GB2638190A - Power ramp-up for PUSCH and PUCCH power control to enable UL-only TRPS - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to power ramp-up for uplink channel power control. A method comprising: at a first apparatus, receiving, from a second apparatus, pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel 410, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point; determining a first pathloss value of the first channel from the first apparatus to the second apparatus 420; determining a ramp up transmission power for a transmission to the third apparatus based on the pathloss offset information and the first pathloss value 430; and performing, on the second channel, the transmission with the third apparatus based on the ramp up transmission power 440.

Description

POWER RAMP-UP FOR PUSCH AND PUCCH POWER CONTROL TO ENABLE UL-ONLY TRPS

FIELDS

[0001] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and, in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer-readable storage medium for power ramp-up enhancements for uplink channel power control to enable uplink-only transmission reception points (TRPs).

BACKGROUND

[0002] With developments in 5G network technologies, a new approach has been introduced to address the challenges of uplink (UL) capacity, particularly for power-constrained User Equipments (UEs) in high-demand applications. This strategy enhances UL power control for more efficient transmissions, incorporating UL-only Transmission Reception Points (TRPs) to bolster network performance. By refining power control mechanisms, it ensures improved signal quality and reliability, effectively meeting the needs of emerging applications while optimizing resource usage. Therefore, it is worth studying the enhancements in power control techniques to enable UL-only TRPs, as they hold significant potential to revolutionize UL capacity and efficiency in 5G networks.

SUMMARY

[0003] In the first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the first apparatus to: receive, from a second apparatus, pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point; determine a first pathloss value of the first channel from the first apparatus to the second apparatus; determine a ramp up transmission power for transmission to the third apparatus based on the pathloss offset information and the first pathloss value; and perform, on the second channel, the transmission with the third apparatus based on the ramp up transmission power.

[0004] In the second aspect of the present disclosure, there is a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing 5 instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the second apparatus to: determine pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point, wherein the pathloss offset information is used for 10 determining a ramp up transmission power for transmission on the second channel; and transmit the pathloss offset information to the first apparatus.

[0005] In the third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving, from a second apparatus, pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point; determining a first pathloss value of the first channel from the first apparatus to the second apparatus; determining a ramp up transmission power for transmission to the third apparatus based on the pathloss offset information and the first pathloss value; and performing, on the second channel, the transmission with the third apparatus based on the ramp up transmission power.

[0006] In the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: determining pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point, wherein the pathloss offset information is used for determining a ramp up transmission power for a transmission on the second channel; and transmitting the pathloss offset information to the first apparatus.

[0007] In the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. 30 The first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point; means for determining a first pathloss value of the first channel from the first apparatus to the second apparatus; means for determining a ramp up transmission power for transmission to the third apparatus based on the pathloss offset information and the first pathloss value; and means for performing, on the second channel, the transmission with the third apparatus based on the ramp up transmission power.

[0008] In the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises means for determining pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point, wherein the pathloss offset information is used for determining a ramp up transmission power for transmission on the second channel; and means for transmitting the pathloss offset information to the first apparatus.

[0009] In the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the third aspect.

[0010] In the eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for 20 causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0011] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where: [0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented; [0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic line graph of pathloss gaps for different scenarios according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure; [0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a signaling flow of pathloss transmission according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure; [0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure; [0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure; [0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and [0019] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in 10 accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and to help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0022] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0023] References in the present disclosure to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an example embodiment," and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments, whether or not explicitly described.

[0024] It shall be understood that although the terms "first, second," .., etc. in front of noun(s) and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another, and they do not limit the order of the noun(s). For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0025] As used herein, "at least one of the following: <a list of two or more elements>" 10 and "at least one of <a list of two or more elements>" and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by "and" or "or", mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0026] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step "in response to A" does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after "A" occurs and one or more 15 intervening steps may be included.

[0027] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises", "comprising", "has", "having", "includes" and/or "including", when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and/or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and/ or combinations thereof [0028] As used in this application, the term "circuitry" may refer to one or more or all 25 of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuit(s) with software/firmware and (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and m emory(i es) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and (c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0029] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0030] As used herein, the term "communication network" refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-loT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and/or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0031] As used herein, the term "network device" refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0032] The term "terminal device" refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e g, a robot and/or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and/or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and/or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms "terminal device", "communication device", "terminal", "user equipment" and "UE" may be used interchangeably.

[0033] As used herein, the term "resource," "transmission resource," "resource block," "physical resource block" (PRB), "uplink resource," or "downlink resource" may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in 5 frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other combination of the time, frequency, space and/or code domain resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, unless explicitly stated, a resource in both frequency domain and time domain will be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that 10 example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0034] As used herein, the term "pathloss" may refer to the reduction in power density of an electromagnetic signal as it propagates through space, which is a crucial factor in the design and analysis of wireless communication systems. For example, in cellular networks, pathloss determines the signal attenuation between a cell tower and a mobile device, influencing the quality of the connection and the network's coverage area. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to pathloss in other domains.

[0035] As used herein, the term "transmission reception point (TRP)" may refer to a device, or an entity within a communication network that is designated to receive and/or transmit signals, data, or information from/to various entities. For example, in a radio broadcasting system, a transmission reception point (TRP) maybe be a radio transceiver that captures broadcasts from a radio station or transmit signals to the radio station.

[0036] As used herein, the term "ramp up" may refer to a process of gradually increasing the capacity, capability, or output of a system or activity, particularly in the telecommunications context. This includes actions such as incrementally boosting the transmission power of network signals, expanding the infrastructure of wireless networks to accommodate more users, or methodically implementing technological enhancements to improve service quality and reliability. For example, in the lead-up to major events or in response to increasing demand for mobile data, telecom operators might ramp up network capacity by adding more base stations or by optimizing network resources. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to ramping up activities in other domains.

[0037] As used herein, the term "transmission power" refers to the amount of power that a transmitter uses to send signals, data, or information over a communication channel. This parameter is critical in determining the range, signal quality, and overall effectiveness of the communication link, especially in wireless networks where the transmission power directly influences the ability of the signal to overcome path loss and reach the intended receiver. For example, in a cellular network, the transmission power of a base station is carefully regulated to optimize coverage and minimize interference with adjacent cells. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to transmission power considerations in other domains.

