用于载波聚合的通信设备

Abstract

配置用于在无线通信网络中操作并且用于通过交换无线信号来执行与无线通信网络内的通信伙伴的通信的设备被配置为使用波束成形技术形成发送波束图案以与通信伙伴通信，发送波束图案为从由设备可形成的多个发送波束图案中选择的波束图案。设备被配置为响应于触发事件向通信伙伴或无线通信网络的不同实体提供作为多个可形成的发送波束图案的至少子集的数个发送波束图案。设备被配置为接收与数个波束图案中的波束图案相关的反馈信息；并且被配置为基于反馈信息使用所提供的数个波束图案中的至少一个作为选择的波束图案。设备被配置为使用载波的聚合用于通信并且包括天线布置和控制单元，控制单元被配置为控制天线布置以形成用于载波的聚合的选择的发送波束图案。

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to devices, wireless communication networks, methods for operating devices, and methods for evaluating the link performance of devices, particularly devices capable of combining beamforming and carrier aggregation. The invention further relates generally to combinations of beamforming and carrier aggregation. Background Technology

[0002] Beamforming, or spatial filtering, is a signal processing technique used in antenna arrays for directional signal transmission or reception. This is achieved by combining elements in the antenna array such that signals arriving from a particular angle are subject to constructive interference, while other signals are subject to destructive interference. Beamforming can be used at both the transmitting and receiving ends of a wireless link to achieve spatial selectivity. The improvement compared to omnidirectional reception / transmission is known as the array directivity. Beamforming is essential for systems operating above 6 GHz and in the so-called millimeter wave range (e.g., >24 GHz and <100 GHz) because its highly directional transmission compensates for significant propagation and penetration losses. Digital beamforming offers the greatest flexibility because it allows each antenna element to be connected to its own RF chain. However, at millimeter wave frequencies, digital beamforming often becomes prohibitively expensive in terms of complexity, power consumption, and cost when using a large number of antenna elements [1]. On the other hand, analog beamforming is typically implemented using phase shifters, attenuators, and electrical delays. It has limited flexibility in dynamically controlling the radiation pattern—especially when considering multi-beam patterns—but it is an attractive option, primarily because it is relatively simple and requires fewer RF chains. For these reasons, current millimeter-wave system solutions focus on hybrid configurations in which beamforming is performed in both the digital and analog domains. In hybrid beamforming, the analog beamformer typically consists of several subarrays, each with a dedicated RF chain and potentially a set of phase shifters, delay lines and attenuators that allow control over the antenna radiation pattern of the subarrays [1].

[0003] Carrier aggregation is a technique used in wireless communication to increase the data rate for each user by allocating multiple frequency blocks of system bandwidth to the same user. The so-called component carriers operate in a specific part of the spectrum and occupy a certain bandwidth (usually referred to as the system bandwidth, such as 1.4MHz, 5MHz, 10MHz, 20MHz in 4G-LTE) to increase the bandwidth allocated to each link beyond the bandwidth of the component carriers (CCs). Multiple CCs can be aggregated, and the positioning in the spectrum can be adjacent or distributed / segmented. The maximum possible data rate for each user increases with the number of frequency blocks / CCs allocated to the user. The total data rate of the cell also increases due to better resource utilization. In addition, load balancing can be achieved through carrier aggregation. Carrier aggregation was first introduced in LTE Release 10. There, multiple carriers can be sent in parallel to the same terminal / eNB / from the same terminal / eNB, thereby allowing increased bandwidth and correspondingly increasing the data rate for each link [2].

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to increase network throughput. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to improve the throughput of wireless communication networks.

[0006] The inventors have discovered that beamforming and carrier aggregation techniques can be combined in a specific manner to achieve high network throughput. Since beamforming is typically performed to control antenna placement within a certain frequency range, this control mechanism can become inefficient or imprecise when the frequency range is changed or modified, particularly its size, as is the purpose of carrier aggregation. The inventors have found a suitable way to control antenna placement by using carrier aggregation and a combination or joint set of beamforming weights for the frequency range obtained through carrier aggregation.

[0007] According to an embodiment, an apparatus configured to operate in a wireless communication network and to communicate with a communication partner within the wireless communication network by exchanging wireless signals is configured to form a transmit beam pattern using beamforming technology to communicate with the communication partner, the transmit beam pattern being a beam pattern selected from a plurality of transmit beam patterns that can be formed by the apparatus. The apparatus is configured to: provide a plurality of transmit beam patterns to the communication partner or different entities of the wireless communication network in response to a triggering event, the plurality of transmit beam patterns being at least a subset of the plurality of formable transmit beam patterns; receive feedback information relating to the beam patterns of the plurality of beam patterns; use at least one of the provided plurality of beam patterns as the selected beam pattern based on the feedback information; and communicate using carrier aggregation. The apparatus includes an antenna arrangement and a control unit, the control unit being configured to control the antenna arrangement to form a selected transmit beam pattern for carrier aggregation. Therefore, the control unit is configured to extend beamforming control in a single carrier to carrier aggregation. This allows for high throughput, even deviating from the association of a single carrier to a specific set of beamforming weights to obtain a specific beam pattern optimized for that particular carrier. According to an embodiment, the wireless communication network includes such an apparatus.

[0008] According to an embodiment, a device configured to operate in a wireless communication network and to communicate with a communication partner within the wireless communication network by exchanging wireless signals is configured to send capability information to an entity of the wireless communication network instructing the device to perform carrier aggregation and beamforming for communication, and / or to receive such capability information relating to another device.

[0009] Further embodiments relate to methods and computer programs for controlling such devices.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1a -c shows an example graph representing the curves of radiated power or sensitivity formed by an example antenna arrangement having eight antenna elements uniformly arranged in a linear array;

[0013] Figure 2a A schematic block diagram of a network according to an embodiment, having a device according to an embodiment, is shown;

[0014] Figure 2bA schematic block diagram of a wireless communication network 200 is shown, illustrating that device 20 provides a first transmission beam pattern 161 based on beamforming weight 191 during a first time instance and a second transmission beam pattern 162 based on beamforming weight 192 during a second time instance that is preferably not intersecting with the first time instance.

[0015] Figure 2c A schematic block diagram of a wireless communication network 200 is shown, illustrating that device 20 provides transmission beam pattern 162 as a selected beam pattern;

[0016] Figure 3a A schematic diagram of two carriers of a wireless communication network arranged adjacent to each other in frequency, according to an embodiment, is shown.

[0017] Figure 3b A schematic diagram of two carriers arranged non-adjacent to each other in a wireless communication network according to an embodiment is shown;

[0018] Figure 4 A schematic diagram illustrating the determination of different beamforming weights according to an embodiment is shown;

[0019] Figure 5 A schematic flowchart of a method for aggregating two carriers according to an embodiment is shown;

[0020] Figure 6 A schematic flowchart of a method for aggregating at least three carriers is shown;

[0021] Figure 7 A schematic flowchart illustrating a method according to an embodiment, which involves exchanging signals or messages, is shown.

[0022] Figure 8 A schematic flowchart of a method that can be used to operate the device is shown;

[0023] Figure 9a A schematic block diagram of a control unit according to an embodiment is shown;

[0024] Figure 9b A schematic diagram of another control unit according to an embodiment is shown;

[0025] Figure 9c A schematic diagram of a wireless communication network, which may be the wireless communication network shown in Figure 2, is illustrated.

[0026] Figure 9d A schematic diagram of a wireless communication network with an auxiliary device subject to interference, according to an embodiment, is shown;

[0027] Figure 10 A schematic flowchart of a method according to an embodiment is shown;

[0028] Figure 11 It shows Figure 2a A schematic block diagram of a wireless communication network, wherein devices are capable of forming a transmit beam pattern and a receive beam pattern, respectively;

[0029] Figure 12a -d illustrates different beamforming concepts;

[0030] Figure 13a -c illustrates different configurations of the beamformer and antenna panel according to an embodiment;

[0031] Figure 14 The beam squint effect in the device described herein is illustrated schematically;

[0032] Figure 15 This is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of the measurement or testing process of the present invention, assuming that the user equipment uses the same antenna to simultaneously beamform the first and second component carriers.

[0033] Figure 16 This is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of the measurement or testing process of the present invention, assuming that the user equipment uses different antennas to simultaneously beamform the first and second component carriers.

[0034] Figure 17 A DUT (Device Under Test) installed in a measurement chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention for measuring or testing the device described herein; and

[0035] Figure 18 The geometry of the coordinate system based on IEEE Std 149-1979 is shown, and illustrated using angles θ and φ. Figure 17 The relative angle configuration or orientation between the DUT and LA.

[0036] The same or equivalent elements, or elements having the same or equivalent functions, are represented by the same or equivalent reference numerals in the following description, even if they appear in different figures. Detailed Implementation

[0037] In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide a more thorough explanation of embodiments of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form rather than in detail to avoid obscuring embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, unless otherwise specifically stated, features of the different embodiments described below can be combined with each other.

[0038] The embodiments described herein relate to forming antenna radiation patterns, also known as beam patterns. Techniques used to form such antenna radiation patterns can be called beamforming. Beamforming can be performed for transmission and reception to achieve or generate one or more preferred directions for transmitting radio signals, respectively, for receiving radio signals. The embodiments described herein relate to analog beamforming techniques and digital beamforming techniques, and particularly to hybrid beamforming techniques. That is, a beamforming network may include, but is not required, a signal path to each antenna element of an antenna arrangement. Regarding carrier aggregation using hybrid beamforming on multiple antenna arrays, panels, subarrays, etc., a beamforming weight set selected independently or jointly or independently for each panel / subarray / array can be applied to some or all of them, while optimization is performed for the primary component carrier (PCC) and / or secondary component carrier (SCC). That is, the device according to the embodiments can be configured for at least one of analog beamforming, digital beamforming, and hybrid beamforming (where hybrid beamforming includes analog and digital beamforming), preferably hybrid beamforming, wherein a set of beamforming weights associated with the selected or reselected beam pattern is applied overall to the antenna arrangement for aggregation.

[0039] The beam or beam pattern formed in the embodiments described herein may include at least one main lobe. This main lobe may be intended to be controlled or manipulated or shaped to face a particular direction along a line-of-sight (LoS) or non-line-of-sight (nLoS) path. The antenna radiation pattern may further include additional main lobes, one or more side lobes, and nulls disposed between these lobes. Although additional main lobes, side lobes, and nulls are not explicitly discussed, the embodiments are not limited to beams including only one main lobe. Furthermore, radiation beam patterns can be obtained by forming a single beam pattern or as a combination of beam patterns.

[0040] The embodiments described herein further relate to antenna arrangements. Antenna arrangements may include multiple antenna elements for transmitting or receiving wireless energy representing signals. Embodiments relate to joint beamforming pre-encoders for aggregating frequency bands or carriers. In hybrid beamforming, also done in a hybrid manner, two frequencies (bands) or covering a large bandwidth are connected to a set of linked delay lines or phase shifters used to influence the phase of antenna elements going to or from a particular array antenna / antenna arrangement. For example, when all antenna elements are individually connected to a transceiver chain, individual beamforming weights can be selected for each sub-band / frequency band / carrier. Embodiments are particularly relevant to various hybrid beamforming methods where, for a single antenna element or group of antenna elements (antenna group / sub-panel), linked delay lines / phase shifters are applied to digital, intermediate frequency (IF), and / or radio frequency (RF) signals.

[0041] Although the embodiments described herein relate to devices including antenna arrangements, this does not limit the embodiments to having a single antenna arrangement. While an antenna arrangement can be understood as an antenna panel having multiple antenna elements (radiating elements or antennas) individually, in groups, or jointly controlled by one or more beamforming networks, the device according to the invention may alternatively include two or more antenna arrangements, collectively forming an antenna structure also referred to as an antenna arrangement. For example, such sub-panels may be arranged on different sides of the device to allow for effective beamforming along different main features such as the device housing.

[0042] The embodiments described herein further relate to carrier aggregation. While some embodiments are described herein, referencing both primary component carriers (PCCs) and secondary component carriers (SCCs) aggregated to the PCC, and while some embodiments further relate to the aggregation of additional component carriers (CCs), these embodiments are not limited to the specifications given in mobile communication standards such as 4G, 5G, or 6G. Embodiments can be implemented in any wireless communication network involving combinations of carrier aggregation by increasing the occupied bandwidth for communication while performing frequency-selective signal shaping, particularly beamforming.

[0043] Because the mechanical spacing of the antenna elements forming an antenna array or antenna arrangement can be fixed, their electrical separation (e.g., measured in terms of wavelength) will vary with the operating frequency. Generally, antenna arrays are designed with operational requirements within a given frequency range in mind. When such an array is combined with components necessary for forming or manipulating a beam in a given direction, the phase or electrical delay associated with these components can also be frequency-dependent. In other words, at each operating frequency, a different set of beamforming weights is required to form a beam in similar directions. This means that if the operating frequency is changed while keeping the beamformer weights constant, beamforming may fail to occur correctly. This can lead to patterning errors (aberrations), examples of which are not limited to, including beam misalignment, beam broadening, increases in sidelobe level and / or width, and reductions in null depth.

[0044] Combination Figure 1a , Figure 1b and Figure 1c An example of pattern manipulation is described. Figure 1a -c shows example graphs 22, 22, 23, 24, and 25 showing the radiated power (transmit beam) or sensitivity (receive beam) formed by an example antenna arrangement having eight antenna elements uniformly arranged in a linear array. Although in Figure 1a The array is designed to operate at 25.5 GHz, but Figure 1b The array is designed to operate at 27.5 GHz. Figure 1c The array in the design is intended to operate at 29.5 GHz, which means Figure 1a , 1b The array in 1c is implemented, for example, with varying distances between antenna elements. Figures 21 to 25 represent the transmit power or sensitivity along different angles as normalized level values ​​relative to the maximum value in the logarithmic scale (vertical axis). These curves are shown for different signal frequencies and center frequencies within the frequency range used. Figure 21 shows a signal with a center frequency of 25.5 GHz, Figure 22 shows a signal with a center frequency of 26.5 GHz, Figure 23 shows a signal with a center frequency of 27.5 GHz, Figure 24 shows a signal with a center frequency of 28.5 GHz, and Figure 25 shows a signal with a center frequency of 29.5 GHz. It can be seen that although each antenna arrangement can be used to form each signal, due to the center frequency matching and the design of the antenna arrangement, each antenna arrangement corresponds to only one signal. That is, the center frequencies of the other four signals deviate from the frequencies used in the design. This may result in a spatial spread of 4a (…). Figure 1a ), 4b Figure 1b ), 4c ( Figure 1c The angle and therefore direction of the formed beam deviate in response to a change in frequency. This effect can also be called aberration.

[0045] It can be seen that when the beam frequency is changed, the direction may also change even when using the same beamforming weights. This effect can occur when carrier aggregation is used in a comparable manner because the frequency range may widen and / or the center frequency may change when aggregating carriers. Therefore, when using beamforming, using carrier aggregation may result in beam pattern misalignment / inconsistency at the PCC and SCC.

[0046] In other words, to illustrate the pattern aberrations caused by the influence of a frequency used to design beamforming weights when operating at different frequencies, Figure 1a -c indicates the array factor of the eight-element uniform linear array, whose weights are designed to operate at 25.5 GHz, 27.5 GHz, and 29.5 GHz, respectively.

[0047] Since carrier aggregation can be understood as requiring an antenna array to operate over a potentially wider frequency range, it is unlikely to achieve optimal performance across all frequencies / bands of interest. Therefore, some form of decision is needed to determine beamforming weights according to a set of criteria, specifically considering the optimal performance of the array across all frequencies associated with any particular carrier aggregation scheme. Figure 1a The example of pattern aberrations due to frequency effects shown in -c illustrates that carrier aggregation should be considered when determining beamforming weights.

[0048] Figure 2aA schematic block diagram of a device 20 according to an embodiment is shown. Device 20 is configured to operate in a wireless communication network 200 that may include a communication partner 25 of device 20. Communication may include exchanging wireless signals 12, wherein wireless signals 12 may be as described above. t The signal transmitted as indicated, or may be as indicated for wireless signal 12 r The indicated received signal. Therefore, exchanging wireless signals involves the transmission and reception of wireless signal 12. Device 20 is configured to communicate with communication partner 25 using a first carrier of the wireless communication network and using a first set of beamforming weights that can be associated with the first carrier. Device 20 is configured to communicate with communication partner 25 using a second carrier of the wireless communication network 200 and using a different second set of beamforming weights that can be associated with the second carrier to exchange wireless signals.

