Beam reporting from a communication device
A communication device ( 30 ) and a method for a communication device ( 30 ), for providing a beam report ( 401 ) to an access node ( 20 ) of a wireless network, wherein the communication device is capable of communicating via at least two different device beams ( 34, 36 ). The method comprises receiving ( 912 ), from the access node ( 20 ), at least a first access node beam ( 50 ) having a first access node identity, and a second access node beam ( 51 ) having a second access node beam identity; determining ( 914 ) link quality metrics for each received access node beam; transmitting ( 916 ) the beam report ( 401 ), comprising said access node beam identities and said link quality metrics, to the access node; wherein the beam report includes information indicating whether said link quality metrics for the first access node beam ( 50 ) and a second access node beam ( 51 ) are associated with different device beams.
1. A method in a communication device for providing a beam report to an access node of a wireless network, wherein the communication device is capable of communicating via at least two different device beams, the method comprising:
receiving, from the access node, at least a first access node beam having a first access node beam identity, and a second access node beam having a second access node beam identity;
determining link quality metrics for each received access node beam;
transmitting, to the access node, the beam report, comprising a list of entries, which each include an access node beam identity and the associated determined link quality metric;
wherein the beam report includes information indicating whether or not said list entries are obtained with different device beams, said information comprising one of:
an indicator provided to identify that an entry listed subsequent to the indicator in the list is obtained with a different device beam than an entry listed previous to the indicator, or
an indicator provided in one entry and pointing to another entry in the list, where those entries are obtained with the same device beam.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said information identifies a link quality metric for a pair of one device beam and one access node beam.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said information is provided by a device beam identity linked to the respective access node beam identity for each of said first and second access node beam.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said entries are provided in a predetermined order in the list.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said information includes data linking said first and second access node beam identities in the beam report, responsive to the link quality metric for the first and second access node beams being associated with a common device beam.
6. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
detecting a trigger event for an extended beam report;
providing said information in the beam report responsive to said trigger event for an extended beam report.
7. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
determining interference data, including link quality metrics for the first and second access node beam, each associated with at least two different device beams;
transmitting an interference report to the access node, including said interference data.
8. The method of claim 7 , comprising:
detecting a trigger event for an interference report;
wherein determining interference data and/or transmitting the interference report is carried out responsive to said trigger event for an interference report.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the beam report includes link quality metrics for both the first access node beam and a second access node beam only if they are associated with different device beams.
10. A method in an access node of a wireless network, for transmission of radio signals in a plurality of access node beams of a beam sweep, comprising:
receiving a beam report from a communication device, said beam report comprising a list of entries, which each include an access node beam identity and an associated determined link quality metric obtained by the communication device;
detecting information in the beam report, indicating whether or not said list entries were obtained with different device beams in the communication device, said information comprising one of:
an indicator provided to identify that an entry listed subsequent to the indicator in the list is obtained with a different device beam than an entry listed previous to the indicator, or
an indicator provided in one entry and pointing to another entry in the list, where those entries are obtained with the same device beam;
selecting at least one beam for communication with the communication device based on at least said beam report.
11. The method of claim 10 , comprising:
transmitting a control signal to the communication device, indicating a desired beam report definition with regard to association of said link quality metrics to said device beams.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said control signal includes a trigger for an extended beam report, instructing the communication device to provide said information in the beam report.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said control signal includes a trigger for interference data, instructing the communication device to include link quality metrics for the first and second access node beam, each associated with at least two different device beams.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein said quality link metric is a channel value determined in the communication device.
15. A communication device configured to communicate with an access node of a wireless network via a plurality of different device beams, comprising:
an antenna arrangement configured for receiving radio signals transmitted in a plurality of beams from an access node, and for transmitting radio signals; and
a logic coupled to the antenna arrangement and configured to:
receive, from the access node, at least a first access node beam having a first access node beam identity, and a second access node beam having a second access node beam identity;
determine link quality metrics for each received access node beam;
transmit, to the access node, the beam report, comprising a list of entries, which each include an access node beam identity and the associated determined link quality metric;
wherein the beam report includes information indicating whether or not said list entries are obtained with different device beams, said information comprising
an indicator provided in one entry and pointing to another entry in the list, where those entries are obtained with the same device beam.
16. The communication device of claim 15 , wherein said information is provided by a device beam identity linked to the respective access node beam identity for each of said first and second access node beam.
17. The communication device of claim 15 , wherein the logic is configured to:
determine interference data, including link quality metrics for the first and second access node beam, each associated with at least two different device beams;
transmit an interference report to the access node, including said interference data.
18. The communication device of claim 15 , wherein the beam report includes link quality metrics for both the first access node beam and a second access node beam only if they are associated with different device beams.