Dynamic Beam Correspondence for Antenna Blockage Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face challenges in maintaining effective beam correspondence due to blockage conditions, such as those caused by obstructions, which can lead to signal strength degradation and communication errors.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for determining blockage conditions in antenna elements, deactivating affected elements, and transmitting an indication of beam correspondence state, allowing communication to continue using activated antenna elements, thereby adapting to blockage conditions without the need for extensive power density characterization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beam correspondence is maintained using all antenna elements, then beamforming performance is optimized, but blockage conditions cause signal strength degradation and communication errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beam correspondence by enabling the UE to adaptively adjust which antenna elements are active based on detected blockage conditions. The system transitions from a static configuration where all antenna elements remain active to a dynamic configuration where the UE can deactivate blocked antenna elements and reactivate them when blockage is cleared, optimizing communication reliability under varying blockage conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational state parameter of antenna elements from a fixed active state to a dynamically controllable state. The UE monitors blockage conditions and adjusts the activation status of antenna elements accordingly, changing the system parameter from static to adaptive to mitigate blockage effects while maintaining beamforming performance
2Reliability
If antenna elements are deactivated to mitigate blockage, then signal integrity is improved, but beam correspondence state tracking becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the UE monitors blockage conditions and communicates the beam correspondence state back to the network. The network receives indications of the UE's beam correspondence state and adjusts downlink beamforming accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that manages the complexity of tracking deactivated antenna elements through coordinated feedback between UE and network
3Power
If all antenna elements remain active, then beamforming capability is maintained, but power consumption increases and blocked elements degrade performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes blocked antenna elements from the active beamforming set when blockage is detected. By deactivating specific antenna elements that are experiencing blockage conditions, the system eliminates the harmful effect of blocked elements on beamforming performance while reducing power consumption associated with operating all antenna elements continuously
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may determine a blockage condition associated with at least one antenna element of a plurality of antenna elements. The UE may deactivate a set of antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements based at least in part on the determination of the blockage condition, wherein the set of antenna elements includes the at least one antenna element. The UE may transmit, based at least in part on deactivating the set of antenna elements, an indication of a beam correspondence state. The UE may communicate using an activated set of antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements. Numerous other aspects are described.