Beam Quality Measurement Signal Scheduling for 5G Mobility

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Solution Overview

Problem

In high UE density scenarios, especially with wide beams and high mobility, the continuous transmission of beam quality reference signals in 5G networks leads to inefficient resource usage, increased interference, and higher energy consumption due to the activation of a large number of beam quality reference signals from multiple access points.

Innovation Solution

A method is proposed to schedule common beam quality measurement signals for overlapping candidate beams, reducing duplicate transmissions and optimizing resource allocation by identifying overlaps in time and space, allowing multiple devices to share the same signal sequences, and using a coordination unit to manage these shared resources efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If continuous transmission of beam quality reference signals is performed in all individual transmission beams, then wireless device measurements are convenient and comprehensive, but network resources are consumed, interference is generated, and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam quality measurement coverageVSAvoidaccess point energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic transmission of beam quality reference signals only in candidate beams where mobility measurements are needed, rather than continuous transmission in all beams. The network determines measurement needs based on UE location and mobility indicators, activating reference signals periodically only when and where required, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different transmission strategies for different beams based on local conditions. Reference signals are transmitted only in candidate beams (local area where mobility is needed) rather than all beams simultaneously. The network determines which beams require measurements based on UE position and mobility indicators, creating localized measurement coverage that reduces overall energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If beam quality reference signals are transmitted in all candidate beams for mobility measurements, then measurement coverage is improved, but resource usage increases and interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility measurement coverageVSAvoidinterference in neighbouring cells
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses periodic transmission of reference signals only in candidate beams where mobility measurements are actually needed, rather than continuous transmission in all beams. This reduces the total number of reference signal transmissions, thereby reducing interference in neighboring cells while maintaining adequate measurement coverage for mobility management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transmits reference signals only in local candidate beams identified through UE location and mobility indicator analysis, rather than globally in all beams. This localized approach reduces the spatial footprint of reference signal transmission, minimizing interference to neighboring cells while maintaining measurement coverage where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Measurement precision

If UE-specific beam quality measurement signals are activated in all candidate beams, then measurement accuracy for each device is improved, but resource usage and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice-specific measurement accuracyVSAvoidsignal scheduling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables multiple UEs to share common beam quality reference signals in overlapping candidate beams. Instead of dedicating separate reference signals to each UE, the system identifies overlapping measurement needs and schedules common reference signals that serve multiple UEs simultaneously, reducing overall resource usage and scheduling complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges reference signal transmissions for multiple UEs when their candidate beams overlap in time and space. By combining multiple UE-specific measurement requirements into common reference signal transmissions, the system reduces the total number of signals needed, simplifies scheduling complexity, and reduces resource consumption while maintaining the necessary measurement precision for each UE.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3433945B1Efficient scheduling of beam quality measurement signals to multiple wireless devices
Publication Date: 2019.10.16 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3433945B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3433945B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3433945B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The disclosure relates to methods, devices, and computer programs in mobile communications. More specifically, the proposed technique relates to beam quality reference signals transmitted by the network for use by wireless devices to measure the quality of neighbor cells or beams for mobility purposes. In particular the disclosure relates to a method, performed in a wireless communication system for scheduling beam quality measurement signals to be transmitted from one or more access points (20) to a plurality of wireless devices (10). The method comprises obtaining S1, for each of the plurality of wireless devices (10), information defining time periods when the transmission of beam quality measurement signals from the one or more access points (20) to the plurality of wireless devices (10) is to be performed and obtaining S2, for each of the plurality of wireless devices (10), candidate beams (40) for transmission of beam quality measurement signals from the one or more access points to the wireless device. The proposed methods further comprises scheduling S5 common beam quality measurement signals, usable by at least two of the plurality of wireless devices (10), are scheduled during overlaps of the obtained time periods, in at least two of the obtained candidate beams that are at least partly overlapping, and providing S6 information about the scheduled beam quality measurement signals to the access points (20) and/or wireless devices (10).