Beam Grouping for 5G mmW Blockage Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Millimeter wave (mmW) bands in 5G NR communications are susceptible to rapid channel variations and blockage, leading to reliability issues due to high propagation loss and susceptibility to environmental changes, such as hand or body movements, which can cause selected beams to be blocked, increasing communication overhead.
Innovation Solution
The base station groups mmW beams for communication with user equipment (UE) to ensure independence and reduced correlation, minimizing joint blocking probability by selecting beams based on reliability metrics like RSRP correlation, AoA separation, and spatial correlation, allowing for macro-diversity and reduced susceptibility to blockage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple mmW beams are selected for communication to improve data rates and capacity, then the available bandwidth and data rate increase, but the susceptibility to blockage and propagation loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam selection process into multiple independent beam groups, where each group contains beams that are spatially separated and statistically independent. This segmentation ensures that if one beam is blocked, other beams in different groups remain available, thus resolving the contradiction between using multiple beams for high data rates and maintaining reliability against blockage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the selection parameters from purely signal strength-based metrics to include spatial correlation and statistical independence parameters. By considering angular separation and spatial correlation matrices, the system selects beams that are not only strong but also independently blocked, thereby maintaining both high data rates and reliability.
2Reliability
If beam selection is based solely on signal strength metrics like RSRP, then the strongest beams are selected for communication, but the joint blocking probability increases when multiple beams are used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spatial correlation matrices and angular separation metrics as intermediary parameters between the raw signal strength measurements and the final beam selection. These intermediary metrics evaluate the spatial relationship between beams and predict their blocking characteristics, allowing the system to select beams that are less likely to be blocked simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the base station receives beam measurement reports from the UE including RSRP, AoA, and spatial correlation information. This feedback allows the base station to iteratively refine beam selection by considering not just signal strength but also spatial independence, thereby reducing joint blocking probability while maintaining reliable communication.
3Productivity
If the base station transmits data via multiple selected beams to improve capacity, then the data rate increases, but the communication overhead increases due to beam management procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary beam grouping and correlation analysis during beam management procedures, establishing beam groups based on spatial correlation and independence metrics before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary action enables the system to pre-configure multiple independent beam groups, allowing faster beam switching and reduced overhead during dynamic beam selection for high-capacity transmission.
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques to improve reliability and robustness for millimeter wave (mmW) systems in fifth generation (5G) wireless communications technology (also referred to as new radio (NR)). Specifically, the present disclosure provides techniques to allow the base station to group a plurality of mmW beams for communication with the user equipment (UE) such that the selected beam(s) for communication are independent and uncorrelated. The selection of beams ensure macro-diversity in that the joint blocking probability of the selected beam(s) may be minimized and the susceptibility to blockage is reduced in comparison to the current systems.