Multi-Panel Beam Management in 5G User Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing and measuring beams to achieve high data rates and mobility, particularly in supporting diverse services with varying requirements such as enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine type communications, and ultra-reliable and low latency communications.
Innovation Solution
The system includes a user equipment (UE) and a base station (BS) that transmit and receive multiple groups of beams through reference signals, with the UE measuring and selecting optimal transmit and receive beams based on configuration information and reporting back to the BS, enabling flexible beam management and selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple groups of transmit beams are transmitted through reference signals from different antenna panels, then beamforming gain and capacity are improved, but device complexity and beam management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam management process into distinct phases: initial beam sweeping to establish connectivity, followed by beam measurement and reporting where the UE measures reference signals from multiple antenna panels and reports beam quality metrics back to the gNB. This segmentation allows complex multi-panel beam management to be handled in manageable steps, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high data rates through coordinated beamforming across multiple panels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary beam sweeping and measurement actions before actual data transmission begins. The gNB performs initial beam sweeping to identify suitable beams, and the UE performs beam measurement on reference signals before reporting beam quality. These preliminary actions establish the beam configuration in advance, enabling efficient high-rate data transmission without requiring complex real-time beam management during actual communication.
2Measurement precision
If beam measurement and reporting is performed for multiple antenna panels, then beam selection accuracy is improved, but measurement time and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the beam measurement and reporting processes into a coordinated procedure where the UE measures reference signals from multiple antenna panels simultaneously or in a predetermined sequence, and combines the measurement results into a single beam quality report. This merging approach maintains high measurement accuracy across multiple panels while reducing the total time required compared to separate measurement and reporting phases for each panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial beam measurement where the UE measures reference signals from multiple antenna panels but reports only the most relevant beam quality information (e.g., top N beams or beams exceeding a threshold). This partial reporting approach maintains sufficient measurement precision for effective beam selection while significantly reducing signaling overhead and management time compared to reporting all measured beam parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of user equipment (UE) for beam management in a wireless communication system comprises receiving, from a base station (BS), at least two groups of Tx beams comprising transmit (Tx) signals generated from different antenna panels, the at least two groups of Tx beams transmitted through reference signals; receiving, from the BS, configuration information including a selection constraint for the at least two groups of Tx beams; measuring, based on the configuration information, at least one beam from each of the at least two groups of beams; selecting at least one Tx beam from each of the at least two groups and a same Rx beam set as an Rx beam corresponding to respective selected Tx beams; and transmitting, to the BS, a reporting message including information of the selected Tx beams and the selected same Rx beam set corresponding to the Rx beam.