Wireless Device Beamforming Calibration Using Position Orientation Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high path loss and short range of millimeter wave (mmW) communications in wireless systems result in a large number of potential beamforming directions needing to be scanned, leading to excessive time and beam overhead during the beamforming procedure.
Innovation Solution
A wireless device maintains beamforming calibration information correlating its positions and orientations with mmW nodes and subarrays, allowing it to select optimal beamforming directions and subarrays without scanning all possible options, using sensors to determine its position and orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a scanning process is performed for all potential beamforming directions to ensure complete coverage, then beamforming accuracy is improved, but the time required and beam overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary beamforming calibration during initial connection or setup phases, storing calibration information that maps wireless device positions and orientations to optimal beamforming directions. This preliminary action eliminates the need for exhaustive scanning during operational mode, as the device can directly apply pre-determined beamforming parameters based on sensor data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses sensor data (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer) to create a virtual model or copy of the wireless device's spatial orientation and position. This copied spatial information is then used to directly determine beamforming directions without physical scanning, replacing time-consuming electromagnetic wave scanning with faster computational mapping based on sensor measurements.
2Reliability
If the number of antennas and subarrays at mmW nodes and wireless devices is increased to improve signal quality, then communication reliability is improved, but the number of possible beamforming directions and scanning complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameters by transitioning from exhaustive spatial scanning to direct parameter application. Calibration information pre-maps position and orientation parameters to beamforming parameters, allowing the system to jump directly to optimal configurations based on current sensor readings, thereby reducing the effective parameter search space despite having multiple antennas and subarrays.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless device performs self-calibration and self-determination of beamforming parameters using its own onboard sensors. The device independently correlates its sensor-measured position and orientation with stored calibration data to autonomously select optimal beamforming configurations, reducing the need for complex network-coordinated scanning procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If beamforming calibration is performed exhaustively during initial setup to cover all positions and orientations, then adaptability to different device configurations is improved, but the initial calibration time and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The calibration information structure is designed to be universal, storing mappings for multiple positions and orientations in a consolidated calibration dataset. This universal calibration table serves all subsequent operational needs across different device configurations and locations, eliminating the need for repeated calibration procedures while maintaining adaptability to various scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
Comprehensive calibration data for multiple positions and orientations is pre-computed and stored during initial setup or manufacturing phases. This preliminary calibration action creates a ready-reference lookup table that enables rapid beamforming parameter selection during operation without requiring time-consuming real-time calibration, thus achieving both broad adaptability and fast operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless device of the present disclosure may be able to reduce the time needed to determine a subarray and/or beamforming direction used for mmW communication. In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. In one aspect, the apparatus may maintain first information associated with a correlation between each of a plurality of wireless device positions and wireless device orientations and a plurality of nodes, at least one subarray, and a corresponding beamforming direction. In another aspect, the apparatus may transmit the first information associated with the correlation to a plurality of nodes.