Beam Processing Method for 5G Base Stations

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 5G wireless communication technologies face challenges in distinguishing beams at high frequency subframes, leading to interference issues and inability to meet 5G design goals for throughput and delay reduction.

Innovation Solution

A beam processing method that divides high frequency subframes into independent fields for reference and synchronization signals, control signals, and data transmission, using staggered time and frequency symbol positions and sequences based on beam IDs to reduce interference and enable multi-user multi-stream operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high frequency subframe structure is used to increase throughput and reduce delay, then 5G performance targets are improved, but terminals cannot distinguish beams leading to interference issues

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidbeam distinction capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the high frequency subframe structure into independent fields including reference signal fields, synchronization signal fields, control signal fields, and data transmission fields. Each field is assigned specific time-frequency resources and can be independently processed with beam-specific parameters, enabling terminals to distinguish different beams while maintaining high throughput performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by configuring different beam-specific parameters for different signal fields within the subframe. Reference signals, synchronization signals, and control channels can have different beam IDs, time-frequency positions, and sequence parameters tailored to their specific functions, allowing terminals to identify and select appropriate beams for each type of signal

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If beam IDs are introduced for multi-antenna transmission to enable beam distinction, then beam identification capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam identification capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal beam ID mechanism that can be applied across multiple signal types (reference signals, synchronization signals, control channels) and multiple antenna ports. The same beam ID configuration framework serves multiple functions: beam identification, interference management, and resource allocation, reducing overall system complexity despite the added capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent manages complexity by systematically varying key parameters including beam IDs, time-frequency symbol positions, and sequence parameters (such as Zadoff-Chu root indices) across different beams and signal fields. These parameter changes enable beam distinction while following standardized patterns that simplify implementation and configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If reference signals and synchronization signals are transmitted in high frequency bands with multiple beams, then multi-user multi-stream capability is improved, but interference between beams increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-user multi-stream capabilityVSAvoidbeam interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments time-frequency resources into distinct fields for different signal types, with each field assigned to specific beams. By separating reference signals, synchronization signals, and data transmissions into different time-frequency slots with beam-specific configurations, the patent reduces inter-beam interference while enabling multi-user multi-stream operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harmful effect of beam interference into a beneficial structure by using beam-specific time-frequency resource allocation. The interference that would occur in unstructured multi-beam transmission is transformed into a manageable resource allocation problem, where beam IDs and staggered positions are used to orthogonalize beam transmissions and turn interference into usable signal separation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentEP3389319B1Beam processing method and base station
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 ZTE CORP
  • EP3389319B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2(b)
  • EP3389319B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3389319B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed are a beam processing method, an initial beam discovery method, a base station, and a terminal. At a base station side, different beams of different transceiver links are processed to obtain a beam cell ID; and a synchronizing signal and a reference signal are generated by utilizing the beam cell ID, synchronizing signals or reference signals of different beams being staggered in position over a time frequency resource. The reference signals and synchronizing signals of different beams are staggered over a time frequency domain resource, thus avoiding mutual interference between beam scanning or multi-beam simultaneous transmitting. At a terminal side, the terminal measures the synchronizing signals and reference signals of different beams respectively, and compares the synchronizing signals and the reference signals with preset corresponding thresholds, and if the signals meet all threshold requirements, it is regarded that a physical cell ID and a beam ID can be identified by the terminal. In embodiments of the present invention, the terminal can identify different beams of different transceiver links simultaneously, and different beams can transmit different data streams, so conditions needing to be satisfied by pairing of multi-user multiple input multiple output UEs are reduced.