Angular Spread Estimation via Wide-Narrow Beam Signal Difference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for estimating the angular spread of wireless channels in cellular networks are limited by the need for access to data from each antenna port, which is often not available due to beamforming operations that reduce data transmission to baseband.
Innovation Solution
A method that estimates angular spread by comparing the signal strength of wide-beam and narrow-beam configurations, selecting the configurations that result in the greatest signal strength, and calculating the difference in signal strength to determine the angular spread.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If beamforming operation is applied to reduce data transmission to baseband, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but access to antenna port data is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs angular spread estimation before beamforming is fully applied, using available wide-beam and narrow-beam signal strength measurements. This preliminary estimation allows the system to determine appropriate beamwidth parameters before committing to specific beamforming configurations, thus avoiding the need to retain all raw antenna port data while still achieving accurate angular spread characterization.
2Power
If narrow beam configuration is used, then beam gain is improved, but channel support usage deteriorates when angular spread is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adapts beamwidth based on estimated angular spread. The system estimates angular spread from signal strength differences between wide and narrow beams, then uses this estimation to select appropriate beamwidth configurations. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between beam gain and channel support usage based on actual channel conditions rather than using fixed beam configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the beamwidth parameter based on angular spread estimation. By calculating the difference in signal strength between wide-beam and narrow-beam configurations, the system determines the angular spread and adjusts the beamwidth parameter accordingly. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by matching beam characteristics to channel conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wide-beam configuration is used, then channel support usage is improved, but beam gain deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between wide-beam and narrow-beam configurations based on angular spread estimation. Rather than always using wide beams for channel support or narrow beams for gain, the system adapts its beam configuration to match the actual angular spread of the channel, optimizing both channel support usage and beam gain according to real-time conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
According to a first aspect, it is provided a method for estimating angular spread of a wireless channel between a first node and a second node, wherein the first node is a radio network node and the second node is a user equipment, UE, or vice versa. The method is performed in a spread estimator. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining a wide-beam signal strength for a signal over the wireless channel using a selected wide-beam configuration of an antenna of the first node; obtaining a narrow-beam signal strength for a signal over the wireless channel using a selected narrow-beam configuration of the antenna of the first node; determining a difference between the wide-beam signal strength and the narrow-beam signal strength; and estimating angular spread of the wireless channel based on the difference.