[0049] In other words, during periods when carrier aggregation is not performed, device 20 can be configured to communicate with a communication partner using a first carrier without using a second carrier, and to aggregate the second carrier to the first carrier in a later time instance when operating in carrier aggregation mode. For example, when using the first carrier, which may be a single carrier, device 20 can use a first set of beamforming weights. When alternatively using the second carrier as a single carrier, device 20 can implement or use a second set of beamforming weights. Furthermore, device 20 can be configured to aggregate the first and second carriers to enhance communication.

[0050] The antenna arrangement 14 of device 20 can be configured to form an antenna radiation pattern 16 based on a set of applied beamforming weights. Device 20 is configured to perform beamforming, i.e., to form a transmit beam pattern for communication using beamforming techniques, the transmit beam pattern being selected from a plurality of transmit beam patterns that can be formed by the device. Device 20 can therefore be configured to select a beam pattern from the plurality of beam patterns that it can form and apply corresponding weights to the beamforming network of the antenna arrangement to form the antenna radiation pattern. This may include obtaining weights from a database or lookup table or codebook, but may also involve calculating weights based on entries in such a codebook, which may be stored in memory as part of device 20 or another device.

[0051] In some embodiments, device 20 is configured to form antenna radiation pattern 16 as a transmit beam pattern, i.e., a radiation pattern for transmission purposes. Therefore, when forming transmit beam patterns in more than one carrier, device 20 may suffer from issues such as… Figures 1a-1cThe aberrations shown are due to the fact that the beamforming weights 191 or 192 of the beamforming network used to control the antenna arrangement 14 can be adapted or optimized to one of the carriers used, while being less adapted or unadapted to other carriers, which may result in poor beamforming accuracy.

[0052] Although antenna arrangement 14 is schematically drawn as a single antenna element, the definition of antenna arrangement provided above applies, i.e., antenna arrangement 14 may include multiple antenna elements, such as two or more, four or more, eight or more, sixteen or more, or any other number. Although antenna radiation pattern 16 is schematically drawn as including a single lobe, antenna radiation pattern 16 may include at least one main lobe, at least one side lobe, and at least one null point arranged between adjacent lobes, for example, as in... Figure 1a This can be seen from -c.

[0053] Device 20 includes a control unit 18 configured to control antenna arrangement 14, i.e., to apply beamforming weights and to provide signals to be transmitted or received through antenna arrangement 14. In other words, control unit 18 is configured to control antenna arrangement 14 to form an antenna radiation pattern 16 for transmitting or receiving purposes.

[0054] Therefore, antenna arrangement 14 can be the antenna panel of device 20, which is controlled as a whole by control unit 18, which is configured to provide antenna arrangement 14 with a selected set of beamforming weights to form an antenna radiation pattern associated with the beam group. That is, antenna arrangement can be controlled as a whole by a set of beamforming weights that can be selected or determined by control unit 18. However, the selection of the beam pattern to be generated can be made by the control unit or by another entity of the wireless network, such as communication partner 25, control unit of another entity of the wireless communication network, such as another node of wireless communication network 200 or network controller of wireless communication network 200.

[0055] However, device 20 may include at least one additional second antenna arrangement. Any number of antenna arrangements can be implemented in device 20. Beam patterns can be selected to choose a beam pattern for each antenna radiation pattern. Each antenna arrangement may be provided with a beamforming network and a transceiver chain. That is, device 20 can be configured to apply a set 24 of beamforming weights 24 to a single beamforming network of antenna arrangement 14.

[0056] Device 20 can be configured to implement changes in carrier aggregation to further communicate with communication partners. Such action can form a triggering event, resulting in a new selection of the transmission beam pattern to be used. Changing the aggregation can involve one or more of the following: aggregating at least one carrier into a single carrier, e.g., aggregating a subcomponent carrier (SCC) into a primary component carrier (PCC), etc., to obtain aggregation from single-carrier communication; increasing the number of carriers within the aggregation, e.g., from x carriers to y carriers, where x,y>2,y>x; decreasing the number of carriers, e.g., from a carrier to b carriers to achieve at least two carriers, e.g., a,b>1,a>b; and / or replacing the aggregated carriers with another carrier. Each of these cases may cause a change in the behavior of the weights applicable to the selected beam pattern, e.g., at different carriers using the same weights in a particular carrier.

[0057] Device 20 can reselect the beam pattern or the beam to be generated based on changes in aggregation. Reselection can be made according to optimization criterion 26. Control unit 18 can access a memory that already stores optimization criterion 26. For example, the memory can also store beamforming weights 191 and 192 that allow the generation of radiation beam pattern 16 based on identifiers received along with feedback information 22. Alternatively, the weights or parameters used to derive the weights can be stored in different memories.

[0058] The optimization criteria may relate to the communication of device 20 within wireless communication network 200, such as communication with communication partner 25, and may include at least one metric that measures the parameters or quality of communication between device 20 and communication partner 25. For example, the optimization criteria may alternatively or additionally include metrics or parameters indicating the effectiveness of communication, particularly regarding the transmitted radiation pattern 16 of other nodes, either partially or partially, of wireless communication network 200, such as... Figure 9d As shown. Optimization criteria may relate to, for example, Layer 1-Reference Signal Received Power (L1-RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), Signal-to-Interference-Noise Ratio (SINR), link capacity metrics, link throughput metrics; link stability / resilience metrics; field of view (FOV) metrics, and / or combinations thereof. According to embodiments, optimization criteria may relate to communication with communication partners and / or interference caused at other entities in the wireless communication network.

[0059] Device 20 can be configured to receive feedback signal 22 from a wireless network, for example, feedback signal 22 sent by communication partner 25 or a different network entity. Feedback signal 22 may include instructions or information relating to a decision made by at least one entity in the wireless communication network different from device 20, and to a suggestion or indication of parameters or measurements in which the device allows such a decision. The decision may be related to the selection of a beam pattern to be generated, and therefore to the beamformer to be used. For example, in response to a triggering event, device 20 may generate several transmit beam patterns, which are at least a subset of a plurality of transmit beam patterns that device 20 can generate, thereby providing several beam patterns to a communication partner or a different entity in the wireless communication network. That is, the receiving entity can evaluate the generated beam pattern and can provide feedback information about the evaluation, indicated in feedback signal 22. Feedback information 22 may generally be related to the beam pattern provided as an interpretation of a subset of the beam patterns. Feedback information may indicate that a particular beam matches one or more criteria or does not match, but alternatively or additionally, refers to the effects of scanning beams, such as changes in SINR, etc. Feedback information can form at least part of the basis for deciding which transmission beam pattern to use for aggregation. This decision can be made at the device or at another entity in the wireless communication network, such as a network controller or a control unit of the network. Device 20 can implement the decision included in feedback signal 22, can make its own decision, and / or can evaluate using a different beam pattern as the selected beam pattern compared to the decision in feedback signal 22.

[0060] For example, if no conflict is found during the evaluation of the feedback information, the device can be configured to use the indicated beam pattern; and / or use a different beam pattern if a conflict is found during the evaluation.

[0061] The device may, for example, use at least one of several provided beam patterns as the selected beam pattern based on the feedback information, by selecting automatically, following the selection stated in the feedback signal, and / or by a selection improved through further device evaluation. Using the feedback information may involve receiving an indication related to a decision already made, such that the result has already been indicated in the feedback information 22. Alternatively or additionally, a metric or parameter may be included in the feedback information and related to the provided beam, allowing the device 20 to make a decision based on the evaluation feedback information, for example, according to optimization criterion 26. Alternatively or additionally, the feedback information may indicate a decision already made, and the device may be configured, for example, to decide whether to execute or deviate from that decision when additional information such as feedback information from another device, interference information, or performance information is available.

[0062] The received feedback information 22 can therefore explicitly or implicitly indicate the beam pattern among the provided beam patterns, for example, the beam pattern evaluated as the best or most suitable beam pattern with respect to at least one metric, which may be the same as or different from the optimization criterion. Alternatively or additionally, information that allows such information to be derived may be included.

[0063] The device can be configured to select several beam patterns to be provided or suggested based on external decisions (received instructions) and / or its own internal decisions. For example, when a SCC is aggregated to a PCC, device 20 can be implemented to generate a beam pattern associated with the PCC as one of several beam patterns for the aggregation of the PCC and SCC, and to generate a beam pattern associated with the SCC as another beam of the several beam patterns for the aggregation of the PCC and SCC. The transmitted beam pattern thus generated can therefore be applied to a single carrier of the aggregation. According to an embodiment, at least one of the provided beam patterns is independent of any carrier, i.e., it is another possible independent transmitted beam pattern. That is, each of the provided transmitted beam patterns is applicable to at most one single carrier of the aggregation. The device can be configured to use the selected beam pattern for each carrier of the aggregation, i.e., jointly for the aggregation. This can allow the use of transmitted beam patterns from several provided or suggested beam patterns that provide the lowest error, inadequacy, or degradation within the boundaries of optimization criteria and can therefore be considered optimal. That is, feedback information 22 may include information indicating the optimal beam pattern among the provided multiple beam patterns according to optimization criteria and / or information indicating all beam patterns below (e.g., causing interference) or above (e.g., throughput gain) a given threshold. The evaluation can be performed or provided by an entity outside device 20, such as a communication partner or different node, as long as it can transmit information to device 20, for example directly, indirectly, or via other nodes in the wireless communication network 200; it does not even need to be part of the wireless communication network.

[0064] Feedback information 22 can therefore directly indicate the transmission beam pattern selected by the feedback entity. Alternatively or additionally, feedback information 22 may include information indicating that the indicated beam pattern includes a joint performance metric of the aggregation of carriers above or below a predefined threshold for communication partners and / or for different entities in the network. Such information can allow determination and / or prioritization at device 20 regarding which transmission beam pattern will ultimately be used as the selected beam pattern. As can be seen, the selected transmission beam pattern is not necessarily a different beam pattern. Depending on the change in carrier aggregation, it can be the same transmission beam pattern that remains the optimal choice.

[0065] The device can be configured to establish communication with a communication partner using a first carrier and a first transmit beam pattern, i.e., a single carrier and an associated transmit beam pattern, such as a PCC. The device can then aggregate a second carrier to the first carrier to obtain a variant of the triggering event; and select a transmit beam pattern and jointly or jointly use the selected transmit beam pattern for carrier aggregation. The device can be configured to further select a transmit beam pattern based on the triggering event without altering the carrier aggregation.

[0066] Based on the decision of which transmission beam pattern to use, device 20 can, for example, obtain beamforming weights to be applied to antenna arrangement 14 by using codebooks, tables, determination rules, along with computational capabilities and / or received values. These beamforming weights may be referred to as joint beamforming weights because they are used for aggregation rather than for individual carriers.

[0067] The instructions may include boundary conditions, such as the conditions under which the radiation beam pattern generated by the joint set 24 of beamforming weights should fit (e.g., orientation, gain, number of multipath components, LosS paths, nLoS paths, etc.) or may include more specific information that allows the derivation of the joint set 24. That is, the beamformer to be used may be determined or selected by the network, or such determination may be at least assisted by the network. In other words, the decision regarding the final selection of the beamformer from the set of beamformers is made or assisted by the communication link, the other end of the network, such as a base station, or a higher entity such as a network controller.

[0068] According to embodiments, for implementation purposes, the beamformer may be selected by an entity different from device 20, while the associated beamforming weights will be selected by device 20. According to embodiments, the beamforming weights may also be selected by other entities or entities external to the device. For example, when device 20 is configured to implement hybrid beamforming and the subarrays of antenna arrangement 14 are marked with reference signals (RS), such as pilots that allow the receiver to calculate another codebook entry or precoder codebook, instruct / feedback to the transmitter a specific beam pattern with relevant values / weights to be applied / selected at device 20. However, the weights do not necessarily have to be calculated or transmitted by other entities, as they may be known to control unit 18; this is implemented by selecting or determining the weights to be applied based on an indication of which beam to generate.

[0069] In conjunction with the embodiments, device 20 is configured to operate in a wireless communication network 200 and to communicate with a communication partner within the wireless communication network by exchanging wireless signals; wherein, the device is configured to form a transmit beam pattern using beamforming technology to communicate with the communication partner 25, the transmit beam pattern being a beam pattern selected from a plurality of transmit beam patterns that can be formed by device 20. Device 20 is configured to, in response to a triggering event, provide several transmit beam patterns, which are at least a subset of the plurality of formable transmit beam patterns, to the communication partner or different entities of the wireless communication network. The device is configured to receive feedback information relating to beam patterns among the several beam patterns. The device is configured to use at least one of the provided several beam patterns as the selected beam pattern based on the feedback information. Use may involve self-selection, following the selection stated in the feedback signal, or implementing an improvement of the selection indicated in feedback information 22 and made by another device. The device is configured to communicate using carrier aggregation. The device includes an antenna arrangement and a control unit, the control unit being configured to control the antenna arrangement to select or reselect and form the selected transmit beam pattern for carrier aggregation.

[0070] Figure 2b A schematic block diagram of a wireless communication network 200 is shown, illustrating that device 20 provides a first transmission beam pattern 161 based on beamforming weights 191 during a first time instance and a second transmission beam pattern 162 based on beamforming weights 192 during a second time instance that preferably does not intersect with the first time instance. For example, device 20 has established communication with communication partner 25 using a first carrier and a beam pattern based on a set of beamforming weights 191 in the first carrier. Further, feedback information 22 may instruct the evaluation communication partner 25 to consider transmission beam pattern 162 as the best option within the proposed transmission beam pattern.

[0071] Figure 2c A schematic block diagram of a wireless communication network 200 is shown, illustrating that device 20 provides a transmission beam pattern 162 as a selected beam pattern. The device can be configured to select at least one selected beam pattern 162 based on feedback information 22 by considering optimization criteria 26 related to communication within the wireless communication network, for example, for direct communication and / or for overall communication within the network. However, optimization criteria may not be necessary in device 20 when it makes a decision that may be included in the feedback signal 22 and may be made by another entity. That is, evaluation criteria may be evaluated or considered at device 20 and / or at another entity in the wireless communication network.

[0072] That is, the control unit 18 can be configured to receive information indicating the joint set 24 of beamforming weights by receiving information containing the joint set 24 of beamforming weights and / or by receiving information indicating a set of multiple beamforming weights, wherein, in the latter case, the control unit 18 can be configured to select the joint set 24 of beamforming weights from the indicated multiple sets or to calculate the joint set 24 of beamforming weights based on the indicated multiple sets. In other words, the signal 22 can indicate the boundary conditions used to determine the joint set 24.

[0073] Alternatively or additionally, in different operating modes, device 20 can be configured to determine the joint set 24 autonomously. It should be noted that sets 191 and 192, as well as optimization criteria 26, can be stored in the same or different memories and / or in the same or different memory regions. Control unit 18 can be configured to determine the joint set 24 of beamforming weights by using or combining sets 191 and 192 using optimization criteria 26. That is, when autonomously or automatically determining the joint set 24 of beamforming weights, device 20 can calculate / select the joint set 24 based on optimization criteria 26 based on the settings it will use to employ a single first carrier or a single second carrier.

[0074] Optimization criterion 26 may include any suitable metric to be optimized within the wireless communication network 200. For example, optimization criterion 26 may include signal quality metrics for monitoring relevant reference signals. For example, signal quality metrics may include at least one of Layer 1-Reference Signal Received Power (L1-RSRP), Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), Signal-to-Interference-Noise Ratio (SINR), or combinations thereof, without excluding other or additional criteria that allow for increased network throughput. When information and signal 22 indicating the joint set 24 are received, the calculation of the joint set 24 can be performed on the network side, thus allowing for a reduction in the computing power of device 20.

[0075] For example, device 20 may indicate to network 200 its ability to perform carrier aggregation and beamforming, and may report at least a portion of its current channel conditions for determining the joint set 24 of beamforming weights. In response, network 200 may provide device 20 with a selected beamformer, for example by indicating a beamformer index and / or the joint set 24 of beamforming weights. For example, device 20 may be configured to transmit a capability signal 28 to wireless communication network 200, indicating that device 20 is capable of using the set of joint beamforming weights for at least two carriers. Capability signal 28 may be transmitted using antenna arrangement 14, or via wired or wireless interfaces. Signal 22, similarly, may be received via any wired or wireless interface, including antenna arrangement 14.

