PATENT DOCUMENT

Publication Number: US-12184387-B2
Application Number: US-202217948784-A
Country: US
Kind Code: B2

Title: Beam management for distributed multi-antenna systems

Abstract:
A distributed multi-antenna system includes a first access point configured to emit first beams to a user equipment device. The first access point is also configured to receive, from the user equipment device, an indication of a first beam selected from the first beams via a beam sweeping procedure. The distributed multi-antenna system also includes a second access point configured to receive, from the user equipment device or the first access point, the indication. The second access point is also configured to emit a second beam of second beams corresponding to the second access point to transmit data to the user equipment device based on the indication and a location of the second access point.

Claims:
The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A distributed multi-antenna system, comprising:
 a first access point configured to:
 emit a first plurality of beams to a user equipment device, and 
 receive, from the user equipment device, a first indication of a first beam selected from the first plurality of beams via a beam sweeping procedure; and 
 
 a second access point configured to:
 receive, from the user equipment device or the first access point, a second indication of the first beam selected from the first plurality of beams via the beam sweeping procedure, and 
 emit a second beam of a second plurality of beams corresponding to the second access point to transmit data to the user equipment device based on the second indication and a location of the second access point. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The distributed multi-antenna system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first access point comprises a first plurality of antennas corresponding to the first plurality of beams, including a first set of antennas corresponding to the first beam; and 
 the second access point comprises a second plurality of antennas corresponding to the second plurality of beams, including a second set of antennas corresponding to the second beam. 
 
     
     
       3. The distributed multi-antenna system of  claim 1 , wherein the first access point is configured to transmit the second indication to the second access point based on receiving the first indication. 
     
     
       4. The distributed multi-antenna system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third access point configured to:
 emit a third plurality of beams to the user equipment device, and 
 receive, from the user equipment device, a third indication of a third beam selected from the third plurality of beams via an additional beam sweeping procedure. 
 
     
     
       5. The distributed multi-antenna system of  claim 4 , wherein the second access point is configured to:
 receive, from the user equipment device or the third access point, a fourth indication of the third beam selected from the third plurality of beams via the additional beam sweeping procedure, and 
 emit the second beam of the second plurality of beams corresponding to the second access point to transmit the data to the user equipment device based on the second indication, the fourth indication, and the location of the second access point. 
 
     
     
       6. The distributed multi-antenna system of  claim 1 , further comprising a third access point configured to:
 receive, from the user equipment device or the first access point, a third indication of the first beam selected from the first plurality of beams via the beam sweeping procedure, and 
 emit a third beam of a third plurality of beams corresponding to the third access point to transmit additional data to the user equipment device based on the third indication and an additional location of the third access point. 
 
     
     
       7. The distributed multi-antenna system of  claim 1 , wherein the second access point is configured to determine the second beam of the second plurality of beams based on the second indication, the location of the second access point, and an additional location of the first access point. 
     
     
       8. The distributed multi-antenna system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first access point comprises a first base station or first transmission and reception point (TRP); and 
 the second access point comprises a second base station or second TRP. 
 
     
     
       9. The distributed multi-antenna system of  claim 1 , wherein the first access point is configured to emit the first beam to transmit additional data to the user equipment device. 
     
     
       10. The distributed multi-antenna system of  claim 1 , further comprising three access points including the first access point, the second access point, and a third access point. 
     
     
       11. A user equipment device, comprising:
 an antenna assembly; 
 a receiver configured to receive, via the antenna assembly and from a first access point of a distributed multi-antenna system, a first plurality of beams; and 
 a transmitter configured to transmit, via the antenna assembly, to a second access point of the distributed multi-antenna system, and based on a first location of the first access point, a second location of the second access point, and a first angle of arrival of a first beam selected from the first plurality of beams via a plurality of signal strength measurements corresponding to the first plurality of beams, an indication of a second beam selected from a second plurality of beams corresponding to the second access point or a second angle of arrival corresponding to the second beam. 
 
     
     
       12. The user equipment device of  claim 11 , further comprising processing circuitry configured to determine the second angle of arrival corresponding to the second beam based on the first location, the second location, and the first angle of arrival, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit, via the antenna assembly, the indication of the second angle of arrival to the second access point. 
     
     
       13. The user equipment device of  claim 11 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit, via the antenna assembly and to the first access point, an additional indication of the first beam. 
     
