Main Beam Direction Determination Using Candidate Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing techniques for determining the main beam direction in wireless communication, such as those used in IEEE 802.11ad, are inefficient and require excessive time, especially in situations where communication interruption is undesirable, like during gaming.

Innovation Solution

A main beam direction determining device and method that selects a smaller number of primary candidates as secondary candidates based on communication quality, and determines one of these secondary candidates as the main beam direction, thereby reducing the time required for determination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a full sector level sweep is performed to determine the main beam direction, then the accuracy of beam direction determination is improved, but the time required for determination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam direction determination accuracyVSAvoidtime required for beam direction determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the beam direction determination process into two phases: a coarse search phase that evaluates multiple primary candidates, and a refined search phase that focuses on selected secondary candidates. This segmentation allows the system to achieve accurate beam direction determination while reducing overall determination time by avoiding exhaustive evaluation of all possible directions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary evaluation of multiple primary candidates to identify promising secondary candidates before conducting the final beam direction determination. This preliminary action filters out poor candidates early, allowing the system to focus computational resources on fewer likely candidates, thereby reducing total determination time while maintaining accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If the number of primary candidates is reduced to shorten determination time, then the time required for determination is improved, but the accuracy of beam direction determination deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime required for beam direction determinationVSAvoidbeam direction determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary evaluation of multiple primary candidates using simplified metrics to identify promising secondary candidates. This preliminary action ensures that even though the final candidate set is smaller, the most promising directions are not missed, thereby maintaining determination accuracy while reducing overall time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the number of candidates evaluated at different stages of the determination process. Multiple primary candidates are evaluated initially, then the system dynamically transitions to evaluating fewer secondary candidates in detail. This dynamic approach optimizes the balance between speed and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If sector level sweep is performed frequently to maintain communication quality, then the communication quality is improved, but the interruption of communication increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidcommunication interruption time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary identification of promising beam directions using a reduced set of evaluations, allowing the system to maintain communication quality with less frequent full sweeps. This preliminary action enables the system to detect when beam direction adjustment is actually needed, reducing unnecessary interruptions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs partial sector level sweeps focusing only on selected secondary candidates rather than exhaustive evaluation of all directions. This partial action is sufficient to maintain communication quality in most cases, significantly reducing the time and interruptions associated with full sweeps while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3633875B1Main beam direction determination device, method of determining main beam direction, and program
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
  • EP3633875B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3633875B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3633875B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a main beam direction determining device, a main beam direction determining method, and a program which are able to shorten a time required to determine a main beam direction. A secondary candidate sector selection unit (160) selects a second number of primary candidates or a third number of primary candidates as a secondary candidate or candidates in accordance with a communication quality of communication by an HMD (12), the second number being smaller than a first number, the third number being smaller than the second number. A first sector level sweep process performing unit (154) determines one of the secondary candidate or candidates as the main beam direction.