CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63/215,942, filed June 28, 2021 , which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to downlink (DL) and uplink (UL) transmission schemes that can improve transmission efficiency. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for indicating a joint transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state, along with a DL TCI state or an UL TCI state.

BACKGROUND

[0003] New Radio (NR) system supports multi-beam operation on DL and UL physical channels and reference signals. The physical channels include Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), and Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH). The reference signals include Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) and Sounding Reference Signal (SRS). NR release 15/16 supports functions of indicating beams used for PDCCH/PDSCH/CSI-RS/PUSCH/SRS/PUCCH through a framework of TCI-state for DL transmission or spatial relation for UL transmission.

[0004] Drawbacks of existing beam indication operations include that a higher layer signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control, RRC, or Media Access Control Control Element, MAC CE) are used to indicate beams for each channel or reference signals, therefore the latency and overhead of the beam indication operations is significant. Therefore, it is advantageous to have improved systems and methods to address the foregoing issue. SUMMARY

[0005] The present disclosure is related to systems and methods of physical- layer-signaling-based beam indications. The present methods and systems enables beam indication operations with a low signaling overhead and latency by using physical layer control signaling for the beam indication operations. The present methods and systems can be applied in embodiments where a joint TCI state (e.g., a TCI state indicating both DL and UL transmission) is used, as well as where a separate TCI state (e.g., a TCI state indicating either DL or UL transmission) is used.

[0006] In some embodiments, a terminal device (or user equipment, UE) can be configured with a joint TCI state. In such cases, the present systems and methods configure a CSI-RS resource ora Synchronization Signal/Physical Broadcast Channel (SS/PBCH) block as a source reference signal for Quasi Co-location (QCL) (e.g. , QCL- TypeD) for DL PDCCH and PDSCH reception. The CSI-RS resource or SS/PBCH is used to determine an UL Tx spatial filter for the transmission of the PUSCH and PUCCH.

[0007] In some embodiments, when the terminal device is configured with a separate TCI state, the terminal device is provided with “K1” DL TCI states and “K2” UL TCI states. In each DL TCI state, the terminal device can be provided with one reference signal (e.g., a CSI-RS resource or SS/PBCH block) that provides QCL (e.g., QCL-TypeD) for DL PDCCH and PDSCH reception. In each UL TCI state, the terminal device can be provided with one reference signal (e.g., a CSI-RS resource, an SS/PBCH block or SRS resource, etc.) that is used by the terminal device to determine an UL Tx spatial filter for the transmission of the PUSCH and PUCCH.

[0008] The present systems and methods provide solutions for (1 ) determining an indicated joint TCI state or an indicated DL TCI state for PDCCH; (2) determining an indicated joint TCI state or an indicated DL TCI state for PDSCH; (3) determining an indicated joint TCI state or an indicated UL TCI state for PUSCH; (4) determining an indicated joint TCI state or an indicated UL TCI state for PUCCH; or (5) determining an indicated joint TCI state or an indicated UL TCI state for Sounding Reference Signal (SRS). By the foregoing arrangements, the present systems and methods can effectively improve beam transmission efficiency with reduced amount of computing resources. [0009] In some embodiments, the present method can be implemented by a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium having processor instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform one or more aspects/features of the method described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] To describe the technical solutions in the implementations of the present disclosure more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings show merely some aspects or implementations of the present disclosure, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a joint TCI framework in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a separate TCI framework in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure.

[0013] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure.

[0014] Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure.

[0015] Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a method in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] To describe the technical solutions in the implementations of the present disclosure more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings show merely some aspects or implementations of the present disclosure, and a person of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these accompanying drawings without creative efforts.

[0017] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a joint TCI framework 100 in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure. The joint TCI framework 100 includes a terminal device 101 and a base station 103. For a UL transmission, the terminal device 101 is configured to transmit via a UL TX beam 105, and the base station 103 is configured to receive via a UL RX beam 107. For a DL transmission, the base station 103 is configured to transmit via a DL TX beam 109, and the terminal device 101 is configured to receive via a DL RX beam 111. Both the UL and DL transmissions (e.g., including which TX beam to use) are indicated in a joint TCI indication 10.

