Frame-Level Beamforming Uplink Batch Scheduling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current OFDMA systems face challenges in integrating frame-level beamforming with uplink batch scheduling, limiting the directionality and efficiency of beam patterns and resource allocation, particularly in maximizing uplink data delivery in femtocell networks.
Innovation Solution
The integration of frame-level beamforming with uplink batch scheduling in OFDMA systems, which involves measuring client signal-to-noise ratios, constructing SNR tables, polling clients for data needs, and determining sub-channel allocations and beam patterns across multiple frames, allowing for more directional beams and optimized resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If user-level beamforming is used with limited antenna elements as specified in OFDMA standards, then the system maintains standard compatibility, but the directionality and focus of beam patterns is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from user-level beamforming (applying beam patterns only to data payload) to frame-level beamforming (applying beam patterns to entire frame including preamble and control payload). This dimensional expansion allows the system to exceed standard antenna element limitations while maintaining compatibility, as the beamforming is applied at a higher protocol layer rather than modifying the physical antenna array configuration.
2Speed
If per-frame scheduling is used for uplink resource allocation, then the system responds quickly to client data needs, but signaling overhead from clients increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple per-frame scheduling decisions into a single batch scheduling operation that covers multiple frames. The base station aggregates client buffer status reports and determines resource allocations for multiple frames simultaneously, reducing the frequency of scheduling signaling while maintaining responsive resource allocation through the batch optimization process.
3Loss of information
If batch scheduling is used to aggregate client requests over multiple frames, then signaling overhead is reduced and optimization is improved, but the complexity of resource allocation computation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary beam pattern selection and signal quality measurement for multiple possible beam vectors before final resource allocation. By pre-computing channel quality indicators and beam performance metrics for candidate beams, the system reduces the complexity of the final optimization problem, allowing batch scheduling to efficiently determine allocations without exhaustive search through all possible beam and resource combinations.
4Shape
If frame-level beamforming is applied to entire frame including preamble and control payload, then more directional beams are enabled, but the system deviates from standard OFDMA specifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frame processing into distinct layers: standard-compliant physical layer transmission and enhanced frame-level beamforming application. By applying beam patterns at the frame level rather than modifying individual physical layer parameters, the system achieves improved beam directionality while maintaining compatibility with OFDMA standard specifications for signal structure and modulation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for simultaneous determination of channel resource allocations and beam vectors for uplink frames are disclosed. One method includes receiving batch information from client devices indicating amounts of data to be transmitted on the uplink by the client devices. Further, signal quality can be measured on channel resources for each of the client devices and for each of a plurality of beam vectors. Additionally, rate information for the channel resources for each of the client devices is determined based on signal quality measurements. Moreover, the method includes computing, based on the batch information and the rate information, utilities for allocations of the channel resources to the client devices and for the beam vectors for at least one uplink frame and selecting, based on the utilities, at least one of the beam vectors and at least one of the allocations for transmission of the data on the uplink frame(s).