Beam Update Grouping Across Component Carriers via DCI

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently updating beam information across multiple component carriers, leading to increased signaling overhead and latency.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves using downlink control information (DCI) to signal a common beam update across multiple component carriers, reducing latency and overhead by activating beam information via DCI-based mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If beam update is performed per component carrier individually, then beam update accuracy is maintained, but update time increases and latency is high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam update accuracyVSAvoidupdate time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines beam update operations across multiple component carriers into a single group-based update process. Instead of updating beams individually for each component carrier, the network device groups multiple component carriers and performs unified beam updates, thereby reducing overall update time and latency while maintaining adequate beam accuracy through representative reference signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary beam update actions by performing beam updates for grouped component carriers in advance rather than waiting for individual updates. The network device proactively updates beams for multiple component carriers simultaneously using predetermined grouping criteria, reducing the time required when beam updates are actually needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If beam update is performed for all component carriers simultaneously, then update speed increases, but device complexity and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate speedVSAvoidprocessing overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments component carriers into distinct groups based on specific criteria such as service types, QoS requirements, or channel characteristics. This segmentation allows the system to perform beam updates on manageable subsets of component carriers rather than all carriers simultaneously, reducing processing overhead while still achieving faster updates compared to individual carrier processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by updating beams for selected groups of component carriers based on priority, urgency, or specific conditions rather than uniformly updating all component carriers. This approach achieves sufficient update speed for critical carriers while avoiding unnecessary processing overhead for less critical carriers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of time

If beam update latency is reduced through grouping, then responsiveness improves, but beam update accuracy may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam update latencyVSAvoidbeam update accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different update strategies to different groups of component carriers based on their specific requirements. High-accuracy requirements are maintained for carriers where precision is critical, while latency-sensitive carriers receive faster updates. This local differentiation allows the system to optimize for either accuracy or speed depending on the specific component carrier group, rather than applying a uniform approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key parameters such as group size, update frequency, and reference signal configuration based on the specific requirements of different component carrier groups. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system can achieve low latency for time-sensitive applications while maintaining adequate accuracy through appropriate parameter selection for each group's characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4078879B1Fast beam update in a group of component carriers via downlink control information
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4078879B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4078879B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4078879B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for updating beam information across a plurality of component carriers (CCs) via downlink control information (DCI). An exemplary method, performed by a user equipment (UE), generally includes receiving, from a network entity, a downlink control information (DCI) for an update for at least of a beam or path loss (PL) reference signal (RS) activation and applying the update across at least one of a group of component carriers (CCs) or bandwidth parts (BWPs) within the group of CCs.