and being connectable to a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver being connected to one or more antennas, the method comprising: obtaining active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states for a set of network nodes; configuring a first set of the plurality of transceivers and/or antennas to be active, wherein configuring the first set is performed with a first periodicity based on signal strength measurements at a first time instant associated with the obtained active TCI states; configuring a second set of the plurality of transceivers and/or antennas to be candidates, wherein configuring the second set is performed with a second periodicity based on signal strength measurements at a second time instant associated with a mobility state of the WD and/or associated with one or more handover (HO) candidate nodes, wherein the first periodicity is shorter than the second periodicity; receiving reconfiguration information; and updating the first set and the second set based on the received reconfiguration information.
2. (canceled)
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second periodicity is twice as long as the first periodicity.
4. (canceled)
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reconfiguration information is a received HO command.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein updating comprises switching the first and second sets.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the reconfiguration information is provided via a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein updating is performed in connection with an HO and wherein the HO is a single active protocol stack HO.
9. (canceled)
10. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the second set comprises configuring the second set of the plurality of transceivers to be in a first sleep mode.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein one or more of a low noise amplifier (LNA) a variable gain amplifier (VGA) and/or a power amplifier (PA) are turned off for each of the transceivers of the second set during the first sleep mode.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the second set comprises configuring a third set of the plurality of transceivers to be in a second sleep mode, wherein the second sleep mode is different from the first sleep mode, and/or wherein the transceivers in the second sleep mode requires less power than the transceivers in the first sleep mode.
13. (canceled)
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the third set comprises all transceivers not included in any of the first and second sets.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein a low noise amplifier (LNA) a variable gain amplifier (VGA) a power amplifier (PA) and a phase locked loop (PPL) are turned off for each of the transceivers of the third set during the second sleep mode.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of obtaining, configuring first and second sets, receiving and updating are repeated until a stop criterion is reached.
17. The method of claim 16 when dependent upon claim 12, wherein the step of configuring a third set is repeated until the stop criterion is reached.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the stop criterion is that the steps have been repeated a user-definable number of times or that the processing unit enters a stand-by mode or is turned off or that the WD enters a stand-by mode or is turned off by obtaining a connection release message causing the radio communication to be turned off.
19. The method of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining information associated with at least one deactivated secondary cell, SCell, a mobility of the WD and/or one or more HO candidate nodes; and wherein configuring the first set of the plurality of transceivers and/or antennas to be active is based on the obtained TCI states; and wherein configuring the second set of the plurality of transceivers and/or antennas to be candidates is based on the obtained information associated with the at least one SCell, the mobility of the WD and/or the one or more HO candidate nodes.
20. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting at least one measurement report to a network (NW) node, the measurement report comprising measured signal strength for each of the first and second sets of transceivers, and wherein the received reconfiguration information is based on at least one of the transmitted measurement reports.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the first set of the plurality of transceivers and/or antennas to be active is performed at every synchronization signal block (SSB) or at every channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS); and wherein configuring the second set of the plurality of transceivers and/or antennas to be candidates is performed at every second SSB or at every second CSI-RS.
22-23. (canceled)
24. A processing unit, the processing unit being comprisable in a wireless device (WD) and being connectable to a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver being connected to one or more antennas, the processing unit being configured to: obtain active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states for a set of network nodes; configure a first set of the plurality of transceivers and/or antennas to be active, wherein the configuration of the first set is performed with a first periodicity based on signal strength measurements at a first time instant associated with the obtained active TCI states; configure a second set of the plurality of transceivers and/or antennas to be candidates, wherein the configuration of the second set is performed with a second periodicity based on signal strength measurements at a second time instant associated with the mobility state of the WD and/or one or more handover (HO) candidate nodes, wherein the first periodicity is shorter than the second periodicity; receive reconfiguration information; and update the first and second sets based on the received reconfiguration information.
25. (canceled)
26. A wireless device (WD) comprising: a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver comprising an antenna, a low noise amplifier (LNA), a mixer, and a variable gain amplifier (VGA); one or more digital interfaces, each digital interface comprising an analog to digital converter (ADC) and one or more filters, each digital interface being connected to one or more of the plurality of transceivers; and a baseband processor comprising the processing unit of claim 24; and wherein each digital interface is connected to the baseband processor.
27. A wireless device (WD) comprising: a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver comprising an antenna, a low noise amplifier (LNA), and a mixer; one or more digital interfaces, each digital interface comprising a variable gain amplifier (VGA), an analog to digital converter (ADC) and one or more filters, each digital interface being connected to one or more of the plurality of transceivers; and a baseband processor comprising the processing unit of claim 24; and wherein each digital interface is connected to the baseband processor.
28. (canceled)
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0062] The above objects, as well as additional objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of example embodiments of the present disclosure, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0075] The present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred example embodiments of the disclosure are shown. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in other forms and should not be construed as limited to the herein disclosed embodiments. The disclosed embodiments are provided to fully convey the scope of the disclosure to the skilled person.
