Related Applications

[0001 ] This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application serial number 62/653,820, filed April 6, 2018, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to power boosting in a wireless communication system.

Background

[0003] The next generation mobile wireless communication system (i.e. , Fifth

Generation (5G)) or New Radio (NR) will support a diverse set of use cases and a diverse set of deployment scenarios. The latter includes deployment at both low frequencies (hundreds of megahertz (MHz)), similar to Long Term Evolution (LTE) today, and very high frequencies (e.g., millimeter (mm) waves in the tens of gigahertz (GHz)).

[0004] Similar to LTE, NR will use Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) in the downlink (i.e., from a network node, NR base station (gNB), enhanced or evolved Node B (eNB), or base station, to a User Equipment device (UE). The basic NR physical resource over an antenna port can thus be seen as a time-frequency grid as illustrated in Figure 1 , where a Resource Block (RB) in a 14-symbol slot is shown. A RB corresponds to twelve contiguous subcarriers in the frequency domain. RBs are indexed in the frequency domain, starting with an index of 0 from one end of the system bandwidth. Each resource element corresponds to one OFDM subcarrier during one OFDM symbol interval.

[0005] Different subcarrier spacing values are supported in NR. The supported subcarrier spacing values (also referred to as different numerologies) are given by Af =

(15 x 2 ^a ) kHz where a e (0,1, 2, 3, 4). Af = 15 kHz is the basic (or reference) subcarrier spacing that is also used in LTE.

[0006] In the time domain, downlink and uplink transmissions in NR will be organized into equally-sized subframes of 1 millisecond (ms) each, similar to LTE. A subframe is further divided into multiple slots of equal duration. The slot length for subcarrier spacing Af = (15 x 2 ^a ) kHz is l/2 ^a ms. There is only one slot per subframe at Af = 15 kHz and a slot consists of 14 OFDM symbols.

[0007] Downlink transmissions are dynamically scheduled, i.e., in each slot the gNB transmits Downlink Control Information (DCI) about which UE data is to be transmitted to and which RBs in the current downlink slot the data is transmitted on. This control information is typically transmitted in the first one or two OFDM symbols in each slot in NR. The control information is carried on the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and data is carried on the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH). A UE first detects and decodes PDCCFI and if a PDCCFI is decoded successfully, it then decodes the

corresponding PDSCH based on the decoded control information in the PDCCH. An example NR time-domain structure with 15 kHz subcarrier spacing is shown in Figure 2, where the PDCCH is transmitted in the first two symbols and PDSCH is transmitted in the rest of the symbols in a slot.

[0008] In addition to PDCCH and PDSCH, there are also other channels and reference signals transmitted in the downlink. One of the reference signals is Channel State

Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS).

[0009] A CSI-RS resource comprises one or more downlink time-frequency Resource Elements (REs) with Radio Resource Control (RRC) configurable attributes to be used by the UE to perform measurements. According to latest specifications of Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 15 [1 ][2], three types of CSI-RS resources are defined:

• Non-Zero-Power (NZP) CSI-RS: These resources are transmitted by the gNB

carrying predetermined reference signals that can be used by the UE to estimate the channel. NZP CSI-RS can also be used for interference measurement, typically intra-cell interference, such as interference due to co-scheduled Multiple User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) UEs.

• Zero-Power (ZP) CSI-RS: These resources are used for rate matching, i.e., the UE shall assume that the REs occupied by ZP CSI-RS are not used for PDSCH transmission [1 ]

• Channel State Information Interference Measurement (CSI-IM): These resources are used for interference measurement, typically inter-cell interference.

[0010] To illustrate the use of the above three types of resources, consider the case of obtaining Channel Quality Indicator (CQI). For the UE to estimate CQI, it needs to estimate the channel strength as well as the interference plus noise. One way to facilitate such estimations is by configuring the UE with the following:

• NZP CSI-RS to estimate the channel;

• CSI-IM to estimate the interference, where the gNB does not transmit any signal in these CSI-IM resources so the UE can measure inter-cell interference plus noise in these resources; and

• One or more ZP CSI-RS resources for the same REs that constitute CSI-IM, in order to inform the UE that no PDSCH transmission is occurring in these REs.

[0011 ] In general, the gNB may not transmit any signal in some REs in one or more OFDM symbols in a slot. For instance, a UE may be configured with CSI-IM resources where the serving gNB does not transmit any signal in the CSI-IM resources. Another example is when NR and LTE coexist in a same frequency band, in which the serving gNB should avoid transmitting any NR signals in REs that are deemed essential for LTE operation, e.g., LTE Cell Reference Signals (CRSs).

[0012] In each downlink OFDM symbol, the available average transmit power is typically fixed for a given system. The average available transmit power is shared by all signals and channels transmitted in an OFDM symbol. For PDSCH transmission, it is generally assumed that the Energy per RE (EPRE) is constant over a slot and if there is a different EPRE in an OFDM symbol, the difference has to be known by the intended UE. This is because if EPRE is different in different REs, a different scaling factor needs to be applied during channel estimation for those REs based on the Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) transmitted together with the PDSCH. Otherwise, any non-Phase Shift Keying (PSK) type of modulation symbols (e.g., 16 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (16QAM), 64QAM, etc.) will be incorrectly received. For other downlink reference signals, it is generally assumed that EPRE is constant over a slot and that the EPRE ratios between PDSCH and the reference signals are known to a UE.

[0013] In NR Technical Specification (TS) 38.214 v15.5.0, the EPRE ratio between the PDSCH EPRE and DMRS EPRE, ^ ^DMRS ^B], is defined as follows:

For downlink DM-RS associated with PDSCH, the UE may assume the ratio of PDSCH EPRE to DM-RS EPRE (/¾ _jMRS [dB]) is given by Table 4.1 - 1 according to the number of DM-RS CDM groups without data as described in Subclause 5.1 .6.2. Table 4.1-1 : The ratio of PDSCH EPRE to DM-RS EPRE

[0014] There currently exist certain challenge(s). A typical approach for facilitating inter-cell interference measurement in NR is to configure the UE with CSI-IM resources where the serving gNB does not transmit any signal. This presents an opportunity for the gNB to boost the power of other REs that share the same OFDM symbols with CSI-IM. Unfortunately, the latest 3GPP specification does not provide a mechanism to realize such power boosting. Summary

[0015] Systems and methods are disclosed herein for power boosting in a wireless communication system. In some embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device for power boosting in a wireless communication system comprises obtaining one or more power boosting configurations. The one or more power boosting configurations comprise one or more power boosting configurations for one or more Zero Power (ZP) Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) resources, one or more power boosting

configurations for one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, one or more power boosting configurations for one or more Channel State Information Interference Measurement (CSI- IM) resources, and/or one or more power boosting configurations for one or more CSI-IM resource sets. The method further comprises, for an Orthogonal Frequency Division

Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol received by the wireless device within a downlink slot in which the wireless device is scheduled with a downlink channel or signal, determining a power boost value for the downlink channel or signal within the OFDM symbol based on at least one of the one or more the power boosting configurations that is applicable to one or more ZP CSI-RS resources and/or one or more CSI-IM resources in the OFDM symbol. The method further comprises decoding the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol based on the determined power boost for the channel or signal in the OFDM symbol. In this manner, it possible to increase data rate and/or improve the coverage of signals transmitted using the power boosting.

[0016] In some embodiments, for each ZP CSI-RS resource of the one or more ZP CSI- RS resources, each ZP CSI-RS resource set of the one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, each CSI-IM resource of the one or more CSI-IM resources, and/or each CSI-IM resource set of the one or more CSI-IM resource sets, the respective power boosting configuration comprises an indication of a power boosting value associated with the ZP CSI-RS resource, the ZP CSI-RS resource set, the CSI-IM resource, or the CSI-IM resource set that is used for power boosting of downlink channel or signal in Resource Elements (REs) other than the ZP-CSI and/or CSI-IM resources in the same OFDM symbol. Further, in some embodiments, determining the power boost value for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol comprises, for each ZP CSI-RS resource and/or for each CSI-IM resource that is in the OFDM symbol and has an applicable power boosting configuration, determining a power boost value based on the indication of the power boosting value in the applicable power boosting configuration. Determining the power boost value for the downlink channel or signal further comprises combining the determined power boost values associated with all the ZP CSI-RS and/or CSI-IM resources to thereby provide a combined power boost value in the OFDM symbol as the power boost for the channel or signal in the OFDM symbol. In some other embodiments, determining the power boost value for the downlink channel or signal I the OFDM symbol comprises, for each ZP CSI-RS resource and/or for each CSI-IM resource that is in the OFDM symbol and has an applicable power boosting configuration, determining a power boost value based on the one or more configured power boosting values in the applicable power boosting configuration and the indication of the power boosting value that is used for power boosting of the downlink channel or signal in the same OFDM symbol. Determining the power boost value for the downlink channel or signal further comprises combining the determined power boost values to thereby provide a combined power boost value in the OFDM symbol as the power boost for the channel or signal in the OFDM symbol.

