Probabilistic Beam Management for Low-Latency mmWave Beam Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Beamforming in mmW communication systems faces challenges such as high propagation loss, atmospheric attenuation, and obstruction, leading to inefficient beam sweeping that consumes significant power and incurs large delays, especially when the set of candidate beams does not include the best beam.
Innovation Solution
A user equipment (UE) determines the probability of each beam in a set of candidate beams being the target beam based on propagation path parameters, selecting a subset to measure, thereby optimizing the beam management procedure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If beam sweeping is performed over all candidate beams to ensure accurate beam selection, then beam selection accuracy is improved, but power consumption and latency increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selecting and measuring only a subset of candidate beams based on probability thresholds rather than sweeping all beams. The UE determines probabilities for each candidate beam and selectively measures only those exceeding a threshold, reducing power consumption while maintaining acceptable beam selection accuracy through probabilistic filtering
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of beam measurement from deterministic (measure all beams) to probabilistic (measure beams based on calculated probability). By computing probability values for each candidate beam using propagation path parameters and selectively measuring based on these probabilities, the system optimizes the balance between accuracy and power consumption
2Measurement precision
If beam sweeping is performed over all candidate beams to ensure accurate beam selection, then beam selection accuracy is improved, but latency increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces latency by performing partial beam sweeping only on candidate beams that meet probability thresholds. By calculating probabilities first and then selectively measuring only high-probability beams, the system avoids time-consuming measurements on low-probability beams while maintaining beam selection accuracy through the probabilistic selection mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating probability values for each candidate beam before performing actual beam measurements. This preliminary probability assessment allows the system to identify and prioritize high-probability beams, enabling faster beam management by avoiding measurements on low-probability beams from the outset
3Reliability
If the set of candidate beams is expanded to ensure the best beam is included, then beam selection reliability is improved, but power consumption and measurement time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the beam selection approach from exhaustive to probabilistic by introducing probability calculations based on propagation path parameters. This parameter change allows the system to handle expanded candidate beam sets efficiently by computing probabilities and selectively measuring only high-probability beams, maintaining reliability while improving productivity through intelligent filtering
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces probability values as an intermediary mechanism between the candidate beam set and the actual measurement process. These probability values, derived from propagation path parameters, serve as a filtering layer that identifies high-probability beams for measurement, enabling the system to manage expanded candidate sets without proportionally increasing power consumption or measurement time
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. For example, a user equipment (UE) may determine a probability of each beam in an initial set of candidate beams being a target beam (for example, a best beam given current channel conditions) according to a current source beam and one or more parameters that relate to a propagation path from a transmitter to the UE. Accordingly, the UE may select, among the beams in the initial set of candidate beams, a set of candidate beams to measure in a beam management procedure according to the respective probabilities of each candidate beam being the target beam, which may reduce power consumption at the UE, reduce a beam selection or beam switching latency, and/or improve performance associated with beamformed communications.