Systems, methods, and devices for on-device beam sweeping via digital twin

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method performed by user equipment for beam sweeping in a wireless communication system, comprising transmitting capability information indicating support for receiving pertinent beam sweeping information, receiving pertinent beam sweeping information determined based on a digital twin simulation that maps user equipment positions to potential channel paths, and performing a beam sweeping procedure based on the received information to establish a wireless connection with the network node. The method may further comprise transmitting position information comprising orientation, location, velocity, and movement data to enhance digital twin simulation accuracy. The pertinent beam sweeping information comprises specific beam directions, beamwidths, beam strengths, and predicted channel conditions tailored to current user equipment conditions. The beam sweeping procedure comprises directing transmission beams toward specified directions to reduce overhead compared to exhaustive beam sweeping.

Description

SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR ON-DEVICE BEAM SWEEPING VIA DIGITAL TWINTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.63 / 721,102, filed November 15, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.TECHNIC AL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to wireless communication systems and beamforming techniques, and more particularly to systems and methods for optimizing beam sweeping procedures in user equipment using digital twin simulations maintained at network nodes to predict optimal beam directions and reduce overhead in millimeter- wave and higher frequency wireless networks.BACKGROUND

[0003] The rapid advancement of wireless communication technologies has led to the deployment of fifth-generation (5G) networks and the exploration of sixth-generation (6G) systems. These next-generation networks promise unprecedented data rates, ultra-low latency, and massive connectivity to support emerging applications such as the Internet of Things (loT), augmented reality (AR), and autonomous vehicles. However, the higher frequency bands utilized in 5G, such as millimeter-wave (mmWave) bands, and the frequency bands anticipated for 6G, such as the centimetric bands (7-15GHz) and terahertz (THz) frequencies, introduce challenges in signal propagation due to increased path loss and susceptibility to blockages.

[0004] To address these propagation challenges, beamforming has emerged as a technique in wireless communication systems operating at higher frequencies. Bcamforming focuses the transmission and reception of signals in specific directions, potentially enhancing signal strength and reducing interference. Beam sweeping involves systematically steering the beam across a sector to discover suitable directions for communication with a user device. Traditional beam sweeping methods involve performing comprehensive beam sweeps across all possible directions to determine the optimal beam for communication. This exhaustive approach,however, can incur overhead, particularly in scenarios involving large user equipment antenna arrays.

[0005] The concept of digital twins has emerged as a tool in various technological fields, including wireless communications. A digital twin is a virtual replica of a physical system that can be used to simulate, predict, and optimize the performance of its real- world counterpart. In the context of wireless networks, digital twins can model complex propagation environments, user mobility patterns, and network configurations to enhance network planning, optimization, and management.

[0006] Ray tracing is a computational technique used to model the propagation of electromagnetic waves by simulating the paths that rays take as they interact with various objects in the environment through reflection, diffraction, and scattering processes. By incorporating ray tracing into digital twins, network designers can achieve simulations of signal propagation in complex environments such as urban canyons, indoor spaces, and heterogeneous networks. This level of detail can be valuable for higher frequency bands where the physical characteristics of the environment impact signal quality.

[0007] Extended reality (XR) devices, which include augmented reality and virtual reality equipment, often incorporate advanced positioning and orientation tracking capabilities. These devices typically use simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithms that integrate data from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), inertial measurement units (IMUs), and visual sensors to create accurate position and orientation estimates. Such devices may benefit from optimized wireless communication techniques due to their mobility and real-time data requirements.SUMMARY

[0008] Current beam sweeping approaches may not fully leverage available environmental information or device capabilities to optimize the beam selection process. There exists a general need for improved beam sweeping techniques that can reduce overhead while maintaining communication quality in dynamic wireless environments. Embodiments that may meet this general need are included in summary below.

[0009] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0010] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed by user equipment for beam sweeping in a wireless communication system is provided. The method comprises transmitting, to a network node, capability information indicating support for receiving pertinent beam sweeping information. The method comprises receiving, from the network node, pertinent beam sweeping information determined based on a digital twin simulation that maps user equipment positions to potential channel paths. The method comprises performing a beam sweeping procedure based on the received pertinent beam sweeping information to establish a wireless connection with the network node.

[0011] This approach enables reduced beam sweeping overhead by focusing on promising directions identified through digital twin simulations rather than exhaustive scanning. The method provides enhanced accuracy in beam selection through predictive modeling of channel conditions and better or optimal transmission paths based on user equipment positioning.

[0012] According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the method may include one or more of the following features. The method may further comprise transmitting, to the network node, position information of the user equipment to enhance accuracy of the digital twin simulation. The position information may comprise at least one of orientation data, location data, velocity data, and movement data of the user equipment. The capability information may comprise signaling support information indicating that the user equipment is capable of performing the beam sweeping procedure with side information parameters signaled by the network node. The capability information may further comprise at least one of effective angular widths for user equipment panels, a maximum number of panels that the user equipment can engage in the beam sweeping procedure, and radio frequency characteristics of the user equipment. The pertinent beam sweeping information may comprise at least one of specific beam directions, beamwidths, beam strengths, and predicted channel conditions tailored to current conditions of the user equipment. The pertinent beam sweeping information may be defined differently for different frequencies, bands, or carriers. Receiving the pertinent beam sweeping information may comprise receiving the information via at least one of downlink control information, medium access control element, and radio resource control message. The pertinent beam sweeping information may comprise multiple sets of pertinent information for different possible positions of the user equipment. The method may further comprise selecting one of the multiple sets of pertinent information based on a current location of the user equipment. The method may further comprise applying a rotation matrix and a translation vector to compensate for movement of the user equipment and obtain updated beam directions. The method may further comprise comparing the pertinent beam sweepinginformation with camera data captured by the user equipment and performing the beam sweeping procedure based on the camera data to detect obstructions. Performing the beam sweeping procedure may comprise directing transmission beams only toward directions specified in the pertinent beam sweeping information to reduce overhead compared to exhaustive beam sweeping.

