Base Station Beamforming for Millimeter-Wave Path Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-frequency wireless communication systems, such as those using millimeter-waves, face significant propagation challenges due to increased free-space path loss and additional attenuation factors like foliage and molecular absorption, which hinder efficient beamforming and data transmission.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a base station transceiver and mobile transceiver apparatus that uses beamforming to transmit common control signals across multiple spatially differing beam patterns on the same time and frequency radio resource, enabling efficient use of radio resources and adaptive beam selection based on reception quality, thereby compensating for poor propagation conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If higher carrier frequencies (mm-Waves) are used to provide multi-Gbps data rates, then bandwidth and data transmission capacity are improved, but free-space path loss and additional attenuation (foliage, molecular absorption, rain) increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the transmission into multiple beam patterns, each targeting specific spatial directions. By dividing the coverage area into multiple beams, the system can concentrate energy in each direction while maintaining overall coverage, thus compensating for the high path loss at mm-wave frequencies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spatial dimension through beamforming, transitioning from omnidirectional or single-direction transmission to multi-directional beam patterns. This dimensional approach allows the system to overcome path loss by directing energy precisely toward receivers in different spatial locations.
2Reliability
If beamforming is implemented to compensate for path loss, then signal strength is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple antenna elements and beam management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the antenna array universal by designing it to perform multiple functions: transmitting common control signals, transmitting dedicated control signals, and enabling beam management. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated hardware for each function, thereby managing complexity while maintaining signal strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary beam management through common control signals that are transmitted before dedicated control signals. This preliminary action establishes beam relationships in advance, simplifying subsequent communication and reducing the complexity of real-time beam management.
3Productivity
If common control signals are transmitted before acquisition using beamforming, then beamforming gain is achieved from the beginning of connection, but the system must handle beam identification and selection complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where mobile transceivers identify and report the quality of received common control signals on different beams. This feedback enables the base station to select optimal beams for dedicated control signals, achieving efficient connection establishment while managing beam complexity through systematic feedback loops.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses common control signals as a preliminary step before establishing dedicated control signals. This preliminary transmission on multiple beams allows mobile transceivers to identify the best beam directions in advance, simplifying the subsequent connection establishment process while achieving beamforming gain from the start.
4Productivity
If multiple beam patterns are transmitted on the same time and frequency resource, then radio resource efficiency is improved, but interference management and beam identification become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by transmitting different common control signals on different beams with beam-specific characteristics. Each beam has its own signal properties that enable identification, allowing the system to maintain high radio resource efficiency while making beam identification feasible through localized signal differentiation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for full beamforming gain from the beginning of connection, reduces impairments due to poor propagation conditions, and enables more efficient communication by identifying and utilizing the strongest beam patterns, leading to improved data transmission rates and coverage in high-frequency communication systems.
Implementation Method 1
Adaptive beam-steering may be implemented by analog phase shifters, fully digitally, e.g. by equipping each antenna with a fully digital transmit/receive path, or as hybrid digital/analog solutions
Implementation Method 2
Free space propagation or path loss increases at higher frequencies and may be compensated by exploiting antenna directivity
Implementation Method 3
Adaptive beam-steering may be implemented by analog phase shifters
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide apparatuses, methods and a computer programs for a base station transceiver and a mobile transceiver. An apparatus (10) operable in a base station transceiver (100) of a mobile communication system comprises a transceiver module (12), which comprises interfaces to a plurality (18) of antennas, and which is operable to transmit radio signals using combinations of time and frequency radio resources. The transceiver module (12) is further operable to form a first set of beam patterns (16) using the plurality of antennas. The first set of beam patterns (16) comprises two or more spatially differing beam patterns. The base station transceiver apparatus (10) comprises a control module (14), which is operable to control the transceiver module and to transmit a common control signal for a plurality of mobile transceivers (200) using the beam patterns of the set of first beam patterns (16) on the same time and frequency radio resource. An apparatus (20) operable in a mobile transceiver (200) of a mobile communication system comprises a transceiver module (22), which is operable to receive radio signals using combinations of time and frequency radio resources. The mobile transceiver apparatus (20) comprises a control module (24) operable to control the transceiver module (22). The control module (24) is operable to receive a common control signal from a base station transceiver (100) using different time and frequency resources, to determine a time and frequency resource, which provides the common control signal with a highest quality, and to determine information related to at least one beam pattern used on the time and frequency resource providing the common control signal with the highest quality. The control module (24) is operable to transmit a signal comprising the information related to the at least one beam pattern to the base station transceiver (100).