Sensor-Based Beam Management for mmWave User Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mmWave communication systems, the frequent realignment of narrow beams required for effective communication is time-consuming due to the large number of beam pairs, leading to potential inappropriate beam usage in handheld devices with free movement.
Innovation Solution
A sensor-based method for user equipment (UE) to manage beams by obtaining a reference beam pair, determining changes in reception direction, identifying and measuring neighbor beam pairs, and configuring an optimal beam pair for network connection, while adjusting based on Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) thresholds to reduce beam sweep duration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If narrow beams are used at mmWave to achieve higher array gain and recover from propagation loss, then communication reliability is improved, but beam alignment accuracy requirements increase and beam sweep time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using sensor data (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) to predict future device orientation and pre-identify candidate beam pairs before communication link degradation occurs. This allows the system to proactively switch to appropriate beams rather than reactively searching through all beam pairs, significantly reducing beam sweep time while maintaining reliable communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical/brute-force beam sweeping mechanism with a sensor-based prediction system. Instead of systematically testing all beam pairs through time-consuming measurements, the system uses inertial sensors to estimate device movement and mathematically predict which beam pairs will remain optimal, substituting physical beam sweeping with computational prediction.
2Measurement precision
If frequent beam measurements are performed to maintain accurate beam alignment in mobile devices, then beam alignment accuracy is improved, but time consumption and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes frequent physical beam measurements with sensor-based orientation tracking and prediction algorithms. The system continuously monitors device orientation through inertial sensors and uses this data to predict which beam pairs will remain optimal, eliminating the need for repeated time-consuming beam measurements while maintaining accurate beam alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs self-service by using the device's own built-in sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) to track its orientation and predict beam pair effectiveness. This self-monitoring capability allows the device to autonomously adapt beam selection without requiring external measurement infrastructure or frequent reference signal exchanges.
3Reliability
If all possible beam pairs are swept to ensure optimal connection, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the complete set of possible beam pairs into a smaller subset of candidate beam pairs predicted to be optimal based on sensor data. Instead of managing and evaluating all possible beam pairs, the system segments the search space to only those beams likely to maintain reliable connection, significantly reducing processing overhead and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the relevant candidate beam pairs from the complete beam pair set using sensor-based prediction. By identifying and isolating the subset of beam pairs that are likely to remain optimal given current and predicted device orientation, the system eliminates the need to process irrelevant beam pairs, reducing computational complexity while maintaining connection reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system are provided for sensor-based beam management by user equipment (UE). The method includes obtaining, by the UE, a reference beam pair and a first set of neighbor beam pairs in a first reception direction for connecting with a network; determining, by the UE, a change in the first reception direction, based on sensor data; identifying, by the UE, a second set of neighbor beam pairs in the changed first reception direction; measuring, by the UE, a plurality of beam parameters for neighbor beam pairs in the second set of neighbor beam pairs; determining, by the UE, an optimal beam pair from the identified second set of neighbor beam pairs based on the plurality of measured beam parameters; and configuring, by the UE, an optimal beam pair for connecting with the network.