Uplink Beam Selection via Base Station Feedback in Massive MIMO
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Massive MIMO systems face challenges in reducing the size, cost, and power consumption of fully digitized antenna arrays, particularly due to the high power consumption of Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) units, and terminals struggle to determine uplink transmission beams independently.
Innovation Solution
The method involves the base station transmitting uplink transmission beam indication information to the terminal, specifying whether the beam should be based on uplink or downlink reference signals, allowing the terminal to determine the optimal beam using beamforming weights and channel reciprocity, thereby reducing the need for multiple transceiver units and enhancing beam selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fully digitized Massive MIMO antenna units are used, then beamforming gain and signal coverage are improved, but equipment size, cost and power consumption increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the Massive MIMO system into two parts: the base station uses fully digitized antenna units for beamforming, while the terminal uses analog beamforming for receiving. This segmentation allows the base station to provide strong beamforming gain to compensate for path losses, while the terminal avoids the high power consumption of multiple ADC/DAC units by using analog processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels to different parts of the system. The base station is equipped with high-performance fully digitized antenna units to generate strong beams, while the terminal uses simpler analog beamforming. This local differentiation optimizes overall system performance while controlling terminal power consumption and cost.
2Reliability
If fully digitized Massive MIMO antenna units are used, then beamforming gain and signal coverage are improved, but equipment size and cost increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the Massive MIMO system into two parts: the base station uses fully digitized antenna units for beamforming, while the terminal uses analog beamforming for receiving. This segmentation allows the base station to provide strong beamforming gain to compensate for path losses, while the terminal avoids the high power consumption of multiple ADC/DAC units by using analog processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels to different parts of the system. The base station is equipped with high-performance fully digitized antenna units to generate strong beams, while the terminal uses simpler analog beamforming. This local differentiation optimizes overall system performance while controlling terminal power consumption and cost.
3Ease of operation
If terminal determines uplink transmission beam independently, then terminal autonomy is improved, but beam selection accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the base station measures the uplink reference signals transmitted by the terminal on different beams, determines the optimal uplink transmission beam, and feeds back beam indication information to the terminal. This feedback loop ensures accurate beam selection while maintaining terminal autonomy in beam execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station acts as an intermediary in the beam determination process. It receives reference signals from the terminal, performs measurements, determines the optimal beam, and provides beam indication information to the terminal. This intermediary role resolves the contradiction by centralizing the decision-making function while maintaining terminal involvement in the process.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for determining an uplink transmission beam are provided. The method includes: a base station transmitting uplink transmission beam indication information to a terminal; where the uplink transmission beam indication information includes beam type indication information, the beam type indication information is used to indicate that the uplink transmission beam for the terminal is obtained based on uplink reference signals, or the beam type indication information is used to indicate that the uplink transmission beam for the terminal is obtained based on downlink reference signals, so as to ensure that the base station is capable of selecting an uplink transmission beam for the terminal.