Abstract: Multi-beamwidth radio frequency (RF) beamforming optimization in a wireless communications apparatus is disclosed. The wireless communications apparatus includes a signal processing circuit configured to process an RF communications signal for radiation in a set of RF beams optimized to maximize coverage in a wireless communications cell. In examples disclosed herein, the set of RF beams includes a center RF beam and a number of edge RF beams. Specifically, the center RF beam is formed with a wider beamwidth to cover a larger center area of the wireless communications cell and, the edge RF beams are each formed with a narrower beamwidth to improve coverage in an edge area of the wireless communications cell. As a result, it may be possible to maximize coverage in the wireless communications cell with fewer RF beams, thus helping to reduce computational complexity, processing latency, and energy consumption of the wireless communications apparatus.

Abstract: The first circuitry may be operable to establish a first UE Receive (Rx) beam as being for reception of data from a first eNB. The second circuitry may be operable to process a transmission including Downlink Control Information (DCI), wherein the DCI carries an eNB cell-switching indicator. The first circuitry may also be operable to establish a second UE Rx beam as being for reception of data from a second eNB based on the eNB cell-switching indicator.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic use of remote units in a wireless communications system (WCS) include a digital routing unit (DRU) that sums incoming (uplink) signals from the remote units that have active user equipment, while suppressing signals from the remote units that do not have active user equipment. Similarly, the DRU only sends outgoing (downlink) signals to the remote units that have active user equipment. The selective summing of uplink signals improves the gain at the DRU, which allows optimization of the dynamic range of the DRU. Likewise, by selectively sending streams to the remote units, power consumption at the remote units may be reduced, which may allow for smaller, less expensive remote units to be deployed.

Abstract: A distributed radio access network (RAN) is provided. A selected wireless transceiver node(s) in a selected coverage cell receives a radio frequency (RF) test signal(s). The selected wireless transceiver node(s) determines an effective gain value based on a predefined characteristic of the RF test signal(s). The selected wireless transceiver node(s) communicates the effective gain value and other related parameters to a server apparatus in the distributed RAN. The server apparatus determines a common gain value for the selected wireless transceiver node(s) in the selected coverage cell based on the parameters. Accordingly, the selected wireless transceiver node(s) operates based on the common gain value.

Abstract: The first circuitry may be operable to establish a first UE Receive (Rx) beam as being for reception of data from a first eNB. The second circuitry may be operable to process a transmission including Downlink Control Information (DCI), wherein the DCI carries an eNB cell-switching indicator. The first circuitry may also be operable to establish a second UE Rx beam as being for reception of data from a second eNB based on the eNB cell-switching indicator.

Abstract: Multi-beam uniform coverage in a coverage cell(s) in a wireless communications system (WCS) is provided. The WCS includes a number of wireless devices that are typically mounted on a fixed structure to provide coverage for user devices. Each wireless device includes one or more antenna arrays. Each antenna array is controlled via a set of codewords to form one or more RF beams to each cover a respective area in a coverage cell. The codewords are predetermined based on fairness and/or leakage constraints such that the RF beams can be formed in desired geometric shapes and steered toward desired directions to provide a unform coverage in the coverage cell. By forming the RF beams based on the codewords predetermined based on fairness and/or leakage constraints, it is possible to ensure an equal RF power signal level inside the coverage cell and/or reduced power leakage outside the coverage cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic use of remote units in a wireless communications system (WCS) include a digital routing unit (DRU) that sums incoming (uplink) signals from the remote units that have active user equipment, while suppressing signals from the remote units that do not have active user equipment. Similarly, the DRU only sends outgoing (downlink) signals to the remote units that have active user equipment. The selective summing of uplink signals improves the gain at the DRU, which allows optimization of the dynamic range of the DRU. Likewise, by selectively sending streams to the remote units, power consumption at the remote units may be reduced, which may allow for smaller, less expensive remote units to be deployed.

