Abstract: A base station can maintain a transmission beam toward a user device, even in changing conditions, by realtime incremental feedback in 5G and 6G. The incremental feedback is a compact one-of-three request, from the user device, indicating a higher, keep-same, or lower adjustment of a transmission parameter such as the power or beam angle. The base station then adds or subtracts a predetermined increment to that transmission parameter, thereby improving reception with each downlink message. Such incremental adjustment continues with each message to the user device, until the optimum value is reached, at which time the user device selects the keep-same choice. For efficient optimization, the base station can vary the increment size, for example escalating to larger sizes upon repeated same-sign requests, and then de-escalating to smaller increments for fine-tuning and beam optimization. Many other aspects are disclosed.

Abstract: In 5G and 6G, a message received with even a single-bit fault generally discarded and a retransmission is requested. However, the faulted message contains a wealth of information that the receiver can use to avoid, or at least mitigate, such faults thereafter. Disclosed is a method for comparing a faulted message with an unfaulted copy, thereby determining which part of the message is faulted, and specifically how it was faulted. For example, the fault may have been an amplitude fault in which a demodulated amplitude differs by one level from the initially modulated amplitude, or it may be a phase fault in which the received phase differs by one phase level, or there may be a displacement by multiple amplitude or phase levels (a non-adjacent fault). Different mitigation strategies are disclosed for each situation, including AI models configured to select a suitable modulation scheme to combat specific faults.

Abstract: Billions of low-cost autonomous sensors and actuators are expected to join 5G and 6G networks. Most of them will use DRX (discontinuous reception) to save power. However, if an incoming message arrives while the device is in sleep-mode, a complex process is required for the device to obtain its message. Instead, a fast, lean polling method is provided, in which the base station can inform the user devices periodically of their messages on hold, using an encoded matrix of bits, one bit per user device in the network. When a user device wakes up and receives the matrix, it can determine, according to its bit position, whether it has messages waiting. If so, the user device can then transmit a very brief signal in an allocated reply region, at a specific location corresponding to its bit position in the matrix, thereby requesting the message or messages on hold.

Abstract: Message faults are an increasing problem for 5G and expected 6G networks, due to growth, crowding, and signal fading problems. Disclosed are procedures for determining which particular message element of a corrupted message is faulted, and optionally the most likely correction. A receiver can identify the faulted message element by measuring the fluctuations, in phase and amplitude, of the waveform of each message element, as well as the modulation quality, frequency offset, and other signal measurements. Faulted message elements are likely to have higher fluctuations, higher modulation deviations, and higher signal irregularities, than the unfaulted ones. Mitigation can then be applied to the faulted message elements, thereby recovering the correct message and avoiding a costly retransmission delay. AI models may enhance the fault detection sensitivity by exploiting correlations between the various waveform measurement parameters, and then may predict the corrected value of the faulted message elements.

Abstract: Artificial Intelligence (AI) can rapidly evaluate a faulted message in 5G or 6G, calculate a likelihood that each message element is faulted, and optionally suggest a most probable corrected version for each of the likely faulted message elements. To do so, the AI takes in numerous factors besides the message itself, such as the modulation quality of each message element, the proximity and quality of a nearest demodulation reference, a signal-to-noise ratio of the message element, a measure of current electromagnetic noise during the message element, an expected format or expected codewords based on prior messages or convention, and other factors. The AI model can then provide guidance as to mitigation, such as choosing whether to request a retransmission or attempting to vary the likely faulted message elements. The AI model can be adapted to fixed-site computers or to the more limited computers of a mobile user device.

Abstract: The guard-space reference disclosed herein is a signal transmitted in the guard spaces separating message data intervals, and configured to reveal amplitude noise or phase noise or both, using 5G or 6G technology. For example, the transmitter can transmit an I-branch with a predetermined amplitude level, and an orthogonal Q branch with zero amplitude, in the guard space. The receiver can measure the received amplitude and phase of the guard-space reference, subtract the initial amplitude and phase, and thereby measure both phase noise and amplitude noise. The receiver can then subtract the measured amplitude and phase effects from the message data, thereby negating both phase noise and amplitude noise. Guard-space references disclosed herein can preserve the inter-subcarrier orthogonality, inter-symbol separation, and signal circularity advantages of prior art, while additionally providing both amplitude noise and phase noise mitigation. Examples are suitable for wireless standards.

