Apparatus and method for adaptive beam-forming in wireless communication system

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for maintaining an optimal beam direction in a wireless communication system are provided. The method for operating a receiving node in a wireless communication system includes, determining a first transmission beam is determined as a preferred transmission beam using a plurality of reference signals transmitted by a transmitting node, generating preferred transmission beam information, transmitting the preferred transmission beam information to the transmitting node, receiving transmissions from the transmitting node via the first transmission beam, and determining whether a change of a transmission beam is necessary. When the change of the transmission beam is determined to be necessary, generating a beam change request and transmitting the beam change request to the transmitting node.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operating a receiving node in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
 receiving, from a transmitting node, a data signal that is transmitted by using a first transmission beam determined based on a first set of reference signals that is periodically transmitted at a first interval;   determining that the first transmission beam is different from a second transmission beam determined based on a second set of reference signals that is periodically transmitted at a second interval; and   transmitting, to the transmitting node, a message requesting to use the second transmission beam,   wherein the first interval is longer than the second interval.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining that the first transmission beam is different from the second transmission beam comprises:
 performing a measurement for the second set of reference signals that are transmitted by using a plurality of transmission beams from the transmitting node; and   determining the second transmission beam as a preferred transmission beam among the plurality of transmission beams based on the measurement.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determining that the first transmission beam is different from the second transmission beam comprises:
 determining that a decoding of the data signal has failed; and   in response to determining that the decoding of the data signal has failed, determining the second transmission beam based on measurement for the second set of reference signals.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first transmission beam and the second transmission beam are paired with an identical reception beam. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving another data signal that is transmitted by using the second transmission beam.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a first data signal that is transmitted by using the first transmission beam and a second data signal that is transmitted by using the second transmission beam.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second set of reference signals comprises reference signals allocated to determine a preferred beam of another receiving node. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first interval is longer than a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) retransmission period. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for a receiving node in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:
 a transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals; and   at least one processor operatively coupled to the transceiver,   wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
 receive, by using the transceiver, from a transmitting node, a data signal that is transmitted by using a first transmission beam determined based on a first set of reference signals that is periodically transmitted at a first interval, 
 determine that the first transmission beam is different from a second transmission beam determined based on a second set of reference signals that is periodically transmitted at a second interval, and 
 transmit, by using the transceiver, to the transmitting node, a message requesting to use the second transmission beam, wherein the first interval is longer than the second interval. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 perform a measurement for the second set of reference signals that are transmitted by using a plurality of transmission beams from the transmitting node; and   determine the second transmission beam as a preferred transmission beam among the plurality of transmission beams based on the measurement.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 determine that a decoding of the data signal has failed; and   in response to determining that the decoding of the data signal has failed, determine the second transmission beam based on measurement for the second set of reference signals.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first transmission beam and the second transmission beam are paired with an identical reception beam. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive another data signal that is transmitted by using the second transmission beam. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a first data signal that is transmitted by using the first transmission beam and a second data signal that is transmitted by using the second transmission beam. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the second set of reference signals comprises reference signals allocated to determine a preferred beam of another receiving node. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first interval is longer than a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) retransmission period. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for a transmitting node in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:
 a transceiver configured to transmit and receive signals; and   at least one processor operatively coupled to the transceiver,   wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
 transmit, by using the transceiver, to a receiving node, a data signal by using a first transmission beam determined based on a first set of reference signals that is periodically transmitted at a first interval, and 
 receive, by using the transceiver, from the receiving node, a message requesting to use a second transmission beam, 
   wherein the message is received in response to a determination, by the receiving node, that the first transmission beam is different from the second transmission beam determined based on a second set of reference signals that is periodically transmitted at a second interval, and   wherein the first interval is longer than the second interval.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit another data signal that is transmitted by using the second transmission beam. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit a first data signal by using the first transmission beam and a second data signal by using the second transmission beam. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the second set of reference signals comprises reference signals for determining a preferred beam of another receiving node.