Beam Management Orientation Refinement for Rotating 5G UEs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beam management procedures in 5G NR technology face challenges with fast-rotating user equipment (UE), leading to outdated beam measurements and increased computational complexity, which limits support for low-latency communications.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves determining the orientation of the UE at two different time instances, calculating a difference metric to assess the rotation, and refining the Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) values based on this rotation, allowing for more accurate beam alignment and reduced computational complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beam management procedures are performed using standard 5G NR technology, then beam measurements can be obtained, but the measurements become outdated for fast-rotating user equipment, reducing reliability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam measurement accuracyVSAvoidbeam measurement latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining the user equipment's orientation at a first time instance before the actual beam measurement is taken. This pre-determined orientation information is then used to refine the beam measurement, compensating for the time delay between measurement and processing. The orientation determination occurs in advance, allowing the system to predict and correct for rotational movements that would otherwise render measurements outdated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using the determined orientation information to refine the beam measurement. The system measures the orientation of the user equipment, compares it with the measurement data, and adjusts the beam measurement accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that even for fast-rotating devices, the final beam measurement accurately reflects the current spatial relationship between transmitter and receiver.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If standard beam management procedures are used, then processing can be simplified, but computational complexity increases for fast-rotating user equipment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam management complexityVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the orientation determination function as a separate, independent measurement from the main beam management procedure. By isolating the orientation measurement (which can be performed using device sensors like gyroscopes or accelerometers) from the complex signal processing required for beam measurement, the system reduces overall computational complexity. This extracted orientation data is then used as a correction factor, simplifying the main beam management algorithm while maintaining accuracy for rotating devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If RSRP values are processed without considering UE rotation, then processing speed is maintained, but beam alignment accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam alignment accuracyVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter set used in RSRP processing by incorporating orientation information as an additional parameter. Instead of processing only the raw RSRP values, the system transforms the processing to include orientation data, creating a refined RSRP value that accounts for device rotation. This parameter change enables the system to maintain processing efficiency while significantly improving beam alignment accuracy for rotating user equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4564700A1Beam management
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4564700A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4564700A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4564700A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is herein disclosed an apparatus comprising means for determining a first orientation of the apparatus at a first time instance. The apparatus further comprise means for receiving, at substantially the first time instance, a reference signal from a network node and means for determining a reference signal received power, RSRP, value of the reference signal. The apparatus further comprise means for determining a second orientation of the apparatus at a second time instance and the second time instance is later than the first time instance. The apparatus further comprise means for determining a difference metric between the first orientation and second orientation and means for, upon determining that the difference metric is greater than a predetermined threshold value, processing the RSRP value, based on the difference metric, to provide a refined RSRP value.