Generalized Beam Management Framework for Interference Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beam management in 5G New Radio (NR) systems does not effectively account for interference, leading to suboptimal beam steering and increased blockage effects in mmWave communications, particularly in integrated access and backhaul networks where cross-link interference is prevalent.
Innovation Solution
A generalized beam management framework that includes additional resource settings and report settings to measure and mitigate interference by incorporating channel state information-interference measurement (CSI-IM) and non-zero power-channel state information-reference signal (NZP-CSI-RS) resources, allowing for adaptive beam tuning based on interference hypotheses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current beam management procedure using L1-RSRP measurements is used, then beam steering is simple to implement, but interference is not accounted for leading to suboptimal beam selection
Solution Approach 1:
The beam management procedure is segmented into multiple independent measurement components: L1-RSRP measurements for signal strength assessment and L1-SINR measurements for interference assessment. This segmentation allows the system to evaluate both signal quality and interference levels separately, leading to more reliable beam selection without overwhelming complexity in any single measurement process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary measurement mechanism (L1-SINR measurements on CSI-IM resources) that acts as a mediator between the transmitted beam and the received signal. This intermediary provides explicit interference information that helps the UE make informed beam selection decisions, bridging the gap between simple RSRP measurements and the need for interference-aware beam management.
2Reliability
If receiver beamforming is used to overcome blockage effects, then communication reliability improves, but the system becomes more sensitive to interference from multiple directions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the UE measures L1-SINR on CSI-IM resources and reports beam quality information back to the gNB. This feedback loop provides real-time interference information that allows the system to adaptively select beams that not only overcome blockage but also minimize interference exposure. The gNB uses this feedback to adjust beam selection and configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam management system becomes dynamic by continuously measuring L1-SINR and adapting beam selection based on changing interference conditions. Instead of static beam configuration, the system dynamically adjusts beam choices in response to measured interference levels, allowing it to maintain reliability while adapting to time-varying interference environments.
3Measurement precision
If additional resource settings and report settings are added to measure interference, then beam management accuracy improves, but signaling overhead and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The CSI-IM resources are designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: they enable L1-SINR measurements for interference assessment, support beam management decisions, and provide a unified framework that can be reused across different scenarios. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated resources for each measurement type, thereby controlling signaling overhead while maintaining measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the technology described herein are directed towards a generalized beam management framework in which beam management takes into account interference to steer a beam. Aspects comprise configuring a report request comprising a resource setting with channel state information-reference signal resource data and an associated report setting with parameter data corresponding to the one or more channel state information-reference signal resources. The report request is configured to instruct a user equipment device to include interference information when performing user equipment device beam management and reporting. Upon receiving the report request, the user equipment performs a beam measurement operation that includes interference information when generating the beam management report sent to the network device.