Beam Determination with Common States for NR Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the NR system, different channels use independent beam indication methods, leading to increased complexity and signaling overhead when multiple channels share the same beam direction, such as PDCCH and PDSCH, or uplink and downlink channels with beam reciprocity.
Innovation Solution
A common beam state is introduced to indicate that at least two channels and/or reference signals use the same beam, determined by user equipment (UE) or network device, reducing complexity and overhead through shared beam indication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If independent beam indication is used for each channel, then beam direction accuracy is improved, but system complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges beam indication for multiple channels by introducing a common beam state that can be shared across PDCCH, PDSCH, PUCCH, and PUSCH channels. Instead of independently indicating beams for each channel, the system uses a unified beam state mechanism that reduces the number of separate beam indications required, thereby lowering system complexity while maintaining accurate beam direction through the common state representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The common beam state serves multiple functions simultaneously: it indicates beam directions for downlink channels (PDCCH, PDSCH), uplink channels (PUCCH, PUSCH), and can be activated/deactivated based on service requirements. This multi-functional beam state mechanism eliminates the need for separate beam indication systems for different channel types, reducing overall system complexity while preserving precise beam control.
2Measurement precision
If independent beam indication is used for each channel, then beam direction accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines beam indication signaling for multiple channels into a common beam state representation. By using a single set of beam indicators that can apply to multiple channels simultaneously, the system reduces the total number of signaling messages required compared to independent beam indication for each channel, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining accurate beam direction information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary beam state configuration and activation before actual channel transmission. By pre-establishing common beam states and their associations with multiple channels, the system avoids the need for repeated beam indication signaling for each channel, thereby reducing ongoing signaling overhead while ensuring accurate beam direction is maintained throughout transmission.
3Device complexity
If common beam state is used for multiple channels, then system complexity is reduced, but beam direction flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beam state management where common beam states can be activated or deactivated based on service requirements. The system can switch between using common beam states for multiple channels and independent beam indication for specific channels, providing flexibility in beam direction control while maintaining reduced system complexity through the common state mechanism. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize between complexity reduction and flexibility based on real-time needs.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a beam determination apparatus, a UE and a network device. A beam determination method performed by the UE includes: determining, by the UE, whether a common beam state is a valid state; and in case that the common beam state is the valid state, determining, by the UE, that at least two channels and/or reference signals of the UE use the same beam for transmission.