Hybrid Beamforming with Autonomous Phase Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless communication systems face significant signaling overheads and radio resource burdens due to the need for numerous reference signals for beamforming, particularly in advanced systems like 6G, which hinders efficient phase alignment and interferes with data transmission.

Innovation Solution

Implementing hybrid beamforming with autonomous beamformers that adjust phases of input signals independently at the receiver, reducing reliance on network-provided reference signals, and combining this with digital or analog beamforming to enhance signal quality and reduce overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional beamforming schemes are used where the receiver adjusts phases according to reference signals from the network node, then phase alignment can be achieved, but signaling overheads and radio resource burden increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephase alignment accuracyVSAvoidnumber of reference signals

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver performs autonomous beamforming by independently detecting phase differences between input signals from multiple antennas and adjusting phases accordingly, without requiring reference signals from the network node. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for network-provided phase alignment information while maintaining accurate phase synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the phase alignment function from the network node's reference signal transmission and relocates it to the receiver's autonomous beamforming capability. By removing the dependency on network-provided reference signals for phase adjustment, the system significantly reduces signaling overhead while preserving phase alignment accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If the network node transmits numerous reference signals for beamforming purposes, then the receiver can determine phase differences accurately, but radio resources are significantly occupied and signaling overheads increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephase difference determination accuracyVSAvoidradio resource efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver independently determines phase differences by comparing input signals from multiple antennas through autonomous beamforming, eliminating the need for network-transmitted reference signals. This self-determination mechanism maintains accurate phase difference measurement while freeing up radio resources for data transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of having the network node provide phase alignment information through reference signals, the invention inverts the approach by enabling the receiver to autonomously determine and correct phase differences. This inversion shifts the computational burden from the network to the receiver, improving overall system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Quantity of substance

If autonomous beamforming is implemented at the receiver without reference signals, then signaling overheads are reduced, but the complexity of phase adjustment mechanisms increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of reference signalsVSAvoidbeamforming mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the mechanical system of network-transmitted reference signals with an electronic signal processing mechanism at the receiver. The autonomous beamforming unit uses digital signal processing to detect phase differences and adjust phases electronically, substituting the physical transmission of reference signals with computational phase alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Productivity

If hybrid beamforming with autonomous beamformers is used, then radio efficiency is improved and reference signal overhead is reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveradio efficiencyVSAvoidbeamforming apparatus complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The beamforming function is segmented into two independent parts: autonomous beamforming at the receiver that handles phase alignment without reference signals, and conventional beamforming that can optionally use reference signals. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high radio efficiency through autonomous operation while managing complexity through modular architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12592753B2Method and apparatus for hybrid beamforming with autonomous beamformers in mobile communications

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 MEDIATEK INC

AI summary

Method and apparatus are provided for hybrid beamforming with autonomous beamformers in mobile communications. An apparatus can receive a plurality of input signals from a network node by a plurality of antennas. The apparatus can perform autonomous beamforming by adjusting phases of the plurality of input signals to generate autonomous beamformed signals. The apparatus can perform at least one of digital beamforming and analog beamforming on the autonomous beamformed signals based on a reference signal from the network node to generate a beamformed signal.