Shared Common Beam Update for 5G NR Channel Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G NR communication networks face latency and overhead issues due to separate control channels for uplink and downlink channels, which can be improved by using a shared common beam to manage both channels concurrently.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a shared common beam between a base station and user equipment (UE) to concurrently control or update uplink and downlink channels, allowing for simultaneous management of multiple channels using a single transmission, thereby reducing latency and overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate control channels are used for uplink and downlink channels, then channel management can be performed independently for each direction, but latency and overhead increase due to multiple separate transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate uplink and downlink control channels into a single shared common beam resource. The base station transmits unified control information through this shared resource that simultaneously manages both uplink and downlink channels, eliminating the need for separate control transmissions and reducing latency while maintaining independent channel management capability
Solution Approach 2:
The shared common beam resource serves multiple functions by simultaneously controlling both uplink and downlink channels. A single control transmission through this universal resource performs the work of what would traditionally require separate control channels, reducing overhead and improving efficiency without sacrificing the ability to manage each channel independently
2Ease of operation
If separate control channels are used for uplink and downlink channels, then each channel can be managed independently, but overhead increases due to multiple control transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate control channel transmissions into a single shared common beam resource. By consolidating control information for both uplink and downlink channels into one transmission resource, the overhead associated with multiple separate control channels is eliminated while the control information still enables independent management of each channel direction
Solution Approach 2:
The shared common beam resource is designed to universally control both uplink and downlink channels simultaneously. This multi-functional resource reduces the quantity of control transmissions required while maintaining the operational independence needed for effective channel management in both directions
3Reliability
If multiple separate beams are used for uplink and downlink control, then each beam can be optimized for its specific direction, but device complexity and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of separate uplink and downlink control beams into a single shared common beam resource. This consolidation reduces device complexity by eliminating the need to manage multiple separate beam resources while still allowing the system to maintain optimized control for each channel direction through unified control information
Data Source
AI summary
A base station and a UE may communicate using directional beams, such as a downlink directional beam (used to transmit downlink channels) and an uplink directional beam (used to transmit uplink channels), each beam carrying one or more data channels, control channels, and/or reference signals. According to one aspect, signaling for managing the uplink channels and downlink channels may be sent over a shared common beam. The shared common beam is distinct from the uplink directional beam and the downlink directional beam. In one example, a first shared common channel may serve to manage or update uplink data channels (on the uplink directional beam) and downlink data channels (on the downlink directional beam), while a second shared common channel may serve to manage or update uplink control channels (on the uplink directional beam) and downlink control channels (on the downlink directional beam).