Backup Beam Timing Adjustment for Millimeter Wave Link Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communications networks face challenges in maintaining performance and capacity, particularly in point-to-multipoint systems where millimeter wave signals are affected by line-of-sight path blockages, leading to complex and time-consuming beam management procedures and potential communication outages.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method for efficient beam switching by obtaining an indication of beam link failure and switching to a backup beam, with transmit timing adjustments based on previously communicated timing information to minimize handshaking delays and ensure correct timing for ongoing communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beam management procedures are performed to find alternative paths when line-of-sight is blocked, then communication reliability is improved, but the time required to restore communication increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing backup beams and paths before the primary line-of-sight path is blocked. The system proactively identifies and stores alternative transmission paths (reflected paths via buildings, vehicles, or other objects) so that when the primary path fails, switching to a backup path can occur immediately without time-consuming beam management procedures.
2Reliability
If complex beam management procedures are implemented to handle path blockages, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the system to automatically detect path blockages and switch to pre-configured backup beams without requiring complex manual beam management procedures. The network nodes autonomously monitor transmission quality and execute failover to alternative paths, reducing the complexity of beam management while maintaining high reliability.
3Measurement precision
If timing adjustment is performed during beam switching, then communication accuracy is improved, but transmission delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing timing adjustment values for each backup beam path before switching is needed. When a beam switch occurs, the system immediately applies the pre-determined timing adjustment rather than calculating it in real-time, thus maintaining high timing accuracy while minimizing the delay introduced by the switching process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for transmit timing adjustment by a second network node includes obtaining an indication of beam link failure of a current beam that is used for ongoing communication with a first network node. The method further includes switching over to a backup beam of the current beam for continuing the ongoing communication with the first network node, and adjusting transmit timing for transmitting a signal as part of the ongoing communication in the backup beam based on earlier communicated timing information with the first network node before making any transmission of the signal on the backup beam.