Analog Beam Switching Configuration for Millimeter-Wave Resource Efficiency
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in high-frequency bands due to large path loss and resource waste from excessive switching time periods for analog beam switching, particularly in millimeter-wave scenarios, which affects the reliability of synchronization and control channels.
Innovation Solution
A data transmission method and apparatus that reserve a switching time period at intervals in a radio time window, allowing for efficient analog beam switching for common and traffic channels, reducing resource waste by optimizing the configuration of switching time periods based on the type of data being transmitted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If analog beam switching is performed in each modulation symbol to ensure coverage for all users, then coverage reliability is improved, but resource waste increases due to excessive switching time periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by configuring switching time periods at specific intervals (e.g., every 2, 3, 4, or 5 modulation symbols) rather than in every symbol. This periodic switching pattern maintains adequate beam switching for coverage while reducing the frequency of switching operations, thereby lowering resource waste from excessive switching time periods while still ensuring coverage reliability for all users in the cell.
2Adaptability or versatility
If switching time period is configured in each modulation symbol, then beam switching capability is maintained, but time resource efficiency deteriorates due to overconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the configuration of switching time periods across different modulation symbols. Instead of uniformly configuring switching in every symbol, the patent selectively configures switching time periods only in specific symbols based on local requirements (e.g., symbols carrying common channels or reference signals). This localized approach maintains necessary beam switching capability while improving time resource efficiency by avoiding overconfiguration in symbols where switching is not required.
3Reliability
If analog domain beamforming is used to overcome path loss, then transmission reliability in high frequency bands is improved, but system complexity increases due to time-division beam switching requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the radio frame into distinct segments: modulation symbols with configured switching time periods (for beam switching) and symbols without switching (for data transmission). This segmentation allows the system to maintain analog domain beamforming for overcoming high frequency path loss while managing complexity by clearly defining when switching occurs and when data transmission occurs, avoiding the need for continuous complex switching operations.
Data Source
Figure 1-a~1-b
Figure 2-a
Figure 2-b
AI summary
A data transmission method, apparatus, and system, and user equipment are provided. The data transmission method may include: determining configuration information of a first time unit in a radio time window, where the first time unit includes multiple sub-time units, a switching time period and a transmission time period are reserved in a first sub-time unit at an interval of at least N sub-time units in the first time unit, the switching time period is used to perform analog beam switching for a common channel and/or a common reference signal, and N is a natural number; and transmitting the common channel and/or the common reference signal in the first sub-time unit in the first time unit according to the configuration information of the first time unit, where the common channel and/or the common reference signal are/is transmitted in the transmission time period.