PMI-based data beam nulling with a CSI report

A method comprising:

• identifying restricted precoding matrix indicator (PMI) beams in a nulling direction for supported ranks;
• receiving, from a user equipment (UE), a channel state information (CSI) report including a rank, a PMI, and channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback;
• determining whether the reported PMI is restricted;
• selecting an alternative PMI among a number of unrestricted PMIs for the reported rank;
• boosting a reported CQI based on a reduced transmit power being configured;
• and
• selecting a modulation coding scheme (MCS) and generating a precoder for a data beam based on at least one of:
• the CSI report, the alternative PMI, and the boosted CQI.

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program code, that when executed by a processor of an apparatus, causes the apparatus to:

• identify restricted precoding matrix indicator (PMI) beams in a nulling direction for supported ranks;
• receive, via a transceiver of the apparatus from a user equipment (UE), a channel state information (CSI) report including a rank, a PMI, and channel quality indicator (CQI) feedback;
• determine whether the reported PMI is restricted;
• select an alternative PMI among a number of unrestricted PMIs for the reported rank;
• boost a reported CQI if a reduced transmit power is configured;
• and
• select a modulation coding scheme (MCS) and generate a precoder for a data beam based on at least one of:
• the CSI report, the alternative PMI, and the boosted CQI.