Beamforming Indication for 5G Channel Estimation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G wireless communication systems, there is a need to specify and distinguish User Equipment (UE) behavior for identification and measurement in cases where synchronization signals are transmitted with or without beamforming, to avoid ambiguity and ensure accurate measurement and identification.

Innovation Solution

The network indicates beamforming information and combining or averaging information to the UE using broadcasting or dedicated signaling, such as RRC signaling, including frequency and time indices to specify which reference signals are beamformed or can be combined/averaged, allowing the UE to perform appropriate measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If beamforming is applied to synchronization signals, then directional coverage and signal strength are improved, but ambiguity in UE behavior for identification and measurement occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal strengthVSAvoidambiguity in UE behavior

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces beamforming indication information as an intermediary element that mediates between the beamformed synchronization signal transmission and the UE's measurement behavior. This indication information, transmitted via broadcasting or dedicated signaling, explicitly tells the UE whether to combine or average reference signals, thereby resolving the behavioral ambiguity while maintaining the signal strength benefits of beamforming

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If multiple reference signals are transmitted for channel estimation, then measurement accuracy is improved, but complexity in specifying UE behavior increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidUE behavior specification complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of reference signal transmission by introducing beamforming indication information that specifies whether multiple reference signals should be combined or averaged. This parameter change allows the system to transmit multiple reference signals for improved measurement precision while simplifying UE behavior specification through clear directional indicators

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If beamforming information is indicated to UE, then measurement and identification accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveidentification accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the beamforming indication information multi-functional by using the same indication mechanism for both identification and measurement purposes. This universal approach improves both identification accuracy and measurement precision while minimizing signaling overhead, as the same information serves multiple functions rather than requiring separate indications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3972150A1Channel estimation using a plurality of beamformed reference signals

Publication Date: 2022.03.23 INTEL CORP

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for a network to indicate beamforming information to user equipment (UE) for identification and measurement of reference signals. For example, a network may indicate whether all the reference signals are beamformed or not, or which reference signals are using the same transmission beamforming on the time domain, the frequency domain, or both time and frequency domains. In other embodiments, a network may indicate combining or averaging information to a UE.