Transmission Mode Selection Control for Wireless Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication networks face challenges in optimally selecting transmission modes, particularly in scenarios with fast-changing spatial properties and high Doppler spread, leading to suboptimal performance in areas like dense urban environments where user-specific beamforming may not be effective.

Innovation Solution

A control procedure that tracks metrics reflecting spatial and frequency properties of the radio channel, using autocorrelation of beamforming vectors and Doppler spread, to decide between transmission modes such as beamforming and MIMO, with threshold-based switching and consideration of handover processing to avoid improper mode changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If user-specific beamforming is used to improve network performance, then spectral efficiency is improved, but reliability deteriorates in scenarios with fast-changing spatial properties and high Doppler spread

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidtransmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic transmission mode selection that adapts between beamforming and MIMO modes based on real-time channel conditions. The system continuously monitors spatial properties and Doppler spread to dynamically switch transmission modes, ensuring optimal performance across varying mobility scenarios and channel conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes transmission mode parameters based on measured channel characteristics. When Doppler spread exceeds a threshold or spatial correlation decreases below a threshold, the system transitions from beamforming mode to MIMO mode, effectively changing operational parameters to maintain reliability while preserving spectral efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If transmission mode switching is performed frequently to adapt to changing channel conditions, then adaptability is improved, but stability deteriorates due to improper mode changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission mode adaptabilityVSAvoidtransmission mode stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by suspending transmission mode switching during handover processing. The system proactively prevents mode changes when handover is detected, avoiding improper switching that would occur due to transient channel variations during handover. This counter-measure maintains stability by blocking potentially harmful mode transitions before they occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms to monitor transmission mode performance and channel conditions continuously. By evaluating whether mode switching improves or degrades performance based on ongoing measurements, the system provides feedback control that maintains stability while preserving adaptability to genuine channel condition changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If transmission mode selection is made during handover processing to optimize performance, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to improper mode changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission performanceVSAvoidmode selection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting handover processing states and proactively suspending transmission mode switching during this period. This prevents improper mode selections that would result from channel measurements taken during the transient handover state, thereby maintaining reliability while allowing performance optimization during stable connection periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Data Source

PatentEP3227778B1Control of transmission mode selection
Publication Date: 2021.03.17 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP3227778B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3227778B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3227778B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus comprising at least one processing circuitry, and at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processing circuitry, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least: to obtain, over a series of times, information related to at least one of spatial properties and frequency properties of a channel used in a directional communication between a communication network control element or function and a communication element, to quantify the information related to at least one of spatial properties and frequency properties into a metric, to track whether the metric is smaller than a first threshold or greater than a second threshold during a predetermined period of time, and to decide to use a first transmission mode or a second transmission mode on the basis of a result of the tracking.