Beamforming Beam Index Selection With Lower Reference Signal Overhead

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing beamforming, particularly in mmWave and FR2 regions, with high propagation loss and the need for improved beam management to maintain optimal transmission/reception links.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for setting beam indices based on spatial correlations, allowing a base station to transmit reference signals through selected beams, reducing overhead, and enabling UE to select candidate beams for communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If reference signals are transmitted through all beams, then complete beam coverage is achieved, but transmission overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam coverageVSAvoidreference signal overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by transmitting reference signals through only a subset of beams (first beam set) rather than all beams. The base station identifies a reduced set of beams that provide sufficient coverage and transmits reference signals only on these beams, thereby reducing overhead while maintaining acceptable beam coverage for UE selection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the complete beam set into multiple subsets (first beam set and second beam set). The first beam set is used for reference signal transmission and initial UE selection, while the second beam set can be used for other purposes. This segmentation allows selective reference signal transmission to reduce overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If beam indices are assigned without considering spatial correlation, then assignment is simple, but beam selection performance degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam index assignment simplicityVSAvoidbeam selection performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-arranging beam indices in ascending order based on spatial correlation before UE selection. The base station prepares the beam index sequence in advance, ordering beams according to their spatial correlation characteristics, so that UEs can efficiently select beams with good spatial separation and correlation properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter ordering of beam indices from arbitrary or simple sequential assignment to an ordering based on spatial correlation. By reorganizing beam indices according to spatial correlation parameters, the system improves beam selection performance while maintaining a systematic assignment approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4661309A1Method and device for supporting beamforming in wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4661309A1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP4661309A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4661309A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting high transmission rates. According to an embodiment disclosure herein, a base station in a wireless communication system: determines first beam indexes for a terminal; transmits information about the first beam indexes to the terminal; allocates wireless resources to a portion of the first beam indexes; transmits, to the terminal, information about the portion of beam indexes and information about the wireless resources allocated to the portion of beam indexes; and transmits, to the terminal, a first reference signal with which the terminal is to perform a measurement operation in consideration of the portion of beam indexes and the allocated wireless resources, wherein the first beam indexes may indicate the spatial correlation between beams corresponding to the first beam indexes.