Measurement Gap Bitmap for Beam Swept NR Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing measurement systems in NR wireless communication networks face challenges with beamforming and beam sweeping, leading to issues with sparse reference signals, where UE needs to determine better service from neighboring beams, but current methods are inefficient due to continuous measurement gaps and lack of synchronization between serving and neighbor cells.
Innovation Solution
A method for measurement gap scheduling is introduced, where a serving cell generates a bitmap indicating timing of measurement gaps for both itself and neighbor cells in beamformed and beam swept beams, transmitted to the UE, allowing for conditional activation based on channel quality thresholds, reducing unnecessary measurements by focusing on specific beams and synchronizing measurement periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous measurement gaps are used for reference signal measurements in beamformed systems, then measurement coverage is improved, but measurement overhead and system resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic measurement gaps instead of continuous measurement gaps. The measurement gaps are scheduled periodically based on the beam sweeping period, allowing the UE to perform reference signal measurements only when beams are being swept, rather than continuously. This reduces measurement overhead while maintaining measurement accuracy by aligning measurement opportunities with actual beam transmission cycles.
2Measurement precision
If measurement gaps are synchronized between serving and neighbor cells, then handover decision accuracy is improved, but system coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a universal measurement gap configuration that can be used across multiple cells. The same measurement gap pattern and timing are applied to both serving and neighbor cells, eliminating the need for cell-specific customization. This universal approach simplifies system coordination while maintaining accurate handover decisions, as the measurement gaps are aligned with the beam sweeping patterns of all involved cells.
3Measurement precision
If measurement gaps are allocated for all beams, then comprehensive measurement coverage is achieved, but resource efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by allocating measurement gaps specifically for beams that are actively being swept or are relevant to the UE's current position. Instead of uniformly allocating measurement gaps for all possible beams across all cells, the measurement gap configuration is tailored to match the actual beam sweeping patterns and the UE's service requirements. This ensures comprehensive measurement coverage for relevant beams while improving resource efficiency by avoiding unnecessary measurement allocations.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment method for measurement gap scheduling includes generating, by a serving cell to which a UE is connected, a bitmap that indicates timing of measurement gaps for reference signals transmitted by the serving cell and at least one neighbor cell of the serving cell in beamformed and beam swept beams, and transmitting the bitmap to the UE in a configuration message.