Granted Patent B2

US 12,603,682 · App. 18/721,161 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Inventors: Danlu Zhang (San Diego, CA); Meilong Jiang (Westfield, NJ); Juergen Cezanne (Ocean Township, NJ); Yu Zhang (San Diego, CA); Junyi Li (Greentown, PA); Ashwin Sampath (Skillman, NJ)

Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated

H04B7/0456H01Q21/20

Abstract

Claims (81)

1 . A first network node for wireless communication, comprising:

a memory;

a first circular antenna array comprising a first quantity of antenna subarrays, wherein each antenna subarray of the first circular antenna array comprises one or more antenna elements; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the first network node to:

transmit one or more reference signals to a second network node using the first circular antenna array;

receive, from the second network node based on the one or more reference signals, a feedback message that indicates a plurality of sets of beamforming weights or information for determining the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, wherein the plurality of sets of beamforming weights are based on a second circular antenna array at the second network node comprising a second quantity of antenna subarrays that is different than the first quantity of antenna subarrays included in the first circular antenna array; and

transmit one or more signals concurrently to the second network node using the first circular antenna array and based on the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, wherein each signal of the one or more signals is associated with a respective set of beamforming weights of the plurality of sets of beamforming weights.

2 . The first network node of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the first network node to:

determine the plurality of sets of beamforming weights based on the information indicated via the feedback message and the first quantity of antenna subarrays within the first circular antenna array being different than the second quantity of antenna subarrays within the second circular antenna array, wherein the information indicates a plurality of weighting factors for combining sets of orbital angular momentum weights to form the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, and wherein each set of beamforming weights of the plurality of sets of beamforming weights corresponds to a respective set of orbital angular momentum weights of the sets of orbital angular momentum weights.

3 . The first network node of claim 2 , wherein, to determine the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, the at least one processor is configured to cause the first network node to:

group a second plurality of sets of orbital angular momentum weights into a plurality of groups based on a least common multiple of the first quantity and the second quantity, wherein the second plurality of sets of orbital angular momentum weights comprises a first quantity of sets that is equal to the first quantity of antenna subarrays within the first circular antenna array; and

combine one or more sets of orbital angular momentum weights in each group of the plurality of groups based on the plurality of weighting factors to obtain the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, wherein the plurality of sets of beamforming weights comprises a second quantity of sets that is equal to the second quantity of antenna subarrays within the second circular antenna array.

4 . The first network node of claim 2 , wherein each weighting factor of the plurality of weighting factors corresponds to a discrete Fourier transform value for a channel response associated with a channel between the first network node and the second network node, the channel response based on the one or more reference signals.

5 . The first network node of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of weighting factors comprises weighting factors associated with each combination of a respective first set of orbital angular momentum weights of a first plurality of sets of orbital angular momentum weights associated with the first network node and a respective second set of orbital angular momentum weights of a second plurality of orbital angular momentum weights associated with the second network node.

6 . The first network node of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the first network node to:

determine the plurality of sets of beamforming weights based on the information indicated via the feedback message, wherein the information indicates a channel response matrix associated with a channel between the first network node and the second network node, the channel response matrix based on the one or more reference signals.

7 . The first network node of claim 6 , wherein, to determine the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, the at least one processor is configured to cause the first network node to:

calculate a plurality of singular vectors of the channel response matrix, wherein each singular vector of the plurality of singular vectors corresponds to a respective set of beamforming weights of the plurality of sets of beamforming weights.

8 . The first network node of claim 1 , wherein:

the feedback message indicates the plurality of sets of beamforming weights; and

each set of beamforming weights of the plurality of sets of beamforming weights corresponds to a singular vector of a channel response matrix associated with a channel between the first network node and the second network node, the channel response matrix based on the one or more reference signals.

9 . The first network node of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the first network node to:

transmit, to the second network node, signaling that indicates the first quantity of antenna subarrays within the first circular antenna array of the first network node.

10 . The first network node of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the first network node to:

receive, from the second network node, signaling that indicates the second quantity of antenna subarrays within the second circular antenna array of the second network node.

11 . The first network node of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the first network node to:

adjust the first quantity of antenna subarrays within the first circular antenna array based on a condition of a channel between the first network node and the second network node, a type of the first network node, a capability of the first network node, power consumption of the first network node, or any combination thereof.

