Multi-Set Beam Failure Detection for Low-Latency 5G Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 3GPP New Radio (NR) beam-management procedures suffer from high latency and overhead due to constant/periodic reference signal exchanges, especially in higher frequency ranges where narrow beams are required, leading to inefficient beam failure detection and recovery processes.

Innovation Solution

Implement location-based beam failure detection and recovery procedures using multiple sets of beam failure detection reference signals (BFD RS) with associated counters, measuring signal strength, and initiating random-access procedures when thresholds are breached, allowing for independent PHY layer-based beam failure detection across multiple sets without immediate MAC involvement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If constant/periodic reference signal exchanges are used for beam management, then beam management reliability is improved, but latency and overhead increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam management reliabilityVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the beam management process into two distinct layers: PHY layer beam failure detection using multiple BFD RS sets, and MAC layer beam failure recovery. This segmentation allows independent operation at each layer, enabling faster detection at the PHY level without immediately triggering time-consuming MAC layer procedures, thus reducing overall latency while maintaining reliability through coordinated operation between layers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent configures multiple BFD RS sets and associates them with multiple BFI counters before beam failure occurs. This preliminary setup enables the UE to immediately begin measuring and comparing signal strengths across multiple reference signal sets when beam failure is detected, eliminating the need for time-consuming setup procedures during the critical failure detection phase and reducing latency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If constant/periodic reference signal exchanges are used for beam management, then beam management reliability is improved, but overhead increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam management reliabilityVSAvoidoverhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides beam management functions between PHY and MAC layers, allowing the PHY layer to handle reliable beam failure detection using multiple BFD RS sets with associated BFI counters. This segmentation reduces overhead by enabling faster, more efficient detection at the PHY level without requiring constant MAC layer involvement, while maintaining reliability through the coordinated multi-layer approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters by configuring multiple BFD RS sets with different association rules to multiple BFI counters. This allows the system to monitor beam quality across multiple reference signal sets simultaneously, improving reliability through diversified measurement while reducing overhead by avoiding redundant periodic exchanges through more efficient parameter utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If narrow beams are used for higher frequency ranges, then frequency range capability is improved, but beam failure detection efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency range capabilityVSAvoidbeam failure detection efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the beam failure detection process into multiple parallel operations: measuring signal strength on multiple BFD RS sets simultaneously, comparing each against thresholds, and incrementing corresponding BFI counters. This segmentation enables efficient detection for narrow beams in higher frequency ranges by processing multiple reference signal sets in parallel rather than sequentially, maintaining frequency range capability while improving detection efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary configuration of multiple BFD RS sets and their association with multiple BFI counters before beam failure occurs. This preliminary setup enables the UE to immediately begin measuring and comparing signal strengths across multiple reference signal sets when beam failure is detected, eliminating the need for time-consuming setup procedures during the critical failure detection phase and improving efficiency for narrow beam operations in higher frequency ranges

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12381613B2Beam failure detection using multiple sets of reference signals

Publication Date: 2025.08.05 LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD

AI summary

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for location-based beam failure detection (BFD) and recovery. One apparatus includes a transceiver that receives a configuration from a RAN for multiple sets of BFD reference signal (RS), multiple beam failure instance (BFI) counters, and an association of at least one BFD RS set and a corresponding BFI counter to one of a plurality of groups. The processor measures a signal strength on the BFD RS for each group and compares the measured signal strength with a BFD RS threshold value. The processor increments a BFI counter associated with a particular group if the measured signal strength is below a BFD RS threshold value and initiates random-access procedure if the BFI counter reaches a maximum value of beam failure for each group.