Beam Management in Multi-Module Devices Using Segmented Search

Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G wireless communication systems, beam management in multi-module devices faces challenges such as high latency and power consumption due to the need to search through numerous beams to find the best combination of active antenna modules, especially when multiple modules are activated simultaneously, which affects signal quality and system performance.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves determining a set of active antenna modules by pruning candidates based on physical folding state and blockage information, and using low-latency, low-power strategies to select the best initial beam, including iterative beam searches within the coverage area of previous best beams to maximize spherical coverage and minimize redundancy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beam search is performed on all antenna modules to find the best beam combination, then beam quality and signal reliability are improved, but latency and power consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal reliabilityVSAvoidbeam search latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the beam search process into two distinct phases: a first beam search that searches across all antenna modules to identify candidate modules, and a second beam search that is restricted to only those candidate modules. This segmentation reduces the overall search space and latency while maintaining signal reliability by ensuring that the best beam is found through a systematic two-stage process rather than a single exhaustive search.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first beam search serves as a preliminary action that identifies candidate antenna modules before the second, more focused beam search is performed. By performing this preliminary identification step first, the system narrows down the search space for the subsequent beam search, reducing latency while ensuring that the candidate modules include the optimal antenna module for achieving the best beam quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If beam search is performed on all antenna modules to ensure comprehensive coverage, then beam quality is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam qualityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the beam search process into two distinct phases: a first beam search that searches across all antenna modules to identify candidate modules, and a second beam search that is restricted to only those candidate modules. This segmentation reduces the overall search space and latency while maintaining signal reliability by ensuring that the best beam is found through a systematic two-stage process rather than a single exhaustive search.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by performing the exhaustive beam search across all antenna modules only once to identify candidate modules, and then performing a restricted beam search on a subset of those candidates for subsequent beam quality optimization. This partial re-search approach consumes significantly less power than performing a complete exhaustive search repeatedly, while still ensuring beam quality is optimized through the candidate module evaluation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Area of stationary object

If multiple antenna modules are activated simultaneously to improve spherical coverage, then coverage area is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespherical coverageVSAvoidbeam management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the beam search process into two distinct phases: a first beam search that searches across all antenna modules to identify candidate modules, and a second beam search that is restricted to only those candidate modules. This segmentation reduces the overall search space and latency while maintaining signal reliability by ensuring that the best beam is found through a systematic two-stage process rather than a single exhaustive search.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first beam search serves as a preliminary action that identifies candidate antenna modules before the second, more focused beam search is performed. By performing this preliminary identification step first, the system narrows down the search space for the subsequent beam search, reducing latency while ensuring that the candidate modules include the optimal antenna module for achieving the best beam quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11569892B2Method and apparatus for beam management in multi-module devices

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

An electronic device and methods for performing low-latency, low-power beam management are disclosed herein. An electronic device for performing low-latency, low-power beam management comprises a plurality of antenna modules and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a number of active antenna modules to include in a set of active antenna modules, and select the set of active antenna modules, from among the plurality of antenna modules, based on a spherical coverage of the set of active antenna modules and based on information on blockage states of the plurality of antenna modules.