     
       14. The user equipment device of  claim 11 , further comprising processing circuitry configured to:
 determine a plurality of reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements corresponding to the plurality of signal strength measurements, a plurality of beam indexes corresponding to the plurality of signal strength measurements, or both; and 
 determine the first beam of the first plurality of beams based on the plurality of RSRP measurements, the plurality of beam indexes, or both. 
 
     
     
       15. The user equipment device of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the receiver is configured to receive, via the antenna assembly and from a third access point of the distributed multi-antenna system, a third plurality of beams; and 
 the transmitter is configured to transmit, via the antenna assembly, the indication to the second access point of the distributed multi-antenna system based on the first location, the second location, the first angle of arrival, and a third angle of arrival of a third beam selected from the third plurality of beams via an additional plurality of signal strength measurements corresponding to the third plurality of beams. 
 
     
     
       16. The user equipment device of  claim 11 , further comprising processing circuitry configured to determine the first angle of arrival based on the first location and a third location of the user equipment device. 
     
     
       17. One or more tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media storing instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, are configured to cause the one or more processors to:
 receive a first indication of a first beam of a first plurality of beams transmitted by a first access point to a user equipment device, the first indication of the first beam being based on a plurality of signal strength measurements of the first plurality of beams; 
 receive a second indication of a second beam of a second plurality of beams corresponding to a second access point, the second indication of the second beam being based on the first indication and location data indicative of a first location of the first access point and a second location of the second access point; and 
 establish a communication path between the user equipment device and the second access point via the second indication of the second beam. 
 
     
     
       18. The one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the one or more processors to receive a third indication of a third beam of a third plurality of beams transmitted by a third access point to the user equipment device, the third indication of the third beam being based on an additional plurality of signal strength measurements of the third plurality of beams, and the second indication of the second beam being based on the first indication, the third indication, and the location data. 
     
     
       19. The one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the one or more processors to establish an additional communication path between the user equipment device and the first access point via the first indication of the first beam. 
     
