eBRP Packet Format for Millimeter-Wave Beam Training Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing beam refinement protocols in millimeter-wave communications, such as IEEE 802.11ad, face challenges in efficiently training multiple antennas or beams within a limited time frame, leading to suboptimal transmission rates and signal attenuation issues due to the inefficiency of the Beam Refinement Protocol (BRP) packet structure.
Innovation Solution
The enhanced Beam Refinement Protocol (eBRP) packet is introduced, which modifies the training field to include an eBRP-CE sub-field and an eBRP-TRN sub-field with a reduced ratio of Gray codes, allowing for more efficient beam training by increasing the proportion of eBRP-TRN sub-fields and reducing the channel estimation (CE) length, thereby enabling the training of more antennas or beams within the same period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the Beam Refinement Protocol packet structure is used with standard CE length, then channel estimation accuracy is maintained, but beam training efficiency is insufficient and cannot train more antennas or beams within the same period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by reducing the CE field length from the standard configuration to a shortened version that provides sufficient channel estimation capability for the specific beam training scenario. This partial reduction in CE length frees up time resources that can then be allocated to additional TRN fields, enabling more antennas or beams to be trained within the same period while maintaining adequate estimation accuracy for the refined beam scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the BRP packet by adjusting the ratio of CE sub-fields to TRN sub-fields in the training field. Specifically, it reduces the number of CE sub-fields or their length and increases the number of TRN sub-fields, thereby transforming the packet structure to prioritize training capacity over exhaustive channel estimation, which resolves the contradiction between training efficiency and time consumption
2Productivity
If more TRN fields are added to train more antennas or beams, then beam training capacity increases, but the proportion of CE fields must be reduced which may affect estimation accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the channel estimation requirements for different beam training scenarios. Instead of using a uniform, lengthy CE field for all training operations, it employs shortened CE fields that provide sufficient accuracy for the specific refined beam scenarios being trained. This localized optimization allows the system to allocate more resources to TRN fields for additional antenna or beam training while maintaining adequate estimation accuracy where it is most needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by implementing a shortened CE field that provides just sufficient channel estimation accuracy for the refined beam training scenarios, rather than using the full-length standard CE field. This partial estimation capability is adequate for the specific application context, allowing the system to free up time resources for adding more TRN fields to increase overall training capacity
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a beam refinement method and a communications device. The method includes: determining, by a first device, a format of an eBRP packet, where the eBRP packet includes a training field, the training field includes an eBRP-CE sub-field and an eBRP-TRN sub-field, and a ratio of a quantity of Gray codes that compose the eBRP-CE sub-field in the training field to a quantity of Gray codes that compose the eBRP-TRN sub-field in the training field is less than 9:20; and sending, by the first device, the eBRP packet to a second device based on the determined format of the eBRP packet. According to the foregoing technical solutions, an effective proportion of the eBRP-TRN sub-field in the training field can be increased, so that more AWV configurations can be attempted within a same period of time.