GUARD PERIOD OPTIMIZATION FOR MULTI-ANTENNA USER EQUIPMENTS

1 . A method of selecting an antenna configuration for transmitting in a wireless communication network, comprising:

determining that a front guard period is not scheduled between a scheduled uplink transmission and a scheduled sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission; and

based on the determination, transmitting the scheduled SRS transmission using a first antenna configuration after transmitting the scheduled uplink transmission using the first antenna configuration.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: changing the antenna configuration during a middle guard period following the transmitting the scheduled SRS transmission.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a network resource allocation from a network, wherein:

the network resource allocation comprises an SRS resource set,

a first SRS resource of the SRS resource set is separated from a second SRS resource of the SRS resource set by a middle guard period, and

the second SRS resource of the SRS resource set is followed by a rear guard period.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the rear guard period comprises a zero-power SRS resource.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communication network is an NR network.

6 . A user equipment configured to select an antenna configuration for transmitting in a wireless communication network, comprising:

a memory comprising computer-executable instructions;

a processor configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the user equipment to:

determine that a front guard period is not scheduled between a scheduled uplink transmission and a scheduled sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission; and

based on the determination, transmit the scheduled SRS transmission using a first antenna configuration after transmitting the scheduled uplink transmission using the first antenna configuration.

7 . The user equipment of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the user equipment to: change the antenna configuration during a middle guard period following a transmission of the scheduled SRS transmission.

8 . The user equipment of claim 6 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the user equipment to receive a network resource allocation from a network, wherein:

the network resource allocation comprises an SRS resource set,

a first SRS resource of the SRS resource set is separated from a second SRS resource of the SRS resource set by a middle guard period, and

the second SRS resource of the SRS resource set is followed by a rear guard period.

9 . The user equipment of claim 8 , wherein the rear guard period comprises a zero-power SRS resource.

10 . The user equipment of claim 6 , wherein the wireless communication network is an NR network.

11 . A method of selecting an antenna configuration for transmitting in a wireless communication network, comprising:

determining that a rear guard period is not needed between a scheduled sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission and a scheduled downlink transmission;

transmitting the scheduled SRS transmission using a first antenna configuration;

changing from the first antenna configuration to a second antenna configuration; and

receiving the scheduled downlink transmission using the second antenna configuration without observing an intervening guard period.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining that the rear guard period is not needed comprises determining a propagation delay between a base station and a user equipment is sufficient to allow for changing between the first antenna configuration and the second antenna configuration without the rear guard period.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining that the rear guard period is not needed comprises receiving downlink control information (DCI) from a base station indicating that the rear guard period is not needed.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining that the rear guard period is not needed comprises determining that it is not necessary to receive a first symbol of the scheduled downlink transmission.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: receiving a network resource allocation from a network, wherein:

the network resource allocation comprises an SRS resource set,

a first SRS resource of the SRS resource set is separated from a second SRS resource of the SRS resource set by a middle guard period, and

the first SRS resource of the SRS resource set is preceded by a front guard period.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the front guard period comprises a zero-power SRS resource.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the wireless communication network is an NR network.

18 . A user equipment configured to select an antenna configuration for transmitting in a wireless communication network, comprising:

a memory comprising computer-executable instructions;

a processor configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the user equipment to:

determine that a rear guard period is not needed between a scheduled sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission and a scheduled downlink transmission;

transmit the scheduled SRS transmission using a first antenna configuration;

change from the first antenna configuration to a second antenna configuration; and

receive the scheduled downlink transmission using the second antenna configuration without observing an intervening guard period.

19 . The user equipment of claim 18 , wherein in order to determine that the rear guard period is not needed, the processor is further configured to cause the user equipment to determine a propagation delay between a base station and a user equipment is sufficient to allow for changing between the first antenna configuration and the second antenna configuration without the rear guard period.

20 . The user equipment of claim 18 , wherein in order to determine that the rear guard period is not needed, the processor is further configured to cause the user equipment to receive downlink control information (DCI) from a base station indicating that the rear guard period is not needed.

21 . The user equipment of claim 18 , wherein in order to determine that the rear guard period is not needed, the processor is further configured to cause the user equipment to determine that it is not necessary to receive a first symbol of the scheduled downlink transmission.

22 . The user equipment of claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the user equipment to: receive a network resource allocation from a network, wherein:

the network resource allocation comprises an SRS resource set,

a first SRS resource of the SRS resource set is separated from a second SRS resource of the SRS resource set by a middle guard period, and

the first SRS resource of the SRS resource set is preceded by a front guard period.

23 . The user equipment of claim 22 , wherein the front guard period comprises a zero-power SRS resource.

24 . The user equipment of claim 18 , wherein the wireless communication network is an NR network.