Base Station Image Recognition for 5G Beam Management

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Millimeter wave technology in 5G communication systems faces interference and obstruction from physical objects, leading to difficulties in maintaining continuous communication between base stations and user equipment due to shadowing effects.

Innovation Solution

Implementing image sensors with integrated image recognition capabilities to detect and track humans in the communication environment, allowing base stations to adjust beam sweeping frequencies and improve UE detection by associating UE locations with recognized persons, thereby reducing latency and enhancing communication setup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If millimeter wave technology is used to achieve high communication throughput, then communication speed is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to interference and obstruction from physical objects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication throughputVSAvoidcommunication continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces image sensors as an intermediary system to detect physical objects that may obstruct millimeter wave communication. The base station uses image recognition to identify objects in the communication path and adjusts beam sweeping accordingly, mediating between the transmission system and environmental obstacles to maintain reliable communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If beam sweeping frequency is increased to improve UE detection in high frequency systems, then detection capability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUE detection capabilityVSAvoidbase station energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic beam sweeping frequency adjustment based on real-time image recognition data. When physical objects are detected that may obstruct communication, the base station increases beam sweeping frequency in affected areas. When no obstacles are present, the frequency is reduced, optimizing the balance between detection capability and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If image sensors are integrated with base stations to detect and track humans, then UE detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUE detection accuracyVSAvoidbase station complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates image sensors into the base station structure to serve multiple functions: detecting physical objects that obstruct communication, tracking human users for association with UEs, and providing spatial awareness for beam management. This multi-functional integration improves UE detection accuracy while managing the increase in device complexity through consolidated functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3673672B1Methods and devices for communication based on image recognition in a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3673672B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3673672B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3673672B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A wireless electronic device (1900) used in a wireless communication system is described. The wireless electronic device performs operations including detecting a person in a geographical area serviced by a base station and communicating with the UE responsive to the detecting the person in the geographical area serviced by the base station. The UE is associated with the person in the geographical area serviced by the base station. Related methods are disclosed.