UE Antenna Coverage Hole Signaling for Spherical 5G Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 5G wireless communication systems face challenges in achieving full spherical coverage due to gaps or 'coverage holes' in signal strength, which can affect the reliability of connectivity, especially in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication technologies for autonomous driving applications.
Innovation Solution
User equipment (UE) identifies and signals coverage holes in its spherical coverage region to a network entity, receiving a configuration for enhanced reference signal resources to mitigate these gaps, utilizing multiple antenna modules placed asymmetrically to improve coverage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If antenna modules are arranged to provide spherical coverage, then coverage area is improved, but coverage holes (gaps in signal strength) occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the spherical coverage region into multiple angular sectors and identifies coverage holes in each sector independently. By dividing the coverage assessment into discrete angular segments (e.g., using angle ranges like 0-30 degrees, 30-60 degrees), the system can detect and report coverage holes systematically across the entire spherical region, enabling targeted mitigation strategies for each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing differentiated reference signal resource configurations specifically for coverage hole regions versus non-coverage hole regions. The network entity configures enhanced reference signal resources (higher density) only in directions where coverage holes are detected, rather than uniformly across all directions. This localized enhancement improves connectivity reliability precisely where needed without wasting resources in already-covered directions.
2Measurement precision
If reference signal resources are increased in coverage holes, then measurement precision is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by configuring reference signal resources with spatial differentiation - higher density resources are allocated only in coverage hole directions while maintaining lower density in non-problem areas. The capability message indicates specific angle ranges where coverage holes exist, enabling the network entity to apply enhanced measurement resources locally rather than globally, thus improving measurement precision where needed while minimizing overall signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by providing enhanced reference signal resources only partially - specifically in the angular sectors where coverage holes are detected - rather than uniformly across all directions. This selective enhancement achieves sufficient measurement precision for coverage assessment without the excessive signaling overhead that would result from uniform high-density resource allocation everywhere.
3Reliability
If multiple antenna modules are used to reduce coverage holes, then device complexity increases, but coverage reliability improves
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna system into multiple antenna modules, each responsible for specific angular sectors of the spherical coverage region. By dividing the overall coverage task among segmented antenna modules, the system can achieve comprehensive coverage and identify coverage holes more effectively, with each module contributing to specific directions rather than requiring a single complex omnidirectional antenna.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetric arrangement of antenna modules optimized for specific coverage scenarios. Rather than using symmetric omnidirectional antennas, the system uses asymmetrically positioned antenna modules that can be strategically placed to cover specific angular ranges, reducing coverage holes in critical directions while managing overall device complexity through purposeful asymmetric design.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are techniques for wireless communication. In an aspect, a user equipment (UE) transmits, to a network entity, a capability message indicating one or more coverage holes in a spherical coverage region around the UE, wherein the spherical coverage region is realized with one or more antenna modules of the UE, and wherein each coverage hole indicates a range of angles of the spherical coverage region within which a gain provided by the one or more antenna modules is below a signal strength threshold, and receives, from the network entity, a configuration of one or more reference signal resources to be measured by the one or more antenna modules in at least one coverage hole, wherein a density of the one or more reference signal resources is greater than a density of reference signal resources to be measured within the spherical coverage region outside the one or more coverage holes.