Terminology
[0076] Below is referred to a processor/processing unit. The processor may be a digital processor. Alternatively, the processor may be a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a central processing unit, a co-processor, a graphics processing unit, a digital signal processor, an image signal processor, a quantum processing unit, or an analog signal processor. The processing unit may comprise one or more processors and optionally other units, such as a control unit. Thus, the processor may be implemented as a single-processor, a dual-processor system, or a multiprocessor system. Furthermore, the invention can also be practiced in distributed computing environments where certain tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network, e.g., 5G, to one or more local processors. In a distributed computing environment, program modules can be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. Moreover, some processing (e.g., for the data plane) may be moved to a centralized node, such as a centralized transceiver node (TNode). For example, baseband processing and/or higher layer processing, such as processing at layers above the physical layer, may be moved to a cloud, such as an mmW RAN cloud (wherein processing is performed by cloud processors). Such a (mmW) cloud deployment may bring significant cost savings to the operator due to centralized processing, collaborative radio processing, and availability of cheap commodity hardware.
[0077] Below is referred to a network node (NW). An NW node may be a remote radio unit (RRU), a repeater, a remote wireless node, or a base station, such as a radio base station (RBS), a Node B, an Evolved Node B (eNB) or a gNodeB (gNB).
[0078] Herein is referred to a transceiver node (TNode). A TNode may be a radio unit (RRU), a repeater, a wireless node, or a base station (BS), such as a radio base station (RBS), a Node B, an Evolved Node B (eNB) or a gNodeB (gNB). Thus, a TNode may be a NW node. Furthermore, a TNode may be a BS for a neighbouring cell, a BS for a handover (HO) candidate cell, a radio unit (RRU), a distributed unit (DU), another WD (e.g., a remote WD) or a base station (BS) for a (active/deactivated) secondary cell (SCell) or for a serving/primary cell (PCell, e.g., associated with an active TCI state), a laptop, a wireless station, a relay, a repeater device, a reconfigurable intelligent surface, or a large intelligent surface.
[0079] Below is referred to a wireless device (WD). A wireless device is any device capable of transmitting or receiving signals wirelessly. Some examples of wireless devices are user equipment (UE), mobile phones, cell phones, smart phones, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) devices, vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) devices, vehicle-to-network (V2N) devices, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) devices, vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) devices, vehicle-to-device (V2D) devices, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) devices, fixed wireless access (FWA) points, and tablets.
[0080] Below is referred to an active transceiver. An active transceiver is a transceiver, which is utilized or ready to be utilized for transmission and/or reception, e.g., configured for transmission and/or reception or e.g., not in a (deep) sleep mode.
[0081] Below is referred to a Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) State. A TCI state contains parameters for configuring a quasi-co-location relationship between one or two downlink reference signals and the Demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) ports of the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), the DM-RS port of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) or the channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) port(s) of a CSI-RS resource.
[0082] Below is referred to an active TCI state. An active TCI state is the TCI state of a presently active transmit beam of a network node. In some standards, such as 3GPP standards, an active TCI state may be expressed as indicated (among potentially more than one active TCI state).
[0083] Below is referred to CORESET. The CORESETs configured for a device are the possible locations where the gNodeB (gNB) can put signalling messages, such as downlink control information (DCI).
[0084] The polarization of an antenna refers to the orientation of the electric field of the radio wave transmitted by it and is determined by the physical structure of the antenna and its orientation. E.g., an antenna composed of a linear conductor (such as a dipole or whip antenna) oriented vertically will result in vertical polarization; if turned on its side the same antenna's polarization will be horizontal.
[0085] Beam management in new radio (NR) is based on the network node configuring the WD (e.g., UE) with one or more TCI states, where each TCI state is associated with at least one reference signals, where a reference signal may be a synchronization signal associated with a particular beam index (or synchronization signal block, SSB, index) or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS). Each reference signal in a TCI state is associated with a quasi-co-location (QCL) information type which can be any of the following: [0086] Type ADoppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread [0087] Type BDoppler shift, Doppler spread [0088] Type CDoppler shift, average delay [0089] Type DSpatial Rx parameter.
[0090] The QCL type specifies which properties can be inherited by the TCI state from an associated reference signal. For instance, QCL type A means that Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, and delay spread measured for the reference signal is to be applied to the TCI state. Similarly, QCL type D means that the same spatial transmission filter, i.e., beamforming configuration, as used for receiving the reference signal can be applied to the TCI state.
[0091] The network node specifies to the WD which TCI state to use for a certain downlink channel or a certain CSI reference signal. The TCI state for a CSI reference signal may be another CSI reference signal or an SSB index. The list of TCI states provided by the network node to the WD may comprise a single TCI state or multiple TCI states. In the former case, the single TCI state applies to all channels and all reference signals. In the latter case, the network node further needs to activate TCI states and indicate to the WD which TCI states are to be used for reception of a downlink control channel (e.g., PDCCH), downlink shared data channel (e.g., PDSCH), or for a CSI reference signal (CSI-RS).
[0092] Configuration of TCI states is carried out by Radio Resource Control (RRC; Layer 3/network layer) signaling. Indication of TCI state for WD-specific PDCCH, activation of one or more TCI states for WD-specific PDSCH, and activation of TCI state for semi-persistent CSI-RS, is carried out by Media Access Control (MAC, Layer 2) signaling. Indication of which out of multiple active TCI state to use for reception of WD-specific PDSCH is indicated via Downlink Control Information (DCI, Layer 1) signaling.
