Terminal AI Function Switching for Low-Overhead Channel Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radio communication technologies lack sufficient studies on life cycle management (LCM) of AI models, leading to inadequate overhead reduction and channel estimation, which hampers communication throughput and quality improvement.

Innovation Solution

A terminal and base station implementation that includes a transmitting section for reporting supported functionalities, a receiving section for indicating activation, deactivation, or switch of functionalities, and a control section for performing these actions based on the indication, utilizing AI technology for efficient LCM.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If AI-based beam prediction and life cycle management are introduced in radio communication systems, then communication throughput and quality can be improved, but overhead and resource consumption increase due to insufficient LCM studies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication throughputVSAvoidoverhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic functionality management where the terminal can switch between different AI model functionalities (full AI functionality, partial AI functionality, non-AI functionality) based on network conditions and capabilities. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize communication throughput by enabling AI features when beneficial while reducing overhead by disabling them when unnecessary, directly resolving the technical contradiction between improving productivity and reducing information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of AI models by introducing functionality switching mechanisms. The terminal receives functionality indications from the base station that control whether AI beam prediction, temporal DL beam prediction, and other AI-based features are activated. By changing these operational parameters dynamically, the system can adapt overhead consumption to match actual communication needs, thereby improving throughput while controlling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple AI model functionalities are activated for beam prediction and channel estimation, then communication quality improves, but device complexity and resource use increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidfunctionality management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments AI functionalities into distinct, independently controllable components. Instead of treating AI model management as a monolithic complex system, it divides functionality into separable units (spatial domain beam prediction, temporal DL beam prediction, channel estimation) that can be individually activated or deactivated based on network conditions. This segmentation reduces device complexity by allowing selective activation of only necessary functionalities while maintaining communication quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the terminal reports supported functionalities to the base station, and the base station responds with functionality indications. This closed-loop feedback system allows the network to control terminal complexity by dynamically adjusting which AI functionalities are activated based on actual network conditions and terminal capabilities, thereby improving communication quality while managing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If AI-based beam management is implemented without sufficient life cycle management studies, then channel estimation accuracy may improve, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel estimation accuracyVSAvoidterminal resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic functionality reassessment where the terminal and base station periodically evaluate whether AI functionalities should remain activated. Through periodic capability reporting and functionality indication exchanges, the system ensures that channel estimation accuracy is maintained when needed while reducing resource consumption by deactivating AI features when network conditions change or when full AI functionality is no longer beneficial.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes operational parameters of AI models by switching between different functionality modes based on network conditions. When channel estimation accuracy is critical, AI functionalities are activated; when resource conservation is prioritized, functionalities are deactivated or downgraded. This parameter changing approach allows the system to optimize the balance between measurement precision and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4694243A1Terminal, wireless communication method, and base station
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP4694243A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4694243A1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2D
  • EP4694243A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A terminal according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a transmitting section that performs reporting of a supported functionality, a receiving section that receives an indication of at least one of activation, deactivation, fallback, and switch of a functionality, and a control section that performs, based on the indication, at least one of the activation, the deactivation, the fallback, and the switch. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, preferable overhead reduction/channel estimation/resource use can be achieved.