[0038] As used herein, the term "physical uplink control channel" (PUCCH) refers to a specific type of communication channel in wireless telecommunications. This channel is dedicated to carrying control information from the user equipment (UE), such as mobile phones or other devices, back to the network base station or next generation NodeB (gNB). Control information typically includes acknowledgments of data reception, channel quality reports, and scheduling requests.

[0039] As used herein, the term "physical uplink shared channel" (PUSCH) refers to a channel in wireless telecommunications that is used for the transmission of user data and some control information from user equipment (UE), such as smartphones or other devices, to the network. The PUSCH may carry uplink data traffic, including internet packets, voice data, and signaling messages that are not time critical.

[0040] Regarding PUSCH power control (PC) and power ramping procedure, the major objective of uplink (UL) power control is to limit both inter-cell and intra-cell in the PUSCH. According to some solutions, it specifies the UL power control for various channels such as PUSCH, sounding reference signal (SRS), PUCCH, and Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH). The UL power control may operate in two distinct modes: Open-Loop (OL) power control and Closed-Loop (CL) power control. In the OL PC mode, the UE estimates the pathloss of the downlink based on the radio resource control (RRC)-specified pathloss (PL) reference signals. It incorporates a fractional compensation factor and makes additional adjustments considering the allocated radio resources, frequency, and other factors, then calculates the transmit power (TX power). In the CL PC mode, the serving next-generation NodeB (gNB) provides transmit power control (TPC) command periodically to the UE. These commands may direct the UE to either increase or decrease its TX level, considering the adjustments already made in the Open-Loop mode.

[0041] According to some solutions, if a UE transmits PUSCH on active UL Bandwidth Part (BWP) b of carrierfof serving cell c using parameter set configuration with index j and PUSCH power control adjustment state with index 1, the TIE may determine the 5 PUSCH transmission P PUSCH,b,f,c(ifrj, Cis, 0 in transmission occasion i as: PPUSCH,b,f,c(ij*qcb1)= mintPOPUSCH*b*f.cO + 10 log10 Masbcfc(0) + ab,f,c(1). PLb,f,c(CM)± ATF,b,f,c(1)± fb,f,c(1,1) [dBm] where -PcmAx,j,c(0 represents the UE configured maximum output power for carrier fof serving cell c in PUSCH transmission occasion i; - PO PUSCH,b,f,cU) is given by POpuscu,b,f,c(j) = PO NOMINAL PUSCH,b,f,c(j)

P

-o UE PUSCH,b,f,c(i) The values of PO NOMINAL PUSCH,b,f,c((j) and PO UE PUSCH,b,f ADdepend on the type of the PUSCH transmission.

-Mpuscum,j,GIO represents the number of resource blocks allocated to the PUSCH during transmission occasion i on active UL BWP b of carrier fof serving cell c and it is a subcarrier spacing (SC S) configuration; -cIpuscu,b,tcW represents the fractional power control factor that is provided by alpha for active UL BWP b of carrier fof serving cell c and PUSCH parameter configuration set j; -PLI,J,e(cm) represents the downlink pathloss estimate in dB calculated by the UE using RS resource index qd for the active DL BWP of serving cell c. The pathloss is calculated as referenceSignalPower -higher layer filtered RSRP, where referenceSignalPower defines the transmit power of either SS/PBCH block or CSI RS. Selecetion of reference signal is depends on the type of PUSCH transmission including: message 3 PUSCH Transmission, configured Grant PUSCH Transmission, and dynamic Grant PUSCH Transmission.

- ATF,b,j,c(0 is used to control the UE transmit power according to the allocated 25 Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS); PCMAX,f,c Oa, (1) -4,f,c(i, represents the closed-loop power control adjustment state for active UL BWP b of carrier f of serving cell c and transmission occasion i and 1 E [0042] Closed loop power control can operate with or without TPC command accumulation. Accumulation may be the default mode of operation and may be enabled 5 when tpc-Accumulation{diabled} is excluded from PUSCH-PowerControl information element. If the accumulation is enables it is given by vC(D fb,f,c = ib,f,c (i -10, 0 -1 g + Lon.° "PUSCH,b,f,c(77-4 1), where SPUSCH,b,f,c(ril, 1) is the m-th TPC command (2 bits in size) in Table 1

Table 1: TPC command field

TPC Command Field Accumulated Opusat,b,/,, or Absolute 6PUSCH,b,is or asRs, b, Lc [dB] asRs, k is [dB] 0 -1 -4 1 0 -1 2 I 1 3 3 4 [0043] When UE receives a random access response message in response to a PRACH transmission or a Message A (MsgA) transmission received by the UE on active UL BWP b of carrier f of serving cell c, closed-loop power control adjustment state may be given by: fbfc(0, = APrampup,b,f,c amsg2,b,f,c where 1 = 0 as well. The power ramp up may be given by: APrampup,b,f,c APrarnpup,b,f,c min [{max 10, P CMAX,f,c (POPUSCH,b,f 'JO) + 10 logio (2R * 114Er11,1,.(0)) + a b,f,c(°)P Lc(°) JaTF,b,f,c + anis g2,b,f,c))} Ja'Prampuprequestecl,b1,4 The 6",,92,b,f,c represents the RAR power control command (3 bits) and is given by Table 2 below.

Table 2: RAR power control command TPC command Value in dB 0 -6 1 -4 (2) 2 -2 3 0 4 2 4 6 6 7 8 [0044] The AP rampuprequested,b,f,c may be configured by the ARC in the RACHConfigGeneric information element (IE) as PowerRampingStep.

