Radio Link Failure Detection Using Beam and Sync Indications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication technologies face challenges in efficiently managing beam link failures, which can lead to radio link failures, particularly in 5G networks where beamforming is widely used, resulting in potential loss of connection and increased overhead in re-establishing communication.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a method that starts a timer for monitoring radio link failures based on both periodic out-of-sync indications and aperiodic indications from beam link failure monitoring, allowing for timely declaration of radio link failures and reducing the overhead of re-establishing connections by integrating beam recovery processes with radio link monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If beamforming is used to improve coverage and data rate, then signal quality is improved, but beam link failure risk increases due to narrow beam coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidbeam link stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic beam monitoring where the UE continuously monitors beam link quality using reference signals and dynamically switches between beam failure detection and recovery procedures based on real-time conditions, allowing the system to adapt to changing channel conditions while maintaining narrow beam benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where the UE monitors beam link quality and provides feedback indications to the network, enabling the network to adjust beam configurations and initiate recovery procedures based on actual link conditions, thus maintaining reliability while using beamforming

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If periodic OOS indications are used for RLF detection, then connection reliability is improved, but detection delay increases due to periodic sampling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoiddetection delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses periodic OOS indications at configured intervals to detect radio link failures, balancing the need for reliable detection with acceptable timing. The periodic nature allows the system to maintain connection reliability while managing detection delay through appropriate interval configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent starts a timer upon detecting beam link failure or a certain number of periodic OOS indications, preparing for potential RLF declaration in advance. This preliminary action allows the system to respond more quickly when the timer expires, reducing actual detection delay while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If beam recovery procedures are implemented, then beam link stability is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional monitoring and recovery steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam link stabilityVSAvoidmonitoring and recovery complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the beam failure detection and recovery processes into distinct, manageable procedures: beam failure detection through reference signal monitoring, candidate beam identification, and recovery request transmission. This segmentation makes the complex recovery process more manageable and implementable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses reference signals as an intermediary for beam quality monitoring and beam recovery procedures. These reference signals provide a standardized mechanism for both UE and network to assess beam conditions and coordinate recovery actions, simplifying the overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Loss of substance

If integrated timer-based monitoring is used for RLF, then overhead is reduced by avoiding separate recovery procedures, but measurement precision may decrease due to timer expiry thresholds

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverhead reductionVSAvoidfailure detection precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges beam failure monitoring and radio link failure monitoring into a unified timer-based procedure. The same timer is used for both beam link failures and periodic OOS indications, reducing overhead by eliminating separate recovery procedures while maintaining adequate failure detection through the integrated approach

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10659137B2Aperiodic and periodic indications for BLF and RLF

Publication Date: 2020.05.19 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

According to certain embodiments, a method (200) for use in a wireless device (305) includes starting a first timer for monitoring a radio link for a radio link failure, wherein the first timer is started based at least in part on: one or more periodic out of sync (OOS) indications associated with the radio link and aperiodic indications obtained from monitoring a beam for a beam link failure. The radio link failure is declared in response to expiry of the first timer.