Beamforming method of millimeter wave communication and base station and user equipment using the same

• US 10,200,093 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2015
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Ho, Chung-Lien, Chen, Ren-Jr, Chen, Wen-Chiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Bao G
• Application Number:
  US14/979,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20160242159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0408 using two or more beams, i.e. beam diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0617 for beam forming
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0639 Using selective indices, e.g. of a codebook, e.g. pre-distortion matrix index [PMI] or for beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0695 using beam selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/00 Access restriction access security to prevent unauthorised access H04W12/08; Network selection; Access point selection

Abstract

A beamforming method of millimeter wave communication is introduced herein. the beamforming method is adapted to a base station and includes following steps. A plurality of periodic signals are transmitted by using a frame header of M radio frames via Q base station beams designated as Q scan beams while performing a network entry, wherein M≥1 and Q≥1. Data packets are transceived by using a payload region of the M radio frames via at least one scheduled beam while a user equipment connection is performed via the scheduled beam selected from the Q base station beams.

Claims

1. A beamforming method of millimeter wave communication, adapted for a base station which is capable of generating Q base station beams, and the method comprising:

transmitting a plurality of periodic signals by using a frame header of M radio frames via the Q base station beams designated as Q scan beams while performing a network entry, wherein at least N of the Q scan beams are allocated into the frame header of the M radio frames, wherein M >

1, Q >

1, and N is depending on a ratio of Q and M, and at least two of the Q scan beams are allocated into the frame header of one of the M radio frames; and

transceiving data packets by using a payload region of the M radio frames via at least one of the Q base station beams designated as at least one scheduled beam while performing a user equipment connection via the scheduled beam selected from the Q base station beams.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a network entry success message via one of the Q scan beams, so as to recognize the at least one scheduled beam from the Q base station beams; and

transmitting a network entry finish message by using the payload region of the M radio frames via the scheduled beam.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the periodic signals by using the frame header of the M radio frames via the Q base station beams designated as the Q scan beams while performing the network entry comprises:

synchronizing at least one user equipment by using the frame header of the M radio frames via the Q scan beams.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the periodic signals comprise a plurality of beam search signals respectively corresponding to the Q scan beams, each of the beam search signals carries a beam identifier, and the scan beams are related to different beam identifiers.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the periodic signals comprise a cell search signal, and the cell search signal carries a cell identifier.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the step of transmitting the periodic signals by using the frame header of the M radio frames via the Q base station beams designated as the Q scan beams while performing the network entry based on the Q scan beams comprises:

performing cell search procedure by using the cell search signal, wherein the cell search signal carrying the same cell identifier is allocated in the frame header of each of the M radio frames.

7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting the beam search signals by using the frame header of the M radio frames via the Q scan beams while transceiving the data packets; and

receiving at least one signal measurement parameter associated with part of or all of the Q scan beams by using the frame header of the M radio frames via part of or all of the Q scan beams while transceiving the data packets, so as to determine the schedule beam for transceiving the data packets and schedule the schedule beam.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the Q scan beams is periodically transmitted every M radio frames, and the at least one schedule beam selected from the Q base station beams is scheduled into the payload of the M radio frames for transceiving the data packets.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transceiving the data packets by using the payload region of the M radio frames via the at least one of the Q base station beams designated as at least one scheduled beam while performing the user equipment connection via the scheduled beam selected from the Q base station beams comprising:

transmitting downlink assignment information or uplink grant information via the scheduled beam selected from the Q base station beams, so as to transceive the data packets based on the downlink assignment information or the uplink grant information.

10. A base station, which is capable of generating Q base station beams, comprising:

a transceiver circuit, configured to transmit and receive a wireless signal of millimeter wave communication; and

a processing circuit, coupled to the transceiver circuit, and configured to;

transmit a plurality of periodic signals by using a frame header of M radio frames via the Q base station beams designated as Q scan beams while performing a network entry, wherein at least N of the Q scan beams are allocated into the frame header of the M radio frames, wherein M >

1, Q >

1, and N is depending on a ratio of Q and M, and at least two of the Q scan beams are allocated into the frame header of one of the M radio frames; and

transceive data packets by using a payload region of the M radio frames via at least one of the Q base station beams designated as at least one scheduled beam while performing a user equipment connection via the scheduled beam selected from the Q base station beams.

11. The base station according to claim 10, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

receive a network entry success message via one of the Q scan beams, so as to recognize the at least one scheduled beam from the Q base station beams; and

transmit a network entry finish message by using the payload region of the M radio frames via the scheduled beam.

12. The base station according to claim 10, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

synchronize at least one user equipment by using the frame header of the M radio frames via the Q scan beams.

13. The base station according to claim 10, wherein the periodic signals comprise a plurality of beam search signals respectively corresponding to the Q scan beams, each of the beam search signals carries a beam identifier, and the scan beams are related to different beam identifiers.

14. The base station according to claim 13, wherein the periodic signals comprise a cell search signal, and the cell search signal carries a cell identifier.

15. The base station according to claim 14, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

perform cell search procedure by using the cell search signal, wherein the cell search signal carrying the same cell identifier is allocated in the frame header of each of the M radio frames.

16. The base station according to claim 13, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

transmit the beam search signals by using the frame header of the M radio frames via the Q scan beams while transceiving the data packets; and

receive at least one signal measurement parameter associated with part of or all of the Q scan beams by using the frame header of the M radio frames via part of or all of the Q scan beams while transceiving the data packets, so as to determine the schedule beam for transceiving the data packets and schedule the schedule beam.

