Physical Layer TCI Mapping for Low-Overhead Beam Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly 5G NR, face challenges in optimizing power consumption and spectral efficiency, especially at higher frequency bands, due to inefficient configuration of transmission configuration indicators (TCI) for beams, carrier frequencies, and channels.
Innovation Solution
A network entity configures user equipment (UE) with physical layer TCI configurations for beams, carrier frequencies, and channels, enabling common waveform configurations and reducing configuration payload overhead, while allowing for faster signaling and power efficiency optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex receivers are used to handle varying channel conditions in higher frequency bands, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic waveform selection and TCI configuration that adapts to varying channel conditions. The system dynamically switches between different waveforms (CP-OFDM, DFT-s-OFDM, SC) and adjusts TCI states based on channel quality, allowing the receiver complexity to match the actual communication requirements rather than always using maximum complexity, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical layer parameters including waveform type, subcarrier spacing, and TCI configuration based on channel conditions. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system optimizes the balance between communication reliability and receiver complexity, enabling reliable communication in challenging higher frequency bands without consistently requiring maximum receiver capability
2Productivity
If separate configurations are applied for each beam, carrier-frequency, and channel, then communication efficiency is improved, but configuration overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges configuration information by introducing a common TCI configuration that can be applied across multiple beams, carrier frequencies, and channels. Instead of configuring each element separately, the system allows a single TCI configuration to cover multiple physical layer configurations, significantly reducing signaling overhead while maintaining the ability to optimize for specific conditions when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The TCI configuration structure is designed to be universal and multi-functional, where a single TCI configuration can serve multiple purposes across different beams, carriers, and channels. This universal configuration approach reduces the total number of configurations needed while still providing optimized settings for various communication scenarios
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects presented herein may enable a UE to be configured with various types of physical layer TCI configurations based on beam(s), carrier-frequencies, cells, and/or channels used by the UE for communication. In one aspect, a UE receives, from a network entity, an indication of a set of physical layer configurations that is capable of being signaled by a TCI, where the set of physical layer configurations is associated with a set of TCI configurations. The UE receives, from the network entity, the set of TCI configurations associated with the set of physical layer configurations based on the indication, where the set of TCI configurations is associated with a set of beams, a set of carrier frequencies, a set of cells, a set of channels, or a combination thereof.