[0076] According to an embodiment, the device is configured to transmit capability information to entities in a wireless communication network and / or receive such capability information related to another device, the capability information indicating the device's ability to perform carrier aggregation and beamforming for communication. Such an implementation can be selected from a provided subset based on the provided transmit beam pattern and implementation, but can also be implemented independently as a separate embodiment.

[0077] For example, a device can be configured to transmit capability information to indicate: the number of antenna arrays or antenna panels used for communication; the number of radio antenna patterns generated by the device; and whether carrier aggregation is supported or not, for example, by indicating the number of aggregated carriers. Capabilities can, for example, involve one or more combinations of antenna arrangement, transceiver chains, beamforming networks, and the number of streams and / or carriers.

[0078] Capability information, signal 28 may involve at least one of the following:

[0079] - The number of spatial streams that can be supported simultaneously;

[0080] - The number of antenna arrangements / panels used for transmission simultaneously;

[0081] - The number of carriers that each space beam maps simultaneously;

[0082] - The number of carriers that each antenna arrangement / panel can simultaneously map;

[0083] - The number of transceiver chains that connect the antenna port control / distribution unit to the beamforming network and / or antenna arrangement / panel;

[0084] - Support mapping options between carrier, space beam and / or antenna arrangement / panel;

[0085] - Supports MIMO on multiple carriers, each with independent beamforming weights, or correlations in beamforming used for beamforming on multiple carriers;

[0086] - The number of beamformers provided, if requested;

[0087] - The threshold for the preferred beam reselection procedure to be triggered;

[0088] - A measure describing the correlation between beam (main lobe, side lobe, null) deviation and carrier distance in the spectrum, and the relative orientation of the main lobe to the antenna arrangement;

[0089] - The maximum number of carriers that can operate simultaneously via the same panel / beamforming network; and

[0090] - The maximum spectral distance between two or more carriers operating simultaneously via the same panel / beamforming network.

[0091] In other words, for example, if two panels are available and active at the same time: if the device can only map one carrier to one panel, or the device can map multiple carriers to each panel at the same time.

[0092] Although the designations of device 20 and communication partner 25 can be interpreted as referring to handheld devices, such as user equipment (UE) or customer premises equipment (CPE), device 20 can also be adapted to operate as a base station of a wireless communication network, another terminal in direct link operation, a relay node of a wireless communication network, an access backhaul integration (IAB) node, or a customer premises equipment (CPE).

[0093] Figure 3a A schematic diagram shows two carriers 321 and 322 arranged adjacent to each other in frequency. Carriers 321 and 322 can be used, optionally in conjunction with additional carriers in the wireless communication network 200. Device 20 can be configured to aggregate carriers 321 and 322 to use them as combined or joint carriers. This takes into account the new combined or joint center frequency f. cc When using carrier 321 or carrier 322, the center frequency f of carrier 321 may be used to determine the beamforming weights. c1 and carrier 322 f c2 This may therefore render f at least partially invalid. cc At least partial compensation is achieved by determining a joint set of beamforming weights.

[0094] Figure 3b It shows Figure 3a A schematic diagram showing carriers 321 and 322 arranged non-adjacent to each other, for example, separated from each other by at least a third carrier 323 not currently used for communication of device 20. However, by aggregating carriers 321 and 322, the combined center frequency f cc This could be a frequency that might be located within another carrier 323, which explains the basis for possible errors through combined carrier aggregation and beamforming. Figure 3bIt can also be seen that the total frequency range spanned by the aggregated carriers can become very large, and can also be based on the number of carriers arranged between the aggregated carriers. This drawback can be compensated for by determining, or at least using, a joint set 24 of beamforming weights adapted to take into account optimization criteria. It should be noted that the fundamental reason for the directional / main lobe / side lobe / zero-direction frequency dependence of the radiation pattern is that the phase and attenuation ratios between the multiple antenna elements used for beamforming must match the wavelength of the electromagnetic wave to be beamformed. If the occupied bandwidth of the modulated RF signal is approximately 1 / 10,000 of the RF carrier frequency, and the transmit and / or receive directions are close to the line of sight of the antenna array, then the frequency dependence is tolerable in terms of angular perturbations across the entire spectrum used for transmission / reception. If, on an RF carrier of approximately 28 GHz, the allocated / occupied bandwidth of the aggregated carriers is, for example, 1 GHz or several GHz, then the frequency dependence can become important in terms of performance (throughput, interference, etc.).

[0095] Figure 4 A schematic diagram is shown illustrating different beamforming weights 191, 192, and 24, represented by parameter values ​​(vertical axis). However, it is understood that beamforming weights can be provided or used as a set, thus providing multiple individual parameter values. These values ​​can have any dimension, for example, based on the requirements of the control unit 18 and / or the beamforming network and / or the antenna arrangement 14. Alternatively or in combination with a fixed beamforming weight set, individual beamforming weights can be obtained individually by algorithms or iteratively in a subset of the total values, such as brute-force or trajectory-based selections, whether supported or not by AI, to achieve faster convergence, stability, and / or optimality.

[0096] For example, given the combination Figure 3a and Figure 3b In the described carrier aggregation, control unit 18 may have knowledge of sets 191 and 192. By combining sets 191 and 192, for example, using function 34 or any other determination rule that may be influenced by optimization criteria, control unit 18 or the network can determine a joint set 24 of beamforming weights. Determination rule 34 may include linear and / or nonlinear functions and may take into account one, two, or more different parameters and / or boundary conditions. Optionally, only one of sets 191 and 192 can be used as an input value for determination rule 34, without excluding additional input values.

[0097] When considering the device, and particularly the control unit, is configured to determine the joint set 24 of beamforming weights, the control unit 18 can also be configured to select either a first set of beamforming weights 191 or a second set of beamforming weights 192 as the joint set 24 of beamforming weights. That is, the joint set 24 does not need to deviate from sets 191 and 192, where the decision of which set to use is based on optimization criteria.

[0098] For example, based on optimization criteria, control unit 18 can compare whether using the first group of carriers for aggregation or using the second group of carriers for aggregation is more promising.

[0099] Control unit 18 can be configured to select a first set of beamforming weights for a first carrier from a set of multiple beamforming weights, such as a large number of sets, including all sets or at least sets related to the current direction to be achieved, and is configured to select a second set of beamforming weights for a second carrier of the wireless communication network and associated with the selected antenna radiation pattern from multiple sets of beamforming weights. Control unit 18 can be configured to select one of a first set 191 and a second set 192 of beamforming weights based on optimization criteria, and to apply the selected set of beamforming weights to the aggregation of the first and second carriers for exchanging signals.

[0100] The control unit 18 can be configured to, when selecting a first set of beamforming weights 191 on one hand and a second set of beamforming weights 192 on the other hand, compare the effects of the obtained carrier aggregation, including carriers 321 and 322 and optionally including additional carriers, according to optimization criteria, thereby selecting a joint set 24 of beamforming weights. A set of beamforming weights with better effects can be selected.

[0101] In addition to selecting one of the sets for aggregation, the control unit 18 can be configured to determine or calculate a joint set 24 of beamforming weights as a modification of at least one of the first set 191 and the second set 192 of beamforming weights.

[0102] A practical way to determine the joint set 24 and / or provide a beam pattern for selection at another entity can be achieved by using beam adjustment, for example, by performing beam scanning and / or iteratively narrowing the beam while taking into account the preferred direction along which the beam is available and maintained. For example, the device can be configured to provide several transmission beam patterns based on beam scanning of a specific transmission beam pattern. For example, the device can be configured to receive feedback information 22 indicating a specific beam / beam pattern, wherein the device can be configured to receive a first transmission beam scan request from the network and, in response to the first transmission beam scan request, perform a transmission beam scan process using the specific beam pattern; and to receive a second transmission beam scan request from the network and, in response to the second transmission beam scan request, perform a transmission beam scan on the transmission beam pattern indicated in the second request. The device can perform the beam scan process as an option for providing a pattern, or the device can provide multiple alternative beams, such as those marked with IDs such as Sounding Reference Symbols (SRS), Synchronization Blocks (SSB), Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RS), etc. A scan can be understood as creating adjacent or even overlapping beams one after another. This means that the output can include similar beams and / or beams that are more distinct from each other, depending on the scan.

[0103] Such as combination Figure 4 As described, control unit 18 can be configured to determine a joint set 24 of beamforming weights by calculating a joint set of beamforming weights by combining sets 191 and 192 according to determination rule 34. However, according to an embodiment, control unit can be configured to select one of sets 191 and 192 as the joint set. According to an embodiment, or based on different implementations of device 20 or different scenarios, instead of selecting one of sets 191 and 192, a third set of beamforming weights can be selected / calculated, which performs better according to specific metrics when considering two carriers rather than just one carrier, such as PCC. The device can be configured to select the transmit beam pattern based on the continuous frequency range Δf spanned by the lowest and highest frequencies of the aggregated carriers 321 and 322, i.e., the lowest and highest frequencies of the obtained aggregation.

[0104] Device 20 can be configured to determine a joint set 24 of beamforming weights, and a joint set 24 for receiving information from a wireless communication network to select beamforming weights from multiple sets, or to calculate beamforming weights. That is, device 20 can receive signals instructing device 20 to operate according to an embodiment, for example, instructing device 20 to perform carrier aggregation and / or beamforming. Such instructions may alternatively or additionally include boundary conditions to be considered, such as beam patterns to be selected and / or excluded from such selection.

[0105] Figure 5 A schematic flowchart of method 500 according to an embodiment is shown, which can be performed or implemented at least in part by device 20. Method 500 specifically involves the aggregation of two carriers, while combining... Figure 6 The described method 600 solves the problem of aggregation of at least three carriers.

[0106] Step 510 of method 500 includes establishing an RRC (Radio Resource Control) connection state, that is, establishing a connection to a communication partner, such as a base station / gNB, UE, relay, etc., which may include performing a beam adjustment process.

[0107] Step 520 includes performing a beam optimization process on the connection, referred to as a UE-BS link on a primary component carrier (PCC), by way of non-limiting example only. The PCC can be, for example, carrier 321 or 322. The link can be used in the direction from UE to BS and / or from BS to UE, i.e., from one device to another or bidirectionally.

[0108] Step 530 includes activating the subcomponent carrier SCC, for example, another carrier 322 or 321. For example, based on an instruction or request, another carrier can be allocated or occupied for communication. That is, carrier aggregation can be established, which may include adding and / or activating SCCs.

[0109] When SCC is activated, the communication between the UE and the base station, as well as the links (or device 20 and its communication partner 25) used in SCC, can use the same beamforming weights optimized for PCC, as shown in step 540.

[0110] Step 550 of method 500 includes determining whether beamforming criteria are met. For example, if triggering conditions leading to beamforming are met, PCC and / or SCC and / or aggregation or different criteria can be evaluated. For example, it can be determined by the network or by device 20 whether PCC, SCC, or other or modified beamforming weights associated with aggregation are more suitable for a combination of aggregation using PCC and SCC. If the decision is "yes", the flowchart can proceed along path 552 to step 560, in which the beamforming of the links used is adapted to SCC in the first iteration, and if re-executed, adapted to different previously determined optimal values, thus reaching a beam optimized for the best CC that might be identified as SCC. In step 570, communication can continue on PCC and SCC in a combined, aggregated manner. If the decision in step 550 results in "no", path 554 can lead to step 570, resulting in the use of PCC weights in step 570. For example, the network decision may cause the network to instruct the UE to switch to SCC, see step 550, but the UE can know which beamforming weights are used for PCC and which are used for SCC.

[0111] Method 500 is illustrated by combining the selection of either PCC weights or SCC weights for communication. Steps 550 and 560 can also be performed to determine the optimal weight set by calculating or extrapolating the joint set 24 of beamforming weights.

[0112] Method 500 can be understood as being executable upon obtaining aggregation. That is, the device can be implemented such that the control unit is configured to determine a joint set of beamforming weights based on events of aggregating a second carrier. However, sometimes, or at least at an additional time, the already obtained optimal value can be verified or newly determined, for example, to compensate for changes in channel conditions. Such a device can be implemented such that the control unit is configured to determine the joint set of beamforming weights based on triggering events to update the joint set of beamforming weights; that is, the joint set can be determined iteratively or repeatedly to determine the set of joint beamforming weights.

[0113] The triggering event can be related to at least one of the following

[0114] -Timer;

[0115] -counter;

[0116] - Fixed or adaptive cycle;

[0117] - The determination of changes in channel conditions between the device and its communication partner;

[0118] - Changes to the optimization standards;

[0119] - Reports of equipment being interfered with in response to the beam pattern being used;

[0120] - Changes in the antenna arrangement of devices used for communication;

[0121] - Changes in the relative or absolute directional angle between the device and its communication partner or other devices affected by the aggregated communication link;

[0122] - Changes in carrier aggregation;

[0123] - Instructions received from entities in a wireless communication network may include requests to select a digital beamforming codebook;

[0124] - The inter-carrier separation frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold;

[0125] - The variability of the channel exceeds a threshold; and

[0126] - Its combination.

[0127] Variations in carrier aggregation may include at least one of the following:

[0128] - Aggregate at least one carrier to a single carrier to achieve aggregation;

[0129] -Increase the number of carriers within the aggregation;

[0130] - Reduce the number of carriers to at least two carriers;

[0131] - Replace the aggregated carrier with another carrier; and

[0132] - Increase / decrease / replace the number of aggregated carriers of another wireless communication link near / within the vicinity of the device. The other wireless communication link may refer to other coexisting links in the same or adjacent frequency bands that may be affected by or may cause interference.

[0133] - Its combination.

[0134] The device can be configured to iteratively update the set of beamforming weights to evaluate alternative options for the joint set of beamforming weights. That is, based on optimization criteria, the device can try, evaluate, or determine whether different sets of beamforming weights and therefore different beams are more suitable for communication with communication partners. This includes the optimization criteria being variable, for example, from highest throughput to lowest latency, or to any other local or global measurement within the wireless network.

[0135] Figure 6 A schematic flowchart of method 600 is shown, in which device 20 is configured to perform carrier aggregation using a first carrier, a second carrier, and at least a third carrier. Step 610 may include establishing an RRC connection state as described in step 510. Step 620 may include beam optimization / beam mapping procedures for the UE-BS link on the PCC as described in step 520.

[0136] Step 630 may include the activation and / or aggregation of one or more additional CCs. For example, when only one additional component carrier is aggregated, step 630 may at least partially correspond to step 530. However, step 630 allows the aggregation of one or more CCs.

[0137] Step 640 includes communication in the obtained link UE-BS (UE->BS; UE<-BS or UE<->BS; where UE and BS are as follows) Figure 5 (A non-limiting example in the text) uses a beam optimized for PCC as described in conjunction with step 540.

[0138] Step 650 may include sorting the CCs and / or SCCs according to predefined criteria that may at least partially correspond to optimization criteria. The result of the sorting may be the identified best carrier and / or a list of carriers having aggregated carriers or subsets thereof in sorted order. Step 660 includes determining whether the adjustment criteria for the first sorting have been met, for example, based on the sorted or first-sorted CCs. That is, a decision may be made as to whether a carrier different from the PCC is more suitable than the PCC or which CC is most suitable. If the decision is answered "yes", path 662 leads to step 670, in which beamforming for the UE-BS link is adjusted according to the first-ranked SCC, thereby optimizing the beam for the identified best component carrier. Therefore, step 680, performed after step 670, allows communication to continue on all component carriers using the settings of step 670. If the decision of step 660 is answered "no", path 664 leads to step 680, resulting in communication continuing on all CCs using the settings for the PCC.

[0139] Optionally, step 690 includes adding a new SCC. Step 690 can be implemented as a decision. If the decision is answered "yes," path 692 can allow a jump back in method 600 to, for example, method 630 to aggregate or activate one or more additional carriers. The newly obtained aggregation can then be optimized again. If decision 690 is answered "no," path 694 can return to step 650, thereby allowing the aggregated carriers to be reordered. For example, path 694 can be followed and executed, or iterative optimization or reordering of the carriers can be triggered based on timers, counters, detected changes in channel conditions, etc.

