Millimeter Wave Relay Beam Training with Amplify-and-Forward
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently performing beam training in millimeter wave relays, particularly in configuring optimal transmit and receive beams for reliable signal transmission and reception, especially in scenarios with obstructions or environmental interference.
Innovation Solution
The method involves performing beam training procedures by a transmitter node, relay node, and base station to determine viable beam pairs for direct and indirect access links, providing feedback for complex channel estimates, and configuring receive beams to maximize signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for concurrent reception of signals from both the transmitter node and relay node.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beam training procedures are performed to determine viable beam pairs for millimeter wave relay communication, then the reliability of signal transmission is improved, but the complexity of the communication protocol and configuration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs beam training procedures in advance to determine viable beam pairs before actual data transmission. The transmitter node and relay node conduct beam training to identify optimal beam pairs for direct and indirect access links, storing these configurations for future use. This preliminary action ensures reliable signal transmission while reducing real-time complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where nodes provide complex channel estimates and beam pair information to each other. The transmitter node receives feedback from the relay node about channel conditions and beam quality, allowing both nodes to optimize their beam configurations. This feedback loop enables adaptive beam selection that maintains reliability without requiring exhaustive real-time searching.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple beam pairs are configured for direct and indirect access links, then the adaptability to environmental conditions is improved, but the time required for beam configuration and training increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam training process into distinct phases for direct access links and indirect access links. Each link type undergoes separate beam training to identify its optimal beam pairs independently. This segmentation allows parallel processing of beam training for different link types, reducing total configuration time while maintaining multiple beam pair options for environmental adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs beam training procedures in advance to pre-determine viable beam pairs for both direct and indirect access links. These pre-configured beam pairs are stored and can be quickly selected based on environmental conditions without requiring time-consuming real-time training. This preliminary configuration enables rapid adaptation to changing conditions.
3Reliability
If the base station configures receive beams based on complex channel estimates from multiple beam pairs, then the signal-to-noise ratio is improved, but the processing complexity at the base station increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the transmitter node and relay node provide complex channel estimates to the base station. These channel estimates contain precise information about channel conditions for different beam pairs, enabling the base station to configure optimal receive beams. The feedback includes beam pair identifiers and channel quality metrics that guide base station processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters provided in feedback from raw signal measurements to processed complex channel estimates. These estimates include phase and amplitude information that directly inform receive beam configuration. By transforming raw data into meaningful parameters, the base station can efficiently configure multiple receive beams without excessive processing complexity.
4Reliability
If beam training is performed in millimeter wave relays with amplify-and-forward transmissions, then the communication quality in obstructed environments is improved, but the overall system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay node as an intermediary between the transmitter node and base station for indirect access. The relay node performs beam training with both the transmitter and base station, establishing separate beam pairs for the two hops. This intermediary enables communication in obstructed environments by providing alternative paths while distributing the beam training complexity across multiple nodes rather than concentrating it in one location.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. A transmitter node and a relay node transmit, to a base station, feedback related to complex channel estimates associated with beam pairs providing viable paths for a first link between the transmitter node and the base station, a second link between the relay node and the base station, and a third link between the transmitter node and the relay node. The transmitter node transmits a signal to the base station using a transmit beam associated with a first beam pair and to the relay node using a transmit beam associated with a second beam pair. The base station receives the signal from the transmitter node and an estimate of the signal from the relay node via a receive beam configured based at least in part on the complex channel estimates included in the feedback. Numerous other aspects are provided.