Base Station Beam Selection for Throughput Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In urban areas with high traffic, vehicles often experience reduced throughput due to frequent transitions between Line Of Sight (LOS) and Non Line Of Sight (NLOS) environments when communicating with high-frequency band base stations, leading to periodic degradation in service quality.
Innovation Solution
A base station apparatus that records historical throughput data for each transmission/reception point and calculates predicted throughput for alternative points, optimizing the switching of transmission schemes and points to maintain high-quality service by selecting the best beam and transmission scheme based on measured and predicted throughput conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high frequency band Massive MIMO beamforming is used to expand bandwidth and achieve large capacity, then throughput is improved, but radio wave attenuation increases making it difficult to secure coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The base station divides the coverage area into multiple beam directions and transmits separate beamformed signals to different spatial segments. This segmentation allows the system to overcome omnidirectional attenuation by concentrating energy in specific directions where it is needed, thereby maintaining throughput while extending effective coverage range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spatial dimensionality through 3D beamforming, transmitting signals not just in horizontal planes but also in vertical dimensions. By utilizing multiple antenna elements arranged in three-dimensional space, the system creates beams that can reach users in various spatial positions, overcoming the limitation of high frequency attenuation through dimensional expansion of signal propagation paths.
2Strength
If beamforming is used to compensate for attenuation, then signal strength in specific directions is improved, but the system complexity increases due to large number of antenna elements required
Solution Approach 1:
Each antenna element in the array serves multiple functions simultaneously: it participates in forming beams in multiple directions, supports both transmission and reception operations, and can be dynamically reconfigured for different users. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated antenna elements for each specific beam direction, thereby managing system complexity while maintaining signal strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The beamforming system dynamically adjusts the amplitude and phase weights of antenna elements based on real-time channel conditions and user positions. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same physical antenna array to adaptively form beams in different directions and with different gains, eliminating the need for fixed, overly complex hardware configurations for each possible beam direction.
3Reliability
If transmission scheme is switched based on LOS/NLOS environment detection, then communication reliability is improved, but throughput drops occur during frequent transitions in urban areas
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary beamforming based on predicted user positions and pre-calculated optimal beams before users actually transition between LOS and NLOS environments. By anticipating environmental changes and preparing appropriate beam configurations in advance, the system maintains continuous high-speed communication without throughput drops that would occur with reactive switching schemes.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discrete switching between MIMO and SISO transmission schemes, the patent continuously adjusts beamforming parameters such as beam width, direction, and gain to adapt to changing environmental conditions. This gradual parameter adjustment maintains communication reliability while avoiding the throughput penalties associated with abrupt transmission scheme transitions in urban areas with frequent LOS/NLOS changes.
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 ensures continuous high throughput by promptly switching to more effective transmission schemes and points, preventing throughput drops and maintaining service quality even in challenging environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The Massive MIMO beamforming is a technique for forming a beam having a high signal strength in a specific direction by superposing radio waves from each antenna element after adjusting the amplitude and phase of the radio waves
Implementation Method 2
the high frequency band has a radio wave attenuation greater than that of the low frequency band
Implementation Method 3
The high frequency band has a feature that radio waves are less likely to be diffracted compared with the low frequency band
Data Source
AI summary
A base station apparatus is connected to a plurality of transmission/reception points each switching a transmission scheme according to reception environment of wireless terminal and providing service to wireless terminal. The base station apparatus includes a history recording part recording history of beam and transmission scheme selected by wireless terminal with respect to each transmission/reception point; a calculation part calculating a second throughput when service is received using one or more beams being candidates for selection by wireless terminal among beams transmitted by a second transmission/reception point different from a first transmission/reception point connected to wireless terminal; and a transmission/reception point selection part providing service from the second transmission/reception point to wireless terminal by the beam and the transmission scheme corresponding to the second throughput subject to satisfying a predetermined condition with respect to the first throughput being the measured throughput with the first transmission/reception point connected to wireless terminal.