Beamforming Communication Method for Wireless Devices in 5G and 6G

Abstract

In 5G and 6G, efficient communication relies on narrow communication beams directed between the transmitter and the intended recipient. However, the optimal beam direction changes whenever the user moves, as in traffic. The user device can inform the base station of the user's initial location, speed, and direction of travel, so the base station can calculate the appropriate beam direction versus time. However, if the mobile user device changes in speed or direction, this may result in an erroneous calculation by the base station. The directional error may be insignificant if the directional error is much less than the beam width. The mobile user device can calculate the directional error based on the change in speed or direction, and when the directional error becomes comparable to the beam width of the base station, the user can transmit a message to the base station indicating the new location, speed, and direction.

1 . A method for a mobile wireless user device to communicate with a base station, the method comprising:
 a) determining, according to a system information message broadcast by the base station, a base location of the base station or an antenna of the base station;   b) determining, according to a further system information message, a downlink beam width comprising an angular width of a transmission beam used by the base station;   c) determining, with a GNSS (global navigation satellite system) receiver, a first location of the mobile wireless user device;   d) determining, with a speedometer, a first speed of the mobile wireless user device;   e) determining, with an electronic compass, a first direction of the mobile wireless user device; and   f) transmitting, to the base station, a first message indicating the first location, the first speed, and the first direction.   
     
     
         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 the base location is indicated in an SSB (synchronization signal block) message. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first message is transmitted in an uplink transmission beam aimed toward the base location from the first location. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) during an interval, traveling at a second speed different from the first speed, in a second direction different from the first direction, thereby arriving at a second location different from the first location;   b) using the GNSS receiver, determining the second location;   c) calculating an expected location according to the interval, the first location, the first speed, and the first direction; and   d) calculating a deviation angle comprising an angle, as viewed from the base station, between the second location and the expected location.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a) determining whether the deviation angle is greater than one-half times the downlink beam width; and   b) upon determining that the deviation angle is greater than one-half times the downlink beam width, transmitting a second message to the base station, the second message indicating the second location, the second speed, and the second direction.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a) stopping at the second location;   b) determining whether the deviation angle is greater than one-half times the downlink beam width; and   c) upon determining that the deviation angle is greater than one-half times the downlink beam width, transmitting a message to the base station indicating that the mobile wireless user device is stopped at the second location.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a) calculating, according to the base location and the second location, an angle relative to geographical north; and   b) transmitting the second message in a transmission beam aimed according to the angle relative to geographical north.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a) after transmitting the second message, receiving or attempting to receive an acknowledgement to the second message; and   b) upon failing to receive an acknowledgement to the second message, retransmitting the second message using an omnidirectional transmission.   
     
     
         10 . Non-transitory computer-readable media in a base station of a wireless network comprising user devices, the media containing instructions that, when executed by a computing environment, cause a method to be performed, the method comprising:
 a) determining a direction of geographical north;   b) determining a base location comprising a location of the base station or the base station's antenna;   c) receiving a message from a user device, the message indicating a first location of the user device, a first speed of the user device, and a first direction of the user device;   d) calculating, according to the first location and the base location, a first angle toward the user device relative to geographical north;   e) preparing a transmission beam aimed according to the first angle; and   f) transmitting a first message to the user device using the transmission beam.   
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 10 , the method further comprising:
 a) before receiving the message from the user device, broadcasting an SSB (synchronization signal block) message comprising an indication of the base location.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 10 , the method further comprising:
 a) waiting a first interval;   b) then calculating a second location according to the first location, the first speed, the first direction, and the first interval;   c) calculating a second angle according to the second location;   d) preparing a second transmission beam aimed according to the second angle; and   e) transmitting a second message according to the second transmission beam.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 12 , the method further comprising:
 a) failing to receive an acknowledgement message to the second message;   b) then retransmitting the second message according to a second angle comprising the first angle minus an angular width of the transmission beam; and   c) then retransmitting the second message according to a third angle comprising the first angle plus the angular width of the transmission beam.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 12 , the method further comprising:
 a) upon failing to receive an acknowledgement message to the second transmission, retransmitting the second message non-directionally.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 14 , the method further comprising:
 a) then, upon failing to receive an acknowledgement message to the non-directional transmission, determining that the user device has moved out of range of the base station.   
     
     
         16 . A method for a mobile user device, of a wireless network, to communicate with a base station of the wireless network, the method comprising:
 a. determining a broadcast frequency of the base station;   b. receiving, on the broadcast frequency, a system information message comprising system information of the wireless network, the system information comprising an indication of a base location comprising geographic coordinates of the base station or an antenna of the base station;   c. extracting, from a predetermined OFDM (orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing) symbol of the system information message, the indication of the base location;   d. determining, from the indication of the base location, the geographical coordinates of the base station or the antenna of the base station;   e. determining a user location of the mobile user device;   f calculating a distance between the user location and the base location; and   g. adjusting an uplink transmission power level according to the distance.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a. determining a direction of geographical north; and   b. calculating, according to the base location and the user location, an angle, relative to geographical north, of the base location relative to the user location.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a. preparing a transmission beam aimed according to the angle;   b. transmitting, using the transmission beam, a request message comprising a request for access to the wireless network; and then   c. transmitting, using the transmission beam, a location message indicating the user location.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 a. the request message comprises a random access preamble modulated according to a particular modulation scheme; and   b. the location message is concatenated with the request message and is modulated according to the particular modulation scheme.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a. determining that the mobile user device has moved from the user location to an updated user location;   b. calculating an updated angle according to the updated user location   c. transmitting, using a beam aimed according to the updated angle, an update message to the base station, the update message indicating the updated user location.