Abstract: Procedures are disclosed to enable a wireless device to determine its alignment direction toward a base station or another device in 5G or 6G, using a “phased beam-alignment pulse”, which is a transmitted pulse having phase modulation that varies with angle. For example, the pulse may be transmitted spanning 360 degrees of angle, and may be phase modulated varying from 0 to 360 degrees of phase in the same angular range. A user device can receive the phased beam-alignment pulse and immediately determine, from the phase, the alignment angle toward the transmitter. In another embodiment, the transmitter transmits a uniform, non-directional pulse, and the receiver receives it using an antenna configured to impose an angle-dependent phase shift, thereby indicating the alignment direction. With either method, wireless entities can align their beams rapidly and efficiently, using just one or two resource elements, without complex encoding or time-consuming handshaking.

Abstract: Disclosed are procedures and examples of feedback messages that enable a user device to request transmission adjustments in 5G and 6G. The feedback message may indicate a selected beam direction, a power adjustment request, a grant request, and an acknowledgement, among other things. For example, a downlink message may include several beam test signals, each transmitted in a different direction, and the user device can indicate, in the feedback message, which test signal was best received. Thus the feedback enables the base station to adjust its beam toward the user device upon each message. In addition, the user device can determine the amplitude or signal quality received in the favored test signal, and can then include an incremental power adjustment request in the feedback message. In addition, the user device can request a retransmission and/or an uplink grant, and can optionally provide a BSR as well, in some embodiments.

Abstract: A key requirement for 5G and 6G networking is reliability. Message faults are inevitable, and therefore procedures are needed to identify each fault location in a message and, if possible, to rectify it. Disclosed herein are artificial intelligence AI models and procedures for mitigating faults in wireless messages by (a) evaluating the signal quality of each message element according to waveform features and modulation deviations, (b) evaluating the fault probability of each message element by seeking correlations, which may be subtle, among the various waveform measurements including polarization and frequency offset, and (c) correcting the faults according to the message type, apparent format, intent or meaning, typical previous messages of a similar type, correlations of bit patterns and symbol sequences, error-detection codes if present, and other content-based indicators uncovered during model development.

Abstract: To provide improved phase noise tolerance and improved identification of certain fault types, a modulation/demodulation procedure is disclosed for 5G and 6G. The transmitter can modulate a message according to the amplitude and phase of the overall waveform to be emitted, modulated according to predetermined amplitude and phase levels of the modulation scheme. The receiver can then separate the received waveform into orthogonal I and Q branches and measure their branch amplitudes, as usual. The receiver can then convert the branch amplitude measurements back into the original amplitude-phase modulation parameters using formulas provided. The receiver can then demodulate the message by comparing the overall amplitude and phase of each message element to the predetermined amplitude and phase levels of the modulation scheme, which thereby provides substantially increased phase noise tolerance at high frequencies.

Abstract: Enhanced phase-noise mitigation is possible at low-to-no cost. Communication at the high frequencies envisioned for late 5G and 6G will require much better phase-noise control than current frequency bands, because the tight margins will result in excessive phase faults and greatly reduced throughput. The disclosed examples show how to use two modulation schemes to provide the best phase margins at the final step. For example, the message can be initially modulated in classical amplitude-phase modulation as transmitted, but is received and processed using convenient QAM orthogonal components. Then the receiver can convert the results back to the amplitude-phase modulation scheme analytically, and can finally demodulate using calibrated amplitude and phase levels derived from a proximate demodulation reference.

Abstract: In a message modulated according to orthogonal amplitude-modulated component signals in 5G or 6G, the receiver can attempt to recover a corrupted message by evaluating the modulation quality of each component signal in each message element. The modulation quality of each component signal may be determined according to a distance between the amplitude of the component signal and the closest amplitude level of the modulation scheme, as determined by a prior demodulation reference. The modulation quality may also be determined by the SNR and amplitude stability of the component signal. Upon detecting a corrupted message, the receiver can identify the faulted message elements according to modulation quality, and if the faulted message elements are clustered in a portion of the message (as is common), the receiver can request that just the faulted portion be retransmitted, saving time and bandwidth.

Abstract: Wireless messages in 5G and 6G include error-detection codes appended or embedded in the message, such as Polar, LDPC, Turbo, and CRC codes. Analog fault tests based on the waveform signal of each message element can enhance the fault localization and mitigation, in many cases. Unexpected amplitude or phase variations, ambiguous modulation values, and polarization irregularities in or between message elements can localize the likely faulted message element(s). Turbo, Polar, and certain LDPC versions employ soft-decision decoding natively, and therefore can include the waveform results as extrinsic information. Other codes, such as basic parity, CRC, and basic LDPC, use hard-decision processes, but when combined with waveform diagnostics, can localize and mitigate faults. In life-threatening situations, rapid mitigation of a faulted message may save lives.