[0140] Such as combination Figure 5 As described, method 600 involves iteratively aggregating carriers to a first carrier and iteratively obtaining a joint set 24 of beamforming weights for the aggregated carriers. Similarly, method 600 involves determining a specific set from a set associated with the aggregated component carriers. However, according to embodiments, the joint set 24 of beamforming weights can be determined or calculated as, for example, in combination with... Figure 4 The sets that deviate from the described sets.

[0141] Two methods are available to determine the joint set of beamforming weights: either by selecting from the associated set or by calculating new values. 24 Allows for the evaluation of aggregations obtained through aggregated carriers in order to obtain the joint set of beamforming weights.

[0142] While method 600 allows for iterative acquisition of the joint set 24 of beamforming weights, for example, when only one additional CC is aggregated in step 630, the embodiments are not limited thereto. For example, when more than one additional CC is aggregated in step 630, the calculation or estimation of the joint set 24 of beamforming weights can also be performed non-iteratively. As described in conjunction with steps 560 and 670, device 20 can be configured to aggregate carriers to aggregates, to obtain information indicating the aggregated carriers as selected carriers, and to perform beam adjustment procedures for aggregation based on the selected carriers.

[0143] As a result, transmit beam (re)selection can be performed based on device-based decisions and / or network-based decisions.

[0144] For example, regarding Figure 5 As described, method 600 can be performed repeatedly or iteratively to adjust beamforming weights, even without implementing carrier aggregation corrections. Method 600 and other embodiments may alternatively or additionally be performed when reducing the number of carriers and / or replacing them with another carrier. That is, in general, when changing carrier aggregation, a joint set of optimized beamforming weights can be determined for the updated carrier aggregation.

[0145] In other words, although Figure 5 An overview of the proposed PCC / SCC beamforming process is shown, but Figure 6 The procedure for sorting SCCs for more than two component carriers is illustrated by way of example. The embodiment involves first sorting the second, third, and optionally additional SCCs, and then applying the same evaluation and selection criteria as in the two-carrier case. That is, the optimal SCC can be selected and then compared with the PCC.

[0146] In other words, the method according to the embodiments may include one or more of the following steps. The device according to the embodiments is implemented to perform such a method at least in part. For example, these steps may be described as:

[0147] 1. Establish RRC connection state - PCC between BTS and UE.

[0148] 1.a. At any point during an active connection, such as when the UE is in RRC_CONNECTED, the BTS may request (additional) UE radio access capability information. The UE responds with the capability information. Relevant to this invention is the UE capability information indicating support for transmit beam adjustment, which may also include additional parameters such as the number of antenna panels, the maximum number of supported beams, etc.

[0149]

[0150] 2. Establish carrier aggregation – Add and activate SCC.

[0151] 3. The network or UE can (through calculation) determine that the SCC is "better" than the PCC in some way. For example, a network entity can determine (through calculation) that it can allocate more bandwidth to the UE on the SCC, or the UE can receive feedback from the network that it has better L1-RSRP / RSRQ / SINR or any other monitored signal quality metric on the SCC measured on the probe reference signal (SRS), demodulation reference signal (DM-RS), or any other relevant uplink reference signal.

[0152] 4. Therefore, whether automatically or based on a decision generated by a set of defined conditions, the UE or network entity determines, by calculation, the appropriate set or more sets of beamforming weights to be used for transmission, using the frequency range of operation associated with SCC (instead of PCC).

[0153] 5. Perform UE Tx beam adjustment / reselection

[0154] a. UE-based decision

[0155] The UE can be pre-configured / configured (according to the system specification) with conditions or a set of conditions that will trigger a Tx beam reselection optimized according to specified criteria. An example of a condition could be receiving feedback information from the network that indicates performance metrics from two carriers to the UE. According to the system specification, the network can be configured to issue such an indication when, using the adopted metrics—i.e., L1-RSRP / RSRQ / SINR on the SRS, demodulation reference signal, or any other relevant reference uplink signal—the signal quality metric lags behind the PCC by more than / below a predefined threshold. Once the conditions are met, for a given gNB RX beam on the SCC, the UE can: i) switch to the previously provided optimal Tx beam; or ii) initiate a TX beam offering / scanning procedure and calculate / select a combined / joint set of beamforming weights according to some predefined criteria. Note that if beam correspondence is established, it is assumed that the beam used for downlink reception is suitable for uplink transmission. Considering this is a UE-based decision, the UE should also use uplink control information / channel notification to inform the base station about beam adjustment / reselection information. For example, the beam index for PCC / SCC beam selection or optimization can be reused in the Channel State Information (CSI) report.

[0156] b) Network-based decisions

[0157] After measuring a set of provided UE TX beams, the base station can, based on one or more conditions such as received signal quality metrics, such as SRS on the PCC and SCC, L1-RSRP / RSRQ / SINR of the demodulation reference signal or any other relevant reference uplink signal, or based on the available bandwidth on the component carriers, decide to request the UE to perform TX beam adjustment / reselection. For this purpose, the base station can use a combination of RRC signaling and / or MAC control unit and / or downlink control information. Then, for a given gNB RX beam, the UE can: i) switch to the indicated Tx beam; or ii) initiate a TX beam reselection / scanning procedure and calculate a combined set / joint set of beamforming weights according to the signal notification criteria. If beam correspondence is established, the UE can consider using the requested beam, and furthermore, can consider using the Tx beam corresponding to the optimal RX beam for downlink reception.

[0158] 6. Continue communication on two carriers of a joint beam optimized for optimal CC or other predefined criteria on which the UE uses.

[0159] When referring again Figure 2a -c illustrates an example wireless communication network that may include at least one device 20, but may also include any number of such devices. The wireless communication network may include a control unit configured to reselect a beam pattern based on optimization criteria. Such a control unit may be implemented at one or more entities and may provide decisions and / or measurements related to the provided beam to provide the basis for feedback signal 22. Therefore, the control unit may be a control unit of a device or a control unit of a different entity within the wireless communication network.

[0160] Devices and communication partners can be configured to jointly perform beam management or beam adjustment processes, either autonomously or in coordination by network entities used for reselecting beam patterns.

[0161] Devices and communication partners can be configured to use the same or different metrics for transmit beam selection during beam management or beam adjustment processes.

[0162] Wireless communication networks can be configured to take into account optimization criteria related to communication with communication partners and / or different devices, i.e., for direct communication and / or for overall communication within the network.

[0163] The embodiments provide devices and methods for allowing the establishment of links on a PCC, including selecting a beamformer from any direction of the device, such as towards a communication partner. Carrier aggregation can be initiated using an SCC. At that stage, beamforming can still be optimized for the PCC. Carrier aggregation can trigger the execution of a process that allows at least one device or entity to probe the impact of other / different joint beamforming weights on the performance of the PCC (CC1) and SCC (CC2), as well as the joint performance measured according to a specific metric. The device receiving the transmitted beam pattern can provide a performance feedback signal 22 to the transmitting device to allow a decision to be made on the optimal or new joint beam for the carrier. The decision regarding the TX beam used at the transmitting device can be made by the receiving device and conveyed through feedback, such as a beam index, describing a request to jointly use a specific transmitted beam pattern for aggregation at the transmitting device.

[0164] Figure 7 A schematic flowchart of method 700 is shown, which is illustrated through the exchange of signals or messages between a UE, such as device 20, and its communication partner, such as a base station BS. In 701, lower-layer procedures are executed to obtain initial access and connection establishment. In 702, the base station may send a capability information query to the device. In 703, the UE may signal the communication partner and / or base station, for example, using signal 28, to notify them of, for example, carrier aggregation capabilities and the ability to perform TX beam reselection. In 704, the communication partner notifies device 20 to schedule RRC reconfiguration, for example, in response to measurement configuration. In 706, the UE may notify the base station that RRC reconfiguration is complete. In 708, lower-layer procedures may be executed to perform beam adjustment between the Tx and Rx beams at both ends of the communication link. Communication can thus be established in the primary carrier for exchanging data and / or control signals, 712. For example, in 716, the UE may report information about beam measurement results, such as channel state information (CSI). A communication partner can request RRC reconfiguration by sending appropriate signals, for example, based on cell group configuration and / or measurement configuration, 718.

[0165] At 720, the UE can notify the base station that the RRC reconfiguration is complete. At 722, a communication partner or different entity, such as the base station, can instruct device 20 to activate additional carriers to activate or aggregate auxiliary carriers for data and / or control signals in 724. At 726 / 727, the UE can report beam measurement results, such as Channel State Information (CSI). A CSI request can be used in 728 for aperiodic or periodic reporting on both carriers, which may result in additional beam measurement reports on both carriers, 730. At 734, it can be evaluated whether the carrier aggregation (CA) beamforming triggering conditions are met, for example, as described for steps 550 and / or 660. This evaluation may be performed alternatively or additionally at the UE. At 736, the activation of carrier aggregation Tx beamforming can be notified to the corresponding other communication nodes, such that in 738, in a lower-layer procedure, the UE can switch to the best or highest-ranked TX beam, or can calculate a joint set of beamforming weights to optimize the TX beam. In the 740, other signals can be exchanged, for example, to request deactivation of CA beam adjustment / reselection or to complete adjustment.

[0166] In other words, Figure 7 A signal flow diagram detailing the recommended signaling associated with switching from PCC to SCC operation is presented. Figure 7 A schematic diagram illustrating a signaling example of a decision made for network-based beamforming adjustment for optimal CC optimization is shown.

[0167] In certain carrier aggregation combinations, more than two component carriers can be used. In this case, the following method can be implemented (see also...). Figure 6 ):

[0168] 1.a. At any point during an active connection, such as when the UE is in RRC_CONNECTED, the BTS may request (additional) UE radio access capability information. The UE responds with the capability information. Relevant to this invention is the UE capability information indicating support for transmit beam adjustment, which may also include additional parameters such as the number of antenna panels, the maximum number of supported beams, etc.

[0169]

[0170] 2. Establish carrier aggregation – Add SCC to PCC.

[0171] 3. Establish additional carrier aggregation – add additional CCs to the existing PCC and SCC.

[0172] 4. Rank the SCCs according to predefined criteria, such as using relevant reference signals or feedback information provided by the base station, for a given SCC, the UE's wider bandwidth and / or optimal L1-RSRP / RSRQ / SINR, or any other monitored signal quality metric on that particular SCC. Ranking can be performed by the UE or gNB.

[0173] 5. Perform UE TX beamforming optimized for the top-ranked SCC.

[0174] a. UE-based decision

[0175] The UE can be pre-configured / configured (according to the system specification) with conditions or a set of conditions that will trigger Tx beam reselection optimized according to specified criteria. An example of a condition could be receiving feedback from the network indicating to the UE the performance metrics from the primary carrier and the top-ranked SCC. According to the system specification, the network can be configured to issue such an indication when, using the adopted metrics—i.e., L1-RSRP / RSRQ / SINR on the SRS, demodulation reference signal, or any other relevant reference uplink signal—the signal quality metric lag of the gNB (receiver side) SCC compared to the PCC exceeds / below a predefined threshold.

[0176] Once the conditions are met, for a given gNB RX beam on the top-ranked SCC, the UE can: i) switch to the previously provided best Tx beam; or ii) initiate a TX beam provisioning / scanning procedure and calculate / select a combined / joint set of beamforming weights according to some predefined criteria. Note that if beam correspondence holds, it is assumed that the beam used for downlink reception is suitable for uplink transmission. Given that this is a UE-based decision, the UE should also use uplink control information / channel notification to the base station regarding beam adjustment / reselection information. For example, PCC / SCC beam selection indications or optimized beam indices can be reused in the Channel State Information (CSI) report.

[0177] b) Network-based decisions

[0178] After measuring a set of provided UE TX beams, the base station can, based on one or more conditions such as received signal quality metrics, such as SRS on the PCC and the top-ranked SCC, L1-RSRP / RSRQ / SINR of the demodulation reference signal or any other relevant reference uplink signal, or based on the available bandwidth on the component carriers, decide to request the UE to perform TX beam adjustment / reselection. For this purpose, the base station can use a combination of RRC signaling and / or MAC control unit and / or downlink control information. Then, for a given gNB RX beam, the UE can: i) switch to the indicated Tx beam; or ii) initiate a TX beam reselection / scanning procedure and calculate a combined set / joint set of beamforming weights according to the signal notification criteria. If beam correspondence is established, the UE can consider using the requested beam, and furthermore, can consider using the Tx beam corresponding to the optimal RX beam for downlink reception.

[0179] 6. Based on predefined criteria, the UE continues communication on all carriers using the beam optimized to the best CC.

[0180] The embodiment provides a device having a control unit 18 configured to receive information indicating a joint set of beamforming weights, for example via a receive signal 22. The device 20 may be configured to receive a first receive beam scan request from the network and, in response to the first receive beam scan request, perform a receive beam scan procedure using the joint set of beamforming weights. The device may further be configured to receive a second receive beam scan request from the network and, in response to the beam scan request, perform a receive beam scan on the transmission beam pattern indicated in the request, as described in conjunction with 708. For example, the UE (device 20) may receive a handover instruction from the network, and the UE may initiate a beam scan procedure. The first receive beam scan request and / or the second receive beam scan request may be received using any signaling method, for example, based on Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Media Access Control (MAC) control unit, Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI), Direct Link Control Information, and / or combinations thereof.

[0181] According to an embodiment, an apparatus is provided configured to determine a joint set 24 of beamforming weights, i.e., to perform its own calculations or to perform a lookup when it is aware of the beam pattern to be generated. A control unit 18 may be configured to perform a transmission beam scan of a communication partner's transmission beam pattern using the joint set of beamforming weights in response to the result of an evaluation of a triggering condition. For example, the apparatus may be configured to use a transmit beam pattern corresponding to a receive beam pattern adjusted based on a first and / or second transmission beam scan request for uplink transmission. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit may be configured to notify the network that beam adjustment is complete.

[0182] from Figure 7 It can be seen that device 20 and communication partner 25 can be configured to jointly perform beam management or beam adjustment processes autonomously. However, such processes can also be coordinated by network entities, for example, when there are sensor nodes distributed throughout the network that allow joint evaluation of beam pattern characteristics.

[0183] Devices and communication partners can be configured to use the same or different matrices for beam selection during beam management or beam adjustment processes.

[0184] Figure 8 A schematic flowchart of method 800 is shown, which can be used to operate a device to operate with a communication partner within a wireless communication network. For example, the device can be controlled to exchange wireless signals. For example, the device can be controlled to communicate with a communication partner within a wireless communication network by exchanging wireless signals; wherein the device is configured to form a transmission beam pattern using beamforming technology to communicate with the communication partner, this transmission beam pattern being selected from a plurality of transmission beam patterns that can be formed by the device. For example, this method can be implemented to operate device 20.

[0185] Step 810 includes providing, in response to a triggering event, several transmission beam patterns as at least a subset of a plurality of formable transmission beam patterns to a communication partner or different entities of a wireless communication network.

[0186] Step 820 includes receiving feedback information related to the beam pattern of the plurality of beam patterns.

[0187] Step 830 includes selecting at least one of the provided beam patterns as the selected beam pattern based on feedback information.

[0188] Step 840 includes using carrier aggregation for communication.

[0189] Step 850 includes controlling the antenna arrangement to form a selected transmit beam pattern for carrier aggregation.

[0190] While in certain situations, implementing only one of the network-based and UE-based decisions regarding the joint set of beamforming weights—that is, beam selection—may be sufficient. However, joint decisions can also be implemented.

[0191] Method 800 may optionally include establishing a connection to a communication partner using the first carrier before aggregating the second carrier. Method 800 may further include sending information related to carrier aggregation to notify the communication partner about the aggregation in the first carrier, such as combining... Figure 7 As described.

[0192] The embodiments involve determining a joint set of beamforming weights to be used for carrier aggregation. The set of beamforming weights can be selected, for example, from a codebook or from a table that is not itself a codebook. Alternatively or additionally, the joint set of beamforming weights can be calculated by the device itself, for example, based on a trade-off between a specific component carrier in use and / or all component carriers in use. Alternatively or additionally, the joint set of beamforming weights can be sent to the device by another device, such as a higher network entity. Alternatively or additionally, the device can adjust the joint set of beamforming weights due to changes in device performance, such as internal compensation / feedback / fault recovery / redundancy. That is, the device can use specific triggers or evaluations. In other words, the joint set can be selected values ​​or can be the result of calculation, adaptation, compensation, or combination.

