Edge Beam Alignment for Multi-Provider Low-Latency Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication networks face challenges such as high initial access latency, quality of experience (QoE) issues, and high infrastructure costs due to heterogeneity and rapid changes in wireless environments, particularly in 5G and upcoming 6G networks.
Innovation Solution
A centralized cloud server and edge devices that manage multiple service providers, providing seamless connectivity and reducing infrastructure costs by optimizing network nodes and handling heterogeneity, using beam management mechanisms to reduce latency and improve QoE.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard beam sweeping operation is used for initial access in mmWave networks, then beam alignment can be achieved, but initial access latency increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing beam alignment information through sensing operations before actual data transmission begins. The edge device performs sensing to acquire beam alignment data in advance, so when a UE needs to access the network, the beam alignment is already prepared, eliminating the need for time-consuming beam sweeping during initial access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensing as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between the UE and the edge device during initial access. Instead of direct beam sweeping between UE and edge device, the sensing function acts as an intermediary that pre-acquires beam alignment information, facilitating faster and more efficient initial access.
2Reliability
If multiple service providers deploy separate infrastructure for 5G/6G networks, then service coverage can be ensured, but infrastructure cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the edge device to handle services for multiple service providers simultaneously. A single edge device infrastructure can serve multiple WCNs, making the infrastructure multi-functional and reducing the total quantity of infrastructure needed while ensuring service coverage for all providers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple service provider infrastructures into a shared edge device platform. Instead of each service provider deploying separate edge devices, the infrastructure is combined so that one edge device can handle multiple WCNs, reducing overall infrastructure cost while maintaining service coverage.
3Speed
If conventional edge devices are deployed close to UEs to reduce latency, then communication speed improves, but device complexity and deployment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The edge device is designed with multi-functionality to handle services for multiple WCNs and multiple UEs simultaneously. This universal design reduces the number of edge devices needed across the network, thereby reducing overall deployment complexity while maintaining close proximity to UEs for fast communication.
Data Source
AI summary
A central cloud server that includes a processor which periodically obtains sensing information from a plurality of edge devices at different locations and periodically obtains beam alignment information from the plurality of edge devices. The processor correlates the obtained sensing information and the beam alignment information for different times-of-day to generate a connectivity enhanced database. The connectivity enhanced database specifies a plurality of time-of-day specific uplink and downlink beam alignment-wireless connectivity relationships for a surrounding area of each edge device of the plurality of edge devices. The correlation is based on the obtained sensing information as input features and the beam alignment information as learning labels.