Beam Alignment Resource Allocation in Wireless Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing handovers between base stations, particularly in determining the need for repetitions of reference signals during beam management procedures, which can lead to incorrect resource allocation and reduced throughput due to over or under-estimation of CSI-RS resources.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that obtain user equipment information indicating the need for reference signal repetitions to select a receiving beam aligned with a transmitting beam, allowing for enhanced admission control and handover decision-making by determining the necessary repetitions of channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) required for successful beam alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the target base station assumes the UE needs repetitions of CSI-RS for beam alignment, then beam alignment reliability is improved, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates due to over-estimation of CSI-RS resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam alignment reliabilityVSAvoidresource allocation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The source base station obtains UE capability information indicating whether the UE needs repetitions of CSI-RS for beam alignment, and feeds back this information to the target base station during handover preparation. This feedback mechanism enables the target base station to make accurate resource allocation decisions without over-estimating CSI-RS requirements, thus resolving the contradiction between beam alignment reliability and resource allocation efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The source base station performs preliminary assessment of UE capabilities and obtains UE capability information before initiating handover. This preliminary action allows the target base station to be pre-informed about the UE's beam alignment requirements, enabling efficient and accurate resource allocation from the outset without needing to over-estimate CSI-RS resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If the target base station assumes the UE does not need repetitions of CSI-RS, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but beam alignment reliability deteriorates due to under-estimation of CSI-RS resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidbeam alignment reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If repetitions of reference signal are transmitted during beam management, then beam alignment accuracy is improved, but handover time increases due to additional signal transmissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam alignment accuracyVSAvoidhandover time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The source base station performs preliminary assessment of whether the UE needs repetitions of CSI-RS for beam alignment and obtains UE capability information before initiating handover. This preliminary action allows the target base station to be pre-informed about the UE's beam alignment requirements, enabling efficient and accurate resource allocation from the outset without needing to over-estimate CSI-RS resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the beam management procedure based on UE capability information obtained during handover preparation. If the UE does not need repetitions of CSI-RS, the target base station can proceed with faster beam alignment, thus reducing handover time while maintaining accuracy when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Measurement precision

If the source base station obtains UE capability information, then handover decision accuracy is improved, but procedure complexity increases due to additional information exchange

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover decision accuracyVSAvoidprocedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The UE capability information obtained during handover preparation serves multiple purposes: it guides resource allocation decisions, determines beam management procedures, and optimizes handover timing. This multi-functionality justifies the additional information exchange by delivering benefits across multiple handover decision aspects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240121044A1Apparatus, Method, and Computer Program

Publication Date: 2024.04.11 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY

AI summary

The disclosure relates to an apparatus comprising including at least one processor and at least one memory including computer code for one or more programs, the at least one memory and the computer code configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus at least to: obtain user equipment information indicating whether a user equipment served by the apparatus would need repetitions of a reference signal transmitted by a target base station to successfully select a receiving beam aligned with a transmitting beam in a beam management procedure with the target base station; and send, to the target base station, the user equipment information.