Spatial Filter Selection for Low-Overhead Multi-Cell Beam Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beam management schemes in communication systems require significant downlink and uplink resource overheads and measurement delays due to the need for extensive reference signal measurements, particularly in millimeter-wave frequencies, leading to increased power consumption and computational overheads.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for determining spatial filters that indirectly determine target reference signals from a first reference signal set to reduce the need for direct measurement of a larger second reference signal set, thereby minimizing overheads and delays in downlink and uplink transmissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct measurement of all reference signals in the second downlink reference signal set is performed, then complete beam management information is obtained, but downlink resource overhead and measurement delay increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a first downlink reference signal set as an intermediary between the terminal and the complete second downlink reference signal set. The terminal measures reference signals in the first set (which is a subset of the second set), and the network device uses these measurement results to indirectly determine target reference signals from the second set. This intermediary approach reduces measurement delay and resource overhead while still achieving complete beam management information.
2Measurement precision
If direct measurement of all reference signals in the second downlink reference signal set is performed, then complete beam management information is obtained, but computational overhead and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The first downlink reference signal set serves as an intermediary that reduces the terminal's measurement burden. By measuring only the subset of reference signals in the first set and leveraging network device processing, the terminal's computational overhead and power consumption are significantly reduced while still obtaining complete beam management information for the second set.
3Adaptability or versatility
If beam management for multiple cells is supported, then network coverage and connectivity are improved, but downlink and uplink resource overheads increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary approach to multi-cell beam management by introducing the first downlink reference signal set as a subset of the second set that includes reference signals from multiple cells. The terminal measures this reduced first set, and the network device indirectly determines target reference signals for all cells in the second set, thereby supporting multi-cell beam management with reduced resource overhead.
4Adaptability or versatility
If extensive reference signal measurements are performed for uplink beam management, then uplink beam-level links with multiple cells are established, but overheads and delay increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the intermediary approach to uplink beam management by using the first downlink reference signal set as a measurement subset. The terminal measures downlink reference signals in the first set, and these measurement results are used to indirectly determine target reference signals for uplink beam management across multiple cells in the second set, reducing both overhead and delay while maintaining uplink beam management capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The embodiments of the present application provide a spatial filter determination method, the method comprising: acquiring a measurement result of measuring a downlink reference signal in a first downlink reference signal set, the first downlink reference signal set comprising downlink reference signals between a plurality of cells and a terminal. The measurement result is used for determining a target downlink reference signal from a second downlink reference signal set, and a spatial filter corresponding to the target downlink reference signal is used for downlink transmission between at least one cell among the plurality of cells and the terminal. In the method, the second downlink reference signal set does not need to be directly measured during the process in which the target downlink reference signal is determined from the second downlink reference signal set and a target spatial filter for downlink transmission is further determined, which is thus beneficial for reducing the overhead and latency of determining the spatial filter for downlink transmission when there are a large number of downlink reference signals in the second downlink reference signal set.