[0013] These features provide adaptive beam sweeping capabilities that respond to dynamic environmental conditions and user equipment mobility patterns. The position information transmission enables real-time optimization of digital twin simulations for improved beam direction predictions. The capability reporting mechanism allows network nodes to tailor beam sweeping guidance to specific user equipment characteristics and limitations. The multi-frequency support enables optimized beam sweeping across different carrier frequencies and bands. The obstruction detection functionality prevents transmission toward blocked paths, improving communication reliability and reducing interference.

[0014] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a user equipment for beam sweeping in a wireless communication system is provided. The user equipment comprises an antenna configured to transmit and receive wireless signals. The user equipment comprises processing circuitry configured to transmit, to a network node, capability information indicating support for receiving pertinent beam sweeping information. The processing circuitry is configured to receive, from the network node, pertinent beam sweeping information determined based on a digital twin simulation that maps user equipment positions to potential channel paths. The processing circuitry is configured to perform a beam sweeping procedure based on the received pertinent beam sweeping information to establish a wireless connection with the network node.

[0015] This user equipment configuration enables intelligent beam sweeping operations that leverage network-side digital twin simulations for enhanced performance. The integrated processing capabilities provide real-time beam direction optimization based on predictive channel modeling and environmental analysis.

[0016] According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the user equipment may include one or more of the following features. The processing circuitry may be further configured to transmit, to the network node, position information of the user equipment to enhance accuracy of the digital twin simulation. The position information may comprise at least one of orientation data, location data, velocity data, and movement data of the user equipment. The capability information may comprise signaling support information indicating that the user equipment is capable of performing the beam sweeping procedure with sideinformation parameters signaled by the network node. The capability information may further comprise at least one of effective angular widths for user equipment panels, a maximum number of panels that the user equipment can engage in the beam sweeping procedure, and radio frequency characteristics of the user equipment. The pertinent beam sweeping information may comprise at least one of specific beam directions, beamwidths, beam strengths, and predicted channel conditions tailored to current conditions of the user equipment. The pertinent beam sweeping information may comprise multiple sets of pertinent information for different possible positions of the user equipment, and the processing circuitry may be further configured to select one of the multiple sets of pertinent information based on a current location of the user equipment. The processing circuitry may be configured to perform the beam sweeping procedure by directing transmission beams only toward directions specified in the pertinent beam sweeping information to reduce overhead compared to exhaustive beam sweeping.

[0017] These user equipment features enable autonomous beam sweeping optimization with minimal network overhead. The position reporting capabilities provide continuous feedback for digital twin simulation updates. The selective beam direction approach reduces power consumption and improves communication efficiency by avoiding unnecessary beam scanning operations.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions is provided. When executed by processing circuitry of user equipment, the instructions cause the user equipment to transmit, to a network node, capability information indicating support for receiving pertinent beam sweeping information. The instructions cause the user equipment to receive, from the network node, pertinent beam sweeping information determined based on a digital twin simulation that maps user equipment positions to potential channel paths. The instructions cause the user equipment to perform a beam sweeping procedure based on the received pertinent beam sweeping information to establish a wireless connection with the network node.

[0019] This software implementation enables flexible deployment of digital twin-assisted beam sweeping across different user equipment platforms. The computer-readable medium provides standardized implementation of beam sweeping optimization algorithms that can be updated and distributed independently of hardware modifications.

[0020] According to other aspects of the present disclosure, the non-transitory computer-readable medium may include one or more of the following features. The instructions may further cause the user equipment to transmit, to the network node, position informationcomprising at least one of orientation data, location data, velocity data, and movement data of the user equipment to enhance accuracy of the digital twin simulation. The instructions may further cause the user equipment to apply a rotation matrix and a translation vector to compensate for movement of the user equipment and obtain updated beam directions. The instructions may cause the user equipment to perform the beam sweeping procedure by directing transmission beams only toward directions specified in the pertinent beam sweeping information to reduce overhead compared to exhaustive beam sweeping.

[0021] These software features provide mathematical compensation for user equipment movement and dynamic beam direction updating capabilities. The rotation matrix and translation vector operations enable precise beam steering adjustments that account for realtime position changes. The selective beam transmission approach implemented in software reduces computational overhead and improves battery life in mobile user equipment.

[0022] The foregoing general description of the illustrative embodiments and the following detailed description thereof arc merely exemplary aspects of the teachings of this disclosure and are not restrictive.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0023] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples are described with reference to the following figures.

