Resource Block Indexing for NR Mixed Numerology Beamforming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in new radio access technology (NR), face challenges in efficiently configuring resource blocks (RBs) due to the high cost of transceiver units (TXRUs) for independent beamforming and the limitations of analog beamforming in frequency selective beamforming, which restricts beam direction across multiple frequency bands.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for configuring RB structures in a wireless communication system using mixed numerology in NR carriers or bonded carriers, where user equipment (UE) receives downlink signals via indexed physical resource blocks (PRBs) and transmits uplink signals aligned with synchronization signal blocks, allowing flexible resource block formation and efficient utilization of antenna elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a transceiver unit (TXRU) is provided for each antenna element to enable independent beamforming, then beamforming gain and coverage are improved, but device cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the beamforming function into two separate domains: digital beamforming for frequency-selective control and analog beamforming for directional control. This segmentation allows the system to achieve frequency-selective beamforming without requiring a TXRU for each antenna element, thereby reducing device cost while maintaining beamforming gain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate analog beamforming stage that bridges the digital baseband processing and the antenna elements. This intermediate layer uses phase shifters and attenuators to perform analog beamforming, reducing the need for multiple TXRUs while still enabling frequency-selective beamforming through digital processing of multiple analog beams.
2Device complexity
If analog beamforming is used to reduce device cost by mapping multiple antenna elements to one TXRU, then device cost is reduced, but frequency selective beamforming capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges digital beamforming and analog beamforming into a hybrid architecture. The digital beamforming provides frequency-selective control by processing different frequency bands independently, while the analog beamforming provides directional control through phase shifters. This combination achieves both frequency selective beamforming capability and reduced device cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic switching between different beamforming modes and configurations. The system can dynamically adjust the number of analog beams, the allocation of antenna elements to TXRUs, and the beamforming weights based on channel conditions and service requirements, thereby achieving frequency selective beamforming with adaptable performance.
3Device complexity
If hybrid beamforming with B TXRUs and Q antenna elements is used, then device cost is reduced compared to full digital beamforming, but the number of simultaneously transmittable beams is limited to B or less
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic beam switching and time-division multiplexing to overcome the limitation on the number of simultaneous beams. The system can dynamically switch between different beam configurations and time-multiplex multiple beam patterns, effectively increasing the number of simultaneously transmittable beams beyond the number of TXRUs by utilizing temporal diversity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for forming a resource block (RB) structure in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment (UE) receives a downlink (DL) signal via first physical resource blocks (PRBs), which are indexed by a network from a center of a band or from a center of a carrier, from the network. And, the UE transmits an uplink (UL) signal via second PRBs, which are aligned with the first PRBs according to synchronization signal (SS) blocks, to the network. Accordingly, a global PRB indexing and a local PRB indexing can be aligned with each other.