Physical Sidelink Beam Sweeping for Accurate UE Beam Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently selecting optimal beams for transmission and reception on physical sidelink channels, leading to degraded communications and resource wastage due to poor beam selection, especially in high-frequency bands like FR2.

Innovation Solution

A method involving beam sweeping on multiple physical sidelink channels with feedback mechanisms to select the most suitable beam for data transmission or reception, using techniques such as periodic or semi-periodic beam sweeping and feedback on PSFCH channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If beam sweeping is performed on multiple physical sidelink channels, then beam selection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam selection accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The beam sweeping process is segmented across multiple physical sidelink channels (PSSCH and PSCCH), allowing the system to divide the complex beam selection task into manageable portions. Each channel carries beam-specific feedback information, enabling the UE to systematically evaluate multiple beams without overwhelming complexity in a single channel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary beam sweeping before actual data transmission. By performing beam sweeping in advance on multiple channels and collecting feedback, the system prepares beam selection decisions before the main transmission begins, reducing real-time complexity and improving accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple beams are used for transmission, then communication reliability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The beam sweeping and feedback mechanism operates periodically rather than continuously. The UE performs beam sweeping at specific intervals, collects feedback on PSFCH, and selects beams based on periodic measurements. This periodic operation reduces power consumption compared to continuous monitoring while maintaining reliable beam selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses self-service feedback mechanisms where the receiving UE automatically provides feedback on beam quality through PSFCH without requiring additional signaling or manual intervention. This self-service approach reduces the need for complex control procedures and lowers overall power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If feedback mechanisms are implemented on PSFCH, then beam selection accuracy is improved, but signaling resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam selection accuracyVSAvoidsignaling resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The feedback mechanism on PSFCH is designed with local quality - each feedback signal is targeted and specific to particular beams and channels. Rather than broadcasting comprehensive feedback, the system uses localized feedback elements that provide precise beam information only where needed, reducing overall signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial feedback action by collecting feedback only for beams that are actually used or most relevant to the current transmission conditions. This partial approach avoids the excessive action of monitoring and signaling all possible beams, reducing resource consumption while maintaining sufficient accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Reliability

If beam sweeping is performed periodically, then communication quality is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The beam sweeping is performed periodically at optimized intervals that balance communication quality improvement with time efficiency. By setting appropriate periodicity, the system maintains good beam selection accuracy without the excessive time consumption of continuous or overly frequent sweeping operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12463709B2Beam sweep and beam indication on physical sidelink channels

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may transmit communications on a plurality of physical sidelink channels with a plurality of beams for a plurality of subchannels. The UE may select a beam for transmission or reception from among the plurality of beams. Numerous other aspects are provided.