[0017] In some embodiments, for each ZP CSI-RS resource of the one or more ZP CSI- RS resources, each ZP CSI-RS resource set of the one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, each CSI-IM resource of the one or more CSI-IM resources, and/or each CSI-IM resource set of the one or more CSI-IM resource sets, the respective power boosting configuration comprises one or more configured power boosting values associated with the ZP CSI-RS resource, the ZP CSI-RS resource set, the CSI-IM resource, or the CSI-IM resource set that can be used for power boosting of the downlink channel or signal of REs other than the ZP-CSI and/or CSI-IM in the same OFDM symbol. Further, in some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving an indication of one of the one or more configured power boosting values to use for the OFDM symbol.

[0018] In some embodiments, for each ZP CSI-RS resource of the one or more ZP CSI- RS resources, each ZP CSI-RS resource set of the one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, each CSI-IM resource of the one or more CSI-IM resources, and/or each CSI-IM resource set of the one or more CSI-IM resource sets, the respective power boosting configuration comprises an indication of whether the ZP CSI-RS REs in the ZP CSI-RS resource, the ZP CSI-RS REs in each ZP CSI-RS resource in the ZP CSI-RS resource set, the CSI-IM REs in the CSI-IM resource, or the CSI-IM REs in each CSI-IM resource in the CSI-IM resource set is used for power boosting of downlink channel or signal in REs other than the ZP-CSI and/or CSI-IM resources in the same OFDM symbol. Further, in some embodiments, determining the power boost value for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol comprises determining a first number of REs in the OFDM symbol that correspond to ZP CSI-RS resources and/or CSI-IM resources for which the respective power boosting configurations comprise the indication of use for power boosting of the downlink channel or signal in the same OFDM symbol, and determining the power boost value in the OFDM symbol based on the determined first number of REs. Further, in some embodiments, the method further comprises determining a second number of REs in the OFDM symbol that correspond to REs other than the first number of REs in the same OFDM symbol, wherein determining the power boost value in the OFDM symbol comprises determining the power boost value in the OFDM symbol based on the first and the second number of REs.

[0019] In some embodiments, the downlink channel or signal is a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH).

[0020] In some embodiments, decoding the OFDM symbol based on the determined power boost comprises adjusting power of PDSCH REs in the OFDM symbol that have been power boosted by /? _DMRS + P _boost dB, where /? _DMRS is a PDSCH to Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) power ratio without power boosting and P _boost is the power boost for the PDSCH in the OFDM symbol. [0021 ] In some embodiments, decoding the OFDM symbol based on the determined power boost for the OFDM symbol comprises applying a power offset to a reference PDSCH Energy per Resource Element (EPRE) for the OFDM symbol, wherein the power offset is a function of the power boost for the OFDM symbol.

[0022] In some embodiments, decoding the OFDM symbol comprises decoding the scheduled downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol.

[0023] Embodiments of a wireless device for power boosting in a wireless

communication system are also disclosed. In some embodiments, a wireless device for power boosting in a wireless communication system is adapted to obtain one or more power boosting configurations. The one or more power boosting configurations comprise one or more power boosting configurations for one or more ZP CSI-RS resources, one or more power boosting configurations for one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, one or more power boosting configurations for one or more CSI-IM resources, and/or one or more power boosting configurations for one or more CSI-IM resource sets. The wireless device is further adapted to, for an OFDM symbol received by the wireless device within a downlink slot in which the wireless device is scheduled with a downlink channel or signal, determine a power boost value for the downlink channel or signal within the OFDM symbol based on at least one of the one or more the power boosting configurations that is applicable to one or more ZP CSI-RS resources and/or one or more CSI-IM resources in the OFDM symbol. The wireless device is further adapted to decode the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol based on the determined power boost for the channel or signal in the OFDM symbol.

[0024] In some embodiments, a wireless device for power boosting in a wireless communication system comprises one or more transmitters, one or more receivers, and processing circuitry associated with the one or more transmitters and the one or more receivers. The processing circuitry is configured to cause the wireless device to obtain one or more power boosting configurations. The one or more power boosting configurations comprise one or more power boosting configurations for one or more ZP CSI-RS resources, one or more power boosting configurations for one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, one or more power boosting configurations for one or more CSI-IM resources, and/or one or more power boosting configurations for one or more CSI-IM resource sets. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless device to, for an OFDM symbol received by the wireless device within a downlink slot in which the wireless device is scheduled with a downlink channel or signal, determine a power boost value for the downlink channel or signal within the OFDM symbol based on at least one of the one or more the power boosting configurations that is applicable to one or more ZP CSI-RS resources and/or one or more CSI-IM resources in the OFDM symbol. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause the wireless device to decode the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol based on the determined power boost for the channel or signal in the OFDM symbol.

[0025] Embodiments of a method performed by a base station for power boosting in a wireless communication system are also disclosed. In some embodiments, a method performed by a base station for power boosting in a wireless communication system comprises providing, to a wireless device, one or more power boosting configurations comprising one or more power boosting configurations for one or more ZP CSI-RS resources, one or more power boosting configurations for one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, one or more power boosting configurations for one or more CSI-IM resources, and/or one or more power boosting configurations for one or more CSI-IM resource sets. The method further comprises performing a downlink transmission of a downlink channel or signal to the wireless device with power boosting per OFDM symbol containing the ZP CSI- RS or CSI-IM resources or resource sets in a slot, in accordance with the one or more power boosting configurations.

[0026] In some embodiments, the downlink channel or signal is a PDSCH.

[0027] In some embodiments, for each OFDM symbol of the downlink channel or signal, the power boost for the OFDM symbol is in accordance with at least one of the one or more power boosting configurations that is applicable to one or more ZP CSI-RS resources and/or one or more CSI-IM resources in the OFDM symbol.

[0028] In some embodiments, for each ZP CSI-RS resource of the one or more ZP CSI- RS resources, each ZP CSI-RS resource set of the one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, each CSI-IM resource of the one or more CSI-IM resources, and/or each CSI-IM resource set of the one or more CSI-IM resource sets, the respective power boosting configuration comprises an indication of a power boosting value associated with the ZP CSI-RS resource, the ZP CSI-RS resource set, the CSI-IM resource, or the CSI-IM resource set that is used for power boosting in the same OFDM symbol. Further, in some embodiments, performing the downlink transmission comprises, for each OFDM symbol with the downlink channel or signal, determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol. Determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol comprises, for each ZP CSI-RS resource and/or for each CSI-IM resource that is in the OFDM symbol and has an applicable power boosting configuration,

determining a power boost value based on the indication of the power boosting value in the applicable power boosting configuration. Determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol further comprises combining the determined power boost values to thereby provide a combined power boost value in the OFDM symbol as the power boost for the channel or signal in the OFDM symbol.

[0029] In some embodiments, for each ZP CSI-RS resource of the one or more ZP CSI- RS resources, each ZP CSI-RS resource set of the one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, each CSI-IM resource of the one or more CSI-IM resources, and/or each CSI-IM resource set of the one or more CSI-IM resource sets, the respective power boosting configuration comprises one or more configured power boosting values associated with the ZP CSI-RS resource, the ZP CSI-RS resource set, the CSI-IM resource, or the CSI-IM resource set that can be used for power boosting of downlink channel or signal in REs other than the ZP-CSI and/or CSI-IM resources in the same OFDM symbol. Further, in some

embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, to the wireless device, an indication of one of the one or more configured power boosting values to use for the OFDM symbol. Further, in some embodiments, performing the downlink transmission comprises, for each OFDM symbol in the downlink channel or signal, determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol, wherein determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol comprises, for each ZP CSI-RS resource and/or for each CSI-IM resource that is in the OFDM symbol and has an applicable power boosting configuration, determining a power boost value for the downlink channel or signal based on the one or more configured power boosting values in the applicable power boosting configuration and the indication of the power boosting value that is used for power boosting of the downlink channel or signal in the same OFDM symbol. Determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol further comprises combining the determined power boost values to thereby provide a combined power boost value as the power boost value for downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol.

