5G NR · CSI framework

CSI Triggering & Activation

Channel-state feedback can be standing (periodic), switched on (semi-persistent), or summoned on demand (aperiodic). See how a single DCI bit-field fires a trigger state, lights up CSI-RS, and lands a report on PUSCH — with the real slot timeline and processing-unit budget. TS 38.214 §5.2.

3report types
0–6trigger bits
CPUbudget
38.214§5.2
DCI → CSI-RS → PUSCH report · slot by slot
1 Three flavours

Periodic · Semi-persistent · Aperiodic

All three carry the same quantities (CRI/RI/PMI/CQI/LI, or L1-RSRP). They differ in how they start and where they ride. Click a card.

Periodic (P-CSI)

Configured by RRC, fires at a fixed period with no extra signalling. Rides PUCCH. Cheap heartbeat of channel state.

Semi-persistent

Periodic once activated by MAC-CE (PUCCH) or DCI (PUSCH); deactivated the same way. Periodic without the always-on cost.

Aperiodic (A-CSI)

Summoned by a DCI CSI-request field → a trigger state. One-shot, rides PUSCH. The scheduler's on-demand probe.

Select a report type above to see its activation path and where it is carried.
2 Aperiodic plumbing

DCI bit-field → trigger state

The CSI request field in DCI 0_1 is up to 6 bits. A non-zero codepoint selects one entry of the aperiodic trigger-state list — and that entry bundles the CSI-RS resources to measure and the report config(s) to send. Set the field and watch the chain resolve.

Codepoint
Trigger state
Max states
Report on
PUSCH
3 The clock

Slot timeline: DCI → CSI-RS → report

Aperiodic CSI is a three-beat sequence across slots: the DCI arrives, the aperiodic CSI-RS is sent after aperiodicTriggeringOffset, the UE measures, and the report lands on the scheduled PUSCH — provided enough processing time (the Z/Z′ requirement) has elapsed. Press play.

The Z/Z′ requirement (TS 38.214 Table 5.4-1/2) sets the minimum gap between the trigger and a valid report — too tight and the UE drops it.
4 Budget

CSI processing units

Computing a report costs CPUs for a span of symbols. The UE can only run so many at once (simultaneousCSI-Reports); if triggers overlap and exhaust the budget, lower-priority reports are dropped. Add reports and watch occupancy.

CPUs occupied
Dropped reports
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