     
       20. The one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media of  claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the one or more processors to:
 determine a plurality of reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements corresponding to the plurality of signal strength measurements, a plurality of beam indexes corresponding to the plurality of signal strength measurements of the first plurality of beams, or both; and 
 determine, based on the plurality of RSRP measurements, the plurality of beam indexes, or both, the first beam of the first plurality of beams.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates generally to wireless network telecommunications. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to beam management for distributed multi-antenna systems employed in wireless network telecommunications. 
     Wireless communication systems typically include a user equipment device, such as a mobile phone, communicatively coupled with an access point (e.g., a base station, a cellular tower, etc.) configured to emit a number of beams via a corresponding number of antennas. In traditional systems, various beam sweeping procedures may be performed to identify a desirable beam (and corresponding sub-set of antennas) from the access point for transmitting data to the user equipment device. In certain instances, the user equipment device may be communicatively coupled with (or within range for communicatively coupling with) multiple access points at a given moment in time. However, performing beam sweeping procedures relative to multiple access points may cause excess latency and may be cumbersome, time consuming, resource exhaustive, and/or expensive. Accordingly, it is now recognized that improved beam management for distributed multi-antenna systems is desired. 
     SUMMARY 
     A summary of certain embodiments disclosed herein is set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of these certain embodiments and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, this disclosure may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be set forth below. 
     In an embodiment, a distributed multi-antenna system includes a first access point configured to emit first beams to a user equipment device. The first access point is also configured to receive, from the user equipment device, an indication of a first beam selected from the first beams via a beam sweeping procedure. The distributed multi-antenna system also includes a second access point configured to receive, from the user equipment device or the first access point, the indication. The second access point is also configured to emit a second beam of second beams corresponding to the second access point to transmit data to the user equipment device based on the indication and a location of the second access point. 
     In another embodiment, a user equipment device includes an antenna assembly, a receiver, and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive, via the antenna assembly and from a first access point of a distributed multi-antenna system, first beams. The transmitter is configured to transmit, via the antenna assembly, to a second access point of the distributed multi-antenna system, and based on a first location of the first access point, a second location of the second access point, and a first angle of arrival of a first beam selected from the first plurality of beams via a plurality of signal strength measurements corresponding to the first plurality of beams, an indication of a second beam selected from a second plurality of beams corresponding to the second access point or a second angle of arrival corresponding to the second beam. 
     In yet another embodiment, one or more tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media stores instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, are configured to cause the one or more processors to perform various functions. The functions include receiving a first indication of a first beam of first beams transmitted by a first access point to a user equipment device, the first indication of the first beam being based on signal strength measurements of the first beams. The functions also include receiving a second indication of a second beam of second beams corresponding to a second access point, the second indication of the second beam being based on the first indication and location data indicative of a first location of the first access point and a second location of the second access point. The functions also include establishing a communication path between the user equipment device and the second access point via the second indication of the second beam. 
     Various refinements of the features noted above may exist in relation to various aspects of the present disclosure. Further features may also be incorporated in these various aspects as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to one or more of the illustrated embodiments may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects of the present disclosure alone or in any combination. The brief summary presented above is intended only to familiarize the reader with certain aspects and contexts of embodiments of the present disclosure without limitation to the claimed subject matter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various aspects of this disclosure may be better understood upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings described below in which like numerals refer to like parts. 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram of an electronic device, according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    is a functional diagram of the electronic device of  FIG.  1   , according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram of a distributed multi-antenna system configured to identify desirable beams for transmitting data between access points (e.g., base stations, cellular towers) of the distributed multi-antenna system and a user equipment device of the distributed multi-antenna system, according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the distributed multi-antenna system of  FIG.  3   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the distributed multi-antenna system of  FIG.  3   , according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the distributed multi-antenna system of  FIG.  3   , according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  7    is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the distributed multi-antenna system of  FIG.  3   , according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  8    is a schematic diagram of a portion of another embodiment of the distributed multi-antenna system of  FIG.  3   , according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  9    is a schematic diagram of a distributed multi-antenna system including a user equipment device and ten access points (e.g., base stations, cellular towers) at a first moment or interval of time in an access point selection procedure, according to embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  10    is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the distributed multi-antenna system of  FIG.  9    at a second moment or interval of time in the access point selection procedure, according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  11    is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the distributed multi-antenna system of  FIG.  9    at a third moment or interval of time in the access point selection procedure, according to the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  12    is a schematic diagram of a distributed multi-antenna system employing a preconfigured division of regions to identify desirable beams between various access points (e.g., base stations, cellular towers) and a user equipment device, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     One or more specific embodiments will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation are described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, it should be understood that references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Use of the terms “approximately,” “near,” “about,” “close to,” and/or “substantially” should be understood to mean including close to a target (e.g., design, value, amount), such as within a margin of any suitable or contemplatable error (e.g., within 0.1% of a target, within 1% of a target, within 5% of a target, within 10% of a target, within 25% of a target, and so on). Moreover, it should be understood that any exact values, numbers, measurements, and so on, provided herein, are contemplated to include approximations (e.g., within a margin of suitable or contemplatable error) of the exact values, numbers, measurements, and so on). 
