Feedback protocols for near-real-time 5G/6G transmission optimization
In 5G and expected 6G networks, beam control is a crucial requirement. Disclosed are methods for user devices to assist a base station in correctly aiming downlink beams toward each user device, and to compensate for Doppler-effect frequency offsets, and to properly adjust the transmission power for adequate reception without generating unnecessary background radiation, among many other transmission parameters to be adjusted in real-time. The feedback messages by be extremely brief, such as a single resource element appended to an acknowledgement message, and may be multiplexed with other beam adjustment requests in a predetermined code. Mobile user devices in an ad-hoc sidelink network can align their beams using such feedback procedures. In a similar way, base stations or core networks can exchange messages with each other (as in wireless backhaul) with frequent feedback-controlled adjustment of the beam parameters, for more efficient exchange of messages between cells.
1. A method for a user-A of an ad-hoc network to communicate with a user-B of the ad-hoc network, the method comprising:
a) transmitting, by user-A to user-B, a first message comprising or concatenated with a first set of test signals, wherein each test signal of the first set is transmitted in a different beam direction;
b) receiving, by user-A from user-B, a B-to-A feedback message comprising or concatenated with a second set of test signals, each test signal of the second set transmitted in a different beam direction;
c) determining, by user-A, according to the B-to-A feedback message, which particular test signal of the first set provided a highest signal quality when received by user-B;
d) determining, by user-A, a preferred beam direction corresponding to the particular test signal of the first set; and
e) transmitting, by user-A to user-B, an A-to-B feedback message indicating which test signal of the second set provided a highest signal quality when received by user-A.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first message is transmitted according to 5G or 6G technology.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
a) the B-to-A feedback message further comprises an acknowledgement of the first message; and
b) the A-to-B feedback message further comprises an acknowledgement of the B-to-A feedback message.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
a) the A-to-B feedback message is transmitted in a beam aimed according to the preferred beam direction.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
a) the first set of test signals comprises exactly three test signals transmitted in three different directions;
b) the first message is transmitted in one of the three different directions; and
c) the B-to-A feedback message indicates which of the three test signals was received by user B with the highest signal quality.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
a) the first set of test signals comprises exactly two test signals transmitted in two different directions;
b) the first message is transmitted in a third direction different from the two different directions of the two test signals; and
c) the B-to-A feedback message indicates whether the first message or one of the two test signals was received by user-B with the highest signal quality.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the B-to-A feedback message further indicates whether user-B requests an increase, a decrease, or no change in a transmission power of user-A.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the B-to-A feedback message further indicates whether user-B requests an increase, a decrease, or no change in a transmission frequency of user-A.