Wireless Device Beam Management Active Monitored Sets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication networks using beamforming techniques face challenges in managing network and device beams efficiently, leading to suboptimal performance and limited mobility due to slow device beam selection processes.
Innovation Solution
A method for managing beam-formed communication by forming active and monitored sets of network and device beams based on signal strength, allowing for rapid and reliable switching between beam pairs to maintain optimal connections and support unrestricted mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If beamforming is implemented to enhance signal strength and reduce interference, then throughput and coverage are improved, but device complexity increases due to hardware requirements for analog beamforming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam management process into two distinct phases: beam determination (using persistent reference signals) and beam refinement (using dynamic reference signals). This segmentation allows the system to achieve high throughput through precise beamforming while reducing hardware complexity by using simpler analog beamforming for the determination phase and reserving complex digital beamforming only for the refinement phase when needed.
2Measurement precision
If persistent reference signals are transmitted repeatedly in many beam directions to enable beam selection, then beam selection accuracy is improved, but resource overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by transmitting persistent reference signals in a limited set of beam directions rather than all possible directions. The network node transmits these signals only in beams that are likely to be relevant based on previous measurements or network knowledge, thereby achieving sufficient beam selection accuracy while significantly reducing the resource overhead compared to exhaustive beam scanning.
3Stability of the object's composition
If device beam selection is performed slowly to maintain transparency to network operation, then network stability is maintained, but mobility performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the wireless device perform measurements and prepare beam selection candidates in advance using persistent reference signals. The device maintains a list of candidate beams and their measurements ready before network reconfiguration is needed. This allows rapid beam switching when mobility requires it, while the network remains stable and unaware of the detailed selection process until reconfiguration is actually triggered.
4Quantity of substance
If dedicated reference signals are transmitted only when data is present to provide detailed feedback, then resource efficiency is improved, but beam management continuity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by maintaining persistent reference signal transmissions at regular intervals even when no data is being transmitted. These continuous transmissions allow the wireless device to continuously update its beam measurements and maintain an current list of candidate beams. This ensures that when data transmission resumes, the beam management is already prepared and continuous, avoiding any disruption or need for re-establishment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient and rapid switching of beam pairs, improving wireless communication network performance by ensuring reliable connections and supporting unrestricted and robust mobility.
Implementation Method 1
beamforming means that a transmitter can amplify transmitted signals in selected directions, while weakening them in others. Analog beamforming in this context means that this can only be applied to one direction or a limited set of directions at a time by each transmitter/receiver.
Implementation Method 2
Each wireless device or User Equipment (UE) can measure these reference signals and report the measurement results to the network node.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a wireless device (10) for managing beam-formed communication in a wireless communication network (1), wherein the wireless device (10) is configured to handle separate directional device beams at the wireless device (10). The wireless device (10) forms an active set for a first device beam out of the separate directional device beams of the wireless device by selecting one or more first network beams out of a plurality of separate directional network beams of the wireless communication network (1). The one or more first network beams are selected based on received signal strength or quality, and the active set is to be used for transmission or reception of data. The wireless device selects a first network beam in the active set as a preferred network beam for transmission or reception of data. The wireless device further forms a monitored set for a second device beam out of the one or more separate directional device beams of the wireless device by selecting one or more second network beams out of the plurality of separate directional network beams of the wireless communication network (1). The one or more second network beams are selected based on received signal strength or quality, but are not to be currently used for the transmission or reception of data. The wireless device transmits to a network node (12) a first indication of the preferred network beam and the received signal strengths or qualities for the one or more first network beams in the formed active set for the first device beam of the wireless device, and a second indication indicating the one or more second network beams of the formed monitored set and the received signal strengths or qualities for the one or more second network beams in the formed monitored set for the second device beam of the wireless device.