     This disclosure is directed to beam management for distributed multi-antenna systems employed in wireless network telecommunications. In accordance with the present disclosure, a distributed multi-antenna system may include multiple access points (e.g., base stations, cellular towers, radio units (RUs), transmission and reception points (TRPs), etc.), such as three or more access points, configured to communicatively interface with a user equipment device, such as a mobile phone. Each access point may include a number of antennas configured to transmit a corresponding number of beams to the user equipment device. Various transmission (“TX”) beam sweeping procedures may be employed to identify, relative to the user equipment device, a desired beam (and corresponding sub-set of antennas) from a first access point. Various receiving (“RX”) beam sweeping procedures may also be employed to identify a desired RX beam employed by the user equipment device with respect to the first access point. It should be noted that reference below to beam sweeping procedures employed to identify a desired beam from an access point may imply TX beam sweeping procedures, and reference below to beam sweeping procedures employed to identify a desired beam from the user equipment device may imply RX beam sweeping procedures. 
     As described above, the user equipment device may be communicatively coupled (or in range to communicatively couple) with multiple access points of the distributed multi-antenna system at a given moment or over a given interval in time. In traditional systems, beam sweeping procedures may be employed for each access point of the distributed multi-antenna system with respect to the user equipment. In this way, desired beams for each of the multiple access points may be determined, which may provide redundancy, enable transmission of different types of data across the network, enable transmission of data to specific sources in the network, and/or other technical benefits. However, performing beam sweeping procedures for each access point of the distributed multi-antenna system with respect to the user equipment device may cause excess latency and may be cumbersome, time consuming, resource exhaustive, and/or expensive 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, various information may be employed to identify desirable beams from various access points of the distributed multi-antenna system, without performing beam sweeping procedures for the various access points. For example, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, beam sweeping procedures may be performed with respect to a first sub-set of access points (e.g., one or more access points) and not a second sub-set of access points (e.g., one or more other access points). The information employed to identify desirable beams from the second sub-set of access points (e.g., without beam sweeping procedures for the second sub-set of access points) may include, for example, locations of various access points of the distributed multi-antenna system, data identifying beams selected from the first sub-set of access points via beam sweeping procedures (e.g., including angles of arrival the selected beams), or a combination thereof. Other information may also be employed in accordance with the present disclosure. These and other features will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 
     With the foregoing in mind,  FIG.  1    is a block diagram of an electronic device or mobile communication device  10 , according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The electronic device  10  may be referred to in certain instances of the present disclosure as a user equipment device. The electronic device  10  may include, among other things, one or more processors  12  (collectively referred to herein as a single processor for convenience, which may be implemented in any suitable form of processing circuitry), one or more memories  14  (collectively referred to herein as a single memory for convenience, which may be implemented in any suitable from of memory circuitry), nonvolatile storage  16 , a display  18 , input structures  22 , an input/output (I/O) interface  24 , a network interface  26 , and a power source  29 . The various functional blocks shown in  FIG.  1    may include hardware elements (including circuitry), software elements (including machine-executable instructions), or a combination of both hardware and software elements (which may be referred to as logic). The processor  12 , the memory  14 , the nonvolatile storage  16 , the display  18 , the input structures  22 , the input/output (I/O) interface  24 , the network interface  26 , and/or the power source  29  may each be communicatively coupled directly or indirectly (e.g., through or via another component, a communication bus, a network) to one another to transmit and/or receive data between one another. It should be noted that  FIG.  1    is merely one example of a particular implementation and is intended to illustrate the types of components that may be present in electronic device  10 . 
     By way of example, the electronic device  10  may include any suitable computing device, including a desktop or notebook computer (e.g., in the form of a MacBook®, MacBook® Pro, MacBook Air®, iMac®, Mac® mini, or Mac Pro® available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California), a portable electronic or handheld electronic device such as a wireless electronic device or smartphone (e.g., in the form of a model of an iPhone® available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California), a tablet (e.g., in the form of a model of an iPad® available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California), a wearable electronic device (e.g., in the form of an Apple Watch® by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California), and other similar devices. It should be noted that the processor  12  and other related items in  FIG.  1    may be generally referred to herein as “data processing circuitry.” Such data processing circuitry may be embodied wholly or in part as software, hardware, or both. Furthermore, the processor  12  and other related items in  FIG.  1    may be a single contained processing module or may be incorporated wholly or partially within any of the other elements within the electronic device  10 . The processor  12  may be implemented with any combination of general-purpose microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate array (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), controllers, state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware components, dedicated hardware finite state machines, or any other suitable entities that may perform calculations or other manipulations of information. The processors  12  may perform the various functions described herein. 