[0045] Alternatively, if the UE transmits the PUSCH in PUSCH transmission occasion i=0 on active UL BWP b of carrier f of serving cell c and 1 = 0, the closed-loop power 5 control adjustment state may be given by: fb (i 1) AP rampup,b1c. The ramp up power APrampuntycic may be given by: APrampup,b,f,c = min [{max (0, PcmAx,r,r fropuscH,b,f,c(0) + 10 logjo (2u * fc(i)) + (3) au,f,,(0) * PLe(i) + ATP,b,f,c(0) }, ,APram ) puprequested,b,f,c1- [0046] Regarding PUCCH power control and power ramping procedure, the UE determines its transmission power of PUCCH on UL BW part b of carrierfof serving cell 10 c using PUCCH power control adjustment state with index 1, using parameter set qu, path loss reference qd in PUCCH transmission period i as shown in the equation below: PPUCC Hbf c(i, qu, 9[1,1) (4) =min{ PCMA X r.c,(i), Po (qu) + 10 log10 (2 puccHbf, mPUCCHT) RBbix L) PLI),f,c(q(1)± AF (F) + TF,I) + ( 1)

PUCCH where

-PC MAX,f,c(i) represents the UE configured maximum output power for carrier f of serving cell c in PUCCH transmission occasion i; - Po PUCCH,b,f,c(qu) is given by PopuccEnb,f,c(qu) = Po NOMINAL PUCCI? ,c PO UE PUCCH,b,f,c(cht) where PO NOMINAL PUCCH,b,f,c is given by p0-nominal within the PUCCH-ColVigCommon information element and it can be part of SIB or dedicated RRC signaling. The Po UE PLICCH,b,f,c(Clu) is given by p0-PUCCH-Value from within a specific instance of pO-PLICCH in PUCCH-PowerConirof information element.

-Mi)usen,b,f,c(0 represents the number of Resource Blocks occupied by the PUCCH during transmission occasion i on active UL BWP b of carrier fof serving cell c and it is a subcarrier spacing (SC S) configuration; -PLbit,(qd) represents the downlink pathloss estimate in dB calculated by the UE using RS resource index qd for the active DL BWP of serving cell c. The pathloss is calculated as referenceSigna 'Power -higher layer filtered RSRP, where referenceSignall'ower defines the transmit power of either SS/PBCH block or CSI RS. The Reference Signal to be used for path loss measurements is identified using an instance of PUCCH-within the PUCCH-PowerControl information element.

-A,PUCCH (F) represents a UE transmit power offset which depends on the PUCCH Format and configured within Pa-CH-Po-were ontrol information element; -ATF,b,f,c(I) is used to control the UE transmit power according to the PUCCH Formats and independent of the pathloss values; and -gbjAi,1) represents the PUCCH power control adjustment state 1 for active UL BWP b of carrier fof primary cell cand PUCCH transmission occasion i given by vC(C3-1 9LI,c(I, 0 = gb,f,c(i 10, I) + Gm=o u PUCCH,b,f,c @MO, where SPUCCH,b,fc may be obtained according to Table 3 below.

Table 3: Power control command for PUCCH

TPC Command Field Accumulated Spuccn,h,f,c [dB] I 0 2 1

[0047] When the UE receives a random access response (message 2), the closed loop power control command calculation may include the impact of PRACH Preamble power ramping, and is given by: gb fc(0, 1) = AP rampup,131,c 613,f,c, where 1 = 0, i = 0 and if PRACH transmission according to Type-1 random access procedure, or in a random 5 access response grant corresponding to message A transmissions according to Type-2 random access procedure, and the downlink control information (DCI) format with TPC command scrambled by cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) or modulation and coding scheme cell radio network temporary identifier (MCS-C-RNTI) and 28 symbols gap between first PUCCH transmission and the last symbol of the first PDCCH 10 reception, the ramp up power AP rampumbLc may be: APrampup,b,f,c = min [max (0, P -CMAX,f,c (POPUCCH,b,f,c Plib,f,c(Cirl)+APPUCCH(0 JETF,b,f,c(i) Ob,f,c)) aPrampuThrequested,b,fci, where dbfx is given in Table 2 above. The AP rampuprequested,b,fc is configured by the RRC.

[0048] Alternatively, the ramp up poweraPrampup,b,fc may be: APrampup,b,fc = min [max (0, P -cm A x,f,c fropuccw,b,f,c + PL fie (qd) )) APrampup_requested,b,f,e1 [0049] According to some solutions, it specify enhancement for asymmetric DL sTRP/UL mTRP deployment scenarios, assuming intra-band intra-DU non-co-located mTRP scenarios, without changing existing cell definition or defining a new cell (e.g. UL-only cell), assuming the unified TCI framework and fully reusing the legacy quasi colocation (QCL)/UL spatial relation rules, targeting frequency range 1 (FR1) and FR2. Further, it specify that two closed-loop PC adjustment states for SRS, both separate from PUSCH; and pathloss offset configurations for pathloss calculation to UL TRP(s), when the pathloss RS is from DL sTRP.

[0050] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment 100 of power control (5) (6) for uplink (UL)-only transmission reception point (TRP) operation in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. In the communication environment 100, a plurality of communication devices, including a first apparatus 110, a second apparatus 120, and a third apparatus 130, can communicate with each other.

[0051] In the example of FIG. 1, the first apparatus 110 may be a terminal device, such as UE, the second apparatus 120 and the third apparatus 130 may be network devices, such as base stations serving the first apparatus 110. The first apparatus 110 may perform power control with respect to the DL/UL capable TRP (for example, the second apparatus 120) using a first reference signal resource and a first power control parameter set. The first apparatus 110 may also perform power control with respect to the UL-only TRP 1 (the third apparatus 130) using a second reference signal resource and a second power control parameters set.

[0052] As depicted in FIG. 1, the UL-only TRPs may be deployed to improve the average and cell-edge spectral efficiencies. As the UL-only TRP does not have the capability to transmit (i.e. no DL TX radio frequency (RF) chains) in the downlink (DL) to the UEs, the UE(s) do not have the means to estimate the channel and calculate pathloss between UL-only TRP and UE. Thus, the power control of the SRS is one of the key RAN procedures that need to be upgraded to obtain the benefits of UL-only TRP deployments while minimizing adverse interference to other Ues.

[0053] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the first apparatus 110 operating as a terminal device, the second apparatus 120 operating as a network device, and the third apparatus 130 operating as a network device. However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with a terminal device may be implemented at a network device or other device, and operations described in connection with a network device may be implemented at a terminal device or other device.

[0054] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 is a terminal device and the second apparatus 120 is a network device, a link from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110 is referred to as a downlink (DL), and a link from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the second apparatus 120 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter) and the first apparatus 110 is a receiving (RX) device (or a receiver). In UL, the first apparatus 110 is a TX device (or a transmitter) and the second apparatus 120 is a RX device (or a receiver).

