Beam Alignment Initiation Through Lower-Frequency SSB Signaling

Solution Overview

Problem

High-frequency wireless communication systems face challenges in beam management due to signal attenuation, necessitating narrower beams that require a larger number of reference signal transmissions, which can be inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A two-step beam training process using a wider beam at a lower frequency range to identify optimal beams for a higher frequency range, followed by refined beam training based on measured power and quality metrics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If narrower beams are used at high frequency to compensate for signal attenuation, then signal quality is improved, but the number of reference signal transmissions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidbeam training efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The beam training process is divided into two distinct phases: a first phase using wider beams at lower frequency to establish initial beam pairs, and a second phase using narrower beams at higher frequency for refined beam training. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both wide beam coverage and narrow beam signal quality without the drawbacks of either approach in a single phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary beam training at lower frequency with wider beams before proceeding to high-frequency narrow beam training. This preliminary action establishes a set of beam pairs that provides a starting point for the subsequent refined beam training, reducing the search space and number of transmissions needed at high frequency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If wider beams are used at lower frequency for initial beam training, then the number of reference signal transmissions is reduced, but beam precision is decreased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam training efficiencyVSAvoidbeam alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The beam training process is divided into two distinct phases: a first phase using wider beams at lower frequency to establish initial beam pairs, and a second phase using narrower beams at higher frequency for refined beam training. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both wide beam coverage and narrow beam signal quality without the drawbacks of either approach in a single phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary beam training at lower frequency with wider beams before proceeding to high-frequency narrow beam training. This preliminary action establishes a set of beam pairs that provides a starting point for the subsequent refined beam training, reducing the search space and number of transmissions needed at high frequency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If more reference signal transmissions are performed, then beam alignment accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam alignment accuracyVSAvoidbeam training time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The beam training process is divided into two distinct phases: a first phase using wider beams at lower frequency to establish initial beam pairs, and a second phase using narrower beams at higher frequency for refined beam training. This segmentation allows the system to benefit from both wide beam coverage and narrow beam signal quality without the drawbacks of either approach in a single phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary beam training at lower frequency with wider beams before proceeding to high-frequency narrow beam training. This preliminary action establishes a set of beam pairs that provides a starting point for the subsequent refined beam training, reducing the search space and number of transmissions needed at high frequency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250301452A1Beam devoted for alignment initiation before p1

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

An apparatus that is one of a wireless device (or a network node) may be configured to receive (or transmit), via a first frequency range, a first synchronization signal block (SSB) indicating information regarding a second frequency range associated with a second SSB; receive (or transmit), via the second frequency range indicated by the first SSB, the second SSB, where the second frequency range includes frequencies in a higher frequency band than a lower frequency band comprising the first frequency range; and communicate with a transmitting (or receiving) device via a beam based on the second SSB.