Beam Refinement in Random Access for mmWave Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in initial access procedures, particularly in millimeter wave (mmW) systems, due to the use of low beamforming gain beams for random access responses, leading to unreliable receptions and increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of beam refinement techniques during random access procedures, where a base station monitors modified random access requests using different beamforming parameters to determine a refined beam for subsequent transmissions, including the random access response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If low beamforming gain beams are used for random access responses in mmW systems, then the coverage area is extended, but the reception reliability deteriorates and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs beam refinement by monitoring modified random access requests using different beamforming parameters before transmitting the random access response. This preliminary beam refinement action enables the base station to identify a refined beam with higher beamforming gain, ensuring reliable reception of the random access response while maintaining extended coverage area.
2Area of stationary object
If low beamforming gain beams are used for random access responses, then the coverage area is extended, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs beam refinement by monitoring modified random access requests using different beamforming parameters before transmitting the random access response. This preliminary beam refinement action enables the base station to identify a refined beam with higher beamforming gain, reducing the power required for random access response transmission while maintaining extended coverage area.
3Reliability
If beam refinement techniques are implemented during random access procedures, then reception reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station utilizes the uplink modified random access requests already transmitted by the UE to perform beam refinement for downlink random access response transmission. This self-service approach allows the base station to improve reception reliability without requiring additional dedicated beam training signals or procedures, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described in which a base station and a user equipment (UE) may perform beam refinement within a random access procedure. A UE may transmit a random access request to the base station and, in response thereto, the base station may transmit a control channel order to the UE that indicates to transmit a modified random access request. Resources for the modified random access request may be determined based on the random access request, the control channel order, configured resources, or combinations thereof. The base station may monitor for the modified random access request using different beamforming parameters and determine a refined beam for a subsequent transmission in the random access procedure. The base station may use the refined beam to transmit a random access response to the UE, and complete the access procedure.