UE Polarization Beam Steering for Seamless FR2 Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

In Frequency Range 2 (FR2), user equipment (UE) with a single active antenna panel cannot steer two beams simultaneously during handover, leading to interruptions in maintaining connections with both the serving and target cells.

Innovation Solution

The UE transmits two transmission streams using distinct Tx polarization circuitries within the same antenna panel, allowing simultaneous connections with both cells by forming different beam patterns directed towards each base station.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a UE transmits multiple beams simultaneously during handover to different TRPs, then handover reliability and uplink coverage are improved, but uplink interference increases and resource utilization becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover reliabilityVSAvoiduplink interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the simultaneous transmission into sequential transmissions within a multi-slot window. The UE transmits different beams in different time slots (e.g., first beam in first slot, second beam in second slot) rather than simultaneously, thereby maintaining handover reliability while eliminating uplink interference between concurrent beams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action by scheduling beam transmissions in a time-division manner across multiple slots. Each beam is transmitted in its designated time slot according to a predetermined pattern, allowing the system to achieve diverse beam transmission while avoiding interference through periodic, non-overlapping transmission intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Area of stationary object

If a UE transmits multiple beams simultaneously during handover, then uplink coverage is enhanced, but resource utilization becomes inefficient due to interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink coverageVSAvoidresource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the beam transmission process into segmented time slots, where each beam occupies a specific slot. This segmentation allows the network to allocate resources efficiently for each beam transmission without interference, thereby maintaining enhanced uplink coverage while improving overall resource utilization through non-conflicting resource assignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic resource allocation where the timing and slot assignment for each beam transmission can be adjusted based on channel conditions and network requirements. This dynamic approach enables the system to optimize resource utilization while maintaining diverse beam transmission for enhanced coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If a UE transmits multiple beams simultaneously to different TRPs, then handover robustness is improved, but determination of target TRP becomes difficult due to interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover robustnessVSAvoidtarget TRP determination
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments beam transmissions into separate time slots assigned to different target TRPs. This segmentation allows each TRP to receive and measure signals from specific beams without interference from other concurrent beams, thereby maintaining handover robustness while enabling clear identification and determination of the target TRP based on measurement results from dedicated time slots.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces time-division multiplexing as an intermediary mechanism that separates overlapping signals in the time domain. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain multiple beam transmissions for robustness while enabling clear signal reception and measurement at each TRP by eliminating temporal overlap, thus facilitating accurate target TRP determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3942864B1Handover enhancement with simultaneous UE transmission beams
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 APPLE INC
  • EP3942864B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3942864B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3942864B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Exemplary embodiments include methods performed by a user equipment (UE). The methods include transmitting two transmission (Tx) streams simultaneously, wherein the two Tx streams are transmitted by two distinct Tx polarization circuitries within a same UE antenna panel circuity as two Tx polarizations. The methods also include identifying a first signal, identifying a second signal, transmitting the first signal in a first direction using a first polarization of an antenna panel and transmitting the second signal in a second direction using a second polarization of the antenna panel.