Beam Alignment Using DoA Feedback Instead of Beam Sweeping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beam alignment techniques in wireless communication systems, such as those used in IEEE Wi-Fi 802.11 and 3GPP's 5G NR, are complex and often inaccurate, particularly when using codebook-based methods, which fail to accurately align beams between transmitter and receiver.
Innovation Solution
A method involving direction of attention (DoA) measurement, where a transmitting node partitions a search area into multiple areas, transmits DoA measurement request frames, receives a response message, and adjusts beam direction based on DoA information to achieve precise alignment, using GPS location information and predefined beamforming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If codebook-based beamforming is used to reduce complexity, then device complexity is reduced, but beam alignment accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the receiving node measures the DoA of received frames and reports the measurement results back to the transmitting node. The transmitting node then uses this feedback to adjust and refine its beam direction, achieving accurate beam alignment without requiring complex exhaustive search procedures. This feedback loop enables the system to achieve high precision while maintaining relatively simple device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If beam sweeping is performed to find optimal beam direction, then beam alignment accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical beam sweeping approach with a DoA measurement-based system. Instead of physically sweeping beams through multiple directions to find the optimal one, the system uses DoA measurement request frames to directly determine the receiving node's direction. This substitution dramatically reduces the time required for beam alignment while maintaining accuracy, as the DoA measurement provides direct directional information without requiring exhaustive spatial searching.
3Measurement precision
If AoA estimation techniques like MUSIC or ESPRIT are used, then beam alignment accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential directional information needed for beam alignment by using DoA measurement request frames with specific sequence structures. Rather than implementing complex algorithms like MUSIC or ESPRIT that process the entire signal spectrum, the system extracts directional information through correlation-based DoA measurement of specifically designed frames. This extraction approach achieves the necessary beam alignment accuracy while significantly reducing the computational complexity and processing requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of a transmitting node may comprise: exchanging, with a receiving node, configuration information for beam direction search; generating DoA measurement request frames based on the configuration information; transmitting the DoA measurement request frames to the receiving node through a coarse beam in a partitioned area selected among partitioned areas within a beam search range, in a transmission occasion of the DoA measurement request frames based on the configuration information; receiving a DoA measurement response message from the receiving node; identifying whether the receiving node is located within the selected partitioned area based on DoA information included in the DoA measurement response message; and in response to the receiving node being located within the selected partitioned area, changing a beam direction for beam alignment based on the DoA information.