UE Beam Failure Detection Threshold Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radio communications networks face challenges in efficiently monitoring and managing beams, particularly in 5G networks, where beam failure detection and recovery are complex due to the high number of antennas and beams, leading to potential link failures and increased battery consumption in User Equipment (UE).
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method in User Equipment (UE) and base stations to monitor reference signals for beam quality, generating Out-Of-Synchronization events when quality falls below a threshold, triggering beam recovery procedures when a certain number of events are reached, and starting a Radio Link Failure timer to proactively manage beam failures and maintain network connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beam failure detection and recovery procedures are implemented in 5G networks with high number of antennas and beams, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity and battery consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam failure detection process by introducing separate counters for different failure conditions (first counter for beam failure, second counter for radio link failure). This segmentation allows the UE to distinguish between temporary beam issues and critical link failures, reducing unnecessary recovery procedures while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by configuring the UE with threshold values (first threshold for beam failure detection, second threshold for radio link failure) before actual failure occurs. This pre-configured threshold mechanism allows the UE to proactively identify and respond to beam failures at appropriate stages, managing complexity through predefined response protocols.
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring of beam quality is performed, then network connectivity is maintained, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing threshold-based monitoring rather than continuous analysis. The UE monitors beam quality and only triggers recovery procedures when specific threshold conditions are met (first threshold for beam failure, second threshold for radio link failure). This periodic/threshold-based approach maintains connectivity reliability while significantly reducing battery consumption compared to continuous active recovery attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the UE to autonomously monitor beam quality and trigger appropriate recovery procedures without constant network intervention. The UE uses locally configured thresholds to determine when action is needed, reducing energy consumption by avoiding unnecessary network signaling and processing while maintaining connectivity.
3Measurement precision
If multiple counters and thresholds are configured for beam failure detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different threshold values tailored to specific detection purposes: a first threshold for beam failure detection and a second threshold for radio link failure detection. This localized threshold configuration allows accurate differentiation between beam-level issues and link-level failures without requiring complex unified detection algorithms, thus improving measurement precision while managing configuration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the detection system into separate functional components with dedicated counters and thresholds. The first counter tracks beam failure events with its own threshold, while the second counter tracks radio link failure events with its own threshold. This segmentation improves detection accuracy by dedicating specific metrics to specific failure modes while keeping each component's configuration simple and manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
According to a first aspect of embodiments herein, the object is achieved by a method performed by a User Equipment (UE) for monitoring a beam transmitted by a base station in a radio communications network. The base station is serving the UE. The UE monitors a reference signal related to the beam, from the base station. Each time a quality of the reference signal is below a first threshold, the UE generates an Out-Of-Synchronization (OOS) event. When the number of OOS events reaches an OOS Beam Failure Detection (BFD) threshold, the UE triggers a beam recovery preparation procedure, and when the number of OOS events reaches an OOS Radio Link Monitoring (RLM), threshold, the UE starts an RLF timer.