Multi-Beam TCI State Mapping for NR Data Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication protocols lack mechanisms to support beam indication in multi-beam or multi-TRP transmission scenarios, particularly in next-generation communications systems like NR, where multiple TRPs can simultaneously communicate with a terminal using different beams, leading to challenges in indicating beam information for data channels.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method and apparatus for indicating transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states and codepoints to facilitate beam information indication in multi-beam transmission scenarios, using a preset rule to map multiple TCI states to codepoints, enabling efficient data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multi-beam transmission is implemented to support multiple TRPs communicating with a terminal, then system capacity and coverage are improved, but the complexity of beam indication mechanisms increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam indication mechanism by introducing separate TCI state indication fields for different TRPs (first TCI state indication for first TRP, second TCI state indication for second TRP). This segmentation allows independent beam management for each TRP, reducing the overall complexity compared to a unified beam indication approach for multiple TRPs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to beam indication by introducing TRP-specific TCI state indication fields alongside the existing codepoint-based indication mechanism. This dimensional extension enables simultaneous indication of multiple beams from different TRPs without fundamentally changing the existing single-TRP indication framework.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple TCI states are indicated to support multi-beam transmission, then beam management flexibility is improved, but the signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the codepoint indication mechanism universal by enabling it to indicate multiple TCI states simultaneously for different TRPs. The same codepoint structure and indication fields serve both single-TRP and multi-TRP scenarios, allowing the mechanism to adapt to different transmission modes without requiring separate indication systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter interpretation by allowing TCI state indication fields to represent multiple TRP-specific beams simultaneously. Instead of each indication field representing a single beam, the system interprets the combination of indication fields and codepoints to represent multiple beams from different TRPs, efficiently utilizing existing signaling resources.
3Reliability
If beam sweeping is performed to track user movement and maintain signal quality, then connection reliability is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple TCI states and their corresponding beam information before transmission begins. The terminal and network device have advance knowledge of multiple candidate beams and their associated TCI states, enabling faster beam switching and tracking without extensive real-time sweeping when user movement occurs.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this application provide an information indication method and apparatus, to implement indication of transmission configuration indication information and data transmission in a multi-beam transmission scenario. In the method and the apparatus, a network device sends configuration information to a terminal device, to configure M transmission configuration indicator TCI states; the network device sends first indication information to the terminal device, where the first indication information is used to indicate A TCI states in the M TCI states; the network device sends second indication information to the terminal device, to indicate a first codepoint, where the first codepoint is determined by the network device based on at least one TCI state and according to a preset mapping rule between a TCI state and a codepoint; and the network device communicates with the terminal device based on the at least one TCI state.