AI-Driven Pilot Route Prediction for L1 Beam Reporting Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in reducing L1 beam reporting overhead and power consumption while maintaining reliable handover performance, especially in scenarios requiring ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) where conventional methods struggle to achieve zero-failure handovers.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a centralized unit (CU) and distributed unit (DU) architecture that predicts a pilot-route using machine learning models, configures CSIPilot based mobility, and reduces L1 beam reporting by utilizing historical measurements from pilot UEs to inform mobility configurations for follower UEs, thereby minimizing unnecessary measurements and signaling overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional L1 beam reporting methods are used, then handover reliability is maintained, but signaling overhead and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future pilot routes and pre-configuring CSI pilots along the predicted path before handover is actually needed. This allows the network to proactively prepare mobility configurations, reducing the need for continuous L1 beam reporting and measurements during actual handover execution, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual copy of the pilot route by predicting the UE's future trajectory and configuring corresponding CSI pilots along this predicted path. This virtual pilot route serves as a substitute for actual continuous measurements, allowing the network to anticipate handover needs without requiring ongoing L1 beam reporting, thus reducing energy consumption while preserving handover success rates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If continuous L1 beam reporting is performed, then handover performance is ensured, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover performanceVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary route prediction and configures CSI pilots along the predicted pilot route before handover execution. This advance preparation allows the system to reduce continuous L1 beam reporting requirements, as the pre-configured CSI pilots provide sufficient information for reliable handover, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining handover performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The predicted pilot route acts as an intermediary between the UE and the network, providing a structured framework for mobility management. By using this intermediate prediction layer, the system can reduce direct L1 beam reporting requirements, as the predicted route information serves as a mediator that reduces the need for frequent explicit measurement reports, thus lowering signaling overhead while ensuring handover performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If AI/ML prediction is implemented, then measurement reporting is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement reporting overheadVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces traditional mechanical measurement and reporting mechanisms with AI/ML-based prediction. Instead of relying on continuous L1 beam reporting and measurement feedback loops, the system uses machine learning models to predict pilot routes and configure CSI pilots proactively. This substitution dramatically reduces measurement reporting overhead, though it introduces computational complexity in the network side for implementing and maintaining the AI/ML prediction infrastructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4366379A1Ai/ML assisted CSI-pilot based beam management and measurement reduction
Publication Date: 2024.05.08 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4366379A1 patent drawingFigure 1
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AI summary

Various techniques are provided for a method including receiving, by a centralized unit (CU) from a distributed unit (DU), a measurement report associated with a user equipment, predicting, by the CU, a pilot-route based on the measurement report, configuring, by the CU, a CSIPilot based mobility for the DU based on the pilot-route, and configuring, by the CU, measurement reporting and a CSIPilot based mobility for the user equipment based on the pilot-route.