[0093] The network node configures the WD to carry out measurements, such as Layer 1 reference signal received power (L1-RSRP), on one or more of the reference signals associated with the TCI states, and to report measurement results to the network node. Once a reference signal has been detected and reported by the WD, the associated TCI state is considered to be known to the WD for a time duration defined in the standard, provided that side conditions e.g., on Signal to Interference & Noise Ratio (SINR) of the reference signal exceeding some threshold value, are fulfilled. The implication of the TCI state being known to the WD differs between channels and configurations, but in general a TCI state activation is quicker when the target TCI state is known to the WD.
[0094] Often the WD need to track a plurality of (different) TCI states. Since the different TCI states may come from different directions and/or angles, each different TCI state may require a separate transceiver set. Therefore, there may be a need for monitoring a plurality of transceiver sets, e.g., the most suitable transceiver set for each of the plurality of TCI states in order to enable a change of TCI state with low latency and/or without interruption.
[0095] In the following, embodiments will be described where
[0096] Moreover, in some embodiments, the WD 920 comprises the transceivers 500, . . . , 515, the processing unit 600 and optionally the digital interfaces 400, . . . , 415 and/or the one or more antennas 700, . . . , 715. The method comprises obtaining 110 a first active Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state for a first network (NW) node 802. Furthermore, the method comprises obtaining 120 a second active TCI state for a second NW, node 802, 804. In some embodiments, the first and/or second NW nodes 802, 804 are remote network nodes. In some embodiments, the NW nodes 802, 804 are remote wireless nodes. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the first and second NW nodes 802, 804 are the same network node 802. Alternatively, the second NW node 804 is different from the first NW node 802. Moreover, the method comprises selecting 130 a first set 520 (shown in
[0097] In some embodiments, the second physical channel/signal is different from the first physical channel/signal. However, in some embodiments, the second physical channel/signal is the same as the first physical channel/signal. In these embodiments (when the first and second physical channel/signal is the same), the first and second time instants are different (e.g., the second time instant following after the first time instant). E.g., if both the first and second physical channels are PDCCH (or PDSCH), the first physical channel may be associated with (comprised or contained in) a first control resource set (CORESET) and the second physical channel may be associated with (comprised or contained in) a second CORESET, or the first physical channel may be associated with (comprised or identified in) a first radio network temporary identity (RNTI) and the second physical channel may be associated with (comprised or identified in) a second RNTI (different from the first RNTI). Furthermore, if the first and second physical signals are channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS), the first physical signal may be associated with a first resource set and the second physical signal may be associated with a second resource set (different from the first resource set).
[0098] In some embodiments, the step of obtaining 120 is performed at the same time as the step of obtaining 110. However, in some embodiments, the step of obtaining 120 is performed after the steps of selecting 130 and configuring 150 (but before the steps of selecting 140 and configuring 160). Likewise, in some embodiments, the step of selecting 140 is performed at the same time as the step of selecting 130. However, in some embodiments, the step of selecting 140 is performed after the step of configuring 150 (but before the step of configuring 160). In some embodiments, the steps 110, 120, 130, 140, 150 and 160 are repeated, e.g., with obtained updated active TCI states. The repeated steps may be repeated until a stop repeat criterion is met. A stop criterion may be that the steps have been repeated a user-definable number of times or that the processing unit 600 enters a stand-by mode or is turned off or that the WD 920 enters a stand-by mode or is turned off, e.g., by obtaining a connection release message, causing the radio communication to be turned off.
[0099] In some embodiments, the second active TCI state is obtained based on (in accordance with or in dependence of) information, such as downlink control information (DCI) from the PDCCH, control information sent via the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer or via the network layer, e.g., in a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message, received (e.g., at the first time instant) via the first physical channel.
[0100] In some embodiments, the first physical channel is a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, and the second physical channel is a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH.
[0101] In some embodiments, the first and second physical channels are PDCCH. The WD 920 may be monitoring PDCCH in more than one CORESET, and the (common) PDCCH may have a different active TCI state than a WD-specific PDCCH.
[0102] In some embodiments, the first and second physical channels are PDSCH. The WD 920 may be receiving multiple PDSCHs, e.g., a common PDSCH and a WD-specific PDSCH, and the common PDSCH may have a different active TCI state than the WD-specific PDSCH. The common PDSCH and/or the WD-specific PDSCH may follow after a PDCCH.
[0103] In some embodiments, one or both of the physical signals are downlink reference signals, such as channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS). In these embodiments, measurements on beamformed, full-bit SSBs may be performed.
[0104] In some embodiments, the first physical channel is a PDCCH, and the second physical signal is a CSI-RS. In some embodiments, the first physical channel is a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, and the second physical channel is a physical broadcast channel (PBCH). In these embodiments, the second active TCI state may be an implicit TCI state, e.g., retrieved from a detected synchronization signal block (SSB).
[0105] In some embodiments, the first physical channel is a PDSCH, and the second physical channel is the same instance of a repeated PDSCH.
[0106] According to some embodiments, a computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium 200, such as a punch card, a compact disc (CD) ROM, a read only memory (ROM), a digital versatile disc (DVD), an embedded drive, a plug-in card, or a universal serial bus (USB) memory, is provided.
