UE Panel Selection via Beam Quality Reporting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In MIMO wireless communications, the existing technologies face challenges in accurately determining which panel of a user equipment (UE) is used for uplink signals when synchronization signal blocks (SSB) or channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) are employed for beam indication, as different SSB/CSI-RS resources with the same index can be received using the same beam, making it unclear which panel each uplink signal is from.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an apparatus and method for UE panel selection, where the UE determines the beam quality of each reference signal resource received at its panels and reports this information to the gNB, allowing the gNB to decode and encode beam indications to specify the appropriate panel for uplink transmission, thereby enabling accurate panel selection and activation/deactivation management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If SSB/CSI-RS resources with the same index are used for beam indication, then resource indexing is simplified, but panel identification becomes ambiguous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (panel-specific reference signal resources or panel indication fields) that mediates between the simplified resource indexing and the need for accurate panel identification. This intermediary allows the system to maintain simple indexing while still enabling distinction between panels through additional identifying information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds another dimension to the resource identification system by introducing panel-specific dimensions (such as panel indices or panel-specific resource configurations) alongside the existing resource index dimension. This allows resources with the same index to be distinguished by their panel dimension, resolving the ambiguity without complicating the base indexing system.
2Productivity
If multiple panels are supported in UE, then communication capacity is improved, but determining which panel is used for uplink signals becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the UE reports panel-specific information (such as panel indices or beam quality metrics per panel) to the gNB. This feedback enables the gNB to determine which panel is being used for uplink transmissions based on the reported information, simplifying the determination process while supporting multiple panels for enhanced capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the uplink transmission resources and reporting mechanisms by panel, allowing independent tracking and management of each panel's usage. This segmentation enables the system to handle multiple panels efficiently by treating each panel's resource allocation and identification separately, reducing overall complexity.
3Measurement precision
If beam quality reporting for each panel is implemented, then accurate panel selection is achieved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial reporting where the UE reports beam quality information only for panels that are actually used or most relevant panels, rather than all panels. This partial action approach maintains accurate panel selection for active panels while reducing the overall signaling overhead by excluding unnecessary reports from inactive or less important panels.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are apparatus and method for user equipment (UE) panel selection. The disclosure provides an apparatus for a UE, comprising: a radio frequency (RF) interface to receive one or more reference signal resources from a next generation NodeB (gNB); and processor circuitry coupled with the RF interface, the processor circuitry to: determine a beam quality for each of the one or more reference signal resources received at each panel of the UE; and report beam information to the gNB, the beam information to indicate the beam quality of each of the one or more reference signal resources and corresponding panel for receiving each of the one or more reference signal resources. Other embodiments may also be disclosed and claimed.