Inter-RIS Beam Signaling for Wireless Coverage and Throughput

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communications systems do not support efficient signaling and communication between reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs), which limits network performance, coverage, and throughput.

Innovation Solution

RISs transmit capability information messages to indicate their ability to participate in network communications and exchange beam information directly or via base stations or UEs, facilitating efficient beam forming, refinement, and acquisition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If RISs do not support direct communication with other RISs, then device complexity is reduced, but network performance and throughput are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRIS communication capabilityVSAvoidnetwork performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

RISs are equipped with transmitters and receivers to autonomously transmit and receive beam information messages with other RISs without requiring continuous base station mediation. This self-service capability enables direct peer-to-peer communication, improving network performance while maintaining manageable device complexity through standardized communication protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If RISs communicate beam information via base station relay, then communication reliability is improved, but signaling overhead and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam information signalingVSAvoidsignaling latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a hybrid communication architecture where base stations serve as optional intermediaries for RIS-RIS communication. When direct RIS-RIS links are unavailable or unreliable, base stations relay beam information messages between RISs. This intermediary approach maintains communication reliability while minimizing latency by enabling direct communication when conditions permit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If RISs transmit capability information messages, then network adaptability is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRIS network participationVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

RISs transmit capability information messages in advance to indicate their ability to participate in network communications and receive beam information. This preliminary action enables the network to efficiently allocate resources and establish communication paths before actual data transmission begins, improving adaptability while managing signaling overhead through one-time capability declaration rather than continuous signaling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12609735B2Network communications between reconfigurable intelligent surfaces

Publication Date: 2026.04.21 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Generally, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) may transmit a capability information message including an indicating that the RIS is capable of participating in network communications and communicating with other RISs on the network. A first RIS may communicate beam information to a second RIS directly, or the first RIS may communicate beam information to the second RIS via a base station, or the first RIS may communicate beam information to the second RIS via a user equipment (UE). In some examples, one RIS may request beam information or reflecting assistance from another RIS.