UE Direct Beam Coordination Across Base Stations in mmWave Links

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Solution Overview

Problem

Coordinating direct beam communication between user equipment (UEs) in millimeter wave (mmW) communication systems is challenging due to dynamic channel conditions and device movement, especially when UEs are coupled to different base stations.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for UE direct beam communication involving a UE requesting a direct link with a target UE through a serving base station, exchanging beam information, and performing direct beam search, with base stations facilitating this communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If UEs perform direct beam communication in mmW systems, then communication efficiency and bandwidth are improved, but coordination complexity increases due to dynamic channel conditions and device movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidcoordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station acts as an intermediary that coordinates direct beam communication between UEs. It manages beam selection, exchanges capability information between UEs, and facilitates the establishment of direct links while UEs remain connected to the base station infrastructure, thereby reducing coordination complexity among mobile devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The base station performs preliminary actions by pre-exchanging capability information between UEs before direct communication begins. This includes sharing direct communication capabilities, beamforming capabilities, and channel state information in advance, so that when direct beam communication is initiated, the UEs can quickly establish connections without complex real-time coordination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If UEs are coupled to different base stations, then network coverage and connectivity are improved, but beam coordination difficulty increases due to highly dynamic communication channels

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidbeam coordination difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

When UEs are coupled to different base stations, the base stations act as intermediaries that exchange beam coordination information through backhaul links. This allows UEs to perform direct beam communication across different base station coverage areas while the base stations manage the complexity of inter-cell coordination and channel dynamics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Base stations perform preliminary actions by exchanging capability information and channel state information between UEs served by different base stations. This includes sharing beamforming capabilities and pre-coordinating beam pairs before direct communication is established, reducing the difficulty of detecting and measuring optimal beams in highly dynamic channels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3970445B1Methods and apparatuses for coordinating user equipment (UE) direct beam communication
Publication Date: 2025.11.26 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3970445B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3970445B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3970445B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Communication beam selection and management in a communication system is disclosed in which a first, or initiating, user equipment (UE), and a second, or target, UE, establish a direct communication link between them. The initiating UE may transmit a request to a serving base station, which may then communicate with a serving base station of the target UE to schedule one or more communication beams, and/or time and frequency resources, that the initiating UE and the target UE may use to perform direct beam search.