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for on-device beam sweeping via digital twin simulation, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates an example visualization of a 3D environment mapped into azimuth and elevation coordinates, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 3 illustrates an isometric view of a head-mounted display device, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart for a beam sweeping procedure between user equipment and a base station, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 5 illustrates a flowchart for a method performed by user equipment for initiating a beam sweeping procedure, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 6 illustrates a flowchart for a method performed by a network node for assisting user equipment in beam sweeping, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 7 illustrates a communication system for wireless communication in a network environment, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0031] FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of user equipment and associated system components, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 9 illustrates a block diagram of the user equipment and associated system components of FIG. 8, according to aspects of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of the user equipment and associated system components of FIG. 8, according to aspects of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The following description sets forth exemplary aspects of the present disclosure. It should be recognized, however, that such description is not intended as a limitation on the scope of the present disclosure. Rather, the description also encompasses combinations and modifications to those exemplary aspects described herein.

[0035] A detailed description of systems, devices, and methods consistent with embodiments of the present disclosure is provided below. While several embodiments are described, it should be understood that disclosure is not limited to any one embodiment, but instead encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications, and equivalents. In addition, while numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, some embodiments can be practiced without some or all of these details. Moreover, for the purpose of clarity, certain technical material that is known in the related art has not been described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates a digital twin 100 for wireless communication in an urban environment 108. The urban environment 108 includes a network node 102 functioning as a base station positioned within the urban environment 108. The network node 102 is equipped with an antenna that generates multiple transmission beams depicted in dashed lines extending in various beam directions to establish wireless connections 110 within a coverage area.

[0037] The digital twin 100 represents and models, in digital form, the urban environment 108, which like any urban environment, contains multiple buildings 106 that act as physical obstacles affecting signal propagation. The digital twin 100 simulates signal propagation paths that extend from the network node 102, including direct paths and reflected paths that interact with the buildings 106. The wireless signals travel along these various paths to establish communication links between the network infrastructure and user equipment 120 located throughout the coverage area.

[0038] In the digital twin 100, a beamforming simulation system operates to direct the transmission beams 116 in multiple beam directions to accommodate different user equipment positions and to account for the signal propagation paths created by the physical obstacles, including buildings 106. A beam sweeping procedure systematically evaluates different beam directions to optimize the wireless connections 110. The wireless connections 110 represent the established communication links between the network node 102 and user equipment 120 and other simulated components, demonstrating how a communication system manages wireless signals in an environment with various buildings 106 that can affect signal propagation paths.

[0039] The digital twin 100 may incorporate ray tracing computational techniques to model electromagnetic wave propagation through reflection, diffraction, and scattering processes. The digital twin simulation may analyze how wireless signals interact with the physical obstacles to predict optimal transmission characteristics for different locations within the coverage area. This may be used to select transmission directions between nodes within a communication system that account for reflections, blockage, etc., that the environment produces on transmissions.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, a wireless communication environment 200 demonstrates how 3D environment reflective properties may be mapped into azimuth and elevation coordinates of a 2D array that is display able on a user equipment, like the user equipment 120 of FIG. 1. The wireless communication environment 200 includes a base station with a gNB that communicates with user equipment 206 positioned within an urban landscape forming the wireless communication environment 200. The surrounding physical environment contains multiple buildings 206 and structures with varying heights that create complex signal propagation conditions.

[0041] The gNB may generate transmission paths that extend through the wireless communication environment 200 to reach the user equipment 120. The angular sped rum at the gNB may exhibit a spread across azimuth and elevation coordinates as the wireless signals interact with the multiple buildings 206 and structures. The digital twin simulation may map these 3D environmental characteristics into corresponding angular coordinates for processing by antenna arrays.

[0042] The user equipment 206 may include a 2D millimeter-wave antenna array for beamforming operations. The angular spectrum at the user equipment 206 side may demonstrate larger spreads in both angular coordinates compared to the gNB, with the elevation domain showing particularly pronounced spreading characteristics. The varying heights of thestructures within the urban landscape may contribute to the increased angular diversity observed at the user equipment 306 location.

[0043] The transmission paths may reflect, diffract, and scatter as the wireless signals encounter the multiple buildings 206 and other structures within the surrounding physical environment. The digital twin simulation may incorporate ray tracing computational techniques to model electromagnetic wave propagation through these reflection, diffraction, and scattering processes. The ray tracing analysis may predict how the transmission paths interact with the physical environment to determine optimal beam directions and characteristics for communication between the gNB and user equipment 206 within the coverage area.

[0044] For example, the user equipment 206 may receive information indicating and displaying locations within the environment 200 at which the user equipment 206 may receive better than a threshold connection. As such, visual indicators 210 and 212 may depict, in a display of the user equipment 206, signal strength associate with “hot spots’’ 220 and 222 in the environment. The user equipment 206 may receive a better signal and improved performance by aligning with the hot spots 220 and 220.

[0045] Referring to FIG. 3, a head- mounted display (HMD) device 300 may be configured as an extended reality device for wireless communication applications. The head-mounted display device 300 may include a main housing unit 302 with a curved front surface that provides an ergonomic design for user comfort. The main housing unit 302 may feature a first stereoscopic camera component 306 and a second stereoscopic camera component 308 positioned to provide a view of the external environment when the HMD device 300 is worn by a user. Some embodiments of the head-mount display device 300 may include a front surface or surfaces that are transparent, such as augment reality or AR glasses. Such embodiments may not require both the camera components 306 and 308.

[0046] The head-mounted display device 300 may incorporate an adjustable head strap system that includes a head strap 310 extending from the main housing unit 302. The head strap 310 may be designed as a curved band to secure the device 300 around the user's head and maintain proper positioning of the camera components relative to the user’s eyes and / or head. The adjustable head strap 310 may include adjustment mechanisms and connection points that allow customization of fit for different users.

