Millimeter Wave Relay Link Establishment via Base Station Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently establishing and maintaining millimeter wave relay links between user equipment (UEs) due to blockages and interference, which can lead to communication link failures, especially in high-density scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A method where a base station coordinates the establishment of a relay link between UEs by transmitting an identifier and reference signal configuration to the first UE, allowing it to perform a beam sweep procedure with the second UE, enabling the setup of an initial communication link using wide or pseudo-omni beams and subsequent narrow beams for improved signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct communication links are established between base station and UEs, then communication quality is improved, but link reliability deteriorates due to blockages and interference in high-density scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay UE as an intermediary node between the base station and remote UEs. The relay UE receives signals from the base station and forwards them to remote UEs, and vice versa. This intermediary approach allows direct links for nearby UEs while providing alternative routed paths for remote UEs, thereby maintaining link reliability without sacrificing communication quality for direct links.
2Reliability
If relay links are established between UEs, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional coordination procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables relay UEs to autonomously discover suitable remote UEs and establish relay links without extensive base station coordination. The relay UE performs self-selection of remote UEs based on channel conditions and autonomously manages the relay connection, significantly reducing the coordination complexity and signaling overhead that would otherwise be required from the base station.
3Reliability
If beam sweep procedures are performed for relay link establishment, then connection reliability is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a two-stage beam sweep approach where an initial coarse beam sweep is performed first to identify potential beam directions. Only after successful coarse beam alignment do the UEs proceed to more precise fine beam sweeping. This partial action strategy ensures connection reliability through comprehensive beam searching while minimizing signaling overhead by limiting detailed beam sweeps to only necessary cases.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Aspects may include a base station coordinating a first UE and a second UE establishing relay link for directly communicating with one and other. In some cases, the relay link may be a beamformed relay link and the base station and one of the UEs may use to the relay link to communicate if a direct communication link between the base station and the UE fails. The base station may transmit reference signal information to the first and second UE for establishing a relay link. The first and second UE may perform one or more relay link beam sweeping procedures based on the reference signal information and establish the relay link based on the beam sweep procedures. In some cases, coordinating the relay link may be based on one of the UEs transmitting a triggering message to the base station.