IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,500,647
Granted Patent B2
US 12,500,647 · App. 18/051,754 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

Beam quad selection for four-layer millimeter wave transmissions

Inventor: Vasanthan Raghavan (West Windsor Township, NJ)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
H04B7/0695H04B7/0408H04B7/0456H04B7/0617H04B7/10H04L5/0048H04L25/021
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,500,647
App. No.
18/051,754
Granted
Dec 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive, from a network node, one or more downlink reference signals during a beam training procedure. The UE may estimate, based at least in part on one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a covariance matrix associated with multiple candidate beam quads used to transmit or receive the one or more downlink reference signals. The UE may select, from among the multiple candidate beam quads, a beam quad that corresponds to a group of four beams to optimize one or more parameters associated with the covariance matrix. The UE may communicate with the network node using the selected beam quad. Numerous other aspects are described.

Claims (69)

1 . A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising:

receiving, from a network node, one or more downlink reference signals during a beam training procedure;

estimating, based at least in part on one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a covariance matrix associated with multiple candidate beam quads used to transmit or receive the one or more downlink reference signals,

wherein each candidate beam quad, of the multiple candidate beam quads, comprises four beams;

selecting, from among the multiple candidate beam quads, a beam quad that corresponds to a group of four beams to optimize one or more parameters associated with the covariance matrix; and

communicating with the network node using the selected beam quad.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the beam quad is selected to maximize a total energy associated with the group of four beams.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the beam quad is selected to minimize a spread of eigenvalues associated with the estimated covariance matrix.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the beam quad is selected to maximally equalize eigenvalues associated with the estimated covariance matrix.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the multiple candidate beam quads used to transmit or receive the one or more downlink reference signals include a subset of beam quads from hybrid beamforming codebooks at the UE and the network node.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the beam quad includes:

estimating, based at least in part on the one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a four-layer spectral efficiency associated with the multiple candidate beam quads used to transmit or receive the one or more downlink reference signals; and

selecting, from among the multiple candidate beam quads, the beam quad to maximize a value of the four-layer spectral efficiency.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the beam quad includes:

selecting, based at least in part on the one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a first beam pair associated with a first transmission configuration indication (TCI) state associated with a best metric; and

selecting, based at least in part on the one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a second beam pair associated with a second TCI state associated with a next best metric, wherein the beam quad includes the first beam pair and the second beam pair, and wherein the first TCI state is the same as or different from the second TCI state.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the beam quad includes a first beam associated with a first spatial direction and a first polarization, a second beam associated with the first spatial direction and a second polarization, a third beam associated with a second spatial direction and the first polarization, and a fourth beam associated with the second spatial direction and the second polarization.

9 . An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

one or more memories; and

one or more processors, based at least in part on information stored in the one or more memories, configured to:

receive, from a network node, one or more downlink reference signals during a beam training procedure;

estimate, based at least in part on one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a covariance matrix associated with multiple candidate beam quads used to transmit or receive the one or more downlink reference signals,

wherein each candidate beam quad, of the multiple candidate beam quads, comprises four beams;

select, from among the multiple candidate beam quads, a beam quad that corresponds to a group of four beams to optimize one or more parameters associated with the covariance matrix; and

communicate with the network node using the selected beam quad.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the beam quad is selected to maximize a total energy associated with the group of four beams.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the beam quad is selected to minimize a spread of eigenvalues associated with the estimated covariance matrix.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the beam quad is selected to maximally equalize eigenvalues associated with the estimated covariance matrix.

13 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the multiple candidate beam quads used to transmit or receive the one or more downlink reference signals include a subset of beam quads from hybrid beamforming codebooks at the apparatus and the network node.

14 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors, to select the beam quad, are configured to:

estimate, based at least in part on the one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a four-layer spectral efficiency associated with the multiple candidate beam quads used to transmit or receive the one or more downlink reference signals; and

select, from among the multiple candidate beam quads, the beam quad to maximize a value of the four-layer spectral efficiency.

15 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors, to select the beam quad, are configured to:

select, based at least in part on the one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a first beam pair associated with a first transmission configuration indication (TCI) state associated with a best metric; and

select, based at least in part on the one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a second beam pair associated with a second TCI state associated with a next best metric, wherein the beam quad includes the first beam pair and the second beam pair, and wherein the first TCI state is the same as or different from the second TCI state.

