Ultra-lean beam optimization in 5g and 6g

Abstract

Optimization of transmission beams in 5G/6G requires feedback to the transmitting entity. Current beam alignment/optimization methods are so complex and resource-intensive, that users often delay re-alignment even when required by to changing conditions. Therefore, methods are provided for a transmitter to add two brief, single-resource-element test signals, with slightly different transmission parameters (such as direction), to the end each message. The receiver selects which test signal, or the message itself, that has the best signal, and informs the transmitter using a terse bit-level acknowledgement code. The reception beam must also be aligned, generally without feedback. The transmitter provides a series of identical signals, sequentially in time, while the receiver varies its reception beam parameters while measuring the signal level and optimizing its reception parameters. Both transmitter and receiver can thereby align their beams and optimize their beam parameters for the best communications, at negligible resource cost.