[0018] In some embodiments, the terminal device 101 can be provided with a list of TCI states, and each TCI state includes one or more parameters for providing quasi- co-location (QCL) information for DL/UL transmissions. For example, the parameters can include PDCCH/PDSCH parameters, parameters for providing information for determining UL Tx spatial filter(s) for UL transmission, for example, PUSCH, PUCCH, and SRS parameters.

[0019] In some embodiments, a joint TCI state (e.g., the joint TCI state indication or indicator 10) can contain a reference signal identification (ID) that provides both QCL information for receiving DL transmission (e.g., DL TCI information) and information for determining UL Tx spatial filter (e.g., UL TCI information) for UL transmission.

[0020] In some embodiments, the terminal device 101 (e.g., UE) can have a TCI state with a reference signal ID that only provides QCL information for receiving DL transmission (such a TCI state can be called “DL TCI state”). In some embodiments, the terminal device 101 can have a TCI state with a reference signal ID that only provides information for determining uplink Tx spatial filter(s) for UL transmission (such a TCI state can be called “UL TCI state”). In such embodiments, the base station 103 (e.g., gNB) can indicate a first joint DL/UL TCI state to the terminal device 101 and the terminal device 101 can apply the QCL information included in the first joint DL/UL TCI state for receiving DL transmission and also apply the uplink Tx spatial filter(s) determined based on the information included in the first joint DL/UL TCI state for UL transmission.

[0021] In some embodiments, the base station 103 (e.g., gNB) can indicate a second DL TCI state and a third UL TCI state to the terminal device 101 (e.g., UE) and the terminal device 101 can apply QCL information included in the second DL TCI state for receiving DL transmission and apply the UL Tx spatial filter(s) determined based on the information included in the third UL TCI state on UL transmission. [0022] In some embodiments, the base station 103 can use the same signaling command to signal a DL TCI state and a UL TCI state. The base station 103 can use separate signaling commands to signal a DL TCI state and a UL TCI state. For example, the base station 103 can use RRC signaling to indicate a joint DL/UL TCI state, or a DL TCI state or a UL TCI state.

[0023] In one example, if the base station 103 only configures one joint DL/UL TCI state in RRC, then that joint DL/UL TCI state is to be used by the terminal device 101 . In another example, if the base station 103 only configures one DL TCI state in RRC, then that DL TCI state is to be used by the terminal device 101. In some embodiments, if the base station 103 only configures one UL TCI state in RRC, then that UL TCI state is to be used by the terminal device 101.

[0024] In some embodiments, the base station 103 can use medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) signaling to indicate a joint DL/UL TCI state, or a DL TCI state, and/or a UL TCI state. In some embodiments, the base station 105 can use a downlink control information (DCI) channel to indicate a joint DL/UL TCI state, or a DL TCI state, and/or a UL TCI state.

[0025] In one example, the base station 105 provides a list of “NG joint TCI state 10 to the terminal device 101 . Each joint TCI state 10 can be associated with one DL reference signal that is used as a pathloss reference signal (RS). The base station 103 can use an MAC CE activation command to activate one or more of the joint TCI states 10 and map the joint TCI states 10 to the codepoint of TCI bit field in DCI format “1_1” and “1_2.” The base station 105 can send one DCI format “1_1” or “1_2” to indicate a first joint TCI state (e.g., which can be one of the activated joint TCI states 10) to the terminal device 101. Accordingly, starting from the first slot that is at least “X” milliseconds (or Ύ” symbols) after the last symbol of the PUCCFI carrying an acknowledgement to the foregoing DCI-based TCI state indication, the terminal device 101 can apply the first joint TCI state on PDCCH and PDSCFI reception and PUSCH and PUCCH transmission.

