Sidelink Beam Alignment Reciprocity Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beam alignment procedures in New Radio (NR) sidelink communications are inefficient, requiring excessive slots and signaling overhead, especially when multiple UEs transmit simultaneously, leading to increased beam management times and potential receiver power disruptions.
Innovation Solution
A reciprocity-based beam alignment method is introduced, where user equipment (UE) devices perform a beam alignment procedure by transmitting and receiving reference signals to select optimal beams, reducing the number of slots needed through explicit and implicit requests, and reporting beam measurements and changes, allowing for faster beam alignment and reduced signaling overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional beam alignment procedures are used in NR sidelink communications, then beam alignment can be achieved, but the number of slots required is excessive and signaling overhead is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the receiving UE prepare and store multiple receive beams in advance before beam alignment is needed. The receiving UE pre-configures a codebook of receive beams that can be quickly selected during beam alignment, eliminating the need for time-consuming beam sweeping procedures. This pre-preparation of receive beams significantly reduces the time required for beam alignment while maintaining comprehensive beam coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the beam alignment procedure into distinct phases: the transmitting UE performs transmit beam sweeping while the receiving UE uses a single wide receive beam, then roles are reversed. This segmentation allows each UE to focus on optimizing its transmit beams independently while the other UE collects measurements, reducing overall alignment time and signaling requirements compared to simultaneous bidirectional sweeping.
2Productivity
If multiple UEs transmit simultaneously during beam alignment, then resource utilization improves, but receiver power disruptions increase and beam management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the receiving UE measures reference signals from multiple transmitting UEs and provides beam measurement reports back to the transmitting UEs. This feedback allows the system to identify and resolve interference issues, select optimal beam pairs that minimize disruptions, and coordinate simultaneous transmissions to avoid receiver power disruptions. The feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of beam selections to maintain resource utilization while mitigating harmful interference effects.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and computer readable storage medium provide sidelink beam alignment between devices. In the context of a method performed by a first user equipment (UE), the first UE causes transmission of a first plurality of reference signals to a second UE to facilitate selection of a first preferred beam among a plurality of beams of the second UE. The method also receives a second plurality of reference signals from the second UE using a plurality of beams of the first UE. The method further includes selecting a second preferred beam from the plurality of beams of the first UE based on the second plurality of reference signals.