Adaptive beamforming scanning
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
InventorsZhan Zhang, Jinhua Liu, Jianfeng Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is provided mechanisms for adaptive beamforming scanning. A method is performed by a network device having a non-uniform directional network coverage. The method comprises obtaining a beam pattern indicating spatial directions in which reception of identification signals is to be scanned, wherein the beam pattern is defined by the non-uniform directional network coverage. The method comprises scanning with directional beams in the spatial directions according to the beam pattern for reception of the identification signals from wireless devices
Claims13
A method of operation at a radio access node of a communication network, the method comprising:
- determining differences in network coverage in two or more spatial directions relative to the radio network node, based on pilot-signal measurements obtained from given wireless devices operating at radio-coverage edges of the radio access node;
- configuring a beam pattern in dependence on the determined differences in network coverage, including configuring non-uniform beam durations and/or non-uniform beam shapes for two or more directional beams, wherein the non-uniformity accounts for the determined differences in network coverage;
- and
- scanning for random-access signaling incoming from given wireless devices, according to the configured beam pattern.
A method of operation at a radio access node of a communication network, the method comprising:
- determining differences in network coverage in two or more spatial directions relative to the radio network node;
- configuring a beam pattern in dependence on the determined differences in network coverage, including configuring non-uniform beam durations and/or non-uniform beam shapes for two or more directional beams, wherein the non-uniformity accounts for the determined differences in network coverage;
- and
- scanning for random-access signaling incoming from given wireless devices, according to the configured beam pattern;
- wherein the radio access node uses a set of directional beams for transmission and reception, and wherein determining the differences in network coverage comprises evaluating neighbor-node radio coverage at coverage edges of the respective directional beams, based on downlink measurements made by wireless devices operating at the coverage edges of the respective beams.
A method of operation at a radio access node of a communication network, the method comprising:
- configuring a beam pattern according to differences in network coverage in two or more spatial directions relative to the radio access node, wherein the differences in network coverage relate to an extent or quality of overlapping radio coverage as between the radio access node and one or more neighboring radio access nodes, wherein the beam pattern defines a set of directional beams used by the radio access node for reception beamforming, and wherein configuring the beam pattern comprises adjusting the set of directional beams, such that a non-uniformity in beamforming gains among the directional beams reflects the differences in network coverage;
- and
- scanning for incoming random-access signaling according to the configured beam pattern.
A radio access node configured for operation in a communication network, the radio access node comprising:
- transceiver circuitry configured for reception beamforming using an associated plurality of antennas or antenna elements;
- and
- processing circuitry operatively associated with the transceiver circuitry and configured to:
- determine differences in network coverage in two or more spatial directions relative to the radio network node, based on pilot-signal measurements obtained from given wireless devices operating at radio-coverage edges of the radio access node;
- configure a beam pattern in dependence on the determined differences in network coverage, including configuring non-uniform beam durations and/or non-uniform beam shapes for two or more directional beams, wherein the non-uniformity accounts for the determined differences in network coverage;
- and
- scan, using the transceiver circuitry, for random-access signaling incoming from given wireless devices, according to the configured beam pattern.
A radio access node configured for operation in a communication network, the radio access node comprising:
- transceiver circuitry configured for reception beamforming using an associated plurality of antennas or antenna elements;
- and
- processing circuitry operatively associated with the transceiver circuitry and configured to:
- determine differences in network coverage in two or more spatial directions relative to the radio network node;
- configure a beam pattern in dependence on the determined differences in network coverage, including configuring non-uniform beam durations and/or non-uniform beam shapes for two or more directional beams, wherein the non-uniformity accounts for the determined differences in network coverage;
- and
- scan, using the transceiver circuitry, for random-access signaling incoming from given wireless devices, according to the configured beam pattern;
- wherein the radio access node uses a set of directional beams for transmission and reception, and wherein the processing circuitry is configured to determine the differences in network coverage by evaluating neighbor-node radio coverage at coverage edges of the respective directional beams, based on downlink measurements made by wireless devices operating at the coverage edges of the respective beams.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.