Initial Beam Sweep for Directional Repeaters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G and LTE technologies, face challenges in efficiently coordinating beams between base stations and directional repeaters for synchronization signal block transmission and reception, leading to suboptimal coverage and resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an initial beam sweep technique that allows directional repeaters to determine and use specific sets of beams for receiving and relaying synchronization signal blocks from base stations, optimizing beam selection to enhance coverage and resource efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If directional repeaters use multiple beams for receiving and relaying synchronization signal blocks, then coverage and resource utilization improve, but beam coordination complexity between base station and repeater increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidbeam coordination complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing an initial beam sweep procedure where the base station transmits synchronization signal blocks using multiple different beams, and the directional repeater identifies and selects optimal receive and relay beams in advance. This pre-establishment of beam relationships simplifies subsequent communication operations while ensuring comprehensive coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If directional repeaters perform initial beam sweep to determine optimal beams, then beam alignment accuracy improves, but acquisition time and overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam alignment accuracyVSAvoidacquisition time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by organizing the beam sweep procedure into structured, periodic bursts where synchronization signal blocks are transmitted in sequences across different beams. This systematic periodic approach enables efficient identification of optimal beams while maintaining predictable timing patterns that reduce overall acquisition time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If directional repeaters relay synchronization signal blocks using selected beams, then resource utilization efficiency improves, but system transparency to user equipment decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidsystem transparency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing the directional repeater as a transparent mediator that relays synchronization signal blocks between the base station and user equipment. The repeater uses selected receive and relay beams to forward signals without user equipment needing to awareness of the repeater's presence or beam selection processes, maintaining system transparency while improving resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11601189B2Initial beam sweep for smart directional repeaters

Publication Date: 2023.03.07 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure provide apparatus, methods, processing systems, and computer readable mediums to enhance functionality of directional repeaters (for instance, wireless devices that relay directional wireless signals). By adding even limited capability within the directional repeaters to buffer digital samples, the functionality of the directional repeaters may be enhanced to provide better coverage and make more efficient use of time, frequency, and spatial resources.