Intelligent Reflecting Surface Segmentation for Multi-Node Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity, hardware costs, and energy consumption in wireless communication networks, particularly in ultra-dense networking environments, pose challenges for serving large numbers of user devices simultaneously, such as in 5G and beyond, with issues like network interference and complex signal processing.
Innovation Solution
The use of intelligent reflecting devices (IRDs) that can group nodes and divide surface elements into regions, allowing for efficient communication by setting independent communication parameters and reflection angles, enabling simultaneous communication with multiple nodes with reduced resource usage and improved spectral efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If more base stations are deployed in ultra-dense networking environments, then network capacity density increases, but hardware costs and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS) as intermediary elements that passively reflect and manipulate wireless signals between base stations and user devices. These surfaces consist of numerous programmable reflecting elements that can dynamically adjust signal phases and amplitudes, enabling enhanced network capacity without deploying additional active base station hardware, thus reducing hardware costs while maintaining productivity gains
2Productivity
If more base stations are deployed in ultra-dense networking environments, then network capacity density increases, but network interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling different regions of the intelligent reflecting surface to independently control signal characteristics. Each reflecting element can be programmed with specific phase and amplitude adjustments tailored to its local position and the specific user device it serves, creating localized signal optimization zones that enhance desired signals while suppressing interference in other spatial regions
3Productivity
If spectrum spread from sub-6G to millimeter or terahertz waves is used, then network capacity increases, but signal processing complexity and hardware costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex active signal processing hardware with passive intelligent reflecting surfaces that manipulate millimeter-wave and terahertz signals through geometric phase control. Instead of using expensive and complex active components like power amplifiers and phase shifters at high frequencies, the system uses programmable reflecting elements that achieve signal control through passive phase modulation, significantly reducing hardware complexity while maintaining high network capacity
4Productivity
If spectrum spread from sub-6G to millimeter or terahertz waves is used, then network capacity increases, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by designing intelligent reflecting surfaces that passively manipulate signals without requiring active power amplification or complex signal generation. The reflecting elements use passive phase modulation through geometric phase control, consuming minimal energy compared to traditional active components. The system leverages the incident signal's own energy and redirects it through programmable reflection patterns, achieving high network capacity with dramatically reduced energy consumption
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
This approach allows for effective communication with a large number of nodes with low time-frequency resource usage, high spectrum efficiency, and improved data transmission quality, addressing the challenges of complexity and cost in ultra-dense networks.
Implementation Method 1
a first node may transmit signals to a plurality of second nodes via the one or more intelligent reflecting devices
Data Source
AI summary
This document generally relates to wireless communication systems that involve one or more intelligent reflecting devices. A plurality of second nodes that communicate with a first node may be grouped into node groups based on one or more communication parameters between the plurality of second nodes and an intelligent reflecting device. In turn, the first node may transmit signals to the plurality of second nodes via the intelligent reflecting device according to a time schedule based on the node grouping. In addition or alternatively, an intelligent reflecting device may include surface elements that are divided into multiple surface element regions. The first node may communicate with the multiple surface element regions independently in order to service the plurality of second nodes.