User equipment, scheduling node, method for user equipment, and method for scheduling node

A method for a communication apparatus, the method including the steps of:

• receiving, when the communication apparatus is in an inactive state or in an idle state, a signalling from a scheduling device, the signalling including an availability indication indicating an availability state of a reference signal (RS);
• determining the availability state of the RS;
• determining a first starting time, from which the communication apparatus uses the RS, if the availability state corresponds to an available state of the RS, and
• determining a second starting time, from which the communication apparatus does not use the RS, if the availability state corresponds to an unavailable state of the RS,
• wherein
• the availability indication comprises a bitmap, and
• a plurality of bits of the bitmap are associated with a plurality of resource sets for the RS, wherein a value of ‘1’ for a bit of the bitmap indicates presence of at least one resource set for the RS, among the plurality of resource sets for the RS, which is associated with the bit.

A scheduling device, comprising:

• circuitry which, in operation:
• determines that a communication apparatus, which is in an inactive state or in an idle state, is to be informed of an availability state of a reference signal (RS);
• determines a first starting time, from which the communication apparatus uses the RS if the availability state corresponds to an available state of the RS, and
• determines a second starting time, from which the communication apparatus does not use the RS if the availability state corresponds to an unavailable state of the RS;
• and
• a transceiver which, in operation, transmits a signalling including an availability indication indicating the availability state of the RS,
• wherein
• the availability indication comprises a bitmap, and
• a plurality of bits of the bitmap are associated with a plurality of resource sets for the RS, wherein a value of ‘1’ for a bit of the bitmap indicates presence of at least one resource set for the RS, among the plurality of resource sets for the RS, which is associated with the bit.