Beam Finding Procedure for Wireless Transceivers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless radio transceiver devices face challenges in efficiently finding optimal beams for signal quality, particularly with analog beamforming, which requires significant overhead signaling and degrades network performance during beam evaluation.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that allow wireless radio transceiver devices to receive transmission resources using a first beam and transmit an indicator to switch to a second transmission format for evaluating candidate beams, enabling efficient reception and improving link budget without substantial overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If beam finding procedures using beam reference signals are performed to evaluate candidate beams, then signal quality can be improved, but network performance degrades due to overhead signaling

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal quality evaluationVSAvoidnetwork performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the beam evaluation function from dedicated beam reference signals and implements it within existing data transmission resources. By taking out the separate beam finding procedure and integrating it into regular data transmissions, the overhead signaling is eliminated while maintaining beam quality evaluation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes existing data transmission resources serve multiple functions: both data transmission and beam quality evaluation. By configuring certain resource elements within data transmissions to carry beam reference information, the same transmission resources perform dual purposes, eliminating the need for separate beam finding signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If analog beamforming is used to reduce cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the ability to determine optimal beams deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidbeam evaluation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables analog beamforming systems to self-evaluate beam quality by incorporating reference signals within their own data transmissions. The system serves its own beam finding needs using its existing transmission resources, eliminating the need for external or separate evaluation mechanisms that would add complexity or cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent prepares beam evaluation capabilities in advance by configuring specific resource elements within the data transmission structure to carry beam reference information. This preliminary configuration allows the analog beamforming system to perform evaluation without requiring additional real-time resources or complex post-processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If beam reference signals are transmitted separately to enable beam finding, then beam evaluation accuracy improves, but transmission efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam evaluation accuracyVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges beam reference signals with data transmission resources by configuring specific resource elements within the data transmission structure to carry beam reference information. This combination ensures that beam evaluation and data transmission occur simultaneously using the same resources, improving transmission efficiency while maintaining evaluation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3516783B1Beam finding procedure
Publication Date: 2020.06.24 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3516783B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP3516783B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3516783B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

There is provided mechanisms for receiving transmission resources using beams. A method is performed by a wireless radio transceiver device. The method comprises receiving, using a first beam, a current transmission resource from an access node using a first transmission format. The method comprises transmitting an indicator to the access node to use a second transmission format for a later transmission resource to be transmitted to the wireless radio transceiver device. The method comprises receiving the later transmission resource at least partly using a candidate beam, where the candidate beam is different from the first beam.