16 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the beam quad includes a first beam associated with a first spatial direction and a first polarization, a second beam associated with the first spatial direction and a second polarization, a third beam associated with a second spatial direction and the first polarization, and a fourth beam associated with the second spatial direction and the second polarization.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a set of instructions for wireless communication, the set of instructions comprising:

one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a user equipment (UE), cause the UE to:

receive, from a network node, one or more downlink reference signals during a beam training procedure;

estimate, based at least in part on one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a covariance matrix associated with multiple candidate beam quads used to transmit or receive the one or more downlink reference signals,

wherein each candidate beam quad, of the multiple candidate beam quads, comprises four beams;

select, from among the multiple candidate beam quads, a beam quad that corresponds to a group of four beams to optimize one or more parameters associated with the covariance matrix; and

communicate with the network node using the selected beam quad.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the beam quad is selected to maximize a total energy associated with the group of four beams.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the beam quad is selected to minimize a spread of eigenvalues associated with the estimated covariance matrix.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the beam quad is selected to maximally equalize eigenvalues associated with the estimated covariance matrix.

21 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the multiple candidate beam quads used to transmit or receive the one or more downlink reference signals include a subset of beam quads from hybrid beamforming codebooks at the UE and the network node.

22 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the one or more instructions, that cause the UE to select the beam quad, cause the UE to:

estimate, based at least in part on the one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a four-layer spectral efficiency associated with the multiple candidate beam quads used to transmit or receive the one or more downlink reference signals; and

select, from among the multiple candidate beam quads, the beam quad to maximize a value of the four-layer spectral efficiency.

23 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the one or more instructions, that cause the UE to select the beam quad, cause the UE to:

select, based at least in part on the one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a first beam pair associated with a first transmission configuration indication (TCI) state associated with a best metric; and

select, based at least in part on the one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a second beam pair associated with a second TCI state associated with a next best metric, wherein the beam quad includes the first beam pair and the second beam pair, and wherein the first TCI state is the same as or different from the second TCI state.

24 . An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving, from a network node, one or more downlink reference signals during a beam training procedure;

means for estimating, based at least in part on one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a covariance matrix associated with multiple candidate beam quads used to transmit or receive the one or more downlink reference signals,

wherein each candidate beam quad, of the multiple candidate beam quads, comprises four beams;

means for selecting, from among the multiple candidate beam quads, a beam quad that corresponds to a group of four beams to optimize one or more parameters associated with the covariance matrix; and

means for communicating with the network node using the selected beam quad.

25 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the beam quad is selected to maximize a total energy associated with the group of four beams.

26 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the beam quad is selected to minimize a spread of eigenvalues associated with the estimated covariance matrix.

27 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the beam quad is selected to maximally equalize eigenvalues associated with the estimated covariance matrix.

28 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the multiple candidate beam quads used to transmit or receive the one or more downlink reference signals include a subset of beam quads from hybrid beamforming codebooks at the apparatus and the network node.

29 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the means for selecting the beam quad includes:

means for estimating, based at least in part on the one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a four-layer spectral efficiency associated with the multiple candidate beam quads used to transmit or receive the one or more downlink reference signals; and

means for selecting, from among the multiple candidate beam quads, the beam quad to maximize a value of the four-layer spectral efficiency.

30 . The apparatus of claim 24 , wherein the means for selecting the beam quad includes:

means for selecting, based at least in part on the one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a first beam pair associated with a first transmission configuration indication (TCI) state associated with a best metric; and

means for selecting, based at least in part on the one or more metrics associated with the one or more downlink reference signals received during the beam training procedure, a second beam pair associated with a second TCI state associated with a next best metric, wherein the beam quad includes the first beam pair and the second beam pair, and wherein the first TCI state is the same as or different from the second TCI state.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 28, 2022
From: RAGHAVAN, VASANTHAN
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 061895/0715 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240146380A1 · May 2, 2024
References Cited (9)
US 20120027111A1 · Vook et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20170244533A1 · Onggosanusi · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20200358505A1 · Park et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210226674A1 · Ramireddy et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220149908A1 · Gao · 2022 [cited by examiner]
US 20220247455A1 · Raghavan et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
Ericsson: “Discussions on AI-CSI”, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 Meeting #110-bis-e, R1-2208728, 3rd Generation Partnership Project, Mobile Competence Centre, 650, Route Des Lucioles, F-06921 Sophia-Antipolis Cedex, France, vol. RAN… [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion—PCT/US2023/075831—ISA/EPO—Apr. 9, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Partial International Search Report—PCT/US2023/075831—ISA/EPO—Feb. 5, 2024. [cited by applicant]