[0047] Control buttons may be located on the top surface of the main housing unit 302 to provide tactile controls for operating the head-mounted display device 300. The control buttons may allow users to interact with the extended reality device without removing the device from their head, enabling convenient operation during use. The curved front surface 304 of the mainhousing unit 302 may create a streamlined design with smooth contours that reduces the overall bulk while maintaining a compact fomi factor.

[0048] The front face and sides of the main housing unit 302 may house various sensors and components for positioning and orientation tracking. In some cases, the extended reality device 322 may function as a virtual reality headset 318 or an augmented reality headset 320 depending on the specific application requirements.

[0049] The extended reality device may serve as an XR device that incorporates cameras, inertial sensors included in an inertial motion unit (TMU) 320, and dual global navigation satellite system (GNSS) components 322 that may be fused via simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) techniques to create accurate position and orientation estimates. The positioning accuracy may be within approximately ±1-2 centimeters, providing precise location data for beam sweeping operations within the coverage area 220. The extended reality device may include a 2D millimeter-wave antenna array 324 integrated within the main housing unit 302 for bcamforming operations and wireless communication with network infrastructure. The HMD device 300 includes a display system within the main housing unit 302 which can display information as discussed with respect to FIG. 2 to a user of the HMD device 300. Thus, the HMD device 300 may display the results of a digital twin of the communication system that the HMD device 300 users to connect to other devices and systems. The HMD device 300 may display visual indicators of transmission signals based on the position of the user of the HMD device 300 in a physical environment being serviced by a communications network with a digital twin being used to model the behavior of the network.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 4, a digital twin-based beam sweeping procedure may be implemented between user equipment, such as the HMD device 300 of FIG. 3 and abase station to leverage digital twin information for improved beam sweep efficiency. The procedure may comprise eight sequential steps that coordinate beam sweeping operations through capability reporting, pertinent information exchange, and configuration processes.

[0051] In operation 402, a base station may map different user equipment positions to potential channel paths using a digital twin simulation. The network node may maintain a digital twin that maps user equipment positions and poses to potential channel paths within a wireless communication system. The digital twin may be constructed with downlink and uplink reference signals and data signals received over time by one or more user equipment devices, as well as reported user equipment positions and orientations. The digital twin simulation may serve as a reference to predict beam directions based on current or predicted locations of user equipment within the coverage area.

[0052] Operation 404 may involve the user equipment reporting capability information to support receiving pertinent beam sweeping information during a beam sweeping procedure. The user equipment may indicate capability to receive and process pertinent information for performing an efficient beam sweep operation. The capability information may comprise signaling support information indicating that the user equipment is capable of performing a beam sweeping procedure with side information parameters signaled by the network node. In some cases, the capability information may further comprise effective angular widths for user equipment panels, a maximum number of panels that the user equipment can engage in a given beam sweeping procedure, and radio frequency characteristics of the user equipment.

[0053] An operation 406 may represent an optional phase where the user equipment requests the base station to receive pertinent information for beam sweep operations. The user equipment may transmit position information to the network node to enhance accuracy of the digital twin simulation. The position information may comprise orientation data, location data, velocity data, and movement data of the user equipment. The user equipment may send additional information about pose, position, or movement characteristics including acceleration, velocity, radial movement, and translational movement to enhance the accuracy of beam sweeping guidance.

[0054] In operation 408, the base station may determine pertinent beam sweeping information based on current user equipment pose, position, and movement information received in previous steps. The network node may utilize the digital twin simulation and received user equipment information to determine pertinent information for the beam sweep operation. The pertinent beam sweeping information may be determined based on the digital twin simulation that maps user equipment positions to potential channel paths.

[0055] Operation 410 may involve the base station transmitting pertinent beam sweeping information to the user equipment. The pertinent beam sweeping information may comprise specific beam directions, beamwidths, beam strengths, and predicted channel conditions tailored to current conditions of the user equipment. The pertinent beam sweeping information may include predicted movement information and multiple sets of information under different hypotheses on the movement of the user equipment. In some cases, the pertinent beam sweeping information may be defined differently for different frequencies, bands, or carriers. The user equipment may receive the pertinent beam sweeping information via downlink control information, medium access control element, and radio resource control message.

[0056] Operation 412 may demonstrate the user equipment receiving the pertinent beam sweeping information transmitted from the base station in 410. The user equipment mayprocess the guidance provided by the network node to prepare for beam sweeping operations based on the received information.

[0057] In operation 414, the base station may send configuration messages and triggers for beam sweeping operations. The network node may send configuration messages and triggers for beam sweeping using mechanisms in current wireless standards such as 3GPP NR. The base station may transmit configuration parameters for user equipment beam sweep operations and may send a trigger to initiate the beam sweeping procedure.

[0058] Operation 416 may involve the user equipment performing a beam sweeping procedure based on the received pertinent beam sweeping information to establish a wireless connection with the network node. The user equipment may direct beam sweeping operations based on the guidance provided by the base station rather than conducting an exhaustive sweep across all possible directions. The user equipment may steer reference signal transmissions during beam sweep operations toward directions according to the received pertinent information, which may include beam directions, beamwidth for each direction, beam strength for each direction, and predicted channel conditions for several choices of frequencies.