[0193] Further note that when a joint set of beamforming weights, which will be understood as the selection of the beam pattern to be generated, has been determined, the second set of beamforming weights to be used for the second carrier when applying the joint set is the same as the first set of beamforming weights used in the first carrier. The embodiment involves calculating an optimal set of beamforming weights for the first carrier having a first frequency range and another optimal set of beamforming weights for the second carrier having a second frequency range. This allows for beamforming weights 191 and 192. Those beamforming weights may depend on the same source. After the sets have been determined based on frequency, it can be decided to apply either the first or second set to the two frequencies to make it optimal for at least one of the two frequencies. Alternatively, a third set can be selected for beamforming weights, which is not optimal for either frequency but has less degradation according to the joint matrix across the two bands / frequency / carriers. This does not mean applying two different sets of beamformers simultaneously. In contrast, different sets of beamformers that are optimal can be calculated based on certain matrices, but the embodiment involves making a decision on which one to choose. Furthermore, the entire mechanism can be described as a means of selection on either side of the communication link, and in a preferred embodiment, the selection process and metrics involved are coordinated. This can include the same or different criteria / metrics at both ends.

[0194] Figure 9a A schematic block diagram of a control unit 90 according to an embodiment is shown, such as control unit 18 of device 20. Control unit 90 may be configured for internal communication or control 52, such as selecting, calculating, adapting, and / or combining a set of beamforming weights (BFWs). For example, internal control may include access to memory, providing beamforming weights to an antenna arrangement, etc.

[0195] In addition, control unit 90 can be configured for external communication or control. For example, external communication 54 can relate to exchanging or transmitting requests or instructions, such as providing several transmit beam patterns or using a specific beam pattern for any purpose. External communication 56 can relate to exchanging or communicating related configuration changes. External communication 58 can relate to exchanging or communicating the capabilities of the device, for example, by using capability signal 28. External communication 62 can relate to exchanging or communicating measurements, key performance indicators (KPIs), decisions, and / or observations, such as feedback signal 22.

[0196] It is understood that the control unit 90 can be implemented as a single unit or a group of units that can communicate with each other and / or can be arranged or placed in the same and / or different network entities. Each control unit can implement one or more named functions. Preferably, the wireless communication network generally implements all functions, where some of these functions may also be optional, such as the transmission of capabilities.

[0197] Figure 9b A schematic diagram of a control unit 92 according to an embodiment is shown. The control unit 92 may alternatively implement signaling to and / or from communication partners and / or reporting to and / or from communication partners 74, in addition to communications 52, 54, 56, 58, and / or 62. Both may be referred to as external communication / signaling, for example, using a suitable channel. Signaling 72 may include, for example, the exchange of at least one request, at least one instruction, at least one requirement, at least one optimization criterion, and / or at least one capability. Reporting 74 may include, for example, the exchange or communication of at least one measurement or its result, at least one KPI, at least one decision made, and / or at least one observation. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit may implement internal communication or control 76 as described for internal signaling 52. This can be used to select, calculate, adapt, and / or combine beamforming weights.

[0198] Figure 9cA schematic representation of a wireless communication network 900 is shown, which may at least partially be a wireless communication network 200. Devices 951 and 952 of the wireless communication network 900 may be supplemented by other devices. Each device 951 and 952 (referred to as device / node A and device / node B) may include at least one transceiver chain, at least one antenna arrangement, and at least one control unit, each control unit implementing at least a portion of the functions of control unit 90, without excluding functional redundancy. Devices 951 and 952 may form communication partners with corresponding other devices. Each of devices 951 and / or 952 may be implemented as device 20.

[0199] Figure 9d A schematic diagram of a wireless communication network 950 according to an embodiment is shown. When compared to a wireless communication network 900, additional devices 953 and 954, where devices 951 and 952 on one side and devices 953 and 954 on the other side form a communication pair, wherein the embodiment is not limited to paired communication. However, it may not be necessary for device 954, which may not have a communication pair or even be part of the wireless communication network 950, to determine interference from device 951, for example, when illuminated by the main lobe or side lobe of the transmitted radiation pattern formed by device 951. Therefore, device 951 can act as an attacker for victim 954. Device 954 can directly or indirectly notify device 951 about the perceived interference, thereby triggering an event. The optimization criteria considered by the shared / distributed control unit and / or control unit of device 951 can take into account the interference at device 954 and the link quality aggregated to device 952. The network can therefore perform TX beam optimization on device A, measure and monitor the desired link of device 952, and measure and monitor attackers at device 954. Device 954 can, for example, send additional feedback information to the feedback information of device 952.

[0200] Figure 10 A schematic flowchart of method 1000 according to an embodiment is shown. Step 1010 includes establishing a link on the PCC and selecting an appropriate beamforming, i.e., a transmission beam pattern. Step 1020, which may also be part of step 1010, may include initiating carrier aggregation for the SCC and using beamforming optimized for the SCC when applying the aggregation. Step 1030 may include identifying a trigger that can cause the execution of a process that allows a node (node ​​A), such as a communication partner, to probe the effects of other joint beamformings.

[0201] Figure 11A schematic block diagram of network 200 is shown, in which devices 20 and 25 are both capable of forming transmit beam patterns 161 and 163 and receive beam patterns 162 and 164, respectively. Beam patterns 16 and 164 and beam patterns 162 and 163 can form portions of a pattern that allows the transmission of spatially separated signals. That is, both devices can be implemented, for example, using their control units, to form transmit and receive beam patterns. The weights of transmit beam patterns 161 and 162, i.e., the weights that determine the beam patterns, can be determined by device 20 based on an Rx beam selection mechanism that can be executed autonomously and / or at device 20. Alternatively or additionally, this decision can be performed at least partially at device 20 with the assistance of device 25, using predictions of performance, at least one metric, etc. Alternatively or additionally, this decision can be performed at least partially at device 25 or at a different network entity that selects or requests a specific codebook entry (i.e., the transmit beam pattern to be applied at device 20 to at least two aggregated carriers).

[0202] Figure 12a A schematic diagram of an analog beamformer is shown, wherein a digital baseband 82 is connected to an analog beamformer 84, and the analog beamformer 84 is connected to antenna elements 861 to 86 of an antenna arrangement. i In order to control all of these. Instead, Figure 12b A digital beamformer is shown, wherein digital baseband 82 is connected to antenna elements 861 to 862. i To allow for independent transceiver chains. Figure 12c and 12d A schematic diagram of a hybrid beamformer is shown, in which analog beamformers 841 to 844, 841 and 842 are each connected to only a subset of the antenna elements, but thus more than one analog beamformer is used. In the hybrid case, the number of antenna elements connected to the analog beamformers can be the same or different among the beamformers. Furthermore, the number of antenna elements and analog beamformers can be arbitrarily selected.

[0203] When considering the number of antenna arrays or antenna panels used in the device and the number of beams and / or streams the device can generate, the ability of the device to operate with a single component carrier or multiple component carriers is also taken into account, as summarized in the table below.

[0204]

[0205] While an analog beamforming implementation method (“A”) is described in the embodiments, digital methods (“B”) and hybrid methods (“C”) should not be excluded from the embodiments. Since a set of beamforming weights is associated with “A”, “B”, and “C”, the combination aspect of the embodiments can provide a new set of beamforming weights formed by “A” and “C”.

[0206] Also refer to Figure 12c and 12d Hybrid beamforming, Figure 13a The diagram illustrates a configuration according to an embodiment, where digital signal processing 82 is connected to two beamforming networks or analog beamformers 841 and 842, each connected to antenna panels (panel 1 and panel 2) having the same or different numbers of antenna elements. Stream 1, i.e., the signal, can be provided to the digital baseband 82 and to both beamformers, i.e., panel 1 and panel 2. For panel 1, beamforming network 1 uses beamforming weights to create a transmit beam pattern on panel 1, see step A. In step B, stream 1 can also be provided to panel 2 so that in step C, panels 1 and 2 use digital precoder or beamformer 82 to distribute stream 1 between beamforming networks 841 and 842 to create two separate beams from panels 1 and 2, which are superimposed into a joint beam in the far field. That is, Figure 13a A single-stream, single-beam configuration according to an embodiment is shown.

[0207] Figure 13b This illustrates a configuration using two component carriers with a single beam at two panels. A digital signal processing (DSP) 82 can receive two streams / signals A and B, for example, on different CCs. Each stream can be supplied to corresponding beamformers 841 and 842 to supply panels 881 and 882, respectively. Digital-to-analog converters (DACs) 921 and 922 can be connected between the DSP 82 and the beamformers 841 and 842. That is, in step A, stream A on CC is transmitted only via either panel 1 or panel 2, the stream on CC2 is transmitted via the remaining panels, a spatial beamformer is performed for panel 1, and a spatial beam is transmitted from panel 2. This allows for an independent beamformer for each CC. According to step B, CC1 and CC2 are mapped onto the two panels via a precoder / codebook in the DSP, resulting in each panel path having the same beamforming network for both CCs and experiencing different phases in the antenna arrangement.

[0208] Figure 13c The arrangement is shown where the DSP 82 receives streams 1 to 4 (or any other number) on a corresponding number of CCs, with one stream per CC mapped to a panel equivalent to a single panel using carrier aggregation, as shown in path "A". In "B", two streams from each CC are assigned to two panels, allowing joint beamforming weights for CC1 and CC2, before being fed to each panel. Figure 13c It can be described as 2 CCs plus MIMO (each CC has multiple inputs and multiple outputs and 2 panels).

[0209] The embodiments involve beam optimization and beam correspondence. While beam management can be understood as providing a specific set of beams to a communication partner, or more precisely, providing a reference signal (RS) to a communication partner, the other end of the communication link / partner can respond by providing an indication of which beam to select for future communication and, in some cases, a reference condition for further signaling information. Beam correspondence or beam optimization can operate on the basis that receivers on one or both sides (N) can receive signals, optimizing their receive beamforming weights according to appropriate metrics, and then using the transmit beam that best corresponds to the radiation pattern of the received beam. Thus, the principle of propagation path reciprocity can be utilized. However, the embodiments involve a combination of beam management and beam correspondence, and if only one set of beamforming weights is available for different combinations of carriers / bands, then which beamforming weights can be used remains an open question. This problem is determined by determining a joint set 24 of beamforming weights.

[0210] In conjunction with beam management, the implementation can achieve one or more of the following:

[0211] Pattern control

[0212] In the context of the preceding discussion, in order to establish an optimal link between devices (such as a base station and a user equipment), beam management can be used to ensure that the beams of each device are pointing correctly.

[0213] Antenna arrays can allow the generation of transmit radiation patterns and / or receive radiation patterns, for example, in relation to receiving or sensing signals. Sensor element arrays can provide a means to overcome the directivity limitations associated with a single sensor (antenna), thereby providing higher gain and narrower beamwidth than a single element. Furthermore, arrays can control their response based on varying conditions of the signal environment, such as direction of arrival, polarization, power level, and frequency [3].

[0214] The array consists of or may include two or more sensors, wherein the signals are coherently combined in a manner that improves antenna performance. Compared to a single sensor, the array used in the embodiments may have the following advantages:

[0215] 1. Higher gain. Higher gain is achieved because array gain is orders of magnitude greater than the number of elements in the array. Higher resolution or a narrower main beam comes from a larger aperture size.

[0216] 2. Electronic beam scanning. Physically or mechanically moving a large antenna to manipulate the main beam is slow. An array with phase shifters on each element can manipulate the beam without mechanical movement because the signals are added in phase with the beam steering angle.

[0217] 3. Low sidelobes. If the desired signal enters the main beam while the interfering signal enters the sidelobes, reducing the sidelobes relative to the main beam can improve the signal-to-interference ratio.

[0218] 4. Multi-beam. Some array feeds allow the simultaneous use of multiple main beams.

[0219] 5. Adaptive zeroing. The adaptive array automatically moves the zero point in the signal direction in the sidelobe region.

[0220] 6. Beam / link performance resilience to equipment movement, rotation, or co-channel interference from other links operating in the same location area.

[0221] 7. Beam / direction is preferred, for example, in preparation for a switching procedure or in cases of resilience against jamming, such as selecting a radiation pattern that covers a wider angular range and is therefore not as easily jammed as a narrow field of view / angle opening of a radiation pattern.

[0222] In addition to the aforementioned advantages in receiving data, arrays also offer considerable advantages when used for transmission purposes.

[0223] Whether the array is used for transmitting or receiving purposes, there is usually a need to provide a means to control the antenna radiation pattern of the array for the following reasons: to point one or more beams in a given direction; to control the direction and relative level of the sidelobes; or to control the position and relative depth of the nulls.

[0224] An example of controlling antenna radiation patterns can be explained using a phased-array antenna system. The provided example involves measures to be implemented at or between the antennas of an antenna array.

[0225] It is worth noting that since non-scanning array antennas are actually still phased array antennas, whose operation depends on the relative phase between elements, there is an objection to the term phased array antenna for scanning beam array antennas. Despite such arguments, the phased terminology associated with beam manipulation will be used, thus following historical development. [3] The term beamformer will also be used whether only a single beam or multiple beams are created, and whether beamforming involves only weights in the digital, analog, or a combination of both.

[0226] Phased arrays typically consist of multiple antenna elements arranged in two- or three-dimensional space. The positions of the elements relative to each other are usually fixed—in other words, they do not move within their own array space. However, this does not necessarily exclude phased array systems from portable and mobile applications. The elements of the array can be arranged geometrically in a regular or irregular manner, such as linear, planar, or conformal. Combinations of the above categories are also possible.

[0227] In a fully digital beamforming system, antenna elements can be individually connected to their own transmitter, receiver, or transceiver circuitry. Alternatively, in an analog beamforming system, more than one antenna element can be connected to a common radio circuit via a series or combined feed network. The number of elements per radio is determined by system requirements and design constraints. So-called hybrid beamforming systems combine digital and analog implementations.

[0228] Regardless of the method used to implement a beamformer—digital, analog, or hybrid—the excitation of its elements determines certain radiation characteristics of the array. To control these characteristics, such as the direction of beam pointing, the phase of the excitation of individual elements must be properly configured. Similarly, the sidelobe level, as discussed below, can be controlled by amplitude taper.

[0229] Phase shift implementation

[0230] After explaining the reasons for the phase excitation of the control array antenna elements, this section outlines four example methods that can be used to achieve the desired phase shift.

[0231] Change frequency

[0232] Phase shifts by changing the frequency or frequency scan are achieved through series-fed array antenna elements, where the elements are equidistantly positioned along the feed line. By changing the frequency, a varying linear phase taper is generated on the array antenna elements because the input signal must travel a physical distance and electrical length to reach the i-th element of the K-element linear array antenna. If the physical length of the feed line is chosen such that at the center frequency, the phased array antenna beam is perpendicular to the array or wide-angle, changing the frequency to values ​​below and above the center frequency will guide the beam to angles smaller and larger than the wide field of view, respectively [3]. However, when phased arrays are used for communication purposes, where fixed-frequency channel allocation is typical, achieving phase shifts by changing the operating frequency is impractical.

[0233] Change length

[0234] This type of phase shift can be applied to series-fed arrays as well as combined-fed arrays[4]. In the pre-digital era, phase shifters based on changing physical length were implemented by electromechanical means. Line stretchers[4] are an example of an early type of phase shifter. A line stretcher is a (coaxial) transmission line section that is bent into a “U” shape. The bottom of this “U” is connected to two “arms” that form part of a fixed feed network. The bottom of the “U” acts as a telescopic section that can be stretched by electromechanical means to lengthen and shorten the transmission line section without changing the position of the “arms” of the “U”[3].

[0235] Currently, transmission lines of different lengths are selected digitally. Switches in each section are used to switch a standard-length transmission line into the network or to switch a predetermined-length transmission line added to this standard length. These lengths are selected such that, when the cascade of standard lengths is used as a reference (with phase ψ = 0°), 16 phases (corresponding to 4 bits) are selected, ranging from ψ = 0° to ψ = 337.5°, with a step size of 22.5° (least significant bit). Higher resolution can be achieved by using shorter lengths and more bits. PIN diodes for forward and reverse bias are commonly used as switching elements [4,5]. Switched phase shifters can be implemented in microstrip technology using high-dielectric-constant substrate materials, thereby minimizing the physical phase shifter size [3].

