DCI-based TCI state update with flexible channel selection

A network node for a core network of a cellular communications system where the network node is enabled to provide Downlink Control Information, DCI,-based Transmission Configuration Indicator, TCI, state update with flexible channel selection, the network node comprising:

• a network interface;
• and
• processing circuitry associated with the network interface, the processing circuitry configured to cause the network node to transmit, to a User Equipment, UE, a DCI, wherein a DCI format of the DCI comprises a TCI state update indication, and a TCI state update application indication indicating one or more channels or signals to which the TCI state update is to be applied by the UE, and wherein at least one of A), B), C), D), E), and F) is true:
• A) the TCI state update application indication comprises a bitfield within the DCI, and wherein:
• the bitfield comprises one bit;
• a first codepoint of the bitfield indicates that the TCI state update should only be applied to one or more of a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, and a sounding reference signal, SRS, triggered by the DCI;
• and
• a second codepoint of the bitfield indicates that the TCI state update should be applied to one or more of the PDSCH, the PUCCH, and the SRS triggered by the DCI, and to a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, and other channels or signals not triggered by the DCI;
• or
• B) the TCI state update application indication comprises a bitfield within the DCI, and wherein:
• the bitfield comprises a plurality of bits;
• the first codepoint of the bitfield indicates that the TCI state update should be applied only to the PDSCH, the PUCCH, or the SRS, triggered by the DCI;
• the second codepoint of the bitfield indicates that the TCI state update should be applied only to the PDCCH;
• a third codepoint of the bitfield indicates that the TCI state update should be applied to all downlink, DL, signals;
• and
• a fourth codepoint of the bitfield indicates that the TCI state update should be applied to all uplink, UL, signals;
• or
• C) the TCI state update application indication comprises a bitfield within the DCI, and wherein the TCI state update application indication comprises a bitfield within the DCI, and wherein a codepoint of the TCI state update indication points to two TCI states comprising a TCI state for DL channels and a TCI state for UL channels;
• or
• D) the TCI state update application indication comprises using one of a plurality of Radio Network Temporary Identifiers (RNTIs) to scramble a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI and wherein:
• a first RNTI of the plurality of RNTIs indicates that the TCI state update should be applied only to a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, or a sounding reference signal, SRS, triggered by the DCI;
• a second RNTI of the plurality of RNTIs indicates that the TCI state update should be applied only to a control resource set, CORESET, in which the DCI is conveyed;
• and
• a third RNTI of the plurality of RNTIs indicates that the TCI state update should be applied to all downlink, DL, signals, a subset of all DL signals, all UL signals, or a subset of all UL signals;
• or
• E) wherein the TCI state update application indication comprises a Radio Resource Control, RRC, configured parameter and wherein:
• the TCI state update indicated in the DCI is applied to the PUCCH, and the PUSCH, and all the DL channels, but is not applied to the SRS;
• wherein the RRC configured parameter indicates to which a PUCCH resource and/or a PUCCH resource group the TCI state update indicated in the DCI is applied;
• wherein the RRC configured parameter comprises a list of CORESETs, to which the TCI state update indicated in the DCI is applied;
• wherein the RRC configured parameter comprises a CORESET pool index to which the TCI state update indicated in the DCI is applied;
• wherein the RRC configured parameter is configured in a PDSCH Config information element, IE;
• wherein the RRC configured parameter is configured per serving cell, such that all bandwidth parts, BWPs, of a configured serving cell follow a same configuration;
• wherein the RRC configured parameter is configured for a list of serving cells;
• wherein:
• the UE is configured with a single CORESET;
• a list of TCI states is activated, with each activated TCI state mapped to a codepoint;
• and
• the DCI comprises an indication from the network node signaling the codepoint to select one of the activated TCI states for use by the UE as a quasi-co-located, QCL, source for all DL and UL signals;
• wherein:
• the UE is configured with two control resource sets, CORESETs, each with a different CORESETPoolIndex;
• the DCI comprises a codepoint for the TCI state update indication transmitted in a CORESET associated with a first CORESETPoolIndex;
• and
• the DCI updates a TCI state of the CORESET and all DL and UL signals later triggered by a subsequent DCI transmitted in the CORESET;
• or
• F) wherein the TCI state update indicated in the DCI is applied to different signals and/or different channels corresponding to different DCI formats of the DCI and wherein:
• a TCI state update in DCI format 0_1 is applied to a sounding reference signal, SRS, and a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH;
• and
• a TCI state update in DCI format 1_1 is applied to the PDSCH, and the PDCCH.