[0055] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 is a terminal device and the third apparatus 130 is a network device, a link from the first apparatus 110 to the third apparatus 130 is referred to as an uplink (UL), and the third apparatus 130 doesn't have the capability to transmit in the DL to the first apparatus 110. In UL, the first apparatus 110 is a TX device (or a transmitter) and the second apparatus 120 is a RX device (or a receiver).

[0056] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (60), and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and/or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and/or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0057] In the present disclosure, the closed loop power control for PUSCH and PUCCH is enhanced right after successfully receiving the random-access response message (for example, message B in 2 step random access channel (RACH) process or message 4 in 4 step RACH process), by taking account of the pathloss gap between UE-to-serving gNB and UE-to-UL-only TRP links. When the random-access response is received, UE has to apply the RACH preamble power ramping procedure for PUSCH and PUCCH transmit power calculations. As shown above, the power ramp up may depend on the pathloss values.

[0058] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic line graph of pathloss gaps for three scenarios: urban micro-cell (UMi), urban macro-cell (UMa) and rural macro-cell (RMa) scenarios. The curve 210 shows pathloss gap between UE-to-serving gNB and UE-to-UL-only TRP links in UMi scenario, the curve 220 shows pathloss gap between UE-to-serving gNB and UE-to-UL-only TRP links in UMa scenario, and the curve 230 shows pathloss gap between UE-to-serving gNB and UE-to-UL-only TRP links in RMa scenario. The pathloss gaps shows in FIG. 2 are larger than the legacy power control steps in Table 3. In response to using the UE-to-serving gNB pathloss value for the UE-to-UL-only TRP link, it will result in inaccurate TX power calculations.

[0059] As the FIG. 2 shows, the pathloss gap needs to be conveyed to UE and considered during the power ramp-up procedure, to ensure successful completion of the RACH process and continuation with PUSCH and PUCCH sessions. In some example embodiments, the RACH process is contention free random access (CFRA) or contention based random access (CBRA).

[0060] According to some example embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a solution for enhancing uplink power control with UL-Only TRPs by addressing the challenge of inaccurate transmit power settings due to the absence of direct downlink signals from these TRPs. This solution involves adjusting the power ramping procedures following the RACH process to account for the pathloss differences between UE-toserving gNB and UE-to-UL-Only TRP links, utilizing pathloss offsets and new ARC signaling. This approach aims to achieve more precise transmit power control, leading to improved spectral efficiency and reduced interference in UL transmissions on PUSCH and PUCCH, thereby enhancing the overall network performance.

[0061] Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0062] Reference is made to FIG. 3, which illustrates a signaling flow 300 of pathloss transmission according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the signaling flow 300 may be implemented in the communication environment 100 shown in FIG. 1. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may refer to as UE and the second apparatus 120 may refer to as gNB.

[0063] In some example embodiments, a third apparatus 130 transmits (3001) a pathloss value to a second apparatus 120. In other words, the second apparatus 120 receives (3001) 30 a pathloss value from the third apparatus 130. For example, the third apparatus 130 may transmit the pathloss value to the second apparatus via backhaul.

[0064] The second apparatus 120 determines (3005) pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel. The first channel is from a first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120, and the second channel is from the first apparatus 110 to the third apparatus 130, which is an uplink-only transmission reception point. The 5 pathloss offset information is used for determining a ramp up transmission power for a transmission on the second channel. For example, the second apparatus 120 may determine an uplink pathloss value on the first channel based on one or more signals from the first apparatus 110. In this case, the second apparatus 120 may determine the pathloss offset information based on the determined uplink pathloss and the pathloss value 10 obtained from the third apparatus 130.

[0065] In some example embodiments, the first channel is a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) between the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120, and the second channel is a PUCCH between the first apparatus 110 and the third apparatus 130. In some other example embodiments, the first channel is a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) between the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120, and the second channel is a MISCH between the first apparatus 110 and the third apparatus 130.

[0066] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 120 determines (3010) whether previous pathloss offset information is available at the first apparatus 110. For example, the second apparatus 120 may determine whether the previous pathloss offset 20 information expires or not.

[0067] The second apparatus 120 transmits (3015) the pathloss offset information to the first apparatus 110. In other words, the first apparatus 110 receives (3015) from the second apparatus 120, pathloss offset information between the first channel and the second channel. In some example embodiments, the pathloss offset information indicates a pathloss difference between the first channel and the second channel. In some other example embodiments, the pathloss offset information indicates a pathloss adjustment factor based on a ratio of the first pathloss value and a second pathloss value of the second channel.

[0068] In some example embodiments, the pathloss offset information is transmitted in 30 downlink control information (DCI). In some other example embodiments, the pathloss offset information is transmitted in a medium access control control element (MAC CE). In some further example embodiments, if the previous pathloss offset information is unavailable or expires, the second apparatus 120 transmits (3015) the pathloss offset information t to the first apparatus 110 in a radio resource control (RRC) signaling. That is, if the previous pathloss offset information is unavailable or expires at the first apparatus 110, the first apparatus 110 receives (3015) the pathloss offset information in the RRC signaling.

[0069] The first apparatus 110 determines (3020) a first pathloss value of the first channel from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120. The first apparatus 110 determines (3025) a ramp up transmission power for a transmission to the third apparatus 130 based on the pathloss offset information and the first pathloss value.

[0070] In some example embodiments, if the pathloss offset information indicates a pathloss difference between the first channel and the second channel, the first apparatus 110 determines (3025) the ramp up transmission power based on the pathloss difference and the first pathloss value. In some other example embodiments, if the pathloss offset information indicates a pathloss adjustment factor based on a ratio of the first pathloss value and a second pathloss value of the second channel, the first apparatus 110 determines (3025) the ramp up transmission power based on the pathloss adjustment factor and the first pathloss value. In some example embodiments, the pathloss offset information is received in downlink control information. In some other example embodiments, the pathloss offset information is received in a medium access control element.

[0071] The first apparatus 110 performs (3030), on the second channel, the transmission with the third apparatus 130 based on the ramp up transmission power. For example, the first apparatus 110 may transmit uplink information or uplink data on the second channel using the ramp up transmission power.

[0072] Example embodiments of how to determine the ramp up power in different scenario are described below in detail.

