Multi-Antenna UE Panel Availability for Simultaneous Beam Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communications systems face challenges in efficiently utilizing multiple antenna panels of user equipment (UE) due to limitations in beamforming capabilities, particularly at high frequencies, leading to underutilization or conflicts when scheduling simultaneous beams.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for UE to report the availability of its antenna panels through multi-value fields, allowing network nodes to instruct their use for tasks such as additional data connections or measurements, thereby optimizing antenna panel usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If beamforming is used to combat path loss at high frequencies, then signal quality is improved, but the number of simultaneous beams is limited by the number of antenna panels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic beam management where the network can instruct the UE to switch between different beam configurations based on current communication needs. The UE reports availability of antenna panels dynamically, allowing the system to adapt the number of simultaneous beams according to available hardware resources and current channel conditions, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining signal quality through beamforming and enabling multiple simultaneous beams for diverse applications.
2Productivity
If a UE uses multiple antenna panels for simultaneous communication with multiple TRPs, then data rate and connection reliability are improved, but hardware resources may be overallocated or conflicted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a feedback mechanism where the UE reports the availability status of its antenna panels to the network. This feedback allows the network to make informed scheduling decisions about how many simultaneous beams to allocate to the UE, ensuring that the number of allocated beams does not exceed the actual hardware capacity. This resolves the contradiction by enabling high data rates through multi-TRP communication while preventing hardware resource conflicts through accurate resource awareness.
3Reliability
If antenna panels are allocated for primary communication tasks, then connection reliability is maintained, but available panels for additional tasks such as measurements or neighbor TRP monitoring are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic allocation of antenna panels between primary communication tasks and additional tasks such as measurements and neighbor TRP monitoring. The UE continuously reports antenna panel availability to the network, which can then dynamically adjust the allocation based on current priorities. When connection reliability is paramount, more panels are allocated to active communication; when additional tasks are needed, panels can be temporarily reassigned, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliable connections and enabling versatile additional tasks.
Data Source
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Figure 2A
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AI summary
A method for operating a user equipment with multi-beam communication capability includes performing measurements in accordance with received reference signals, and determining that at least one antenna panel is unused, wherein the determining is in accordance with the measurements, and based thereon, reporting an availability of the at least one antenna panel.