[0236] Another method for switching physical line lengths can be found in cascaded hybrid-coupled phase shifters. The 3dB hybrid is a four-port device that distributes power at input port 1 equally to output ports 2 and 3 and does not transfer power to output port 4. The reflection of signals leaving ports 2 and 3 returns to the hybrid and is combined at output port 4, with no power returning to input port 1. The diode switches in each segment (bit) of the cascaded hybrid-coupled phase shifter either directly or after having traveled an additional line length Δl / 2 twice, return signals leaving ports 2 and 3. For example, a four-phase shifter Δl / 2 = λ / 32 is used for the least significant bit, and for the following three bits, Δl / 2 = λ / 16, Δl / 2 = λ / 8 and Δl / 2 = λ / 4 [3].

[0237] The Butler matrix is ​​another example of a beamforming network and comprises an N×N matrix consisting of hybrid couplers and fixed-value phase shifters, where n is a power of 2. The device has N input ports (beam ports) and N output ports (element ports), with N antenna elements connected to these ports. The Butler matrix powers the elements through asymptotic phase differences between them, thereby generating a beam in the desired direction. The beam direction is controlled by switching power to the desired beam port. More than one beam can be activated simultaneously, even all N beams. The Butler matrix can be used for both transmit and receive purposes. Through simple hardware implementation, it offers advantages over other angle beamforming methods because it requires far fewer phase shifters and can be implemented in microstrip on a low-cost printed circuit board.

[0238] Changing the permittivity (dielectric constant)

[0239] The dielectric constant and thus the phase shift can be controlled by adjusting the current flowing through a device containing gas discharge or plasma [4]. Another way to adjust the permittivity of a device is by using so-called ferroelectric materials, where permittivity is a function of the electric field applied to the material [3]. Permittivity can be adjusted between antennas in an antenna array.

[0240] Change penetration rate

[0241] Ferromagnetic materials, or ferrites, are materials whose permeability varies with the applied magnetic field. Ferrite-based phase shifters have been used for a long time, especially in conjunction with waveguide transmission line technology. In the case of the Reggia-Spencer phase shifter [4], which consists of a ferromagnetic rod located in the center inside the waveguide with a solenoid wound around it, the phase can be changed continuously, making the phase shifter essentially analog. On the other hand, the function of the solenoid can be performed by passing a current line through the ferromagnetic rod. Different (discrete) phase shifts can be achieved by cascading ferromagnetic rods of different lengths, making this phase shifter essentially digital [3]. Permeability can be adjusted between antennas in an antenna array.

[0242] As discussed, amplitude taper can also be used, for example, to control side lobes.

[0243] The intensity or amplitude of the element excitation—also known as element weight—controls the directionality of the array factor and the sidelobe level. Examples of amplitude tapers include binomial, Dolph-Chebyshev, Tseng-Cheng-Chebyshev, Taylor, Taylor-Woodard, Hansen, Bickmore-Spellmire, and Bayliss[6]. Low sidelobe amplitude tapers have high amplitude weights at the center of the array, and the weights typically decrease from the center to the edges. Generally, as taper efficiency decreases, half-power beamwidth increases while sidelobe level decreases.

[0244] Amplitude realization

[0245] Amplitude modulation of antenna elements can be achieved by controlling the gain of the amplifier stage, which, depending on the system implementation, may include digital gain, intermediate frequency (IF) gain, and radio frequency (RF) gain settings for the transmitter and receiver chains. Where appropriate, active signal amplification can also be achieved in the frequency conversion stage, for example, by controlling the drive level of a local oscillator connected to a mixer device. In addition to the active devices that introduce signal amplification described above, passive devices can also be used, which, by their nature, attenuate rather than amplify the signal. Examples of such devices include power dividers or demultiplexers, coupling lines or couplers, transformers, impedance converters, resistor networks, and parasitic elements.

[0246] Adaptive array

[0247] Adaptive arrays can include an algorithm, which can be computer-based, that controls the signal levels at the control elements until measurements of array performance quality improve. It can adjust its formed pattern, i.e., the antenna radiation pattern, to form nulls, correct gain, reduce sidelobes, or take any other measures to improve its performance. Adaptive arrays offer enhanced reliability compared to conventional arrays. When a single sensor element / antenna element in a conventional array fails, the sidelobe structure of the array pattern degrades. However, with an adaptive array, the remaining operating sensors in the array automatically adjust to recover the pattern. For this reason, adaptive arrays are more reliable than conventional arrays because they fail gracefully. When mounted on structures such as towers or vehicles, or when held, placed next to the head, or worn on the body, the array's receive pattern often differs significantly from the array pattern measured in isolation (in an anechoic chamber) due to signal scattering caused by vehicle structures near the antenna or user interaction. Adaptive arrays can operate successfully even when the antenna pattern is severely distorted due to near-field effects. Adaptive capabilities overcome many, if not any, distortions occurring in the near field and respond only to the signal environment caused by any such distortions. Similarly, in the far field, the adaptive antenna has no distortion [6].

[0248] Adaptive arrays can improve SINR / SIR by preserving the main beam pointing to the desired signal while placing nulls in the pattern to suppress interference signals. Very strong interference suppression can be achieved by forming patterned nulls over a narrow bandwidth. This superior interference suppression capability is the main advantage of adaptive arrays compared to waveform processing techniques, which typically require a large spectral spread factor to achieve a comparable level of interference suppression. Sensor arrays with this key automatic response capability are sometimes called “smart” arrays because they respond to far more signal information available at the sensor output than conventional array systems [6].

[0249] Methods for evaluating device link performance

[0250] The embodiments described so far relate to a device combining beamforming and carrier aggregation, a wireless communication network including the device, and a method for operating the device. However, the invention is not limited to such embodiments. According to a further embodiment, the invention provides a method for evaluating the link performance of a device as described in the above embodiments. In other words, embodiments of the invention provide a method suitable for testing, measuring, identifying, and certifying user equipment or communication devices in a wireless communication network that combines beamforming and carrier aggregation during operation.

[0251] Figure 14 The diagram schematically illustrates a UE with one or more array antennas (ANTs), as described in more detail above. In the case of beamforming using an antenna array with multiple antennas or array elements to transmit / receive multiple component carriers CC1 and CC2, or in a bandwidth portion extending over a larger spectral region (e.g., from hundreds of megahertz to several gigahertz), the array element spacing may not perfectly match the required spacing, such as a λ / 2 spacing, for all component carriers CC1, CC2, or the bandwidth portion of the component carriers. For non-line-of-sight beam directions, this frequency-dependent mismatch results in beam squint, such as... Figure 14 As shown. The effect of beam squinting is a function of array mismatch, compared to the optimal spacing, such as λ / 2 spacing, and the deviation of the target main lobe direction from the antenna array's line of sight. This means that when two beamforming component carriers, CC1 and CC2, are beamformed using the same antenna array with common beamforming weights provided, for example by phase shifters, delay lines, and attenuators, they will experience more main lobe direction deviation. Beam squinting occurs when incremental phase differences or time delays are applied to the elements in the antenna array. For example, when operating at the frequency corresponding to CC1, and when the CC1 beam is pointing towards the line of sight, if there is no phase difference between elements, the absolute phase or time delay of all elements is the same. Meanwhile, without changing the beamformer optimized for CC1, when operating at a second frequency corresponding to CC2, the CC2 beam also points towards the line of sight because there is no incremental phase shift between antenna elements. However, when the beam is electronically scanned away from the line of sight, the beamformer introduces incremental phase differences or time delays and applies them to the elements of the antenna array. This results in... Figure 14The image shows beam squinting. Beam squinting is a function of the array operating frequency and the electronic scan angle α, and when the scan angle α is zero, or in other words, there is no beam squinting on the line of sight. This is also true when the array operates at its design frequency. The greater the center frequency difference between the two component carriers, the further the main beam direction of the second component carrier CC2 deviates from the line of sight of the planar array. Another factor at play in terms of system performance is that as the array gain obtained from the large number of antenna elements per array dimension increases, the beam becomes narrower, meaning that any deviation from a particular direction has a relatively greater impact on the effective power transmitted in that direction away from the main peak direction. For example, as the array gain or the number of antenna elements per array dimension increases, the 3dB beamwidth actually becomes smaller. Note that the planar antenna array ANT is just one example of an array antenna configuration. Beam squinting effects also occur in any other form of antenna array.

[0252] As described above, beam squinting occurs because the component carriers are beamformed by the same antenna array using common beamforming weights optimized for one of the component carriers. However, beam squinting can also occur when component carriers are beamformed using different antenna arrays with different beamforming weights optimized for the respective component carriers. In other words, beam squinting can also occur in devices or UEs that do not necessarily use a common antenna array or a common beamformer. Such devices can use separate antenna arrays and / or separate beamforming devices for transmission and reception. Since antenna arrays for different purposes may include different numbers of antenna elements, and the antenna elements used in these arrays may have different characteristics, and since two arrays cannot be simultaneously located entirely in the same space, beam squinting effects may also exist in other practical implementations that do not use a common antenna array and a common beamformer for all component carriers. Furthermore, some devices may use multiple antenna panels to implement their designs, for example, at opposite ends or opposite sides or surfaces of the device, and beam squinting may also exist here.

[0253] For devices combining beamforming and carrier aggregation as described herein, it may be necessary to evaluate the achievable link performance of such devices, for example, within a specific range of relative angular positions between the device or its antenna and receiver. To address this issue, embodiments of the present invention provide a method for testing devices as described herein, allowing for the definition or quantification of the achievable link performance of the device.

[0254] This invention provides a method for evaluating the link performance of a device in a wireless communication system, wherein the device uses a common beamforming weight to beamform multiple component carriers, the multiple component carriers including at least a first component carrier (PCC) and a second component carrier (SCC), the method comprising:

[0255] (a) Beamforming is performed on the first beam pattern of the first and second component carriers (PCC, SCC) using common beamforming weights, wherein the common beamforming weights are selected such that the first beam pattern is optimized for the first component carrier (PCC) according to one or more predefined criteria.

[0256] (b) Measure one or more signal metrics of the first and second component carriers (PCC, SCC) transmitted according to the first beam pattern.

[0257] (c) Beamforming the second beam pattern of the first and second component carriers (PCC, SCC) using common beamforming weights, wherein the common beamforming weights are selected such that the second beam pattern is optimized for the second component carrier (SCC) according to one or more predefined criteria.

[0258] (d) Measure one or more signal metrics of the first and second component carriers (PCC, SCC) transmitted according to the second beam pattern, and

[0259] (e) Compare one or more signal metrics measured in steps (b) and (d) to define or quantify link performance.

[0260] According to an embodiment, the device includes multiple antenna elements, and the first and second component carriers (PCC, SCC) use the same antenna elements for beamforming.

[0261] According to an embodiment, step (a) includes controlling a plurality of antenna elements for beamforming a first beam pattern of the first and second component carriers (PCC, SCC), and step (c) includes controlling a plurality of antenna elements for beamforming a second beam pattern of the first and second component carriers (PCC, SCC).

[0262] According to an embodiment, the plurality of antenna elements include some or all of the antenna elements of one or more antenna arrays that are activated for beamforming.

[0263] According to an embodiment, the first and second component carriers (PCC, SCC) are beamformed by antenna elements, and the antenna elements...

[0264] • Distributed across multiple antenna arrays of the device, or

[0265] • Belongs to only one of the multiple antenna arrays of the device, or

[0266] • Available antenna elements selected from one or more antenna arrays of the device.

[0267] This invention provides a method for evaluating the link performance of a device in a wireless communication system, wherein the device beamforms multiple component carriers using appropriate beamforming weights, the multiple component carriers including at least a first component carrier (PCC) and a second component carrier (SCC), the method comprising:

[0268] (a) Beamforming a first beam pattern of a first component carrier (PCC) using a first beamforming weight, wherein the first beamforming weight is selected such that the first beam pattern is optimized for the first component carrier (PCC) according to one or more predefined criteria; and beamforming a second beam pattern of a second component carrier (SCC) using a second beamforming weight, wherein the second beamforming weight is selected such that the second beam pattern is optimized for the second component carrier (SCC) according to one or more predefined criteria.

[0269] (b) Measuring one or more signal metrics of a first component carrier (PCC) transmitted according to a first beam pattern, and one or more signal metrics of a second component carrier (SCC) transmitted according to a second beam pattern, and

[0270] (c) Compare the signal metrics of the first and second component carriers measured in step (b) to define or quantify the link performance.

[0271] According to an embodiment, the device includes multiple antenna elements, wherein the first and second component carriers (PCC, SCC) are beamformed by different antenna elements.

[0272] According to an embodiment, step (a) includes controlling a first plurality of antenna elements for beamforming a first beam pattern of a first component carrier (PCC), and controlling a second plurality of antenna elements for beamforming a second beam pattern of a second component carrier (SCC).

[0273] According to an embodiment,

[0274] ●The first plurality of antenna elements includes some or all of the antenna elements of one or more antenna arrays activated for beamforming, and

[0275] • The second plurality of antenna elements includes some or all of the antenna elements of one or more antenna arrays that are activated for beamforming.

[0276] According to an embodiment, the first and second component carriers (PCC, SCC) are beamformed by different antenna elements, these antenna elements

[0277] • Distributed across multiple antenna arrays on the device,

[0278] • It is only one of the multiple antenna arrays of the device.

[0279] • Available antenna elements selected from one or more antenna arrays of the device.

[0280] According to the embodiments, defining or quantifying link performance includes one or more of the following:

[0281] • Define or quantify the difference or degradation in link performance when using the first and second beam patterns.

[0282] • Obtain the link performance difference between each component carrier and the beamformer selected according to the criteria associated with the first and second component carriers.

[0283] • Obtain the variation in link performance for each component carrier relative to the beamformer selected based on criteria associated with the first and second component carriers.

[0284] • Based on the beam correspondence standard selected at the device, when using the first or second beam patterns, the uplink or downlink performance is limited or quantified.

[0285] • Depending on the selected criteria, when using the first and second beam patterns, the uplink or downlink performance is limited or quantified.

[0286] According to an embodiment, the method includes

[0287] Establish a link between devices, such as the UE, and the transceiver.

[0288] Control and measurement are performed on downlink transmission from the transceiver to the device, wherein the first and second beam patterns are the first and second receive beam patterns.

[0289] Control and measurement are performed on uplink transmission from the device to the transceiver, wherein the first and second beam patterns are the first and second transmit beam patterns, and

[0290] Compare one or more signal metrics measured to define or quantify downlink and uplink performance.

[0291] According to an embodiment, the receiver includes

[0292] The equipment is located at the measurement site or in the measurement environment, which includes the measuring equipment (ME), including transceivers, or...

[0293] The device is located in a wireless communication network, and the transceiver includes one or more other entities within the wireless communication network.

[0294] Such as a base station or another UE.

[0295] According to the embodiments, steps (a) to (e) are performed for multiple different relative angular configurations or directions between the device and the transceiver, such as multiple different angular configurations or directions relative to the line of sight of the antenna array of the device toward the antenna of the transceiver.

[0296] According to an embodiment, the method includes

[0297] Aggregate one or more signal measurements obtained in steps (b) and (d) for different angular configurations or directions, for example, using a cumulative distribution function (CDF) or a complementary cumulative distribution function (CDDF), and

[0298] Compare aggregation metrics.

[0299] According to the embodiments, for each of a plurality of different relative angle configurations or orientations

[0300] Step (a) includes:

[0301] • Optimize the received beam at the device for the first component carrier in the downlink, and

[0302] • For the transmit beam at the first component carrier optimization device in the uplink,

[0303] Step (b) includes:

[0304] • Measure and record the received signal strength or power in the downlink for the first and second component carriers at the device's antenna measurement port, and

[0305] • Measure and record the received signal strength or power in the uplink for the first and second component carriers at the transceiver.

