Beam Sweeping for Wireless Control and Data Transmissions
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, especially in 5G and NR technologies, beamforming training procedures become sub-optimal due to mobility and other factors, leading to increased overhead in re-training processes, which can be inefficient and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
Implementing beam sweeping techniques where wireless communication devices cycle through different transmit and receive beams between beamforming training procedures, using separate counters for data and control transmissions to maintain optimality and reduce re-training overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beamforming training procedures are performed frequently to maintain optimal beam alignment, then communication reliability is improved, but system overhead and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic beam sweeping between beamforming training procedures, where devices cycle through sequences of transmit and receive beams at regular intervals. This periodic action maintains beam alignment adaptability without requiring continuous re-training, thus improving reliability while controlling overhead through controlled periodicity rather than constant re-training.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary beam sweeping actions between training procedures to proactively maintain beam alignment. By sweeping through beam sequences in advance and detecting potential misalignment before it degrades communication, the system prevents reliability issues without waiting for re-training triggers, reducing the frequency and overhead of full re-training procedures.
2Productivity
If beam sweeping is implemented to maintain optimal beam alignment, then communication efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments beam management into distinct phases: beamforming training procedures for initial alignment and beam sweeping sequences for maintenance. By dividing the beam management process into these separable segments with clear boundaries and procedures, the system maintains communication efficiency while reducing overall complexity through modular organization rather than monolithic beam management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beam sweeping where devices adaptively cycle through transmit and receive beam sequences based on communication conditions. The beam sweeping parameters such as sequence length, sweeping interval, and beam selection are dynamically adjusted based on feedback and channel conditions, allowing the system to maintain efficiency while managing complexity through adaptive rather than static configurations.
3Measurement precision
If separate counters are used for data and control transmissions, then transmission accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam selection process by implementing separate counters for data transmissions and control transmissions. This segmentation allows independent tracking and management of beam indices for different transmission types, improving transmission accuracy by ensuring appropriate beam selection for each category while managing complexity through organized separation rather than unified management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses separate counters that essentially create copied tracking mechanisms for different transmission types. Instead of one complex counter managing all transmissions, the system creates simplified counter copies specifically for data and control transmissions, improving precision for each type while reducing the complexity of any single counter through specialization.
Data Source
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AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for beam sweeping for control and data transmissions. In certain aspects, the method for use by a first wireless communications device includes determining one or more beams in a sequence of beams for use in sending or receiving directional transmissions to a second wireless communications device and sweeping through the one or more beams in the sequence of beams for transmissions to or from the second wireless communications device between beamforming training procedures performed with the second wireless communications device.