Beam Switching via Candidate Beam Reference Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
In beam-forming cellular communication systems, sudden drops in signal power due to shadowing can lead to connection loss before there is enough time to perform a beam switch, resulting in radio link failures.
Innovation Solution
The method involves identifying candidate beams, reserving uplink resources on these beams, and allowing the wireless communication device to report measurement results on a target beam, enabling a swift beam switch or handover without relying on the serving beam, thus preventing connection loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If reference signals are transmitted continuously in all beams, then measurement accuracy for beam switch decisions is improved, but power consumption increases and hardware resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having the wireless communication device send uplink signals that indicate beam switch needs before actual beam switching occurs. The network node then activates reference signals only on specific candidate beams at this preliminary stage, rather than continuously in all beams, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining measurement accuracy when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Reference signals are transmitted periodically or on-demand rather than continuously. The network node activates reference signals on candidate beams only when triggered by uplink signals from the device indicating a beam switch is needed, creating a periodic or event-driven transmission pattern that reduces overall power consumption while maintaining measurement capability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If beam switch decision is delayed to ensure reliable communication, then connection stability is improved, but response time to signal quality drops worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for beam switching in advance by having the network node identify and prepare candidate beams before actual beam switching is needed. When signal quality drops occur, the pre-prepared candidate beams and their reference signals can be activated immediately, reducing response time while maintaining connection stability through proactive preparation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless communication device monitors downlink signal quality and provides feedback to the network node through uplink signals. This feedback mechanism enables the network node to detect beam switch needs promptly and activate reference signals on candidate beams quickly, improving response time while maintaining connection stability through continuous monitoring and rapid response.
3Use of energy by moving object
If only a subset of candidate beams transmit reference signals, then power consumption is reduced, but measurement coverage for beam switch decisions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs preliminary identification of candidate beams based on device location, historical data, and current channel conditions. This preliminary selection ensures that the subset of beams transmitting reference signals are the most relevant ones, maintaining measurement coverage for beam switch decisions while reducing power consumption by limiting transmissions to only those candidate beams.
Solution Approach 2:
Reference signals are transmitted with local quality optimization - the network node selects specific candidate beams based on local conditions such as device location, signal strength, and interference levels. This localized approach ensures that reference signals are transmitted only where needed for accurate beam switch decisions, maintaining measurement coverage while reducing overall power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for a network node of a cellular communication network is disclosed. The network node and at least some other network nodes of the cellular communication network are each adapted to support a plurality of beams of a signal beam-forming scheme and to communicate with a wireless communication device using at least one of the plurality of beams.The method comprises identifying one or more candidate beams, causing transmission of a reference signal on each of the candidate beams, causing reservation of an uplink resource of at least one of the candidate beams (wherein the uplink resources are for conveying a report from the wireless communication device, and wherein the report is indicative of a result of measurements of the reference signals), and causing the communication with the wireless communication device to use a target beam (wherein one of the candidate beams is selected as the target beam based on the conveyed report).A corresponding method for a wireless communication device is also disclosed, as well as a computer program product, respective arrangements for a network node and a wireless communication device, a network node and a wireless communication device.