Multi-TRP Beam Failure Testing with Independent Link Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in 5G NR networks is the efficient testing of Beam Failure Detection (BFD) and Link Recovery (LR) in multi-Transmission-Reception Point (TRP) operations, particularly due to overlapping BFD-RS resources and varying channel quality across TRPs, which can lead to measurement delays and unclear UE behavior.
Innovation Solution
A method for UE in 5G NR networks to perform independent BFD and LR for each TRP by monitoring signal levels during specific time durations T1 to T5, including SNR and L1-RSRP levels, and transmitting preambles on candidate beams, while avoiding collisions and maintaining synchronization with multiple TRPs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multi-TRP operation is implemented to improve reliability and coverage, then network robustness is improved, but beam failure detection and link recovery testing becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the multi-TRP BFD and LR testing into independent TRP-specific testing phases. Each TRP is tested separately with dedicated BFD-RS resources, allowing the UE to perform beam failure detection and link recovery procedures for each TRP independently. This segmentation reduces the complexity of testing by breaking down the multi-TRP scenario into manageable single-TRP test cases, while still validating the overall robustness of multi-TRP operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary configuration of TRP-specific BFD-RS resources and evaluation periods before actual beam failure detection and link recovery testing begins. The network side pre-configures the UE with dedicated BFD-RS resources for each TRP and defines evaluation periods (T1-T5) in advance. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for complex real-time coordination during testing, reducing the overall testing complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage of multi-TRP reliability scenarios.
2Reliability
If BFD-RS resources are allocated for multiple TRPs, then coverage of beam failure scenarios is improved, but measurement delays occur due to overlapping resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent allocates dedicated BFD-RS resources for each TRP separately, preventing resource overlap between multiple TRPs. Each TRP has its own designated BFD-RS resources that are evaluated during specific time periods (T1-T5), eliminating measurement delays caused by simultaneous resource allocation. This segmentation ensures that beam failure scenarios for each TRP can be measured independently and accurately, maintaining comprehensive scenario coverage without time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic evaluation periods (T1-T5) for BFD and LR testing, where each period is dedicated to specific TRP-specific measurements. The UE performs beam failure detection and link recovery testing in structured time slots, allowing complete measurement cycles for each TRP without interference from other TRPs. This periodic approach ensures thorough coverage of beam failure scenarios while eliminating measurement delays through time-division multiplexing of TRP-specific resources.
3Measurement precision
If UE performs independent BFD and LR for each TRP, then testing accuracy is improved, but UE behavior becomes harder to synchronize across multiple TRPs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the BFD and LR testing process into independent TRP-specific phases, where the UE performs beam failure detection and link recovery procedures separately for each TRP. This segmentation allows the UE to maintain precise measurement and testing accuracy for each individual TRP by focusing on one TRP at a time, rather than attempting to synchronize complex multi-TRP operations simultaneously. Each TRP gets dedicated evaluation time, simplifying the synchronization requirement while maintaining high testing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary configuration of TRP-specific BFD-RS resources and evaluation periods before actual testing begins. The network side pre-establishes the timing and resource allocation for each TRP, allowing the UE to follow a predetermined testing sequence that is already synchronized across all TRPs. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for complex real-time synchronization during testing, as the evaluation periods (T1-T5) are pre-defined and the UE simply needs to execute the predetermined procedures for each TRP in sequence.
4Adaptability or versatility
If channel quality varies across TRPs, then network adaptability is improved, but measurement and testing becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement process into TRP-specific evaluation periods, where the UE measures channel quality parameters (SNR, L1-RSRP) for each TRP independently during dedicated time slots. This segmentation allows the UE to accurately measure and report channel quality variations across different TRPs without the measurements being confounded by simultaneous multi-TRP transmissions. Each TRP's channel quality is measured separately, making the data clearer and easier to interpret, while still capturing the network's adaptability to varying channel conditions across multiple TRPs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements TRP-specific BFD-RS resources and evaluation parameters tailored to each TRP's local channel conditions. Each TRP has dedicated measurement parameters (SNR, L1-RSRP) and evaluation criteria that are optimized for its specific channel quality characteristics. This local quality approach allows the UE to accurately measure and report the channel quality of each individual TRP, making measurement and testing easier while still capturing the overall network adaptability to varying channel conditions across different TRPs.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) configured for operation in a fifth-generation (5G) new radio (NR) network may be configured for Transmission-Reception Point (TRP) specific beam failure detection (BFD) and candidate beam detection (CBD) testing. For the BFD and CBD testing, the UE may monitor signal levels of a PSCell within an active downlink bandwidth part (DL-BWP) during an evaluation period, the signal levels of the PSCell including a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) level of a reference signal received within a first beam set from a first TRP, a layer one (L1) Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) level of a reference signal received within a second beam set from the first TRP, and a SNR level of a reference signal received within a first beam set from a second TRP.