Beam Sweep Pattern for Semi-Persistent Scheduling Activation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G new radio (NR), face challenges in achieving robust communication during semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) and configured grant (CG) activations due to the lack of beam sweeping support, which results in suboptimal performance and increased latency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a beam sweep pattern for SPS and CG activations, allowing for dynamic indication and multiplexing in the time, frequency, or spatial domain, enabling the use of multiple beam pairs for improved communication robustness on both uplink and downlink channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beam sweeping is not supported during SPS and CG activations, then device complexity is reduced, but communication robustness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication robustnessVSAvoidbeam management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring beam sweep patterns and beam pair links before SPS and CG activations. The network entity determines and indicates beam sweep patterns in advance, allowing the UE to prepare multiple beam pair links for potential use during periodic transmissions, thus improving communication robustness without adding complexity during actual data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If beam sweeping is implemented for SPS and CG activations, then communication robustness is improved, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication robustnessVSAvoidactivation latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the latency issue by performing beam sweep pattern configuration and beam pair link establishment in advance, before periodic SPS/CG transmissions begin. This preliminary setup ensures that multiple beam pairs are ready for immediate use, avoiding time-consuming beam selection during actual data transmission and thus maintaining low latency while improving robustness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple beam pair links are used, then communication robustness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication robustnessVSAvoidbeam management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the beam management process into distinct components: beam sweep pattern configuration, beam pair link establishment, and active beam selection. This segmentation allows the system to manage multiple beam pair links systematically, improving robustness through diversity while keeping device complexity manageable through structured organization of beam management tasks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universality by creating a multi-functional beam management framework that serves multiple purposes: the same beam sweep pattern mechanism is used for both initial beam establishment and for maintaining robustness during periodic transmissions. This universal approach allows the system to handle multiple beam pair links efficiently without requiring separate complex mechanisms for each function.

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

4Reliability

If beam alignment is performed dynamically, then communication robustness is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication robustnessVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by performing beam alignment dynamically in advance during the configuration phase, before periodic SPS/CG transmissions begin. Multiple beam pair links are pre-aligned and ready, enabling the system to maintain high data transmission efficiency during actual operations while still benefiting from dynamic beam alignment capabilities for improved robustness when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3984138B1Techniques for beam sweep based semi-persistent scheduling / configured grant activation
Publication Date: 2024.10.02 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3984138B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3984138B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3984138B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Aspects described herein relate to beam sweep based semi-persistent signaling (SPS) or configured grant (CG) activation. In one aspect, a network entity may determine a beam sweep pattern for at least one of a SPS based downlink periodic transmission, an uplink control transmission for the SPS based downlink periodic transmission, or a CG based uplink periodic transmission. The network entity may further transmit an indication including the beam sweep pattern to a user equipment (UE). In another aspect, a UE may receive a beam sweep pattern for at least one of a SPS based downlink periodic transmission, an uplink control transmission for the SPS based downlink periodic transmission, or a CG based uplink periodic transmission from a network entity.