12 . The first network node of claim 1 , wherein:

each antenna subarray of the first quantity of antenna subarrays within the first circular antenna array of the first network node is located at a respective first angular offset relative to a first axis that bisects the first circular antenna array;

each antenna subarray of the second quantity of antenna subarrays within the second circular antenna array of the second network node is located at a respective second angular offset relative to a second axis that bisects the second circular antenna array and is parallel to the first axis, each respective second angular offset different than each respective first angular offset; and

a difference between the respective first angular offset for a first antenna subarray of the first quantity of antenna subarrays and the respective second angular offset for a second antenna subarray of the second quantity of antenna subarrays is based on the first quantity of antenna subarrays.

13 . The first network node of claim 1 , wherein:

the first quantity of antenna subarrays included in the first circular antenna array is not an integer multiple of the second quantity of antenna subarrays included in the second circular antenna array; and

the second quantity of antenna subarrays included in the second circular antenna array is not an integer multiple of the first quantity of antenna subarrays included in the first circular antenna array.

14 . The first network node of claim 13 , wherein the first quantity of antenna subarrays included in the first circular antenna array and the second quantity of antenna subarrays included in the second circular antenna array are mutually prime.

15 . The first network node of claim 1 , wherein, to transmit the one or more signals, the at least one processor is configured to cause the first network node to:

apply, for each signal of the one or more signals, the respective set of beamforming weights for the signal to the first quantity of antenna subarrays within the first circular antenna array, wherein a quantity of beamforming weights in each set of the plurality of sets of beamforming weights is equal to the first quantity of antenna subarrays in the first circular antenna array; and

transmitting the one or more signals using the first circular antenna array based on applying the respective set of beamforming weights for each signal, wherein the respective set of beamforming weights corresponds to a respective set of orbital angular momentum weights of a plurality of sets of orbital angular momentum weights.

16 . A second network node for wireless communication, comprising:

a memory;

a second circular antenna array comprising a second quantity of antenna subarrays, wherein each antenna subarray of the second circular antenna array comprises one or more antenna elements; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the second network node to:

receive one or more reference signals from a first network node using the second circular antenna array;

transmit, to the first network node based on the one or more reference signals, a feedback message that indicates a plurality of sets of beamforming weights or information for determining the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, wherein the plurality of sets of beamforming weights are based on a first circular antenna array at the first network node comprising a first quantity of antenna subarrays that is different than the second quantity of antenna subarrays included in the second circular antenna array; and

receive one or more signals concurrently from the first network node using the second circular antenna array and based on the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, wherein each signal of the one or more signals is associated with a respective set of beamforming weights of the plurality of sets of beamforming weights.

17 . The second network node of claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the second network node to:

transmit the feedback message comprising the information for determining the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, wherein the information indicates a plurality of weighting factors for combining sets of orbital angular momentum weights to form the plurality of sets of beamforming weights based on the first quantity of antenna subarrays within the first circular antenna array being different than the second quantity of antenna subarrays within the second circular antenna array, and wherein each set of beamforming weights of the plurality of sets of beamforming weights corresponds to a respective set of orbital angular momentum weights of the sets of orbital angular momentum weights.

18 . The second network node of claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the second network node to:

estimate a channel response associated with a channel between the first network node and the second network node based on the one or more reference signals; and

calculate a plurality of discrete Fourier transform values for the channel response, wherein each weighting factor of the plurality of weighting factors corresponds to a respective discrete Fourier transform value of the plurality of discrete Fourier transform values.

19 . The second network node of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of weighting factors comprises weighting factors associated with each combination of a respective first set of orbital angular momentum weights of a first plurality of sets of orbital angular momentum weights associated with the first network node and a respective second set of orbital angular momentum weights of a second plurality of orbital angular momentum weights associated with the second network node.

20 . The second network node of claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the second network node to:

estimate a channel response matrix associated with a channel between the first network node and the second network node based on the one or more reference signals; and

transmit the feedback message comprising the information for determining the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, wherein the information comprises an indication of the channel response matrix.

21 . The second network node of claim 20 , wherein each set of beamforming weights of the plurality of sets of beamforming weights corresponds to a respective singular vector of a plurality of singular vectors of the channel response matrix.

