Network-Assisted Beam Discovery for D2D Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
In device-to-device (D2D) communication, the existing methods for beam acquisition in higher frequency bands are inefficient due to the large number of possible beam combinations, leading to increased latency and resource overhead.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves network-assisted beam discovery, where the New Generation NodeB (gNB) provides angular parameters and transmission/reception resources to reduce the initial set of possible spatial domain angles for beam sweep, thereby reducing sweep time and beam acquisition latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full beam sweep is performed to ensure complete beam acquisition coverage, then beam acquisition reliability is improved, but beam acquisition latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs preliminary actions by determining and providing assistance information (angular parameters, spatial domain angles) to the transmitting device before the actual beam sweep begins. This pre-computation of candidate beam directions based on available spatial information allows the transmitting device to limit its beam sweep to a reduced set of angles, thereby maintaining acquisition reliability while significantly reducing the time required for complete beam coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The network node acts as an intermediary that provides assistance information (angular parameters, spatial domain angles) to the transmitting device. This intermediary information serves as a guide that enables the transmitting device to perform a targeted beam sweep rather than an exhaustive search, thus resolving the contradiction between comprehensive coverage and rapid acquisition
2Loss of time
If network node provides assistance information to limit beam sweep angles, then beam acquisition latency is reduced, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameters of the beam sweep operation by providing angular parameters and spatial domain angle information as assistance data. Instead of sweeping through all possible beam directions, the system transforms the beam acquisition process into a targeted search within a limited angular range defined by the assistance information, thereby reducing latency while the signaling overhead is managed through efficient parameter representation
Solution Approach 2:
The network node provides partial information (angular parameters and spatial domain angles) that is sufficient to reduce beam sweep latency but not necessarily complete information for all possible scenarios. This partial action approach achieves the primary goal of latency reduction while keeping signaling overhead manageable, as the assistance information is tailored to the specific spatial context rather than providing exhaustive beam configuration data
Data Source
AI summary
An example method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium are provided for enabling beam based discovery and direct connectivity using network assisted beam discovery and corresponding signaling to at least reduce sweep time and beam acquisition for D2D discovery operations. In an example implementation, the method may include determining, by a network device of a communication network, information including an indication of at least one of data, a control element, or a relative reference point for identifying a beam sweeping angular spread for device-to-device discovery operations for device-to-device communication. The example method may further include sending towards a set of network nodes the information for the device-to-device discovery in the communication network.