Radio Link Blockage Prediction for Proactive Beam Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Radio link failures in high-frequency mobile communication networks, such as 6G, are prone to blockages due to diffraction and attenuation by objects, leading to sudden signal degradation and failure before reactive beam management can switch beams, especially in Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC).
Innovation Solution
A method involving a sensing management function (SMF) that collects information on radio links between base stations and user devices, determining blockage information based on angle-of-arrival and departure, and position, to proactively manage beam switching and handovers to prevent radio link failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reactive beam management is used to switch beams based on periodic channel measurements, then beam alignment can be maintained, but radio link failure occurs when blockage degrades signal quality faster than beam switching can respond
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by using sensing capabilities to detect and locate passive objects in advance, and by proactively switching beams based on predicted blockage events before they actually occur. This allows the system to prepare beam switching actions ahead of time, eliminating the reactive delay inherent in conventional approaches and preventing radio link failure before it happens.
2Productivity
If higher frequency bands (FR2, FR3) are used to increase communication bandwidth and throughput, then data rate improves, but signal becomes increasingly prone to blockage and attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensing to detect objects that may block high-frequency signals and proactively switches beams before blockage occurs. This preliminary action is critical for FR2/FR3 operations where signals are highly susceptible to blockage, allowing the system to maintain high throughput by avoiding blockage-induced failures rather than reacting after they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing system acts as an intermediary that provides information about passive objects and their movement, enabling the beam management system to make informed decisions about beam switching. This intermediary sensing layer allows the system to anticipate blockage events and respond proactively, bridging the gap between high-frequency signal vulnerability and reliable communication.
3Measurement precision
If narrow beams with small half power beam width are used to concentrate signal energy, then directional accuracy improves, but the beam requires permanent adaptation and refinement to maintain communication link
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuously adapting and refining beams reactively, the system uses sensing to predict blockage events and performs beam switching in advance. This preliminary action reduces the need for continuous beam management operations, simplifying the overall system complexity while maintaining the precision benefits of narrow beams.
4Reliability
If dual/multi-connectivity is used with a secondary link as backup, then communication interruption during blockage is mitigated, but system complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensing to predict blockage events and proactively switches beams before failure occurs, eliminating the need for backup secondary links. This preliminary action approach provides communication continuity without requiring dual/multi-connectivity infrastructure, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing system complexity and resource consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
Inter-alia, a method is disclosed including receiving a communication report indicative of information relating to at least one radio link between a base station of the mobile communication network and a user device, wherein at least a part of the communication report is indicative of an angle-of-arrival of the respective radio link and an angle-of-departure of the respective radio link; determining a blockage information based, at least in part, on the communication report, and a position of the base station and a position of the user device, wherein the blockage information is indicative of the respective radio link and a time when a blockage of the respective radio link occurs; and providing, if a blockage information is determined, the blockage information. It is further disclosed an according apparatus, computer program and system.