[0059] Referring to Figure 5, a method 500 may be performed by user equipment for initiating a beam sweeping procedure in a wireless communication system. The method 500 may include an operation 502 and an operation 504 that enable coordinated beam sweeping operations between user equipment and network infrastructure.

[0060] The operation 502 may involve reporting, to a network node, one or more capability indications to support one or more pertinent information during the beam sweeping procedure. The user equipment may transmit capability information indicating support for receiving pertinent beam sweeping information from the network node. The capability indications may enable the user equipment to communicate its technical specifications and operational parameters to the network node for beam sweeping optimization.

[0061] The operation 504 may involve receiving, from the network node, the one or more pertinent information determined based on digital twin simulation capabilities. The user equipment may receive pertinent beam sweeping information that has been calculated using digital twin simulations that map user equipment positions to potential channel paths. The pertinent beam sweeping information received in the operation 504 may be customized based on the capability indications transmitted in the operation 502.

[0062] The method 500 may enable dynamic direction updating capabilities during beam sweeping operations. The user equipment may update directions to sweep based on current updated position and orientation estimates during the beam sweeping procedure. The userequipment may apply a rotation matrix and a translation vector to compensate for movement of the user equipment and obtain updated beam directions. The rotation matrix and translation vector may account for changes in user equipment position and orientation that occur between the time when pertinent beam sweeping information is received and when the beam sweeping procedure is performed.

[0063] The pertinent beam sweeping information may comprise multiple sets of pertinent information for different possible positions of the user equipment. The multiple sets may provide beam sweeping guidance for various hypothetical locations and movement patterns that the user equipment may experience. The user equipment may select one of the multiple sets of pertinent information based on a current location of the user equipment, enabling adaptive beam sweeping that responds to actual user equipment positioning.

[0064] The method 500 may incorporate predictive movement capabilities through the pertinent beam sweeping information. The pertinent beam sweeping information may include predicted movement information and multiple sets of information under different hypotheses on the movement of the user equipment. The network node may generate different sets of beam sweeping parameters based on predicted user equipment trajectories, allowing the user equipment to select the most appropriate guidance based on actual movement patterns.

[0065] The user equipment may compare the pertinent beam sweeping information with camera data captured by the user equipment and may perform the beam sweeping procedure based on the camera data to detect obstructions. The camera data may provide real-time environmental information that can identify physical obstacles that may block transmission paths suggested by the pertinent beam sweeping information. The user equipment may modify beam sweeping directions based on obstruction detection to avoid directing transmission beams toward blocked paths.

[0066] The method 500 may enable the user equipment to perform the beam sweeping procedure by directing transmission beams only toward directions specified in the pertinent beam sweeping information to reduce overhead compared to exhaustive beam sweeping. The selective beam direction approach may minimize the time and resources required for beam sweeping operations while maintaining communication quality. The user equipment may focus beam sweeping efforts on directions that have been identified as promising by the digital twin simulation, rather than systematically evaluating all possible beam directions.

[0067] Referring to Figure 6, a method 600 may be performed by a network node for assisting user equipment in performing beam sweeping procedures within a wireless communication system. The method 600 may comprise an operation 602 that enables network-side coordination of beam sweeping operations through transmission of pertinent beam sweeping information to user equipment.

[0068] The operation 602 may involve transmitting, to user equipment, one or more pertinent information configured to assist the user equipment in performing a beam sweeping procedure. The network node may generate and transmit pertinent beam sweeping information that has been determined using digital twin simulations and ray tracing computational techniques. The pertinent beam sweeping information transmitted in the step 1410 may be customized based on capability indications received from the user equipment and current positioning data.

[0069] The method 600 may utilize 3D Cartesian coordinate systems for representing beam sweeping guidance information. The pertinent beam sweeping information may be transmitted as Cartesian 3D coordinates using distance and directions to the base station. In cases where multiple reflections occur between the user equipment and the base station, the distance may represent the total distance traveled along the complete propagation path. The direction information may correspond to the center of reflection in the last reflective surface encountered by the wireless signal before reaching the user equipment.

[0070] The 3D Cartesian coordinate approach may enable precise spatial representation of beam directions that account for complex propagation environments. The network node may calculate 3D coordinates that represent optimal beam directions based on the digital twin simulation results. The user equipment may convert the received 3D coordinates to spherical coordinates to determine specific azimuth and elevation angles for beam steering operations.

[0071] The method 600 may incorporate machine learning-based obstruction detection capabilities that enhance beam sweeping accuracy. The pertinent beam sweeping information may be processed by user equipment using machine learning based computer vision object detection algorithms running on the user equipment. The computer vision algorithms may analyze camera data captured by the user equipment to detect whether recommended sweep directions are obstructed by physical obstacles in the environment.

[0072] The obstruction detection functionality may enable the user equipment to modify beam sweeping operations based on real-time environmental conditions. When the machine learning algorithms detect that a base station is recommending sweeping in a direction that camera data shows as being obstructed, the user equipment may opt not to sweep in that direction. The computer vision object detection may identify buildings, vehicles, or other physical obstacles that may block transmission paths suggested by the pertinent beam sweeping information.

[0073] The method 600 may provide adaptive beam sweeping guidance that responds to dynamic environmental conditions. The network node may maintain updated digital twin simulations that incorporate changing environmental factors and user equipment mobility patterns. The operation 602 may involve transmitting updated pertinent beam sweeping information that reflects current channel conditions and predicted optimal beam directions for the user equipment location.