[0030] In some embodiments, for each ZP CSI-RS resource of the one or more ZP CSI- RS resources, each ZP CSI-RS resource set of the one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, each CSI-IM resource of the one or more CSI-IM resources, and/or each CSI-IM resource set of the one or more CSI-IM resource sets, the respective power boosting configuration comprises an indication of whether the ZP CSI-RS REs in the ZP CSI-RS resource, the ZP CSI-RS REs in each ZP CSI-RS resource in the ZP CSI-RS resource set, the CSI-IM REs in the CSI-IM resource, or the CSI-IM REs in each CSI-IM resource in the CSI-IM resource set is used for power boosting of downlink channel or signal in REs other than the ZP-CSI and/or CSI-IM in the same OFDM symbol. In some embodiments, performing the downlink transmission comprises, for each OFDM symbol with the downlink channel or signal, determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol, wherein determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol comprises determining a first number of REs in the OFDM symbol that correspond to ZP CSI-RS resources and/or CSI-IM resources for which the respective power boosting configurations comprise the indication of use for power boosting in the same OFDM symbol. Determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol further comprises determining the power boost value for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol based on the first number of REs. In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining a second number of REs in the OFDM symbol that correspond to the downlink channel or signal in the same OFDM symbol, wherein determining the power boost value for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol comprises determining the power boost value for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol based on the first and the second number of REs.

[0031 ] In some embodiments, the downlink channel or signal is a PDSCH.

[0032] Embodiments of a base station for power boosting in a wireless communication system are also disclosed. In some embodiments, a base station for power boosting in a wireless communication system is adapted to provide, to a wireless device, one or more power boosting configurations comprising one or more power boosting configurations for one or more ZP CSI-RS resources, one or more power boosting configurations for one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, one or more power boosting configurations for one or more CSI-IM resources, and/or one or more power boosting configurations for one or more CSI- IM resource sets. The base station is further adapted to perform a downlink transmission of a downlink channel or signal to the wireless device with power boosting per OFDM symbol containing the ZP CSI-RS or CSI-IM resources or resource sets in a slot, in accordance with the one or more power boosting configurations.

[0033] In some embodiments, a base station for power boosting in a wireless communication system comprises processing circuitry configured to cause the base station to provide, to a wireless device, one or more power boosting configurations comprising one or more power boosting configurations for one or more ZP CSI-RS resources, one or more power boosting configurations for one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, one or more power boosting configurations for one or more CSI-IM resources, and/or one or more power boosting configurations for one or more CSI-IM resource sets. The processing circuitry is further configured to cause the base station to perform a downlink transmission of a downlink channel or signal to the wireless device with power boosting per OFDM symbol containing the ZP CSI-RS or CSI-IM resources or resource sets in a slot, in accordance with the one or more power boosting configurations.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0034] The accompanying drawing figures incorporated in and forming a part of this specification illustrate several aspects of the disclosure, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

[0035] Figure 1 illustrates the basic New Radio (NR) physical resource over an antenna port, which can be seen as a time-frequency grid;

[0036] Figure 2 illustrates an example in which a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) is transmitted in a first two symbols of a slot and a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) is transmitted in the rest of the symbols in the slot;

[0037] Figure 3 illustrates one example of a cellular communications network in some embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

[0038] Figure 4 illustrates a power boosting example in which four consecutive subcarriers in a single Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol are configured for Channel State Information Interference Measurement (CSI-IM), a four-port Zero Power (ZP) Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) resource is also configured on the same resource elements, and in which it is possible to boost the power of the other resource elements in the OFDM symbol in accordance with embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0039] Figure 5 illustrates the operation of a base station (e.g., a NR base station (gNB)) and a wireless device (e.g., a User Equipment device (UE)) in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0040] Figure 6 is a flow chart that illustrates a procedure for determining the power boosting level for each OFDM symbol in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0041 ] Figure 7 illustrates an example in which PDSCFI is scheduled in a slot with three Resource Blocks (RBs) and two ZP CSI-RS resources are configured in the same slot;

[0042] Figures 8 through 10 illustrate example embodiments of a radio access node in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0043] Figures 1 1 and 12 illustrate example embodiments of a wireless device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0044] Figure 13 illustrates a telecommunication network connected via an intermediate network to a host computer in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0045] Figure 14 is a generalized block diagram of a host computer communicating via a base station with a UE over a partially wireless connection in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0046] Figure 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0047] Figure 16 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0048] Figure 17 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system in accordance with one embodiment on the present disclosure; and

[0049] Figure 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0050] The embodiments set forth below represent information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying drawing figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure.

[0051 ] Radio Node: As used herein, a“radio node” is either a radio access node or a wireless device.

[0052] Radio Access Node: As used herein, a“radio access node” or“radio network node” is any node in a radio access network of a cellular communications network that operates to wirelessly transmit and/or receive signals. Some examples of a radio access node include, but are not limited to, a base station (e.g., a New Radio (NR) base station (gNB) in a Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Fifth Generation (5G) NR network or an enhanced or evolved Node B (eNB) in a 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) network), a high-power or macro base station, a low-power base station (e.g., a micro base station, a pico base station, a home eNB, or the like), and a relay node.

[0053] Core Network Node: As used herein, a“core network node” is any type of node in a core network. Some examples of a core network node include, e.g., a Mobility

Management Entity (MME), a Packet Data Network Gateway (P-GW), a Service Capability Exposure Function (SCEF), or the like.

[0054] Wireless Device: As used herein, a“wireless device” is any type of device that has access to (i.e. , is served by) a cellular communications network by wirelessly transmitting and/or receiving signals to a radio access node(s). Some examples of a wireless device include, but are not limited to, a User Equipment device (UE) in a 3GPP network and a Machine Type Communication (MTC) device.

[0055] Network Node: As used herein, a“network node” is any node that is either part of the radio access network or the core network of a cellular communications

network/system.

[0056] Note that the description given herein focuses on a 3GPP cellular

communications system and, as such, 3GPP terminology or terminology similar to 3GPP terminology is oftentimes used. However, the concepts disclosed herein are not limited to a 3GPP system.

[0057] Note that, in the description herein, reference may be made to the term“cell;” however, particularly with respect to 5G NR concepts, beams may be used instead of cells and, as such, it is important to note that the concepts described herein are equally applicable to both cells and beams.

[0058] As discussed above, there currently exist certain challenge(s). A typical approach for facilitating inter-cell interference measurement in NR is to configure the UE with Channel State Information Interference Measurement (CSI-IM) resources where the serving gNB does not transmit any signal. This presents an opportunity for gNB to boost the power of other Resource Elements (REs) that share the same Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols with CSI-IM. Unfortunately, the latest 3GPP specification does not provide a mechanism to realize such power boosting.

[0059] Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to the aforementioned or other challenges. Embodiments are proposed herein that modify the 3GPP specification to facilitate power boosting of other REs that share the same OFDM symbols with Zero Power (ZP) Channel State Information Reference Signals (ZP CSI-RSs) and/or CSI-IM. More specifically, embodiments are disclosed herein that add new attributes to ZP CSI-RS and/or CSI-IM configurations which contain one or more possible values of power boosting levels and optionally signal the desired power boosting level dynamically using Downlink Control Information (DCI).

[0060] In some embodiments, the 3GPP specification is modified to facilitate power boosting of other REs that share the same OFDM symbols with ZP CSI-RS and/or CSI-IM. More specifically, in some embodiments, new attributes are added to ZP CSI-RS and/or CSI-IM configurations which contain one or more possible values of power boosting levels and optionally signal the desired power boosting level dynamically using Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) and/or DCI.

[0061 ] Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s). By power boosting other REs that share the same OFDM symbol with ZP CSI-RS and/or CSI-IM, it possible to increase the data rate and/or improve the coverage of the signals transmitted in these REs. [0062] Figure 3 illustrates one example of a cellular communications network 300 that may be implemented in some embodiments of the present disclosure. In the embodiments described herein, the cellular communications network 300 is a 5G NR network. In this example, the cellular communications network 300 includes base stations 302-1 and 302-2, which in 5G NR are referred to as gNBs, controlling corresponding macro cells 304-1 and 304-2. The base stations 302 are sometimes referred to herein as gNBs. The base stations 302-1 and 302-2 are generally referred to herein collectively as base stations 302 and individually as base station 302. Likewise, the macro cells 304-1 and 304-2 are generally referred to herein collectively as macro cells 304 and individually as macro cell 304. The cellular communications network 300 may also include a number of low power nodes 306-1 through 306-4 controlling corresponding small cells 308-1 through 308-4. The low power nodes 306-1 through 306-4 can be small base stations (such as pico or femto base stations) or Remote Radio Heads (RRHs), or the like. Notably, while not illustrated, one or more of the small cells 308-1 through 308-4 may alternatively be provided by the base stations 302. The low power nodes 306-1 through 306-4 are generally referred to herein collectively as low power nodes 306 and individually as low power node 306.

