IAB Node Frequency Hopping for Coverage and Range Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to improve the sensing coverage capability of an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node in a wireless communication network while maintaining range resolution capability or precision without increasing power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The IAB node multiplexes a time-frequency resource with a communication base station in a frequency hopping manner, sending sensing signals on allocated frequency-hopping time-frequency resources to accumulate echo signal energy, thereby enhancing sensing coverage without reducing range resolution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the IAB node increases transmit power to improve sensing coverage, then sensing coverage capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic frequency hopping where the IAB node transmits sensing signals on different frequency resources in different time slots. This dynamic resource allocation allows the system to accumulate echo signal energy across multiple frequency hops, effectively improving sensing coverage without requiring increased transmit power. The frequency domain resources are dynamically switched to maximize signal energy accumulation while maintaining low power operation.
2Area of stationary object
If the IAB node uses time division multiplexing with the communication base station, then sensing coverage can be improved, but range resolution capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from purely time-domain multiplexing to frequency-domain multiplexing by implementing frequency hopping. The IAB node utilizes multiple frequency domain resources (different subcarriers or resource blocks) to transmit sensing signals. This frequency dimension expansion allows simultaneous improvement of sensing coverage (through multiple frequency hops) and range resolution (through increased bandwidth utilization), resolving the trade-off between coverage and resolution.
3Measurement precision
If the IAB node uses frequency division multiplexing with the communication base station, then range resolution capability is improved, but sensing coverage capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary frequency resource allocation where the network device configures multiple frequency domain resources for the IAB node before sensing operations begin. The IAB node performs frequency hopping across these pre-configured resources, accumulating echo signal energy over multiple time slots. This preliminary setup enables the system to achieve both high range resolution (through broad frequency bandwidth) and extended sensing coverage (through temporal accumulation across frequency hops).
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method includes: receiving, by a first device, first information from a network device, wherein the first information indicates a first time-frequency resource, the first time-frequency resource is a time-frequency resource that carries K sensing signals in one slot, the first time-frequency resource comprises K time domain symbols in time domain, the first time-frequency resource comprises M frequency domain resources that do not overlap each other in frequency domain, at least two sensing signals comprised in the K sensing signals occupy different frequency domain resources in the first time-frequency resource, K and M are positive integers, K is greater than or equal to M, and K is greater than or equal to 2; and sending, by the first device, the K sensing signals on the first time-frequency resource based on the first information.