THz Network Beam Alignment via Assisting Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
THz wireless communication networks face challenges due to their requirement for line-of-sight (LoS) transmissions, which limits coverage and efficiency, especially in scenarios where beam alignment and tracking procedures consume significant radio resources and power, making them unsuitable for all types of traffic.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a double-assisted network architecture that combines a Narrowband Assisting Network (NBAN) and a Positioning Assisting Network (PAN) to facilitate beam alignment and resource scheduling for THz networks, using legacy networks to provide full coverage and high-precision positioning, thereby reducing the overhead of beam alignment and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beam alignment and tracking procedures are performed in THz networks, then communication quality is improved, but radio resource consumption and power usage increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing beam alignment procedures in advance using assistance from legacy networks (sub-6 GHz or mmWave) before establishing THz connections. The network determines candidate THz nodes and performs beam alignment using scheduling information provided by the assisting network, so that when actual THz communication is needed, the beam alignment is already completed or pre-configured, reducing real-time power consumption and resource usage.
2Reliability
If beam alignment procedures are performed frequently, then communication reliability is improved, but the duration and resource consumption of these procedures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary assisting network (NBAN or PAN) that operates on sub-6 GHz or mmWave frequencies to facilitate beam alignment for THz networks. This intermediary performs positioning, candidate node determination, and scheduling functions, allowing the THz network to establish connections more quickly without requiring extensive direct beam sweeping, thus reducing the time and resources needed for beam alignment while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are presented for utilizing a narrowband assisting network (NBAN) and a positioning assisting network (PAN) to assist in establishing and managing communications on a THz band wireless communication network. The THz network may be capable of transmitting/receiving with high bandwidth, but may be resource intensive and may be constrained to line-of-sight (LoS) communications. The NBAN and PAN may help to minimize the resources consumed by the THz network. The NBAN may identify a set of nodes of the THz network as candidates for establishing a connection with a user equipment (UE). The PAN may determine a position of each candidate relative to the UE, and may communicate the position to the respective candidate and to the UE, which may use the position information to expedite a beam alignment procedure. The NBAN may provide scheduling and other control signaling for the THz network.