Likewise, the small cells 308-1 through 308-4 are generally referred to herein collectively as small cells 308 and individually as small cell 308. The base stations 302 (and optionally the low power nodes 306) are connected to a core network 310.

[0063] The base stations 302 and the low power nodes 306 provide service to wireless devices 312-1 through 312-5 in the corresponding cells 304 and 308. The wireless devices 312-1 through 312-5 are generally referred to herein collectively as wireless devices 312 and individually as wireless device 312. The wireless devices 312 are also sometimes referred to herein as UEs.

[0064] Now, the discussion will proceed to a description of some embodiments of the present disclosure. To facilitate the discussion below, the definition of a ZP RE is introduced. A ZP RE is an RE where the gNB does not transmit any signal. Note that a ZP RE should not be confused with ZP CSI-RS. ZP CSI-RS REs are used for rate-matching purposes where the configured UE can assume there is no Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) transmission in these REs. It is quite possible that there are other signals for other UEs in ZP CSI-RS, e.g., Non-ZP (NZP) CSI-RS for other UEs. On the other hand, ZP REs are defined herein as those REs that have no NR transmission signals of any type.

[0065] When the gNB opts for not transmitting any signal in particular ZP REs, there is an opportunity for the gNB to boost the PDSCH power of other REs that share the same OFDM symbols with these ZP REs to maintain the same average transmit power in the OFDM symbol. Such a power boosting example is shown in Figure 4, where four consecutive subcarriers in a single OFDM symbol are configured for CSI-IM. A four-port ZP CSI-RS resource is also configured on the same REs. In this example, it is possible to boost the power of REs in the OFDM symbol other than those containing CSI-IM and ZP CSI-RS by a factor of 10 ^* log10(12/8) = 1 .76 decibels (dB).

[0066] The serving gNB informs the UE about such power-boosting such that the UE knows the different power levels for different OFDM symbols, which enables the UE to successfully demodulate the received signal if the signal is a PDSCFI. Methods are disclosed herein for enabling power boosting of signals in other REs that share the same OFDM symbols with ZP REs.

[0067] In this regard, Figure 5 illustrates the operation of a base station 302 (e.g., a gNB) and a wireless device 312 (e.g., a UE) in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the base station 302 provides, to the wireless device 312, power boost configurations for one or more ZP CSI-RS resources or one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets (step 500). Note that, as used herein, a“ZP CSI-RS resource” is an RE pattern that maps to REs in one or more OFDM symbols that are used for a ZP CSI- RS. Currently, in NR, eighteen different patterns are defined. The number of REs for a ZP CSI-RS resource depends on the number of CSI-RS ports and the density configured, e.g. one RE per Resource Block (RB) per port for density =1 . Conversely, a“ZP CSI-RS resource set” is a set of one or more but preferably two or more ZP CSI-RS resources. In some embodiments, a UE is Radio Resource Control (RRC) configured with multiple ZP CSI-RS resource sets, and the one of the ZP CSI-RS resource sets to be used by the UE is dynamically signaled to the UE, where each ZP CSI-RS resource set includes one or more ZP CSI-RS resources.

[0068] As discussed below, the power boost configuration for a particular ZP CSI-RS resource or ZP CSI-RS resource set indicates whether ZP CSI-RS in the ZP CSI-RS resource or ZP CSI-RS resource set is used for power boosting of other REs in the same OFDM symbol. Note that, in this regard, if a ZP CSI-RS is used for power boosting of other REs in the same OFDM symbol (per the applicable power boost configuration), then this ZP CSI-RS can be said to cover an RE pattern that maps to ZP REs. Further, as discussed below, in some embodiments, the power boost configuration for a particular ZP CSI-RS resource or ZP CSI-RS resource set indicates a respective power boost value for the respective ZP CSI-RS.

[0069] The wireless device 312 receives the power boost configurations from the base station 302 (step 502).

[0070] The base station 302 performs a downlink transmission with per OFDM symbol power boosting in accordance with the power boost configurations (step 504). In the embodiments described herein, the power boosting is determined per OFDM symbol within the PDSCH. The details of various embodiments of a method for determining the power boost per OFDM symbol are provided below. Flowever, in general, for a particular OFDM symbol, the power boost for that OFDM symbol is determined based on the power boost configurations of ZP CSI-RSs that are present in that OFDM symbol.

[0071 ] The wireless device 312 receives the downlink transmission and determines the power boost per OFDM symbol based on the power boost configurations of the ZP CSI-RS resources present in the OFDM symbols (step 506). For each OFDM symbol having a power boost, the wireless device 312 decodes the OFDM symbol using the determined power boost for that OFDM symbol (step 508).

[0072] Additional details regarding the steps of Figure 5 are provided below.

Embodiment 1

Configuration:

[0073] When the UE is configured with ZP CSI-RS resources, the gNB configures an attribute powerBoostingOtherRes per ZP CSI-RS resource or per ZP CSI-RS resource set. This attribute powerBoostingOtherRes is also referred to herein as a power boost configuration for the respective ZP CSI-RS resource or ZP CSI-RS resource set (see step 500 above).

[0074] This attribute powerBoostingOtherRes contains one or more possible power boosting levels: • If more than one powerBoosting level is configured, more dynamic signaling is used by the gNB to signal one of the configured power boosting levels to be used by the UE, e.g., through MAC or DCI signaling

[0075] The power boosting level is the power difference, in dB, between the transmitted signals in other REs sharing the OFDM symbols with the configured ZP CSI-RS, and a reference power, which can be the power without boosting or can be configured. One such configuration of the reference power is“NR PDSCH EPRE” as defined in [2, Section 4.1 ]. The reference power can be agreed implicitly prior to UE configuration (e.g., fixed reference power that is applicable to all UEs agreed by standard body such as 3GPP) or through explicit signaling.

Determining the power boosting level for each OFDM symbol by gNB and UE:

[0076] The procedure for determining the power boosting level for each OFDM symbol is illustrated in Figure 6 and can be described as follows. Upon transmission/reception of downlink transmission (e.g., in steps 504 and 506 of Figure 5), the gNB/UE performs the following steps to determine (e.g., in step 506) the power-boosting level for each scheduled OFDM symbol:

• Initialize a loop control variable n to a value that corresponds to the first OFDM

symbol scheduled for the UE in the received downlink transmission (step 600).

• For each scheduled OFDM symbol, n, (i.e., if n £ the last OFDM symbol scheduled, step 602, YES):

o Initialize powerBoostingOfdmSymLinear(n) = 1 (or any other value indicating no power boosting in linear scale)

o Set nrofZpiCsiRs = number of ZP CSI-RS resources present in OFDM symbol n and set powerBoostingZPCSIRSLinear(m )=1 , for m=1 , ..., nrofZpiCsiRs (step 604).

o Initialize a second loop control variable m to the first ZP CSI-RS in OFDM

symbol n (step 606).

o For each ZP CSI-RS resource m that exists in OFDM symbol n AND has

powerBoostingOtherRes configured (i.e., is used for power boosting) (i.e., if nrofZpiCsiRs > 0 and m < nrofZpiCsiRs is true (step 608, YES) and if powerBoostingOtherRes for ZP CSI-RS m is true (step 610, YES)): ^■ If powerBoostingOtherRes contains only one value (step 612, NO),

• powerBoostingZPCSIRS = powerBoostingOtherRes (step 616).

^■ Else (step 612, YES):

• UE determines powerBoostingZPCSIRS for ZP CSI-RS

resource m using MAC or DCI to obtain the used power boosting level out of the configured powerBoostingOtherRes values (step 614).

o Compute powerBoostingZPCSIRSLinear(m) = 10 (p°werBoostmgzpcsiRsno) ( _ste p 618). The variable m is incremented and the process then returns to step 608 and is repeated until the last ZP CSI-RS resource that exists in the OFDM symbol n and has powerBoostingOtherRes configured is processed o Combine the power boosting from multiple ZP CSI-RS resources

({powerBoostingZPCSIRSLinear(m)}) in OFDM symbol n to obtain p owerB oo sting OfdmSym(ri) using one of the alternatives given below (step 620). The variable n is then incremented and the process returns to step 602 and is repeated until the last scheduled OFDM symbol is scheduled.

