Beam Switching Reset States for Wireless Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently switching between beam pairs due to synchronization and confirmation issues, leading to potential beam misalignment and time-consuming recovery processes, especially in multi-beam implementations like mmW communication.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves transmitting beam switch messages (BSMs) with reset state indicators to manage beam switching, allowing devices to disregard or maintain previous instructions based on acknowledgment receipt, and switching between beam sets without explicit response messages, thereby reducing signaling errors and recovery time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beam switching uses explicit acknowledgment messages to confirm successful switching, then reliability of beam switching is improved, but signaling overhead and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam switching confirmationVSAvoidrecovery time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the acknowledgment function from a separate explicit message and integrates it into the existing data transmission framework. By using data packets that can carry beam confirmation information implicitly, the system eliminates dedicated acknowledgment signaling, thereby reducing signaling overhead and time consumption while maintaining reliability through the embedded confirmation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service beam switching confirmation where the receiving device automatically processes beam switching information embedded in incoming data packets without requiring separate acknowledgment exchanges. The confirmation is derived from the successful reception and processing of data packets containing beam identification information, making the system self-confirming and reducing external signaling requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If beam switching messages include detailed instructions for beam pair switching, then switching accuracy is improved, but message complexity and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam switching accuracyVSAvoidmessage structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes data packets multi-functional by enabling them to simultaneously carry user data and beam switching confirmation information. The same data packet structure is used for both data transmission and beam state verification, eliminating the need for separate complex control messages and reducing overall message complexity while maintaining switching accuracy.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges beam switching control information with regular data transmission packets. By combining what were previously separate functions (data carrying and beam confirmation) into a single integrated message structure, the system reduces message complexity and processing overhead while preserving the accuracy of beam switching through the embedded confirmation data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the system waits for explicit acknowledgment before switching beams, then synchronization between devices is improved, but beam switching speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice synchronizationVSAvoidbeam switching speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary beam switching by allowing devices to switch beams based on pre-configured information and timing advance mechanisms. The receiving device prepares to switch beams in advance based on predicted switching times embedded in previous data packets, eliminating the need to wait for explicit acknowledgments and thereby increasing switching speed while maintaining synchronization through pre-coordinated timing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system skips the traditional wait-for-acknowledgment step by using timing advance and predicted switching mechanisms. Devices rush through the beam switching process by executing switches based on pre-negotiated parameters and timing information, rather than pausing for explicit confirmation exchanges, thereby significantly increasing beam switching speed while maintaining synchronization through advance coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentEP3513504B1Beam switching with reset states
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3513504B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3513504B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP3513504B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Apparatuses and methods of beam switching are presented. A first beam switch message (BSM) is transmitted to a second device, the first BSM including a first instruction for switching beams. A reset state is selected from a plurality of reset states including a first state for the second device to disregard the first instruction and a second state for the second device to maintain execution of the first instruction. A second BSM is transmitted to the second device before the second device completes execution of the first instruction. The second BSM includes a second instruction for switching beams and indicating which reset state is selected.