Frequency Selective Beam Management via Two-Part DCI
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing frequency selective beams, particularly in 5G/NR communication systems operating at higher frequency bands like mmWave, where high channel propagation loss requires large antenna arrays and increased cost and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a two-part DCI structure for frequency-selective beam management, where the first part indicates TCI states for a plurality of frequency subbands, and the second part provides additional information for specific subbands, allowing for flexible payload sizing and efficient beam indication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If large antenna arrays are used to compensate for high channel propagation loss at mmWave frequencies, then coverage and signal quality are improved, but hardware cost and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency spectrum into multiple subbands and applies different TCI states to different subbands. This allows the system to use beamforming selectively only where needed in the frequency domain, rather than applying wideband beamforming across the entire spectrum, thereby reducing the effective antenna array requirements and associated power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies frequency-selective beam management by assigning different spatial filters (TCI states) to different frequency subbands based on local channel conditions. This enables optimized signal quality in specific frequency regions without requiring maximum antenna array performance across all frequencies, reducing overall hardware and power requirements.
2Productivity
If frequency-selective beam management is implemented, then radio interface efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to multi-part DCI structure
Solution Approach 1:
The DCI is segmented into two parts: Part 1 contains common control information and Part 2 contains frequency-specific TCI state indications. This segmentation allows the majority of the DCI (Part 1) to remain simple and reusable across multiple UEs, while only Part 2 varies per UE and frequency subband, balancing the trade-off between achieving frequency-selective beam management and maintaining overall system complexity at acceptable levels.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for frequency selective beam management. A method performed by a user equipment (UE) includes receiving first information related to a plurality of frequency subbands and receiving, in a first part of a downlink control information (DCI), at least one first transmission configuration indication (TCI) state and second information related to a second part of the DCI. The method further includes determining, based on the first information, a first association between the plurality of frequency subbands and the at least one first TCI state; for a first frequency subband from the plurality of frequency subbands, determining a first TCI state based on the first association; and identifying, based on the determined first TCI state, a spatial domain filter for transmitting or receiving UE-dedicated channels or signals for the first frequency subband.