Single Common Beam Operation to Reduce 5G Signaling Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current NR/5G wireless communication systems face increased network overhead and latency due to the need for repeated signaling to indicate beam characteristics for each channel and reference signal, especially in high-frequency band deployments, despite often using the same beam for multiple transmissions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a common beam mode where a single beam characteristic is reused across multiple channels and reference signals, indicated through TCI-state signaling, such as DCI or MAC CE, reducing the need for repeated signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If repeated signaling is used to indicate beam characteristics for each channel and reference signal, then beam indication accuracy is improved, but network overhead increases and latency worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the beam indication for multiple channels and reference signals into a single common beam indication. Instead of separately indicating beams for PDCCH, PDSCH, PUCCH, PUSCH, and SRS, the system uses one common beam indicator that applies to all these channels, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining beam indication accuracy through the unified indication mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The common beam indication mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously - it indicates the beam for downlink control channels, downlink data channels, uplink control channels, uplink data channels, and uplink reference signals all through a single indication. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate beam indications for each channel type
2Measurement precision
If repeated signaling is used to indicate beam characteristics for each channel and reference signal, then beam indication accuracy is improved, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining multiple beam indications into a single common beam indication transmitted once, the patent eliminates the time required for multiple separate signaling transmissions. The unified indication is delivered in a single signaling event, reducing the cumulative latency that would result from sequential transmissions of individual beam indications for each channel
Solution Approach 2:
The common beam indication is provided in advance as a unified configuration that pre-establishes the beam characteristics for multiple channels. This preliminary action allows the UE to apply the indicated beam across all relevant channels without waiting for subsequent individual beam indications, thereby reducing processing and application latency
3Quantity of substance
If a single common beam is used for multiple channels and reference signals, then network bandwidth consumption is reduced, but beam flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic switching capability for the common beam indication. The network can dynamically update the common beam indicator based on changing channel conditions, UE mobility, or traffic requirements. This dynamic mechanism allows the system to adapt to different scenarios while maintaining the bandwidth efficiency of a single common beam indication, resolving the contradiction between reduced bandwidth consumption and maintained flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are apparatus and methods to operate a communication device (UE) in a common beam mode. According to an aspect, the UE may assume that beam characteristics for a single common beam can be reused by multiple channels and reference signals without the need for repeated signaling indicating the Tx beam in subsequent transmissions, such that network bandwidth consumption can be reduced and latency can be improved. In some embodiments, the common beam may be indicated with a TCI-state through a L1 signaling such as DCI signaling. The common beam may be indicated with a TCI-state through a MAC CE message.