IRS Beam Measurement With Wide-to-Narrow Beam Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The beam management delay of intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS) is long due to narrow beam widths, leading to difficulty in aligning beams with terminal devices that need to be served.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a first network device sending reference signals and channel information to a second network device, such as an IRS, to determine optimal beam weights for alignment, using omnidirectional and directional beams to reduce delay and improve synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a large-sized antenna array is used to provide reflection gains, then the beam width becomes very narrow, but the beam management delay becomes very long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam management process into two distinct phases: wide beam sweeping for initial coverage and connection establishment, followed by narrow beam refinement for optimized communication. This segmentation allows the system to first establish connections quickly with wide beams covering large areas, then switch to narrow beams for higher gain without incurring long delays for the entire process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary wide beam sweeping before narrow beam refinement. By first establishing connections using wide beams that cover large areas, the system prepares the groundwork for subsequent narrow beam optimization. This preliminary action ensures that terminal devices are initially connected before the more time-consuming narrow beam alignment process begins.
2Reliability
If a narrow beam width is used to provide reflection gains, then the beam cannot be aligned with terminal devices that need to be served, but using wider beams increases delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beam switching where the beam width is adjusted based on the operational phase. During the initial sweeping phase, wide beams are used to cover large areas and ensure all terminal devices are reached. Once connections are established, the system dynamically transitions to narrow beams for precise alignment and optimized communication with specific terminal devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic beam sweeping with alternating wide and narrow beam phases. The system periodically performs wide beam sweeping to maintain coverage and detect new terminal devices, then switches to narrow beam refinement for ongoing communication optimization. This periodic alternation ensures both comprehensive coverage and precise alignment are maintained over time.
Data Source
AI summary
A beam measurement method and a related apparatus are disclosed. The method includes: A first network device sends first information and second information to a second network device, where the first information indicates time-frequency resources of N first reference signals and time-frequency resources of K second reference signals; and the second information indicates a first beam weight and M second beam weights, further indicates that a beam of the second network device on the time-frequency resources of the N first reference signals corresponds to the first beam weight, and further indicates that beams of the second network device on the time-frequency resources of the K second reference signals correspond to the M second beam weights.