UE Beam Switching Capability Reporting via Cyclic Prefix Multiples
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication technologies, such as LTE and NR, face challenges in efficiently managing beam switching capabilities in user equipment (UE) and base stations, leading to resource consumption and decoding issues due to insufficient cyclic prefix lengths at higher frequency bands, which affect scheduling and communication efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves reporting beam switching capability as a multiple of a physical layer timing unit, allowing for accurate and consistent reporting regardless of operating frequency, and enabling flexible scheduling to minimize symbol puncturing, thus conserving network and UE resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If beam switching capability is reported using fixed time units, then reporting is simple, but accuracy deteriorates at different frequency bands due to cyclic prefix length variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for beam switching capability reporting from fixed time units to multiples of cyclic prefix lengths. This allows the reporting unit to adapt to different frequency bands and subcarrier spacing configurations, maintaining accuracy across various operating conditions without requiring complex separate reporting mechanisms for each band.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal reporting mechanism where the beam switching capability is expressed as a number of cyclic prefix lengths, which can be applied across all frequency bands and subcarrier spacing configurations. This single approach serves multiple functions: it works for both LTE and NR, adapts to different frequency ranges, and maintains consistency across diverse network conditions.
2Productivity
If cyclic prefix length is reduced to increase data transmission capacity, then spectral efficiency improves, but beam switching capability deteriorates due to insufficient time for switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by allowing the beam switching capability to be reported and scheduled based on actual UE capabilities rather than fixed assumptions. The network can dynamically adjust scheduling decisions based on the reported capability, enabling flexible resource allocation that adapts to both short cyclic prefix configurations for high capacity and UE-specific beam switching requirements for reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary reporting of beam switching capability before actual data transmission begins. This allows the network to advance-plan scheduling decisions that account for the UE's specific beam switching capability, ensuring that even with reduced cyclic prefix lengths, the UE is never scheduled for beam switches that exceed its capability.
3Productivity
If beam switching capability is not accurately reported, then network scheduling is simplified, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates due to symbol puncturing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the UE reports its beam switching capability to the network, and the network uses this feedback to optimize scheduling decisions. This closed-loop approach enables efficient resource allocation by matching scheduling decisions with actual UE capabilities, eliminating the need for conservative resource allocation that would otherwise be required to prevent symbol puncturing.
4Speed
If higher frequency bands are used to increase bandwidth capacity, then data transmission rate improves, but communication reliability deteriorates due to insufficient cyclic prefix length for beam switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter for beam switching capability reporting from absolute time units to relative units (multiples of cyclic prefix lengths). This allows the system to maintain communication reliability at higher frequencies by expressing capability in terms that automatically scale with the shorter cyclic prefix lengths used in high-frequency bands, while still enabling high data transmission rates through appropriate subcarrier spacing selection.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may transmit an indication of a beam switching capability of the UE as a multiple of a physical layer timing unit for a wireless network in which the UE is located; and receive one or more scheduling grants that are based at least in part on the beam switching capability of the UE. Numerous other aspects are provided.