     In the electronic device  10  of  FIG.  1   , the processor  12  may be operably coupled with the memory  14  and the nonvolatile storage  16  to perform various algorithms. Such programs or instructions executed by the processor  12  may be stored in any suitable article of manufacture that includes one or more tangible, computer-readable media. The tangible, computer-readable media may include the memory  14  and/or the nonvolatile storage  16 , individually or collectively, to store the instructions or routines. The memory  14  and the nonvolatile storage  16  may include any suitable articles of manufacture for storing data and executable instructions, such as random-access memory, read-only memory, rewritable flash memory, hard drives, and optical discs. In addition, programs (e.g., an operating system) encoded on such a computer program product may also include instructions that may be executed by the processor  12  to enable the electronic device  10  to provide various functionalities. 
     In certain embodiments, the display  18  may facilitate users to view images generated on the electronic device  10 . In some embodiments, the display  18  may include a touch screen, which may facilitate user interaction with a user interface of the electronic device  10 . Furthermore, it should be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the display  18  may include one or more liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light-emitting diode (LED) displays, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) displays, or some combination of these and/or other display technologies. 
     The input structures  22  of the electronic device  10  may enable a user to interact with the electronic device  10  (e.g., pressing a button to increase or decrease a volume level). The I/O interface  24  may enable electronic device  10  to interface with various other electronic devices, as may the network interface  26 . In some embodiments, the I/O interface  24  may include an I/O port for a hardwired connection for charging and/or content manipulation using a standard connector and protocol, such as the Lightning connector provided by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, California, a universal serial bus (USB), or other similar connector and protocol. 
     The network interface  26  may include, for example, one or more interfaces for a terrestrial (e.g., land-based) network or non-terrestrial network (NTN), a peer-to-peer (P2P) connection, a personal area network (PAN), such as an ultra-wideband (UWB) or a BLUETOOTH® network, a local area network (LAN) or wireless local area network (WLAN), such as a network employing one of the IEEE 802.11x family of protocols (e.g., WI-FI®), and/or for a wide area network (WAN), such as any standards related to the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including, for example, a 3 rd  generation (3G) cellular network, universal mobile telecommunication system (UMTS), 4 th  generation (4G) cellular network, long term evolution (LTE®) cellular network, long term evolution license assisted access (LTE-LAA) cellular network, 5 th  generation (5G) cellular network, and/or New Radio (NR) cellular network, and so on. 
     The network interface  26  can further communicate via NTNs, or segments of such networks, using an airborne or spaceborne vehicle (e.g., satellite) for transmission. As used herein, airborne vehicles refer to High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) encompassing satellites, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)—including tethered UAS, Lighter than Air UAS and Heaver than Air UAS—operating at altitude; typically between 8 and 50 kilometers, quasi stationary. In particular, the network interface  26  may include, for example, one or more interfaces for using a cellular communication standard of the 5G specifications that include the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency range (e.g., 24.25-300 gigahertz (GHz)), or possible 6G specifications that include the sub-THz range (e.g., 100-300 GHz). The network interface  26  of the electronic device  10  may allow communication over the aforementioned networks (e.g., 5G, Wi-Fi, LTE-LAA, and so forth). The network interface  26  may also include one or more interfaces for, for example, broadband fixed wireless access networks (e.g., WIMAX®), mobile broadband Wireless networks (mobile WIMAX®), asynchronous digital subscriber lines (e.g., ADSL, VDSL), digital video broadcasting-terrestrial (DVB-T®) network and its extension DVB Handheld (DVB-H®) network, UWB network, alternating current (AC) power lines, and so forth. The network interface  26  may, for instance, include a transceiver  30  for communicating data using one of the aforementioned networks. The power source  29  of the electronic device  10  may include any suitable source of power, such as a rechargeable lithium polymer (Li-poly) battery and/or an alternating current (AC) power converter. 
       FIG.  2    is a functional diagram of the electronic device  10  of  FIG.  1   , according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated, the processor  12 , the memory  14 , the transceiver  30 , a transmitter  52 , a receiver  54 , and/or antennas  55  (illustrated as  55 A- 55 N, collectively referred to as an antenna  55 ) may be communicatively coupled directly or indirectly (e.g., through or via another component, a communication bus, a network) to one another to transmit and/or receive signals between one another. 
     The electronic device  10  may include the transmitter  52  and/or the receiver  54  that respectively enable transmission and reception of signals between the electronic device  10  and an external device via, for example, a network (e.g., including base stations or access points) or a direct connection. As illustrated, the transmitter  52  and the receiver  54  may be combined into the transceiver  30 . The electronic device  10  may also have one or more antennas  55 A- 55 N electrically coupled to the transceiver  30 . The antennas  55 A- 55 N may be configured in an omnidirectional or directional configuration, in a single-beam, dual-beam, or multi-beam arrangement, and so on. Each antenna  55  may be associated with a one or more beams and various configurations. In some embodiments, multiple antennas of the antennas  55 A- 55 N of an antenna group or module may be communicatively coupled a respective transceiver  30  and each emit radio frequency signals that may constructively and/or destructively combine to form a beam. The electronic device  10  may include multiple transmitters, multiple receivers, multiple transceivers, and/or multiple antennas as suitable for various communication standards. In some embodiments, the transmitter  52  and the receiver  54  may transmit and receive information via other wired or wireline systems or means. 
     As illustrated, the various components of the electronic device  10  may be coupled together by a bus system  56 . The bus system  56  may include a data bus, for example, as well as a power bus, a control signal bus, and a status signal bus, in addition to the data bus. The components of the electronic device  10  may be coupled together or accept or provide inputs to each other using some other mechanism. 