[0077] Alternatives for combining the power boosting from multiple ZP CSI-RS resources in OFDM symbol n:

• Alternative 1 :

powerB oostingO f dmSym(n)

= 10 log _w (max power BoostingZ PCS IRS Linear (m)) ( dB )

m

Alternative 2:

o Compute the maximum power boost =

where N _RE ^SCH is the number of PDSCH REs in the OFDM symbol n, and is the total number of REs of ZP CSI-RS resources with powerBoostingOtherRes configured in the OFDM symbol n and the PDSCH RBs

powerBoostingZPCSIRSLinear(m)

o If a > (nrofZpiCsiRs— 1) powerBoostingOfdmSym(n) = niin(P _?naxi , _00St ,

10 log ₁₀

° ^lu — a-( -—nro—fZp -i—Csi : -Rs-l -) )

o else

^■ powerBoostingOfdmSym(n) = P _maxb oost

Note that other alternatives are possible, and the present disclosure is not limited to the two alternatives above.

Demodulation:

[0078] The power-level for each symbol is then used for demodulation and decoding.

Embodiment 2

[0079] In another embodiment, powerBoostingOtherRes in a ZP CSI-RS resource is used to simply indicate whether the ZP CSI-RS resource is used for power boosting or not at the gNB. If it is set to“TRUE,” a UE assumes PDSCH power boosting based on the ZP CSI-RS resource in the same OFDM symbols is enabled; otherwise, power boosting based on the resource is not enabled, i.e. there is no power boosting.

[0080] For each OFDM symbol in a slot over which a PDSCH is scheduled, the UE determines the total number of REs in the scheduled PDSCH RBs for all configured ZP CSI-RS resources with powerBoostingOtherRes set to“TRUE.” The power boosting factor in an OFDM symbol is

where N _RE ^SCH is the number of PDSCH REs in the OFDM symbol, and ^j Vff ^CSi-RS is the total number of REs of ZP CSI-RS resources with powerBoostingOtherRes = TRUE in the OFDM symbol and the PDSCH RBs. When an RE is shared by more than one overlapping ZP CSI-RS resource, this RE is counted only once when determining N^ ^CSI~RS , as long as at least one of those ZP CSI-RS resources is configured with powerBoostingOtherRes = TRUE.

[0081 ] An example is shown in Figure 7, where a PDSCH is scheduled in a slot with three RBs and two ZP CSI-RS resources are configured in the same slot. If

powerBoostingOtherRes = TRUE are configured in both the two ZP CSI-RS resources, then in OFDM symbol #8, N _RE ^{CSI RS} = 14 and N _RE ^SCH = 22, the PDSCH in the symbol is power boosted by 2.14 dB

[0082] Similarly, in OFDM symbol #9, N _RE ^CSI~RS = 6 and N _RE ^SCH = 30, the PDSCFI in the symbol is power boosted by

/30 + 6\

Pboost ( dB ) = 10 * log 10 _{3 Q} j = 0.79 dB

[0083] If powerBoostingOtherRes = TRUE is configured in ZP CSI-RS #1 and powerBoostingOtherRes = FALSE is configured in ZP CSI-RS #2, then in OFDM symbol #8, jVf£ ^CSi_RS = 8 and NRE ^SCH = 22, the PDSCFI in the symbol is power boosted by 1.35 dB

[0084] In OFDM symbol #9, N _RE ^CSI~RS = 0 and N _RE ^SCH = 30, the PDSCH in the symbol is power boosted by

i.e., there is no PDSCH power boosting in OFDM symbol #9.

Embodiment 3 - Modification of the PDSCH-to-Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) power ratio

[0085] When applying power boosting as described herein, the PDSCH power may be different on different OFDM symbols due to presence of ZP REs. Therefore, it is not clear how the PDSCH-to-DMRS power ratio (i.e., ^ ^DMRS _3S described in the background) should be defined.

[0086] In one variant of this embodiment, a reference PDSCH Energy per Resource Element (EPRE) is defined, where the reference PDSCH RE is defined as the energy of a PDSCH RE where no additional power boosting due to ZP REs is applied. Thus, when performing the demodulation based on the DMRS channel estimates, the UE adjusts the power by /¾ _MRS dB for PDSCH REs which have not been additionally power-boosted and D _MRS + P _boost dB for REs which have been additionally power-boosted. [0087] In another variant of this embodiment, a reference PDSCH EPRE is defined as the average PDSCH EPRE across all scheduled REs. For each OFDM symbol, a power offset is additionally applied for all PDSCH REs in that symbol.

Variants

[0088] In variants of the embodiments of the present disclosure are as follows.

[0089] In some of the embodiments described above, the attribute

powerBoostingOtherRes is used for (e.g., as part of) ZP CSI-RS. However, in some other embodiments, the attribute powerBoostingOtherRes can additionally or alternatively be added for other types of signals such as, e.g., CSI-IM. Thus, a power boosting

configuration can be provided (e.g., as a powerBoostingOtherRes attribute) for a CSI-IM resource or CSI-IM resource set. A power boost for a particular OFDM symbol is then determined based on the applicable power boost configurations for CSI-IMs present in the OFDM symbol and/or ZP CSI-RS resources present in the OFDM symbol in a manner similar to that described above.

[0090] In another variant, an alternative to signaling powerBoostingOtherRes per ZP CSI-RS resource is to signal the powerBoosting per OFDM symbol.

[0091 ] In yet another variant, the capability to use power boosting may be a capability of the UE that is signaled by the UE to the serving gNB.

Additional Details

[0092] Figure 8 is a schematic block diagram of a radio access node 800 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The radio access node 800 may be, for example, a base station 302 or 306 (e.g., the gNB described above). As illustrated, the radio access node 800 includes a control system 802 that includes one or more processors 804 (e.g., Central Processing Units (CPUs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits

(ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), and/or the like), memory 806, and a network interface 808. The one or more processors 804 are also referred to herein as processing circuitry. In addition, the radio access node 800 includes one or more radio units 810 that each includes one or more transmitters 812 and one or more receivers 814 coupled to one or more antennas 816. The radio units 810 may be referred to or be part of radio interface circuitry. In some embodiments, the radio unit(s) 810 is external to the control system 802 and connected to the control system 802 via, e.g., a wired connection (e.g., an optical cable). However, in some other embodiments, the radio unit(s) 810 and potentially the antenna(s) 816 are integrated together with the control system 802. The one or more processors 804 operate to provide one or more functions of a radio access node 800 as described herein. In some embodiments, the function(s) are implemented in software that is stored, e.g., in the memory 806 and executed by the one or more processors 804.

[0093] Figure 9 is a schematic block diagram that illustrates a virtualized embodiment of the radio access node 800 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. This discussion is equally applicable to other types of network nodes. Further, other types of network nodes may have similar virtualized architectures.

[0094] As used herein, a“virtualized” radio access node is an implementation of the radio access node 800 in which at least a portion of the functionality of the radio access node 800 (e.g., the functionality of the gNB) is implemented as a virtual component(s) (e.g., via a virtual machine(s) executing on a physical processing node(s) in a network(s)). As illustrated, in this example, the radio access node 800 includes the control system 802 that includes the one or more processors 804 (e.g., CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, and/or the like), the memory 806, and the network interface 808 and the one or more radio units 810 that each includes the one or more transmitters 812 and the one or more receivers 814 coupled to the one or more antennas 816, as described above. The control system 802 is connected to the radio unit(s) 810 via, for example, an optical cable or the like. The control system 802 is connected to one or more processing nodes 900 coupled to or included as part of a network(s) 902 via the network interface 808. Each processing node 900 includes one or more processors 904 (e.g., CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, and/or the like), memory 906, and a network interface 908.

[0095] In this example, functions 910 of the radio access node 800 described herein are implemented at the one or more processing nodes 900 or distributed across the control system 802 and the one or more processing nodes 900 in any desired manner. In some particular embodiments, some or all of the functions 910 of the radio access node 800 described herein are implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in a virtual environment(s) hosted by the processing node(s) 900.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, additional signaling or communication between the processing node(s) 900 and the control system 802 is used in order to carry out at least some of the desired functions 910. Notably, in some

embodiments, the control system 802 may not be included, in which case the radio unit(s) 810 communicate directly with the processing node(s) 900 via an appropriate network interface(s).

