Antenna Panel Activation by Sleep Duration for Beam Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In high-frequency wireless communications networks, terminals equipped with multiple antenna panels face challenges in efficiently selecting suitable panels and beams for communication with base stations during discontinuous reception, leading to increased power consumption and potential loss of beam alignment due to movement, rotation, or channel changes.

Innovation Solution

The method involves activating a single panel if sleep duration is less than a threshold and multiple panels if the duration is greater than or equal to the threshold, with beam training conducted using pre-delivered beam management resources to quickly find a suitable beam for communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple antenna panels are activated to cover different directions, then beam alignment reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam alignment reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the number of activated antenna panels based on sleep duration. For short sleep durations, only one panel is activated to save power. For long sleep durations, multiple panels are activated to ensure reliable beam alignment, as the terminal may have moved or rotated during the extended sleep period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational state parameter of antenna panels based on sleep duration thresholds. The network device configures different quantities of panels to be activated according to whether the sleep duration is short or long, optimizing the balance between power consumption and communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple panels are activated after long sleep duration, then beam alignment is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam alignmentVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically determines the number of panels to activate based on sleep duration. After long sleep durations, multiple panels are activated to account for potential terminal movement or rotation that may have occurred during the extended period, ensuring beam alignment is maintained despite the increased power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If a single panel is activated for short sleep duration, then power consumption is reduced, but beam alignment may be lost due to movement or rotation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbeam alignment
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic panel activation strategy where the number of activated panels adapts to sleep duration. For short sleep durations, only one panel is activated to minimize power consumption, as the terminal is less likely to have changed position significantly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The network device pre-configures different quantities of panels to be activated based on anticipated sleep durations. This preliminary configuration allows the terminal to efficiently manage power consumption while maintaining adequate beam alignment coverage for different sleep scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If all panels are activated to ensure communication coverage, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidpanel management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic panel activation where the quantity of activated panels is adjusted based on sleep duration. This dynamic approach ensures communication reliability is maintained when needed (long sleep durations) while reducing power consumption and simplifying panel management during short sleep durations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the activation state parameter of antenna panels based on sleep duration thresholds. The network device configures different quantities of panels to be activated, allowing the terminal to manage panel complexity efficiently while maintaining communication reliability across different operational scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3863338B1Antenna panel and wave beam management method and device
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3863338B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3863338B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3863338B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This application provides an antenna panel management method of a terminal device. The method includes: The terminal device enters a sleep mode from an active mode. When the terminal device is ready to re-enter the active mode from the sleep mode, if sleep duration is less than a preset threshold, a single panel panel of the terminal device is activated; or if sleep duration is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, a plurality of panels of the terminal device are activated. The terminal device activates a panel based on sleep duration between two consecutive DRX ON modes, so that a suitable panel can be activated in time, and a suitable beam can be further found for communication with a base station, thereby reducing power consumption of the terminal device.