Beamforming Training for 60 GHz Link Range and Collision Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication systems in the 60 GHz frequency range face significant free space path loss and require effective beam alignment for efficient data transmission, while also needing to reduce collision probability during the association phase.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a communication device with beamforming circuitry that controls antenna circuitry to perform beamforming training using directive beams, allowing for increased antenna gain and long-range association, and exploiting spatial beam separation to reduce collision probability through double directive beamforming during the association phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If beamforming training is performed using directive beams to increase antenna gain, then association range is extended, but collision probability among STAs during association phase increases
Solution Approach 1:
The association phase is divided into multiple slots, with each slot dedicated to a specific directional beam. STAs associate in an organized sequence across different time slots rather than simultaneously, which reduces collisions while maintaining extended association range through directional beamforming.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs beamforming training and beam alignment before actual data transmission. By pre-establishing directional beams and aligning them during the association phase, the system extends association range while the structured timing prevents collisions during the training process.
2Ease of operation
If the number of antenna elements per PAA is increased to improve directivity, then beam width decreases, but beam alignment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam alignment process is segmented into systematic steps including sector-level sweeping and beam-level sweeping. This breaks down the complex alignment task into manageable stages, making it easier to implement high-directivity beams with multiple antenna elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic beam sweeping through sector-level and beam-level training sequences. This structured periodic approach systematically explores different beam directions, simplifying the alignment process while maintaining high directivity from multiple antenna elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device (1) for RF-based communication with another communication device (2) comprises an antenna circuitry (10) configured to transmit and receive RF signals and beamforming circuitry (11) configured to perform beamforming and to control the antenna circuitry in a beamforming training phase to transmit and/or receive RF signals using one or more selected directive beams. The beamforming circuitry (11) is configured to perform beamforming training by controlling the antenna circuitryi) to transmit data using at least one first directive transmit beam, wherein the other communication device (2) is configured to listen using a first directive receive beam, said data including a second transmit beam information, andii) to subsequently listen using a predetermined second directive receive beam for a response from the other communication device (2), which is configured to transmit, if the data transmitted in step i) have been received, a response using a second directive transmit beam indicated by the second transmit beam information.