Network Entity Beam Management for NTN
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) face challenges in efficiently managing beam coverage and handovers due to the movement of satellites and user equipment, leading to increased power consumption and propagation delays, especially in low earth orbiting systems.
Innovation Solution
The system transmits time information to user equipment about upcoming beam coverage, allowing it to predict and prepare for beam changes by activating/deactivating Transmission Configuration Indicators (TCI) based on satellite ephemeris and user equipment location, reducing the need for continuous reference signal measurements and optimizing beam management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous reference signal measurements are performed for beam management in NTN, then beam coverage accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network entity transmits time information indicating when a beam will cover the user equipment in advance. This allows the user equipment to prepare for beam changes beforehand, knowing exactly when to switch beams without needing to continuously measure reference signals, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining accurate beam coverage.
2Reliability
If beam changes are made frequently to track satellite movement in NTN, then service continuity is improved, but propagation delays increase
Solution Approach 1:
The time information provides advance notice of upcoming beam coverage, allowing the user equipment to prepare for beam changes at the optimal moment. This preliminary information enables smoother transitions between beams, maintaining service continuity while minimizing the time lost during handover processes.
3Device complexity
If manual beam switching is used in NTN, then device complexity is reduced, but mobility performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The user equipment autonomously determines when to switch beams by using the received time information and its own location data. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex network-controlled beam switching procedures, maintaining low device complexity while achieving fast and accurate beam switching through autonomous decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure pertains to a network entity for a mobile telecommunications system having circuitry configured to communicate with at least one user equipment, wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit, to the at least one user equipment, time information for indicating a beam which will cover the at least one user equipment.