Adaptive Beam Width Control for Obstruction-Aware Beam Search
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beam search techniques in high-frequency communication systems face challenges in balancing beamforming gain and coverage while minimizing overhead, particularly in hierarchical beam searches where the number of searches increases with the number of terminals.
Innovation Solution
A communication equipment system that acquires obstruction information, derives beam widths based on obstruction distances, and controls radiators to radiate beams with optimized widths, reducing the number of searches and maintaining coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the beam width is narrowed to increase beamforming gain, then the beamforming gain is improved, but the number of beam searches increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the beam width adjustable rather than fixed. The beam width is dynamically changed based on the distance to obstructions detected by the sensing unit. When obstructions are detected at certain distances, the beam width is widened to reduce the number of beam searches required, while maintaining adequate beamforming gain for the given communication distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the beam width parameter based on obstruction distance. The control unit adjusts the beam width parameter according to sensed obstruction information, transforming a static parameter into a variable one that adapts to environmental conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between beamforming gain and search overhead.
2Productivity
If the beam width is increased to reduce beam search overhead, then the number of beam searches is reduced, but the beamforming gain is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts beam width based on real-time obstruction sensing. When obstructions are detected, the beam width is increased to cover more directions and reduce search overhead. When no obstructions are present or they are far away, the beam width is narrowed to maximize beamforming gain, thus resolving the contradiction adaptively.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam width parameter is changed based on obstruction distance measurements. The control unit receives sensing information about obstructions and adjusts the beam width parameter accordingly, allowing the system to optimize between search efficiency and signal strength based on actual environmental conditions.
3Measurement precision
If hierarchical beam search is performed with individual terminal searches in the second stage, then user-specific beam optimization is improved, but the number of beam searches increases proportionally with the number of terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing obstruction sensing before conducting beam searches. The sensing unit detects obstructions in advance, and the control unit determines appropriate beam widths based on this preliminary information. This allows the system to perform fewer, more targeted beam searches while still achieving accurate beam direction for each terminal.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing unit serves multiple functions: it detects obstructions for beam width control and provides environmental information that can be used for multiple terminals simultaneously. This universal sensing capability allows the system to optimize beam searches for multiple users without proportionally increasing the total number of searches.
Data Source
AI summary
According to embodiment of the present invention, a communication equipment includes an acquirer configured to acquire obstruction information including a distance from a radiator radiating a beam to an obstruction obstructing the beam; a derivator configured to derive a beam width of the beam radiated from the radiator in accordance with the distance to the obstruction acquired by the acquirer; and a beam controller configured to control the radiator such that the beam is radiated with the beam width derived by the derivator.