Feedback reporting based on channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) groups

1. A method for wireless communications, the method comprising:

determining a plurality of channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) groups for feedback reporting, each one of the plurality of CSI-RS groups comprising a set of CSI-RS ports assigned to antennas of multiple transmission points, each transmission point of the multiple transmission points comprising a cell identifier (ID);

transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), an indicator that identifies the plurality of CSI-RS groups to the UE;

transmitting, to the UE, CSI-RSs corresponding to the plurality of CSI-RS groups;

providing signaling to the UE to restrict feedback reporting to a set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups; and

receiving feedback reports, from the UE, corresponding to at least one CSI-RS group of the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

at least one CSI-RS group of the plurality of CSI-RS groups corresponds to multiple transmission points.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of CSI-RS ports of different CSI-RS groups are mapped to a same set of antennas.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a cell specific reference signal (CRS) of the UE's serving cell is used as an additional virtual CSI-RS group.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of CSI-RS groups is configured with a scrambling sequence corresponding to a CSI-RS group-specific virtual cell ID.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the feedback reporting is restricted by dynamically signaling to indicate the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups to the UE via additional bits in a grant requesting an aperiodic feedback report or by reusing existing bits in the grant.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein separate periodic feedback reporting instances are configured for the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

signaling the at least one CSI-RS group of the plurality of CSI-RS groups to the UE via a CSI-RS port pattern configuration.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving comprises receiving, in different reporting instances, feedback reports that are cycled across each of the plurality of CSI-RS groups in a predefined cycling pattern.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein different CSI-RS groups are defined for different subframe types.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the feedback reports is based on the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising signaling one or more codebooks per CSI-RS group or for different CSI-RS group combinations.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one feedback report indicates the plurality of CSI-RS groups with CSI-RSs that satisfy a received signal strength or capacity criterion.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising signaling a codebook with entries that are structured such that sets of one or more antenna ports are turned off.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups is configured for reporting at least a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), a channel quality indicator (CQI), a rank indicator (RI), or a combination thereof based at least in part on feedback of signal strength indicators received from the UE for the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

16. A method for wireless communications, the method comprising:

receiving an indicator that identifies a plurality of channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) groups for feedback reporting, each one of the plurality of CSI-RS groups comprising a set of CSI-RS ports assigned to antennas of multiple transmission points, each transmission point of the multiple transmission points comprising a cell identifier (ID);

receiving CSI-RSs corresponding to the plurality of CSI-RS groups;

performing channel measurements for at least one of the plurality of CSI-RS groups;

receiving signaling to restrict feedback reporting to a set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups; and

transmitting a feedback report corresponding to at least one CSI-RS group of the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein:

at least one CSI-RS group of the plurality of CSI-RS groups corresponds to multiple transmission points.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein CSI-RS ports of different CSI-RS groups are mapped to a same set of antennas.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein a cell specific reference signal (CRS) corresponding to a serving cell is used as an additional virtual CSI-RS group.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the feedback report comprises at least a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), a channel quality indicator (CQI), a rank indicator (RI), a received signal strength indicator, a CSI-RS group selection indicator, or a combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the determining comprises receiving a CSI-RS port pattern configuration indicating the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting, in different reporting instances, a plurality of feedback reports that are cycled across the plurality of CSI-RS groups in a predefined cycling pattern.

23. The method of claim 16 , wherein each one of the plurality of CSI-RS groups is configured with a scrambling sequence corresponding to a CSI-RS group specific virtual cell ID.

24. The method of claim 16 , wherein different CSI-RS groups are defined for different subframe types.

25. The method of claim 16 , further comprising receiving signaling indicating at least one codebook to use per CSI-RS group or different CSI-RS group combinations.

26. The method of claim 16 , wherein at least one feedback report indicates the plurality of CSI-RS groups with CSI-RSs that satisfy a received signal strength or capacity criterion.

27. The method of claim 16 , wherein at least one feedback report indicates at least one bandwidth part from at least one CSI-RS group selected from the plurality of CSI-RS groups corresponding to CSI-RSs that satisfy a received signal strength or capacity criterion.

28. The method of claim 16 , wherein the feedback report is generated based at least in part on channel measurements separately for the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

29. The method of claim 16 , wherein the feedback report is generated based at least in part on channel measurements for different aggregations of the plurality of CSI-RS groups and wherein the feedback report is based at least in part on an aggregation of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

30. The method of claim 16 wherein a reporting payload of the feedback report is encoded jointly across the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

31. The method of claim 16 , wherein the feedback report is based on the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

32. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a memory unit; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory unit, the at least one processor being configured:

to determine a plurality of channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) groups for feedback reporting, each one of the plurality of CSI-RS groups comprising a set of CSI-RS ports assigned to antennas of multiple transmission points, each transmission point of the multiple transmission points comprising a cell identifier (ID);

to transmit, to a user equipment (UE), an indicator that identifies the plurality of CSI-RS groups to the UE;

to transmit, to the UE, CSI-RSs corresponding to the plurality of CSI-RS groups;

to provide signaling to the UE to restrict feedback reporting to a set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups; and

to receive feedback reports, from the UE, corresponding to at least one CSI-RS group of the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein:

at least one CSI-RS group of the plurality of CSI-RS groups corresponds to multiple transmission points.

34. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein CSI-RS ports of different CSI-RS groups are mapped to a same set of antennas.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein at least one of the feedback reports is based on the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

36. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to signal the plurality of CSI-RS groups to the UE via a CSI-RS port pattern configuration.

37. The apparatus of claim 32 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to signal at least one codebook for each CSI-RS group or for different CSI-RS group combinations.

38. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for determining a plurality of channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) groups for feedback reporting, each one of the plurality of CSI-RS groups comprising a set of CSI-RS ports assigned to antennas of multiple transmission points, each transmission point of the multiple transmission points comprising a cell identifier (ID);

means for transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), an indicator that identifies the plurality of CSI-RS groups to the UE;

means for transmitting, to the UE, CSI-RSs corresponding to the plurality of CSI-RS groups;

means for providing signaling to the UE to restrict feedback reporting to a set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups; and

means for receiving feedback reports, from the UE, corresponding to at least one CSI-RS group of the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein:

at least one of CSI-RS groups of the plurality of CSI-RS groups corresponds to multiple transmission points.

40. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein CSI-RS ports of different CSI-RS groups are mapped to a same set of antennas.

41. The apparatus of claim 38 , wherein at least one of the feedback reports is based on the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

42. The apparatus of claim 38 , further comprising means for signaling the plurality of CSI-RS groups to the UE via a CSI-RS port pattern configuration.

43. The apparatus of claim 38 , further comprising means for signaling at least one codebook for each CSI-RS group or for different CSI-RS group combinations.

44. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a memory unit; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory unit, the at least one processor being configured:

to receive an indicator that identifies a plurality of channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) groups for feedback reporting, each one of the plurality of CSI-RS groups comprising a set of CSI-RS ports assigned to antennas of multiple transmission points, each transmission point of the multiple transmission points comprising a cell identifier (ID);

to receive CSI-RSs corresponding to the plurality of CSI-RS groups;

to perform channel measurements for at least one of the plurality of CSI-RS groups;

to receive signaling to restrict feedback reporting to a set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups; and

to transmit a feedback report corresponding to at least one CSI-RS group of the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein:

at least one CSI-RS group of the plurality of CSI-RS groups corresponds to multiple transmission points.

46. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein CSI-RS ports of different CSI-RS groups are mapped to a same set of antennas.

47. The apparatus of claim 44 , wherein the feedback report is based on the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

48. The apparatus of claim 44 , in which the at least one processor is further configured to receive signaling indicating at least one codebook to use per CSI-RS group or different CSI-RS group combinations.

49. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for receiving an indicator that identifies a plurality of channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) groups for feedback reporting, each one of the plurality of CSI-RS groups comprising a set of CSI-RS ports assigned to antennas of multiple transmission points, each transmission point of the multiple transmission points comprising a cell identifier (ID);

means for receiving CSI-RSs corresponding to the plurality of CSI-RS groups;

means for performing channel measurements for at least one of the plurality of CSI-RS groups;

means for receiving signaling to restrict feedback reporting to a set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups; and

means for transmitting a feedback report corresponding to at least one CSI-RS group of the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 , wherein:

at least one CSI-RS group of the plurality of CSI-RS groups corresponds to multiple transmission points.

51. The apparatus of claim 49 , wherein CSI-RS ports of different CSI-RS groups are mapped to a same set of antennas.

52. The apparatus of claim 49 , wherein the feedback report is based on the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

53. The apparatus of claim 49 , further comprising means for receiving signaling indicating at least one codebook to use per CSI-RS group or different CSI-RS group combinations.

54. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising:

program code to determine a plurality of channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) groups for feedback reporting, each one of the plurality of CSI-RS groups comprising a set of CSI-RS ports assigned to antennas of multiple transmission points, each transmission point of the multiple transmission points comprising a cell identifier (ID);

program code to transmit, to a user equipment (UE), an indicator that identifies the plurality of CSI-RS groups to the UE;

program code to transmit, to the UE, CSI-RSs corresponding to the plurality of CSI-RS groups;

program code to provide signaling to the UE to restrict feedback reporting to a set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups; and

program code to receive feedback reports, from the UE, corresponding to at least one CSI-RS group of the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.

55. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising:

program code to receive an indicator that identifies a plurality of channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) groups for feedback reporting, each one of the plurality of CSI-RS groups comprising a set of CSI-RS ports assigned to antennas of multiple transmission points, each transmission point of the multiple transmission points comprising a cell identifier (ID);

program code to receive CSI-RSs corresponding to the plurality of CSI-RS groups;

program code to perform channel measurements for at least one of the plurality of CSI- RS groups;

program code to receive signaling to restrict feedback reporting to a set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups; and

program code to transmit a feedback report corresponding to at least one CSI-RS group of the set of the plurality of CSI-RS groups.