[0096] In some embodiments, a computer program including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to carry out the functionality of radio access node 800 or a node (e.g., a processing node 900)

implementing one or more of the functions 910 of the radio access node 800 in a virtual environment according to any of the embodiments described herein is provided. In some embodiments, a carrier comprising the aforementioned computer program product is provided. The carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable medium such as memory).

[0097] Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram of the radio access node 800 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. The radio access node 800 includes one or more modules 1000, each of which is implemented in software. The module(s)

1000 provide the functionality of the radio access node 800 described herein. This discussion is equally applicable to the processing node 900 of Figure 9 where the modules 1000 may be implemented at one of the processing nodes 900 or distributed across multiple processing nodes 900 and/or distributed across the processing node(s) 900 and the control system 802.

[0098] Figure 1 1 is a schematic block diagram of a UE 1 100 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the UE 1 100 includes one or more processors 1 102 (e.g., CPUs, ASICs, FPGAs, and/or the like), memory 1 104, and one or more transceivers 1 106 each including one or more transmitters 1 108 and one or more receivers 1 1 10 coupled to one or more antennas 1 1 12. The processors 1 102 are also referred to herein as processing circuitry. The transceivers 1 106 are also referred to herein as radio circuitry. In some embodiments, the functionality of the UE 1 100 described above may be fully or partially implemented in software that is, e.g., stored in the memory 1 104 and executed by the processor(s) 1 102. Note that the UE 1 100 may include additional components not illustrated in Figure 1 1 such as, e.g., one or more user interface components (e.g., a display, buttons, a touch screen, a microphone, a speaker(s), and/or the like), a power supply (e.g., a battery and associated power circuitry), etc.

[0099] In some embodiments, a computer program including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to carry out the functionality of the UE 1 100 according to any of the embodiments described herein is provided. In some embodiments, a carrier comprising the aforementioned computer program product is provided. The carrier is one of an electronic signal, an optical signal, a radio signal, or a computer readable storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory computer readable medium such as memory).

[0100] Figure 12 is a schematic block diagram of the UE 1 100 according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. The UE 1 100 includes one or more modules 1200, each of which is implemented in software. The module(s) 1200 provide the functionality of the UE 1 100 described herein.

[0101 ] With reference to Figure 13, in accordance with an embodiment, a

communication system includes a telecommunication network 1300, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises an access network 1302, such as a RAN, and a core network 1304. The access network 1302 comprises a plurality of base stations 1306A, 1306B, 1306C, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs, or other types of wireless Access Points (APs), each defining a corresponding coverage area 1308A, 1308B, 1308C. Each base station 1306A, 1306B, 1306C is connectable to the core network 1304 over a wired or wireless connection 1310. A first UE 1312 located in coverage area 1308C is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station 1306C. A second UE 1314 in coverage area 1308A is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station 1306A. While a plurality of UEs 1312, 1314 are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station 1306.

[0102] The telecommunication network 1300 is itself connected to a host computer 1316, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server, or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer 1316 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. Connections 1318 and 1320 between the telecommunication network 1300 and the host computer 1316 may extend directly from the core network 1304 to the host computer 1316 or may go via an optional intermediate network 1322. The intermediate network 1322 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private, or hosted network; the intermediate network 1322, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, the intermediate network 1322 may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

[0103] The communication system of Figure 13 as a whole enables connectivity between the connected UEs 1312, 1314 and the host computer 1316. The connectivity may be described as an Over-the-Top (OTT) connection 1324. The host computer 1316 and the connected UEs 1312, 1314 are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via the OTT connection 1324, using the access network 1302, the core network 1304, any intermediate network 1322, and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as

intermediaries. The OTT connection 1324 may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection 1324 passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, the base station 1306 may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from the host computer 1316 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE 1312. Similarly, the base station 1306 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE 1312 towards the host computer 1316.

[0104] Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station, and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to Figure 14. In a communication system 1400, a host computer 1402 comprises hardware 1404 including a communication interface 1406 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 1400. The host computer 1402 further comprises processing circuitry 1408, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. In particular, the processing circuitry 1408 may comprise one or more programmable processors, ASICs, FPGAs, or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The host computer 1402 further comprises software 1410, which is stored in or accessible by the host computer 1402 and executable by the processing circuitry 1408. The software 1410 includes a host application 1412. The host application 1412 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a UE 1414 connecting via an OTT connection 1416 terminating at the UE 1414 and the host computer 1402. In providing the service to the remote user, the host application 1412 may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection 1416.

[0105] The communication system 1400 further includes a base station 1418provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware 1420 enabling it to communicate with the host computer 1402 and with the UE 1414. The hardware 1420 may include a communication interface 1422 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 1400, as well as a radio interface 1424 for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection 1426 with the UE 1414 located in a coverage area (not shown in Figure 14) served by the base station 1418. The communication interface 1422 may be configured to facilitate a connection 1428 to the host computer 1402. The connection 1428 may be direct or it may pass through a core network (not shown in Figure 14) of the telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, the hardware 1420 of the base station 1418 further includes processing circuitry 1430, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, ASICs, FPGAs, or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The base station 1418 further has software 1432 stored internally or accessible via an external connection.

[0106] The communication system 1400 further includes the UE 1414 already referred to. The UE’s 1414 hardware 1434 may include a radio interface 1436 configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 1426 with a base station serving a coverage area in which the UE 1414 is currently located. The hardware 1434 of the UE 1414 further includes processing circuitry 1438, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, ASICs, FPGAs, or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. The UE 1414 further comprises software 1440, which is stored in or accessible by the UE 1414 and executable by the processing circuitry 1438. The software 1440 includes a client application 1442. The client application 1442 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the UE 1414, with the support of the host computer 1402. In the host computer 1402, the executing host application 1412 may communicate with the executing client application 1442 via the OTT connection 1416 terminating at the UE 1414 and the host computer 1402. In providing the service to the user, the client application 1442 may receive request data from the host application 1412 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 1416 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 1442 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

[0107] It is noted that the host computer 1402, the base station 1418, and the UE 1414 illustrated in Figure 14 may be similar or identical to the host computer 1316, one of the base stations 1306A, 1306B, 1306C, and one of the UEs 1312, 1314 of Figure 13, respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown in Figure 14 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of Figure 13.

[0108] In Figure 14, the OTT connection 1416 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host computer 1402 and the UE 1414 via the base station 1418 without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. The network infrastructure may determine the routing, which may be configured to hide from the UE 1414 or from the service provider operating the host computer 1402, or both. While the OTT connection 1416 is active, the network

infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network).

[0109] The wireless connection 1426 between the UE 1414 and the base station 1418 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the UE 1414 using the OTT connection 1416, in which the wireless connection 1426 forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve data rate and thereby provide benefits such as, e.g., reduced user waiting time, relaxed restriction on file size, etc.

[0110] A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency, and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 1416 between the host computer 1402 and the UE 1414, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 1416 may be implemented in the software 1410 and the hardware 1404 of the host computer 1402 or in the software 1440 and the hardware 1434 of the UE 1414, or both. In some embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT connection 1416 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which the software 1410, 1440 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities.

The reconfiguring of the OTT connection 1416 may include message format,

retransmission settings, preferred routing, etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the base station 1414, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the base station 1414. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain

embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating the host computer 1402’s measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency, and the like.

The measurements may be implemented in that the software 1410 and 1440 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or‘dummy’ messages, using the OTT connection 1416 while it monitors propagation times, errors, etc.

[0111 ] Figure 15 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE which may be those described with reference to Figures 13 and 14. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 15 will be included in this section. In step 1500, the host computer provides user data. In sub-step 1502 (which may be optional) of step 1500, the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step 1504, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In step 1506 (which may be optional), the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step 1508 (which may also be optional), the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.

[0112] Figure 16 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE which may be those described with reference to Figures 13 and 14. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 16 will be included in this section. In step 1600 of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional sub-step (not shown) the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step 1602, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step 1604 (which may be optional), the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission.

[0113] Figure 17 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE which may be those described with reference to Figures 13 and 14. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 17 will be included in this section. In step 1700 (which may be optional), the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in step 1702, the UE provides user data. In sub-step 1704 (which may be optional) of step 1700, the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In sub-step 1706 (which may be optional) of step 1702, the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE initiates, in sub-step 1708 (which may be optional), transmission of the user data to the host computer. In step 1710 of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.

