UE-Anticipated Common Beam Switching for 5G Mobility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beam management procedures lack efficient support for common beam switching, particularly in high mobility scenarios where fast beam switching is required to manage a large number of transmission configuration states.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method for user equipment-anticipated common beam switching, where the user equipment (UE) receives reference signals from a network controller, sends measurement reports, and monitors the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) based on the reported reference signals, allowing for anticipatory beam switching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If traditional beam management procedures are used, then beam switching can be performed, but latency and overhead increase in high mobility scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam switching latencyVSAvoidbeam management overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs beam measurement and reporting in advance before beam switching is actually needed. The network controller receives measurement reports containing beam quality information ahead of time, enabling it to prepare beam switching decisions proactively rather than reactively, thus reducing actual switching latency during high mobility scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE autonomously measures reference signals, evaluates beam quality metrics, and generates measurement reports without continuous network intervention. This self-service approach allows the UE to independently maintain beam quality information, reducing signaling overhead while enabling fast beam switching when mobility conditions change

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If a large number of transmission configuration states are configured, then beam management flexibility improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam management flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the large number of transmission configuration states into multiple groups or sets, where each group contains a subset of TCI states. The network controller can selectively activate or switch between groups based on mobility conditions and beam quality, rather than managing all states individually, thus reducing complexity while maintaining flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the number and configuration of TCI states based on current mobility conditions and channel quality. During high mobility periods, more TCI states may be activated to provide diverse beam options, while during stable periods, fewer states are maintained, optimizing the balance between flexibility and complexity in real-time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4186193B1Methods and apparatus for user equipment-anticipated common beam switching
Publication Date: 2025.03.05 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4186193B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4186193B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4186193B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method for user equipment-anticipated common beam switching includes receiving, by a user equipment (UE), a set of reference signals from a network controller; sending, by the UE, a measurement report to the network controller based on a first reference signal of the received reference signals; determining, by the UE, that a quantity of the first reference signal reported in the measurement report exceeds a threshold; and based thereon monitoring, by the UE, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) over a search space on a first control resource set (CORESET),a spatial quasi-colocation (QCL) field in a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state of the first CORESET being set to a resource index of the first reference signal.