Repeater Channel Quality Reporting for 5G Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, especially in 5G NR, repeaters amplify unwanted signals along with wanted signals, leading to a reduction in effective signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR), and existing methods for determining channel quality are inefficient, requiring multiple beam measurements by base stations and user equipment.

Innovation Solution

A method where repeaters, such as class B repeaters, report internal RF parameters and channel quality metrics to base stations, enabling the determination of channel quality and configuration for improved communication scheduling, thereby optimizing beamforming and resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If repeaters amplify signals to improve coverage and hearability, then signal reach is improved, but unwanted signals are also amplified leading to reduced SINR

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidSINR

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a channel quality measurement mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the repeater and base station. The repeater measures channel quality metrics (CQI, SINR, RSRP, RSRQ) on received downlink signals and reports these measurements to the base station, enabling informed scheduling decisions that account for the degraded channel conditions caused by repeater amplification of unwanted signals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback loop where the repeater continuously measures channel quality metrics and reports them to the base station. The base station uses this feedback information to adjust scheduling decisions, resource allocation, and transmission parameters, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to the degraded channel conditions caused by repeater operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If multiple beam measurements are performed by base stations and user equipment to determine channel quality, then measurement accuracy is improved, but system complexity and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel quality measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the repeater to perform self-service by autonomously measuring channel quality metrics on received downlink signals and reporting these measurements to the base station. This shifts the measurement burden from the base station and user equipment to the repeater itself, reducing the complexity and resource consumption required at the base station and UE while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11570640B2Techniques for coordinating scheduling wireless communications using a repeater

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Aspects described herein relate to receiving, at a repeater and from a serving base station, one or more transmitted downlink beams, receiving, at the repeater and from a downstream node served by the serving base station, one or more transmitted uplink beams, and transmitting, to the serving base station, one or more parameters related to determining a channel quality metric using at least the one or more transmitted downlink beams and the one or more transmitted uplink beams.