[0026] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a separate TCI framework 200 in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure. Compared to the embodiments discussed in Fig. 1 , in addition to the joint TCI 10, the separate TCI framework 200 also uses separate DL TCI state 20 and UL TCI state 22 to indicate DL and UL transmissions, respectively.

[0027] In some embodiments, the base station 103 can provide a list of “K DL TCI states 20 and a list of “K2” UL TCI states 22. For each UL TCI state, the terminal device 101 can be provided with one pathloss RS that can be a CSI-RS resource or an SS/PBCH block.

[0028] The base station 103 can use an MAC CE activation command to activate the one or more DL TCI states 20 and one or more UL TCI states 22. The activation command can map each codepoint of TCI bit field in the DCI format “1_1” and “1_2” to: (i) one DL TCI state 20; (ii) one UL TCI state 22; or (iii) one pair of DL TCI state 20 and UL TCI state 22. The base station 103 can send one DCI format “1_1” or “1_2” to indicate (i) a first DL TCI state (which can be one of the activated DL TCI states 20); (ii) a second UL TCI state (which can be one of the activated UL TCI states 22); or (iii) a pair of a third DL TCI state and a fourth UL TCI state to the terminal device 101.

[0029] Based on the foregoing arrangement, starting from the first slot that is at least “X” milliseconds (or Ύ” symbols) after the last symbol of PUCCH carrying an acknowledgement to the DCI-based TCI state indication, the terminal device 101 can apply the indicated DL TCI state 20 on PDCCH and PDSCH reception and/or the indicated UL TCI state 22 on PUSCH and PUCCH transmission. The terminal device 101 can also be configured to apply the indicated TCI state 20 and/or 22 on some SRS transmission.

[0030] In some embodiments, each joint TCI state can be associated with a first setting of UL power control parameters including “P0,” “alpha” and a closed loop index for PUSCH. In some embodiments, each joint TCI state can be associated with a second setting of UL power control parameter including “P0” and a closed loop index for PUCCH.

[0031] In some embodiments, each UL TCI state 22 can be associated with a first setting of UL power control parameters including “P0,” “alpha” and a closed loop index for PUSCH and can be associated with a second setting of UL power control parameter including “P0” and closed loop index for PUCCH.

[0032] In some embodiments, an MAC CE activating TCI states and a DCI indicating TCI state can be sent by the base station 103 separately. In such embodiments, for a given codepoint value of the TCI bit field in DCI format “1_1” or “1_2,” the corresponding TCI state in the slot when the DCI indicates “TCI state is transmitted” can be different from the corresponding TCI state in the slot when the terminal device 101 receives in PDCCH or PDSCH or transmits in PUSCH and PUCCH.

[0033] For example, the base station 103 sends a DCI format indicating TCI state at slot “n” and the codepoint of the TCI bit field in that DCI format is “010.” In the slot “n,” the codepoint “010” is mapped to a first joint TCI state. According the DCI indication sent in slot “n,” the terminal device 101 applies the indicated TCI state on PDCCH/PDSCH and PUSCH/PUCCH. Then in slot “n+m,” the base station 103 can send one MAC CE activation command that maps the codepoint “010” to a second joint TCI state.

[0034] When the terminal device 101 receives PDCCH/PDSCH or transmits PUSCH/PUCCH at a later slot, the terminal device 101 determines which joint TCI state (e g., the first or the second joint TCI states) to apply, as specified in the following embodiments.

[0035] Joint TCI state embodiments

[0036] In one embodiment, the terminal device 101 can be provided with a list of “N1” joint TCI states. The base station 103 can send an MAC CE activation command that maps one or more joint TCI states to the codepoints of the DCI field “Transmission Configuration Indication” in DCI format “1_1” and “1_2.” The terminal device 101 can receive a first DCI format (that can be DCI format 1_1 or 1_2) that indicates one joint TCI state through the DCI field “Transmission configuration Indication.” The terminal device 101 can be requested to start to apply the indicated joint TCI state from the first slot that is “X” milliseconds (or “Y” symbols) after the last symbol of PUCCH or PUSCH carrying Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) to the DCI carrying TCI state indication.

