Early UE panel switch reporting

A method comprising:

• identifying, by a user equipment, a potential change in active antenna panel at the user equipment from a first of a plurality of antenna panels to a second of the plurality of antenna panels;
• and
• transmitting at least one early panel switch detection message indicating the potential change in active antenna panel to a base station serving the user equipment,
• the method further comprising:
• switching the active antenna panel from the first of the plurality of antenna panels to the second of the plurality of antenna panels,
• wherein the at least one early panel switch detection message includes:
• (i) a difference between a first received signal power for the first of the plurality of
• antenna panels and a second received signal power for the second of the plurality of antenna panels,
• (ii) an estimated time until the active antenna panel is to switch from the first of the plurality of antenna panels to the second of the plurality of antenna panels,
• (iii) an indication of a selected downlink reference signals for the second of the plurality of antenna panels, and
• (iv) an indication of a number of transmit beams for the second of the plurality of antenna panels.

A radio access network element comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the radio access network element to:
• receive at least one early panel switch detection message indicating a potential upcoming change in active antenna panel at a user equipment from a first antenna panel to a second antenna panel, and
• transmit a reference signal with repetition to the user equipment based on the received at least one early panel switch detection message,
• wherein the at least one early panel switch detection message includes:
• a difference between a first received signal power for the first antenna panel and a second received signal power for the second antenna panel,
• an estimated time until the active antenna panel is to change from the first antenna panel to the second antenna panel,
• an indication of a selected downlink reference signals for the second antenna panel at the radio access network element, and
• an indication of a number of transmit beams for the second antenna panel.