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[0109] Returning to
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[0111] Returning to
[0112] In some embodiments, the first and second active TCI states are different. In these embodiments, the first set 520 of active transceivers comprises at least one transceiver 502, . . . , 505 not comprised in the second set 524 of active transceivers. Alternatively, or additionally, the second set 522, 524 of active transceivers comprises at least one transceiver 501, 506, 508, 509, 510, 511 not comprised in the first set 520 of active transceivers. Alternatively, the first and second TCI states are the same TCI state. In these embodiments, the first and second sets 520, 522 of active transceivers comprises the same transceivers.
[0113] In some embodiments, none of the transceivers of the second set 524 of active transceivers are comprised in the first set 520 of active transceivers. i.e., the first and second sets 520, 524 of active transceivers are non-overlapping. Alternatively, in some embodiments, at least one transceiver belongs to both the first and second sets 520, 522 of active transceivers, i.e., the first and second sets 520, 522 of active transceivers are overlapping.
[0114] In some embodiments, selecting 130 a first set 520 of active transceivers is performed with a first periodicity based on (in accordance with or in dependence of) signal strength/quality measurements at time instants associated with the first active TCI state, such as at every transmission of a synchronization signal block, SSB, associated with the first active TCI state (i.e. at every transmission of an SSB having an index associated with the first active TCI state), and/or at every transmission of a CSI-RS associated with the first active TCI state (i.e., at every transmission of a CSI-RS with a CSI-RS resource associated with the first active TCI state). Additionally, or alternatively, selecting 140 a second set 522, 524 of active transceivers is performed with a second periodicity based on (in accordance with or in dependence of) signal strength/quality measurements at time instants associated with the second active TCI state, such as at every second transmission of an SSB associated with the second active TCI state (i.e. at every second transmission of an SSB having an index associated with the second active TCI state),, and/or at every second transmission of a CSI-RS associated with the second active TCI state (i.e., at every second transmission of a CSI-RS with a CSI-RS resource associated with the second active TCI state). In some embodiments, the first periodicity is shorter (lower or smaller) than (or equal to) the second periodicity. In some embodiments, the first periodicity is 1 ms, 2 ms, 5 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms, 160 ms, or 320 ms. In some embodiments, the second periodicity is 1 ms, 2 ms, 5 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms, 160 ms, or 320 ms. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the second periodicity is (at least) twice as long as the first periodicity. By making the first periodicity shorter than the second periodicity, energy efficiency is improved/increased. The signal strength (measurements) may comprise one or more of received power (RP), such as one or more of a reference signal received power (RSRP), a secondary synchronization signal reference signal received power (SS-RSRP), a channel state information reference symbols reference signal received power (CSI-RS RSRP) and a Layer 1 reference signal received power (L1-RSRP), or a received signal strength indication, such as received signal strength indicator (RSSI). Preferably the signal strength comprises/is an RSRP. The signal quality (measurements) may comprise one or more of received quality (RQ), such as reference signals received quality (RSRQ), secondary synchronization signal reference signal received quality (SS-RSRQ), channel state information reference symbols reference signal received quality (CSI-RS RSRQ), signal to noise ratio (SNR), or signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR), such as secondary synchronization signal to interference and noise ratio (SS-SINR) or Layer 1 signal to interference and noise ratio (L1-SINR).
[0115] In some embodiments, the measured signal strength/quality is a combined measured signal strength/quality, i.e., the combined value (combined as a sum; or an average/mean/median value) of measured signal strength/quality values for each of the transceivers in the set, e.g., the first set 520 or the second set 522, 524. Furthermore, in some embodiments, selecting 130 comprises selecting the first set 520 of active transceivers as a set of transceivers that maximizes the signal strength/quality. Alternatively, selecting 130 comprises selecting the smallest set of transceivers (e.g., the set with the fewest transceivers) that has a signal strength/quality (value) higher than a first signal strength/quality threshold. Moreover, in some embodiments, selecting 140 comprises selecting the second set 522, 524 of active transceivers as a set of transceivers that maximizes the signal strength/quality. Alternatively, selecting 140 comprises selecting the smallest set of transceivers (e.g., the set with the fewest transceivers) that has a signal strength/quality (value) higher than a second signal strength/quality threshold. By selecting the smallest set of transceivers that has a signal strength/quality (value) higher than a signal strength/quality threshold, power consumption may be reduced, while a sufficient signal strength/quality is still achieved. In some embodiments, the signal strength/quality thresholds are the same. Alternatively, the first and second signal strength/quality thresholds are different, e.g., the first signal strength/quality threshold is higher than the second signal strength/quality threshold. By having different thresholds for different TCIs, robustness of communication may be increased, e.g., since some TCI states (such as TCI states for PDCCH) are more important to detect than other TCI states (such as TCI states for PDSCH).
