Methods and systems for beam tracking process management and indices

1. A method performed by a transmission point (TRP) for communicating with a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

transmitting, to the UE, a first message comprising multiple channel state reference signal (CSI-RS) configurations and a first beam tracking process index (BTPI) that identifies a first beam tracking process;

transmitting, to the UE, a trigger message for triggering the UE to transmit to the TRP a measurement report with respect to a set of one or more CSI-RS resources of the CSI-configurations;

receiving, from the UE, an identification of a preferred CSI-RS configuration determined by the UE;

transmitting, to the UE, a control message including the BTPI; and

using the BTPI, transmitting data to the UE.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the first BTPI is associated with a first link between the TRP and the UE, and

the first link between the TRP and the UE is an active link used for transmitting control data and/or payload data.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein

the method further comprises transmitting, from the TRP to the UE, a second BTPI associated with a second link between the TRP and the UE.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein

the second link between the TRP and the UE is a monitored link.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein

transmitting the second BTPI comprises transmitting a second message comprising the second BTPI and one or more CSI-RS configurations.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the control message is for scheduling a PDSCH transmission.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the trigger message comprises the first BTPI.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

after transmitting the trigger message to the UE and before transmitting the control message to the UE, transmitting to the UE a message comprising the first BTPI, wherein

the first BTPI is not included in the trigger message.

9. A transmission point (TRP) for communicating with a user equipment (UE), the TRP comprising:

a transmitter;

a receiver; and

processing circuitry, wherein the TRP is configured to perform a method comprising:

transmitting, to the UE, a first message comprising multiple channel state reference signal (CSI-RS) configurations and a first beam tracking process index (BTPI) that identifies a first beam tracking process;

transmitting, to the UE, a trigger message for triggering the UE to transmit to the TRP a measurement report with respect to a set of one or more CSI-RS resources of the CSI-configurations;

receiving, from the UE, an identification of a preferred CSI-RS configuration determined by the UE;

transmitting, to the UE, a control message including the BTPI; and

using the BTPI, transmitting data to the UE.

10. The TRP of claim 9 , wherein

the first BTPI is associated with a first link between the TRP and the UE, and

the first link between the TRP and the UE is an active link used for transmitting control data and/or payload data.

11. A method performed by a user equipment (UE) communicating with a transmission point (TRP), the method comprising:

receiving, from the TRP, a first message comprising multiple channel state reference signal (CSI-RS) configurations and a first beam tracking process index (BTPI) that identifies a first beam tracking process;

receiving, from the TRP, a trigger message for triggering the UE to transmit to the TRP a measurement report with respect to a set of one or more CSI-RS resources of the CSI-configurations;

determining a preferred CSI-RS configuration from the CSI-RS configurations;

transmitting, to the TRP, an identification of the preferred CSI-RS configuration;

receiving, from the TRP, a control message including the BTPI; and

using the BTPI, receiving data from the TRP.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first BTPI is associated with a first link between the TRP and the UE and the first link between the TRP and the UE is an active link used for receiving control data and/or payload data.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving, from the TRP, a second BTPI associated with a second link between the TRP and the UE.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the second link between the TRP and the UE is a monitored link.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein receiving the second BTPI comprises receiving a second message comprising the second BTPI and one or more CSI-RS configurations.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining, based at least in part on the one or more CSI-RS configurations for the first link, a set of one or more UE receive beam parameters for the first link; and

storing, in a memory of the UE and together with the first BTPI, the one or more UE receive beam parameters for the first link.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein

the control message is for scheduling a PDSCH transmission.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein

the trigger message comprises the first BTPI.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

after receiving the trigger message and before receiving the control message, receiving a message comprising the first BTPI, wherein

the first BTPI is not included in the trigger message.

20. A user equipment (UE) for communicating with a transmission point (TRP), the UE comprising:

a transmitter;

a receiver; and

processing circuitry, wherein the UE is configured to perform a method comprising:

receiving, from the TRP, a first message comprising multiple channel state reference signal (CSI-RS) configurations and a first beam tracking process index (BTPI) that identifies a first beam tracking process;

receiving, from the TRP, a trigger message for triggering the UE to transmit to the TRP a measurement report with respect to a set of one or more CSI-RS resources of the CSI-configurations;

determining a preferred CSI-RS configuration from the CSI-RS configurations;

transmitting, to the TRP, an identification of the preferred CSI-RS configuration;

receiving, from the TRP, a control message including the BTPI; and

using the BTPI, receiving data from the TRP.