[0037] In some embodiments, the “Y” symbols can be the symbol with an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) numerology used by the PUCCH or PUSCH transmission. The terminal device 101 can apply the indicated joint TCI state as follows. [0038] [1] To receive a “UE-dedicated” PDCCH, an indicated joint TCI state can be based on an activated TCI states in the slot where the PDCCH is detected.

[0039] [2] To receive a “UE-dedicated” PDCCH, the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0040] [3] To receive a PDSCH, the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the slot where the PDSCH is scheduled. In some embodiments, the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0041] In some embodiments, to receive a single slot PDSCH, the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the PDSCH is scheduled. Another example can be the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0042] In some embodiments, to receive a multi-slot PDCCH, the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in first slot where the PDCCH is scheduled and the terminal device 101 can expect the activated TCI states are the same across the slots with the scheduled PDSCH. Another example can be that the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected and the terminal device 101 can expect the activated TCI states are the same across the slots with the scheduled PDSCH.

[0043] [4] To transmit in a PUSCH, the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the PUSCH is scheduled. Another example is that the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0044] In some embodiments, for a PUSCH without repetition, the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the slot where the PUSCH is scheduled. Another example is that the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0045] In some embodiments, for a PUSCH with repetition, the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the first slot where the PUSCH is scheduled. The terminal device 101 can expect the activated joint TCI states are the same across the slots with a scheduled PUSCH. Another example is that the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected. The terminal device 101 can expect the activated joint TCI states are the same across the slots with the scheduled PUSCH.

[0046] In some embodiments, to determine UL power parameters for a PUSCH transmission, the terminal device 101 can apply the power control parameters associated with the indicated joint TCI state that is determined according to one or more of the embodiments discussed herein.

[0047] [5] To transmit in a PUCCH, the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the slot where the PUCCH is scheduled. Another example is that the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0048] In some embodiments, for a PUCCH, the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the slot where the PUSCH is scheduled. Another example is that the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0049] In some embodiments, for a PUCCH over multiple slots, the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the first slot where the PUSCH is scheduled. The terminal device can expect the activated joint TCI states are the same across the slots with a scheduled PUSCH. Another example is that the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected and the terminal device 101 can expect the activated joint TCI states are the same across the slots with the scheduled PUCCH.

[0050] In some embodiments, to determine UL power parameters for a PUCCH transmission, the terminal device 101 can apply the power control parameters associated with the indicated joint TCI state that is determined according to one or more of the embodiments discussed herein.

[0051] [6] To transmit an SRS resource that the terminal device 101 is configured to apply the indicated joint TCI state, the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the slot where the SRS resource is transmitted. Another example is that the indicated joint TCI state can be based on the activated joint TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0052] Separate TCI state embodiments [0053] In one embodiment, the terminal device 101 can be provided with a list of “N2” DL TCI states and “N3” UL TCI states. The base station 103 can send an MAC CE activation command that maps one or more DL TCI states, UL TCI states or a pair of DL TCI state and UL TCI state to the codepoints of the DCI field “Transmission Configuration Indication” in DCI format Ί_1” and “1_2.”

[0054] The terminal device 101 can receive a first DCI format (that can be DCI format 1_1 or 1_2) that indicates one DL TCI state or one UL TCI state or a pair of DL TCI state and UL TCI state through the DCI field “Transmission configuration Indication.” The terminal device 101 can be requested to start to apply the indicated TCI states from the first slot that is “X” milliseconds ( or “Y” symbols) after the last symbol of PUCCH or PUSCH carrying the HARQ-ACK to the DCI carrying TCI state indication. In some embodiments, the slot after the Ύ” symbols can be the symbol with the OFDM numerology used by the PUCCH or PUSCH transmission. The terminal device 101 can apply the indicated joint TCI state as follows.

