Directional Beam Refinement for UE Signal Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices often experience performance degradation due to inadequate coverage and signal quality, particularly in challenging environments or when out of range from base stations, leading to poor user experience.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of directional transmission and reception techniques in 3GPP, LTE, and 5G networks, including the use of beam refinement training signals and scheduling blocks to optimize antenna alignment and resource allocation, particularly in millimeter wave communication systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If directional transmission and reception techniques are implemented, then signal quality and coverage are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication signal into multiple directional beams, each transmitted through specific antenna elements. This segmentation allows the system to focus energy in specific directions to improve signal quality while managing complexity through structured signal division
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces spatial dimensionality to traditional wireless communication by implementing directional transmission and reception. Multiple antenna elements are arranged in specific geometries (e.g., uniform linear arrays) to create three-dimensional beamforming capabilities, transforming omnidirectional communication into directional communication
2Reliability
If beam refinement training signals are used for precise antenna alignment, then communication performance is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary beam alignment procedures where beam refinement training signals are transmitted and processed before actual data communication begins. This preliminary action establishes optimal antenna alignment in advance, ensuring high communication performance without time loss during actual data transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the receiving device measures beam quality metrics (such as reference signal received power) and provides feedback to the transmitting device. This feedback loop enables iterative beam refinement, optimizing antenna alignment efficiently through measured performance data
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of an Evolved Node-B (eNB), User Equipment (UE) and methods for directional communication are generally described herein. The eNB may transmit, during a downlink sub-frame, a first beam refinement training signal and an uplink scheduling block to a first UE according to a downlink transmission direction from the eNB to the first UE. The eNB 104 may further transmit, during the downlink sub-frame, a second beam refinement training signal and a downlink scheduling block to a second UE according to a downlink transmission direction from the eNB to the second UE. The uplink scheduling block may indicate scheduled uplink resources for a scheduled uplink transmission by the first UE and the downlink scheduling block may indicate scheduled downlink resources for a scheduled downlink transmission to the second UE.