Location-based beamforming for rapid 5G and 6G directional messaging
In 5G/6G wireless networks, a user device and a base station may transmit and receive messages unidirectionally, using directional antennas, and may thereby provide sufficient reception while saving energy and time. A user device can determine its own location and the location of the base station, calculate an angle toward the base station, and thereby transmit a narrow-beam message to the base station. The message may indicate the user device's location so that the base station can direct its transmission and reception beam toward the user device. The user device and the base station can then transmit and receive messages unidirectionally for improved energy efficiency, improved reception, and reduced interference generation. In addition, a mobile user device can indicate its speed and direction of travel, so that the base station or other user devices can calculate the changing angle and direction toward the other, and may thereby redirect their transmission and reception beams toward the other, without the need for frequent location messages or beam scanning.
1. Non-transitory computer-readable media in a base station of a wireless network comprising instructions that, when implemented, cause the base station to perform a method comprising:
determining a first location corresponding to the base station or to an antenna of the base station;
receiving a first message, from a mobile user device, specifying a second location corresponding to the mobile user device;
calculating, based at least in part on the first and second locations, a direction toward the mobile user device from the base station;
preparing a downlink transmission beam aimed according to the direction; and transmitting, to the mobile user device, a second message according to the downlink transmission beam.
2. The media of claim 1 , wherein the first message and the second message are transmitted according to 5G or 6G technology.
3. The media of claim 1 , wherein the second message specifies the location of the base station.
4. The media of claim 1 , wherein the preparing a downlink transmission beam comprises operating the antenna of the base station to emit a maximum power in a particular direction.
5. The media of claim 4 , wherein the transmitting comprises aiming the particular direction toward the user device.
6. The media of claim 4 , the method further comprising:
preparing an uplink reception beam aimed according to the direction; and
receiving, from the mobile user device, according to the uplink reception beam, a third message;
wherein the preparing the uplink reception beam comprises operating the antenna of the base station to receive a maximum sensitivity in the particular direction.
7. The media of claim 1 , wherein the first message further specifies a speed of the user device and a direction of travel of the user device.
8. The media of claim 7 , the method further comprising:
measuring a time interval after receiving the first message;
calculating, based at least in part on the speed of the user device and the direction of travel of the user device, an updated location of the user device;
redirecting the downlink transmission beam according to the updated location of the user device; and
transmitting a fourth message to the user device according to the redirected downlink transmission beam.
9. The media of claim 7 , the method further comprising:
providing, in non-transitory computer-readable memory, a map comprising one or more roads proximate to the base station; and
determining, based at least in part on the second location, a particular road in the map.
10. The media of claim 9 , the method further comprising:
measuring a time interval after receiving the first message;
calculating, based at least in part on the speed of the user device and the direction of travel of the user device and the particular road, an updated location of the user device;
redirecting the downlink transmission beam according to the updated location of the user device; and
transmitting a fifth message to the user device according to the redirected downlink transmission beam.
11. A method for a mobile user device to transmit a message to a base station, comprising:
determining, by the mobile user device, a location of the base station;
determining, by the mobile user device, a location of the mobile user device;
calculating, by the mobile user device, based at least in part on the location of the base station and the location of the mobile user device, an angle or direction toward the base station from the mobile user device;
preparing, by the mobile user device, an uplink transmission beam aimed according to the angle or direction; and
transmitting, by the mobile user device, according to the uplink transmission beam, the message.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the message comprises an indication of the location of the mobile user device.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the message further comprises an indication of the a speed of the mobile user device and an indication of a direction of travel of the mobile user device.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determining the location of the base station comprises receiving, from the base station, a system information message specifying the location of the base station.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the determining the location of the base station comprises reading, from a tabulation of wireless network data, the location of the base station.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the preparing the uplink transmission beam comprises operating an antenna of the mobile user device to emit unidirectional power aimed at the base station.
17. A first mobile user device configured to:
determine a first location of the first mobile user device;
transmit a first message, specifying the first location, to a second user device;
receive a second message, transmitted by the second mobile user device, specifying a second location of the second mobile user device;
calculate a direction from the first location toward the second location;
prepare a sidelink transmission beam according to the direction; and
then transmit a message to the second mobile user device according to the sidelink transmission beam.
18. The first mobile user device of claim 17 , wherein:
the first message further specifies a first identification code of the first mobile user device; and
the second message further specifies a second identification code of the second mobile user device.
19. The first mobile user device of claim 18 , wherein the first mobile user device is further configured to transmit a message specifying a speed of the first mobile user device and a direction of travel of the first mobile user device.
20. The first mobile user device of claim 17 , further configured to:
prepare a sidelink reception beam according to the direction; and
receive a third message from the second mobile user device according to the sidelink reception beam;
wherein the sidelink reception beam comprises a maximum received sensitivity in a particular direction which is aimed toward the second mobile user device.