UE Beam Dwell Time Control to Prevent Frequent Beam Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Frequent beam switching in wireless communication systems leads to inefficiencies, consuming UE, base station, and network resources, increasing latency, and reducing throughput.

Innovation Solution

Implementing techniques at the UE to determine beam dwell time and adjust beam selection criteria, such as modifying search and measurement periodicity and hysteresis timers, to minimize unnecessary beam switches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beam switching is performed frequently to maintain communication quality, then communication reliability is improved, but system resources are consumed and latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidsystem efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of beam switching conditions by calculating dwell time thresholds and hysteresis values before actual beam switching occurs. This prevents premature or unnecessary beam switches by establishing criteria in advance that must be satisfied before switching is triggered.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The beam selection criteria are made dynamic by adjusting hysteresis timers and dwell time thresholds based on current communication conditions. The system adapts the switching behavior by modifying these parameters in response to changing channel conditions, ensuring optimal balance between reliability and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If beam switching is performed frequently to adapt to channel changes, then adaptability is improved, but resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam adaptabilityVSAvoidresource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes dwell time thresholds and hysteresis parameters in advance to regulate beam switching behavior. These pre-calculated values serve as guardrails that prevent excessive switching while still allowing necessary adaptations to channel conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system modifies beam switching parameters dynamically by adjusting hysteresis timers and dwell time thresholds based on observed channel conditions and switching patterns. This allows the system to adapt its behavior to match the actual environmental conditions rather than following a fixed switching schedule.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If beam switching is performed frequently to maintain optimal performance, then communication quality is improved, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-establishes beam switching criteria including dwell time thresholds and hysteresis values before switching is needed. This preliminary setup ensures that when beam switching does occur, it is based on pre-evaluated conditions rather than reactive adjustments, reducing unnecessary switching delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms that monitor beam performance and switching patterns, using this information to adjust hysteresis timers and dwell time thresholds. This feedback loop learns from past switching behavior to optimize future switching decisions, minimizing latency while maintaining quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3949150B1Preventing frequent beam switching by a UE based on beam dwell time
Publication Date: 2025.12.24 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3949150B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3949150B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3949150B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication and techniques to prevent frequent beam switching. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may determine a duration of time that the UE dwells on a beam. The UE may update a data structure, stored in memory of the UE, to add or modify a stored duration value associated with the beam based at least in part on determining the duration of time that the UE dwells on the beam. The UE may determine that a condition associated with the stored duration value is satisfied. The UE may modify a priority of the beam in connection with a beam selection procedure based at least in part on determining that the condition associated with the stored duration value is satisfied. Numerous other aspects are provided.