Analog Beam Switching via Base Station Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing communication systems, when a terminal switches an analog beam during location changes, the lack of knowledge about the selected analog beam by the base station leads to inaccurate uplink and downlink measurements, deteriorating communication quality and reducing system reliability.
Innovation Solution
A method where the terminal performs a soft handover to switch analog beams, using a related signal to inspect channel quality and ensure accurate measurements, allowing both the terminal and base station to measure channel quality, thereby maintaining communication quality and system reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the terminal performs analog beam sweeping independently without base station knowledge, then beam selection speed is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The base station feeds back the selected analog beam index to the terminal through downlink control information. This feedback mechanism enables the terminal to synchronize its beam switching with the base station's beam selection, ensuring that both sides use the same beam for transmission and reception, thereby maintaining accurate uplink and downlink measurements while preserving fast beam selection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary signaling mechanism (downlink control information carrying beam index) that mediates between the terminal's independent beam sweeping and the base station's beam selection. This intermediary enables both parties to coordinate their beam operations without sacrificing the speed advantage of independent sweeping or the measurement accuracy of coordinated operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If the terminal switches analog beam during location change, then adaptability to channel change is improved, but communication quality deteriorates due to measurement inaccuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs analog beam sweeping and selects the optimal beam in advance before the terminal needs to switch. The selected beam index is then fed back to the terminal, which switches to the indicated beam. This preliminary action by the base station ensures that the terminal switches to a pre-validated optimal beam, maintaining communication quality while adapting to channel changes
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback of beam index from base station to terminal ensures that beam switching occurs with knowledge of the optimal beam selection. This feedback mechanism allows the terminal to adapt to channel changes through beam switching while maintaining communication quality, as the switching is guided by base station measurements and selections
Data Source
AI summary
Example methods and apparatus for switching an analog beam are described. One example method includes transmitting a data channel by a terminal by using a first analog beam. The terminal determines that a second analog beam is a target beam to be switched to. The terminal transmits a related signal of the data channel by using the second analog beam. The terminal transmits a data channel by using the first analog beam. The terminal switches from the first analog beam to the second analog beam to transmit the data channel in response to determining that a specified condition is met.