Adaptive Beam Control for Mobile Wireless Links

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication techniques are not suitable for improving throughput in environments with mobile communication entities, as frequent beamforming training is required to maintain connection, leading to increased interference and reduced throughput due to changes in relative positions between communication partners.

Innovation Solution

A wireless communication apparatus that switches between multiple beam patterns using a plurality of antenna elements, acquiring quality and movement information to control beam patterns, specifically increasing the half-value angle if the reception intensity margin is greater than a threshold, thereby reducing the need for frequent beamforming training and maintaining communication stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beamforming training is performed frequently to maintain connection with mobile communication entities, then communication reliability is improved, but throughput deteriorates due to increased interference from training signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication connection maintenanceVSAvoidcommunication throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the beam pattern adaptable and switchable between narrow and wide configurations based on communication conditions. The system dynamically adjusts beam characteristics in response to detected communication quality degradation or movement, allowing it to optimize between directional precision and coverage area as needed, thereby reducing frequent retraining while maintaining connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the beam pattern parameter (width/directivity) based on communication conditions. By switching between narrow beam patterns (for high directional gain) and wide beam patterns (for broader coverage), the system adapts to mobile entities without requiring frequent beamforming training, thus maintaining reliability while improving throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If narrow beam patterns are used to increase transmission level and extend communication distance, then communication quality is improved, but the beam width decreases making the system more sensitive to relative movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidbeam coverage area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between narrow and wide beam patterns based on detected communication conditions. When communication quality degrades or movement is detected, the system transitions from narrow to wide beam patterns, providing adaptability to mobile entities while maintaining the ability to use narrow beams for extended distance communication when conditions permit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the beam pattern parameter (width) based on communication conditions and entity mobility. This allows the system to optimize between directional precision (narrow beam) and coverage area (wide beam), adapting to the specific needs of mobile communication scenarios without being constrained to a fixed beam configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If the number of antenna elements is increased to improve directivity, then beam precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam directivity precisionVSAvoidantenna element count
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the antenna configuration switchable between different numbers of active antenna elements. The system can transition between using all antenna elements (for high directivity) and using fewer elements (for lower complexity), adapting to communication conditions without requiring a permanently complex antenna array.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial action by activating only the necessary number of antenna elements based on communication conditions. Rather than always using all available antenna elements, the system selectively activates subsets, achieving the required beam precision only when needed, thereby reducing overall device complexity and resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3276853B1Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication control method
Publication Date: 2019.09.18 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP
  • EP3276853B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3276853B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3276853B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4B

AI summary

A wireless communication apparatus includes an antenna that switches between a plurality of beam patterns by using a plurality of antenna elements. The wireless communication apparatus performs wireless communication with a communication terminal by using the antenna, acquires quality information indicating a communication quality of the wireless communication and movement information indicating movement of a relative position of the communication terminal with respect to the antenna unit, and controls the beam pattern to be switched by the antenna on the basis of the acquired quality information and movement information.