Image Processing Assisted Beamforming for Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication technologies face challenges in efficiently determining and configuring beams for communication, especially in dynamic environments, which can lead to resource consumption and communication delays.
Innovation Solution
The use of image processing techniques to assist with beamforming by determining the location of objects, such as vehicles or users, and configuring beams or beam scan characteristics accordingly, thereby optimizing communication settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional beam determination methods are used, then beam configuration can be achieved, but communication speed is slow and resource consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical beam scanning and switching mechanisms with image processing techniques. By capturing images of the environment and using computer vision algorithms to determine object locations and beam directions, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming mechanical beam sweeping, thereby significantly reducing beam configuration time and improving communication speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces image processing as an intermediary between the communication system and the environment. Instead of directly scanning for beams, the system uses captured images as an intermediary to infer spatial information, object positions, and appropriate beam directions, which then guides the beamforming process and reduces configuration time.
2Productivity
If traditional beam scanning methods are used, then beam configuration can be performed, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of beam configuration from the complex process of exhaustive beam scanning. By using image processing to directly determine beam directions and object positions, the system extracts only the necessary spatial information needed for communication, eliminating redundant scanning operations and reducing energy consumption while maintaining configuration efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary image capture and processing to determine beam directions and object locations before actual communication begins. This preliminary action allows the system to pre-configure beams in the correct directions, avoiding the need for energy-intensive real-time beam scanning during communication and improving overall productivity.
3Loss of time
If image processing is used to determine object location, then beam configuration speed improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the image processing system multi-functional by using the same captured images for multiple purposes: determining object locations, identifying beam directions, and configuring communication parameters. This universal approach allows a single image processing module to handle multiple tasks that would otherwise require separate systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining fast beam configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a wireless communication device may determine a location of an object relative to the wireless communication device, wherein the location is determined based at least in part on a result of processing one or more images that include the object. The wireless communication device may configure at least one of a beam or a beam scan characteristic used to identify the beam to be used by the wireless communication device based at least in part on the location of the object relative to the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device may communicate using the beam. Numerous other aspects are provided.