5G NR Beam Indication Through a Unified TCI State Pool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G New Radio (NR) technologies face high signaling overheads due to the lack of a unified beam indication mechanism for various channels and reference signals, leading to inefficient beam management.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the configuration of a Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) state pool by a network device to indicate common beam information for multiple channels and/or reference signals, using joint or separate TCI states, and sending a command to a terminal device to determine the appropriate TCI states for uplink and downlink.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate beam indication mechanisms are provided for various channels and reference signals, then beam management precision is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the beam indication mechanisms for multiple channels and reference signals into a unified TCI state indication system. The TCI state pool contains TCI states that can be jointly or separately indicated for different channels (PDCCH, PDSCH, CSI-RS, SSB), eliminating the need for separate indication mechanisms for each channel while maintaining precise beam management through the unified state pool structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The TCI state pool serves as a universal structure that can indicate beam information for multiple different channels and reference signals simultaneously. Each TCI state in the pool can be associated with different channels through the indication mechanism, allowing a single unified structure to perform multiple beam indication functions that would otherwise require separate dedicated mechanisms.
2Quantity of substance
If a unified beam indication mechanism is implemented for multiple channels, then signaling overhead is reduced, but beam indication flexibility may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the beam indication into two distinct types: joint TCI states that apply to multiple channels simultaneously, and separate TCI states that apply to individual channels. This segmentation within the unified TCI state pool allows the system to maintain flexibility by choosing the appropriate indication type for different scenarios while benefiting from the overhead reduction of the unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts the beam indication approach by determining whether to use joint or separate TCI states based on the specific channel configuration and beam management requirements. This dynamic selection mechanism allows the unified structure to flexibly accommodate different beam indication needs without compromising adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A beam indication method, a network device, and a terminal device are provided. The method includes: receiving a first command sent by the network device. The first command is used to indicate at least one Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) state in a TCI state pool. The at least one TCI state comprises a joint TCI state or a separate TCI state. The TCI state pool is preconfigured by the network device. The at least one TCI state is used to indicate common beam information of a plurality of channels or Reference Signals (RSs). The method further includes determining, according to the first command, the at least one TCI state corresponding to an Uplink (UL) or a Downlink (DL).