Multi-Provider Edge Beam Steering for Faster Initial Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges such as high initial access latency, quality of experience (QoE) issues, and high infrastructure costs in next-generation networks like 5G and 6G, particularly due to beam management complexities and heterogeneity across different interfaces and service providers.
Innovation Solution
A centralized cloud server and edge devices that manage multiple service providers, reducing infrastructure costs and latency by optimizing beam management and handling heterogeneity, enabling seamless connectivity and improved Quality of Experience (QoE) through decentralized cloud computing and real-time sensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard beam sweeping operation is used in initial access phase, 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 the actual initial access phase. The edge device performs sensing to obtain beam alignment information in advance, which is then stored and reused during initial access, eliminating the need for time-consuming beam sweeping operations at access time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism through the use of sensing operations and beam alignment information databases. These intermediaries bridge the gap between the need for accurate beam alignment and the requirement for fast access by pre-processing and storing alignment data that can be quickly retrieved during initial access.
2Reliability
If multiple service providers maintain separate infrastructure, then service quality can be optimized for each provider, but infrastructure cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating a shared edge device infrastructure that can serve multiple service providers simultaneously. The edge device is designed to handle connections from different service providers and user equipment through a common platform, reducing the need for each provider to maintain separate infrastructure while still providing optimized service quality through virtualization and resource sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges infrastructure resources by consolidating edge computing and sensing capabilities into shared facilities that multiple service providers can utilize. This combining of previously separate infrastructure elements reduces overall costs while maintaining service quality through the unified management and coordination of resources.
3Speed
If conventional edge devices are placed close to UEs, then response delay is reduced, but beam management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sensing operations as an intermediary layer between the edge device and traditional beam management functions. This intermediary sensing mechanism simplifies beam management by providing pre-acquired beam alignment information that reduces the complexity of real-time beam tracking and management while maintaining the low latency benefits of close proximity deployment.
4Measurement precision
If beam sweeping operation is performed frequently, then beam alignment accuracy is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing beam alignment sensing operations in advance and storing the results for reuse. This pre-processing approach maintains beam alignment accuracy without requiring frequent energy-consuming beam sweeping operations, as the pre-acquired alignment information can be utilized for multiple access events.
Data Source
AI summary
An edge device that includes a processor which obtains sensing information of a surrounding area from one or more external sensing devices in a communication range of the edge device. The processor communicates the sensing information to a central cloud server and obtains wireless connectivity enhanced information from the central cloud server based on the communicated sensing information. The wireless connectivity enhanced information is for a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE. The processor directs a first beam of radio frequency (RF) signal in a first wireless carrier network to the first UE and a second beam of RF signal in a second wireless carrier network to the second UE based on the obtained wireless connectivity enhanced information for the first UE and the second UE.