Multi-link PDCCH Monitoring for Beam Blocking Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G networks, face challenges with robustness against beam pair link blocking, leading to downtime and resource-intensive recovery procedures when single beam-pair links fail, especially in millimeter-wave communications where high path-loss and susceptibility to blockage are prevalent.
Innovation Solution
Configuring user equipment (UE) to monitor multiple beam-pair links for downlink control channel transmissions, allowing for robust feedback to the base station, thereby increasing throughput and reducing downtime by switching to alternative beams when one link is blocked or experiences low signal quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If single beam-pair link is used for downlink control channel transmissions, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to susceptibility to blockage and path-loss in millimeter-wave communications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single beam-pair link into multiple beam-pair links for monitoring. The UE is configured to monitor a first beam-pair link and a second beam-pair link separately, with each link having its own transmit beam and receive beam. This segmentation allows the system to switch between links when one is blocked, improving reliability without requiring complete redundancy of the entire communication system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple beam-pair links before blocking occurs. The base station configures the UE with multiple beam-pair links in advance, and the UE monitors these links proactively. When blocking is detected on one link, the system can immediately switch to a pre-configured alternative link, avoiding the need for resource-intensive recovery procedures.
2Reliability
If multiple beam-pair links are monitored, then reliability is improved against blockage, but loss of time increases due to monitoring overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring alternative beam-pair links before failure occurs. The base station provides configuration information for multiple beam-pair links in advance, including transmit beam and receive beam parameters. When blocking is detected on the active link, the UE can immediately switch to a pre-configured alternative link without waiting for recovery procedures, thereby minimizing downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the UE monitors the quality of multiple beam-pair links and provides feedback to the base station. The UE can detect blocking conditions on the active link and switch to an alternative link, then feedback the link switch status to the base station. This feedback loop enables rapid detection and response to link failures, reducing downtime compared to traditional recovery procedures.
3Reliability
If multiple beam-pair links are monitored, then reliability is improved, but loss of energy increases due to additional monitoring operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring task into separate beam-pair link monitoring operations. Instead of continuously monitoring all links with equal intensity, the UE monitors the active beam-pair link with high priority and monitors alternative links with lower priority or less frequent checks. This segmented monitoring approach reduces overall energy consumption compared to continuous full monitoring, while still maintaining the ability to detect and switch to alternative links when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by monitoring only the necessary number of beam-pair links based on configuration. The UE monitors a first beam-pair link and a second beam-pair link as configured, rather than monitoring all possible links. This partial monitoring approach reduces energy consumption compared to exhaustive monitoring of all potential links, while still providing sufficient redundancy to handle blocking scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to wireless communications and, more particularly, multi-link PDCCH monitoring. A UE may receive signaling configuring it to operate in at least one of a set of different modes of monitoring beam-pair links, wherein each beam-pair link comprises a transmit beam configured to be used by a base station (BS) for beamformed transmissions and a corresponding receive beam used by the UE. The UE may monitor at least two or more beam-pair links for downlink control channel transmissions based, at least in part, on the received signaling, and may transmit feedback to the BS based, at least in part, on the monitored beam-pair links.