Repetitive transmissions and re-configurable reflective devices
A method of operating a transmitter node ( 101 ) configured to communicate with one or more receiver nodes ( 102 - 104 ) using a re-configurable reflective device. RRD ( 109 ), is provided. The RRD ( 109 ) is re-configurable to provide multiple spatial filters, each one of the multiple spatial filters being associated with a respective spatial direction ( 351 - 353 ) into which incident signals are selectively reflected by the RRD ( 109 ). The method includes repeatedly transmitting reference signals ( 198 ) towards the RRD ( 109 ) at one or more transmit periods ( 551 - 554 ). The method also includes setting the one or more transmit periods ( 551 - 554 ) based on a re-configuration timing ( 510 ) of the RRD ( 109 ), the re-configuration timing ( 510 ) defining a dwell time ( 511 - 513 ) of the RRD ( 109 ) for providing each one of the multiple spatial filters, to thereby counteract a change of one or more receive periods ( 531 ) of the reference signals ( 198 ) at at least one receiver node ( 102 ) of the one or more receiver nodes ( 102 - 104 ) caused by the re-configuration timing ( 510 ).
1. A method of operating a transmitter node configured to communicate with one or more receiver nodes using a re-configurable reflective device (RRD), the RRD being re-configurable to provide multiple spatial filters, each one of the multiple spatial filters being associated with a respective spatial direction into which incident signals are selectively reflected by the RRD, the method comprising:
repeatedly transmitting reference signals towards the RRD at one or more transmit periods, and
setting the one or more transmit periods based on a re-configuration timing of the RRD, the re-configuration timing defining a dwell time of the RRD for providing each one of the multiple spatial filters, to thereby counteract a change of one or more receive periods of the reference signals at at least one receiver node of the one or more receiver nodes caused by the re-configuration timing.
2. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the reference signals are repeatedly transmitted by the transmitter node using multiple transmit beams, wherein a first transmit beam of the multiple transmit beams is directed towards the RRD, wherein a second transmit beam of the multiple transmit beams is not directed towards the RRD,
wherein for the first transmit beam the one or more transmit periods are set based on the re-configuration timing,
wherein for the second transmit beam the one or more transmit periods are set independently of the re-configuration timing.
3. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein one or more repetitive burst transmissions comprising multiple transmission blocks associated with multiple transmit beams are used by the transmitter node for said repeatedly transmitting of the reference signals, each one of the multiple transmission blocks comprising at least one of the reference signals,
wherein the one or more transmit periods are set based on the re-configuration timing for a given transmission block of the multiple transmission blocks that is associated with a given transmit beam of the multiple transmit beams that is directed towards the RRD.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more transmit periods are set for the given transmission block by setting a count of the given transmission block per repetitive burst transmission.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the one or more transmit periods are set for the given transmission block by setting a count of the one or more repetitive burst transmissions.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the one or more transmit periods are set for the given transmission block by activating at least one on-demand repetitive burst transmission of the one or more repetitive burst transmissions.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
providing a unicast or multicast or broadcast message to at least one receiver node of the one or more receiver nodes, the message comprising configuration information for the at least one on-demand repetitive burst transmission.
8. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
obtaining, from at least one of the RRD or at least one receiver node of the one or more receiver nodes, an identity of the given transmit beam directed towards the RRD.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining, from at least one of the RRD or at least one receiver node of the one or more receiver nodes, a message indicative of the re-configuration timing.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the message is indicative of count of the spatial filters.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining, from at least one receiver node of the one or more receiver nodes, a message indicative of one or more requested transmit periods of the reference signal,
wherein the one or more transmit periods set further depending on the one or more requested transmit periods.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining, from at least one receiver node of the one or more receiver nodes, a message indicative of the at least one receiver node being served via the RRD,
wherein the one or more transmit periods are set in response to receiving the message indicative of the at least one receiver node being served via the RRD.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the message indicative of the at least one receiver node being served via the RRD is indicative of one or more observed receive periods of the reference signals at the at least one receiver node.
14. A method of operating a transmitter node configured to communicate with one or more receiver nodes using a re-configurable reflective device (RRD), the RRD being re-configurable to provide multiple spatial filters, each one of the multiple spatial filters being associated with a respective spatial direction into which incident signals are selectively reflected by the RRD, the method comprising:
repeatedly transmitting reference signals towards the RRD at one or more transmit periods;
obtaining information indicative of a re-configuration timing of the RRD for switching between the multiple spatial filters, the re-configuration timing defining a dwell time of the RRD for providing each one of the multiple spatial filters; and
providing information indicative of one or more receive periods of the reference signals to at least one receiver node of the one or more receiver nodes, the one or more receive periods depending on the one or more transmit periods and the re-configuration timing.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the information is indicative of an expected range for the one or more receive periods at the at least one receiver node.
16. The method of claim 14 ,
wherein the reference signals are transmitted towards the RRD using a given transmit beam,
wherein the information is indicative of a beam identity of the given transmit beam.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
determining that the at least one receiver node is served via the RRD,
wherein the information is provided in response to determining that the at least one receiver node is served via the RRD.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
obtaining, from the at least one receiver node, a measurement report of one or more observed receive periods of the reference signals at the at least one receiver node,
wherein said determining that the at least one receiver node is served via the RRD depends on the measurement report.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more receive periods are determined as common multiples of at least one transmit periodicity defined by the one or more transmit periods and a cycle periodicity for switching through the multiple spatial filters in accordance with the re-configuration timing.