[0055] [1] To receive a “UE-dedicated” PDCCH, the indicated DL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the PDCCH is detected.

[0056] [2] To receive a “UE-dedicated” PDCCH, the indicated DL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0057] [3] To receive a PDSCH, the indicated DL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the PDSCH is scheduled. Another example can be the indicated DL TCI states can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0058] In some embodiments, to receive a single slot PDSCH, the indicated DL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the PDSCH is scheduled. Another example can be the indicated DL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0059] In some embodiments, to receive a multi-slot PDSCH, the indicated DL TCI states can be based on the activated TCI states in first slot where the PDSCH is scheduled and the terminal device 101 can expect the activated TCI states are the same across the slots with the scheduled PDSCH. Another example can be that the indicated DL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected. The terminal device 101 can expect the activated TCI states are the same across the slots with the scheduled PDSCH.

[0060] [4] To transmit in a PUSCH, the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the PUSCH is scheduled. Another example is that the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0061] In some embodiments, for a PUSCH without repetition, the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the PUSCH is scheduled. Another example is that the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0062] In some embodiments, for a PUSCH with repetition, the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the first slot where the PUSCH is scheduled. The terminal device 101 can expect the activated TCI states are the same across the slots with scheduled PUSCH. Another example is that the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected. The terminal device 101 can expect the activated TCI states are the same across the slots with scheduled PUSCH.

[0063] In some embodiments, to determine uplink power parameters, the terminal device 101 can apply the power control parameters associated with the indicated UL TCI state that is determined according to one or more of the embodiments discussed herein.

[0064] [5] To transmit in a PUCCH, the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the PUCCH is scheduled. Another example is that the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0065] In some embodiments, for a PUCCH, the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the PUSCH is scheduled. Another example is that the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0066] In some embodiments, for a PUCCH over multiple slots, the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the first slot where the PUSCH is scheduled. The terminal device 101 can expect the activated TCI states are the same across the slots with scheduled PUSCH. Another example is that the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected. The terminal device 101 can expect the activated TCI states are the same across the slots with scheduled PUCCH.

[0067] In some embodiments, to determine uplink power parameters for PUCCH transmission, the terminal device 101 can apply the power control parameters associated with the indicated UL TCI state that is determined according to one or more embodiments discussed herein.

[0068] [6] To transmit an SRS resource that the terminal device 101 is configured to apply the indicated TCI state, the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the SRS resource is transmitted. Another example is that the indicated UL TCI state can be based on the activated TCI states in the slot where the first DCI format is detected.

[0069] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system 300 in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure. The wireless communication system 300 can implement the methods discussed herein. As shown in Fig. 3, the wireless communications system 300 can include a network device (or base station) 301. Examples of the network device 301 include a base transceiver station (Base Transceiver Station, BTS), a NodeB (NodeB, NB), an evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB), a Next Generation NodeB (gNB or gNode B), a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) access point (AP), etc. In some embodiments, the network device 301 can include a relay station, an access point, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, and the like. The network device 301 can include wireless connection devices for communication networks such as: a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) network, an LTE network, a cloud radio access network (Cloud Radio Access Network, CRAN), an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11-based network (e.g., a Wi-Fi network), an Internet of Things (loT) network, a device-to-device (D2D) network, a next-generation network (e.g., a 5G network), a future evolved public land mobile network (Public Land Mobile Network, PLMN), or the like. A 5G system or network can be referred to as a new radio (New Radio, NR) system or network. [0070] In Fig. 3, the wireless communications system 300 also includes a terminal device 303. The terminal device 303 can be an end-user device configured to facilitate wireless communication. The terminal device 303 can be configured to wirelessly connect to the network device 301 (via, e.g., via a wireless channel 305) according to one or more corresponding communication protocols/standards. The terminal device 303 may be mobile or fixed. The terminal device 303 can be a user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a user unit, a user station, a mobile site, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communications device, a user agent, or a user apparatus. Examples of the terminal device 303 include a modem, a cellular phone, a smartphone, a cordless phone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a wireless local loop (WLL) station, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handheld device having a wireless communication function, a computing device or another processing device connected to a wireless modem, an in-vehicle device, a wearable device, an Internet-of-Things (loT) device, a device used in a 5G network, a device used in a public land mobile network, or the like. For illustrative purposes, Fig. 3 illustrates only one network device 301 and one terminal device 303 in the wireless communications system 300. Flowever, in some instances, the wireless communications system 300 can include additional network device 301 and/or terminal device 303.

