Unified TCI State Indicator for Wireless Beam Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing wireless communication systems, particularly in NR R15 and R16, face increased system complexity and negative impacts on signaling overhead and delay due to the difference in uplink and downlink beam management mechanisms, which constrains uplink transmission performance.
Innovation Solution
A unified method for streamlining uplink and downlink beam management by combining uplink and downlink TCI state activations, using a method where a first node receives and processes information blocks to determine indexes for information elements, which are used to determine reception or transmission parameters based on scheduling information, thereby reducing signaling overhead and delay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate uplink and downlink beam management mechanisms are used, then beam management can be performed for both directions, but system complexity increases and signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines uplink and downlink beam management into a unified mechanism using common TCI state indicators. The same TCI state indications are used for both downlink reception and uplink transmission beam management, merging previously separate procedures into a single integrated system that reduces complexity while maintaining full bidirectional beam management capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The TCI state indicator is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it indicates downlink reception beams, uplink transmission beams, and references both downlink and uplink signal configurations. This universal indicator replaces multiple specialized indicators, reducing system complexity while enabling comprehensive beam management for both uplink and downlink.
2Reliability
If separate uplink and downlink beam management mechanisms are used, then beam management can be performed for both directions, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges downlink TCI state indications and uplink TCI state indications into a single unified TCI state indicator. This consolidated indicator conveys both downlink and uplink beam information simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate signaling messages and reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining complete beam management functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified TCI state indicator performs multiple signaling functions: it indicates downlink reception beam parameters, uplink transmission beam parameters, and provides references for both directions. This multi-functional indicator replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate signaling elements, significantly reducing the information overhead required for beam management.
3Reliability
If separate uplink and downlink beam management mechanisms are used, then beam management can be performed for both directions, but delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines downlink TCI state activation and uplink TCI state activation into a single unified TCI state indication process. This merged mechanism allows the network to simultaneously configure both downlink and uplink beams through one signaling operation, eliminating sequential processing delays and reducing overall beam management latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified TCI state indicator pre-configures both downlink and uplink beam parameters together, allowing the UE to prepare both reception and transmission beams simultaneously rather than sequentially. This preliminary unified configuration reduces the time required for beam management operations by eliminating staged processing delays.
4Loss of information
If unified uplink and downlink beam management is implemented, then signaling overhead is reduced, but beam management flexibility may be constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The unified TCI state indicator is designed with multi-functional capability to maintain flexibility despite consolidation. It can independently indicate downlink reception beams, uplink transmission beams, and reference signals for both directions, allowing the system to adapt to various beam management scenarios while using a single signaling mechanism, thus preserving flexibility without requiring separate specialized indicators.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosure discloses method and device in a node used for wireless communication. A first node receives a first information block and a first signaling; and operates a first signal. The first information block is used for determining M first-type indexes out of N first-type indexes; the M first-type indexes are used for determining M1 information elements out of N1 information elements, and for determining M2 information elements out of N2 information elements; the first signaling comprises scheduling information of the first signal, and a first information element is used for determining Rx/Tx parameters of the first signal; when the operating is receiving, the first signaling indicates the first information element out of the M1 information elements; when the operating is transmitting, the first signaling indicates the first information element out of the M2 information elements. The above method streamlines beam management and improves the performance of uplink data transmission.