Multi-Antenna Beam Grouping for Faster FR3 Beam Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of achieving twenty times higher cell capacity and transmission rate in 6G wireless communication systems compared to 5G NR is hindered by path and penetration losses in the FR3 frequency band, leading to beam alignment delays, increased energy consumption, and interference, particularly with extreme massive MIMO (emMIMO) systems.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves grouping multiple antenna elements into beam groups, allocating subchannels for each group, and performing parallel beam management to minimize interference and energy consumption, enabling efficient beam tracking and synchronization signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a very large number of antenna elements are applied in emMIMO, then beamforming gain increases to overcome path loss, but the transmitted beam becomes very sharp/narrow reducing beam alignment probability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large antenna array into multiple subarrays, where each subarray forms a wider beam. Multiple subarrays are configured to transmit the same synchronization signal block, creating multiple wider beams that increase the probability of beam alignment while maintaining beamforming gain through coordinated transmission.
2Productivity
If narrow beams are used to achieve high beamforming gain, then transmission capacity increases, but beam sweeping time and alignment delays increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the antenna array into multiple subarrays that each transmit wider beams, the patent reduces the time required for beam sweeping and alignment. Multiple subarrays can transmit simultaneously, parallelizing the beam search process and reducing overall alignment delay while maintaining high transmission capacity.
3Productivity
If multiple beam groups transmit synchronization signal blocks in the same frequency region, then resource utilization increases, but interference between beams occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna array into multiple subarrays that are spatially separated. Each subarray transmits synchronization signal blocks in the same frequency region, but the spatial separation reduces interference between beams while maintaining high resource utilization through frequency reuse.
4Productivity
If beam groups are configured to transmit in the same frequency region, then spectral efficiency improves, but power consumption increases due to simultaneous transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent configures different subarrays to transmit synchronization signal blocks in different time periods within the same frequency region. This periodic transmission approach improves spectral efficiency through frequency reuse while reducing power consumption by avoiding simultaneous transmission from all subarrays.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally relates to wireless communication systems, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for multi-antenna based beamforming in wireless communication systems. A method for operating a terminal in a wireless communication system may include: receiving synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) transmitted from multiple beam groups in a common frequency region; selecting an optimal beam group based on measuring signal strength of the SSBs; receiving reference signals based on a subchannel allocated to the optimal beam group; and performing beam tracking based on the reference signals.