Terminal Sidelink Beam Training via Shared Uplink Resources

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in time-frequency resource utilization during uplink and downlink beamform training, as well as sidelink beamform training, leading to reduced spectrum utilization and increased resource consumption when a large number of terminals are involved.

Innovation Solution

A method where a network-side device configures separate time-frequency resources for uplink and sidelink beamform training, allowing terminals to perform sidelink beamform training without additional resource usage by reusing existing uplink beamform training procedures, thereby optimizing resource allocation and reducing training time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beamform training is performed between base station and terminal as well as between terminals, then communication quality is improved, but channel resources are excessively occupied and spectrum utilization is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidchannel resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines uplink beamform training and sidelink beamform training into a single time-frequency resource. The terminal performs both uplink beamform training with the base station and sidelink beamform training with another terminal simultaneously on the same resource, thereby reducing resource occupation while maintaining communication quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes a single time-frequency resource serve multiple functions: it is used for both uplink beamform training (between terminal and base station) and sidelink beamform training (between terminals). This multi-functionality reduces the total quantity of channel resources required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If separate time-frequency resources are allocated for uplink and sidelink beamform training, then resource allocation is simplified, but spectrum utilization is reduced and resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocationVSAvoidspectrum utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the resource allocation for uplink and sidelink beamform training into a single unified resource. The network device allocates one time-frequency resource that the terminal uses for both purposes, simplifying the allocation process while improving spectrum utilization by avoiding resource duplication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If beamform training is performed between terminals, then direct communication is enabled, but time-frequency resources are consumed and training time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedirect communication capabilityVSAvoidbeamform training time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines uplink beamform training and sidelink beamform training into the same time-frequency resource, allowing the terminal to perform both training operations simultaneously. This reduces the total training time required while enabling direct terminal-to-terminal communication capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3573399B1Communications method between terminals and terminal
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3573399B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3573399B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3573399B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

This application relates to the field of wireless communications technologies, and provides a method for communication between terminals, a network-side device, and a terminal. The method discloses that the network-side device allocates, to the terminal, time-frequency resources for transmitting uplink information and sidelink information. On the time-frequency resources and at a same moment in a range of time domain resources, the terminal transmits the uplink information used for performing uplink beam training to the network-side device, and transmits the sidelink information used for performing sidelink beam training to another terminal. According to solutions provided in embodiments, based on conventional uplink and downlink beamform training procedures, the terminal performs the sidelink beamform training without additionally using a new time-frequency resource.