Dynamic Beam Management for Network Energy Savings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network energy saving (NES) technologies face challenges in dynamic adaptation of antenna port-to-transceiver unit (TxRU) mapping, leading to significant impacts on user equipment (UE) performance, including channel state information (CSI) reporting, radio link monitoring (RLM), and beam management, due to cumbersome and slow signaling processes that are not suitable for dynamic energy savings.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of dynamic signaling using downlink control information (DCI) and/or medium access control (MAC) control elements to inform UEs about TxRU patterns and power adaptations, allowing for efficient beam management, beam failure detection, and beam failure recovery, while dynamically reconfiguring transmission power and spatial elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If existing signaling is used to inform UEs of new CSI-RS configurations, then UEs can be updated about configuration changes, but the process is cumbersome, requires large signaling overhead, is slow, and not appropriate for dynamic adaptation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration update reliabilityVSAvoidsignaling delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the signaling parameters from RRC layer (higher layer) to physical layer signaling (DCI format), enabling faster updates. Specifically, it uses DCI format 2_6 with wake-up indicator and SSB index fields to convey configuration changes, reducing signaling delay from seconds to milliseconds while maintaining reliability through acknowledgment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptation capability where the gNB can quickly switch between different CSI-RS configurations based on traffic conditions and energy saving requirements. The system transitions from static RRC-configured parameters to dynamically adjustable parameters via physical layer signaling, enabling real-time optimization of beam management and energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If antenna ports are turned off for energy saving, then power consumption is reduced, but beam management and radio link monitoring are affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbeam management reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the antenna system into multiple SSB beams, where only a subset of beams is transmitted at full power during energy saving mode. The gNB can selectively activate specific SSB indices while keeping others dormant, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining essential beam management functionality through the active subset of beams

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different transmission qualities to different SSB beams based on local conditions. Instead of uniformly reducing power across all beams, the system selectively applies power reduction to specific beams that are less critical for beam management, while maintaining full power on beams that are essential for radio link monitoring and user connectivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If dynamic adaptation of TxRUs is implemented, then energy savings are improved, but CSI reporting and radio link monitoring are impacted due to mapping changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy savingsVSAvoidCSI reporting accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary configuration of multiple CSI-RS resource sets with different TxRU mappings before dynamic adaptation occurs. When energy saving mode is activated, the gNB can switch between pre-configured resource sets without requiring real-time reconfiguration, thus maintaining CSI reporting accuracy while enabling dynamic energy savings. The UE is pre-informed of multiple possible mappings through RRC signaling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enhances feedback mechanisms by including additional fields in CSI reports that indicate which TxRU mapping is currently active. This allows the gNB to track the relationship between TxRU configurations and CSI measurements, ensuring accurate interpretation of CSI reports even when dynamic adaptation changes the mapping. The feedback loop maintains synchronization between gNB and UE regarding the active configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4415289A1Enhanced beam management for spatial and power domain adaptation in network energy savings (NES)
Publication Date: 2024.08.14 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4415289A1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP4415289A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4415289A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system and a method are provided for enhanced beam management framework for spatial and power domain adaptation in NES. A method performed by a terminal in a wireless communication system includes receiving, from a base station, control information preconfiguring the terminal with a set of CSI-RS resources, wherein each CSI-RS resource in the set of CSI-RS resources is uniquely mapped to a powerControlOffsetSS value; receiving a set of CSI-RSs; performing measurements of each of the CSI-RSs of the set of CSI-RSs; and transmitting a CSI report including the measurements of each of the CSI-RSs of the set of CSI-RSs.