Multi-stage Beam Paging for Millimeter-Wave Wake-Up Latency

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Solution Overview

Problem

High frequency wireless communication systems, such as those using millimeter-wave carriers, face challenges with signal attenuation and interference, particularly in paging signals for idle/sleep-mode UEs where the UE location is unknown, leading to difficulties in determining the optimal beamforming direction and increasing wake-up time.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a multiple stage paging technique that iteratively selects and uses beam configurations of varying angular widths and facing angles to transmit paging signals, starting with broad beams and narrowing down, along with a probabilistic approach to minimize mean decoding time, and potentially using low code-rate messages or on-demand paging to enhance efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beamforming is used to transmit paging signals in high frequency wireless communication systems, then signal reliability is improved, but device complexity and equipment costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal reliabilityVSAvoidequipment costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The paging process is segmented into multiple stages: first stage uses broad omnidirectional beams to cover all directions, second stage uses narrower directional beams for refined targeting. This segmentation allows the system to achieve reliable paging without continuously using complex beamforming, reducing equipment complexity while maintaining signal reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The beam configuration is made dynamic by adaptively selecting between broad and narrow beams based on UE location information. When UE location is known, narrow beams are used for precise targeting; when unknown, broad beams provide omnidirectional coverage. This dynamic adaptation reduces the need for complex fixed beamforming equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of time

If beam configurations with narrow angular widths are used for paging, then wake-up time is reduced, but coverage area decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewake-up timeVSAvoidcoverage area
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The paging process is divided into two stages: first stage uses broad omnidirectional beams to ensure wide coverage and capture UEs regardless of location, second stage uses narrow directional beams to quickly target specific UEs. This segmentation ensures both wide initial coverage and fast subsequent paging, resolving the contradiction between coverage area and wake-up time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first stage with broad beams performs a preliminary scanning action to establish initial contact or identify UE direction before the second stage uses narrow beams for precise paging. This preliminary action ensures that narrow beams are only used when necessary, maintaining coverage while reducing wake-up time for targeted paging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If iterative beam configuration attempts are performed to locate idle/sleep-mode UEs, then paging reliability is improved, but wake-up time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging reliabilityVSAvoidwake-up time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The iterative beam configuration process is segmented into two distinct stages with different beam widths. The first stage quickly establishes broad coverage to identify potential UE directions, the second stage performs targeted narrow beam attempts. This segmentation reduces the total number of iterations needed compared to using only narrow beams, improving reliability while limiting wake-up time increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first stage with broad beams performs a preliminary identification action to narrow down the search space before the second stage performs detailed paging attempts with narrow beams. This preliminary action reduces the number of iterations required in the second stage, balancing paging reliability with acceptable wake-up time for idle/sleep-mode UEs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3466142B1High frequency wireless communication system paging
Publication Date: 2021.09.01 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3466142B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3466142B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3466142B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods of wireless communication of a paging signal are disclosed. According to some aspects of the disclosure, a sequence of a plurality of beam configurations may be selected for use in communicating a paging signal between a pair of wireless devices. Beam configurations can include beam configurations of different angular widths. Beam configurations may be iteratively used to attempt to successfully communicate the paging signal between the pair of wireless devices. Each iteration may use a beam configuration of a different angular width and/or a plurality of facing angles. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.