Distributed Multi-Antenna Beam Management Through Partial Sweeping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Beam sweeping procedures in distributed multi-antenna systems for wireless networks cause excess latency, are resource exhaustive, and cumbersome, especially when performed with multiple access points.

Innovation Solution

Identify desirable beams from a subset of access points using location and angle data from previously swept beams, without performing sweeping procedures for all access points, by employing matrix calculations or least squares methods to estimate beam angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beam sweeping procedures are performed for multiple access points, then reliable beam selection is achieved, but latency increases and resource consumption grows

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam selection reliabilityVSAvoidbeam management latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs beam sweeping procedures only for a subset of access points (e.g., one or two nearest access points) in advance, rather than all access points. The UE receives beam indication information from these swept access points and uses it to communicate with other access points in the set, reducing the time required for complete beam management while maintaining reliability through pre-established beam knowledge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If beam sweeping procedures are performed for multiple access points, then complete beam information is obtained, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam information completenessVSAvoidbeam management resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs beam sweeping procedures for only a partial set of access points (a subset rather than all access points). The UE uses the beam indication information obtained from this partial sweeping to establish communications with other access points, consuming fewer resources while still achieving complete beam management coverage for all access points in the set.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If beam sweeping procedures are performed for all access points, then accurate beam angles are obtained, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam angle accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system obtains accurate beam angles through sweeping procedures for only a subset of access points in advance. The UE receives beam indication information containing these pre-measured angles and uses them for communications with other access points, reducing the signaling overhead that would otherwise be required to transmit beam angle information for all access points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250219710A1Beam management for distributed multi-antenna systems

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 APPLE INC

AI summary

A distributed multi-antenna system includes a first access point configured to emit first beams to a user equipment device. The first access point is also configured to receive, from the user equipment device, an indication of a first beam selected from the first beams via a beam sweeping procedure. The distributed multi-antenna system also includes a second access point configured to receive, from the user equipment device or the first access point, the indication. The second access point is also configured to emit a second beam of second beams corresponding to the second access point to transmit data to the user equipment device based on the indication and a location of the second access point.