Common Analog Beam Steering Across Band Groups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Determining how to effectively utilize multiple carriers and wireless communication technologies together in a wireless device in a complementary manner is a complex task, and existing systems struggle with efficient beam management and configuration, particularly in scenarios where independent beam steering capabilities are limited.
Innovation Solution
Implementing common analog beam steering for band groups, where a wireless device reports its beam steering capabilities to a cellular network, allowing the network to configure a common beam for multiple component carriers within a frequency band group, thereby avoiding scenarios where the device is improperly configured and reducing beam configuration signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If independent beam steering is configured for multiple component carriers, then beam management flexibility is improved, but device complexity and capability requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments frequency bands into different band groups (e.g., first band group, second band group) and applies different beam steering configurations to each group. This allows independent beam steering to be applied selectively only where needed, rather than universally across all component carriers, thereby maintaining flexibility while reducing overall complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a universal beam group association rule that can be applied across multiple band groups and carrier aggregation scenarios. This universal framework allows the system to handle both independent and common beam steering cases through a single standardized mechanism, simplifying device implementation while maintaining adaptability
2Loss of information
If common beam is configured for multiple component carriers, then signaling overhead is reduced, but beam management precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different beam configuration strategies to different local contexts: band groups with similar frequency characteristics receive common beam configurations (reducing overhead), while band groups requiring precise individual control can have independent beam steering enabled. This local differentiation optimizes the trade-off between signaling overhead and precision for each specific scenario
3Reliability
If independent beam steering capability is required for all band combinations, then beam steering performance is improved, but device capability requirements and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic band group association, where the grouping of frequency bands can be adjusted based on device capabilities, network configuration, and operational conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt beam steering requirements to actual device hardware capabilities, ensuring reliable performance where possible while avoiding unnecessary complexity requirements
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for a wireless device and a cellular base station to support common analog beam steering for band groups. The wireless device may provide an indication of analog beam steering capability of the wireless device to the cellular base station. For example, the wireless device may support a limited number of analog beams for each of one or more band groups. The cellular base station may select beam configuration information for the wireless device based at least in part on the indication of analog beam steering capability of the wireless device. This may include selecting a common beam for multiple component carriers for the wireless device based on the wireless device's analog beam steering capability. The cellular base station may provide the beam configuration information to the wireless device.