Reducing TCI State Activation Latency via Pre-evaluated Reference Signals

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in reducing the activation time for transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states, leading to increased latency and decreased throughput in beam updates.

Innovation Solution

The method involves identifying a set of reference signals (RSs) associated with a reduced activation time and activating the corresponding TCI state within this reduced time frame after receiving activation signaling, thereby bypassing the need for waiting for a synchronization signal block.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the conventional activation time for TCI state is used, then the system maintains reliability and stability in beam updates, but the latency increases and throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactivation timeVSAvoidbeam update reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs measurements and identifies candidate TCI states in advance before activation signaling is received. The UE maintains a pool of pre-evaluated TCI states with associated reference signals, so that when activation signaling arrives, the UE can immediately select and activate an appropriate TCI state without requiring additional measurement time, thus reducing activation time while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the activation time based on the UE's capability and the specific communication scenario. The network can configure different activation time parameters (e.g., timeDurationForQCL) based on UE feedback regarding its processing capabilities, allowing the system to optimize between speed and reliability for different devices and conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the reduced activation time is implemented, then the throughput improves and latency decreases, but the processing complexity at the UE increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovethroughputVSAvoidUE processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs measurements and identifies candidate TCI states in advance before activation signaling is received. The UE maintains a pool of pre-evaluated TCI states with associated reference signals, so that when activation signaling arrives, the UE can immediately select and activate an appropriate TCI state without requiring additional measurement time, thus reducing activation time while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE autonomously selects the appropriate TCI state from its pre-identified pool based on the activation signaling received, without requiring complex network coordination or additional signaling exchanges. This self-service approach enables faster activation while distributing the processing burden to the UE in a manageable way

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If the UE waits for synchronization signal block, then the TCI state activation is accurate and reliable, but the activation time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTCI state measurement accuracyVSAvoidactivation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs measurements and identifies candidate TCI states in advance before activation signaling is received. The UE maintains a pool of pre-evaluated TCI states with associated reference signals, so that when activation signaling arrives, the UE can immediately select and activate an appropriate TCI state without requiring additional measurement time, thus reducing activation time while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the activation time based on the UE's capability and the specific communication scenario. The network can configure different activation time parameters (e.g., timeDurationForQCL) based on UE feedback regarding its processing capabilities, allowing the system to optimize between speed and reliability for different devices and conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12212516B2Reduced activation time for transmission configuration indicator state

Publication Date: 2025.01.28 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may identify a set of reference signals (RSs) that are associated with a reduced activation time. The UE may receive activation signaling identifying a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state associated with an RS, of the set of RSs, to be activated for a communication. The UE may perform the communication using the identified TCI state, wherein the identified TCI state is activated within the reduced activation time after the activation signaling is received. Numerous other aspects are described.