Adaptive Analog Beam Operation in Hybrid Beamforming Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In hybrid beam-forming systems with a large number of antennas and a small number of digital chains, designing and operating analog beams effectively is challenging, especially when channel information for all antennas is not readily available, and existing systems face data rate degradation due to fixed beam usage.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive analog beam operating scheme is introduced, which allows for dynamic beam adjustment based on effective channel information and service requests in a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) scheme, using a hybrid beam-forming structure with a small number of digital chains, enabling beam adaptation and optimization for improved system capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large number of antennas are used in hybrid beam-forming system, then system capacity is improved, but device complexity increases due to the challenge of designing analog beams without channel information for all antennas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beamforming process into two distinct stages: analog beamforming (first stage) and digital beamforming (second stage). The analog beamforming operates without requiring channel information for all antennas, while digital beamforming refines the beams using available channel information. This segmentation resolves the complexity issue by dividing the challenging task of full analog beamforming into manageable parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by forming analog beams using only a subset of antenna elements rather than all antennas. Specifically, it uses a first set of antenna elements for analog beamforming and a second set for digital beamforming, performing the beamforming action partially rather than comprehensively across all antennas, thus reducing complexity while maintaining capacity benefits.
2Device complexity
If fixed beams are used in hybrid beam-forming system, then device complexity is reduced, but data rate degrades due to inability to adapt to channel conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics into the beamforming system by making the analog beam configurable and adaptable based on service requests and channel conditions. The base station can dynamically select and switch between different analog beams (first beam, second beam, third beam) depending on the operational mode and channel state, transforming the static fixed beam approach into a dynamic adaptive system that improves data rate without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of beam configuration from fixed to variable. The analog beam parameters (such as beam direction, width, and shape) are adjusted based on service requests from wireless devices and channel quality indicators. This parameter change enables the system to adapt to varying channel conditions, thereby improving data rate while maintaining manageable complexity through structured parameter adjustment.
3Productivity
If analog beam is dynamically adjusted based on service requests, then data rate is improved, but loss of time occurs due to beam switching and configuration overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple analog beams (first beam, second beam, third beam) in advance, each optimized for different service scenarios. When a service request arrives, the system can quickly switch to the pre-configured appropriate beam rather than computing a new beam from scratch. This preliminary preparation reduces the time penalty associated with beam switching and configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where wireless devices provide channel quality indicators and service requests to the base station. This feedback enables the base station to make informed beam switching decisions based on actual channel conditions and service requirements, minimizing unnecessary beam switches and reducing time loss. The feedback loop ensures that beam adjustments are made only when beneficial, balancing data rate improvement with time efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for operating an analog beam is provided. The apparatus includes a hybrid beam-forming structure having a small number of digital chains provided in a digital stage and a signal is transmitted and received in a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) scheme. The apparatus includes an analog beam-forming operating unit configured to change the analog beam for a counterpart device for which use of a next frame is to be permitted, upon receiving a request for using the next frame from at least one of multiple devices that transmit and receive signals in units of frames and a communication unit configured to transmit information indicating that the analog beam is changed to permit the use of the next frame by the counterpart device to the multiple devices.