PUCCH Spatial Relation Activation via RX Beam Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Next-generation wireless communication networks face inefficiencies in PUCCH beam management, leading to signaling waste due to redundant configurations and inadequate beam switching, as the base station lacks information about the UE's RX beams, resulting in unnecessary attempts to switch PUCCH beams.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for a User Equipment (UE) to receive RRC and MAC control elements to configure and manage PUCCH spatial relations, allowing the UE to report updated lists of corresponding RX beams to the base station, thereby reducing redundancy and enabling informed beam switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the base station configures multiple PUCCH spatial relations with multiple ssb-indexes, then the PUCCH beam coverage is improved, but signaling waste occurs because the UE uses the same RX beam for multiple SS/PBCH blocks
Solution Approach 1:
The UE feeds back information about its RX beam usage to the base station, enabling the base station to understand which ssb-indexes correspond to the same RX beam. This feedback mechanism allows the base station to optimize future PUCCH spatial relation configurations and avoid sending redundant beam switching requests for ssb-indexes that map to the same RX beam.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station pre-configures multiple PUCCH spatial relations with different ssb-indexes in the RRC message, preparing ahead of time for potential beam switching scenarios. This preliminary configuration allows the UE to have multiple spatial relations ready, reducing the need for frequent RRC reconfiguration messages when beam switching is actually needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the base station sends beam switching requests for different ssb-indexes, then beam diversity is achieved, but unnecessary signaling occurs when the UE continues using the same beam
Solution Approach 1:
The UE provides feedback to the base station about its current RX beam usage and which ssb-indexes correspond to the same beam. This enables the base station to make informed decisions about beam switching requests, avoiding unnecessary MAC CE signaling when the UE would continue using the same beam regardless of the ssb-index change.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter representation by introducing a mapping between ssb-indexes and RX beam identifiers. This allows the base station to track which ssb-indexes result in the same effective beam, enabling it to adjust its beam management strategy and reduce redundant signaling by recognizing when parameter changes (ssb-index switches) will not actually change the transmitted beam.
3Device complexity
If the base station lacks information about UE's RX beams, then configuration simplicity is maintained, but informed beam switching cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The UE feeds back RX beam information to the base station, providing the base station with knowledge about which ssb-indexes map to the same RX beam without significantly increasing configuration complexity. This feedback enables the base station to perform informed beam switching decisions, improving beam management reliability while maintaining relatively simple configuration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an intermediary mapping relationship between ssb-indexes and RX beam identifiers. This intermediary layer allows the base station to infer RX beam information from ssb-index configurations without directly configuring or managing RX beams, thus improving beam switching accuracy while avoiding significant increases in configuration complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A user equipment (UE) is provided. The UE includes one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon and at least one processor coupled to the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. The at least one processor is configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to perform following actions: receive, from a base station, a radio resource control (RRC) message to configure a plurality of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) spatial relations; and receive, from the base station, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE). The MAC CE includes a first field and a second field. The first field indicates at least one of the plurality of configured PUCCH spatial relations to be activated. The second field indicates a plurality of PUCCH resources corresponding to the at least one PUCCH spatial relation indicated by the first field.