[0116] In some embodiments, the first set 520 of active transceivers is set, e.g., by an active antenna/transceiver set (AAS/ATS) manager, as a main active set at the first time instant. The AAS/ATS manager is, in some embodiments, comprised in the processing unit 600. And, in some embodiments, the first set 520 remains the main active set until another set is set as the main active set. Alternatively, the first set 520 remains the main active set for a predetermined time period. The second set 522, 524 of active transceivers is set, e.g., by the AAS/ATS manager, as the main active set at the second time instant. And, in some embodiments, the second set 522, 524 remains the main active set until another set is set as the main active set. Alternatively, the second set 522, 524 remains the main active set for a predetermined time period. Furthermore, the transceivers 502, 503, 504, 505 of the first set 520 of active transceivers are set, e.g., by the AAS/ATS manager, to a first sleep mode when the first set 520 of active transceivers is no longer the main active set (i.e., when the first set 520 of active transceivers is the candidate set). In some embodiments, the transceivers 502, 503, 504, 505 of the first set 520 remains in the first sleep mode while the first set 520 is not the main active set or until the first set 520 again is set to the main active set. Moreover, the transceivers 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 508, 509, 510, 511 of the second set 522, 524 of active transceivers are set, e.g., by the AAS/ATS manager, to a first sleep mode when the second set 522, 524 of active transceivers is no longer the main active set (i.e., when the second set 524 of active transceivers is the candidate set). In some embodiments, the transceivers 501, 502, 503, 504, 505, 506, 508, 509, 510, 511 of the second set 522, 524 remains in the first sleep mode while the second set 522, 524 is not the main active set (i.e., while the second set 524 of active transceivers is the candidate set) or until the second set 522, 524 again is set to the main active set. All transceivers not comprised in any of the first and second sets 520, 522, 524 of active transceivers are set, e.g., by the AAS/ATS manager, to a second sleep mode, e.g., different from the first sleep mode. The transceivers in the second sleep mode requires less power than the transceivers in the first sleep mode. In some embodiments, the first sleep mode is a half-sleep mode, in which mode the PLL is still running/turned on while one or more of (e.g., all of) the LNA, the PA and the VGA are turned off, and the second sleep mode is a deep sleep mode, in which mode the PLL, the LNA, the PA and the VGA are turned off. Thus, in these embodiments, the transceivers in the second sleep mode requires less power than the transceivers in the first sleep mode (since all of the PLL, the LNA, the PA and the VGA are turned off). By setting all transceivers not comprised in any of the first and second sets 520, 522, 524 of active transceivers to a second sleep mode power is reduced/saved.
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[0118] In some embodiments, (for each transceiver 500, . . . , 515) the VGA 584 is connected (directly or via one or more of a second mixer and an integrator) to the ADC 586. In some embodiments, (for each transceiver 500, . . . , 515) the ADC 586 is connected to the one or more filters 588. Furthermore, the processing unit 600 or the BB processor 910 is directly connected or connectable (e.g., via input-output interfaces) to the plurality of transceivers 500, . . . , 515.
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[0121] By utilizing a digital interface (DI), e.g., as described above in connection with
[0127] In some embodiments, the WD 920, 920a, 920b, 920c, 920d comprises one digital interface 400. The digital interface 400 receives a signal from each of the plurality of transceivers 500, . . . , 515 (or from a subset thereof, e.g., from the first set 520). Thus, the digital interface 400 receives a first plurality of digital signals (from the plurality of transceivers 500, . . . , 515). Furthermore, the one or more filters 488 of the digital interface 400 comprises a second plurality of spatio-temporal filters. Moreover, the second plurality of spatio-temporal filters is configured to process the first plurality of digital signals to obtain a second plurality of combined signals. The baseband processor 910 receives the combined signals from the digital interface 400. In some embodiments, the first plurality is larger than the second plurality. Thus, the data rate is reduced, e.g., the rate of the interface data transfer (from the transceivers) to the baseband processor 910 is reduced.
[0128] In some embodiments/aspects, a chip 912 is provided (shown in
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[0130] Referring to
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[0132] For supporting handover (HO) the WD may need to find handover (HO) candidate network (NW) nodes to switch to, e.g., if a HO from the serving NW node is needed. Since the serving NW node and a HO candidate NW node may be located in different directions and/or angles, each of the serving NW node and a HO candidate NW node may need a different transceiver set (for satisfactory reception/transmission. Thus, there may be a need for monitoring which set of transceivers is needed for one or more HO candidates in order to perform the HO with low latency and without interruption.
[0133]
[0134] In some embodiments, the method 830 comprises obtaining 832 active Transmission Configuration Indicator, TCI, states for a set 800 of network nodes 802, 804, 806. The active TCI states may be obtained from the NW nodes 802, 804, 806 of the set of NW nodes 800. In some embodiments, the method 830 comprises obtaining 834 information associated with at least one deactivated secondary cell, SCell, a mobility of the WD 920 and/or one or more handover, HO, candidate nodes. In some embodiments, the information associated with one or more handover, HO, candidate nodes is obtained from synchronization signal blocks (SSB) or beam indices transmitted from (e.g., each of) the HO candidate nodes. In order to find out in which SSB(s) the information is, the WD 920 may have to look for all indices, e.g., all 64 indices. However, in some embodiments, the WD 920 may receive system information about neighbouring cells on a carrier specifying that the WD 920 only needs to look for certain SSB indices, e.g., the indices numbered 0, 1, 8, 9, . . . , 56, 57. This information then applies to all cells on that carrier. Thus, the risk of errors in detection may be reduced.
