Beam Control Method for Direct Communication Between Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently controlling transmission and reception beams for direct communication between user equipment (UEs), particularly in scenarios like device-to-device communication, where beam misalignment can lead to performance degradation and increased power consumption due to frequent beam reselection.

Innovation Solution

The method involves multiplexing reference signals sequentially across antenna ports and applying different precoders to these signals compared to data signals, allowing UEs to determine optimal precoding for retransmissions based on channel measurements, thereby improving beam alignment and communication reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beam control is performed for direct communication between UEs, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for beam management protocols

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidbeam management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces reference signals as an intermediary element that mediates between the transmitting and receiving UEs for beam control. These reference signals carry channel state information that enables the receiving UE to determine optimal precoding matrices, which are then fed back to the transmitting UE. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the beam management process by providing structured information exchange protocols rather than requiring complex direct beam searching and alignment procedures between UEs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If frequent beam reselection is performed to maintain optimal beam alignment, then communication quality is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the receiving UE measures channel state information from reference signals, determines the optimal precoding matrix, and feeds this information back to the transmitting UE. This feedback loop enables the system to maintain optimal beam alignment without frequent beam reselection, as the precoding matrix adaptation continuously optimizes the transmission based on current channel conditions. This reduces the need for exhaustive beam searching and reselection operations, thereby lowering power consumption while maintaining communication quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If different precoders are applied to reference signals compared to data signals, then beam alignment accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam alignment accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the signal processing into distinct components: reference signals are processed with one set of precoding matrices optimized for channel estimation and beam alignment, while data signals are processed with potentially different precoding matrices optimized for data transmission. This segmentation allows the system to optimize each signal type independently for its specific purpose, improving beam alignment accuracy through specialized reference signal processing without requiring the same complex processing for all signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3573269B1Beam control method for direct communication between terminals in wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2021.12.29 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3573269B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3573269B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3573269B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application discloses a method for a terminal to transmit data to another terminal in a wireless communication system by using direct communication between the terminals. Particularly, the method comprises: a step of transmitting, to another terminal, a data signal and a plurality of reference signals corresponding to a plurality of transmission beams, on a frame configured with one or more data symbols and one or more reference signal symbols; a step of receiving, from the another terminal, a negative response to the data signal, and information on a reference signal corresponding to at least one preferred transmission beam among the plurality of transmission beams; and a step of re-transmitting, to the another terminal, the data signal which has been precoded based on the preferred transmission beam, wherein the plurality of reference signals are time-division multiplexed within one reference signal symbol.