Downlink Control Signaling for Optimal Beam Reception

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Solution Overview

Problem

In high-frequency communication systems, the increase in antennas leads to spatial fading losses and increased costs due to digital beamforming, while existing methods fail to determine the optimal receiving beam for downlink data reception in terminals.

Innovation Solution

The method involves sending downlink control signaling that includes indication information for the receiving manner, reference signal resource information, and resource block allocation, utilizing channel reciprocity to calculate downlink scheduling information based on sounding reference signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the number of antennas is increased to compensate for spatial fading losses in high-frequency communication, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase due to digital beamforming requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the beamforming function into two parts: digital beamforming for a subset of antenna ports and analog beamforming for the remaining antenna ports. This segmentation allows the system to achieve beamforming capabilities across multiple antennas without requiring full digital beamforming complexity for all antennas, thus improving communication reliability while controlling device complexity and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different beamforming qualities to different antenna ports: digital beamforming is applied to a first subset of antenna ports where precise beam control is needed, while analog beamforming is applied to a second subset of antenna ports. This local quality differentiation optimizes the balance between communication reliability and device complexity by applying high-quality digital processing only where necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If digital beamforming is implemented for all antennas, then beamforming precision is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeamforming precisionVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the antenna ports into two subsets: a first subset that uses digital beamforming for precise beamforming where needed, and a second subset that uses analog beamforming to reduce power consumption. This segmentation allows the system to maintain beamforming precision for critical antenna ports while significantly reducing overall power consumption by using less power-intensive analog beamforming for other ports.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the beamforming parameter (digital vs. analog) for different antenna ports based on their specific requirements. By adjusting this parameter locally rather than uniformly across all antennas, the system achieves optimal balance between beamforming precision and power consumption, applying digital beamforming only where high precision is necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If non-precoded SRS is used for uplink CSI measurement, then CSI accuracy is improved, but SRS resource consumption increases reducing system capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCSI accuracyVSAvoidSRS resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the downlink demodulation reference signal serve multiple functions: it acts as both a demodulation reference signal for data reception and as a sounding reference signal for channel state information measurement. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate non-precoded SRS resources, thereby improving CSI accuracy without increasing SRS resource consumption and maintaining system capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the function of the downlink demodulation reference signal with the sounding reference signal function. By combining these two previously separate signaling functions into a single signal structure, the system achieves accurate CSI measurement without requiring additional dedicated SRS resources, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables the terminal to determine the optimal receiving beam for downlink data reception, reducing resource overhead and feedback, and improving communication efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

utilizing channel reciprocity to calculate downlink scheduling information based on sounding reference signals

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChannel reciprocity:

Data Source

PatentEP3500006B1Method for transmitting and receiving downlink control signalling, base station and terminal
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 ZTE CORP
  • EP3500006B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3500006B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for sending and receiving downlink control signaling, a base station and a terminal. The method includes that a base station sends downlink control signaling carrying indication information to a terminal. The indication information in the downlink control signaling at least includes one of: information for indicating a receiving manner to the terminal, reference signal resource information referenced for calculating downlink scheduling information, reference signal resource information referenced for calculating uplink scheduling information, and allocation information of a resource block.