Beam Determination in Wireless Communications

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Solution Overview

Problem

In beamformed wireless communications, existing techniques face challenges in reliably determining transmission beams, leading to inefficiencies and errors in wireless communication systems, particularly when beamforming parameters mismatch between base stations and user equipment, resulting in lost transmissions and reduced network efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The described techniques involve a base station transmitting multiple repetitions of control information, allowing user equipment to identify beamforming parameters for scheduled transmissions, with scheduling thresholds and explicit indications to ensure accurate beam determination, even after the threshold time, using quasi-co-located beams and predefined beams to minimize ambiguity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple repetitions of control information are transmitted using different downlink transmission beams, then the reliability of control information reception is improved, but the complexity of beam determination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol information reception reliabilityVSAvoidbeam determination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station transmits multiple repetitions of control information in advance using different downlink transmission beams before the scheduled transmission time. This preliminary action ensures that the UE can determine the appropriate receive beam before the actual data transmission, resolving the contradiction by preparing beam configurations ahead of time rather than requiring complex real-time beam determination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control information is copied and transmitted multiple times through different downlink transmission beams. Each repetition contains the same scheduling information but is transmitted via a different beam, allowing the UE to receive at least one copy through the appropriate beam without requiring complex beam switching or determination during the transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If the UE has sufficient time to adjust beamforming parameters before scheduled transmission, then the accuracy of beam alignment is improved, but the scheduling flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam alignment accuracyVSAvoidscheduling flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control information repetitions are transmitted at different times before the scheduled transmission, allowing the UE to determine beamforming parameters with sufficient advance notice while still enabling flexible scheduling. The earliest repetition provides maximum lead time for beam adjustment, while later repetitions maintain scheduling flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the timing and beam configuration of control information repetitions based on UE capabilities and channel conditions. The base station can configure different numbers of repetitions and timing offsets adaptively, allowing the UE to have sufficient time for beamforming parameter adjustment while maintaining scheduling flexibility through dynamic configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of time

If control information is transmitted after the scheduling threshold, then the latency is reduced, but the beam determination reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling latencyVSAvoidbeam determination reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple control information repetitions are transmitted in advance before the scheduling threshold, ensuring that the UE has sufficient time to determine beamforming parameters reliably. By transmitting repetitions earlier rather than pushing all transmissions after the threshold, the system maintains both low latency and high reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides a time cushion by transmitting control information repetitions before the scheduling threshold, creating a buffer that ensures the UE can reliably determine beamforming parameters even if some repetitions are missed or experience delays. This beforehand cushioning prevents beam determination failures while still achieving low latency through optimized repetition timing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS11032842B2Beam determination techniques in beamformed wireless communications

Publication Date: 2021.06.08 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described that provide beam determination in beamformed wireless communications. A base station may transmit multiple repetitions of control information for a subsequent scheduled transmission. A user equipment (UE) may receive one of the multiple repetitions, determine the control information, and adjust beamforming parameters for the scheduled transmission. The UE may have a scheduling threshold that corresponds to a time needed for the UE to adjust beamforming parameters for the scheduled transmission, and the UE may identify the beamforming parameters for the scheduled transmission from any one of the multiple repetitions of control information, which may be transmitted using different downlink transmission beams, before or after the scheduling threshold, or combinations thereof.