High-Frequency Beam Synchronization in Dead Zones

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Solution Overview

Problem

High frequency communication systems face issues with signal attenuation and misalignment, leading to communication dead zones due to weak signal reception, which disrupts continuous communication and requires switching to lower frequency with poor service quality.

Innovation Solution

A method for high frequency communication that involves sending a synchronization indication signal with user equipment information to re-synchronize on a second beam pair with the strongest reference signal received power, allowing for quick re-synchronization and maintaining high frequency data communication even in dead zones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If beamforming technology is used for high frequency communication, then communication speed and data rate are improved, but communication dead zones appear due to signal attenuation and beam misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidcommunication continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary beam measurement and evaluation before communication dead zones occur. The network side device obtains measurement reports from the terminal device about multiple beam pairs and their reference signal received powers, and pre-configures synchronization resources and indication signals so that when signal quality degrades, the terminal can quickly switch to an alternative beam pair without interruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts beam selection based on real-time channel conditions. The terminal device continuously measures reference signal received power of multiple beam pairs and reports to the network side device. When the current beam pair's signal quality falls below a threshold, the system dynamically switches to a pre-identified alternative beam pair with better signal quality, maintaining communication continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the system switches to low frequency communication when dead zones occur, then communication continuity is maintained, but service quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication continuityVSAvoidservice quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of changing frequency bands, the system changes beam parameters (beam pair selection) to maintain high frequency communication. The network side device configures multiple beam pairs with different spatial directions, and the terminal device selects the optimal beam pair based on reference signal received power measurements, thereby maintaining both communication continuity and high service quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If the terminal device searches and compares all beams to find the best beam pair, then beam alignment accuracy is improved, but synchronization time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam alignment accuracyVSAvoidsynchronization time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial beam searching by configuring a limited set of candidate beam pairs instead of exhaustively searching all possible beams. The network side device configures multiple beam pairs with different spatial directions, and the terminal device measures and reports reference signal received power for these pre-configured beams, achieving good beam alignment accuracy with reduced synchronization time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The network side device pre-configures multiple beam pairs and their corresponding synchronization resources before communication begins. The terminal device can quickly select from these pre-configured options based on real-time measurements, avoiding the need for exhaustive beam searching during actual communication establishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3211934B1Signal synchronization method and device for high-frequency communication
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3211934B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3211934B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3211934B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a signal synchronization method and apparatus for high frequency communication, and pertain to the field of wireless communications technologies. The method includes: performing, on a first beam pair, high frequency data communication with user equipment; if it is determined that the user equipment enters a dead zone state, sending a synchronization indication signal to the user equipment, where the synchronization indication signal includes at least quick synchronization indication information and user equipment information, and the user equipment information includes user ID information, beam ID information of a beam pair, and cell ID information; sending, on a specified high frequency resource, a synchronization signal to the user equipment; and if synchronization confirmation information of the user equipment is received, performing, on a second beam pair, the high frequency data communication with the user equipment according to second beam pair information in the synchronization confirmation information. In the present invention, high frequency data communication is implemented by quickly performing re-synchronization in a dead zone state. Therefore, communication service quality is relatively high.