XL-MIMO Visibility Region Allocation for Efficient Antenna Use
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In extra-large scale massive MIMO (XL-MIMO) systems, it is inefficient to use all antennas for data transmission, and certain regions do not contribute to increased data transmission rates, necessitating methods to allocate antennas based on terminal requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for allocating antennas in XL-MIMO systems by determining a visibility region (VR) based on distance and service-related information, using reference signal received powers (RSRPs) to distinguish far-field and near-field communication, and adjusting VR size according to terminal needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If all antennas of XL-MIMO antenna panel are used for data transmission, then the spatial dimension is increased, but the system efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary antenna usage in regions that do not contribute to data transmission rate increase
Solution Approach 1:
The XL-MIMO antenna panel is segmented into multiple visibility regions (first VR and second VR) based on far-field and near-field communication characteristics. Different antenna subsets are allocated to different VRs, allowing the system to selectively activate only the necessary antennas for each terminal's communication requirements, thereby improving system efficiency while maintaining spatial dimension benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the antenna panel are assigned different functions based on their spatial characteristics. The first VR (far-field) and second VR (near-field) are differentiated with distinct antenna allocations and beamforming strategies tailored to each region's communication needs, optimizing performance locally rather than applying a uniform approach across all antennas.
2Productivity
If a large number of antennas are deployed in a narrow space (massive MIMO), then data transmission rate is improved, but the spatial dimension is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from two-dimensional antenna arrays in massive MIMO to three-dimensional spatial deployment in XL-MIMO, extending antenna panels across large surfaces such as building walls. This dimensional expansion provides additional spatial degrees of freedom, enabling the system to serve multiple terminals simultaneously with enhanced spatial separation while maintaining high data transmission rates.
3Productivity
If antennas are allocated based on terminal requirements, then system efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases due to VR determination and antenna grouping operations
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary determination of visibility regions and antenna grouping based on terminal requirements before actual data transmission. By pre-calculating the appropriate VR and allocating corresponding antenna subsets in advance, the system reduces real-time computational complexity while maintaining high efficiency in antenna utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
Reference signals are introduced as intermediaries to facilitate VR determination and antenna allocation. The base station transmits reference signals through representative antennas of different groups, and terminals provide feedback (RSRPs) that enable the base station to infer the appropriate VR and allocate antennas accordingly, simplifying the overall allocation process.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method of a base station, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, may comprise an operation of determining a VR to be allocated to a terminal in an XL-MIMO antenna panel such that the terminal is located in a far field or a near field distinguished by a VR size reference value on the basis of service-related information and RSRP for each representative antenna.