[0073] As mentioned above, in some example embodiments, the first channel is a PUSCH between the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120, and the second channel is a PUSCH between the first apparatus 110 and the third apparatus 130. In this case, if the first apparatus 110 goes through a RACH process and receives the random-access response from the second apparatus 120 in the presence of UL-Only TRPs in the network, it has to apply the power ramping procedure based on pathloss, RRC indicated powerRampingStep, and other parameters as in equations 1, 2 and 3 for the PUSCH power control. To leverage the benefits of UL-Only TRP, the first apparatus 110 has to apply the pathloss of the UE-to-UL-Only TRP link. To achieve this, the first apparatus 110 may use the pathloss of the UE-to-serving gNB link and subtract the pathloss gap between UE-to-serving gNB link and UE-to-UL-Only TRP link. Alternatively, the first apparatus 110 uses the pathloss of the UE-to-serving gNB link and multiplicative factor based on the ratio of UE-to-UL-Only TRP link and UE-to-serving gNB link.

[0074] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 receives a random-access response message in response to a PRACH transmission or a MsgA transmission 10 on active UL BWP b of carrier f of serving cell c, the first apparatus 110 calculates power control command towards the UL-only TRP as follows: fb, f,c(t), 1) = APrarnpup,b,f,c+45-insg2,b,f,c where / = 0, and the ramp up transmission power 61Pranipztp,b,f,c may be: (7) AP =min (0, P -CMAX,f,c (P (0) + 10 logio (2P * O,T MOZ),(0)) + abif,,(0) * PLc(0) -GpLibific(i) + + Onzsg2,b,f,c))} ,aPrampuprequested,b,f where the pathloss gap GPL,b,f,c(i) = abifx(i). (Pathloss of UE to serving gNB -Pathloss 15 of UE to UL-only TRP) [0075] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 just transmits the PUSCH in PUSCH transmission occasion i on active UL BWP b of carrier f of serving cell, the closed-loop power control adjustment state may be fbfx.(i,1)= AP,icimpunkfic. where 1= 0, i = 0 and the ramp up transmission power AP",,,pumbific may be: aPrainpumb,f,c=minkmax (0, Pc MAX,f,c (POPUSCH,h,LT(0) + 10 logio (2P: * (8) mPUSCH k ab,f,c(0) ** PL (i) G pLALT(i) RB, b, f,c Arch f c(I)))} , AP rampuprequestedAf,ci where GpL,b,f,c(i) = abf,c(i). (Pathloss of UE to serving gNB -Pathloss of UE to UL-only TRP).

[0076] In some example embodiments, if the unexpired pathloss gap value (i.e., the pathloss offset information) is available at the first apparatus 110 via the mechanism proposed in the following equation via DCI format 2 3 or medium access control control element (MAC CE), the first apparatus 110 uses it to calculate the power ramp-up and transmit power level of the PUSCH towards UL-only TRP, which is given by: PsT5,14,c0J(0) (9) PcmAx,f,c = min (21 MSRS,bf,c(0)+ aSRS,b,f,c(qs). PPL,b,f,c (1,1) PLbf,c(qd) PO"Sbf 'c(C13+ 10 kigl" fb,f,c(i,1)* [0077] In some other example embodiments, if the pathloss gap value GpLAL,(01s not available at the first apparatus 110 or expired, the serving second apparatus 120 may send the pathloss gap value (i.e., the pathloss offset information) using new RRC signaling. The first apparatus 110 may use the pathloss gap value to calculate the power ramp-up and transmit power level of the PUSCH towards UL-only TRP.

[0078] The RRC signaling example to indicate the GpLmic(i) (UL-Only TRP pathloss adjustment) to the first apparatus 110 may be provided in the following Table 4.

Table 4 Enabling TRP specific pathloss adjustment via RRC signaling ASN1START

TAG-RACH-CONFIGGENERIC-START

RACH-ConfigGeneric::= SEQUENCE { prach-Configurationlndex INTEGER (0..255), msgl-FDM ENUMERATED {one, two, four, eight}, msgi-FrequencyStart INTEGER (0..maxNrofPhysicalResourceBlocks-1), zeroCorrelationZoneConfig INTEGER(0..15), preambleReceivedIargetPower INTEGER (-202..-60), preambleTransMax ENUMERATED {n3, n4, n5, n6, n7, n8, n10, n20, n50, n100, n2001, ENUMERATED {dB°, dB2, d84, dB6}, s18, powerRampingStep ra-ResponseWindow ENUMERATED (311, s12, s14, s110, s120, s140, s1801, [[ prach-ConfigurationPeriodScaling-IAB-r16 ENUMERATED (scfl,scf2,scf4,scfe,scf16,scf32,scf64) OPTIONAL, --Need prach-ConfigurationFrameOffset-IAB-r16 INTEGER (0..63) OPTIONAL, --Need P prach-ConfigurationSOffset-IAB-r16 INTEGER (0..39) OPTIONAL, --Need R ra-ResponseWindow-v1610 ENUMERATED ( 3160, s1160) OPTIONAL, --Need R prach-ConfigurationIndex-v1610 INTEGER (256..262) OPTIONAL --Need R [[ ra-ResponseWindow-v1700 ENUMERATED {s1240, s1320, s1640, s1960, s11260, s11920, s12560} OPTIONAL --Need R [[ ulon1yTRPPLAdjustments-v1900 dB40} OPTIONAL --Need S 1] TAG-RACH-CONFIGGENERIC-STOP ASN1STOP ENUMERTATED (dB10, dB20, dB 30, [0079] In some other example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 receives a random access response message in response to a PRACH transmission or a MsgA transmission on active TM BWP b of carrier f of serving cell c, the power control command is given by: fbff.(0,1) = AP rampup,b,f,c+67nsg2,b,f,c where / = 0. The ramp up transmission power may be: APrompumbix = min Fax (o P,-cmAxfx (10), fropuscx,b,f,c(0) + 10 logio (2p-. m pu scw ( co) + r, (0) * (PLe (0) * Fpt,b,j,c (0) + ATF,bfic (i) RB, "b Ontsg2,b,f,c))} AP rampuprequested,b,f,ci where FpL,bif x(i). s the UL-Only TRP specific pathloss adjustment factor.

