Network-Controlled Repeater Beam Alignment for 5G Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The deployment of 5G systems faces challenges in enhancing cell coverage due to the use of traditional RF repeaters that cannot dynamically adjust their beam directions and widths, leading to suboptimal signal amplification and increased interference, especially in millimeter wavebands.
Innovation Solution
A network-controlled repeater (NCR) system is introduced, where a network device communicates with a repeater using DCI formats to control beam indications, time domain resources, and subcarrier spacings, enabling dynamic adjustment of repeater beams to match network and terminal equipment changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional RF repeaters are used to amplify and forward signals, then signal coverage can be enhanced, but beam directions and beam widths cannot be dynamically adjusted to match network device and terminal equipment positions, resulting in suboptimal signal amplification and increased interference to other devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic beam control for repeaters through network device configuration. The network device determines beam directions and beam widths for repeaters based on terminal positions and network conditions, allowing the repeater beams to dynamically adapt and match the positions of network devices and terminal equipment, thereby resolving the contradiction between signal amplification effectiveness and beam adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network device monitors terminal positions and network conditions, then adjusts repeater beam configurations accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that beam directions and widths are continuously optimized to match changing network conditions, improving signal amplification while reducing interference
2Area of stationary object
If traditional RF repeaters with wide beams are used, then signal coverage area is increased, but interference to other devices within larger range is significantly increased, reducing network throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring different beam widths for different repeaters based on their specific locations and service requirements. Instead of using uniform wide beams for all repeaters, the network device determines appropriate beam widths locally for each repeater, ensuring sufficient coverage area while minimizing interference to other devices in the network
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the beam width parameter of repeaters dynamically based on network conditions and terminal positions. The network device adjusts beam width parameters to optimize the balance between coverage area and interference levels, allowing the system to adapt to different deployment scenarios and traffic conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A repeater includes: a mobile termination, configured to communicate with a network device via a control link to receive control information; and a forwarding entity, configured to perform amplifying-and-forwarding of uplink (UL) and/or downlink (DL) radio frequency (RF) signals between the network device and a terminal equipment via a backhaul link and an access link, a behavior of the forwarding entity being controlled according to the control information received by the mobile termination; wherein the control information includes a first downlink control information format comprising N first information fields used for indicating a beam for access link of the repeater and N second information fields used for indicating a time-domain resource, N being an integer greater than 0; and wherein the N first information fields are sequentially associated with the N second information fields with one to one mapping, N is configured by a first higher layer parameter.