17. The base station according to claim 10, wherein each of the Q scan beams is periodically transmitted every M radio frames, and the at least one schedule beam selected from the Q base station beams is scheduled into the payload of the M radio frames for transceiving the data packets.

18. The base station according to claim 10, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

transmit downlink assignment information or uplink grant information via the scheduled beam selected from the Q base station beams, so as to transceive the data packets based on the downlink assignment information or the uplink grant information.

19. A beamforming method of millimeter wave communication, adapted for a user equipment, and the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of periodic signals by using a frame header of at least one of M radio frames via at least one of Q base station beams designated as at least one of Q scan beams while performing a network entry, wherein at least N of the Q scan beams are allocated into the frame header of the M radio frames, wherein M >

1, Q >

1, and is depending on a ratio of Q and M, and at least two of the Q scan beams are allocated into the frame header of one of the M radio frames;

determining at least one of the Q base station beams designated as at least one scheduled beam from the Q base station beams; and

transceiving data packets by using a payload region of at least one of the M radio frames via the at least one scheduled beam while performing a user equipment connection via the scheduled beam selected from the Q base station beams.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

reporting a network entry success message via one of the Q scan beams, such that a base station recognizes the scheduled beam from the Q base station beams; and

receiving a network entry finish message by using the payload region of one of the M radio frames via the scheduled beam.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising:

synchronizing with a base station by using the frame header of at least one of the M radio frames via at least one of the Q scan beams.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the periodic signals comprise a plurality of beam search signals respectively corresponding to the Q scan beams, each of the beam search signals carries a beam identifier, and the Q scan beams are related to different beam identifiers.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the periodic signals comprise a cell search signal, and the cell search signal carries a cell identifier.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the step of receiving the periodic signals by using the frame header of at least one of M radio frames via the at least one of Q base station beams designated as the at least one of Q scan beams while performing the network entry comprises:

performing cell search procedure by using the cell search signal, wherein the cell search signal carrying the same cell identifier is allocated in the frame header of each of the M radio frames.

25. The method according to claim 22, further comprising:

receiving the beam search signals by using the frame header of the M radio frames via the Q scan beams while transceiving the data packets; and

reporting at least one signal measurement parameter associated with part of or all of the Q scan beams by using the frame header of the M radio frames via part of or all of the Q scan beams while transceiving the data packets, so as to notify the base station the schedule beam for transceiving the data packets.

26. The method according to claim 19, wherein each of the Q scan beams is periodically transmitted every M radio frames, and the at least one schedule beam selected from the Q base station beams is scheduled into the payload of the M radio frames for transceiving the data packets.

27. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of transceiving the data packets by using the payload region of the M radio frames via the at least one scheduled beam while performing the user equipment connection via the scheduled beam selected from the Q base station beams comprising:

receiving downlink assignment information or uplink grant information via the scheduled beam selected from the Q base station beams, so as to transceive the data packets based on the downlink assignment information or the uplink grant information.

28. A user equipment, comprising:

a transceiver circuit, configured to transmit and receive a wireless signal; and

a processing circuit, coupled to the transceiver circuit, and configured to;

receive a plurality of periodic signals by using a frame header of at least one of M radio frames via at least one of Q base station beams designated as at least one of Q scan beams while performing a network entry, wherein at least N of the Q scan beams are allocated into the frame header of the M radio frames, wherein M >

1, Q >

1, and N is depending on a ratio of Q and M, and at least two of the Q scan beams are allocated into the frame header of one of the M radio frames;

determine at least one of the Q base station beams designated as at least one scheduled beam from the Q base station beams; and

transceive data packets by using a payload region of at least one of the M radio frames via the at least one scheduled beam while performing a user equipment connection via the scheduled beam selected from the Q base station beams.

29. The user equipment according to claim 28, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

report a network entry success message via one of the Q scan beams, such that a base station recognizes the scheduled beam from the Q base station beams; and

receive a network entry finish message by using the payload region of one of the M radio frames via the scheduled beam.

30. The user equipment according to claim 28, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

synchronize with a base station by using the frame header of at least one of the M radio frames via at least one of the Q scan beams.

31. The user equipment according to claim 28, wherein the periodic signals comprise a plurality of beam search signals respectively corresponding to the Q scan beams, each of the beam search signals carries a beam identifier, and the Q scan beams are related to different beam identifiers.

32. The user equipment according to claim 31, wherein the periodic signals comprise a cell search signal, and the cell search signal carries a cell identifier.

33. The user equipment according to claim 32, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

perform cell search procedure by using the cell search signal, wherein the cell search signal carrying the same cell identifier is allocated in the frame header of each of the M radio frames.

34. The user equipment according to claim 31, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

receive the beam search signals by using the frame header of the M radio frames via the Q scan beams while transceiving the data packets; and

report at least one signal measurement parameter associated with part of or all off the Q scan beams by using the frame header of the M radio frames via part of or all of the Q scan beams while transceiving the data packets, so as to notify a base station the schedule beam for transceiving the data packets.

35. The user equipment according to claim 28, wherein each of the Q scan beams is periodically transmitted every M radio frames, and the at least one schedule beam selected from the Q base station beams is scheduled into the payload of the M radio frames for transceiving the data packets.

36. The user equipment according to claim 28, wherein the processing circuit is further configured to:

receive downlink assignment information or uplink grant information via the scheduled beam selected from the Q base station beams, so as to transceive the data packets based on the downlink assignment information or the uplink grant information.