Beam Switching Feedback for Consistent UE-Network Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile communication systems, the lack of feedback on beam switching by user equipment (UE) to the network side device leads to different beams being used by both parties, affecting data transmission rate and potentially causing wireless link failure due to incorrect demodulation.

Innovation Solution

The UE notifies the network side device about the success of beam switching, ensuring both parties communicate using the same switched beam by providing a beam switching result.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the UE switches the serving beam without notifying the network side device, then the beam switching speed is improved, but the reliability of communication deteriorates due to beam inconsistency between UE and network side device

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam switching speedVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the UE sends beam switching result information to the network side device after switching beams. This feedback allows the network side device to confirm whether the UE has successfully switched to the target beam, ensuring both parties use the same beam for communication. The feedback resolves the reliability issue while maintaining fast switching by using efficient indication methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the UE sends detailed beam switching confirmation messages, then the communication reliability is improved, but the signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam switching reliabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential beam switching result information (success or failure indication) from detailed confirmation messages. By sending only the necessary beam switching result indicator rather than comprehensive details, the solution maintains communication reliability while significantly reducing signaling overhead between the UE and network side device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If the network side device continuously monitors beam switching status, then the beam switching accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam switching detection accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the UE autonomously determines and reports its own beam switching status to the network side device. This eliminates the need for the network side device to continuously monitor and detect beam switching, reducing device complexity while maintaining accurate beam switching detection through the UE's self-reported status information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4723772A1Beam switching method, communication apparatus, and computer readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 ZTE CORP
  • EP4723772A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4723772A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4723772A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a beam switching method, a communication apparatus, and a computer readable storage medium. The beam switching method comprises: receiving a beam switching instruction of a second node, wherein the beam switching instruction is used for instructing a first node to switch a serving beam used for communication to a target beam; in response to the beam switching instruction, switching the serving beam; and sending a beam switching result to the second node, wherein the beam switching result is used for indicating whether the serving beam of the first node is successfully switched.