[0080] In some further example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 just transmits the PUSCH in PUSCH transmission occasion i on active UL BWP b of carrier f of serving cell, the closed-loop power control adjustment state may befbj,c(i,l) = AP --rampup,b, f,c where / = 0, i = 0 and the ramp up transmission power may be: Pranzpup,b,f,C min[{max (0, -PCMAX,f,c (Po p"",b,f,c(0) + 10 logio (2/i. (1) abf,c(0) * (P JO * FPL,b,f,c(0) A"bj,c(0))1, AP rampuprequested,b,f,c1 where FpL,b,f,c (Ois the UL-Only TRP specific pathloss adjustment factor.

[0081] In some example embodiments, if the unexpired pathloss adjustment factor value is available at the first apparatus 110 via the mechanism proposed in equation 5 via DCI format 2_3 or MAC CE, the first apparatus 110 uses it to calculate the power ramp-up and transmit power level of the PUSCH towards UL-only TRP.

[0082] In some other example embodiments, if the pathloss gap value FpLAR.(i) is not available at the first apparatus 110 or expired, the second apparatus 120 may transmit the pathloss gap value using new RRC signaling. The first apparatus 110 may then use it to calculate the power ramp-up and transmit power level of the PUSCH towards UL-only TRP.

[0083] The proposed RRC signaling example to indicate the FpLibt/OUL-Only TRP pathloss adjustment factor to the first apparatus 110 is provided in the following Table 5.

Table 5 Enabling TRP specific pathloss adjustment factor via RRC signaling - ASN1START

- TAG-RACH-CONFIGGENERIC-START

RACH-ConfigGeneric::= SEQUENCE f prach-ConfigurationIndex INTEGER (0..255), msg1-FDM ENUMERATED {one, two, four, eight}, msgl-FreguencyStart INTEGER (0..maxNrofPhysicalResourceBlocks-1), zeroCorrelationZoneConfig INTEGER(0..15), preambleReceivedTargetPower INTEGER (-202..-60), preambleTransMax ENUMERATED {n3, n4, n5, n6, n7, n8, n10, n20, n50, n100, n200}, powerRampingStep ENUMERATED {dBO, dB2, dB4, dB6}, ra-ResponseWindow ENUMERATED {s11, s12, s14, s18, s110, s120, s140, s180}, [[ prach-ConfigurationPeriodScaling-IAB-r16 ENUMERATED {scf1,scf2,scf4,scf8,scf16,scf32,scf64} OPTIONAL, --Need prach-ConfigurationFrameOffset-IAB-r16 INTEGER (0..63) OPTIONAL, --Need R prach-ConfigurationSOffset-IAB-r16 INTEGER (0..39) OPTIONAL, --Need R ra-ResponseWindow-v1610 ENUMERATED { s160, s1160} OPTIONAL, --Need R prach-Configurationlndex-v1610 INTEGER (256..262) OPTIONAL --Need R [[ ra-ResponseWindow-v1700 ENUMERATED {s1240, s1320, s1640, s1960, s11280, s11920, s12560} OPTIONAL --Need R [[ ulon1yTRPPLAdjustmentFactorPercentage-v1900 ENUMERTATED {40, 50, 60, 70} OPTIONAL --Need S TAG-RACH-CONFIGGENERIC-STOP ASNiSTOP [0084] As mentioned above, in some other example embodiments, the first channel is a PUCCH between the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120, and the second channel is a PUCCH between the first apparatus 110 and the third apparatus 130. In this case, when the first apparatus 110 goes through a RACH process and receives the random-access response from the second apparatus 120 in the presence of UL-Only TRPs in the network, it has to apply the power ramping procedure based on pathloss, RRC indicated powerRampingStep, and other parameters in equations 5 and 6for the PUCCH power control. To obtain the benefits of UL-Only TRP, the first apparatus 110 has to apply the pathloss of the UE-to-UL-Only TRP link. To achieve this, the first apparatus 110 may use the pathloss of the UE-to-serving gNB link and substract the pathloss gap between UEto-serving gNB link and UE-to-UL-Only TRP link. Alternatively, the first apparatus 110 may use the pathloss of the UE-to-serving gNB link and multiplicative factor based on the ratio of UE-to-UL-Only TRP link and UE-to-serving gNB link.

[0085] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 receives a random-15 access response (message 2) the closed loop power control command calculation for PUCCH includes the impact of PRACH preamble power ramping, and is given by: 9 bj,G(0,1) = APrampup,b,f,c,c (12) where / = 0 and i = 0.

[0086] In some example embodiments, if PRACH transmission according to Type-1 random access procedure, or in a random access response grant corresponding to MsgA transmissions according to Type-2 random access procedure, and the DCI format with TPC command scrambled by PUCCH or MCS-C-RNTI and 28 symbols gap between first PUCCH transmission and the last symbol of the first PDCCH reception, the ramp up transmission power may be: APT ampup,b, f,c = min [max (0, P CMAX,f,c (13) (POpuccii,b,f,c PLbif,c(qd)-G A nib of JO AF_PUCCH(1) ATF,b,f,c(i) + 6b,f,c)), Prampup_requested,b, f,ci where GApLikfx(i) = (Pathloss of UE to serving gNB -Pathloss of UE to UL -only TRP) = Gn,b,f,c(0/ab,f,c(i) [0087] Alternatively, the ramp up transmission power may be: APrampup,b,f,c = min [max 0, PCMAX,f,c (14) (POpuCCH,b,f,c Pith/fie (q,i) * aPrampup_requested,b,f,ci where GApLib,f,c(i) = (Pathloss of UE to serving gNB -Pathloss of UE to UL -only TRP) = C fim,fic(i)/ab,f,c(i) [0088] In some example embodiments, if the unexpired pathloss gap value (i.e., the pathloss offset information) is available at the first apparatus 110 via the mechanism proposed in the equation 5 via DCI format 2_3 or MAC CE, the first apparatus 110 uses it to calculate the power ramp-up and transmit power level of the PUCCH towards UL-only TRP. In some other example embodiments, if the pathloss gap value GpL,b,f,c(i) is not available at the first apparatus 110 or expired, the second apparatus 120 may transmit the pathloss gap value using new RRC signaling. The first apparatus 110 may then use the pathloss gap value to calculate the power ramp-up and transmit power level of the PUCCH towards UL-only TRP. The proposed RRC signaling example to indicate the GpLALG(i) (UL-Only TRP pathloss adjustment) to the first apparatus 110 is provided in the above Table 4, which is omitted here.