A method performed by a User Equipment, UE, of a cellular communication system to provide Downlink Control Information, DCI,-based Transmission Configuration Indicator, TCI, state update with flexible channel selection, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a network node, a DCI, wherein a DCI format of the DCI comprises a TCI state update indication, and a TCI state update application indication indicating one or more channels or signals to which the TCI state update is to be applied by the UE;
• and
• applying the TCI state update as indicated by the TCI state update application indication, and wherein at least one of A), B), C), D), E), and F) is true:
• A) the TCI state update application indication comprises a bitfield within the DCI, and wherein:
• the bitfield comprises one bit;
• a first codepoint of the bitfield indicates that the TCI state update should only be applied to one or more of a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, and a sounding reference signal, SRS, triggered by the DCI;
• and
• a second codepoint of the bitfield indicates that the TCI state update should be applied to one or more of the PDSCH, the PUCCH, and the SRS triggered by the DCI, and to a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, and other channels or signals not triggered by the DCI;
• or
• B) the TCI state update application indication comprises a bitfield within the DCI, and wherein:
• the bitfield comprises a plurality of bits;
• the first codepoint of the bitfield indicates that the TCI state update should be applied only to the PDSCH, the PUCCH, or the SRS, triggered by the DCI;
• the second codepoint of the bitfield indicates that the TCI state update should be applied only to the PDCCH;
• a third codepoint of the bitfield indicates that the TCI state update should be applied to all downlink, DL, signals;
• and
• a fourth codepoint of the bitfield indicates that the TCI state update should be applied to all uplink, UL, signals;
• or
• C) the TCI state update application indication comprises a bitfield within the DCI, and wherein the TCI state update application indication comprises a bitfield within the DCI, and wherein a codepoint of the TCI state update indication points to two TCI states comprising a TCI state for DL channels and a TCI state for UL channels;
• or
• D) the TCI state update application indication comprises using one of a plurality of Radio Network Temporary Identifiers (RNTIs) to scramble a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI and wherein:
• a first RNTI of the plurality of RNTIs indicates that the TCI state update should be applied only to a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, a physical uplink control channel, PUCCH, or a sounding reference signal, SRS, triggered by the DCI;
• a second RNTI of the plurality of RNTIs indicates that the TCI state update should be applied only to a control resource set, CORESET, in which the DCI is conveyed;
• and
• a third RNTI of the plurality of RNTIs indicates that the TCI state update should be applied to all downlink, DL, signals, a subset of all DL signals, all UL signals, or a subset of all UL signals;
• or
• E) wherein the TCI state update application indication comprises a Radio Resource Control, RRC, configured parameter and wherein:
• the TCI state update indicated in the DCI is applied to the PUCCH, and the PUSCH, and all the DL channels, but is not applied to the SRS;
• wherein the RRC configured parameter indicates to which a PUCCH resource and/or a PUCCH resource group the TCI state update indicated in the DCI is applied;
• wherein the RRC configured parameter comprises a list of CORESETs, to which the TCI state update indicated in the DCI is applied;
• wherein the RRC configured parameter comprises a CORESET pool index to which the TCI state update indicated in the DCI is applied;
• wherein the RRC configured parameter is configured in a PDSCH Config information element, IE;
• wherein the RRC configured parameter is configured per serving cell, such that all bandwidth parts, BWPs, of a configured serving cell follow a same configuration;
• wherein the RRC configured parameter is configured for a list of serving cells;
• wherein:
• the UE is configured with a single CORESET;
• a list of TCI states is activated, with each activated TCI state mapped to a codepoint;
• and
• the DCI comprises an indication from the network node signaling the codepoint to select one of the activated TCI states for use by the UE as a quasi-co-located, QCL, source for all DL and UL signals;
• wherein:
• the UE is configured with two control resource sets, CORESETs, each with a different CORESETPoolIndex;
• the DCI comprises a codepoint for the TCI state update indication transmitted in a CORESET associated with a first CORESETPoolIndex;
• and
• the DCI updates a TCI state of the CORESET and all DL and UL signals later triggered by a subsequent DCI transmitted in the CORESET;
• or
• F) wherein the TCI state update indicated in the DCI is applied to different signals and/or different channels corresponding to different DCI formats of the DCI and wherein:
• a TCI state update in DCI format 0_1 is applied to a sounding reference signal, SRS, and a physical uplink shared channel, PUSCH;
• and
• a TCI state update in DCI format 1_1 is applied to the PDSCH, and the PDCCH.