5G Beam Tracking for Low-Latency Cell Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G networks, particularly in frequency range 2 (FR2), user equipment (UE) experiences delays in secondary cell activation and deactivation due to beam forming requirements, leading to inefficiencies in cell coverage and increased power consumption, especially in scenarios involving multiple reception beams and unpredictable UE movements.
Innovation Solution
The network requests SSB-based measurement reporting from the UE with or without beam index indication, allowing the UE to maintain spatial relations with specific cells for a defined period, reducing unnecessary beam sweeping and optimizing UE resource management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beam forming requirements are implemented in 5G networks for cell coverage, then communication reliability is improved, but activation and deactivation delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network configures the UE with multiple reception beams in advance before cell activation is needed. The UE maintains these beams in a pre-configured state, so when activation is required, the UE can immediately use the pre-prepared beams without performing time-consuming beam sweeping procedures, thus reducing activation delay while maintaining reliable communication
2Reliability
If multiple reception beams are used for unpredictable UE movements, then coverage reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically manages reception beams based on UE movement patterns and channel conditions. The network can configure multiple beams for unpredictable movements, and the UE activates or deactivates specific beams based on current channel quality and movement state, maintaining coverage reliability while adapting power consumption to actual needs rather than continuously maintaining all beams
Solution Approach 2:
The network modifies beam management parameters such as beam sweeping periodicity and beam quantity based on UE movement characteristics. For unpredictable movements, the system adjusts parameters to maintain multiple reception beams, while for predictable patterns, it reduces the number of active beams, thereby balancing coverage reliability with power consumption
3Measurement precision
If beam sweeping procedures are performed for cell activation, then spatial relation accuracy is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs beam management configuration and spatial relation setup in advance during idle or low-activity periods. The UE prepares multiple reception beams and maintains spatial relation information beforehand, so when cell activation is triggered, the UE can immediately use the pre-configured spatial relations without performing time-consuming beam sweeping, thus reducing latency while maintaining spatial relation accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic beam sweeping and spatial relation updates at optimized intervals rather than continuously. The network configures periodic beam management procedures that refresh spatial relation information at appropriate intervals, maintaining accuracy while avoiding excessive beam sweeping that would increase latency during critical activation events
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for beam tracking to reduce latency. A method may include receiving from a network node, a radio resource control reconfiguration message. The method may also include sending a radio resource control reconfiguration complete message in response to the radio resource control reconfiguration message. The method may further include performing radio resource management measurements according to information contained in the radio resource control reconfiguration message. In addition, the method may include preparing a measurement report based on the radio resource management measurements. Further, the method may include sending the measurement report to the network node. The method may also include maintaining a spatial relation with a cell or a carrier that is identified in the measurement report, as indicated in the radio resource control reconfiguration message.