Network-Assisted Narrow Beam Selection for 5G Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly in the millimeter wave spectrum, mobility handovers are challenging due to high path loss, leading to signal loss between cell sites unless a large number of sites are deployed, as existing technologies rely on wide beams for initial handover and narrow beams only later, without sufficient antenna gain.
Innovation Solution
The network assists user equipment in handover by selecting a higher gain narrow beam based on geometric relationships between cell sites and the user equipment, using trigonometry and historical handoff data to recommend and measure narrow beam candidates, thereby improving handover performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If wide beam is used for handover, then coverage area is improved, but signal gain deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beamforming process into two distinct phases: a wide beam phase for initial cell search and handover triggering, and a narrow beam phase for actual data transmission. This segmentation allows the system to first establish connectivity using broad coverage, then transition to high-gain narrow beams for reliable communication, thus resolving the contradiction between coverage area and signal gain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the user equipment perform measurements and trigger handover using wide beams before the actual handover execution. The network then calculates optimal narrow beam parameters in advance based on geometric relationships, preparing the narrow beam configuration before switching occurs. This preliminary wide beam measurement phase enables seamless transition to narrow beam mode with pre-calculated optimal parameters.
2Reliability
If narrow beam is used for handover, then signal gain is improved, but handover difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the network device as an intermediary that calculates optimal narrow beam parameters based on geometric relationships between cell sites and user equipment. Instead of requiring the user equipment to independently search and select narrow beams (which would be complex and difficult), the network device performs the calculation and provides guidance, significantly simplifying the handover process while achieving high signal gain through narrow beams.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device performs preliminary calculation of narrow beam parameters using known geometric relationships (angles, distances between cell sites) before handover execution. This pre-calculation eliminates the need for complex real-time beam searching during handover, making the process easier to execute while maintaining high signal gain through optimized narrow beam selection.
3Reliability
If more cell sites are deployed, then signal coverage is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of beam width dynamically based on handover phase and geometric relationships. Instead of deploying more cell sites to improve coverage, the system achieves better signal coverage by transitioning from wide beams during handover initiation to narrow beams during data transmission, extracting maximum gain from existing infrastructure through parameter optimization rather than physical expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of adding more physical cell sites with a computational approach using trigonometric calculations of geometric relationships. By substituting physical deployment with mathematical optimization of beam parameters based on known cell site geometries, the system achieves improved signal coverage without increasing infrastructure complexity or deployment costs.
Data Source
AI summary
The described technology is generally directed towards having a wireless network device assist a user equipment to facilitate narrow beam handover. A network device determines narrow beam handover candidates of neighbor cell sites based on geometric relationships between the user equipment, a serving cell site and the neighbor cell site candidates. Historical information such as previous narrow beam handovers from a serving beam to neighbor narrow beams can be used to select a lesser number of the possible candidate beams. The network device sends the candidate beams to the user equipment, which then measures and reports the measurements to the network device. If handover criteria based on the measurement is met, the network device orders a handover to a selected narrow beam, e.g., the narrow beam with the best measurement data of the candidates.