[0089] In some other example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 receives a random-access response (message 2) the closed loop power control command calculation for PUCCH includes the impact of PRACH preamble power ramping, and is given by: gb,f,c(°, 1) = A-Prammtp,b,f,c + (5b,f,c (15) where / = 0 and i = 0 [0090] In some example embodiments, if PRACH transmission according to Type-1 random access procedure, or in a random access response grant corresponding to MsgA transmissions according to Type-2 random access procedure, and the DC1 format with TPC command scrambled by C-RNTI or MCS-C-RNTI and 28 symbols gap between first PUCCH transmission and the last symbol of the first PDCCH reception, the ramp up transmission power may be: APrampup,b,f,c = min [max (0, P CMAX, f,c -(PO puCCH,b, f ^ P th,f /MO * FPL,b,f,c(i) 6,F_PUCCH (I) ± ATP,b,f,c( ) ^ 15b, f,c)) * APrampup_reqztested,b,f,c1 where Fpw,f,e(i) s the UL-Only TRP specific pathloss adjustment factor. [0091] Alternatively, the ramp up transmission power may be: APrampup,b,f,c = min [max 0, P -CMAX, f,c -(PO pucCii,b,f,c PLb,f,c(q(1) FPL,b,f,c(i))) * aPrampuprequested,b,f,c1 where Fp s the UL-Only TRP specific pathloss adjustment factor.

[0092] In some example embodiments, if the unexpired pathloss adjustment factor value (i.e., the pathloss offset information) is available at the first apparatus 110 via the mechanism proposed in equation 5 via DCI format 2_3 or MAC CE, the first apparatus 110 uses it to calculate the power ramp-up and transmit power level of the PUCCH towards UL-only TRP. Alternatively, if the pathloss gap value FP Lb (i) is not available at the first apparatus HO or expired, the second apparatus 120 may transmit the pathloss gap value using new RRC signaling. The first apparatus 110 may then use it to calculate the power ramp-up and transmit power level of the PUCCH towards UL-only TRP. The proposed RRC signaling example to indicate the FpLmj,c(i) UL-Only TRP pathloss adjustment factor to the first apparatus 110 is provided in the Table 5, which is omitted here.

[0093] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an example method 400 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For (16) (17) the purpose of discussion, the method 400 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1 [0094] At block 410, the first apparatus 110 receives, from a second apparatus, pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel 5 is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point.

[0095] At block 420, the first apparatus 110 determines a first pathloss value of the first channel from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

[0096] At block 430, the first apparatus 110 determines a ramp up transmission power 10 for a transmission to the third apparatus based on the pathloss offset information and the first pathloss value.

[0097] At block 440, the first apparatus 110 performs, on the second channel, the transmission with the third apparatus based on the ramp up transmission power.

[0098] In some example embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: in response 15 to the pathloss offset information indicating a pathloss difference between the first channel and the second channel, determining the ramp up transmission power based on the pathloss difference and the first pathloss value.

[0099] In some example embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: in response to the pathloss offset information indicating a pathloss adjustment factor based on a ratio of the first pathloss value and a second pathloss value of the second channel, determining the ramp up transmission power based on the pathloss adjustment factor and the first pathloss value.

[0100] In some example embodiments, the pathloss offset information is received in a radio resource control signaling.

[0101] In some example embodiments, the first channel is a physical uplink control channel between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and the second channel is a physical uplink control channel between the first apparatus and the third apparatus.

[0102] In some example embodiments, the first channel is a physical uplink shared channel between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and the second channel is a 30 physical uplink shared channel between the first apparatus and the third apparatus.

[0103] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, and the second apparatus is a network device.

[0104] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of an example method 500 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For 5 the purpose of discussion, the method 500 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0105] At block 510, the second apparatus 120 determines pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point, wherein the pathloss offset information is used for determining a ramp up transmission power for a transmission on the second channel.

[0106] At block 520, the second apparatus 120 transmits the pathloss offset information to the first apparatus.

[0107] In some example embodiments, the pathloss offset information indicates a pathloss difference between the first channel and the second channel.

[0108] In some example embodiments, the pathloss offset information indicates a pathloss adjustment factor based on a ratio of the first pathloss value and a second pathloss value of the second channel.

[0109] In some example embodiments, the method 500 further comprises: determining whether previous pathloss offset information is available at the first apparatus; and based on a determination that the previous pathloss offset information is unavailable or expires, transmitting, to the first apparatus, the pathloss offset information is received in a radio resource control signaling.

[0110] In some example embodiments, the first channel is a physical uplink control channel between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and the second channel is a physical uplink control channel between the first apparatus and the third apparatus.

[0111] In some example embodiments, the first channel is a physical uplink shared channel between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and the second channel is a 30 physical uplink shared channel between the first apparatus and the third apparatus.

[0112] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, and the second apparatus is a network device.

[0113] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 400 (for example, the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 400. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[0114] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point; means for determining a first pathloss value of the first channel from the first apparatus to the second apparatus; means for determining a ramp up transmission power for a transmission to the third apparatus based on the pathloss offset information and the first pathloss value; and means for performing, on the second channel, the transmission with the third apparatus based on the ramp up transmission power.

[0115] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for 20 in response to the pathloss offset information indicating a pathloss difference between the first channel and the second channel, determining the ramp up transmission power based on the pathloss difference and the first pathloss value.

[0116] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for in response to the pathloss offset information indicating a pathloss adjustment factor based on a ratio of the first pathloss value and a second pathloss value of the second channel, determining the ramp up transmission power based on the pathloss adjustment factor and the first pathloss value.

[0117] In some example embodiments, the pathloss offset information is received in a radio resource control signaling.

[0118] In some example embodiments, the first channel is a physical uplink control channel between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and the second channel is a physical uplink control channel between the first apparatus and the third apparatus.

[0119] In some example embodiments, the first channel is a physical uplink shared channel between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and the second channel is a physical uplink shared channel between the first apparatus and the third apparatus.

[0120] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, and the second apparatus is a network device.

[0121] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 400 or the first apparatus 110. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the first apparatus.

