5G Beam Management via Motion Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G NR systems operating at high frequencies, the narrow beamwidth of tracking beams leads to connectivity issues for highly mobile user equipment (UE) as they may move out of the coverage area before completing measurements, and configuring a large number of fixed beams increases overhead.
Innovation Solution
An access node receives motion information from the UE, predicts its location, and configures multiple tracking beams with adjustable parameters such as beamwidth, beamforming gain, periodicity, and number to ensure coverage, adapting these configurations based on updated motion information to maintain connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large number of fixed tracking beams are configured to guarantee coverage of highly mobile UE, then coverage reliability is improved, but system overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from fixed tracking beam configurations to dynamic beam configurations that adapt to UE motion. The access node receives motion information from the UE, predicts future positions, and continuously adjusts beam parameters (direction, width, timing) to track the moving UE, thereby maintaining coverage reliability without requiring a large number of static beams
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action through motion-based prediction. The access node receives motion information from the UE, predicts the UE's future position and trajectory, and proactively configures tracking beams in advance to cover the predicted area. This allows the system to maintain reliable coverage for highly mobile UE without needing to configure numerous fixed beams across all possible locations
2Measurement precision
If tracking beams have narrow beamwidth to improve measurement precision, then beam directionality is improved, but coverage area decreases causing connectivity loss for mobile UE
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making beam parameters adjustable rather than fixed. The access node dynamically modifies beamwidth, beamforming gain, periodicity, and other parameters based on received motion information from the UE. This allows the system to maintain narrow beamwidth for measurement precision when needed while expanding coverage through predictive tracking of mobile UE
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by allowing the access node to adjust multiple beam parameters including beamwidth, beamforming gain, periodicity, and timing based on UE motion characteristics. This enables the system to optimize the trade-off between measurement precision and coverage area dynamically, rather than being constrained to fixed parameter settings
3Ease of operation
If tracking beams are configured with fixed parameters to simplify system operation, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to mobile UE decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the system to automatically adapt to UE mobility without manual intervention. The access node receives motion information from the UE, autonomously predicts future positions, and automatically adjusts beam configurations accordingly. This maintains ease of operation while achieving high adaptability to mobile UE through automated beam management
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating an access node includes receiving motion information from a user equipment (UE) in accordance with a communications beam, determining a predicted area of the UE in accordance with the motion information, configuring multiple tracking beams in accordance with the predicted area of the UE, and sending the multiple tracking beams.