Paging Timing Alignment for Massive MIMO Beam Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems with a large number of antennas, devices face challenges in effectively paging mobile stations due to the need to determine the appropriate RX beam pattern upon returning from idle mode, as the previously used receive direction may no longer be effective.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow mobile stations to transmit a parameter M representing the number of RX beam instances required for beam steering, enabling the determination of a timing for receiving a paging message based on this parameter, ensuring efficient communication by aligning the paging message transmission with the mobile station's beam steering capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large number of antennas are used to improve communication capacity and coverage, then the system can support more subscribers and data traffic, but the complexity of beam steering and paging timing synchronization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile station performs beam steering in advance before returning from idle mode to connected mode, determining the optimal receive beam direction beforehand. This preliminary beam steering action ensures that when the paging message is received, the mobile station is already configured with the correct beam direction, eliminating the need for complex real-time beam switching during paging reception.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the paging timing based on the mobile station's beam steering capabilities and configuration. The base station receives beam steering capability information from the mobile station and uses this dynamic information to determine appropriate paging timing, allowing the system to adapt to different device configurations and capabilities.
2Reliability
If the mobile station uses directional beams in idle mode, then the receive sensitivity is improved, but the timing for receiving paging messages becomes more difficult to synchronize
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile station provides feedback to the base station about its beam steering capabilities and configuration during the random access procedure. The base station uses this feedback information to determine and communicate the appropriate paging timing to the mobile station, ensuring that both sides are synchronized regarding when to expect paging messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the paging timing parameters based on the mobile station's beam steering configuration. Instead of using fixed paging timing, the system adjusts the timing parameters dynamically according to the number of beam instances and steering configuration, allowing optimal timing that accounts for the directional beam characteristics.
3Reliability
If beam steering is performed continuously to maintain optimal receive direction, then the communication reliability is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous beam steering, the system performs beam steering periodically or event-driven. The mobile station performs beam steering when transitioning from idle to connected mode, and the base station performs beam steering when there is data to transmit. This periodic approach maintains communication reliability while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for paging configuration in a wireless network is provided. The method includes transmitting, to a base station, a parameter M representing a number of receiving (RX) beam instances at the mobile station in idle mode for the mobile station to finish one round of beam steering. The method also includes determining a timing for receiving a paging message from the base station, the timing being a function of the parameter M, the paging message comprising a mobile station identifier. The method further includes receiving the paging message from the base station based on the determined timing.