Configurable Reflective Surface Beam Control via Assisting Node
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in establishing reliable directional communications over high path loss RF bands, such as FR2 or mmW, due to the complexity and overhead of beam training procedures, especially when multiple assisting devices and nodes are involved.
Innovation Solution
The use of an assisting node (AN) coupled with a configurable reflective surface to control the reflection characteristic, facilitating communication link establishment between devices by leveraging established communication links with the AN and using beam training information to determine optimal reflection configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beam training procedures are used to establish directional communications over high path loss RF bands, then communication reliability is improved, but system overhead and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an assisting node as an intermediary between the transmitting and receiving devices. This assisting node performs beam training with both devices and uses the obtained beam information to configure a reflective surface that directs signals between the devices. By mediating the beam training process, the assisting node reduces the direct complexity between end devices while maintaining reliable directional communication links over high path loss RF bands.
Solution Approach 2:
The assisting node performs beam training procedures in advance with both the transmitting and receiving devices before establishing the actual communication link. The beam training information obtained preliminarily is stored and used to configure the reflective surface for subsequent communications. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated beam training during data transmission, reducing overall system complexity while ensuring reliable directional communication.
2Area of stationary object
If multiple assisting devices and nodes are involved in beam training, then communication coverage is improved, but training overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple assisting nodes, each performing partial beam training procedures with the transmitting and receiving devices. Instead of requiring one assisting node to perform exhaustive beam training, multiple nodes perform simpler, partial training procedures. The device can then select from multiple available assisting nodes, achieving broader coverage while reducing the training overhead burden on any single node and the overall system.
3Measurement precision
If configurable reflective surfaces are used to control signal reflection, then directional communication precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex reflective surface control functionality into a separate assisting node, which is co-located with or controls the configurable reflective surface. The transmitting and receiving devices only need to perform simplified beam training with the assisting node, obtaining directional information without directly managing the complex reflective surface configurations. This extraction reduces the complexity burden on end devices while maintaining precise directional communication through the assisting node's control of the reflective surface.
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 reduces the overhead and complexity of beam training, enabling more reliable and robust communication links over high frequency RF bands, while also improving spectral efficiency, data rates, system capacity, latency, and power consumption.
Implementation Method 1
controlling a reflection characteristic of a configurable reflective surface in accordance with the parameter for directional reception of signals from the first node and the parameter for directional transmission of signals to the second node
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for establishing directional communications between two communication nodes via a configurable reflective surface. In some aspects, an assisting node (AN) may control a reflection characteristic (which may dictate or influence how signals reflect off of the configurable reflective surface) in accordance with parameters or configurations for directional communication between the two communication nodes. For example, the AN may use a first beam for directional communication with the first node and a second beam for directional communication with the second node, and the AN may control the reflection characteristic in accordance with an inferred incident direction of signaling at the configurable reflective surface and a desired reflected direction of the signaling from the configurable reflective surface that are associated with the first beam and the second beam, respectively.