Channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) as part of discovery reference signal (DRS) configuration and indication for new radio-unlicensed (NR-U)

1. A baseband processor, configured to perform operations comprising:

determining discovery reference signal (DRS) resources for use in carrying channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS);

generating CSI-RS configuration information that defines at least one CSI-RS using the DRS resources; and

instructing a transceiver to signal the CSI-RS configuration information to a user equipment (UE).

2. The baseband processor of claim 1 , further configured to:

generate the CSI-RS configuration information to define a slot for the CSI-RS relative to a slot that includes an associated synchronization symbol block (SSB).

3. The baseband processor of claim 2 , further configured to:

generate the CSI-RS configuration information to define the slot that includes the associated synchronization symbol block (SSB) for the CSI-RS.

4. The baseband processor of claim 2 , further configured to:

generate the CSI-RS configuration information to define a slot immediately subsequent the slot that includes the associated synchronization symbol block (SSB) for the CSI-RS.

5. The baseband processor of claim 2 , further configured to:

generate the CSI-RS configuration information to define a slot for the CSI-RS relative to a slot that includes the associated synchronization symbol block (SSB) identified in an associatedSSB field of a ResourceConfigMobility information element (IE).

6. The NW node of claim 5 , further configured to:

select a CSI-RS configuration from amongst a set of CSI-RS configurations for a group of UEs to which the UE belongs; and

transmit an index identifying the selected CSI-RS configuration to the UE in a groupcast DCI transmission.

7. The baseband processor of claim 1 , further configured to:

generate the CSI-RS configuration information by modifying a slotConfig field in a ResourceConfigMobility information element IE to refer to a slot in the DRS resources.

8. The baseband processor of claim 7 , further configured to:

signal the CSI-RS configuration information to the UE using a broadcast downlink control information (DCI) transmission.

9. The baseband processor of claim 1 , further configured to:

select a CSI-RS configuration from amongst a set of CSI-RS configurations for a group of UEs to which the UE belongs; and

transmit an index identifying the selected CSI-RS configuration to the UE in a broadcast DCI transmission.

10. The baseband processor of claim 7 , wherein the CSI-RS comprises a tracking reference signal (TRS).

11. A method, comprising with a network (NW) node in a wireless network:

determining discovery reference signal (DRS) resources for use in carrying channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS);

generating CSI-RS configuration information that defines at least one CSI-RS using the DRS resources; and

signaling the CSI-RS configuration information to a user equipment (UE).

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising:

generating the CSI-RS configuration information to define a slot for the CSI-RS relative to a slot that includes an associated synchronization symbol block (SSB).

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising:

generating the CSI-RS configuration information to define a slot immediately subsequent the slot that includes the associated synchronization symbol block (SSB) for the CSI-RS.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising:

selecting a CSI-RS configuration from amongst a set of CSI_RS configurations for a group of UEs to which the UE device belongs; and

transmitting an index identifying the selected CSI-RS configuration to the UE in a broadcast DCI transmission.

15. The method of claim 12 , comprising:

generating the CSI-RS configuration information to define a slot for the CSI-RS relative to a slot that includes the associated synchronization symbol block (SSB) identified in an associatedSSB field of a ResourceConfigMobility information element (IE).

16. The method of claim 12 , comprising:

signaling the CSI-RS configuration information to the UE using a broadcast downlink control information (DCI) transmission.

17. A user equipment (UE), comprising a memory and one or more processors configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the UE to:

receive, from a network (NW) node, channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) configuration information that defines at least one CSI-RS using discovery reference signal (DRS) resources;

monitor the DRS resources for the CSI-RS;

measure CSI-RS received on the DRS resources to generate CSI information; and

transmit the CSI information to the NW node.

18. The UE of claim 17 , wherein the CSI-RS configuration information defines a slot for the CSI-RS relative to a slot that includes an associated synchronization symbol block (SSB).

19. The UE of claim 18 wherein the CSI-RS configuration information comprises a slotConfig field in a ResourceConfigMobility information element IE that refers to a slot in the DRS resources.

20. The UE of claim 19 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the UE to:

receive the CSI-RS configuration information to the UE in a groupcast DCI transmission.