Abstract: In addition to the normal modulation states of 5G and 6G (BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, etc.), the modulation scheme may include one or more zero-power states in which an amplitude is transmitted with very low or zero power. The receiver can detect the zero-power state and treat that state as an additional modulation state of the modulation scheme, thereby increasing the information content of each message element due to the additional number of modulation states available for encoding. Alternatively, the zero-power state or states may be used for special options, such as indicating a beginning or an ending of the message. Zero-power states may also be used to separate the message from an associated demodulation reference or to separate sequential messages. Substantial power may be saved since the zero-power states require very little (or no) transmitter power.

Abstract: High-frequency communications in 5G and especially 6G will require precise synchronization of user devices with the base station, including periodically setting the user device clock time and clock rate to mitigate oscillator drift. The base station can assist user devices by periodically providing a timing signal containing a mid-symbol timestamp point, which is a signal that includes an abrupt change in phase or amplitude centered in the symbol-time. A receiver can analyze the timing signal and determine precisely the time of arrival of the timestamp point, and correct the receiver's clock to ensure that uplink messages will then arrive at the base station synchronized with the base station's resource grid. In addition, the base station can provide two timing signals in which the mid-symbol timestamp points are separated by a predetermined separation, thereby assisting the user devices in adjusting their clock rates.

Abstract: Phase noise is a limiting factor in high-frequency 5G and 6G communications. Disclosed is a multiplexed amplitude-phase modulation scheme that can provide extremely wide phase noise margins at high frequencies. The transmitter can transmit a wave modulated in amplitude and phase, configured to provide a wide separation of phase states. The receiver, on the other hand, demodulates the message using quadrature amplitude modulation QAM, since that is generally more economical and technically preferred for signal processing. The demodulated message, however, still retains the large phase margins. As a further benefit, the examples illustrate non-square and asymmetric modulation schemes, which can extend the noise margins even further. By modulating with amplitude and phase, but demodulating with orthogonal branch signals, wireless networks can expand into high-frequency bandwidths while retaining high reliability and high throughput, as required for wireless applications of tomorrow.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for avoiding, detecting, and mitigating message faults. Due to the expected large increase in electromagnetic background energy in in dense 5G and 6G networks, message faults are likely to dramatically increase, along with their costs. To avoid intermittent interference, a user device can monitor the noise level and request that the base station store incoming messages while the noise level is too high. Likewise, if a user device receives a faulted message while the noise level is high, the user device can delay the retransmission until the noise subsides. If the user device has received two faulted messages (a likely scenario in crowded urban/industrial/sporting environments), the user device can merge the two versions while selecting the message elements with the best quality (based on modulation, SNR, stability, and other criteria) and may thereby obtain a corrected message version, without resorting to a third transmission of the message.

Abstract: High-frequency communications in 5G and especially 6G will require precise synchronization of user devices with the base station, including setting the user device clock time and clock rate. The base station can assist user devices by periodically providing a guard-space timestamp point, at which a phase or amplitude of the timing signal abruptly changes in the middle of the guard-space of a particular resource element or a particular OFDM symbol. A receiver can determine precisely the time of arrival of the timestamp point, and correct its clock setting to agree with the time of the timestamp point. The receiver can then provide uplink messages aligned with the base station's clock, by adding a previously determined timing advance to each uplink transmission. In addition, the user device can measure two guard-space timing signals with a predetermined separation, thereby adjusting the clock rate.

Abstract: A faulted message element in 5G or 6G can often be identified according to its modulation parameters, including a large deviation of the branch amplitudes from the predetermined amplitude levels of the modulation scheme, and/or the SNR of the branch amplitudes, and/or an amplitude variation of the raw signal or the branches during the message element, and/or an inconsistency between the modulation state as determined by the amplitude and phase of the raw waveform versus the amplitudes of the orthogonal branch signals, among other measures of modulation quality. An AI model may be necessary to correlate the various quality measures, and optionally to determine the correct demodulation of faulted message elements. Costly, time-consuming retransmissions may be avoided by determining the correct demodulation of each message element at the receiver, thereby improving throughput and reliability with fewer delays.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for entities in a 5G or 6G wireless network to indicate their geographical location to other entities. A base station can inform the user devices of its antenna location so that the users can direct beams toward the antenna. Mobile users can update their location information to the base station so that the base station can direct beams toward the mobile users in real-time. For example, the base station can embed the latitude and longitude of the base station antenna in a system information message, such as an unallocated portion of the SSB (synchronization signal block) which is periodically broadcast, and the users can transmit location-update messages to the base station using disclosed formats. By directing transmission beams and reception beams toward each other, base stations and users can obtain substantially improved reception with reduced background generation and reduced energy consumption.