Beam Sweeping for Terminal Device Location in 5G Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless telecommunications systems face challenges in accurately determining the geographical position of terminal devices in new radio access technology (NR) networks, which are expected to support a diverse range of devices with varying data traffic profiles and requirements, including high latency tolerance, high data rates, and large numbers of devices, especially in 5G or new radio access technology (NR) networks.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves using beam sweeping techniques where terminal devices receive a first radio signal from infrastructure equipment, determining the beam identity and transmission time, and reporting this information back to the infrastructure equipment via a second radio signal, allowing the infrastructure to accurately determine the terminal device's location within a predetermined geographical region, and further refining the position using round trip time and power level measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If beam sweeping techniques are used to determine terminal device location in NR networks, then positioning accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple overlapping beams and diverse device requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the positioning process into distinct phases: beam sweeping for initial location determination, round trip time measurement for distance calculation, and power level measurement for signal quality assessment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional beam-based positioning to three-dimensional positioning by incorporating round trip time measurements that provide distance information in addition to angular information from beam sweeping, enabling more precise spatial localization.
2Measurement precision
If multiple measurement techniques (beam identity, transmission time, round trip time, power level) are used to determine location, then positioning accuracy is improved, but the time required for location determination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs beam sweeping and beam identity determination as preliminary actions before conducting round trip time and power level measurements. This preliminary identification of the serving beam allows subsequent measurements to be focused on specific time and frequency resources, reducing overall measurement time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous positioning updates by maintaining ongoing beam sweeping and measurement processes, allowing the terminal device's location to be tracked continuously rather than through discrete periodic measurements, thus reducing the effective time between location determinations.
3Area of stationary object
If beam sweeping with multiple predetermined geographical regions is implemented, then coverage area is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring beam parameters increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the terminal device reports detected beam parameters (beam identity, transmission time, power level) back to the infrastructure equipment. This feedback loop enables the system to adapt beam sweeping patterns and measurement configurations based on actual detection conditions, simplifying the measurement process while maintaining wide coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes beam parameters such as direction, time of transmission, and frequency resources across different sweeping instances, allowing the infrastructure to cover wider areas while providing distinct, detectable signatures for each beam that simplify terminal device measurement and identification.
Data Source
AI summary
Infrastructure equipment for use with a wireless telecommunications system, the infrastructure equipment operable to transmit a first radio signal to a terminal device located within one of a plurality of predetermined geographical regions, wherein the value of one or more predetermined parameters indicative of the one of the plurality of predetermined geographical regions within which the terminal device is located is determinable by the terminal device on the basis of the first radio signal, each of the plurality of predetermined geographical regions being associated with a different respective value of the one or more predetermined parameters which is indicative of that predetermined geographical region.