Fast Beam Indication Using MAC CE Activation and DCI Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing beam indications in 5G/NR mobile communications, particularly in scenarios with multiple TCI state code points, leading to suboptimal performance and increased latency.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for fast beam indication in user equipment (UE) and base stations, utilizing joint transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states, where UE and base stations can dynamically update spatial filters based on configured or indicated TCI state code points, enabling efficient management of downlink and uplink channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple TCI state code points are activated and indicated through MAC CE and DCI, then beam management flexibility and adaptability are improved, but signaling overhead and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam indication process into two distinct phases: MAC CE activation of multiple TCI state code points for future use, and DCI indication of specific code points for immediate application. This segmentation allows the system to maintain flexibility through multiple activated states while reducing immediate signaling overhead by only indicating specific code points when needed, rather than re-transmitting full TCI state information.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple TCI state code points are activated and indicated through MAC CE and DCI, then beam management flexibility and adaptability are improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by activating multiple TCI state code points through MAC CE in advance, before they are needed for actual beam indication. This preliminary activation creates a pool of pre-configured beam states that can be quickly selected and applied via DCI without requiring complex real-time processing, thereby reducing processing complexity while maintaining beam management flexibility.
3Loss of time
If rapid beam indication is implemented through DCI, then latency is reduced and responsiveness is improved, but the requirement for multiple activated code points increases processing burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces beam indication latency by performing preliminary activation of multiple TCI state code points via MAC CE, so that when DCI needs to indicate a beam change, the target code points are already activated and ready for immediate application. This eliminates the need for time-consuming re-activation processes, achieving rapid beam indication while distributing the processing burden across two separate, optimized procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for fast beam indication. A method of operating a UE includes receiving a number (M) of transmission configuration indicator (TCI)state code points activated by a medium access control element (MAC CE) and, if the UE is configured to be indicated TCI state code points on DL control information (DCI) and M>1, receiving the DCI that indicates at least one TCI state code point from the M TCI state code points and determining a TCI state to apply to at least one of downlink (DL) channels and uplink (UL) channels. The method further includes updating one or more spatial filters for at least one of the DL channels and the UL channels based on the determined TCI state and at least one of receiving and transmitting the DL channels and the UL channels, respectively, based on the updated one or more spatial filters.