Sidelink Beam Management via Reference Point Assistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In sidelink (SL) FR2 communications, the increased risk of beam failure due to factors like sleep modes, transmission inactivity, mobility, and adverse radio propagation poses challenges for beam management and recovery.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves providing SL UEs with assistance data for beam alignment based on measurements from a reference point, allowing them to determine a target beam from a plurality of candidate beams and perform beam management and/or communications effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If narrow-width high-gain beams are used to compensate for path loss in FR2, then communication coverage and signal strength are improved, but beam failure risk increases due to sensitivity to mobility, sleep modes, and radio propagation changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a reference point (RP) as an intermediary entity that provides beam alignment assistance data to SL UEs. The RP acts as a mediator that enables indirect beam alignment between communicating UEs by providing reference measurements, thereby reducing the direct dependency on narrow beams and lowering beam failure risk while maintaining communication reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary beam alignment measurements at a reference point before actual SL communication begins. The RP pre-acquires channel state information and provides assistance data in advance, allowing UEs to establish beams proactively before failures occur, rather than reacting after beam failure detection
2Measurement precision
If mutual coordination between two SL UEs is required for beam failure recovery, then beam alignment accuracy is maintained, but system complexity and recovery time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reference point serves as a central coordinator that simplifies the mutual coordination between SL UEs. Instead of requiring direct peer-to-peer coordination, the RP provides centralized beam alignment assistance data to both UEs, reducing coordination complexity while maintaining alignment accuracy through the intermediary's measurement capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
Each SL UE independently determines its target beam by combining the reference point's assistance data with its own measurements. This self-service approach allows UEs to autonomously perform beam determination without continuous mutual coordination, reducing system complexity while maintaining accuracy through individual measurement capabilities
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatuses, methods, and computer readable storage media for beam management assistance. A first apparatus receives, from a third apparatus, assistance data for beam alignment with a second apparatus based on measurements from a fourth apparatus, the first apparatus to be communicated with the second apparatus. The first apparatus determines, based on the assistance data and the measurements from the fourth apparatus, a target beam from a plurality of candidate beams of the first apparatus. The first apparatus performs beam management and/or communications with the second apparatus by using the target beam.