[0135] In some embodiments, the method 830 comprises checking 838 if it is time for configuring 840 and if it is time for configuring 840, configuring 840 is performed and if it is yet not time for configuring 840, configuring 840 is not performed. Moreover, in some embodiments, the method 830 comprises checking 842 if it is time for configuring 844 and if it is time for configuring 844, configuring 844 is performed and if it is yet not time for configuring 844, configuring 844 is not performed. Furthermore, in some embodiments, configuring 840 the first set 520 of the plurality of transceivers 500, . . . , 515 and/or antennas 700, . . . , 715 to be active is based on (in accordance with or in dependence of) the obtained TCI states. Moreover, in some embodiments, configuring 844 the second set 524 of the plurality of transceivers 500, . . . , 515 and/or antennas 700, . . . , 715 to be candidates is based on (in accordance with or in dependence of) the obtained information associated with the at least one SCell, mobility and/or one or more HO candidate nodes.
[0136] In some embodiments, the method 830 comprises checking 846 if it is time to measure signal strength (or signal quality). If it is not yet time to measure signal strength (or signal quality), signal strength (or signal quality) is not measured and the method 830 may wait until it is time to measure signal strength (or signal quality) or the method 830 may continue to receiving 860 or the method 830 may continue to checking 838. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the method 830 comprises measuring 848 signal strength (or signal quality) for each of the first and second sets 520, 524 of transceivers (e.g., if it is time to measure signal strength/quality). In some embodiments, the method 830 comprises transmitting 850 at least one measurement report to a network, NW, node 802, 804. In some embodiments, the network, NW, nodes 802, 804 of the set of NW nodes 800 are remote network nodes. The measurement report comprises measured signal strength/quality (of signals associated with the serving and HO candidate NW nodes 802, 804, 806) for each of the first and second sets 520, 524 of transceivers (e.g., signal strength/quality of the signal from the serving NW node 802 for the first set 520 and signal strength/quality of the signal from the neighbouring/HO candidate NW node 804 for the second set 524). I.e., measurements on the signals from the serving NW node 802 and HO candidate NW nodes 804, 806 are reported in the measurement report. Additionally, or alternatively, the measurement report comprises an event(s) associated with measured signal strength, such as that the signal from a particular HO candidate NW node 804 is stronger than the signal from the serving NW node 802. In some embodiments, the received reconfiguration information is based on (in accordance with or in dependence of) at least one of the transmitted measurement reports, e.g., based on (in accordance with or in dependence of) the measured signal strength (or signal quality) for each of the first and second sets 520, 524 of transceivers in the transmitted measurement report(s).
[0137] In some embodiments, configuring 840 the first set 520 of the plurality of transceivers 500, . . . , 515 and/or antennas 700, . . . , 715 to be active is performed with a first periodicity based on (in accordance with or in dependence of) signal strength (or signal quality) measurements at a first time instant associated with the obtained active TCI states, such as at every synchronization signal block, SSB, and/or at every channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS. Furthermore, in some embodiments, configuring 844 the second set 524 of the plurality of transceivers 500, . . . , 515 and/or antennas 700, . . . , 715 to be candidates is performed with a second periodicity based on (in accordance with or in dependence of) signal strength (or signal quality) measurements at a second time instant associated with the mobility state of the WD 920 and/or one or more handover, HO, candidate nodes, such as at every or every second SSB and/or at every second CSI-RS. In some embodiments, the first periodicity is equal to or shorter/lower/smaller than the second periodicity. Thus, handover latency may be reduced, while energy efficiency is increased/improved (e.g., if the first periodicity is shorter than the second periodicity).
[0138] The signal strength (measurements) may comprise a received power (RP), such as reference signal received power (RSRP), secondary synchronization signal reference signal received power (SS-RSRP), channel state information reference symbols reference signal received power (CSI-RS RSRP) or Layer 1 reference signal received power (L1-RSRP), or a received signal strength indication, such as received signal strength indicator (RSSI). In some embodiments, the signal strength (measurements) comprises SINR or reference signal received quality (RSRQ) indicative of the relative strength of the signal relative a noise/interference signal strength, or transmitter signal strength indicator (TSSI), and/or is measured based on (in accordance with or in dependence of) PSS/SSS/DMRS, SSB bursts (indices/sets) or CSI-RS time instants.
[0139] Preferably the signal strength comprises/is an RSRP. In some embodiments, the measured signal strength is a combined measured signal strength, i.e., the combined value (combined as a sum; or an average/mean/median value) of measured signal strength values for each of the transceivers in the set, e.g., the first set or the second set.
[0140] In some embodiments, at least steps 860 and 870 or at least steps 840, 844, 860 and 870 (and optionally the steps 832, 834, 838, 842, 846, 848, and 850) are repeated, e.g., until a stop criterion is reached. Thus, in some embodiments, the method 830 comprises checking 880 if a stop criterion is met (or if any of a number of stop criteria is met). The stop criterion may be any of the above-mentioned stop criteria. Optionally also checking 880 is repeated. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the method 830 comprises ending 890 the method 830 if a stop criterion is met.
