Patent attributes
Aspects and embodiments relate to an apparatus and method for performing antenna panel management. There is provided an apparatus comprising: means for obtaining signal reception information related to at least one downlink signal received by a user equipment using at least one reception antenna panel of a plurality of selectively-activatable antenna panels; means for determining an indication of effective power radiatable to the network node from which the downlink signal is received, based on the signal reception information related to the at least one downlink signal received by that to antenna panel for each of the plurality of selectively-activatable antenna panels which is configurable to transmit a signal to a network node from which the downlink signal is received; means for calculating an indication of power consumption associated with the indication of effective power radiatable to the network node for each of the plurality of selectively-activatable antenna panels; and means for selecting and configuring at least one of the selectively-activatable antenna panels to be used for transmission of a signal to a network node from which the downlink signal is received in response to the calculated indication of power consumption. Aspects support appropriate power efficient operation of a communication apparatus, for example by allowing for differentiated uplink and downlink antenna panel selection, which can enable apparatus power saving, whilst minimising performance loss, or incurring no significant performance loss.
