Enhanced transmit point (TRP) beam grouping based on UE beams

An apparatus for forming at least i) a first group of transmit point (TRP) beams for use in communicating with a first user equipment (UE), when the UE is employing a first UE beam and ii) a second group of TRP beams for use in communicating with the UE when the UE is employing a second UE beam, the apparatus being configured to:

• obtain a signal power threshold value, T;
• obtain a first parameter indicating a received signal strength of a reference signal transmitted by a TRP over a first TRP beam and received by the UE using the first UE beam;
• determine whether the first parameter is not less than T;
• as a result of determining that the first parameter is not less than T, add the first TRP beam to the first group of TRP beams;
• obtain a second parameter indicating a received signal strength of a reference signal transmitted by the TRP over the first TRP beam and received by the UE using the second UE beam;
• determine whether the second parameter is not less than T;
• and
• as a result of determining that the second parameter is not less than T, add the first TRP beam to the second group of TRP beams such that the first TRP beam is included in both the first group of TRP beams and the second group of TRP beams.

A method for scheduling a data transmission to a first user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

• a transmission point (TRP) receiving first beam grouping information transmitted by the first UE, the first beam grouping information comprising:
• a) information indicating that a first transmit point (TRP) beam is included in a first group of TRP beams for use in communicating with the first UE when the first UE is employing a first UE beam and b) information indicating that the first TRP beam is included in a second group of TRP beams for use in communicating with the first UE when the first UE is employing a second UE beam;
• the TRP making a data transmission scheduling decision for the first UE using the received first beam grouping information;
• and
• the TRP determining that the first UE is configured such that the first UE employs the first UE beam during a first time slot, wherein
• making the data transmission scheduling decision for the first UE using the first beam grouping information comprises determining whether to schedule a data transmission to the first UE during the first time slot, and
• the determination is based on whether the first beam grouping information indicates that a second TRP beam is included in the first group of TRP beams for use in communicating with the first UE when the first UE is employing the first UE beam.

A TRP for scheduling a data transmission to a first user equipment (UE), the TRP being adapted to:

• obtain first beam grouping information transmitted by the first UE, the first beam grouping information comprising:
• a) information indicating that a first transmit point (TRP) beam is included in a first group of TRP beams for use in communicating with the first UE when the first UE is employing a first UE beam and b) information indicating that the first TRP beam is included in a second group of TRP beams for use in communicating with the first UE when the first UE is employing a second UE beam;
• and
• make a data transmission scheduling decision for the first UE using the received first beam grouping information, wherein
• the TRP is further adapted to determine that the first UE is configured such that the first UE employs the first UE beam during a first time slot,
• the TRP is configured to make the data transmission scheduling decision for the first UE using the first beam grouping information by performing a process comprising determining whether to schedule a data transmission to the first UE during the first time slot, and
• the determination is based on whether the first beam grouping information indicates that a second TRP beam is included in the first group of TRP beams for use in communicating with the first UE when the first UE is employing the first UE beam.