Beam Selection Using Linear Combinations to Reduce Training Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beam selection methods in wireless communication, particularly in 5G and MIMO systems, face inefficiencies due to high time and signaling overhead, especially with large antenna arrays, which impairs system capacity and increases interference.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining a set of linear combinations of transmission and reception beams, reducing the number of beams to be tested during beam sweeping, using techniques like Grassmannian coding and discrete Fourier transform beams, to minimize overhead while maintaining performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If beam sweeping is implemented with a large number of antenna elements, then beam selection accuracy is improved, but training overhead and time allocation increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam selection process into two distinct phases: a training phase where the base station transmits a reduced set of representative beams to identify candidate directions, and a measurement phase where the actual beam selection is performed using linear combinations of the identified candidates. This segmentation allows the system to avoid exhaustive beam sweeping while maintaining selection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by transmitting only a subset of beams during the training phase rather than all possible beams. The base station transmits a reduced number of beams that span the antenna space, which is sufficient to identify candidate beam directions without requiring complete beam coverage, thereby reducing training overhead.
2Measurement precision
If beam sweeping is implemented with a large number of antenna elements, then beam selection accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for beam selection by identifying a small set of candidate beams during training, rather than transmitting and processing information about all possible beams. The system extracts the key directional information from the reduced beam set and uses linear combinations to represent the full beam space, significantly reducing signaling requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by signaling only the indices of candidate beams identified during training, rather than transmitting complete beam configuration information for all beams. The base station signals a reduced set of beam indices that capture the essential spatial information, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining beam selection accuracy.
3Productivity
If a reduced number of transmission beams is used, then training overhead is reduced, but beam selection performance may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing a training phase that identifies candidate beam directions before the actual beam selection. During this preliminary training phase, the base station transmits a reduced set of beams to map the antenna space and identify promising candidate directions, which are then used as the basis for final beam selection through linear combinations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by using linear combinations of candidate beams rather than individual beams. This parameter transformation allows the system to represent the full beam space using a reduced set of basis beams, maintaining beam selection performance while reducing training overhead through efficient parameter encoding.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for a system comprising a transmitter apparatus and a receiver apparatus. The transmitter apparatus is configured to transmit signals to the receiver apparatus using an available transmission beam. The receiver apparatus is configured to receive the signals using an available reception beam. The method comprises the transmitter apparatus determining a collection of linear combinations of transmission beams and a collection of linear combinations of reception beams, providing an indication of the collection of linear combinations of reception beams to the receiver apparatus and transmitting each of the linear combinations of transmission beams of the collection of linear combinations of transmission beams. The method also comprises the receiver apparatus acquiring the indication of the collection of linear combinations of reception beams from the transmitter apparatus, receiving each of the linear combinations of transmission beams of the collection of linear combinations of transmission beams using each of the linear combinations of reception beams of the collection of linear combinations of reception beams, and performing beam selection measurements on the received linear combinations of transmission beams for selection of the transmission beam from the plurality of available transmission beams and for selection of the reception beam from the plurality of available reception beams. Methods for each of the transmitter apparatus and the receiver apparatus are also disclosed, as well as corresponding apparatuses, network node, wireless communication device, system and computer program product.