Terminal Device Beam Switching in mmWave Mobility Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing mobility management solutions in beam-based millimeter wave communication systems are inadequate for fast-moving users, as they involve lengthy decision delays and high uplink overhead, particularly when dealing with static or dynamic blockages, and are not suitable for high-speed terminal devices.

Innovation Solution

A terminal device-centric mobility management method is proposed, where the terminal device autonomously determines the need for beam switching and communicates with the network device using dedicated resources, allowing for faster and more efficient beam switching decisions, even in the presence of blockages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional mobility management solutions are used in beam-based millimeter wave systems, then system stability is maintained, but beam switching decision delays increase and uplink overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidbeam switching decision delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device autonomously determines beam switching decisions by monitoring downlink reference signals and evaluating channel quality indicators (CQI) without requiring network device intervention for each switching decision. The terminal independently selects target beams and initiates switching, eliminating lengthy network decision delays while maintaining connection stability through uplink feedback messages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device continuously monitors downlink reference signals and pre-evaluates channel quality of neighboring beams before actual beam switching is needed. By maintaining up-to-date channel state information and identifying potential target beams in advance, the system reduces the decision delay when switching becomes necessary, as the terminal can immediately execute switching based on pre-computed channel quality metrics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If traditional mobility management solutions are used in beam-based millimeter wave systems, then comprehensive beam management is achieved, but uplink overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam management comprehensivenessVSAvoiduplink overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the beam switching decision function from the network device and relocates it to the terminal device. By taking out the complex decision-making process from the network and performing it locally at the terminal, the system reduces uplink overhead since the terminal only needs to report channel quality indicators and receive acknowledgment, rather than exchanging extensive beam management signaling with the network for each switching decision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device implements a feedback mechanism where it autonomously decides beam switching based on downlink channel quality measurements and notifies the network device through uplink feedback messages. The network device provides feedback in the form of acknowledgment or correction signals, creating an efficient feedback loop that maintains comprehensive beam management while minimizing uplink overhead compared to network-controlled approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If dedicated resources are allocated for beam switching requests, then beam switching speed increases, but system resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam switching speedVSAvoidsystem resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system allocates dedicated uplink resources for beam switching requests only when actually needed, rather than reserving resources continuously. The terminal device uses these dedicated resources to send beam switching requests and receives acknowledgments, but the resources are not permanently consumed - they are released after the switching transaction completes. This partial allocation approach enables fast beam switching while avoiding excessive permanent resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11160131B2Method, network device and terminal device in a beam-based mmwave communication system

Publication Date: 2021.10.26 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a method, network device and terminal device for mobility management in a beam-based millimeter wave communication system. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for mobility management implemented by a network device in a beam-based millimeter wave communication system. The method comprises: receiving, from a terminal device, a request for mobility management; allocating dedicated resources for transmitting a beam switching request in response to the request for the mobility management; transmitting a first indication of the allocated dedicated resources to a terminal device; and receiving, from the terminal device, the beam switching request over the dedicated resources, the beam switching request indicating a target beam to which the terminal device is to be switched.