Abstract: Multi-level beam scheduling in a wireless communications circuit, particularly for a wireless communications system (WCS), is disclosed. The WCS includes a central unit(s) and a wireless communications circuit(s) configured to reduce beamforming overhead and improve radio frequency (RF) coverage in a wireless communications cell(s) based on a multi-level beam scheduling scheme. In a non-limiting example, the multi-level beam scheduling scheme includes a first level (L1) scheduler, a second level (L2) scheduler, and a third level (L3) scheduler configured to perform cross-cell beam scheduling, in-cell beam scheduling, and in-beam user equipment (UE) scheduling, respectively. By employing the multi-level beam scheduling scheme in the WCS, it may be possible to reduce processing overhead and improve resource usage, data throughput, and system adaptability of the wireless communications circuit(s), thus helping to optimize capacity and throughput in the wireless communications cell(s).

Abstract: Selective radiation of radio frequency (RF) reference beams in a wireless communications system (WCS) based on user equipment (UE) locations is disclosed. The WCS may include a radio node that communicates RF communications signals in a coverage area via RF beamforming. Thus, the radio node is required to periodically radiate a number of RF reference beams in different directions of the coverage area to help UEs to identify a best-possible RF beam(s). However, radiating the RF beams in different directions periodically can increase power consumption of the radio node, particularly when the UEs are concentrated at a handful of locations in the coverage area. In this regard, the radio node can be configured to selectively radiate a subset of the RF reference beams based on a determined location(s) of the UE(s) in the coverage area, thus making it possible to reduce computational complexity and power consumption of the radio node.

Abstract: Multi-level beam scheduling in a wireless communications circuit, particularly for a wireless communications system (WCS), is disclosed. The WCS includes a central unit(s) and a wireless communications circuit(s) configured to reduce beamforming overhead and improve radio frequency (RF) coverage in a wireless communications cell(s) based on a multi-level beam scheduling scheme. In a non-limiting example, the multi-level beam scheduling scheme includes a first level (L1) scheduler, a second level (L2) scheduler, and a third level (L3) scheduler configured to perform cross-cell beam scheduling, in-cell beam scheduling, and in-beam user equipment (UE) scheduling, respectively. By employing the multi-level beam scheduling scheme in the WCS, it may be possible to reduce processing overhead and improve resource usage, data throughput, and system adaptability of the wireless communications circuit(s), thus helping to optimize capacity and throughput in the wireless communications cell(s).

Abstract: The first circuitry may be operable to establish a first UE Receive (Rx) beam as being for reception of data from a first eNB. The second circuitry may be operable to process a transmission including Downlink Control Information (DCI), wherein the DCI carries an eNB cell-switching indicator. The first circuitry may also be operable to establish a second UE Rx beam as being for reception of data from a second eNB based on the eNB cell-switching indicator.

Abstract: Grid of beams (GoB) adaptation in a wireless communications circuit, particularly for a wireless communications system (WCS), is disclosed. The wireless communications circuit may be provided in the WCS to provide radio frequency (RF) coverage in a wireless communications cell. In this regard, an antenna array is provided in the wireless communications circuit to radiate the GoB, which includes a number of RF beams corresponding to an RF communications signal(s), in the wireless communications cell. In examples discussed herein, the wireless communications circuit can be configured to detect a coverage condition change in the wireless communications cell and modify the GoB accordingly. By adapting the GoB to the coverage condition change, it may be possible to reduce processing overhead and improve resource usage, data throughput, and system adaptability of the wireless communications circuit, thus helping to optimize RF coverage in the wireless communications cell.

Abstract: Selective radiation of radio frequency (RF) reference beams in a wireless communications system (WCS) based on user equipment (UE) locations is disclosed. The WCS may include a radio node that communicates RF communications signals in a coverage area via RF beamforming. Thus, the radio node is required to periodically radiate a number of RF reference beams in different directions of the coverage area to help UEs to identify a best-possible RF beam(s). However, radiating the RF beams in different directions periodically can increase power consumption of the radio node, particularly when the UEs are concentrated at a handful of locations in the coverage area. In this regard, the radio node can be configured to selectively radiate a subset of the RF reference beams based on a determined location(s) of the UE(s) in the coverage area, thus making it possible to reduce computational complexity and power consumption of the radio node.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic use of remote units in a wireless communications system (WCS) include a digital routing unit (DRU) that sums incoming (uplink) signals from the remote units that have active user equipment, while suppressing signals from the remote units that do not have active user equipment. Similarly, the DRU only sends outgoing (downlink) signals to the remote units that have active user equipment. The selective summing of uplink signals improves the gain at the DRU, which allows optimization of the dynamic range of the DRU. Likewise, by selectively sending streams to the remote units, power consumption at the remote units may be reduced, which may allow for smaller, less expensive remote units to be deployed.

