Base Station Beam Sweeping for Multiplexed Frame Formats

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the 5G system, the variation in symbol length across different frame formats leads to inaccurate beam sweeping, resulting in degraded communication capacity in high frequency bands.

Innovation Solution

A base station and terminal apparatus configuration that enables appropriate beam sweeping by managing multiple frame formats, using advanced antenna technologies and signaling methods to optimize beamforming and resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple frame formats are multiplexed for use in 5G system, then system flexibility and adaptability are improved, but beam sweeping accuracy deteriorates due to symbol length variation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveframe format flexibilityVSAvoidbeam sweeping accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by notifying the terminal of beam sweeping configuration information before actual beam sweeping occurs. The base station sends downlink control information containing beam sweeping resource configuration, enabling the terminal to prepare appropriate reception parameters in advance, thus ensuring accurate beam sweeping even with variable symbol lengths across different frame formats

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the beam sweeping configuration flexible and adaptable to different frame formats. The downlink control information dynamically indicates resource configurations that can be adjusted according to the actual frame format being used, allowing the system to maintain beam sweeping accuracy while supporting multiple frame formats with different symbol lengths

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If beamforming is used in high frequency band, then propagation loss is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple antenna elements and beam sweeping requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception qualityVSAvoidantenna system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the beam sweeping process into specifically configured resource units. The downlink control information segments the beam sweeping resources into manageable blocks with defined time-frequency structures, making the complex beamforming operation more controllable and easier to manage across multiple antenna elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by configuring beam sweeping resources with specific time-frequency parameters indicated through downlink control information. The system adjusts parameters such as resource block allocation, symbol positioning, and frequency distribution to optimize beamforming performance while managing the complexity of multiple antenna elements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3484064B1Base station device, terminal device, and communication method
Publication Date: 2023.08.16 SHARP KK
  • EP3484064B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3484064B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3484064B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A base station apparatus, a terminal apparatus, and a communication method are provided that achieve a radio access network in which beam sweeping is appropriately performed in an environment in which a plurality of frame formats are used in a multiplexed fashion. The base station apparatus according to the present invention includes an antenna unit for which a plurality of beam patterns is configurable, a frame configuration unit capable of configuring a plurality of frame configurations; and a beam sweeping unit configured to perform beam sweeping based on a prescribed frame configuration in a case that a frame configuration configured by the frame configuration unit is the prescribed frame configuration.