Millimeter Wave Repeater Beamforming for Access Beam Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing millimeter wave repeaters face challenges in efficiently extending coverage area and managing beam training and maintenance due to their higher frequency and shorter wavelength, leading to resource wastage and increased production costs.
Innovation Solution
A millimeter wave repeater that operates as a layer-1 device, performing analog signal amplification without digital conversion, and uses beamforming to minimize resource consumption and reduce latency, while maintaining coverage through narrower beams with base stations and wider beams with user equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If millimeter wave repeaters use higher frequency and shorter wavelength for extended coverage, then coverage area is improved, but beam training and maintenance become more complex and resource-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam management process into initial beam training phase and subsequent beam maintenance phase. During initial access, the repeater uses wider beams to establish connection with both gNodeB and UE. After initial access, the system transitions to narrower beams for maintenance, effectively managing the complexity through temporal segmentation of beam management operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic beam width adjustment based on operational phase. The repeater dynamically switches between wider beams during initial access procedures and narrower beams during maintenance procedures. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize beam management complexity according to the current operational requirements.
2Use of energy by moving object
If millimeter wave repeaters use narrower beams for maintenance, then resource consumption is reduced, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing beam training and establishing wider beam connections during the initial access phase before transitioning to narrower beams for maintenance. This preliminary establishment of connection reduces the need for frequent beam retraining during maintenance operations, thereby reducing latency while maintaining low resource consumption through narrower beams.
3Reliability
If millimeter wave repeaters perform digital conversion for signal processing, then signal processing capability is improved, but production costs and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the digital signal processing mechanism with an analog signal amplification mechanism. The repeater performs signal processing in the analog domain through amplification rather than converting signals to digital for processing. This substitution reduces production costs and resource requirements while maintaining adequate signal processing capability for the intended application.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances coverage area and reduces resource and network costs by optimizing beam management, conserving repeater and network resources, and minimizing latency.
Implementation Method 1
performing analog signal amplification without digital conversion
Implementation Method 2
uses beamforming to minimize resource consumption and reduce latency
Data Source
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AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a repeater may receive configuration information associated with configuring involvement of the repeater in an access procedure; receive a signal associated with the access procedure from a first wireless communication device; and forward the signal associated with the access procedure to a second wireless communication device based at least in part on the configuration information and other information, associated with the access procedure, received by the repeater. Numerous other aspects are provided.