[0071] Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device 400 in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure. Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a terminal device 400 in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure. As shown, the terminal device 400 includes a processing unit 410 (e.g., a DSP, a CPU, a GPU, etc.) and a memory 420. The processing unit 410 can be configured to implement instructions that correspond to the method 400 of Fig. 4 and/or other aspects of the implementations described above. It should be understood that the processor in the implementations of this technology may be an integrated circuit chip and has a signal processing capability. During implementation, the steps in the foregoing method may be implemented by using an integrated logic circuit of hardware in the processor or an instruction in the form of software. The processor may be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or another programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, and a discrete hardware component. The methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the implementations of this technology may be implemented or performed. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be alternatively any conventional processor or the like. The steps in the methods disclosed with reference to the implementations of this technology may be directly performed or completed by a decoding processor implemented as hardware or performed or completed by using a combination of hardware and software modules in a decoding processor. The software module may be located at a random-access memory, a flash memory, a read-only memory, a programmable read-only memory or an electrically erasable programmable memory, a register, or another mature storage medium in this field. The storage medium is located at a memory, and the processor reads information in the memory and completes the steps in the foregoing methods in combination with the hardware thereof.

[0072] It may be understood that the memory in the implementations of this technology may be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, or may include both a volatile memory and a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory may be a read only memory (ROM), a programmable read-only memory (PROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) or a flash memory. The volatile memory may be a random-access memory (RAM) and is used as an external cache. For exemplary rather than limitative description, many forms of RAMs can be used, and are, for example, a static random-access memory (SRAM), a dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), a synchronous dynamic random-access memory (SDRAM), a double data rate synchronous dynamic random-access memory (DDR SDRAM), an enhanced synchronous dynamic random-access memory (ESDRAM), a synchronous link dynamic random-access memory (SLDRAM), and a direct Rambus random- access memory (DR RAM). It should be noted that the memories in the systems and methods described herein are intended to include, but are not limited to, these memories and memories of any other suitable type.

[0073] Fig. 5 is a flowchart of a method 500 in accordance with one or more implementations of the present disclosure. The method 500 can be implemented by a system (such as the joint TCI framework 100 or the separate TCI framework 200). The method 500 is for indicating transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states. The method 500 includes, at block 501 , receiving a list of downlink (DL) TCI states and uplink (UL) TCI states.

[0074] At block 503, the method 500 continues by receiving a medial-access- control-control-element (MAC CE) activation command. The MAC CE activation command maps an indicated TCI state to a codepoint of a field in a downlink control information (DCI) format.

[0075] In some embodiments, the field in the DCI format includes a “Transmission Configuration Indication’’ field. In some embodiments, the indicated TCI state corresponds to one or more of the DL TCI states. In some embodiments, the indicated TCI state corresponds to one or more of the UL TCI states. In some embodiments, the indicated TCI state corresponds to a pair of TCI states, and the pair of TCI states includes one TCI state from the DL TCI states and another TCI state from the UL TCI states.

[0076] In some embodiments, method 500 further comprises applying the indicated TCI state from a slot after the last symbol of the physical cannel carrying an acknowledgement to an DCI carrying information associated with the indicated TCI state. In some embodiments, the slot can be a slot that is “X” milliseconds or Ύ” symbols after the last symbol of the physical cannel carrying a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request Acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) to the DCI carrying information associated with the indicated TCI state. In some embodiments, the “Y” symbols can be determined according to an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) numerology used by the physical channel.

