Bandwidth Part Switching for Non-Terrestrial Network Beam Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing bandwidth parts (BWP) associated with beams, particularly in non-terrestrial networks where rapid beam switching is required, leading to potential connectivity issues and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method and apparatus that allow user equipment (UE) and wireless communication devices to receive and transmit BWP configurations, enabling switching between different BWPs based on the configuration, with the ability to indicate whether the switch is intra-beam or inter-beam, facilitating efficient BWP switching and robust configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bandwidth part switching is implemented in non-terrestrial networks, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements BWP switching by changing frequency domain parameters (bandwidth parts) and associating them with different beams. The UE receives BWP configurations that include frequency location, bandwidth size, and cyclic prefix length parameters, and switches between BWPs based on beam switching requirements, thereby improving communication reliability in non-terrestrial networks without requiring fundamental system architecture changes
Solution Approach 2:
The BWP configuration mechanism serves multiple functions: it manages frequency resources, controls beam switching, adapts to different service requirements (e.g., enhanced mobile broadband, ultra-reliable low-latency communication), and maintains backward compatibility with existing LTE/NR systems. This multi-functionality approach improves reliability while keeping device complexity manageable through a unified configuration framework
2Productivity
If rapid beam switching is performed, then productivity is improved, but loss of time increases due to connectivity issues and latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple BWPs and their associated beam relationships before switching is needed. The network provides BWP configurations in advance through RRC signaling, including frequency domain resources, time domain resources, and beam associations. When beam switching is required, the UE can rapidly switch to the pre-configured target BWP without waiting for new configuration parameters, thereby reducing latency while maintaining high throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the UE monitors beam quality metrics (e.g., reference signal received power, reference signal received quality) and reports to the network. Based on this feedback, the network optimizes BWP switching decisions and beam associations, ensuring that rapid beam switching maintains connectivity and minimizes latency while maximizing throughput in non-terrestrial network environments
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment may receive a bandwidth part configuration that indicates one or more bandwidth parts associated with at least one beam and switch, based at least in part on the bandwidth part configuration, from a first bandwidth part of the one or more bandwidth parts as an active bandwidth part to a second bandwidth part of the one or more bandwidth parts as the active bandwidth part. Numerous other aspects are provided.