[0122] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 500 (for example, the second apparatus 120 in FIG. I) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 500. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0123] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for determining pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point, wherein the pathloss offset information is used for determining a ramp up transmission power for a transmission on the second channel; and means for transmitting the pathloss offset information to the first apparatus.

[0124] In some example embodiments, the pathloss offset information indicates a pathloss difference between the first channel and the second channel.

[0125] In some example embodiments, the pathloss offset information indicates a pathloss adjustment factor based on a ratio of the first pathloss value and a second pathloss value of the second channel.

[0126] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for determining whether previous pathloss offset information is avail able at the first apparatus; and means for based on a determination that the previous pathloss offset information is unavailable or expires, transmitting, to the first apparatus, the pathloss offset information is received in a radio resource control signaling.

[0127] In some example embodiments, the first channel is a physical uplink control 5 channel between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and the second channel is a physical uplink control channel between the first apparatus and the third apparatus.

[0128] In some example embodiments, the first channel is a physical uplink shared channel between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and the second channel is a physical uplink shared channel between the first apparatus and the third apparatus.

[0129] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is a terminal device, and the second apparatus is a network device.

[0130] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 500 or the second apparatus 120. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the second apparatus.

[0131] FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a device 600 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 600 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the first apparatus 110 or the second apparatus 120 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the device 600 includes one or more processors 610, one or more memories 620 coupled to the processor 610, and one or more communication modules 640 coupled to the processor 610.

[0132] The communication module 640 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 640 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 640 may include at least one antenna.

[0133] The processor 610 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network 30 and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 600 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0134] The memory 620 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or 5 more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 624, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and/or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random access 10 memory (RAM) 622 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0135] A computer program 630 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 610. The instructions of the program 630 may include instructions for performing operations/acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 630 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 624. The processor 610 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 630 into the RAM 622.

[0136] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 630 so that the device 600 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0137] In some example embodiments, the program 630 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 600 (such as in the memory 620) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 600. The device 600 may load the program 630 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 622 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term "non-transitory," as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0138] FIG. 7 shows an example of the computer readable medium 700 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 700 has the program 630 stored thereon.

[0139] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some 5 aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or 10 method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof [0140] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0141] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions/operations specified in the flowcharts and/or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0142] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0143] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0144] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0145] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims (19)

1. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one 5 processor, cause the first apparatus to: receive, from a second apparatus, pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point; determine a first pathloss value of the first channel from the first apparatus to the second apparatus; determine a ramp up transmission power for a transmission to the third apparatus based on the pathloss offset information and the first pathloss value; and perform, on the second channel, the transmission with the third apparatus based on 15 the ramp up transmission power.
2. 2. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: in response to the pathloss offset information indicating a pathloss difference between the first channel and the second channel, determine the ramp up transmission 20 power based on the pathloss difference and the first pathloss value.
3. 3. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is caused to: in response to the pathloss offset information indicating a pathloss adjustment factor based on a ratio of the first pathloss value and a second pathloss value of the second 25 channel, determine the ramp up transmission power based on the pathloss adjustment factor and the first pathloss value.
4. 4. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-3, wherein the pathloss offset information is received in a radio resource control signaling.
5. 5. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-4, wherein the first channel is a physical uplink control channel between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and the 5 second channel is a physical uplink control channel between the first apparatus and the third apparatus.
6. 6. The first apparatus of any of claims 1-4, wherein the first channel is a physical uplink shared channel between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and the 10 second channel is a physical uplink shared channel between the first apparatus and the third apparatus.
7. 7. The first apparatus of any of any of claims 1-6, wherein the first apparatus is a terminal device, and the second apparatus is a network device. 1_5
8. 8. A second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the second apparatus to: determine pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point, wherein the pathloss offset information is used for determining a ramp up transmission power for a transmission on the second channel; and transmit the pathloss offset information to the first apparatus.
9. 9. The second apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pathloss offset informat on indicates a pathloss difference between the first channel and the second channel.
10. 10. The second apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pathloss offset information indicates a pathloss adjustment factor based on a ratio of the first pathloss value and a second pathloss value of the second channel.
11. 11. The second apparatus of any of claims 8-10, wherein the second apparatus is caused to: determine whether previous pathloss offset information is available at the first apparatus; and based on a determination that the previous pathloss offset information is unavailable 10 or expires, transmit, to the first apparatus, the pathloss offset information is received in a radio resource control signaling.
12. 12. The second apparatus of any of claims 8-11, wherein the first channel is a physical uplink control channel between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and 15 the second channel is a physical uplink control channel between the first apparatus and the third apparatus.
13. 13. The second apparatus of any of claims 8-11, wherein the first channel is a physical uplink shared channel between the first apparatus and the second apparatus, and 20 the second channel is a physical uplink shared channel between the first apparatus and the third apparatus.
14. 14. The second apparatus of any of any of claims 8-13, wherein the first apparatus is a terminal device, and the second apparatus is a network device.
15. 15. A method implemented at a first apparatus, comprising: receiving, from a second apparatus, pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point; determining a first pathloss value of the first channel from the first apparatus to the second apparatus; determining a ramp up transmission power for a transmission to the third apparatus 5 based on the pathloss offset information and the first pathloss value; and performing, on the second channel, the transmission with the third apparatus based on the ramp up transmission power.
16. 16. A method at a second apparatus, comprising: determining pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point, wherein the pathloss offset information is used for determining a ramp up transmission power for a transmission on the second channel; and transmitting the pathloss offset information to the first apparatus.
17. 17. A first apparatus comprising: means for receiving, from a second apparatus, pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus 20 to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point; means for determining a first pathloss value of the first channel from the first apparatus to the second apparatus; means for determining a ramp up transmission power for a transmission to the third 25 apparatus based on the pathloss offset information and the first pathloss value; and means for performing, on the second channel, the transmission with the third apparatus based on the ramp up transmission power.
18. 18. A second apparatus comprising: means for determining pathloss offset information between a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first channel is from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the second channel is from the first apparatus to a third apparatus which is an uplink-only transmission reception point, wherein the pathloss offset information is used for determining a ramp up transmission power for a transmission on the second channel, and means for transmitting the pathloss offset information to the first apparatus.
19. 19. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing 10 an apparatus at least to perform the method of claim 15 or 16.