Extended Guard Interval for Beamforming Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

High-frequency wireless communication systems, particularly those using millimeter waves above 28 GHz, face challenges with beamforming due to beam-timing discrepancies, leading to signal quality issues and processing inefficiencies as the typical guard time may not accommodate the entire channel impulse response, resulting in inter-symbol interference (ISI) and increased delay spread variance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method that uses extended guard intervals and timing shifts between beam pairs to improve synchronization and reduce timing discrepancies, allowing for enhanced signal processing and alignment of different path effects, which includes using extended cyclic prefixes or additional guard periods to cover the channel's delay spread, and reporting timing indications to facilitate beam pair switching and synchronization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If typical guard time is used in high-frequency beamforming, then device complexity is reduced, but inter-symbol interference increases due to insufficient coverage of channel impulse response

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveguard interval structureVSAvoidinter-symbol interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of guard interval duration from typical values to extended values specifically for beam pair switchings. The extended guard interval is configured to cover the entire channel impulse response including delayed signal components, thereby preventing inter-symbol interference while maintaining manageable device complexity through parameter adaptation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the guard interval duration based on the detected beam pair switching events. When a beam pair switching is detected, the guard interval is extended to accommodate the timing shifts and delay spread variations associated with the new beam pair, while using typical guard intervals for non-switching scenarios to maintain simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If extended guard intervals are used to cover channel delay spread, then signal quality improves by reducing inter-symbol interference, but time resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidguard interval duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies extended guard intervals locally only to specific signaling instances associated with beam pair switchings, rather than uniformly to all transmissions. This targeted approach improves signal quality for critical beam switching events while minimizing the overall time resource consumption by using typical guard intervals for other transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies extended guard intervals partially - only when and where beam pair switchings occur - rather than excessively applying them to all transmissions. This partial action provides sufficient protection against inter-symbol interference for the critical switching events without unnecessarily consuming time resources for other transmissions that do not require extended protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If beam pair switching is performed to optimize communication, then adaptability improves, but timing synchronization deteriorates due to beam-timing discrepancies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam pair selectionVSAvoidtiming synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of beam pair switchings and proactively configures extended guard intervals before the actual switching occurs. This preliminary action prepares the timing synchronization for the upcoming beam pair change, accommodating the anticipated timing shifts and preventing synchronization deterioration while maintaining adaptability to optimize communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The extended guard interval acts as a cushioning mechanism that is prepared in advance for beam pair switching events. This beforehand cushioning absorbs the timing discrepancies and delay spread variations that occur during beam switching, protecting the timing synchronization from deterioration while allowing the system to adaptively switch beam pairs for optimized communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS20230080882A1Reference signaling for beamforming

Publication Date: 2023.03.16 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

There is disclosed a method of operating a transmitting radio arrangement in a wireless communication network, the transmitting radio arrangement utilising a first beam pair and a second beam pair for communicating with a radio node, the method including transmitting first signaling on the first beam pair and second signaling on the second beam pair, the first signaling and/or second signaling comprising an extend guard interval. The disclosure also pertains to related devices and methods.