Efficient Spatial Relation Indication for Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) Resources

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments include methods for a network node to receive PUCCH transmissions by a user equipment (UE). Such methods include sending, to the UE, a control message including: identification of a first spatial relation of a plurality of spatial relations, configured for the UE, that are associated with one or more reference signals (RS) transmitted by the network node or by the UE; and an indication of to which of the following the first spatial relation applies: a single PUCCH resource, or at least one group of PUCCH resources configured for the UE. Such methods include receiving, from the UE, a PUCCH message transmitted according to the first spatial relation using a PUCCH resource, configured for the UE, to which the first spatial relation applies. Embodiments also include complementary methods for a UE, as well as network nodes and UEs configured to perform such methods.

1 . A method for receiving, by a network node in a wireless communication network, Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) transmissions by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:
 sending, to the UE, a control message comprising:
 identification of a first spatial relation of a plurality of spatial relations configured for the UE, wherein the plurality of spatial relations are associated with one or more reference signals (RS) transmitted by the network node or by the UE; and 
 an indication of to which of the following the first spatial relation applies:
 a single PUCCH resource configured for the UE, or 
 at least one group of PUCCH resources configured for the UE; and 
 
   receiving, from the UE, a PUCCH message transmitted according to the first spatial relation using a PUCCH resource, configured for the UE, to which the first spatial relation applies.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending, to the UE, one or more further control messages comprising:
 a configuration of the plurality of PUCCH resources, and   identification of the plurality of spatial relations.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control message comprises a resource identifier that identifies one of the following to which the first spatial relation applies:
 a particular PUCCH resource configured for the UE, or   a particular group of PUCCH resources configured for the UE.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein absence of any resource identifiers in the control message indicates that the first spatial relation applies to all PUCCH resources configured for the UE. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control message comprises a resource identifier having one of the following values:
 a first value indicating that the first spatial relation applies to all PUCCH resources configured for the UE, or   one of a plurality of second values, each second value identifying a particular PUCCH resource, configured for the UE, to which the first spatial relation applies.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control message comprises a resource identifier having one of the following values:
 one of a plurality of first values, each first value identifying a particular group of PUCCH resources, configured for the UE, to which the first spatial relation applies; or   one of a plurality of second values, each second value identifying a particular PUCCH resource, configured for the UE, to which the first spatial relation applies.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the control message comprises a resource identifier;   the indication comprises a flag that can have a first value or a second value;
 the first value indicates that the first spatial relation applies to a particular configured PUCCH resource that is associated with the resource identifier; and 
   the second value indicates one of the following:
 the resource identifier should be ignored and the first spatial relation applies to the at least one group of the PUCCH resources configured for the UE; or 
 the first spatial relation applies to a particular group of the PUCCH resources, configured for the UE, that is identified by a portion of the resource identifier. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein when the indication indicates that the first spatial relation applies to the at least one group of PUCCH resources configured for the UE, the control message comprises one or more group identifiers associated with corresponding one or more particular groups of PUCCH resources, configured for the UE, to which the first spatial relation applies. 
     
     
         9 . A network node arranged to receive Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) transmissions by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication network, the network node comprising:
 a radio network interface configured for communicating with one or more UEs; and   processing circuitry operatively coupled to the radio network interface, whereby the processing circuitry and the radio network interface are configured to perform operations corresponding to the method of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         10 . A non-transitory, computer readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a network node arranged to receive Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) transmissions by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication network, configure the network node to perform operations corresponding to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A method for Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) transmission by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a network node in the wireless communication network, a control message comprising:
 identification of a first spatial relation of a plurality of spatial relations configured for the UE, wherein the plurality of spatial relations are associated with one or more reference signals (RS) transmitted by the network node or by the UE; and 
 an indication of to which of the following the first spatial relation applies:
 a single PUCCH resource configured for the UE, or 
 at least one group of PUCCH resources configured for the UE; and 
 
   transmitting, to the network node according to the first spatial relation, a PUCCH message using a PUCCH resource, configured for the UE, to which the first spatial relation applies.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising receiving, from the network node, one or more further control messages comprising:
 a configuration of the plurality of PUCCH resources, and   identification of the plurality of spatial relations.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the control message comprises a resource identifier that identifies one of the following to which the first spatial relation applies:
 a particular PUCCH resource configured for the UE, or   a particular group of PUCCH resources configured for the UE.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein absence of any resource identifiers in the control message indicates that the first spatial relation applies to all PUCCH resources configured for the UE. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the control message comprises a resource identifier having one of the following values:
 a first value indicating that the first spatial relation applies to all PUCCH resources configured for the UE, or   one of a plurality of second values, each second value identifying a particular PUCCH resource, configured for the UE, to which the first spatial relation applies.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the control message comprises a resource identifier having one of the following values:
 one of a plurality of first values, each first value identifying a particular group of PUCCH resources, configured for the UE, to which the first spatial relation applies; or   one of a plurality of second values, each second value identifying a particular PUCCH resource, configured for the UE, to which the first spatial relation applies.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the control message comprises a resource identifier;   the indication comprises a flag that can have a first value or a second value;   the first value indicates that the first spatial relation applies to a particular configured PUCCH resource that is associated with the resource identifier; and   the second value indicates one of the following:
 the resource identifier should be ignored and the first spatial relation applies to the at least one group of the PUCCH resources configured for the UE; or 
 the first spatial relation applies to a particular group of the PUCCH resources, configured for the UE, that is identified by a portion of the resource identifier. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein when the indication indicates that the first spatial relation applies to the at least one group of PUCCH resources configured for the UE, the control message comprises one or more group identifiers associated with corresponding one or more particular groups of PUCCH resources, configured for the UE, to which the first spatial relation applies. 
     
     
         19 . A user equipment (UE) configured to transmit on a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) in a wireless communication network, the UE comprising:
 a radio transceiver configured for communicating with a network node in the wireless communication network; and   processing circuitry operatively coupled to the radio transceiver, whereby the processing circuitry and the radio transceiver are configured to perform operations corresponding to the method of  claim 11 .   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory, computer readable medium storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a user equipment (UE) configured to transmit on a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) in a wireless communication network, configure the UE to perform operations corresponding to the method of  claim 11 .