Adaptive Beamforming Configuration for Channel Aging Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The channel aging effect significantly impacts Downlink (DL) performance in wireless communication systems, despite successful Uplink (UL) channel estimation, leading to a mismatch between the true channel state and available information.

Innovation Solution

A sender apparatus is configured to determine a first beamforming configuration based on the channel state for a specific time period and adapt to time variations by switching to a second beamforming configuration if channel conditions change, thereby maintaining optimal data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a first beamforming configuration is determined for a specific time period based on channel state, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but channel aging effect causes mismatch between the configured beamforming and the actual channel state, leading to performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidbeamforming configuration accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic beamforming configuration by monitoring channel quality indicators (CQI) in real-time during the specific time period. When channel variations exceed a threshold, the system dynamically switches from the first beamforming configuration to a second beamforming configuration, ensuring the beamforming remains adapted to current channel conditions and mitigating channel aging effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs feedback mechanisms where the receiver apparatus sends channel quality information (CQI) back to the sender apparatus. This feedback loop enables the sender to detect channel variations and adjust the beamforming configuration accordingly, maintaining accuracy despite time delays in channel estimation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If beamforming configuration is updated frequently to adapt to channel variations, then channel aging mitigation is improved, but system complexity and overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel adaptation accuracyVSAvoidbeamforming management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuously updating beamforming configurations, the system performs partial updates only when necessary. The sender apparatus monitors channel variations and triggers beamforming configuration changes only when channel quality indicators indicate significant degradation, avoiding unnecessary updates and reducing system overhead while maintaining adequate adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic channel quality monitoring during the specific time period, checking channel conditions at predetermined intervals or based on triggered events. This periodic approach balances the need for channel adaptation with the overhead of frequent updates, updating beamforming configurations only when periodic checks reveal significant channel variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4564728A1Adaptive beamforming for wireless communication
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP4564728A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4564728A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4564728A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~4

AI summary

The present subject matter relates to a sender apparatus, for a wireless communication system, the sender apparatus comprising means, the means being configured for: determining a first beamforming configuration for a specific time period in accordance with a state of a channel between the sender apparatus and a receiver apparatus for transmission of data to the receiver apparatus; during the specific time period: transmitting data to the receiver apparatus using the first beamforming configuration or using a second beamforming configuration in case of a time variation of the channel