Access Node Configured Directional Beam Link Establishment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently establishing and managing node-to-node communication links, particularly in densely deployed millimeter wave networks, where existing methods lack effective coordination and resource allocation for directional communication between nodes.

Innovation Solution

An access node determines and configures communication link settings, including directional transmission beams, resources, and modulation schemes, based on measurements from nodes, to establish and manage communication links between nodes, enabling efficient data and control information transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If nodes establish direct node-to-node communication links without access node coordination, then communication speed and latency are improved, but system reliability and resource allocation efficiency deteriorate due to lack of centralized management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidlink establishment reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The access node serves as an intermediary that coordinates link establishment between candidate nodes. It receives establishment requests, performs suitability evaluations based on system state and measurements, and provides configuration information to enable reliable direct communication while maintaining centralized control for system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If access node provides centralized configuration for node-to-node links, then link establishment reliability is improved, but system complexity and signaling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelink establishment reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Candidate nodes perform self-evaluation of link suitability based on measurements and configured parameters provided by the access node. The nodes autonomously determine whether to establish links and configure their own transmission parameters, reducing the access node's coordination burden and system overall complexity while maintaining reliability through controlled autonomy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If directional beams are used for node-to-node communication, then communication capacity and interference reduction are improved, but beam alignment complexity and measurement requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capacityVSAvoidbeam alignment difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The access node configures candidate nodes with directional beam parameters and measurement configurations before link establishment. Reference signals are transmitted in advance using configured beams, allowing nodes to perform measurements and identify optimal beam directions prior to formal link setup, reducing alignment complexity during actual communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3662697B1Assisted node-to-node communication link operations in a wireless network
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3662697B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3662697B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3662697B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described that provide for establishment of communication links between nodes in a wireless network, in which an access node (e.g., a node that provides access to a core network) may provide a communication link configuration and resources for communications between multiple nodes. In some cases, an access node may receive a request from a first node to establish a communication link with a second node. The communication link may be, for example, a directional transmission beam that carries data or control information, or a combination thereof, between the first node and the second node. The access node may determine the communication link configuration based on one or more link measurements provided by the first node or second node, and provide the configuration information to one or both of the first node or the second node.