Beam Selection in Wireless Systems Reducing Initial Access Delay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems using the Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) band face increased propagation losses, reducing service coverage area and requiring efficient beamforming techniques to enhance transmission efficiency and reduce initial access delays.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for selecting optimal transmit and receive beam patterns in a beamformed wireless communication system, involving direction finding signals and random access signals to align beams efficiently, reducing the number of beam patterns used during initial access, and utilizing a controller and transmitter to determine candidate beam patterns based on received signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If beamforming technique is used to expand service coverage area and lengthen propagation distance, then transmission efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to requirement of multiple beam patterns and selection mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary beam training by transmitting reference signals through multiple beam patterns before actual data transmission. The mobile station measures these signals and reports back the best beam pattern, so that the optimal beam configuration is established in advance, eliminating the need for complex real-time beam selection during data transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
A beam training protocol acts as an intermediary mechanism between the base station and mobile station. This protocol includes uplink beam training where the mobile station transmits training signals through different beam patterns, and downlink beam training where the base station transmits reference signals, enabling indirect beam pattern selection without requiring complex direct coordination.
2Productivity
If multiple beam patterns are tested during initial access to achieve optimal transmission efficiency, then transmission efficiency is improved, but initial access delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam training process is segmented into uplink beam training and downlink beam training phases. During uplink beam training, the mobile station transmits training signals through different beam patterns in separate time intervals. The base station measures the received signal quality for each beam pattern and identifies the best one, reducing the overall time required compared to exhaustive testing of all beam patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of testing all possible beam patterns, the system tests a subset of beam patterns that are most likely to provide optimal performance. The mobile station transmits training signals through a limited number of beam patterns, and the base station selects the best one from this subset, achieving satisfactory transmission efficiency with reduced initial access delay.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus and a method for reducing delay during beam alignment in a beamformed wireless communication system are provided. A method for selecting a beam pattern in a Base Station (BS) includes determining whether a direction finding signal is received through each time interval of a direction finding channel, transmitting information of whether the direction finding signal is received with respect to each time interval of the direction finding channel, changing a receive beam pattern and receiving a random access signal from a Mobile Station (MS) with at least one transmit beam pattern over a random access channel, and selecting one of transmit beam patterns of the MS and one of receive beam patterns of the BS according to the random access signal.