Beam-Level Measurement for 5G Throughput Optimization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Future radio communication systems, such as 5G and NR, face challenges in maintaining communication throughput when using multiple beams and transmission reception points due to inadequate beam-level measurements.

Innovation Solution

A user terminal equipped with a receiving section and a measurement section that distinguishes between different beams using associations between predetermined signals, enabling beam-level measurements to optimize communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If beam-level measurements are not adequately implemented, then multiple beams and transmission reception points can be used, but communication throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of beams and transmission reception pointsVSAvoidcommunication throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional cell-level measurement mechanisms with beam-level measurement mechanisms. By measuring reference signals (CSI-RS, SRS) at the beam level rather than cell level, the system can identify and select optimal beams for communication, thereby maintaining throughput when using multiple beams and TRPs. This substitution enables fine-grained beam management without sacrificing communication performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If beam-level measurements are implemented, then communication throughput can be maintained with multiple beams, but measurement and detection difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication throughputVSAvoidbeam-level measurement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes existing reference signals (CSI-RS and SRS) serve dual purposes: their traditional channel quality assessment function plus a new beam identification and measurement function. By configuring these existing signals with beam-specific parameters (resource elements, ports, scrambling codes), the system enables beam-level measurements without requiring entirely new signal types, thus reducing measurement complexity while maintaining throughput.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables user terminals to autonomously perform beam-level measurements using configured reference signals. The terminal measures reference signal power and quality on different beam resources, automatically identifies optimal beams, and reports measurements to the base station. This self-service approach reduces network-side measurement complexity while maintaining throughput performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If associations between predetermined signals and beams are used, then beam distinction is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam distinction capabilityVSAvoiduser terminal structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces association relationships as intermediaries between reference signals and beams. By establishing predetermined mappings between reference signal resources (time-frequency resources, ports) and beam identifiers, the system enables beam distinction through signal measurements without requiring complex beam management structures in the terminal. The association tables act as intermediaries that simplify the terminal's beam identification process while maintaining precise beam distinction capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11678206B2Terminal, base station and radio communication method using a plurality of synchronization signal blocks

Publication Date: 2023.06.13 NTT DOCOMO INC

AI summary

The present invention is designed to reduce the decrease of communication throughput even when multiple beams and/or transmission reception points are used. A user terminal according to one aspect of the present invention has a receiving section that receives a predetermined signal, and a measurement section that distinguishes between different beams by using associations between the predetermined signal and beams, and performs beam-level measurement based on the predetermined signal.