Sequential Beam Alignment for Narrow-Beam MIMO Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
In MIMO communication systems, beam alignment becomes challenging due to the narrow beam widths formed by increased antenna usage, leading to complex and time-consuming beam management processes.
Innovation Solution
A method for beam management that involves training a best receive beam at one end and then using it to align beams with the other end, leveraging uplink and downlink consistency, and optimizing reference signal transmissions to reduce signaling overheads and improve alignment accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of antennas is increased to improve signal coverage, then signal attenuation impact is reduced, but beam width becomes narrower making beam alignment more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The beam alignment process is segmented into two distinct phases: a first phase where the first device determines its best receive beam by receiving reference signals from the second device, and a second phase where the second device determines its best receive beam by receiving reference signals from the first device using the first beam. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by breaking down the complex mutual beam alignment problem into manageable sequential steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The first device performs preliminary beam determination by identifying its best receive beam before the second device performs beam alignment. This preliminary action simplifies the overall process by establishing a reference beam configuration that the second device can then use to determine its own best receive beam, reducing the complexity of simultaneous bidirectional alignment.
2Measurement precision
If traditional bidirectional beam training is performed simultaneously, then beam alignment accuracy can be achieved, but signaling overheads increase and time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The first device performs beam determination as a preliminary step before the second device performs its beam determination. This sequential preliminary action reduces the overall time required compared to simultaneous bidirectional training, while maintaining accuracy because each device uses reference signals transmitted on the previously determined beam configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam alignment process maintains continuity by using the first beam (determined in phase one) as the basis for transmitting reference signals in phase two. This continuous use of the established beam configuration ensures uninterrupted useful action throughout the alignment process, reducing total time while preserving accuracy through iterative refinement.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides a beam management method and apparatus, to quickly implement beam alignment. The beam management method is applied to a first device and includes: obtaining a first reference signal sent by a second device based on a first set beam, and determining a first beam based thereon such that a signal quality of the first reference signal obtained by the first device based on the first beam is the best; and sending a second reference signal to the second device based on the first beam, where the second reference signal is used to determine a second beam of the second device, and a signal quality of the second reference signal obtained by the second device based on the second beam is the same as that of the first reference signal obtained by the first device based on the first beam.