Beam Alignment Protocol for Cell-Free Massive MIMO Interference Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cell-free massive MIMO wireless networks using high frequency carrier signals, particularly mmWave signals, there is a need to perform beam alignment for multiple wireless end devices simultaneously while minimizing interference and reducing complexity, especially when network topology is dynamic and antennas' orientations are unknown or changing.
Innovation Solution
A beam alignment protocol using a sequence of communication data-patterns associated with alignment subcarrier-frequency-slots, allowing simultaneous alignment of multiple access points and end devices by computing preferred communication channels based on receive information records, and configuring access points accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If beam alignment is performed for multiple wireless end devices simultaneously in cell-free massive MIMO networks using mmWave signals, then network utilization and configuration efficiency are improved, but interference between devices and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam alignment process by associating different communication data-patterns with different alignment subcarrier-frequency-slots. This allows simultaneous alignment for multiple devices to be divided into organized segments that can be processed in parallel while managing interference through structured frequency-slot allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beam alignment by computing preferred communication channels based on receive information records from multiple devices. The system dynamically configures access points according to real-time channel conditions, allowing adaptive simultaneous alignment that adjusts to changing network topology and device positions.
2Quantity of substance
If high frequency carrier signals (mmWave) are used to increase available bandwidth, then data transmission capacity is improved, but path loss increases and direct line-of-sight paths are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary beam alignment through communication data-patterns associated with alignment subcarrier-frequency-slots before actual data transmission. This preliminary action establishes optimal beam directions and preferred communication channels, ensuring that when mmWave signals are transmitted at high frequency, the direct line-of-sight paths are already identified and optimized, reducing the impact of path loss.
3Productivity
If multiple access points transmit simultaneously to multiple end devices, then network productivity increases, but interference between transmissions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves interference by introducing additional dimensions for signal differentiation: communication data-patterns provide temporal dimension separation, while alignment subcarrier-frequency-slots provide frequency dimension separation. This multi-dimensional approach allows multiple access points to transmit simultaneously to multiple devices without interference, as each transmission is uniquely identified across these dimensions.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising a processing unit adapted for executing a beam-alignment protocol based on a sequence of communication data-patterns, each associated with one of a sequence of alignment subcarrier-frequency slots. The protocol comprises receiving a plurality of receive information records, one from each of a plurality of wireless end devices and indicative of a plurality of signal qualities of the sequence of beam-alignment signals. Each beam alignment signal is received by the respective wireless end device in an alignment subcarrier-frequency-slot associated with the respective communication data-pattern associated with the beam-alignment signal. The protocol further comprises computing according to the plurality of receive information records a plurality of preferred communication channels, each for one of a plurality of wireless access points, and configuring the plurality of wireless access points according to the plurality of preferred communication channels.