Uplink Beam Assignment via Implicit UE Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in uplink beam assignment, leading to increased latency and signaling overhead due to the need for explicit beam negotiations, which are not always feasible or desirable, especially in scenarios with high signal attenuation such as millimeter wave frequencies.

Innovation Solution

A method where user equipment (UE) identifies a default uplink transmit beam based on recent uplink or downlink transmission resources, allowing for implicit beam identification without explicit signaling from the base station, thereby reducing latency and signaling overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If explicit beam indication signaling is used for uplink beam assignment, then beam identification accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam identification accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the beam identification function from explicit signaling and implements it through implicit determination by the UE based on downlink beam correspondence. The UE autonomously identifies the uplink transmit beam by mapping it to a downlink receive beam, removing the need for explicit beam indication signaling from the base station.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The UE performs self-service by autonomously determining its uplink transmit beam without requiring explicit indication from the base station. The UE uses its own downlink receive beam information and beam correspondence principles to independently identify the appropriate uplink beam, reducing dependency on network signaling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If explicit beam negotiation is performed between UE and base station, then beam assignment accuracy is improved, but communication latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam assignment accuracyVSAvoidcommunication latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by establishing downlink beam correspondence in advance, which enables the UE to quickly determine uplink beams without negotiation. The UE pre-configures its beam mapping relationships based on downlink measurements, allowing rapid uplink beam selection when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If beamformed transmissions are implemented to improve signal quality, then communication range and signal quality are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by making the downlink receive beam serve multiple functions: it is used for both downlink reception and for determining the uplink transmit beam through beam correspondence. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate uplink beam training procedures, reducing system complexity while maintaining beamformed transmission benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3753132B1Uplink beam assignment
Publication Date: 2023.11.15 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3753132B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3753132B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3753132B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. Generally, the described techniques provide a mechanism for a user equipment (UE) to identify an uplink transmit beam to be used for communicating with a base station. In some cases, the uplink transmit beam may be based on a recent uplink (or downlink) transmission or set of allocated resources. A base station may allocate communication resources for a UE. The UE may determine, based on the allocated communication resources, a default transmit beam for communicating with the base station. The UE and base station may (e.g., independently) identify a triggering condition for using the default transmit beam. The UE may transmit an uplink communication to the base station using the default transmit beam based on the triggering condition.