Mobility Reference Signal Identifier Assignment for Beam Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobility measurement techniques in wireless communication networks face challenges with resource usage inefficiency and increased interference due to continuous transmission of pilot signals across multiple beams, leading to degraded network performance and higher power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method where a radio access network node dynamically assigns a unique mobility reference signal identifier to each candidate beam, allowing only relevant beams to be advertised for measurement, reducing resource usage and minimizing interference by using multiplexing and orthogonal sequences to separate signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If pilot signals are continuously transmitted in all individual transmission beams, then measurement accuracy is improved, but resource consumption increases and interference is generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidresource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the continuous pilot signal transmission into discrete, beam-specific mobility reference signals. Instead of transmitting pilot signals continuously across all beams, the system assigns dedicated MRS resources to specific candidate beams, allowing measurements to be performed on segmented portions of the beam space at different times or frequencies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic transmission of mobility reference signals in specific transmission beams rather than continuous transmission. The MRS are transmitted periodically in candidate beams based on measurement requirements, allowing the system to maintain measurement capability while reducing overall resource consumption compared to continuous full-beam coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If pilot signals are continuously transmitted in all individual transmission beams, then measurement accuracy is improved, but network interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidnetwork interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the pilot signal transmission space by assigning specific MRS resources to specific candidate beams. This segmentation reduces interference because each beam's MRS transmission is isolated in time-frequency-space resources, preventing the cumulative interference that would result from simultaneous continuous transmission across all beams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The network node preliminarily identifies candidate beams and assigns MRS resources to them before actual measurement sessions. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare measurement resources only where needed, avoiding unnecessary transmissions in non-candidate beams that would generate interference without providing measurement value.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If all candidate network nodes are monitored for handover, then handover reliability is improved, but signaling load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover reliabilityVSAvoidsignaling load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the set of all network nodes into candidate beams that require measurement and those that do not. By identifying only the relevant candidate beams for potential handover and assigning MRS resources specifically to these segments, the system maintains handover reliability for critical nodes while eliminating unnecessary signaling overhead for non-candidate nodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by monitoring and measuring only the candidate beams that are likely targets for handover, rather than all possible network nodes. This partial monitoring approach maintains sufficient handover reliability by focusing resources on the most probable handover targets while reducing overall signaling load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3681203B1Methods for transmitting mobility signals and related network nodes and wireless devices
Publication Date: 2021.07.14 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3681203B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3681203B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3681203B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This disclosure provides by a method for transmitting a mobility reference signal, MRS, during a mobility measurement session to a wireless device, WD. The method is performed in a radio access network node, RANN. The RANN is configurable to transmit using a set of transmission beams. The method comprises dynamically assigning, a MRS identifier to each candidate transmission beam in a set of candidate transmission beams. The method comprises transmitting control information to the WD, the control information comprising the MRS identifier for each corresponding candidate transmission beam; and transmitting the mobility reference signal, MRS, to the WD in accordance with the transmitted control information.