Beamforming Control Channel Resource Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication systems using the mmWave band face significant propagation loss, leading to reduced coverage and efficiency in transmitting and receiving control channels, which existing technologies fail to adequately address through conventional beamforming methods.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for operating Uplink (UL) and Downlink (DL) control channels by determining and utilizing the best Base Station (BS) transmit/receive beams to map control channel regions, enhancing beamforming-based communication systems by optimizing channel allocation and resource management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If beamforming is applied to control channels in mmWave-band wireless communication, then transmission distance and coverage are improved, but device complexity and resource allocation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage rangeVSAvoidbeam management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the control channel resource pool into multiple beam-specific resource pools, where each pool corresponds to a specific transmit beam. This segmentation allows the system to manage beams independently, reducing the overall complexity by breaking down the large-scale beam management problem into smaller, more manageable subsets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs beam management and resource allocation in advance by pre-configuring beam-specific resource pools and determining optimal beams before control channel transmission. This preliminary action reduces real-time complexity by avoiding dynamic beam selection during transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-generated harmful factors

If beamforming is applied to control channels, then signal directivity and interference reduction are improved, but resource allocation complexity and system overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal interferenceVSAvoidresource allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control channel resources into beam-specific pools, where each pool is dedicated to a specific transmit beam. This segmentation reduces interference by isolating beams in separate resource pools while simplifying resource allocation by providing clear, pre-defined resource assignments for each beam, thereby reducing the complexity of managing beam-specific resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If conventional isotropic transmission is used for control channels, then system simplicity is maintained, but transmission efficiency and coverage in mmWave band deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidbeamforming implementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides control channel resources into beam-specific segments, enabling efficient use of beamforming by directing resources along specific spatial paths. This segmentation improves transmission efficiency in mmWave band by utilizing the directional nature of beamforming while managing complexity through structured resource organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transmission parameter from isotropic (omnidirectional) to beamformed (directional) by introducing beam-specific resource pools and adjusting resource allocation based on beam characteristics. This parameter change improves transmission efficiency by matching the directional nature of mmWave propagation while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic resource organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3468057B1Method and apparatus for operating control channels for beamforming-based wireless communication
Publication Date: 2021.07.14 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3468057B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3468057B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP3468057B1 patent drawingFigure 5a

AI summary

Provided is a method and apparatus for operating a control channel in a beamforming-based wireless communication system. The provided method includes acquiring information indicating a best Base Station (BS) receive beam for Uplink (UL) communication; determining a control channel region for UL control channels in a UL interval considering the best BS receive beam, the control channel region being a predetermined region that is mapped to the best BS receive beam; and exchanging information about the control channel between a BS and a Mobile Station (MS) through the control channel region.