Reference Signal Process Configuration for Beamforming Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly in millimeter wave (mmW) and New Radio (NR) systems, base stations face challenges in maintaining communication links with user equipment (UE) when the direction of the UE is unknown, leading to inefficiencies in beamforming and increased processing power consumption due to the need for sweeping multiple beams and complex antenna subarray configurations.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves configuring multiple reference signal processes for each slot in a radio frame, allowing the UE to identify the appropriate process based on the slot's location and number, and transmitting control information to indicate the presence of non-periodic reference signals, enabling the UE to prepare receive beams in advance and reducing processing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beam sweeping is performed to locate unknown UE direction, then communication link establishment is possible, but processing power consumption increases and time is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary beam sweeping and identifies the best beam direction in advance, storing this information for future communications. When a UE is located, the base station already has pre-configured beamforming parameters ready, eliminating the need to perform sweeping again and reducing processing power consumption significantly
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple antenna subarrays are configured for beamforming, then directional transmission capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna array is divided into multiple independent subarrays, each capable of forming its own beam. This segmentation allows the system to achieve complex directional transmission capabilities while managing complexity by treating each subarray as an independent unit with configurable parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects and configures only the necessary number of antenna subarrays based on communication requirements. When directional transmission is needed, the appropriate subarrays are activated and configured with specific beamforming parameters, while other subarrays remain inactive, thus adapting complexity to actual needs
3Productivity
If reference signal processes are configured for each slot, then beamforming efficiency is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different reference signal processes are configured for different slots based on local requirements. Each slot can have its own reference signal configuration optimized for that specific time period, allowing the system to achieve high beamforming efficiency while managing complexity by applying different configurations only where needed rather than uniformly across all slots
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described in which a number of reference signal processes may be configured for a number of slots in a radio frame, and a corresponding reference signal process for each slot may be based at least in part on a location of the slot within the radio frame and a number of configured reference signal processes. An indication may be provided to a user equipment (UE) in each slot that indicates a presence or absence of a reference signal transmission in the slot.