[0077] At block 505, the method 500 continues by determining the indicated TCI state based on the MAC CE activation command. In some embodiments, the indicated joint TCI state can correspond to an activated TCI state in a slot where a physical channel is detected. In some embodiments, the indicated joint TCI state corresponds to an activated TCI state in a slot where a physical channel is scheduled. In some embodiments, the indicated joint TCI state corresponds to an activated TCI state in a slot where a DCI format is detected. In some embodiments, the indicated joint TCI state corresponds to an activated TCI state in a slot where a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource is transmitted. At block 507, the method 500 continues by determining a physical channel for receiving or transmitting based on the indicated TCI.

[0078] The above Detailed Description of examples of the disclosed technology is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed technology to the precise form disclosed above. While specific examples for the disclosed technology are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the described technology, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative implementations may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative implementations or sub combinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed or implemented in parallel, or may be performed at different times. Further, any specific numbers noted herein are only examples; alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges.

[0079] In the Detailed Description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the presently described technology. In other implementations, the techniques introduced here can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features, such as specific functions or routines, are not described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. References in this description to “an implementation/embodiment,” “one implementation/embodiment,” or the like mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic being described is included in at least one implementation of the described technology. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same implementation/embodiment. On the other hand, such references are not necessarily mutually exclusive either. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more implementations/embodiments. It is to be understood that the various implementations shown in the figures are merely illustrative representations and are not necessarily drawn to scale. [0080] Several details describing structures or processes that are well-known and often associated with communications systems and subsystems, but that can unnecessarily obscure some significant aspects of the disclosed techniques, are not set forth herein for purposes of clarity. Moreover, although the following disclosure sets forth several implementations of different aspects of the present disclosure, several other implementations can have different configurations or different components than those described in this section. Accordingly, the disclosed techniques can have other implementations with additional elements or without several of the elements described below.

[0081] Many implementations or aspects of the technology described herein can take the form of computer- or processor-executable instructions, including routines executed by a programmable computer or processor. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the described techniques can be practiced on computer or processor systems other than those shown and described below. The techniques described herein can be implemented in a special-purpose computer or data processor that is specifically programmed, configured, or constructed to execute one or more of the computer-executable instructions described below. Accordingly, the terms “computer” and “processor” as generally used herein refer to any data processor. Information handled by these computers and processors can be presented at any suitable display medium. Instructions for executing computer- or processor- executable tasks can be stored in or on any suitable computer-readable medium, including hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and firmware. Instructions can be contained in any suitable memory device, including, for example, a flash drive and/or other suitable medium.

[0082] The term “and/or” in this specification is only an association relationship for describing the associated objects, and indicates that three relationships may exist, for example, A and/or B may indicate the following three cases: A exists separately, both A and B exist, and B exists separately.

[0083] These and other changes can be made to the disclosed technology in light of the above Detailed Description. While the Detailed Description describes certain examples of the disclosed technology, as well as the best mode contemplated, the disclosed technology can be practiced in many ways, no matter how detailed the above description appears in text. Details of the system may vary considerably in its specific implementation, while still being encompassed by the technology disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the disclosed technology should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the disclosed technology with which that terminology is associated. Accordingly, the invention is not limited, except as by the appended claims. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the disclosed technology to the specific examples disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. [0084] A person of ordinary skill in the art may be aware that, in combination with the examples described in the implementations disclosed in this specification, units and algorithm steps may be implemented by electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether the functions are performed by hardware or software depends on particular applications and design constraint conditions of the technical solutions. A person skilled in the art may use different methods to implement the described functions for each particular application, but it should not be considered that the implementation goes beyond the scope of this application.

[0085] Although certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the applicant contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to pursue additional claims after filing this application to pursue such additional claim forms, in either this application or in a continuing application.