[0114] Figure 18 is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station, and a UE which may be those described with reference to Figures 13 and 14. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to Figure 18 will be included in this section. In step 1800 (which may be optional), in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. In step 1802 (which may be optional), the base station initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer. In step 1804 (which may be optional), the host computer receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the base station.

[0115] Any appropriate steps, methods, features, functions, or benefits disclosed herein may be performed through one or more functional units or modules of one or more virtual apparatuses. Each virtual apparatus may comprise a number of these functional units. These functional units may be implemented via processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include Digital Signal Processor (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein. In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause the respective functional unit to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0116] While processes in the figures may show a particular order of operations performed by certain embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood that such order is exemplary (e.g., alternative embodiments may perform the operations in a different order, combine certain operations, overlap certain operations, etc.).

[0117] Some example embodiments are as follows:

Group A Embodiments

[0118] Embodiment 1 : A method performed by a wireless device for power boosting in a wireless communication system, the method comprising one or more of: obtaining (502) a power boosting configuration for any combination of one or more ZP CSI-RS resources, one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, one or more CSI-IM resources, and/or one or more CSI-IM resource sets; for an OFDM symbol within a downlink slot, scheduled with a downlink channel or signal, received by the wireless device, determining (506) a power boost value for a downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol based on the power boosting configurations applicable to the one or more ZP CSI-RS resources and/or one or more CSI-IM resources in the OFDM symbol; and decoding (508) the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol based on the determined power boost for the channel or signal in the OFDM symbol.

[0119] Embodiment 2: The method of embodiment 1 wherein, for each ZP CSI-RS resource, each ZP CSI-RS resource set, each CSI-IM resource, and/or each CSI-IM resource set, the respective power boosting configuration comprises an indication of a power boosting value associated with the ZP CSI-RS resource, the ZP CSI-RS resource set, the CSI-IM resource, or the CSI-IM resource set that is used for power boosting of other REs in the same OFDM symbol.

[0120] Embodiment 3: The method of embodiment 2 wherein determining (506) the power boost value for the downlink channel or signal comprises: for each ZP CSI-RS resource and/or for each CSI-IM resource that is in the OFDM symbol and has an applicable power boosting configuration, determining a power boost value for the other REs based on the indication of the power boosting value in the applicable power boosting configuration; and combining the determined power boost values to thereby provide a combined power boost value for other REs in the OFDM symbol as the power boost for the channel or signal in the OFDM symbol.

[0121 ] Embodiment 4: The method of embodiment 1 wherein, for each ZP CSI-RS resource, each ZP CSI-RS resource set, each CSI-IM resource, and/or each CSI-IM resource set, the respective power boosting configuration comprises one or more configured power boosting values associated with the ZP CSI-RS resource, the ZP CSI-RS resource set, the CSI-IM resource, or the CSI-IM resource set that can be used for power boosting of other REs in the same OFDM symbol.

[0122] Embodiment 5: The method of embodiment 4 further comprising receiving (502) an indication of one of the one or more configured power boosting values to use for the OFDM symbol.

[0123] Embodiment 6: The method of embodiment 3 wherein determining (504) the power boost value for the downlink channel or signal comprises: for each ZP CSI-RS resource and/or for each CSI-IM resource that is in the OFDM symbol and has an applicable power boosting configuration, determining a power boost value for the other REs based on the one or more configured power boosting values in the applicable power boosting configuration and the received indication of the one of the one or more configured power boosting values to use for the OFDM symbol; and combining the determined power boost values to thereby provide a combined power boost value for the other REs in the OFDM symbol as the power boost for the channel or signal in the OFDM symbol.

[0124] Embodiment 7: The method of embodiment 1 wherein, for each ZP CSI-RS resource, each ZP CSI-RS resource set, each CSI-IM resource, and/or each CSI-IM resource set, the respective power boosting configuration comprises an indication of whether the ZP CSI-RS REs in the ZP CSI-RS resource, the ZP CSI-RS REs in each ZP CSI-RS resource in the ZP CSI-RS resource set, the CSI-IM REs in the CSI-IM resource, or the CSI-IM REs in each CSI-IM resource in the CSI-IM resource set is used for power boosting of other REs in the same OFDM symbol.

[0125] Embodiment 8: The method of embodiment 7 wherein determining (506) the power boost value for the downlink channel or signal comprises one or more of:

determining a first number of REs in the OFDM symbol that correspond to ZP CSI-RS resources and/or CSI-IM resources for which the applicable power boosting configurations comprise the indication of use for power boosting of other REs in the same OFDM symbol; and determining the power boost value for the other REs in the OFDM symbol based on the determined first number of REs.

[0126] Embodiment 9: The method of embodiment 8 further comprising: determining a second number of REs in the OFDM symbol that correspond to the other REs in the same OFDM symbol; wherein determining the power boost value for the other REs in the OFDM symbol comprises determining the power boost value for the other REs in the OFDM symbol based on the first and the second number of REs.

[0127] Embodiment 10: The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 9 wherein the other REs are scheduled with the downlink channel or signal.

[0128] Embodiment 1 1 : The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 10 wherein the downlink channel or signal is a Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH.

[0129] Embodiment 12: The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 1 1 wherein decoding (508) the OFDM symbol based on the determined power boost for the other REs in the OFDM symbol comprises adjusting power of the PDSCH REs in the OFDM symbol that have been power boosted by 1 / _DMRS + P _boost dB, where 1 / _DMRS is a PDSCH to DMRS power ratio without power boosting and P _b00 st is the power boost for the PDSCH in the OFDM symbol.

[0130] Embodiment 13: The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 12 wherein decoding (508) the OFDM symbol based on the determined power boost for the OFDM symbol comprises applying a power offset to a reference PDSCH EPRE for the OFDM symbol, wherein the power offset is a function of the power boost for the OFDM symbol. [0131 ] Embodiment 14: The method of any one of embodiments 1 to 13 wherein the decoding (508) the OFDM symbol comprises decoding the scheduled downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol.

[0132] Embodiment 15: The method of any of the previous embodiments, further comprising: providing user data; and forwarding the user data to a host computer via a transmission to the base station.

Group B Embodiments

[0133] Embodiment 16: A method performed by a base station for power boosting in a wireless communication system, the method comprising one or more of: providing (502), to a wireless device, a power boosting configuration for one or more ZP CSI-RS resources, one or more ZP CSI-RS resource sets, one or more CSI-IM resources, and/or one or more CSI-IM resource sets; and performing (504) a downlink transmission of a downlink channel or signal to the wireless device with power boosting per OFDM symbol containing the ZP CSI-RS or CSI-IM resources or resource sets in a slot.

[0134] Embodiment 17: The method of embodiment 16 wherein the downlink channel or signal is a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH.

[0135] Embodiment 18: The method of embodiment 16 or 17 wherein, for each OFDM symbol of the downlink channel or signal, the power boost for the OFDM symbol is in accordance with the power boosting configurations applicable to the one or more ZP CSI- RS resources and/or one or more CSI-IM resources in the OFDM symbol.

[0136] Embodiment 19: The method of any one of embodiments 16 to 18 wherein, for each ZP CSI-RS resource, each ZP CSI-RS resource set, each CSI-IM resource, and/or each CSI-IM resource set, the respective power boosting configuration comprises an indication of a power boosting value associated with the ZP CSI-RS resource, the ZP CSI- RS resource set, the CSI-IM resource, or the CSI-IM resource set that is used for power boosting of other REs in the same OFDM symbol.

[0137] Embodiment 20: The method of embodiment 19 wherein performing (504) the downlink transmission comprises, for each OFDM symbol with the I downlink channel or signal, determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol, wherein determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol comprises: for each ZP CSI-RS resource and/or for each CSI-IM resource that is in the OFDM symbol and has an applicable power boosting configuration, determining a power boost value based on the indication of the power boosting value in the applicable power boosting configuration; and combining the determined power boost values to thereby provide a combined power boost value for other REs in the OFDM symbol as the power boost for the channel or signal in the OFDM symbol.

[0138] Embodiment 21 : The method of any one of embodiments 16 to 18 wherein, for each ZP CSI-RS resource, each ZP CSI-RS resource set, each CSI-IM resource, and/or each CSI-IM resource set, the respective power boosting configuration comprises one or more configured power boosting values associated with the ZP CSI-RS resource, the ZP CSI-RS resource set, the CSI-IM resource, or the CSI-IM resource set that can be used for power boosting of other REs in the same OFDM symbol.

