Sidelink Beam Management via Network-Configured Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing sidelink beams, leading to decreased signal quality and potential beam failures, which disrupt communications between user equipment (UEs) in 5G and New Radio (NR) networks.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for wireless communication that involves a UE transmitting a sidelink beam report to a network entity, receiving configuration information to switch from one sidelink beam to another, and communicating using the new beam, thereby mitigating signal quality issues and preventing beam failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fixed sidelink beam is used for communication between UEs, then the initial connection is established, but signal quality deteriorates and beam failures occur due to mobility or environmental changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beam management where the sidelink beam configuration is no longer static but can be updated in response to changing conditions. The network entity receives beam quality reports from UEs and sends updated beam configuration indications, allowing the system to adapt to mobility and environmental changes while maintaining reliable communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a feedback mechanism where UEs monitor sidelink beam quality and report back to the network entity. This feedback loop enables the network to detect beam quality degradation and trigger beam reconfiguration, resolving the contradiction between maintaining stable beam configuration and adapting to changing channel conditions for reliable communication.
2Reliability
If beam reconfiguration is implemented to maintain signal quality, then communication reliability improves, but system complexity increases due to additional signaling and coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the network entity as an intermediary to manage beam reconfiguration. Instead of direct UE-to-UE beam coordination which would be complex, the network entity receives beam quality reports from UEs and sends beam configuration indications, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining reliable communication through centralized control.
3Productivity
If dynamic beam switching is performed to maintain optimal signal quality, then data throughput is enhanced, but transmission latency increases due to beam switching and reconfiguration processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary beam quality monitoring where UEs continuously assess sidelink beam conditions and report to the network entity before actual beam failures occur. This allows the network to proactively initiate beam reconfiguration in advance, maintaining optimal data throughput while minimizing disruption and latency associated with beam switching.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a first user equipment (UE) may communicate with a second UE using a sidelink channel and a first beam. The UE may transmit a sidelink beam report associated with the first beam to a network entity. The UE may receive sidelink configuration information from the network entity that indicates to change from using the sidelink channel and the first beam to using the sidelink channel and a second beam. The UE may communicate with the second UE using the sidelink channel and the second beam. Numerous other aspects are described.