Base Station Beam Management via Terminal Data Indication
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G cellular networks using millimeter wave technology, base stations face inefficiencies due to the need to interrogate each terminal during sweeps to determine if they have data to transmit, leading to increased latency and reduced throughput, especially since only a small percentage of terminals typically have data for transmission.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system where terminals provide data transmit indications, allowing base stations to skip interactions with terminals that do not have data, thereby reducing sweep time and improving throughput by focusing communications on terminals with data to transmit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the base station interrogates each terminal during sweeps to determine if they have data to transmit, then the base station can identify terminals with data, but the sweep time increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Terminals pre-indicate their data transmission status before the base station sweep arrives. This preliminary action allows the base station to skip terminals that have no data, eliminating unnecessary interrogations and improving sweep efficiency and throughput.
2Reliability
If the base station performs complete sweeps across all terminals, then all terminals are checked for data, but time is wasted on terminals without data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts terminals with data to transmit from the complete set of all terminals. By using terminal indications to identify and separate active terminals, the base station performs sweeps only on relevant terminals, eliminating time waste on inactive terminals while maintaining reliability of data detection.
3Loss of information
If the base station communicates with all terminals during sweeps, then no data is missed, but unnecessary communications reduce efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
Terminals provide preliminary indications of their data transmission status before base station communication. This allows the base station to selectively communicate only with terminals that have data, preventing information loss while eliminating unnecessary communications and improving overall efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the invention include methods of performing beam management in a base station of a cellular network. A method includes obtaining, at the base station, information indicating whether one or more terminals of the cellular network have data to transmit, and determining, using the base station, during a sweep by the base station if an upcoming terminal has data to transmit based on the information. The sweep by the base station is a sequential movement of the beam over a coverage area. The method also includes foregoing, by the base station, any communication with the upcoming terminal during the sweep based on the information indicating that the upcoming terminal has no data to transmit, and communicating, using the base station, with the upcoming terminal during the sweep based on the information indicating that the upcoming terminal has data to transmit.