Adaptive Millimetre Wave Beam Tracking for Moving Terminals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Millimeter wave radio systems face challenges in tracking and maintaining high-gain links with moving terminals due to changes in transmission characteristics, such as those caused by pedestrian movement, high-speed vehicles, or swaying fixed nodes, as existing methods lack predictive compensation for these changes.
Innovation Solution
The method involves adaptively modifying the arrangement of transmission and reception directional beams in a channel estimation process based on motion characteristics, allowing for improved flexibility and adaptability by emitting multiple beams around the strongest transmission beam and using different antenna patterns to determine the next best beam direction for maintaining a strong signal link.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple narrow antenna beams are used to establish millimetre wave link, then antenna gain is improved, but the system becomes more sensitive to terminal movement and requires frequent beam reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary beam training by transmitting reference signals through multiple antenna beams before actual data transmission. This preliminary action identifies the optimal beam directions in advance, allowing the system to establish high-gain narrow beams while being prepared for terminal movement through pre-characterized beam patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts beam configuration based on terminal movement detection. When movement is detected through changes in channel characteristics or signal quality, the system transitions from static narrow beams to dynamic beam tracking, adjusting beam directions and widths in real-time to maintain optimal connection despite terminal displacement.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If narrow beams are used to minimize cross link interference, then interference reduction is improved, but tracking a moving terminal becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the receiver measures signal quality and beam-specific pilot signal powers, then feeds this information back to the transmitter. This feedback enables the transmitter to adjust beam directions and widths dynamically, maintaining narrow beams for interference reduction while adapting to terminal movement through continuous optimization based on received feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs periodic beam training and channel estimation at intervals to track terminal movement while maintaining narrow beams for interference reduction. Between periodic updates, the established narrow beams continue to provide interference mitigation, while the periodic actions ensure the system adapts to any terminal displacement that occurs.
3Measurement precision
If channel estimation is performed frequently to track terminal movement, then tracking accuracy is improved, but system resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs channel estimation partially by focusing measurements only on the most probable beam directions identified through preliminary beam training, rather than exhaustively estimating all possible beams. This partial action maintains adequate tracking accuracy for typical terminal movements while significantly reducing the computational and energy resources required compared to full channel estimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary beam training to identify optimal beam directions before performing detailed channel estimation. This preliminary action narrows down the search space for subsequent estimation, allowing the system to achieve accurate tracking with fewer estimation operations and reduced energy consumption by focusing resources on the most relevant beam directions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and equipment for adaptively tracking a mobile terminal with millimetre wave radio link by establishing and/or maintaining a link between an access point or base station and a moving terminal where the method comprises changing the arrangement of the transmission directional beams of an access point or base station and the reception directional beams of a mobile terminal in a channel estimation process responsive to motion characteristics of the access point or base station transmitter or the mobile terminal receiver or both the access point or base station transmitter and the mobile terminal receiver. The invention further relates to a corresponding system and an access point or base station and a movable terminal provided with means for implementing the above method.