[0074] The pertinent beam sweeping information transmitted in the operation 602 may comprise beam direction parameters, beamwidth specifications, and beam strength recommendations that are tailored to specific user equipment capabilities and current positioning. The network node may determine the pertinent beam sweeping information based on digital twin simulations that model electromagnetic wave propagation through reflection, diffraction, and scattering processes within the coverage area.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 7, a communication system 700 may be configured for wireless communication in a network environment. The communication system 700 may include a telecommunication network 702 that comprises an access network 704 and a core network 706. The core network 706 may contain a core network node 708 that facilitates network operations and management functions within the telecommunication network 702.

[0076] The access network 704 may include a network node 710A and a network node 710B that serve as base stations or access points for wireless communication within the communication system 700. The network node 710A may establish wireless connections with a user equipment 712A and a user equipment 712B, enabling these devices to access the telecommunication network 702. The network node 710B may connect to a hub 714, which serves as an intermediary device that facilitates communication between network infrastructure and additional user equipment devices.

[0077] The hub 714 may be connected to a user equipment 712C and a user equipment 712D, providing these devices with network access through the network node 710B. The user equipment 712A and the user equipment 712B may communicate directly with the network node 710A through wireless connections, while the user equipment 712C and the user equipment 712D may access the telecommunication network 702 through the hub 714 configuration.

[0078] The core network 706 may connect to a host 716, which represents external systems or services that can be accessed through the telecommunication network 702. The host 716 may provide various applications and services to users connected to the communication system 700. The communication system 700 may demonstrate a hierarchical network topology wherethe core network 706 provides centralized functions, the access network 704 manages wireless access points, and various user equipment devices connect either directly to network nodes or through intermediate hub devices.

[0079] The network node 710A and the network node 710B may facilitate wireless communication within their respective coverage areas within the communication system 700. The hub 714 may extend connectivity options for user equipment that may require alternative connection methods or that may be located in areas where direct connection to network nodes is not feasible. The hierarchical structure of the communication system 700 may enable scalable network deployment and efficient resource management across different network layers.

[0080] The telecommunication network 702 may support network slicing to provide different logical networks to different devices that are connected to the communication system 700. The access network 704 may provide Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication services to some user equipment, while providing Enhanced Mobile Broadband services to other user equipment, and Massive Machine Type Communication services to additional user equipment devices. The core network node 708 may coordinate these different service types and manage network resources accordingly.

[0081] The communication system 700 may operate according to predefined rules or procedures, such as specific standards that include Global System for Mobile Communications, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, Long Term Evolution, and other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G standards, or any applicable future generation standards. The network nodes and user equipment within the communication system 700 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies and may operate with any combination of Wi-Fi, New Radio, and Long Term Evolution technologies.

[0082] Referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, a user equipment 800 may be configured with detailed hardware components that support beam sweeping operations in wireless communication systems. The user equipment 800 may include processing circuitry 802 that is operatively coupled via a bus 804 to various system components including an input / output interface 806, a power source 808, a memory 810, and a communication interface 812.

[0083] The processing circuitry 802 may be configured to process instructions and data and may implement sequential state machine operations to execute instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory 810. The processing circuitry 802 may be implemented as hardware-implemented state machines, programmable logic with appropriate firmware, stored computer programs with general-purpose processors such asmicroprocessors or digital signal processors, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the processing circuitry 802 may include multiple central processing units and may comprise a system on a chip configuration.

[0084] The memory 810 may store programs 814 and data 816 for use by the processing circuitry 802 during beam sweeping operations. The memory 810 may comprise random access memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, erasable programmable readonly memory, electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, magnetic disks, optical disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, or flash drives. The programs 814 may include application programs such as operating systems, web browser applications, or other software applications that support beam sweeping functionality. The data 816 may include capability information, position information, and pertinent beam sweeping information received from network nodes.

[0085] The communication interface 812 may include a transmitter 818 and a receiver 820 that arc connected to an antenna 822 for wireless signal transmission and reception. The transmitter 818 may be configured to transmit capability information indicating support for receiving pertinent beam sweeping information to network nodes. The receiver 820 may be configured to receive pertinent beam sweeping information determined based on digital twin simulations that map user equipment positions to potential channel paths. The antenna 822 may be configured to transmit and receive wireless signals and may comprise antenna arrays with specific dimensions such as 8x8 configurations that support mulliplc frequency operations.

[0086] The capability information transmitted by the transmitter 818 may comprise effective angular widths for user equipment panels and a maximum number of panels that the user equipment 800 can engage in beam sweeping procedures. The capability information may further include radio frequency characteristics of the user equipment 800 and dimensions of antenna arrays that indicate the beamforming capabilities available for beam sweeping operations. The antenna 822 may support multiple panels that can be selectively engaged during beam sweeping procedures based on the capability information reported to network nodes.

[0087] With continued reference to FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, a network node 900 may comprise processing circuitry 902, a memory 904, and a communication interface 906 connected to a power source 908. The network node 900 may be configured to assist user equipment in performing beam sweeping procedures by generating and transmitting pertinent beam sweeping information based on digital twin simulations.

[0088] The communication interface 906 may include an antenna 910, RF transceiver circuitry 912, baseband circuitry 914, a port / terminal 916, and radio front-end circuitry 918. The RF transceiver circuitry 912 and the baseband circuitry 914 may be implemented on separate chips, boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units, or may be implemented on the same chip or set of chips depending on the network node configuration.