       FIG.  3    is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a distributed multi-antenna system  100  configured to identify desirable beams for transmitting data between access points (e.g., base stations, cellular towers) of the distributed multi-antenna system  100  and the user equipment device  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the system  100  includes a first access point  104  having first antennas  106  and a first controller  108  including first processing circuitry  110  and first memory circuitry  112 , a second access point  114  having second antennas  116  and a second controller  118  including second processing circuitry  120  and second memory circuitry  122 , a third access point  124  having third antennas  126  and a third controller  128  including third processing circuitry  130  and third memory circuitry  132 , a fourth access point  134  having fourth antennas  136  and a fourth controller  138  including fourth processing circuitry  140  and fourth memory circuitry  142 , and a fifth access point  144  having fifth antennas  146  and a fifth controller  148  including fifth processing circuitry  150  and fifth memory circuitry  152 . The user equipment device  10  includes the processing circuitry  12 , the memory circuitry  14 , and the antenna assembly  55  (e.g., including one or more antennas) as previously described. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, beam sweeping procedures may be performed, relative to the user equipment device  10 , for the first access point  104 , the second access point  114 , and the fifth access point  144 . For example, as shown, the first access point  104  may transmit first beams  154  (e.g., via the first antennas  106 ) toward the user equipment device  10 , the second access point  114  may transmit second beams  156  (e.g., via the second antennas  116 ) toward the user equipment device  10 , and the fifth access point  144  may transmit fifth beams  158  (e.g., via the fifth antennas  146 ) toward the user equipment device  10 . The user equipment device  10  may measure or otherwise determine various aspects of the first beams  154  received from the first access point  104  to identify a first desirable beam  155  of the first beams  154 , where the first desirable beam  155  is subsequently used for transmitting data from the first access point  104  to the user equipment device  10 . For example, the user equipment device  10  may determine reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements of each beam of the first beams  154 , may determine beam indexes of each beam of the first beams  154 , or both. Selection of the first desirable beam  155  from the first beams  154  may be based on the RSRP measurements and/or the beam indexes described above. 
     Further, the user equipment device  10  may transmit data identifying the first desirable beam  155  to the first access point  104  and, in some embodiments, to one or more of the other access points  114 ,  124 ,  134 ,  144 . The same or similar beam sweeping procedures described above may be performed with respect to the first access point  104  to identify a second desirable beam  157  of the second beams  156  of the second access point  114 , to identify a fifth desirable beam  158  of the fifth beams  158  of the fifth access point  144 , or both. 
     In accordance with the present disclosure, the distributed multi-antenna system  100  may be configured to identify a third desirable beam  160  of the third access point  124  for transmitting data to the user equipment device  10 , a fourth desirable beam  162  of the fourth access point  134  for transmitting data to the user equipment device  10 , or both, without employing the beam sweeping procedures described above with respect to the first access point  104 , the second access point  114 , and the fifth access point  144 . Depending on the embodiment, the user equipment device  10  may perform various processing functions to determine the third desirable beam  160  and the fourth desirable beam  162 , one of the access points  104 ,  114 ,  124 ,  134 ,  144  may perform various processing functions to determine the third desirable beam  160  and the fourth desirable beam  162 , or a combination of features in  FIG.  3    (e.g., the user equipment device  10 , the first access point  104 , the second access point  114 , the third access point  124 , the fourth access point  134 , the fifth access point  144 ) may perform processing functions to determine the third desirable beam  160  and the fourth desirable beam  162 . 
     For example,  FIG.  4    is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the distributed multi-antenna system  100  of  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  4    illustrates various data derived from beam sweeping procedures with respect to a first sub-set of access points and employed by a second sub-set of access points for estimating desirable beams of the second sub-set of access points. In the illustrated embodiment, the distributed multi-antenna system  100  includes a first sub-set of access points (e.g., the first access point  104 , the second access point  114 , and the fifth access point  144 ) and a second sub-set of access points (e.g., the third access point  124  and the fourth access point  134 ). As previously described with respect to  FIG.  3   , beam sweeping procedures may be performed with respect to the first sub-set of access points  104 ,  114 ,  144  to identify the desirable beams  155 ,  157 ,  159  employed by the first sub-set of access points  114 ,  124 ,  144 , respectively, for communicating with the user equipment device  10 . As described below, other data processing may be employed to identify desirable beams from the second sub-set of access points  134 ,  144 . 
     For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the access points  104 ,  114 ,  124 ,  134 ,  144  and the user equipment device  10  are positioned on a coordinate system  170  having an X-axis  172  and a Y-axis  174 . A first position of the first access point  104  is represented by coordinates x 1 , y 1  on the coordinate system  170 , a second position of the second access point  114  is represented by coordinates x 2 , y 2  on the coordinate system  170 , a third position of the third access point  124  is represented as coordinates x 3 , y 3  on the coordinate system  170 , a fourth position of the fourth access point  134  is represented by coordinates x 4 , y 4  on the coordinate system  170 , and a fifth position of the fifth access point  144  is represented by coordinates x 5 , y 5  on the coordinate system  170 . Although a position of the user equipment device  10  is represented as coordinates x 0 , y 0  on the coordinate system  170  (e.g., the origin of the coordinate system  170 ), it should be noted that x 0 , y 0  may be unknown to the various access points  104 ,  114 ,  124 ,  134 ,  144  in  FIG.  4   . 
     Further, the first desirable beam  155  corresponding to the first access point  104  may include a first angle θ 1  relative to a direction  176 , the second desirable beam  157  corresponding to the second access point  114  may include a second angle θ 2  relative to the direction  176 , and the fifth desirable beam  159  from the fifth access point  144  may include a fifth angle θ s  relative to direction  176 . The first angle θ 1 , the second angle θ 2 , and the fifth angle θ s  may be referred to as “angles of departure” and may be known by their respective access points  104 ,  114 ,  144 . 
     Certain of the above-described location and/or angle (e.g., angle of departure) data may be employed to determine desirable beams from the third access point  124  and the fourth access point  134 . For example, one or more of the access points  104 ,  114 ,  124 ,  134 ,  144  may perform various such processing functions based on certain of the above-described data. That is, certain of the above-described location and/or angle data may be employed to determine a third angle (e.g., θ 3 ) corresponding to the third desirable beam (not shown in  FIG.  4   ) from the third access point  124  (e.g., relative to the direction  176 ) and a fourth angle (e.g., θ 4 ) corresponding to the fourth desirable beam (not shown in  FIG.  4   ) from the fourth access point  134  (e.g., relative to the direction  176 ). As an example, a matrix (e.g., Matrix 1) in the form of B=A Z +E may be employed to determine an estimation of the third desirable angle (e.g., θ 3 ) and an estimation of the fourth desirable angle (e.g., θ 4 ), where: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     B 
                     = 
                     