Abstract: Dynamic radio frequency (RF) beam pattern adaptation in a wireless communications system (WCS) is provided. The WCS typically includes a number of wireless devices, such as remote units and/or base stations, for enabling indoor wireless communications to user devices. The wireless devices are typically mounted on a fixed structure. Notably, a wireless device may be preconfigured to support RF beamforming based on an RF beam pattern that corresponds to a configured orientation. However, the wireless device can be installed with a different orientation from the configured orientation, thus requiring the RF beam pattern to be adapted accordingly. In this regard, a wireless device is configured to dynamically determine an actual orientation of the wireless device and automatically adapt the RF beam pattern based on the determined actual orientation. As a result, it is possible to reduce installation and calibration time associated with deployment of the wireless device in the WCS.

Abstract: Dynamic power saving in a wireless device in a wireless communications system (WCS) is disclosed. The WCS includes a wireless device(s), such as a fifth-generation (5G) or a 5G new-radio (NR) base station (eNB), configured to communicate downlink and uplink communications signals in a coverage cell. In embodiments disclosed herein, the wireless device(s) can determine whether a power-saving condition is met in the coverage cell, and opportunistically operate in a power-saving mode when the power-saving condition is met. By opportunistically operating in the power-saving mode based on the power-saving condition, it is possible to reduce power consumption in the wireless device(s) without sacrificing user experience in the coverage cell.

Abstract: Dynamic network resource management in a wireless communications system (WCS) is disclosed. The WCS includes multiple radio access network (RAN) remote units each configured to communicate a radio frequency (RF) signal(s) in a respective one of multiple coverage cells. The multiple coverage cells can be associated with a number of cell groups, with each of the cell groups including one or more of the multiple coverage cells. Given that all of the cell groups are operating based on a set of network functions configured for the WCS, the WCS further employs a network device to dynamically determine a set of sharable network functions and share the set of sharable network functions among the cell groups. By dynamically sharing the sharable network functions across the cell groups, it is possible to maximize throughput in each of the cell groups based on the set of sharable network functions.

Abstract: Intelligent thermal and power management in a wireless communications device in a wireless communications system (WCS) is disclosed. In a non-limiting example, the wireless communications device can be a base station (e.g., eNB) in the WCS. The wireless communications device includes a number of sensor circuits each configured to perform a sensory measurement (e.g., temperature measurement) in a specific circuit or at a specific location of the wireless communications device. A control circuit is provided in the wireless communications device support intelligent thermal and power management in the wireless communications device. Specifically, the control circuit determines that the sensory measurement is above an abnormal threshold(s) and performs one or more corrective actions accordingly to reduce the sensory measurement to a desirable threshold.

Abstract: Multi-beamwidth radio frequency (RF) beamforming optimization in a wireless communications apparatus is disclosed. The wireless communications apparatus includes a signal processing circuit configured to process an RF communications signal for radiation in a set of RF beams optimized to maximize coverage in a wireless communications cell. In examples disclosed herein, the set of RF beams includes a center RF beam and a number of edge RF beams. Specifically, the center RF beam is formed with a wider beamwidth to cover a larger center area of the wireless communications cell and, the edge RF beams are each formed with a narrower beamwidth to improve coverage in an edge area of the wireless communications cell. As a result, it may be possible to maximize coverage in the wireless communications cell with fewer RF beams, thus helping to reduce computational complexity, processing latency, and energy consumption of the wireless communications apparatus.

Abstract: Measuring an end-to-end delay(s) in a distributed communications system (DCS) is disclosed. The DCS is coupled to a signal source(s) supporting multiple logical channels and includes multiple remote units each communicating in one or more of the logical channels. The DCS is configured to measure an end-to-end delay(s), which includes a path delay(s) between the signal source and the remote units and a local delay(s) at each of the remote units, for each of the logical channels. The measured end-to-end delay(s) can help the signal source to more accurately determine an equivalent coverage range of the DCS, thus making it possible to generate random access preambles for the DCS based on as few Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequences as possible. By generating the random access preambles based on fewer ZC sequences, it is possible to minimize interference among the random access preambles, thus helping to improve random access performance in the DCS.