Terminal Apparatus Beamforming Cell Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
When beamforming is performed in cellular systems using directional antennas with a large number of elements, the selection of a suitable cell for terminal apparatuses is compromised due to the reliance on cell-specific reference signal measurements that do not account for beamforming, leading to potential interference and suboptimal communication quality.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a mechanism where terminal apparatuses measure and select cells based on measurement reference signals that have been multiplied by a candidate set of weight sets, allowing for the recognition of the directional beam characteristics and improving cell selection accuracy during beamforming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If beamforming is performed using directional antennas with a large number of antenna elements, then the capacity of the cellular system is significantly increased, but the cell selection accuracy deteriorates because terminal apparatuses cannot properly select cells based on beamformed reference signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reference signal transmission by creating multiple virtual cells, each associated with specific beamforming weight sets. This allows terminal apparatuses to measure and evaluate individual virtual cells independently, restoring cell selection accuracy while maintaining the capacity benefits of beamforming across multiple directional sectors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension to cell selection by evaluating multiple candidate cells based on measurement reference signals received through different beamforming weight sets. Terminal apparatuses can now select cells not only based on geographic location but also based on beamforming compatibility and signal quality across multiple dimensional parameters.
2Ease of operation
If cell selection is performed based on cell-specific reference signal measurements without beamforming, then cell selection simplicity is maintained, but communication quality deteriorates because the selected cell may not be suitable for beamformed signal reception
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring multiple virtual cells with different beamforming weight sets before terminal apparatuses perform measurements. This allows terminal apparatuses to evaluate cell suitability for beamformed communication in advance, ensuring that selected cells are optimized for both beamforming performance and communication quality without adding operational complexity.
3Quantity of substance
If multiple virtual cells are created corresponding to different beamforming weight sets, then the amount of transmittable control signals is increased, but the device complexity increases due to the need to manage and coordinate multiple virtual cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a common measurement reference signal structure across all virtual cells, allowing the same signal format and measurement procedures to be universally applied regardless of the number of virtual cells. This reduces management complexity while still enabling increased control signal capacity through the multi-cell framework.
Data Source
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AI summary
[Object] To provide a mechanism which allows for selection of a suitable cell for a terminal apparatus when beamforming is performed. [Solution] A terminal apparatus includes: a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication with a base station; and a control unit configured to perform measurement when the wireless communication unit receives a transmitted measurement reference signal to which the base station has applied a plurality of transmission weights for beamforming.