                       [ 
                       
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 y 
                                 1 
                               
                               - 
                               
                                 
                                   tan 
                                   ⁡ 
                                   ( 
                                   
                                     θ 
                                     1 
                                   
                                   ) 
                                 
                                 ⁢ 
                                 
                                   x 
                                   1 
                                 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 y 
                                 2 
                               
                               - 
                               
                                 
                                   tan 
                                   ⁡ 
                                   ( 
                                   
                                     θ 
                                     2 
                                   
                                   ) 
                                 
                                 ⁢ 
                                 
                                   x 
                                   2 
                                 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 y 
                                 5 
                               
                               - 
                               
                                 
                                   tan 
                                   ⁡ 
                                   ( 
                                   
                                     θ 
                                     5 
                                   
                                   ) 
                                 
                                 ⁢ 
                                 
                                   x 
                                   5 
                                 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                       
                       ] 
                     
                   
                   , 
                 
               
               
                 
                   Matrix 
                   ⁢ 
                       
                   1 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       
         
           
             
               A 
               = 
               
                 [ 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         - 
                         
                           tan 
                           ⁡ 
                           ( 
                           
                             θ 
                             1 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                       
                     
                     
                       1 
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         - 
                         
                           tan 
                           ⁡ 
                           ( 
                           
                             θ 
                             2 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                       
                     
                     
                       1 
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         - 
                         
                           tan 
                           ⁡ 
                           ( 
                           
                             θ 
                             5 
                           
                           ) 
                         
                       
                     
                     
                       1 
                     
                   
                 
                 ] 
               
             
             , 
             
               z 
               = 
               
                 [ 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         x 
                         0 
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         y 
                         0 
                       
                     
                   
