Reconfigurable Surface Successive Tuning for RIS Beamforming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communications systems face challenges in efficiently using reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) due to the inability to perform coherent beamforming, leading to high power consumption and limited throughput, as conventional beamforming techniques for active antenna units (AAUs) are not applicable to passive RISs.
Innovation Solution
Implement successive, iterative signaling between a base station and a user equipment (UE) via a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) to enable efficient reflection matrix configuration selection, allowing for improved throughput and reduced power consumption by adjusting reflection matrix configurations through iterative reference signal transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional beamforming techniques for active antenna units (AAUs) are used, then coherent beamforming can be achieved, but power consumption increases and the techniques are not applicable to passive reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a base station as an intermediary that performs measurements on reference signals transmitted by the UE via the RIS. The base station then determines the RIS configuration based on these measurements and provides feedback to the UE. This mediator approach allows the passive RIS to achieve beamforming capability without requiring active beamforming components at the RIS itself, thus avoiding the high power consumption associated with active antenna units.
2Use of energy by moving object
If passive reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) are used, then power consumption is reduced, but conventional beamforming techniques cannot be applied and throughput is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the base station measures reference signals transmitted through the RIS, determines the optimal RIS configuration based on these measurements, and provides feedback to the UE. This feedback loop enables the system to adaptively optimize the RIS configuration to maximize throughput while maintaining the low power consumption benefits of passive RIS devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a codebook of pre-configured RIS configurations that are prepared in advance. The base station selects from these pre-configured options based on channel measurements, which speeds up the configuration process and improves throughput by avoiding complex real-time optimization calculations at the passive RIS.
3Reliability
If iterative reference signal transmissions are performed for RIS configuration, then reflection matrix configuration can be optimized, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs iterative reference signal transmissions and RIS configuration optimizations only when necessary to achieve the desired performance level. The process continues until sufficient performance is achieved, avoiding unnecessary iterations and reducing signaling overhead while maintaining adequate configuration accuracy.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The described techniques enhance wireless communication performance by enabling efficient RIS reflection matrix configuration, achieving higher throughput and lower power consumption, thereby improving network efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a reconfigurable surface may be used to reflect signals between a user equipment (UE) and a base station
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may be configured to transmit, to a base station via a reconfigurable surface at a first transmission occasion, a first reference signal associated with a first reflection matrix configuration used by the reconfigurable surface to reflect signals, the first reflection matrix configuration included within a set of reflection matrix configurations. The UE may then transmit, to the base station via the reconfigurable surface at a second transmission occasion, a second reference signal associated with a second reflection matrix configuration used by the reconfigurable surface to reflect signals, the second reflection matrix configuration included within the set of reflection matrix configurations. The may then communicate with the base station via the reconfigurable surface based on transmitting the first reference signal, the second reference signal, or both.