Two-Level Antenna Training for Beamforming Vector Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing beam discovery process using directional antennas in wireless networks is time-consuming due to the need for beamforming at all beams in each sector, leading to prolonged antenna training overhead.
Innovation Solution
A two-level antenna training scheme is introduced, comprising a coarse sector level training and a fine beam level training, where sector training sequences are transmitted and feedback messages are received to determine optimum transmit sectors based on link quality indicator (LQI) measurements, followed by beam training sequences to determine optimal beam directions, significantly reducing training time and overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If beamforming is performed at all beams in each sector during beam discovery, then the accuracy of directional communication is improved, but the training time and overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam discovery process into two distinct levels: sector-level training and beam-level training. At the sector level, the system performs coarse training across multiple sectors to identify the best sector pair. At the beam level, it performs fine training within the selected sector to determine optimal beam directions. This segmentation allows the system to achieve accurate beamforming without exhaustively training all beams in all sectors, thereby reducing overall training time while maintaining precision.
2Reliability
If exhaustive beamforming training is conducted across all sectors and beams, then the reliability of directional antenna communication is improved, but the device complexity and training overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The training procedure is divided into two hierarchical levels: coarse sector-level training and fine beam-level training. The sector-level training establishes reliable sector pairs through LQI measurements, while the beam-level training refines the selection within the optimal sector. This segmentation reduces the complexity of the overall training procedure by avoiding the need to systematically evaluate all possible beam combinations across all sectors, while still ensuring reliable directional communication through a structured two-stage approach.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing complete beamforming training across all sectors and beams (excessive action), the patent applies partial action by conducting sector-level training to identify the most promising sector pairs, then performing only the necessary beam-level training within those selected sectors. This partial approach maintains communication reliability by focusing training efforts on the most relevant sectors and beams, rather than exhaustively training all possibilities.
3Manufacturing precision
If the beam discovery process includes comprehensive sector and beam training, then the quality of link establishment is improved, but the throughput efficiency decreases due to extended training overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the link establishment process into two phases: sector-level training to identify optimal sector pairs and beam-level training to refine beam directions within the selected sector. By implementing this segmentation, the system achieves high link establishment quality through structured training while minimizing the time required, as it avoids exhaustive training of all sectors and beams. The two-phase approach ensures quality link establishment without the extended overhead that would result from comprehensive training.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by performing sector-level training to identify the best sector pairs, then conducting beam-level training only within those selected sectors rather than all sectors. This partial approach maintains high link establishment quality by focusing training on the most promising directional paths, while significantly reducing the overall training overhead and improving throughput efficiency compared to exhaustive training methods.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of performing a beam discovery between a device and a plurality of other devices in a wireless network is disclosed. Sector training sequences to a plurality of other devices are transmitted via a transmit directional antenna having a set of transmit sectors. A plurality of feedback messages are received from the plurality of other devices, where the plurality of feedback messages are indicative of optimum transmit sectors that have been determined at the other devices based at least in part on the sector training sequences. Beam training sequences are transmitted to the plurality of other devices via the transmit directional antenna. A plurality of feedback message indicative of optimum transmit beam directions within the optimum transmit sectors are received from the plurality of other devices.