Dynamic Rx Beam Indication in 5G CoMP Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G networks, supporting multiple transmission beams and coordinated multipoint (CoMP) operations poses challenges in dynamically selecting and indicating optimal receive beams for efficient data reception and channel state information calculation, especially when using advanced transmission schemes.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves explicitly or implicitly indicating a receive beam in Downlink Control Information (DCI) or higher-layer signaling for User Equipment (UE) to facilitate proper antenna beamforming and CSI measurements, allowing for dynamic selection of optimal receive beams and reducing implementation complexity by associating each configured ePDCCH set with a specific Rx beam index.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple transmission beams are supported for CoMP operations, then network coverage and signal reliability are improved, but the complexity of beam selection and indication increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam indication process by associating each configured ePDCCH set with a specific receive beam index. This segmentation allows the UE to independently select receive beams for different ePDCCH sets, simplifying the overall beam selection complexity while maintaining support for multiple transmission beams for improved signal reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple ePDCCH sets with their associated receive beam indices before actual data transmission. This allows the UE to have receive beams ready in advance, eliminating the need for complex real-time beam selection during transmission and reducing processing complexity
2Productivity
If dynamic beam selection is implemented, then data reception efficiency is improved, but the need for complex analog tuning processes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by indicating receive beam indices through digital signaling (DCI or higher-layer signaling) instead of complex analog tuning processes. The UE copies the beam configuration information from the signaling to configure its receive beams, significantly reducing analog tuning complexity while maintaining dynamic beam selection capability for improved data reception efficiency
3Speed
If receive beam indication is provided in DCI, then beam selection speed is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using the existing DCI structure for multiple purposes: scheduling control and receive beam indication simultaneously. By reusing the DCI format and adding beam index fields to existing scheduling messages, the patent achieves fast beam selection without proportionally increasing signaling overhead, as the same signaling channel serves multiple functions
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and technologies described herein provide functionality for a cellular base station to dynamically indicate a reception (Rx) beam to be used by a user equipment (UE). The Rx beam can be indicated explicitly or implicitly. The UE can, for example, use the Rx beam for Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) reception, Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) measurements, and/or Channel State Information (CSI) calculation at the UE. Systems and technologies described herein are generally useful for systems that use multiple transmission (Tx) beams and/or that support Coordinated Multipoint (CoMP) transmission technology.