Sub-Terahertz Beam Path Refinement for Repeater-Aided Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly 5G NR, face challenges in optimizing beam management and communication efficiency between network nodes and user equipment, especially in scenarios involving repeaters, leading to suboptimal performance and coverage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and apparatus at user equipment, repeaters, and network nodes to exchange and refine beam information using a first and second set of beams, enabling more precise beam alignment and communication paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a first set of beams is used for initial communication, then coverage and connectivity are improved, but beam alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The beam management process is segmented into two distinct phases: coarse beam determination using a first set of beams for initial coverage and connectivity, followed by refined beam determination using a second set of beams for precise alignment. This segmentation allows the system to first establish broad coverage and then progressively refine the beam alignment precision without requiring the entire process to simultaneously optimize for both coverage area and alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary beam alignment using the first set of beams to establish initial connectivity and coverage before transitioning to the second set of beams for refined alignment. This preliminary action ensures that the device is already connected and within coverage area before attempting more precise beam alignment, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining coverage and achieving precision.
2Length of stationary object
If repeaters are introduced to extend coverage, then communication range is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Repeaters are introduced as intermediary devices to extend communication range between the wireless device and the network node. The repeater receives signals from one end and retransmits them to the other end, effectively acting as a mediator that extends coverage without requiring direct line-of-sight or complex multi-antenna configurations at the endpoints. This intermediary approach achieves extended range while keeping the endpoint devices relatively simple.
3Reliability
If multiple beams are used for communication, then communication reliability is improved, but beam management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The beam management complexity is reduced by segmenting the beam sets into a first set for coarse alignment and a second set for refined alignment. This segmentation allows the system to manage multiple beams in a structured manner, where the first set provides reliable initial connectivity and the second set provides precise beam pairing, thereby maintaining communication reliability while making beam management more systematic and less complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary beam selection using the first set of beams to establish reliable initial connectivity before engaging in more complex beam refinement operations with the second set. This preliminary action ensures that a reliable communication path is already established before attempting more sophisticated beam management, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing the immediate complexity of beam management decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
A network node may transmit, using a first set of beams, coarse beam information for a second set of beams associated with a user equipment (UE) and a set of repeaters. The UE and the set of repeaters may receive, using the first set of beams, the coarse beam information for the second set of beams associated with the UE and the set of repeaters. The UE and the set of repeaters may transmit refined beam information for the second set of beams associated with the set of repeaters and the UE. The network node may receive, using the first set of beams, the refined beam information for the second set of beams associated with the set of repeaters and the UE.