[0306] Step (c) includes:

[0307] • Optimize the received beam at the device for the second component carrier in the downlink, and

[0308] • For the transmit beam at the second component carrier optimization device in the uplink, and

[0309] Step (d) includes:

[0310] • Measure and record the received signal strength or power in the downlink for the first and second component carriers at the device's antenna measurement port, and

[0311] • Measure and record the received signal strength or power in the uplink for the first and second component carriers at the transceiver.

[0312] According to an embodiment, a beam management program or beam mapping is used to optimize the first and second beam patterns or transmit and receive beams.

[0313] According to the embodiment, one or more of the following are measured:

[0314] • Signal strength or power

[0315] Effective or equivalent isotropic radiated power, EIRP,

[0316] Bit error rate, BER, or packet error rate, PER.

[0317] • Changes in the Received Signal Strength Index (RSSI)

[0318] ● One or more radiation pattern measurements, such as one or more of the following

[0319] o-beam peak direction,

[0320] o-pattern with zero direction and zero depth,

[0321] o Side lobe direction

[0322] o Sidelobe level relative to the main beam peak

[0323] o Maximum gain,

[0324] o Half-power beamwidth,

[0325] o First sidelobe level

[0326] The ratio before and after o

[0327] The position of the first zero,

[0328] o Cross-polarization ratio.

[0329] According to an embodiment, the device is a device according to the present invention.

[0330] The following description of embodiments of the measurement method of the present invention applies to evaluating devices that may experience the effects of beam squint, regardless of the mechanism by which the effects are generated or produced. In other words, the method is equally applicable to the measurement or testing of devices using the following aggregation of multiple component carriers.

[0331] • The same antenna array used for multiple component carriers; or

[0332] • Different antenna arrays and / or beamforming devices for each component carrier; or

[0333] • A combination of the same or different antenna arrays and / or beamforming devices.

[0334] When evaluating the impact of beamsight on the link performance contributed by wireless devices using beamforming on aggregated carriers, such devices can be tested in the field, i.e., when deployed within a wireless communication system, or in a measurement environment with appropriate adaptation to the change or replacement of the dominant component carrier.

[0335] Figure 15 This is a flowchart illustrating a first embodiment of the measurement or testing process of the present invention. It assumes that a device in a wireless communication system, such as a user equipment (UE), beamforms multiple component carriers CC1, CC2 using common beamforming weights. The multiple component carriers include at least a first or primary component carrier PCC or CC1 and a second or secondary component carrier SCC or CC2. In the first step S100, a first beam pattern for the first and second component carriers PCC, SCC is beamformed using common beamforming weights. The common beamforming weights are selected such that the first beam pattern is optimized for the first component carrier PCC according to one or more predefined criteria.

[0336] In the second step S102, one or more signal metrics of the first and second component carriers PCC and SCC transmitted according to the first beam pattern are measured.

[0337] In the second step S104, beamforming is performed on the second beam patterns of the first and second component carriers PCC and SCC using common beamforming weights. The common beamforming weights are selected such that the second beam pattern is optimized for the second component carrier SCC according to one or more predefined criteria.

[0338] In the fourth step S106, one or more signal metrics of the first and second component carriers PCC and SCC transmitted according to the second beam pattern are measured.

[0339] In the fifth step S108, one or more signal metrics measured in steps 102 and 106 are compared to define or quantify link performance.

[0340] According to an embodiment, the device has multiple antenna elements, and the first and second component carriers PCC and SCC use the same beamforming enable assembly for beamforming, including, for example, antenna elements, phase shifters, delay lines, attenuators, or other suitable devices. For example, the device may include a beamforming network comprising one or more beamforming assemblies, such as phase shifters, delay lines, attenuators, etc. When beamforming the component carriers, within the beamforming network, a set of common beamforming assemblies associated with a set of antenna elements can be used to beamform the first and second component carriers. In step 100, multiple antenna elements can be controlled to beamform a first beam pattern of the first and second component carriers PCC and SCC, and in step 104, the same multiple antenna elements can be controlled to beamform a second beam pattern of the first and second component carriers PCC and SCC.

[0341] Multiple antenna elements may include some or all of the antenna elements of one or more antenna arrays activated for beamforming. In other words, according to an embodiment, the first and second component carriers PCC and SCC can be beamformed by antenna elements.

[0342] v is distributed across multiple antenna arrays of the device, or

[0343] • Belongs to only one of the multiple antenna arrays of the device, or

[0344] • Available antenna elements selected from the antenna array of the device. For example, available antenna elements may include antenna elements of a single antenna array, or one or more antenna elements of two or more antenna arrays.

[0345] Figure 16 This is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of the measurement or testing process of the present invention. It assumes that a device in a wireless communication system, such as a user equipment (UE), performs beamforming on multiple component carriers using appropriate beamforming weights. The multiple component carriers include at least a first component carrier PCC or CC1 and a second component carrier SCC or CC2. In a first step S200, a first beamforming pattern of the first component carrier PCC is beamformed using the first beamforming weight. The first beamforming weight is selected such that the first beamforming pattern is optimized for the first component carrier PCC according to one or more predefined criteria. Simultaneously, also during step S200, a second beamforming pattern of the second component carrier SCC is beamformed using the second beamforming weight. The second beamforming weight is selected such that the second beamforming pattern is optimized for the second component carrier SCC according to one or more predefined criteria.

[0346] In the second step S202, one or more signal metrics of the first component carrier PCC transmitted according to the first beam pattern and one or more signal metrics of the second component carrier SCC transmitted according to the second beam pattern are measured.

[0347] In the third step S204, the metrics measured for the first and second component carriers in step 202 are compared to define or quantify the link performance.

[0348] According to an embodiment, the device has multiple antenna elements, and the first and second component carriers PCC and SCC are beamformed by different antenna elements. The device may include a beamforming network, which includes one or more beamforming components, such as phase shifters, delay lines, attenuators, etc. When beamforming the component carriers using different antenna elements, within the beamforming network, a first set of beamforming components associated with a first set of antenna elements is used to beamform the first component carrier, and a second set of beamforming components associated with a second set of antenna elements is used to beamform the second component carrier. In step 200, the first set or more antenna elements can be controlled, for example, using the first set of beamforming components of the beamforming network to beamform the first beam pattern of the first component carrier PCC, and the second set or more antenna elements can be controlled, for example, using the second set of beamforming components of the beamforming network to beamform the second beam pattern of the second component carrier SCC.

[0349] Each of the first and second sets of antenna elements may include some or all antenna elements of one or more antenna arrays activated for beamforming, wherein the first and second sets comprise different antenna elements. In other words, the elements of the first set may be some or all elements of one or more arrays. The second set of antenna elements differs from the first set, but the elements of the second set may also be some or all elements of one or more arrays. Therefore, the two sets of antenna elements may be taken from different arrays or from the same array.

[0350] In other words, the first and second component carriers, PCC and SCC, can be beamformed by different antenna elements.

[0351] • Distributed across multiple antenna arrays of the device, or

[0352] • Belongs to only one of the multiple antenna arrays of the device, or

[0353] • Available antenna elements selected from one of the multiple antenna arrays of the device. For example, available antenna elements may include antenna elements of a single antenna array, or one or more antenna elements of two or more antenna arrays.

[0354] The aforementioned antenna array may include multiple subarrays, and one or more subarrays of one antenna array may be combined with one or more subarrays belonging to another antenna array to create a joint beam. The antenna array may include a digital interface or RF input at one end facing the digital signal processing element of the device, and a beamforming network facing in another direction, ending at an antenna element or antenna element connector. If the beamforming network cannot simultaneously configure and apply independent beamforming coefficients for different CCs, the signal of one CC or all aggregated CCs effectively passes through this common beamforming network into two possible directions, such as UL and DL.

[0355] The following describes an embodiment of placing the UE in a specific measurement environment to evaluate the beam squint effect. When placed or positioned in the measurement environment, the UE is also referred to as the device under test, DUT. Figure 17 A DUT 200, such as a turntable, is shown installed in a measurement chamber 204, such as an anechoic measurement chamber. The measurement environment includes a link antenna LA connected to a measurement device ME, which acts as a base station BS, for example, when the DUT is a UE. The UE or DUT 200 is equipped with an array antenna ANT for beamforming the received signal to optimize link performance in the downlink DL from the ME to the DUT 200, and for beamforming the transmitted beam to optimize link performance in the uplink UL from the DUT 200 to the ME.

[0356] To evaluate the impact of beam squint on link performance, the following measurement procedure is proposed according to an embodiment of the present invention. A UE or DUT 200 is mounted to a locator 202, which enables the DUT 200 or its antenna array ANT to move relative to the link antenna LA like a horn antenna. The link antenna LA is located at an appropriate distance from the DUT 200 and connected to the measurement environment ME. The ME acts as a communication partner or counterpart of the DUT 200; for example, when the DUT is a User Equipment (UE), the ME can act as a base station (BS).

[0357] To evaluate beam squint caused by (a) frequency separation between the first component carrier CC1 and the second component carrier CC2 and (b) beam direction angle or scan angle relative to the line of sight of the array antenna, the DUT 200 is arranged in a given angular configuration or facing the link antenna LA. The DUT 200 establishes a link with the ME, allowing the DUT to operate in RRC connected state, during which the DUT attempts to optimize downlink performance by selecting an appropriate received beam (e.g., using a reference signal from the ME). The received signal power of each component carrier can be measured at the DUT 200 using the antenna test port, and the results can be reported to the ME using existing test mode commands. The received beam is optimized for the primary component carrier PCC or CC1. Simultaneously, as the link is aggregating component carriers, the auxiliary component carriers SCC or CC2 also pass through the same antenna array elements and beamformer used by the PCC. Due to the difference in CC frequencies, the angular directions of the beams associated with the PCC and SCC are not exactly the same, and they do not have the same intensity due to embedded analog phase shift, delay variation, and / or amplitude variation elements operating at different frequencies. The differences between the antenna patterns associated with CC1 and CC2 are related to many parameters, but not limited to the following: operating frequency; difference in CC frequency; scanning angle; design of antenna array and its components; and design of beamformer.

[0358] In the uplink or reverse link, a similar procedure is applied from DUT 200 to ME, using a beam management procedure or beam correspondence to optimize the transmit beam for the PCC. The beam correspondence describes the relationship between the optimal receive beam selected by the DUT and the transmit beam selected autonomously or semi-autonomously by the DUT. Since beam correspondence operates on the first or second CC in a CA scenario, the other CC experiences potential performance degradation due to beam squint. The same array beamforming weights are applied to the SCC through the beamformer and array antenna. Assuming the transmit power on the PCC and SCC is known or at least constant at individual measurement points—that is, the relative angle pair between the line of sight of the antenna array ANT and the link antenna LA—the receive power on the link antenna LA is observed and monitored by the ME. Therefore, performance evaluation can be performed for various relative positions, directions, or angles between DUT 200 and LA. Angles can be selected to cover a dense grid around DUT 200 to allow evaluation of links entering in many directions, which can be represented as points on the surface of an imaginary sphere.

[0359] Figure 18The geometry based on the IEEE Std149-1979 coordinate system is shown, along with the DUT 200 and link antenna LA. The relative angular configuration or orientation between the DUT 200 and LA is labeled by angles θ and φ. According to an embodiment, to evaluate the impact of beam squint on link performance in the UL and DL, the following measurement procedure is proposed for each angular position θ[1…i] and φ[1…j]:

[0360] Step 1: Use a joint beamformer optimized for CC1:

[0361] 1.1 Downlink Performance – Measured on the DUT / UE Side

[0362] • Based on the reference signal from LA, optimize the received beam at DUT 200 for CC1 in DL, and

[0363] • For CC1 and CC2, measure and record the received signal strength or power in DL at the antenna measurement port of DUT / UE 200.

[0364] 1.2 Uplink Performance – Measured on the ME / BS Side

[0365] • Optimize the transmit beam at DUT 200 for CC1 in UL, based on beam management or beam correspondence.

[0366] • For CC1 and CC2, measure and record the received signal strength or power in the UL at ME / BS.

[0367] Step 2: Joint beamformer optimized for CC2:

[0368] 2.1 Downlink Performance – Measured on the DUT / UE Side

[0369] • Based on the reference signal from LA, optimize the received beam at DUT 200 for CC2 in DL, and

[0370] • For CC1 and CC2, measure and record the received signal strength or power in DL at the antenna measurement port of DUT / UE 200.

[0371] 2.2 Uplink Performance – Measured on the ME / BS Side

[0372] • Optimize the transmit beam at DUT 200 for CC2 in UL, based on beam management or beam correspondence.

[0373] • For CC1 and CC2, measure and record the received signal strength or power in the UL at ME / BS.

[0374] Step 3 (Compare the measurements from Step 1 and Step 2 point by point):

[0375] ● Compare the measurement results from step 1 and step 2 for the following:

[0376] o Based on the downlink of the selected metric, and

[0377] o based on the selected metric uplink

[0378] For all measured angular positions [1…i]x[1…j], the link performance in UL and DL can be directly and quantitatively evaluated by comparing one or more of the following (because of the effect of optimizing the antenna and beamformer for one specific component carrier relative to another component carrier):

[0379] • The difference in received power;

[0380] • Relevant SNR;

[0381] • Throughput at the receiver;

[0382] • BER / PER at the receiver.

[0383] During such evaluations, a fixed power transfer level for each CC can be used in steps 1 and 2. However, when this is not possible, the difference in power levels can be recorded and used in subsequent compensation.

[0384] Point-by-point measurements can be further consolidated through statistical operations, such as using a cumulative distribution function (CDF) or a complementary cumulative distribution function (CDDF) based on target insights and / or defined criteria passed by conformance and / or performance testing. The above-described point-by-point measurements can be understood as one embodiment for implementing or carrying out the measurement process of this invention, according to which the UE or DUT is positioned at a relative angular location with respect to the receiver antenna. Figure 18 As shown, relative position or orientation can be described by selected angle pairs θ and φ. For each angle pair, a measurement is performed, and the measurement results are stored for further post-processing. However, the invention is not limited to such embodiments.

[0385] According to other embodiments, measurements can be performed along a continuous curve or path on the sphere or trajectory. According to further embodiments, specific measurement points described by θ and φ can be selected along a continuous angular path or movement. In other words, measurements can be performed and stored on the receiver side and / or the UE side while moving the UE or DUT in the θ / φ domain in a stepwise, segmented, or continuous manner. Specific measurements performed at specific angular locations can be marked with appropriate markers, such as timestamps, allowing for correlation of measurements on both sides in the UL and DL during post-processing. The trajectory or movement or path of the connecting line between the antenna array at the UE or DUT and the link antenna at the ME, cutting the sphere around the DUT, can be selected to cover a selected portion of the sphere to be covered by the antenna array being tested. The selected portion can be non-intersecting, complementary, or overlapping to provide more comprehensive and complete spherical coverage or performance to be evaluated.

[0386] According to another embodiment, a cloud of arbitrary measurement points can be obtained. Since the evaluation of the spherical portion can be time-consuming, only a sufficient number or subset of measurement points to satisfy certain statistical criteria can be used. According to such an embodiment, for example, as an alternative to the aforementioned continuous path with measurements along that path or a fixed measurement grid defined on the sphere, arbitrary measurement points or angular locations can be selected. The advantage of this method, when satisfying statistical performance metrics, is that it is independent of a specific deterministic distribution of measurement points across the entire sphere, combined with a repetitive mounting method and pointing the DUT onto a base within the measurement chamber. Although a smaller number of measurement points is obtained, and therefore the point density in a particular direction may be sparse compared to the aforementioned embodiments, this can be compensated for by increasing the number of measurement points.

[0387] According to the embodiments, the evaluation

[0388] • Define or quantify the difference or degradation in link performance when using the first and second beam patterns, and / or

[0389] • Obtain the link performance difference of each component carrier relative to the beamformer selected according to the criteria associated with the first and second component carriers, and / or

[0390] • Obtain the link performance variation of each component carrier relative to the beamformer selected according to the criteria associated with the first and second component carriers, and / or

[0391] • Based on the beam correspondence standard selected at the UE, when using the first and second beam patterns, the uplink or downlink performance is limited or quantified, and / or

[0392] • Depending on the selected criteria, when using the first and second beam patterns, the uplink or downlink performance is limited or quantified.

[0393] To evaluate link performance, one or more of the following can be measured:

[0394] • Signal strength or power

[0395] Effective or equivalent isotropic radiated power, EIRP,

[0396] Bit error rate, BER, or packet error rate, PER.

