Paging Group Segmentation for mmW Beam Sweeping Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, particularly in NR systems, transmitting paging information using beam sweeping techniques is inefficient in terms of time, power consumption, and system resources, especially when the base station is unaware of the UE's location, leading to unnecessary resource usage and potential battery life issues for UEs.

Innovation Solution

The method involves transmitting paging group information through control channel transmissions using directional beams, allowing the base station to selectively transmit to specific UE groups, reducing the need for each UE to detect information intended for others, and optimizing resource usage by incorporating this information in synchronization signals or broadcast channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beam sweeping is used to transmit paging information to all UEs, then paging coverage is improved, but time consumption and power consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging coverageVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments UEs into different paging groups and transmits paging information to each group using targeted beam directions. Instead of sweeping through all possible beam directions for every UE, the base station identifies which paging groups have pending messages and transmits only to those groups using specific beam directions. This segmentation approach maintains reliable paging delivery while significantly reducing the time required compared to exhaustive beam sweeping for all UEs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If beam sweeping is used to transmit paging information, then paging reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging delivery reliabilityVSAvoidUE power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting UEs into paging groups and transmitting only to groups with pending messages, the patent reduces the number of beam directions that UEs need to monitor. UEs can determine whether their paging group has a message and avoid power-intensive beam sweeping operations, thereby reducing their power consumption while maintaining reliable paging delivery for messages that do need to be delivered.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by transmitting paging information only to the extent necessary - i.e., only to paging groups that have messages waiting for them. Instead of performing complete beam sweeping to all UEs regardless of whether they have messages, the system performs the minimal necessary transmissions to maintain reliable paging delivery, thereby reducing overall power consumption in the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of information

If comprehensive paging information is transmitted to all UEs, then information completeness is improved, but system resource usage increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepaging information completenessVSAvoidsystem resource usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments paging information transmission by grouping UEs and transmitting only to groups that have messages. This ensures that paging information is transmitted completely and accurately to all UEs that need it, while avoiding wasteful transmissions to UEs without messages. The segmentation approach maintains information completeness for relevant UEs while reducing overall system resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and transmits only the necessary paging information - specifically, only to paging groups that have messages waiting for them. By taking out the essential paging transmissions and eliminating redundant ones, the system maintains complete information delivery to users who need it while reducing system resource usage associated with unnecessary transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3566511B1Methods and apparatuses for conveying paging group information through control channel transmissions
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3566511B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3566511B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3566511B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a wireless communications system that supports directional communications, a millimeter wave, mmW, base station and a user equipment, UE, may utilize directional transmissions during a paging procedure. In some cases, a base station may use beam sweeping to transmit a control channel, which may contain a paging group information. The base station configures the UE or a group of UEs to monitor for the paging group information over a set of time-frequency resources (1205). A UE that receives the paging group information determines transmission resources to monitor for a subsequent data channel transmission based at least in part on the identified paging group information (1210, 1215, 1220). The base station then transmits the paging information over the indicated transmission resources.