5G Pathloss Reference Signals for Inter-Cell Multi-TRP Beam Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 5G NR technologies do not effectively support inter-cell multi-TRP operations for pathloss reference signal configuration, beam management, beam failure recovery, and beam indication, particularly when TRPs have different cell IDs, leading to inefficiencies in uplink power control and beam management.

Innovation Solution

Enhancements are introduced to support inter-cell multi-TRP operations by adding cell ID information and frequency domain positions to pathloss reference signals, enabling SSB configuration with different cell IDs, and defining inter-cell beam failure recovery and indication procedures, including dedicated resources and reporting mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing 5G NR pathloss reference signal configuration is used, then intra-cell beam management is supported, but inter-cell multi-TRP operations are not effectively supported

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinter-cell multi-TRP operation supportVSAvoiduplink power control reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pathloss reference signal configuration is segmented to include separate cell ID fields for serving cell and non-serving cell, allowing independent identification and measurement of pathloss for different cells in multi-TRP operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pathloss reference signal configuration is enhanced to serve multiple functions: it can reference SSB or CSI-RS from both serving and non-serving cells, supporting both intra-cell and inter-cell beam management, and enabling uplink power control for multi-TRP scenarios

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If SSB configuration uses single cell ID, then beam management is simple, but inter-cell beam management cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinter-cell beam management capabilityVSAvoidSSB configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The SSB configuration is segmented to include separate cell ID fields (servingCellId and nonServingCellId) and separate SSB index fields, allowing the UE to distinguish and manage beams from different cells independently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The SSB configuration extends from a single-cell dimension to a multi-cell dimension by adding nonServingCellId and associated SSB index, enabling the UE to perform beam management across multiple cells without fundamentally changing the existing single-cell beam management mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If beam failure detection uses serving cell RS only, then detection is straightforward, but inter-cell beam failure recovery is not supported

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinter-cell beam failure recovery supportVSAvoidbeam failure recovery procedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The beam failure recovery configuration is segmented to include separate reference signal fields for serving cell (CSI-RS or SSB) and non-serving cell (SSB), allowing independent beam failure detection and recovery procedures for each cell

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nonServingCellSsbIndex acts as an intermediary that enables the UE to identify and switch to alternative beams from non-serving cells when beam failure is detected, facilitating inter-cell beam failure recovery without requiring complex inter-cell coordination protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12432594B2Inter-cell beam management for 5G systems

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 INTEL CORP

AI summary

Systems, apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for pathloss reference signal configuration when different cell IDs are configured for multi-TRP operation. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.