Prediction-Based Satellite Beam Configuration for Non-Terrestrial Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-terrestrial communication networks face challenges in efficiently managing bandwidth resources due to limited time and frequency resources, especially when user equipment repositions to different geographic areas, requiring dynamic beam configuration and switching.
Innovation Solution
A non-terrestrial network entity employs a controller to determine and reconfigure the bandwidth part configuration of user equipment based on predicted movements, by adding or removing bandwidth parts corresponding to different geographic areas, and transmitting the reconfiguration using RRC signaling or DCI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the bandwidth part configuration is reconfigured using traditional methods after user equipment moves to a new geographic area, then the data rate demands can be met, but the signaling overhead and delay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by predicting the user equipment's future geographic area based on current position and movement direction. The bandwidth part configuration is prepared in advance for the predicted area, allowing the network entity to proactively reconfigure the user equipment before it actually moves, thereby eliminating signaling delay while maintaining high data rates.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the bandwidth part configuration includes all possible geographic areas, then adaptability to user movement is improved, but the complexity of configuration management increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing a uniform comprehensive configuration for all geographic areas, the system applies local quality by tailoring the bandwidth part configuration specifically to the predicted geographic area based on user equipment's current position and movement characteristics. This localized approach maintains high adaptability while minimizing configuration complexity by only including relevant bandwidth parts for the specific predicted area.
3Productivity
If the bandwidth part configuration is reconfigured frequently to track user equipment movement, then the data rate is optimized, but the signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses preliminary action by predicting the user equipment's future position and proactively reconfiguring the bandwidth part configuration before movement occurs. This approach optimizes data rate by ensuring the correct configuration is in place, while minimizing signaling overhead by reducing the frequency of reactive reconfiguration messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by having the network entity autonomously predict user equipment movement and automatically adjust bandwidth part configurations without requiring explicit user equipment requests or acknowledgments for each reconfiguration, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for prediction-based non-terrestrial network beam configuration and switching are provided. A base station determines a bandwidth part configuration for a user equipment, which includes a plurality of bandwidth parts respectively corresponding to a plurality of geographic areas. The base station configures the user equipment with the bandwidth part configuration and determines a position or movement of the user equipment in a first geographic area corresponding to a first bandwidth part. The base station determines, based on the position or movement, whether a criterion for reconfiguring the bandwidth part configuration is met. In response to determining that the criterion is met, the base station reconfigures the bandwidth part configuration of the user equipment while the user equipment is positioned in the first geographic area. The reconfiguration includes modifying the plurality of bandwidth parts to include a second bandwidth part corresponding to a second geographic area.