UE Line-of-Sight Status Reporting for Wireless Blockage Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in detecting and addressing changes in line-of-sight (LOS) conditions due to shifting blockages, such as buildings and street furniture, which can lead to degraded network performance and are difficult and costly to detect.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for wireless communication that enable user equipment (UE) to receive information about thresholds associated with LOS status and transmit reports to network nodes, allowing for detection of LOS status based on configured thresholds or channel estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If network nodes use narrow beams in higher frequency ranges, then data transmission capability is improved, but susceptibility to blockage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where UEs report LOS status information to network nodes based on channel estimation. The network node receives these reports and uses the LOS status feedback to dynamically adjust beamforming strategies, selecting between narrow high-gain beams when LOS is detected and broader beams when blockage is detected, thereby resolving the contradiction between transmission capability and blockage susceptibility
2Measurement precision
If manual detection methods are used to identify blockages, then blockage locations can be identified, but detection cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the system to self-detect blockages by having UEs autonomously perform channel estimation and determine their own LOS status. Each UE independently assesses whether it has a clear line-of-sight to the network node and reports this status, eliminating the need for complex manual detection methods while maintaining accurate blockage identification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces LOS status reporting as an intermediary mechanism between the physical blockage condition and the network's awareness. Rather than directly detecting blockages, the system uses UE-generated LOS status reports as intermediate information that indicates blockage conditions, simplifying the overall detection process while maintaining measurement precision
3Productivity
If LOS status reporting is implemented, then network performance can be optimized, but processor usage and data integration overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by having UEs report LOS status only when necessary - specifically when the LOS status changes or when triggered by network requests. Rather than continuously reporting, the system uses event-driven reporting that reduces processor usage and data overhead while still providing timely information for network performance optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the reporting parameter from continuous data streams to discrete LOS status indicators (LOS/NLOS states). This parameter transformation reduces the amount of data that needs to be processed and transmitted, lowering overhead while maintaining the ability to optimize network performance based on line-of-sight conditions
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. Some aspects relate to reporting of line-of-sight (LOS) status. Some aspects more specifically relate to detecting whether a user equipment (UE) is associated with a LOS status. In some examples, the UE reports location information indicating a location of the UE with the reporting of whether the UE is associated with the LOS status. In some examples a network node determines the location information. In some examples, the UE detects whether the UE is associated with the LOS status based on one or more configured thresholds. In some examples, the detection of whether the UE is associated with the LOS status is based on channel estimation at the UE.