UE-Initiated Beam Reporting With Uplink Resource Type Signaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing UE-initiated beam management systems face challenges in efficiently reporting beam information due to uncertainties in the number of beams to be reported, leading to increased complexity and resource management difficulties for the network.

Innovation Solution

The system determines the uplink resource type based on the number of beams to be reported, using pre-configured associations between resource types and beam counts, allowing for clear communication of the number of beams through the first uplink control channel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the UE reports beam information without indicating the number of beams, then the beam reporting can be initiated, but the network faces increased complexity in resource management and decoding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam reporting initiationVSAvoidnetwork resource management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary indicator (the number of beams to be reported) that mediates between the UE's beam reporting and the network's resource management. This indicator acts as a bridge that provides the network with necessary information to allocate resources efficiently, resolving the complexity issue while maintaining ease of beam reporting initiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE indicate the number of beams to be reported before actually transmitting the beam reporting information. This advance indication allows the network to prepare and allocate appropriate resources in advance, reducing decoding complexity and improving resource management efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the UE indicates the number of beams to be reported, then the network can accurately allocate resources, but the uplink control channel requires additional information transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation accuracyVSAvoiduplink control channel information volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by indicating only the essential information (number of beams) in the uplink control channel, rather than transmitting complete beam reporting data. This partial indication is sufficient for the network to allocate resources accurately without requiring excessive control channel information volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the network performs blind detection for beam reports, then it can decode reports without prior information, but the detection effort and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoding flexibilityVSAvoidblind detection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by providing the network with the number of beams to be reported before the actual beam report transmission. This preliminary information eliminates the need for time-consuming blind detection, as the network can now anticipate and prepare for the incoming report with known parameters, significantly reducing detection time while maintaining decoding flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4687305A1User equipment-initiated beam management
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4687305A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4687305A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4687305A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a solution of User Equipment-Initiated Beam Management (UEIBM). A method comprises transmitting, to a second apparatus via an uplink control channel, an indication associated with an uplink resource type to be used by the first apparatus for a beam report in a further uplink channel subsequent to the uplink control channel; and transmitting, to the second apparatus, the beam report by using the further uplink channel with uplink resources of the uplink resource type.