[0141]
[0142] In some embodiments, the processing unit 600 is configured to obtain 932 active Transmission Configuration Indicator, TCI, states for a set 800 of network nodes 802, 804. To this end, the processing unit 600 may be associated with (e.g., operatively connectable, or connected, to) a third obtainment unit (e.g., third obtainment circuitry or a third obtainer). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the processing unit 600 is configured to obtain 934 information associated with at least one deactivated secondary cell, SCell, a mobility of the WD 920 and/or one or more handover, HO, candidate nodes. To this end, the processing unit 600 may be associated with (e.g., operatively connectable, or connected, to) a fourth obtainment unit (e.g., fourth obtainment circuitry or a fourth obtainer). Moreover, in some embodiments, the processing unit 600 is configured to check 838 if it is time to configure 940 the first set and if it is time to configure 940, configure 940 is performed and if it is yet not time to configure 940, configure 940 is not performed. To this end, the processing unit 600 may be associated with (e.g., operatively connectable, or connected, to) a first checking unit (e.g., first checking circuitry or a first checker). Moreover, in some embodiments, the processing unit 600 is configured to check 942 if it is time to configure 944 the second set 524 and if it is time to configure 944 the second set 524, configure 944 is performed and if it is yet not time to configure 944, configure 944 is not performed. To this end, the processing unit 600 may be associated with (e.g., operatively connectable, or connected, to) a second checking unit (e.g., second checking circuitry or a second checker). In some embodiments, the processing unit 600 is configured to check 946 if it is time to measure signal strength (or signal quality). If it is not yet time to measure signal strength (or signal quality), signal strength (or signal quality) is not measured and the processing unit 600 may wait until it is time to measure signal strength (or signal quality) or the processing unit 600 may continue to receive 960 or to check 938. To this end, the processing unit 600 may be associated with (e.g., operatively connectable, or connected, to) a third checking unit (e.g., third checking circuitry or a third checker). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the processing unit 600 is configured to measure 948 signal strength (or signal quality) for each of the first and second sets 520, 524 of transceivers (e.g., if it is time to measure signal strength). To this end, the processing unit 600 may be associated with (e.g., operatively connectable, or connected, to) a measurement unit (e.g., measuring circuitry or a measurer). Moreover, in some embodiments, the processing unit 600 is configured to transmit 950 at least one measurement report to a network, NW, node 802, 804. In some embodiments, the network, NW, nodes 802, 804 of the set of NW nodes 800 are remote network nodes. To this end, the processing unit 600 may be associated with (e.g., operatively connectable, or connected, to) a sending unit (e.g., sending circuitry or a sender or one or more transceivers 500, . . . , 515). In some embodiments, at least the steps 960 and 970 or at least the steps 940, 944, 960 and 970 (and optionally the steps 932, 934, 938, 942, 946, 948, and 950) are repeated, e.g., until a stop criterion is reached. Thus, in some embodiments, the processing unit 600 is configured to check 980 if a stop criterion is met (or if any of a number of stop criteria is met). The stop criterion may be any of the above-mentioned stop criteria. Optionally also the check 980 is repeated. To this end, the processing unit 600 may be associated with (e.g., operatively connectable, or connected, to) a fourth checking unit (e.g., fourth checking circuitry or a fourth checker). Furthermore, in some embodiments, the processing unit 600 is configured to end 990 the procedure if a stop criterion is met. To this end, the processing unit 600 may be associated with (e.g., operatively connectable, or connected, to) an end unit (e.g., ending circuitry or an ender).
[0143] Returning to
[0144] In the present invention a candidate set is kept at all times (or between events, such as HOs) and e.g., at handover (HO), such as at a single active protocol stack HO (SAPS-HO), the candidate set is only updated or directly utilized as the first set 520. Thus, latency is reduced, e.g., while reducing complexity. Therefore, by configuring a second set 524 of the plurality of transceivers 500, . . . , 515 to be candidates (in advance of e.g., an HO or for mobility), latency is reduced. I.e., by configuring and keeping a candidate set (e.g., for HO or for mobility) at all times (or in-between HOs) as opposed to configuring the set only at the time of HO, latency is reduced. This is especially the case when the candidate set, i.e., the second set 524, is configured to be in a first sleep mode, whereas a third set of the plurality of transceivers 500, . . . , 515 is configured to be in a second sleep mode, and the transceivers in the second sleep mode requires less power than the transceivers in the first sleep mode. By configuring the second set 524 (of the plurality of transceivers 500, . . . , 515) to be in the first sleep mode as opposed to being in the second sleep mode, latency is reduced. Furthermore, by configuring the second set 524 (of the plurality of transceivers 500, . . . , 515) to be in the first sleep mode as opposed to not being in any of the first and second sleep modes, power consumption is reduced.
