Beam Management via Polarization Multiplexing in OFDM Symbols
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beam management techniques in communications networks, especially at high frequency bands, face challenges in maintaining optimal link budget due to frequent beam switching and high overhead signaling, particularly in analog beamforming systems where terminal devices can only sweep through candidate beams sequentially, leading to sub-optimal performance and increased overhead.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transmitting more than one occurrence of a reference signal within a single OFDM symbol, with one occurrence for each of two polarizations in each directional transmit beam, allowing for simultaneous evaluation of multiple directional transmit and receive beams, reducing the need for sequential sweeps and thereby decreasing overhead signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sequential beam sweeping is used in analog beamforming systems, then beam selection can be performed, but overhead signaling increases and performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension by transmitting multiple polarizations (e.g., horizontal and vertical) within a single OFDM symbol. This allows the system to evaluate multiple beams simultaneously across different polarization dimensions rather than sequentially in time, thereby reducing overhead signaling while maintaining measurement precision for beam selection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple beam measurements that would traditionally occur in separate time slots into a single OFDM symbol by utilizing different polarizations. This combining approach allows simultaneous evaluation of multiple directional transmit and receive beams, reducing the total time required for beam sweeping while maintaining accurate beam selection
2Loss of time
If multiple polarizations are transmitted in a single OFDM symbol, then overhead signaling is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single OFDM symbol multi-functional by enabling it to carry multiple polarization transmissions simultaneously. This universal approach allows the same time resource to serve multiple beam measurement purposes, reducing overhead signaling time while the complexity is managed through efficient resource utilization rather than additional dedicated resources
3Power
If narrow beams are used for high-gain beamforming, then link budget is improved, but blocking sensitivity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements rapid beam measurement and selection feedback by reducing the overhead signaling time through polarization multiplexing. This enables faster detection of blocking conditions and quicker switching to alternative beams, maintaining reliable connection despite the use of narrow, high-gain beams that are more sensitive to blocking
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided mechanisms for a beam management procedure in a communications network. A method is performed by a first radio transceiver device. The method comprises transmitting, in at least one directional transmit beam, a reference signal to a second radio transceiver device as part of the beam management procedure. More than one occurrence of the reference signal is transmitted within one single OFDM symbol. One occurrence for each of two polarizations of the reference signal is transmitted in each of the at least one directional transmit beam within the one single OFDM symbol.