Adaptive Radio Link Failure Timer for 5G Beam Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G wireless networks, high-frequency radio links suffer from fragile beam alignment issues and blockages due to high directivity and penetration loss, leading to inefficient radio link re-establishment procedures when temporary quality degradations occur, which are not adequately addressed by conventional solutions.
Innovation Solution
A client device and network access node configuration that dynamically adjusts a radio link failure timer based on link monitoring and re-configuration procedures, allowing for optimized timing of radio link failure declaration and re-establishment by considering both short-term and long-term radio link quality variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a radio link failure timer with fixed timing is used for HF radio links, then the procedure provides consistent timing for link failure declaration, but it triggers unnecessary re-establishment for temporary quality degradations and consumes excessive processing resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the radio link failure timer adaptive rather than fixed. The timer duration is dynamically adjusted based on the type of radio link failure detected: a first timer value is used for beam failure (temporary degradation) while a second, longer timer value is used for other failure types. This dynamic timing allows the system to respond appropriately to different failure scenarios, avoiding unnecessary re-establishment for temporary issues while ensuring timely recovery for persistent failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameter of the radio link failure procedure based on the detected failure condition. By identifying whether the failure is due to beam failure or other causes, the system selects different timer values (first timer value vs. second timer value), effectively changing the time parameter to match the severity and nature of the failure, thereby optimizing both reliability and resource consumption.
2Reliability
If conventional radio link re-establishment procedure is triggered for temporary beam misalignment, then the link can be recovered, but processing resources are wasted and recovery time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines the appropriate recovery procedure based on the failure type. For beam failure specifically, the system uses a faster re-establishment procedure with a first timer value, while other failures use the conventional longer procedure with a second timer value. This dynamic approach ensures that temporary beam misalignments are recovered quickly without triggering full-scale re-establishment, thereby maintaining processing efficiency while ensuring link recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the recovery procedure parameters based on the detected failure condition. By detecting beam failure specifically, the system adjusts the timer parameter to a shorter first timer value and applies a streamlined re-establishment procedure, rather than using the conventional longer timer and full procedure. This parameter adaptation improves processing efficiency for temporary failures while maintaining reliability.
3Productivity
If beamforming with narrow beams is used for HF radio, then higher antenna gain and data throughput are achieved, but beam alignment becomes fragile and susceptible to blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the radio link failure detection into distinct categories: beam failure and other failures. This segmentation allows the system to apply different handling procedures for different failure types. By separating beam failure detection from general link failure detection, the system can identify when narrow beam issues occur and apply appropriate faster recovery procedures, mitigating the fragility of narrow beam alignment while maintaining high throughput capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the timer parameter based on the failure type detected. When beam failure is detected (indicating narrow beam alignment issues), a first timer value is used for faster recovery. For other failures, a second timer value is used. This parameter change allows the system to adapt to the fragility of narrow beams while maintaining the high data throughput benefits of beamforming.
Data Source
AI summary
A client device includes a processor and a memory. The client device is caused to obtain a first indication indicating an outcome of a link monitoring procedure associated with a serving link between a network access node and the client device. The client device is also caused to obtain a second indication indicating an outcome of a link re-configuration procedure associated with the serving link. The client device is further caused to determine a value of a first counter associated with a radio link failure timer based on the first indication and the second indication. The client device is additionally caused to start the radio link failure timer when the value of the first counter is equal to or larger than a first counter threshold value.