[0089] The radio front-end circuitry 918 may incorporate a filter 920 and an amplifier 922 for signal conditioning operations. The radio front-end circuitry 918 may be configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna 910 and the processing circuitry 902. The radio front-end circuitry 918 may receive digital data that is to be transmitted to user equipment via wireless connections and may convert the digital data into radio signals having appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using the filter 920 and the amplifier 922.

[0090] The antenna 910 may include antenna arrays configured to transmit and receive wireless signals and may support multi-frequency capabilities for different frequency bands and earners. The pertinent beam sweeping information transmitted by the network node 900 may be tailored for several choices of frequencies and may include specific beam directions, beamwidths, beam strengths, and predicted channel conditions. The pertinent beam sweeping information may comprise acceleration data including radial or translational acceleration information and height information of user equipment to enhance beam sweeping accuracy.

[0091] As further shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9, and FIG. 10, a virtualization environment 1000 may include hardware 1004 that supports an application / virtual appliance / virtual node 1002 through a virtualization layer 1006. The virtualization environment 1000 may operate a virtual machine 1008 A and a virtual machine 1008B, with management and orchestration 1010 overseeing the virtual components. A control system 1012 may provide additional coordination within the virtualization environment 1000.

[0092] The hardware 1004 may include processing circuitry, memory that stores software and instructions executable by hardware processing circuitry, and other hardware devices such as network interfaces and input / output interfaces. The virtualization layer 1006 may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to the virtual machine 1008 A and the virtual machine 1008B. The virtual machines may comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking interfaces, and virtual storage capabilities.

[0093] The application / virtual appliance / virtual node 1002 may implement beam sweeping functions and digital twin simulation capabilities within the virtualization environment 1000. Different embodiments of the application / virtual appliance / virtual node 1002 may be implemented on the virtual machine 1008 A or the virtual machine 1008B, andthe implementations may be configured in different ways to support various beam sweeping requirements.

[0094] The management and orchestration 1010 may oversee lifecycle management of the application / virtual appliance / virtual node 1002 and may coordinate resource allocation within the virtualization environment 1000. The control system 1012 may facilitate communication between hardware nodes and radio units within the virtualized network infrastructure. The virtualization environment 1000 may enable distributed implementations of network nodes and user equipment functions that support beam sweeping operations across virtualized computing resources.

[0095] The processing circuitry 802 of the user equipment 800 may be configured to perform beam sweeping procedures by directing transmission beams only toward directions specified in pertinent beam sweeping information to reduce overhead compared to exhaustive beam sweeping. The processing circuitry 802 may be further configured to transmit position information comprising orientation data, location data, velocity data, and movement data to network nodes to enhance accuracy of digital twin simulations. The processing circuitry 802 may apply rotation matrices and translation vectors to compensate for movement of the user equipment 800 and obtain updated beam directions during beam sweeping operations.

[0096] A non-transitory computer-readable medium may store instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry 802 of the user equipment 800, cause the user equipment 800 to transmit capability information indicating support for receiving pertinent beam sweeping information to network nodes. The instructions may further cause the user equipment 800 to receive pertinent beam sweeping information determined based on digital twin simulations that map user equipment positions to potential channel paths. The instructions may cause the user equipment 800 to perform beam sweeping procedures based on the received pertinent beam sweeping information to establish wireless connections with network nodes.

[0097] Machine readable storage including machine-readable instructions, when executed, to implement a method or realize an apparatus in any of the examples of the present application.

[0098] Various techniques, or certain aspects or portions thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, or any other machine-readable storage medium wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the various techniques. In the case of program code execution on programmable computers, the computing device may include a processor, a storage medium readable by the processor (including volatileand non-volatile memory and / or storage elements), at least one input device, and at least one output device. The volatile and non-volatile memory and / or storage elements may be a RAM, an EPROM, a flash drive, an optical drive, a magnetic hard drive, or another medium for storing electronic data. The eNB (or other base station) and UE (or other mobile station) may also include a transceiver component, a counter component, a processing component, and / or a clock component or tinier component. One or more programs that may implement or utilize the various techniques described herein may use an application programming interface (API), reusable controls, and the like. Such programs may be implemented in a high-level procedural or an object-oriented programming language to communicate with a computer system. However, the program(s) may be implemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. In any case, the language may be a compiled or an interpreted language, and combined with hardware implementations.

[0099] It should be understood that many of the functional units described in this specification may be implemented as one or more components, which is a term used to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a component may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom very large scale integration (VLSI) circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A component may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices, or the like.

[0100] Components may also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified component of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions, which may, for instance, be organized as an object, a procedure, or a function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified component need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations that, when joined logically together, comprise the component and achieve the stated purpose for the component.

[0101] Indeed, a component of executable code may be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within components, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network.The components may be passive or active, including agents operable to perform desired functions.

[0102] Reference throughout this specification to "an example" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase "in an example" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0103] As used herein, a plurality of items, structural elements, compositional elements, and / or materials may be presented in a common list for convenience. However, these lists should be construed as though each member of the list is individually identified as a separate and unique member. Thus, no individual member of such list should be construed as a de facto equivalent of any other member of the same list solely based on its presentation in a common group without indications to the contrary. In addition, various embodiments and examples of the present invention may be referred to herein along with alternatives for the various components thereof. It is understood that such embodiments, examples, and alternatives are not to be construed as de facto equivalents of one another, but are to be considered as separate and autonomous representations of the present invention.

