Adjustable Directional Antenna Millimeter Wave Beam Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beam tracking methods in millimeter wave cellular communication systems face challenges in maintaining high throughput due to the need for precise alignment of directional antennas, which requires significant bandwidth and can lead to increased latency and payload capacity reduction, especially in dynamic and mobile scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves adjusting the directivity of directional antennas based on reception quality, allowing for reduced tracking accuracy and bandwidth usage by relaxing the antenna gain when reception quality is above a threshold, thereby extending tracking intervals and reducing the complexity of the feedback loop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If directional antennas with high directivity are used for beam forming, then throughput is improved, but bandwidth is increased and payload capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the antenna directivity adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adapts the directivity of directional antennas based on channel conditions, allowing optimization of the trade-off between throughput and bandwidth. When channel conditions are good, lower directivity suffices, reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining throughput requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of antenna directivity dynamically. By adjusting the directivity parameter of directional antennas based on reception quality measurements, the system can reduce bandwidth usage when high directivity is not necessary for maintaining throughput, thus resolving the contradiction between throughput and bandwidth consumption.
2Reliability
If precise alignment of directional antennas is maintained, then reception quality is improved, but tracking effort and latency are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts tracking effort based on channel conditions and antenna directivity. When directivity is reduced, the beam width increases, providing a larger margin for alignment errors and reducing the need for frequent precise tracking, thereby reducing latency while maintaining acceptable reception quality.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the directivity parameter of antennas, the system alters the relationship between alignment precision and reception quality. Lower directivity settings provide wider beams that are more tolerant of misalignment, reducing tracking effort and latency while maintaining sufficient reception quality for the required throughput.
3Quantity of substance
If antenna directivity is reduced, then bandwidth usage is decreased, but alignment tolerance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts antenna directivity based on channel conditions and throughput requirements. This allows the system to select the appropriate directivity level that achieves the required throughput while minimizing bandwidth consumption, accepting reduced alignment precision only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the directivity parameter to optimize the trade-off between bandwidth usage and alignment precision. By adjusting directivity dynamically, the system can reduce bandwidth consumption when high alignment precision is not critical for maintaining throughput, effectively managing the contradiction between these parameters.
4Measurement precision
If feedback loop for beam tracking is enhanced, then alignment accuracy is improved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the complexity of the feedback loop based on channel conditions and antenna directivity. When directivity is high, more complex feedback mechanisms may be warranted to maintain precise alignment. When directivity is reduced, simpler feedback loops suffice, reducing device complexity while maintaining adequate alignment accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the directivity parameter, the system alters the requirements for feedback loop complexity. Lower directivity settings provide inherent robustness to alignment errors, allowing for simpler feedback mechanisms that reduce device complexity while maintaining sufficient alignment accuracy for the required throughput.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for radio communication is described comprising receiving a millimeter wave signal via a radio communication from a transmit antenna by means of a receive antenna, wherein at least one of the transmit antenna and the receive antenna is a directional antenna with adjustable directivity, determining a reception quality of the millimeter wave signal as received by the receive antenna for a first directivity of the directional antenna, reducing the directivity of the directional antenna to a second directivity based on whether the reception quality is above a required reception quality and continuing the radio communication with the second directivity.