Network-Controlled Repeater Beam Scheduling for Power and Interference Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional repeaters in wireless communication systems waste power and cause interference by forwarding signals regardless of their meaningfulness, and controlling their ON-OFF operations through side control information increases signaling overhead.
Innovation Solution
A network-controlled repeater (NCR) system that receives a control message from a base station for beam index and time resource, allowing the NCR-Fwd to perform transmission or reception only at specified time resources, reducing ambiguity and signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional repeater forwards all received signals regardless of meaningfulness, then signal coverage is maintained, but power is wasted and interference is caused to nearby UEs and base stations
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater transitions from static continuous operation to dynamic ON-OFF operation based on received control messages. The repeater adapts its operational state (active or inactive) according to time resources indicated by the base station, allowing it to maintain signal coverage when needed while conserving power when not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The repeater changes its operational parameters (transmission/reception states) based on control messages from the base station. By receiving control messages that indicate time resources and beam indices, the repeater adjusts its behavior to perform transmission or reception operations only during specified time resources, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining necessary signal coverage.
2Reliability
If conventional repeater forwards all received signals, then signal coverage is maintained, but unnecessary interference is caused to nearby UEs and base stations
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater dynamically adjusts its forwarding operation based on control messages from the base station. By switching between ON and OFF states according to indicated time resources, the repeater provides signal coverage only when necessary and avoids causing interference during periods when forwarding is not required.
Solution Approach 2:
The repeater changes its operational parameters by receiving control messages that specify time resources and beam indices. This allows the repeater to perform transmission or reception operations only during specified time resources, thereby maintaining signal coverage while minimizing interference generation.
3Loss of energy
If base station instructs repeater to perform ON-OFF operation via side control information, then repeater power waste is reduced, but signaling overhead is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The control message serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides both beam index information and time resource indication for the repeater's ON-OFF operation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate control signals, thereby reducing signaling overhead while still achieving effective power management of the repeater.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines beam indication and time resource indication into a single control message transmitted to the repeater. By merging these control functions, the system reduces signaling overhead compared to transmitting separate control information for each function, while still enabling the repeater to perform power-efficient ON-OFF operations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If repeater operation is not clearly defined, then operational flexibility is maintained, but ambiguity in understanding between base station and repeater occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The control message mechanism establishes a feedback loop where the base station provides explicit instructions to the repeater regarding time resources and beam indices. This clear feedback ensures that the repeater's operational understanding aligns with the base station's intentions, eliminating ambiguity while maintaining the flexibility to adjust operations as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station provides preliminary control messages to the repeater that clearly define the time resources and beam indices for upcoming operations. By providing this advance notice with explicit parameters, the system ensures that both the base station and repeater have a clear, unambiguous understanding of the intended operations before they occur, preventing operational ambiguity.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a method and a device for operating an NCR in a wireless communication system. The NCR includes NCR-MT and NCR-Fwd. The NCR-MT receives a control message from a base station and controls a forwarding operation of the NCR-Fwd on the basis of the control message. The control message informs a beam index and a time resource. The NCR-Fwd transmits or receives a signal only after the NCR-MT receives an indication for one or more beams to be used in transmission or reception through one or more time resources on an access link by the NCR-Fwd. That is, the NCR-Fwd performs a transmission or reception operation through the time resource and does not perform the transmission or reception operation through any other time resource, that is, a time resource for which the control message does not indicate a beam.