[0139] Embodiment 22: The method of embodiment 21 further comprising transmitting (502), to the wireless device, an indication of one of the one or more configured power boosting values to use for the OFDM symbol.

[0140] Embodiment 23: The method of embodiment 22 wherein performing (504) the downlink transmission comprises, for each OFDM symbol in the downlink channel or signal, determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol, wherein determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol comprises: for each ZP CSI-RS resource and/or for each CSI-IM resource that is in the OFDM symbol and has an applicable power boosting configuration, determining a power boost value for the other REs based on the one or more configured power boosting values in the applicable power boosting configuration and the received indication of the one of the one or more configured power boosting values to use for the OFDM symbol; and combining the determined power boost values to thereby provide a combined power boost value as the power boost value for downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol.

[0141 ] Embodiment 24: The method of any one of embodiments 16 to 18 wherein, for each ZP CSI-RS resource, each ZP CSI-RS resource set, each CSI-IM resource, and/or each CSI-IM resource set, the respective power boosting configuration comprises an indication of whether the ZP CSI-RS REs in the ZP CSI-RS resource, the ZP CSI-RS REs in each ZP CSI-RS resource in the ZP CSI-RS resource set, the CSI-IM REs in the CSI-IM resource, or the CSI-IM REs in each CSI-IM resource in the CSI-IM resource set is used for power boosting of other REs in the same OFDM symbol. [0142] Embodiment 25: The method of embodiment 24 wherein the other REs are scheduled with the downlink channel or signal.

[0143] Embodiment 26: The method of embodiment 24 or 25 wherein performing (504) the downlink transmission comprises, for each OFDM symbol with the downlink channel or signal, determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol, wherein determining the power boost for the downlink channel or signal in the OFDM symbol comprises: determining a first number of REs in the OFDM symbol that correspond to ZP CSI-RS resources and/or CSI-IM resources for which the applicable power boosting configurations comprise the indication of use for power boosting of other REs in the same OFDM symbol; and determining the power boost value for the other REs in the OFDM symbol based on the determined first number of REs.

[0144] Embodiment 27: The method of embodiment 26 further comprising: determining a second number of REs in the OFDM symbol that correspond to the other REs in the same OFDM symbol; wherein determining the power boost value for the other REs in the OFDM symbol comprises determining the power boost value for the other REs in the OFDM symbol based on the first and the second number of REs.

[0145] Embodiment 28: The method of embodiments 16 to 27 wherein the downlink channel or signal is a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH.

[0146] Embodiment 29: The method of any one of embodiments 15 to 26 further comprising: obtaining user data; and forwarding the user data to a host computer or the wireless device.

Group C Embodiments

[0147] Embodiment 30: A wireless device for power boosting in a wireless

communication system, the wireless device comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

[0148] Embodiment 31 : A base station for power boosting in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising: processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

[0149] Embodiment 32: A User Equipment, UE, for power boosting in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising: an antenna(s) configured to send and receive wireless signals; transceiver(s) connected to the antenna and to processing circuitry, and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuitry; the processing circuitry being configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

[0150] Embodiment 33: A communication system including a host computer

comprising: processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and a communication interface configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a User Equipment, UE; wherein the cellular network comprises a base station having a radio interface and processing circuitry, the base station’s processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

[0151 ] Embodiment 34: The communication system of the previous embodiment further including the base station.

[0152] Embodiment 35: The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with the base station.

[0153] Embodiment 36: The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; and the UE comprises processing circuitry configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

[0154] Embodiment 37: A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station, and a User Equipment, UE, the method comprising: at the host computer, providing user data; and at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station, wherein the base station performs any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

[0155] Embodiment 38: The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at the base station, transmitting the user data.

[0156] Embodiment 39: The method of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein the user data is provided at the host computer by executing a host application, the method further comprising, at the UE, executing a client application associated with the host application.

[0157] Embodiment 40: A User Equipment, UE, configured to communicate with a base station, the UE comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to perform the method of the previous 3 embodiments. [0158] Embodiment 41 : A communication system including a host computer comprising: processing circuitry configured to provide user data; and a communication interface configured to forward user data to a cellular network for transmission to a User Equipment, UE; wherein the UE comprises a transceiver(s) and processing circuitry, the UE’s components configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A

embodiments.

[0159] Embodiment 42: The communication system of the previous embodiment, wherein the cellular network further includes a base station configured to communicate with the UE.

[0160] Embodiment 43: The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; and the UE’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

[0161 ] Embodiment 44: A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station, and a User Equipment, UE, the method comprising: at the host computer, providing user data; and at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

[0162] Embodiment 45: The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at the UE, receiving the user data from the base station.

[0163] Embodiment 46: A communication system including a host computer

comprising: communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a User Equipment, UE, to a base station; wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the UE’s processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

[0164] Embodiment 47: The communication system of the previous embodiment, further including the UE.

[0165] Embodiment 48: The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the base station, wherein the base station comprises a radio interface(s) configured to communicate with the UE and a communication interface configured to forward to the host computer the user data carried by a transmission from the UE to the base station. [0166] Embodiment 49: The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application; and the UE’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data.

[0167] Embodiment 50: The communication system of the previous 4 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing request data; and the UE’s processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data in response to the request data.

[0168] Embodiment 51 : A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station, and a User Equipment, UE, the method comprising: at the host computer, receiving user data transmitted to the base station from the UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

[0169] Embodiment 52: The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at the UE, providing the user data to the base station.

[0170] Embodiment 53: The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising: at the UE, executing a client application, thereby providing the user data to be transmitted; and at the host computer, executing a host application associated with the client

application.

[0171 ] Embodiment 54: The method of the previous 3 embodiments, further comprising: at the UE, executing a client application; and at the UE, receiving input data to the client application, the input data being provided at the host computer by executing a host application associated with the client application; wherein the user data to be transmitted is provided by the client application in response to the input data.

[0172] Embodiment 55: A communication system including a host computer comprising a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a User Equipment, UE, to a base station, wherein the base station comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the base station’s processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.

[0173] Embodiment 56: The communication system of the previous embodiment further including the base station. [0174] Embodiment 57: The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with the base station.

[0175] Embodiment 58: The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein: the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application; and the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data to be received by the host computer.

[0176] Embodiment 59: A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station, and a User Equipment, UE, the method comprising: at the host computer, receiving, from the base station, user data originating from a transmission which the base station has received from the UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.

[0177] Embodiment 60: The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at the base station, receiving the user data from the UE.

[0178] Embodiment 61 : The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising at the base station, initiating a transmission of the received user data to the host computer.

[0085] At least some of the following abbreviations may be used in this disclosure. If there is an inconsistency between abbreviations, preference should be given to how it is used above. If listed multiple times below, the first listing should be preferred over any subsequent listing(s).

3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project

5G Fifth Generation

AP Access Point

ASIC Application Specific Integrated Circuit

CE Control Element

CPU Central Processing Unit

CQI Channel Quality Indicator

CRS Cell Reference Signal

CSI-IM Channel State Information Interference Measurement

CSI-RS Channel State Information Reference Signal

dB Decibel • DCI Downlink Control Information

• DMRS Demodulation Reference Signal

• DSP Digital Signal Processor

• eNB Enhanced or Evolved Node B

• EPRE Energy per Resource Element

• FPGA Field Programmable Gate Array

• GHz Gigahertz

• gNB New Radio Base Station

• LTE Long Term Evolution

• MAC Medium Access Control

• MHz Megahertz

• mm Millimeter

• MME Mobility Management Entity

• ms Millisecond

• MTC Machine Type Communication

• MU-MIMO Multiple User Multiple Input Multiple Output

• NR New Radio

• NZP Non-Zero-Power

• OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing

• OTT Over-the-Top

• PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel

• PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel

• P-GW Packet Data Network Gateway

• PSK Phase Shift Keying

• QAM Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

• RAM Random Access Memory

• RB Resource Block

• RE Resource Element

• ROM Read Only Memory

• RRC Radio Resource Control • RRH Remote Radio Head

• SCEF Service Capability Exposure Function

• TS Technical Specification

• UE User Equipment

• ZP Zero-Power

[0086] Those skilled in the art will recognize improvements and modifications to the embodiments of the present disclosure. All such improvements and modifications are considered within the scope of the concepts disclosed herein.

References

[1 ] 3GPP TS 38.21 1 V15.0.0 (2017-12)

[2] 3GPP TS 38.214 V15.0.0 (2017-12)