UE Beamforming Null Space Report for Interference Mitigation

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, face challenges in optimizing user equipment (UE) beamforming due to increased power consumption and interference, especially as bandwidths expand and antenna arrays grow, leading to higher null space ranks and interference issues.

Innovation Solution

A configuration where a base station provides a null space report to the UE, containing null space information based on the UE's beamforming capabilities, allowing the UE to optimize its beamforming and reduce interference by positioning null spaces to mitigate incoming interferers, thereby reducing power consumption and peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR).

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If antenna arrays are expanded to increase bandwidth and improve communication capacity, then spectral efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases and interference issues worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the beamforming parameters by introducing null spaces in specific directions. The base station determines null space directions based on interferer locations and provides null space reports to the UE. The UE then adjusts its beamforming weights to create nulls in these directions, thereby reducing interference and power consumption while maintaining spectral efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of interference into a beneficial outcome by using the null space information to deliberately create directional nulls. Instead of trying to eliminate all interference through increased power or more antennas, the system uses the interferer's direction to create targeted null spaces, turning the interference problem into a solution that reduces both interference and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Productivity

If antenna arrays are expanded to increase bandwidth and improve communication capacity, then spectral efficiency is improved, but interference issues worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidinterference

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the beamforming parameters by introducing null spaces in specific directions. The base station determines null space directions based on interferer locations and provides null space reports to the UE. The UE then adjusts its beamforming weights to create nulls in these directions, thereby reducing interference and power consumption while maintaining spectral efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of interference into a beneficial outcome by using the null space information to deliberately create directional nulls. Instead of trying to eliminate all interference through increased power or more antennas, the system uses the interferer's direction to create targeted null spaces, turning the interference problem into a solution that reduces both interference and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Productivity

If beamforming capabilities are enhanced to improve communication performance, then spectral efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidbeamforming complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the base station acts as a coordinator. The base station collects interferer location information, determines appropriate null space directions, and provides null space reports to the UE. This intermediary approach simplifies the UE's complexity by having the base station perform the complex calculations, while the UE only needs to apply the provided null space information to its beamforming weights.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the base station pre-calculate the null space directions and provide null space reports to the UE before the UE needs to adjust its beamforming. This preliminary calculation and reporting mechanism reduces the real-time computational burden on the UE, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining spectral efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20220167343A1Optimized UE beamforming with null space report

Publication Date: 2022.05.26 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

A configuration for optimized UE beamforming with a null space report. The apparatus establishes a connection with a base station. The apparatus transmits, to the base station, a UE report comprising one or more beamforming capabilities of the UE. The apparatus receives, from the base station, a null space report comprising null space information for the UE based on the beamforming capabilities reported by the UE