[0104] Although the foregoing has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity, it will be apparent that certain changes and modifications may be made without departing from the principles thereof. It should be noted that there are many alternative ways of implementing both the processes and apparatuses described herein. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to be considered illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein, but may be modified within the scope and equivalents of the appended claims.

[0105] Those having skill in the art will appreciate that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method performed by user equipment (120) for beam sweeping in a wireless communication system, comprising:transmitting, to a network node (102), capability information indicating support for receiving pertinent beam sweeping information;receiving, from the network node (102), pertinent beam sweeping information determined based on a digital twin simulation that maps user equipment positions to potential channel paths; andperforming a beam sweeping procedure based on the received pertinent beam sweeping information to establish a wireless connection (110) with the network node (102).

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, to the network node (102), position information of the user equipment (120) to enhance accuracy of the digital twin simulation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the position information comprises at least one of orientation data, location data, velocity data, and movement data of the user equipment (120).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the capability information comprises signaling support information indicating that the user equipment (120) is capable of performing the beam sweeping procedure with side information parameters signaled by the network node (102).

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the capability information further comprises at least one of effective angular widths for user equipment panels, a maximum number of panels that the user equipment (120) can engage in the beam sweeping procedure, and radio frequency characteristics of the user equipment (120).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the pertinent beam sweeping information comprises at least one of specific beam directions, beamwidths, beam strengths, and predicted channel conditions tailored to current conditions of the user equipment (120).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the pertinent beam sweeping information is defined differently for different frequencies, bands, or carriers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the pertinent beam sweeping information comprises receiving the information via at least one of downlink control information, medium access control element, and radio resource control message.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pertinent beam sweeping information comprises multiple sets of pertinent information for different possible positions of the user equipment (120).

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising selecting one of the multiple sets of pertinent information based on a current location of the user equipment (120).

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a rotation matrix and a translation vector to compensate for movement of the user equipment (120) and obtain updated beam directions.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the pertinent beam sweeping information with camera data captured by the user equipment (120) and performing the beam sweeping procedure based on the camera data to detect obstructions.

13. The method of claims 1 or 6, wherein performing the beam sweeping procedure comprises directing transmission beams (116) only toward directions specified in the pertinent beam sweeping information to reduce overhead compared to exhaustive beam sweeping.

14. A user equipment (120) for beam sweeping in a wireless communication system, comprising:an antenna configured to transmit and receive wireless signals;processing circuitry configured to:transmit, to a network node (102), capability information indicating support for receiving pertinent beam sweeping information,receive, from the network node (102), pertinent beam sweeping information determined based on a digital twin simulation that maps user equipment positions to potential channel paths, andperform a beam sweeping procedure based on the received pertinent beam sweeping information to establish a wireless connection (110) with the network node (102).

15. The user equipment (120) of claim 14, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to transmit, to the network node (102), position information of the user equipment (120) to enhance accuracy of the digital twin simulation.

16. The user equipment (120) of claim 15, wherein the position information comprises at least one of orientation data, location data, velocity data, and movement data of the user equipment (120).

17. The user equipment ( 120) of claim 14, wherein the capability information comprises signaling support information indicating that the user equipment (120) is capable of performing the beam sweeping procedure with side information parameters signaled by the network node (102).

18. The user equipment (120) of claim 17, wherein the capability information further comprises at least one of effective angular widths for user equipment panels, a maximum number of panels that the user equipment (120) can engage in the beam sweeping procedure, and radio frequency characteristics of the user equipment (120).

19. The user equipment (120) of claim 14, wherein the pertinent beam sweeping information comprises at least one of specific beam directions, beamwidths, beam strengths, and predicted channel conditions tailored to current conditions of the user equipment (120).

20. The user equipment (120) of claim 19, wherein the pertinent beam sweeping information comprises multiple sets of pertinent information for different possible positions of the user equipment (120), and wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to select one of the multiple sets of pertinent information based on a current location of the user equipment (120).

21. The user equipment (120) of claims 14 or 19, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to perform the beam sweeping procedure by directing transmission beams (116) only toward directions specified in the pertinent beam sweeping information to reduce overhead compared to exhaustive beam sweeping.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of user equipment (120), cause the user equipment (120) to:transmit, to a network node (102), capability information indicating support for receiving pertinent beam sweeping information;receive, from the network node (102), pertinent beam sweeping information determined based on a digital twin simulation that maps user equipment positions to potential channel paths; andperform a beam sweeping procedure based on the received pertinent beam sweeping information to establish a wireless connection (110) with the network node (102).

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions further cause the user equipment (120) to transmit, to the network node (102), position information comprising at least one of orientation data, location data, velocity data, and movement data of the user equipment (120) to enhance accuracy of the digital twin simulation.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the instructions further cause the user equipment (120) to apply a rotation matrix and a translation vector to compensate for movement of the user equipment (120) and obtain updated beam directions.

25. The non-transitory computer- readable medium of claims 22 or 23, wherein the instructions cause the user equipment (120) to perform the beam sweeping procedure by directing transmission beams (116) only toward directions specified in the pertinent beam sweeping information to reduce overhead compared to exhaustive beam sweeping.

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