System and method for implementing intelligent reflecting surfaces (IRS) in networks

A method implemented in a network device in communication with one or more Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRSs) and one or more User Equipments (UEs), the method comprising:

• computing IRS tilt information associated with the one or more IRSs based at least in part on a first set of information received from the one or more UEs;
• communicating the computed IRS tilt information to the one or more IRSs via a network interface, wherein the IRS tilt information is used to control one or more operational aspects of the one or more IRSs;
• receiving a handshake signal from a new IRS when activated via a physical connection between the new IRS and the network device during a setup process;
• and
• creating an entry in an IRS-Cell mapping table, wherein the entry comprises one or more fields comprising an IRS-ID, IRS capabilities in terms of number of antenna elements supported by the new IRS, a mechanical/electrical tilt support, an active/passive support, a geographical location like altitude, azimuth, elevation, coverage capabilities of the IRS, a sharable/not sharable status, deployment details.

A User Equipment (UE) comprising:

• one or more processors coupled to a memory storing a set of instructions which when executed by the one or more processors cause a network device to:
• transmit a first set of information associated with the UE to one or more 6G network devices, wherein the one or more 6G network devices are configured to:
• compute Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS) tilt information associated with one or more IRSs based at least in part on the first set of information received from the one or more UESs;
• communicate the computed IRS tilt information to the one or more IRSs via a network interface, wherein the IRS tilt information is used to control one or more operational aspects of the one or more IRSs to provide network services to the UE;
• receive a handshake signal from a new IRS when activated via a physical connection between the new IRS and the network device during a setup process;
• and
• create an entry in an IRS-Cell mapping table, wherein the entry comprises one or more fields comprising an IRS-ID, IRS capabilities in terms of number of antenna elements supported by the new IRS, a mechanical/electrical tilt support, an active/passive support, a geographical location like altitude, azimuth, elevation, coverage capabilities of the IRS, a sharable/not sharable status, deployment details.

A non-transitory computer readable medium (CRM) that comprises one or more instructions stored thereupon that when executed by a processor causes the process processor to:

• compute Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS) tilt information associated with the one or more IRSs based at least in part on a first set of information received from the one or more User Equipments (UEs);
• communicate the computed IRS tilt information to the one or more IRSs via a network interface, wherein the IRS tilt information is used to control one or more operational aspects of the one or more IRSs;
• receive a handshake signal from a new IRS when activated via a physical connection between the new IRS and the network device during a setup process;
• and
• create an entry in an IRS-Cell mapping table, wherein the entry comprises one or more fields comprising an IRS-ID, IRS capabilities in terms of number of antenna elements supported by the new IRS, a mechanical/electrical tilt support, an active/passive support, a geographical location like altitude, azimuth, elevation, coverage capabilities of the IRS, a sharable/not sharable status, deployment details.