22 . The second network node of claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the second network node to:

estimate a channel response matrix associated with a channel between the first network node and the second network node based on the one or more reference signals;

calculate a plurality of singular vectors of the channel response matrix, wherein each singular vector of the plurality of singular vectors corresponds to a respective set of beamforming weights of the plurality of sets of beamforming weights; and

transmit the feedback message that indicates the plurality of sets of beamforming weights based on calculating the plurality of singular vectors.

23 . The second network node of claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the second network node to:

receive, from the first network node, signaling that indicates the first quantity of antenna subarrays within the first circular antenna array of the first network node.

24 . The second network node of claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the second network node to:

transmit, to the first network node, signaling that indicates the second quantity of antenna subarrays within the second circular antenna array of the second network node.

25 . The second network node of claim 16 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the second network node to:

adjust the second quantity of antenna subarrays within the second circular antenna array based on a condition of a channel between the first network node and the second network node, a type of the second network node, a capability of the second network node, power consumption of the second network node, or any combination thereof.

26 . The second network node of claim 16 , wherein:

each antenna subarray of the first quantity of antenna subarrays within the first circular antenna array of the first network node is located at a respective first angular offset relative to a first axis that bisects the first circular antenna array;

each antenna subarray of the second quantity of antenna subarrays within the second circular antenna array of the second network node is located at a respective second angular offset relative to a second axis that bisects the second circular antenna array and is parallel to the first axis, each respective second angular offset different than each respective first angular offset; and

a difference between the respective first angular offset for a first antenna subarray of the first quantity of antenna subarrays and the respective second angular offset for a second antenna subarray of the second quantity of antenna subarrays is based on the first quantity of antenna subarrays.

27 . A method for wireless communication at a first network node, comprising:

transmitting one or more reference signals to a second network node using a first circular antenna array that comprises a first quantity of antenna subarrays, wherein each antenna subarray of the first circular antenna array comprises one or more antenna elements;

receiving, from the second network node based on the one or more reference signals, a feedback message that indicates a plurality of sets of beamforming weights or information for determining the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, wherein the plurality of sets of beamforming weights are based on a second circular antenna array at the second network node comprising a second quantity of antenna subarrays that is different than the first quantity of antenna subarrays included in the first circular antenna array; and

transmitting one or more signals concurrently to the second network node using the first circular antenna array and based on the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, wherein each signal of the one or more signals is associated with a respective set of beamforming weights of the plurality of sets of beamforming weights.

28 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising:

determining the plurality of sets of beamforming weights based on the information indicated via the feedback message and the first quantity of antenna subarrays within the first circular antenna array being different than the second quantity of antenna subarrays within the second circular antenna array, wherein the information indicates a plurality of weighting factors for combining sets of orbital angular momentum weights to form the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, and wherein each set of beamforming weights of the plurality of sets of beamforming weights corresponds to a respective set of orbital angular momentum weights of the sets of orbital angular momentum weights.

29 . A method for wireless communication at a second network node, comprising:

receiving one or more reference signals from a first network node using a second circular antenna array that comprises a second quantity of antenna subarrays, wherein each antenna subarray of the second circular antenna array comprises one or more antenna elements;

transmitting, to the first network node based on the one or more reference signals, a feedback message that indicates a plurality of sets of beamforming weights or information for determining the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, wherein the plurality of sets of beamforming weights are based on a first circular antenna array at the first network node comprising a first quantity of antenna subarrays that is different than the second quantity of antenna subarrays included in the second circular antenna array; and

receiving one or more signals concurrently from the first network node using the second circular antenna array and based on the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, wherein each signal of the one or more signals is associated with a respective set of beamforming weights of the plurality of sets of beamforming weights.

30 . The method of claim 29 , further comprising:

transmitting the feedback message comprising the information for determining the plurality of sets of beamforming weights, wherein the information indicates a plurality of weighting factors for combining sets of orbital angular momentum weights to form a plurality of sets of beamforming weights based on the first quantity of antenna subarrays within the first circular antenna array being different than the second quantity of antenna subarrays within the second circular antenna array, and wherein each set of beamforming weights of the plurality of sets of beamforming weights corresponds to a respective set of orbital angular momentum weights of the sets of orbital angular momentum weights.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (30)