[0397] • Changes in the Received Signal Strength Index (RSSI)

[0398] • One or more radiation pattern measurements, such as one or more of the following

[0399] o-beam peak direction,

[0400] o-pattern with zero direction and zero depth,

[0401] o Side lobe direction

[0402] o Sidelobe level relative to the main beam peak

[0403] o Maximum gain,

[0404] o Half-power beamwidth,

[0405] o First sidelobe level

[0406] The ratio before and after o

[0407] The position of the first zero,

[0408] o Cross-polarization ratio.

[0409] Although the measurement process has been described so far as to occur in a specific measurement environment, according to other embodiments, the measurement process can be in-situ, i.e., the link performance of a UE deployed or located in a wireless communication network and in an RRC connected state can be evaluated according to the above process. In this case, in addition to Figure 17 In addition, the UE may be located at a certain location and connected to another entity in the network, such as another UE and / or a base station, and the antenna LA may be an antenna of that other entity. Measurement results can be transmitted to a specific entity, such as the UE or other entities, or to a core entity to evaluate link performance.

[0410] In-situ measurements may also be necessary because performance in real-world environments can differ from that in a well-defined measurement setting, for example, due to user interactions with, for instance, head and hand. Furthermore, beamsight effects may be relaxed or amplified due to multipath propagation not considered or tested in the test setup. Therefore, it is also beneficial to measure the effective effects of beamsight when the device is connected to the network or communicating in-situ with another device, i.e., in live network communication. In an in-situ measurement setup, two communication partners can coordinate their interactions through a test mode, which can be supplemented by specific means provided by the design of the regular or normal operating mode for communication between the UE and the base station or gNB. Due to the lack of a well-defined coordinate system, the relative angular relationship between the UE and the base station may be difficult to determine accurately, but it can be detected and measured by internal sensors within the UE or other handheld device, such as gyroscopes, to determine the stationary and / or relative movement or rotation of the in-situ device. Therefore, over-the-air (OTA) performance evaluation can be initiated by continuously measuring the beamsight effects of specific component carrier candidates available on the network side before activating beamforming and carrier aggregation. Measurements can be performed, for example in static or mobile situations, to provide sufficient sample points to evaluate spherical portions around the UE or specific link conditions, such as static links that can benefit from CA.

[0411] In-situ measurements also allow base stations to test their own performance, such as after a software update, and when compared with a reference. Figure 17 Compared to the described measurement scenario, distributed UEs in the field can be considered as distributed link antennas. Therefore, the device or DUT can be a UE or BS or any other suitable as a communication partner in the network or suitable for testing devices to be used in the network, as well as devices tested for conformance or performance evaluation or maintenance, commissioning or optimization purposes.

[0412] The embodiments of the invention, namely beamforming and combining two component carriers, have been described above with reference to devices using two component carriers, such as a UE. However, the invention is not limited to such embodiments. Rather, the inventive method described above can be applied to testing or measuring devices employing more than two component carriers, such as devices using beamforming and combining five or even more component carriers. According to a further embodiment, in addition to multiple component carriers, the device can transmit and / or receive additional signals, such as radio signals for communication with other entities in the network, or radar signals for distance measurement.

[0413] Embodiments of the invention have been described above with reference to devices using the same antenna elements or different antenna elements for beamforming and combining component carriers. However, the invention is not limited to such embodiments. Rather, the inventive methods described above can be applied to devices providing multiple component carriers by beamforming and combining two or more component carriers using the same antenna elements and by beamforming and combining two or more additional component carriers using different antenna elements.

[0414] Embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to devices such as UEs. However, the invention is not limited to such embodiments. Rather, the inventive methods described above can be applied to any entity in a wireless communication network. According to embodiments of the present invention, a device includes one or more of the following: a power-limited UE, or a handheld UE, such as a UE used by pedestrians, and referred to as a traffic vulnerable group, VRU, or pedestrian UE, P-UE, or a wearable or handheld UE used by public safety personnel and first responders, and referred to as a public safety UE, PS-UE, or IoT-UE, such as sensors, actuators, or UEs provided in a campus network for performing repetitive tasks and requiring periodic access from a gateway node, a mobile or fixed terminal, or a cellular IoT-UE, or a vehicle-mounted UE, or a vehicle group leader (GL) UE, or a direct link. Relay, or IoT or narrowband IoT, NB-IoT, device or wearable device, such as smartwatch, or fitness tracker, or smart glasses, or ground-based vehicle, or aircraft, or drone, or mobile base station or roadside unit (RSU), or building, or any other item or device that provides network connectivity enabling the item / device to communicate using a wireless communication network, such as a sensor or actuator, or any other item or device that provides network connectivity enabling the item / device to communicate using a direct link to / from a wireless communication network, such as a sensor or actuator, or any network entity with direct link capability.

[0415] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the device may be one or more of the following: a macro cell base station, or a small cell base station, or a central unit of a base station, or a distributed unit of a base station, or a roadside unit (RSU), or a remote wireless head, an access backhaul integrated (IAB) node, or any transmit / receive point, a TRP, enabling the article or device to communicate using a wireless communication network, the article or device being provided with network connectivity to communicate using a wireless communication network.

[0416] Although some aspects have been described in the context of the apparatus, these aspects clearly also represent descriptions of the corresponding methods, where blocks or devices correspond to method steps or features of method steps. Similarly, aspects described in the context of method steps also represent descriptions of corresponding blocks, items, or features of the corresponding apparatus.

[0417] Depending on certain implementation requirements, embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in hardware or software. Implementation can be performed using digital storage media, such as floppy disks, DVDs, CDs, ROMs, PROMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, or flash memory, storing electronically readable control signals that cooperate (or are capable of cooperating with) a programmable computer system to execute the corresponding methods.

[0418] Some embodiments of the invention include a data carrier having electronically readable control signals, which is capable of cooperating with a programmable computer system to perform one of the methods described herein.

[0419] Typically, embodiments of the present invention can be implemented as a computer program product having program code that, when run on a computer, is operable to perform one of the methods. The program code may, for example, be stored on a machine-readable medium.

[0420] Other embodiments include a computer program stored on a machine-readable medium for performing one of the methods described herein.

[0421] In other words, embodiments of the method of the present invention are therefore computer programs having program code for performing one of the methods described herein when the computer program is run on a computer.

[0422] Therefore, a further embodiment of the method of the present invention is a data carrier (or digital storage medium, or computer-readable medium) including a computer program recorded thereon for performing one of the methods described herein.

[0423] Therefore, a further embodiment of the method of the present invention represents a data stream or signal sequence for performing one of the methods described herein. The data stream or signal sequence may, for example, be configured to be transmitted via a data communication connection, such as via the Internet.

[0424] Further embodiments include processing means, such as a computer or programmable logic device, configured or adapted to perform one of the methods described herein.

[0425] Further embodiments include a computer on which a computer program for performing one of the methods described herein is installed.

[0426] In some embodiments, a programmable logic device (e.g., a field-programmable gate array) may be used to perform some or all of the functions of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, the field-programmable gate array may cooperate with a microprocessor to perform one of the methods described herein. Generally, these methods are preferably performed by any hardware device.

[0427] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. It should be understood that modifications and variations to the arrangements and details described herein will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the intent is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and not by the specific details presented in the description and explanation of the embodiments herein.

[0428] References

[0429] [1]TS Rappaport, RW Heath Jr, RC Daniels, and JNMurdock, Millimeterwave wireless communications. Pearson Education, 2014

[0430] [2] E.Dahlman, S.Parkvall and J.Skold, 5G NR: The Next Generation Wireless Access Technology, 1st Edition, Academic Press, Elsevier, 2018

[0431] [3]Hubregt J.Wisser, "Array and Phased Array Antenna Basics", Wiley, Chichester, 2005

[0432] [4] RC Johnson (ed.), "Antenna Engineering Handbook", 3 rd Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York, 1993

[0433] [5]Merill I.Skolnik, "Introduction to Radar Systems", 2 nd Ed., McGraw-Hill, Auckland, 1981

[0434] [6] Randy Haupt, "Antenna Arrays: A computational approach", Wiley, 2010

Claims

1. A communication device configured to operate in a wireless communication network and to perform communication with a communication partner within the wireless communication network by exchanging wireless signals; wherein, The communication device is configured to form a transmission beam pattern using beamforming technology to communicate with the communication partner, the transmission beam pattern being a beam pattern selected from a plurality of transmission beam patterns that can be formed by the communication device. The communication device is configured to provide a plurality of transmission beam patterns to the communication partner or different entities of the wireless communication network and in response to a triggering event, wherein the plurality of transmission beam patterns are at least a subset of the plurality of transmission beam patterns that can be formed; The communication device is configured to receive feedback information related to the beam pattern among the plurality of beam patterns; and The communication device is configured to use at least one of several provided beam patterns as a selected beam pattern based on the feedback information; and The communication device is configured to communicate using carrier aggregation; The communication device includes an antenna arrangement and a control unit, the control unit being configured to control the antenna arrangement to form a selected transmission beam pattern for carrier aggregation. Each of the provided beam patterns is applicable to at most one single carrier of the aggregation; wherein the communication device is configured to use the selected beam pattern in conjunction with the aggregation of the carrier.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The communication device is configured to generate a selected beam pattern associated with the PCC as one of several beam patterns for the aggregation of the primary component carrier (PCC) and the secondary component carrier (SCC), and to generate a beam pattern associated with the SCC as another beam of several beam patterns for the aggregation of the PCC and SCC; wherein the generated transmit beam pattern is applicable to one single carrier of the aggregation.

3. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the provided beam patterns is specifically suited to a single carrier of the aggregation.

4. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The communication device is configured to select at least one selected beam pattern based on the feedback information by taking into account optimization criteria related to communication within the wireless communication network.

5. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The communication device is configured to provide the plurality of transmit beam patterns to the communication partner or different entities of the wireless communication network in response to the triggering event; wherein the feedback information indicates a beam pattern among the plurality of provided beam patterns; wherein the communication device is configured to use the indicated beam pattern as the selected beam pattern or to evaluate different beam patterns that would be used as the selected beam pattern.

6. The communication device according to claim 5, wherein, The communication device is configured to use the indicated beam pattern if no conflict is found during the evaluation of the feedback information; and / or use the different beam pattern if a conflict is found during the evaluation.

7. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The feedback information includes information indicating the best beam / beam pattern among several provided beam / beam patterns according to optimization criteria and / or information indicating all beam patterns that are below or above a given threshold.

8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The feedback information includes information indicating that the indicated beam pattern includes a joint performance metric for the aggregation of carriers above or below a predefined threshold for the communication partner and / or for different entities in the network.

9. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The communication device is configured to establish communication with the communication partner using a first carrier and a first transmit beam pattern; and to aggregate a second carrier to the first carrier to obtain a trigger event; And for selecting a transmit beam pattern and for combining the selected transmit beam pattern for carrier aggregation.

10. The communication device of claim 1, configured for at least one of analog beamforming, digital beamforming, and hybrid beamforming.

11. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The communication device is configured to provide the plurality of transmission beam patterns based on beam scanning of a specific transmission beam pattern.

12. The communication device of claim 11, wherein the communication device is configured to receive feedback information indicating the specific transmission beam pattern, wherein the communication device is configured to receive a first transmission beam scan request from the network and to perform a transmission beam scan process using the specific transmission beam pattern in response to the first transmission beam scan request; and to receive a second transmission beam scan request from the network and to perform a transmission beam scan on the transmission beam pattern indicated in the second transmission beam scan request in response to the second transmission beam scan request.

13. The communication device according to claim 12, wherein, The communication device is configured to receive the first transmission beam scan request and / or the second transmission beam scan request by using at least one of the following signaling methods: - Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling; -Media Access Control (MAC) control elements; - Downlink Control Information (DCI); - Uplink Control Information (UCI); -Direct link control information; as well as - Its combination.

14. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The optimization criteria are related to at least one of the following: Layer 1 Reference Signal Received Power (L1-RSRP) - Reference signal reception quality (RSRQ) - Signal-to-interference-to-noise ratio (SINR); -Link capacity metrics; -Link throughput metrics; -Link stability / resilience metrics; - Field of view (FOV) index; - Its combination.

15. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The optimization criteria relate to communication with the communication partner and / or interference caused at other entities in the wireless communication network.

16. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The communication device is configured to further select the transmission beam pattern based on the triggering event without changing the carrier aggregation.

17. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the triggering event includes at least one of the following: -Timer; -counter; - Fixed or adaptive cycle; - The change in the determination of the channel conditions between the communication device and the communication partner; - Changes to the optimization standards; - Reports of equipment being interfered with in response to the beam pattern being used; - Changes in the antenna arrangement of the communication device used for communication; - The change in the relative or absolute directional angle between the communication device and the communication partner or other devices affected by the aggregated communication link; - Changes in carrier aggregation; - Instructions received from an entity of the wireless communication network may include a request to select a digital beamforming codebook; - The inter-carrier separation frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold; - The variability of the channel exceeds a threshold; and - Its combination.

18. The communication device of claim 17, wherein the variation of carrier aggregation includes at least one of the following: - Aggregate at least one carrier to a single carrier to achieve aggregation; -Increase the number of carriers within the aggregation; - Reduce the number of carriers to at least two carriers; - Replace the aggregated carrier with another carrier; and - Increase / decrease / replace the number of aggregated carriers of another wireless communication link near / within the range of the communication device; - Its combination.

19. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The communication device is configured to select the transmission beam pattern based on a continuous frequency range spanned by the lowest and highest frequencies of the aggregation.

20. The communication device of claim 1, configured to form the aggregation as comprising at least two carriers or at least three carriers.

21. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The antenna arrangement is the antenna panel of the communication device, which is controlled as a whole by the communication device.

22. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The antenna arrangement is a first antenna arrangement connected to a first beamforming network and a first transceiver chain, and the communication device includes at least a second antenna arrangement connected to a second beamforming network and a second transceiver chain.

23. The communication device according to claim 1 is suitable for operation as one of the user equipment, base station, relay node, direct link communication partner / communication device / entity, access backhaul integrated (IAB) node and customer premises equipment (CPE) in the wireless communication network.

24. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein, The communication device is configured to send capability information to entities of the wireless communication network and / or receive such capability information relating to another device, the capability information indicating the communication device's ability to perform carrier aggregation and beamforming for the communication.

25. A wireless communication network, comprising at least one communication device according to claim 1.

26. The wireless communication network of claim 25, further comprising a control unit configured to reselect a beam pattern based on an optimization criterion.

27. The wireless communication network according to claim 25, wherein, The control unit is the control unit of a different entity of the communication device or the wireless communication network.

28. The wireless communication network according to claim 25, wherein, The communication device and the communication partner are configured to jointly perform beam management or beam adjustment processes, either autonomously or in coordination by a network entity used for reselecting beam patterns.

29. The wireless communication network according to claim 28, wherein, The communication device and the communication partner are configured to use the same or different metrics to select the transmission beam during the beam management process or the beam adjustment process.

30. The wireless communication network according to claim 29, wherein, The wireless communication network is configured to take into account optimization criteria related to communication with the communication partners and / or different devices.

31. A method for operating a communication device, said communication device being configured to operate in a wireless communication network and to perform communication with a communication partner within the wireless communication network by exchanging wireless signals; wherein, The communication device is configured to form a transmit beam pattern using beamforming technology to communicate with the communication partner, the transmit beam pattern being a beam pattern selected from a plurality of transmit beam patterns that can be formed by the communication device; the method includes: Provide a plurality of transmit beam patterns to the communication partner or different entities of the wireless communication network and in response to a triggering event, the plurality of transmit beam patterns being at least a subset of the plurality of transmit beam patterns that can be formed; Receive feedback information related to the beam pattern among the plurality of beam patterns; and Based on the feedback information, at least one of the provided beam patterns is selected as the beam pattern; Communication is achieved using carrier aggregation; and The antenna arrangement is controlled to form a selected transmit beam pattern for carrier aggregation; Each of the provided beam patterns is adapted to at most one single carrier of the aggregation; the communication uses the selected beam pattern in conjunction with the aggregation of the carrier.

32. A computer-readable digital storage medium having a computer program having program code stored thereon, which, when run on a computer, performs the method according to claim 31.

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