Configurable MAC-PHY API

An apparatus for wireless communication at a network node comprising a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer and at least one of a Physical (PHY) layer or a Radio Frequency (RF) component, comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
• send a capability request from the MAC layer of the network node to the at least one of the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node using an application protocol interface (API);
• receive, at the MAC layer of the network node via the API and in response to the capability request from the MAC layer, a capability response message from the at least one of the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node, the capability response message comprising a hierarchical indication informing the MAC layer via the API of capabilities supported by the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node at different respective levels of a hierarchy, the hierarchical indication indicating:
• a first feature set of one or more capabilities supported by the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node, the first feature set being provided at a first level of the hierarchy, and
• a second feature set of one or more capabilities supported by the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node, the second feature set being provided at a second level of the hierarchy, with multiple different first feature sets of one or more capabilities supported by the PHY layer or the RF component provided at the first level of the hierarchy being combined into the second feature set of one or more capabilities that is indicated as being supported by the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node at the second level of the hierarchy;
• and
• operate, at the MAC layer of the network node, with the at least one of the PHY layer or the RF component based on the hierarchical indication of the capabilities to communicate with one or more user equipment (UEs),
• wherein the first level of the hierarchy is based on a per component carrier (CC) level, a per downlink or uplink direction level, or a per frequency band level, and wherein the second level of the hierarchy is based on the per downlink or uplink direction level, the per frequency band level, or a feature set combination per band level.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a network node comprising a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer and at least one of a Physical (PHY) layer or a Radio Frequency (RF) component, comprising:

• means for sending a capability request from the MAC layer of the network node to the at least one the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node using an application protocol interface (API);
• means for receiving, at the MAC layer of the network node via the API and in response to the capability request from the MAC layer, a capability response message from the at least one of the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node, the capability response message comprising a hierarchical indication informing the MAC layer of the network node via the API of capabilities supported by the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node at different respective levels of a hierarchy, the hierarchical indication indicating:
• a first feature set of one or more capabilities supported by the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node, the first feature set being provided at a first level of the hierarchy, and
• a second feature set of one or more capabilities supported by the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node, the second feature set being provided at a second level of the hierarchy, with multiple different first feature sets of one or more capabilities supported by the PHY layer or the RF component provided at the first level of the hierarchy being combined into the second feature set of one or more capabilities that is indicated as being supported by the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node at the second level of the hierarchy;
• and
• means for operating, at the MAC layer of the network node, with the at least one of the PHY layer or the RF component based on the hierarchical indication of the capabilities to communicate with one or more user equipment (UEs),
• wherein the first level of the hierarchy is based on a per component carrier (CC) level, a per downlink or uplink direction level, or a per frequency band level, and wherein the second level of the hierarchy is based on the per downlink or uplink direction level, the per frequency band level, or a feature set combination per band level.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code for wireless communication at a network node comprising a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer and at least one of a Physical (PHY) layer or a Radio Frequency (RF) component, the code when executed by a processor cause the processor to:

• send a capability request from the MAC layer of the network node to the at least one the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node using an application protocol interface (API);
• receive, at the MAC layer of the network node via the API and in response to the capability request from the MAC layer, a capability response message from the at least one of the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node, the capability response message comprising a hierarchical indication informing the MAC layer of the network node via the API of capabilities supported by the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node at different respective levels of a hierarchy, the hierarchical indication indicating:
• a first feature set of one or more capabilities supported by the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node, the first feature set being provided at a first level of the hierarchy, and
• a second feature set of one or more capabilities supported by the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node, the second feature set being provided at a second level of the hierarchy, with multiple different first feature sets of one or more capabilities supported by the PHY layer or the RF component provided at the first level of the hierarchy being combined into the second feature set of one or more capabilities that is indicated as being supported by the PHY layer or the RF component of the network node at the second level of the hierarchy;
• and
• operate, at the MAC layer of the network node, with the at least one of the PHY layer or the RF component based on the hierarchical indication of the capabilities to communicate with one or more user equipment (UEs),
• wherein the first level of the hierarchy is based on a per component carrier (CC) level, a per downlink or uplink direction level, or a per frequency band level, and wherein the second level of the hierarchy is based on the per downlink or uplink direction level, the per frequency band level, or a feature set combination per band level.