List of Examples
[0145] 1. A method (830) for a processing unit (600), the processing unit (600) being comprisable in a wireless device, WD, (920) and being connectable to a plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515), each transceiver (500, . . . , 515) being connected to one or more antennas (700, . . . , 715), the method comprising: [0146] a. configuring (840) a first set (520) of the plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515) and/or antennas (700, . . . , 715) to be active; [0147] b. configuring (844) a second set (524) of the plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515) and/or antennas (700, . . . , 715) to be candidates; [0148] c. receiving (860) reconfiguration information; and [0149] d. updating (870) the first and second sets (520, 524) of transceivers based on the received reconfiguration information. [0150] 2. The method of example 1, further comprising: [0151] obtaining (832) active Transmission Configuration Indicator, TCI, states for a set (800) of network nodes (802, 804); [0152] obtaining (834) information associated with at least one deactivated secondary cell, SCell, a mobility of the WD (920) and/or handover, HO, candidate nodes; and wherein configuring (840) the first set (520) of the plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515) and/or antennas (700, . . . , 715) to be active is based on the obtained TCI states; and wherein configuring (844) the second set (524) of the plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515) and/or antennas (700, . . . , 715) to be candidates is based on the obtained information associated with the at least one SCell, mobility and/or HO candidate nodes. [0153] 3. The method of any of examples 1-2, further comprising: [0154] transmitting (850) at least one measurement report to a network, NW, node (802, 804), the measurement report comprising measured signal strength for each of the first and second sets (520, 524) of transceivers, and [0155] wherein the received reconfiguration information is based on at least one of the transmitted measurement reports. [0156] 4. The method of any of examples 1-3, [0157] wherein configuring (840) the first set (520) of the plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515) and/or antennas (700, . . . , 715) to be active is performed with a first periodicity based on signal strength measurements at a first time instant associated with the obtained active TCI states, such as at every synchronization signal block, SSB, and/or at every channel state information reference signal, CSI-RS; and [0158] wherein configuring (844) the second set (524) of the plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515) and/or antennas (700, . . . , 715) to be candidates is performed with a second periodicity based on signal strength measurements at a second time instant associated with the mobility state of the WD (920) and/or handover, HO, candidate nodes, such as at every or every second SSB and/or at every second CSI-RS. [0159] 5. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium (200), having stored thereon a computer program comprising program instructions, the computer program being loadable into a data processing unit (220) and configured to cause execution of the method of any of examples 1-4 when the computer program is run by the data processing unit. [0160] 6. A processing unit (600), the processing unit (600) being comprisable in a wireless device, WD, (920) and being connectable to a plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515), each transceiver (500, . . . , 515) being connected to one or more antennas (700, . . . , 715), the processing unit (600) being configured to: [0161] a. configure (940) a first set (520) of the plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515) and/or antennas (700, . . . , 715) to be active; [0162] b. configure (944) a second set (524) of the plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515) and/or antennas (700, . . . , 715) to be candidates; [0163] c. receive (960) reconfiguration information; and [0164] d. update (970) the first and second sets (520, 524) of transceivers based on the received reconfiguration information. [0165] 7. A wireless device, WD, (920a) comprising: [0166] a plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515), each transceiver (500, . . . , 515) comprising an antenna (700, . . . , 715), a low noise amplifier, LNA, (580), a mixer (582), a variable gain amplifier, VGA (584), an analog to digital converter, ADC, (586) and one or more filters (588); and [0167] a baseband processor (910), comprising the processing unit (600) of example 6; and wherein each transceiver (500, . . . , 515) is connected to the baseband processor (910). [0168] 8. A wireless device, WD, (920b) comprising: [0169] a plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515), each transceiver (500, . . . , 515) comprising an antenna (700, . . . , 715), a low noise amplifier, LNA, (580), a mixer (582), and a variable gain amplifier, VGA (584); [0170] one or more digital interfaces (400, . . . , 415), each digital interface (400, . . . , 415) comprising an analog to digital converter, ADC, (486) and one or more filters (488), each digital interface (400, . . . , 415) being connected to one or more of the plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515); and [0171] a baseband processor (910), comprising the processing unit (600) of example 6; and wherein each digital interface (400, . . . , 415) is connected to the baseband processor (910). [0172] 9. A wireless device, WD, (920c) comprising: [0173] a plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515), each transceiver (500, . . . , 515) comprising an antenna (700, . . . , 715), a low noise amplifier, LNA, (580), and a mixer (582); [0174] one or more digital interfaces (400, . . . , 415), each digital interface (400, . . . , 415) comprising a variable gain amplifier, VGA, (484), an analog to digital converter, ADC, (486) and one or more filters (488), each digital interface (400, . . . , 415) being connected to one or more of the plurality of transceivers (500, . . . , 515); and [0175] a baseband processor (910), comprising the processing unit (600) of example 6; and wherein each digital interface (400, . . . , 415) is connected to the baseband processor (910).
[0176] Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context in which it is used. Reference has been made herein to various embodiments. However, a person skilled in the art would recognize numerous variations to the described embodiments that would still fall within the scope of the claims. For example, the method embodiments described herein discloses example methods through steps being performed in a certain order. However, it is recognized that these sequences of events may take place in another order without departing from the scope of the claims. Furthermore, some actions/method steps may be performed in parallel even though they have been described as being performed in sequence. Thus, the steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. In the same manner, it should be noted that in the description of embodiments, the partition of functional blocks into particular units is by no means intended as limiting. Contrarily, these partitions are merely examples. Functional blocks described herein as one unit may be split into two or more units. Furthermore, functional blocks described herein as being implemented as two or more units may be merged into fewer e.g., a single) unit. Any feature of any of the embodiments/aspects disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment/aspect, wherever suitable. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Hence, it should be understood that the details of the described embodiments are merely examples brought forward for illustrative purposes, and that all variations that fall within the scope of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.