Autonomous SRS Triggering for Base Station Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G and 6G wireless communication systems, dynamically changing operating environments, such as signal interference and obstructions, can hinder the selection of optimal base stations for coordinated multipoint communications, leading to decreased data rates, throughput, and reliability due to insufficient information about signal strengths and interference factors.

Innovation Solution

User equipment autonomously generates and analyzes link quality parameters to select the most suitable base stations for an active coordination set, autonomously transmitting sounding reference signals to request configuration changes, allowing for dynamic optimization of communication paths without relying on base station commands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If base stations autonomously select combinations for coordinated multipoint communications, then device complexity is reduced, but selection accuracy deteriorates due to insufficient information about signal strengths and interference factors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase station selection complexityVSAvoidsignal strength measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The user equipment autonomously performs link quality measurements and generates combination information without requiring base station intervention. The UE self-services by measuring downlink signals from multiple base stations, evaluating link qualities, and determining optimal combinations independently, thereby reducing base station complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy through dedicated measurement capabilities at the UE side.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent shifts the measurement and selection function from the base station domain to the user equipment domain. By moving the combination information generation to the UE, the system utilizes the UE's direct experience of signal conditions from multiple base stations, adding a new dimension of measurement capability that complements traditional base station-based selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Device complexity

If the system uses traditional base station-controlled coordination, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to dynamic environments deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordination control complexityVSAvoidenvironmental adaptation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The user equipment continuously monitors downlink signal conditions and autonomously updates combination information based on changing environmental factors. This self-service mechanism enables rapid adaptation to dynamic conditions such as UE movement, interference changes, and base station status variations without requiring complex base station control logic or extensive signaling exchanges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback through the UE's autonomous measurement and reporting of combination information to the base station. The UE continuously evaluates link qualities and provides updated combination recommendations, creating a feedback loop that enables the network to adapt to changing conditions while keeping base station complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the system implements frequent coordination updates, then communication reliability improves, but loss of time increases due to signaling overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordinated communication reliabilityVSAvoidcoordination update delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The user equipment performs link quality measurements and generates combination information in advance, maintaining an updated pool of potential combinations ready for immediate use. When environmental conditions change or coordination is needed, the UE can quickly provide pre-computed combination information without requiring time-consuming measurements and evaluations at the moment of update, thereby reducing coordination delay while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If base stations select combinations with limited information, then device complexity is reduced, but data rates deteriorate due to suboptimal selections

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombination selection complexityVSAvoiddata rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The user equipment leverages its direct experience of signal conditions from multiple base stations to autonomously evaluate link qualities and determine optimal combinations. This self-service capability enables the UE to make informed selection decisions based on actual measured conditions rather than limited base station information, achieving higher data rates through optimized coordination while keeping base station complexity low.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4085697B1User equipment-autonomously triggered-sounding reference signals
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP4085697B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4085697B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4085697B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This document describes methods, devices, systems, and means for user equipment-autonomously triggered-sounding reference signals. A user equipment maintains (905) a connection to a first base station. In implementations, the user equipment generates (925) link quality parameters for each broadcast signal in a set of broadcast signals received from a set of base stations and selects (930) one or more base stations to include in an active coordination set (ACS). The user equipment then identifies (935) a sounding reference signal (SRS) air interface resource that corresponds to the selection and requests the inclusion of the selected base stations in the ACS by autonomously transmitting (940), to the first base station, an uplink SRS using the identified SRS air interface resource. In implementations, the user equipment communicates (965) over a wireless network using the active coordination set formed with the selected one or more base stations.