                 
                 ] 
               
             
             , 
             
               
                 and 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 E 
               
               = 
               
                 [ 
                 
                   
                     
                       
                         e 
                         1 
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         e 
                         2 
                       
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       
                         e 
                         5 
                       
                     
                   
                 
                 ] 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     It should be noted that e 1 , e 2 , and e 5  may represent random errors/uncertainties during measurement. Using least squares, the above-described matrix may be employed to estimate (or otherwise solve):
 
 {circumflex over (z)}=[{circumflex over (x)}   0   ,ŷ   0 ] T   Equation 1:
 
     Further, Equation 1 may be employed to estimate (or otherwise solve): 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       θ 
                       ˆ 
                     
                     3 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     arctan 
                     ⁢ 
                         
                     
                       { 
                       
                         
                           
                             y 
                             3 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             
                               y 
                               ˆ 
                             
                             0 
                           
                         
                         
                           
                             x 
                             3 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             
                               x 
                               ˆ 
                             
                             0 
                           
                         
                       
                       } 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   Equation 
                   ⁢ 
                       
                   3 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       θ 
                       ˆ 
                     
                     4 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     arctan 
                     ⁢ 
                         
                     
                       { 
                       
                         
                           
                             y 
                             4 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             
                               y 
                               ˆ 
                             
                             0 
                           
                         
                         
                           
                             x 
                             4 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             
                               x 
                               ˆ 
                             
                             0 
                           
                         
                       
                       } 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   Equation 
                   ⁢ 
                       
                   4 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     It should be noted that {circumflex over (θ)} 3  from Equation 2 and {circumflex over (θ)} 4  from Equation 3 may represent estimates of θ 3  and θ 4 , respectively. Indeed, in accordance with the present disclosure, use of a hat above a variable may indicate that the variable is an estimate. However, it should also be noted that terms like “angle” and “estimated angle” may be used interchangeably herein, and terms like “position” and “estimated position” may also be used interchangeably herein. 
     The results of Equation 2 and Equation 3 may be employed to select desirable beams corresponding to the third access point  124  and the fourth access point  134 . For example,  FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the distributed multi-antenna system  100  of  FIG.  3   . In  FIG.  5   , the third desirable beam  160  of the third access point  124  includes the angle θ 3  (e.g., relative to the direction  176 ), and the fourth desirable beam  162  of the fourth access point  134  includes the angle θ 4  (e.g., relative to the direction  176 ). 
     In one embodiment, the third access point  124  may receive the above-described data employed in Equation 1 (with respect to Matrix 1), Equation 2, and Equation 3, to determine the third desirable beam  160 , and/or the fourth access point  134  may receive the above-described data, employed in Equation 1 (with respect to Matrix 1), Equation 2, and Equation 3, to determine the fourth desirable beam  162 . The data may be received by the third access point  124 , for example, from the user equipment device  10  and/or one of the other access points of the system  100 . The third access point  124  and the fourth access point  134  may receive the data from, for example, the user equipment device  10 , the first access point  104 , the second access point  114 , the fifth access point  144 , or any combination thereof. After the third desirable beam  160  is identified, the third access point  124  may employ a sub-set of the third antennas  126  corresponding to the third access point  124  to emit the third desirable beam  160  for transmitting data to the user equipment device  10 . Likewise, after the fourth desirable beam  162  is identified, the fourth access point  134  may employ a sub-set of the fourth antennas  136  corresponding to the fourth access point  134  to transmit data to the user equipment device  10 . 
     While the examples provided above with respect to  FIGS.  4  and  5    involve processing steps performed by one or more of the access points  104 ,  114 ,  124 ,  134 ,  144  to identify the third desirable beam  160  of the third access point  124  and the fourth desirable beam  162  of the fourth access point  134 , certain embodiments of the present disclosure may involve processing steps performed by the user equipment device  10  to identify the third desirable beam  160  and the fourth desirable beam  162 . For example,  FIG.  6    is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the distributed multi-antenna system  100  of  FIG.  3   .  FIG.  6    illustrates illustrating various data derived from beam sweeping procedures with respect to a first sub-set of access points and employed by the user equipment device  10  for estimating desirable beams of a second sub-set of access points. In the illustrated embodiment, the distributed multi-antenna system  100  includes a first sub-set of access points (e.g., the first access point  104 , the second access point  114 , and the fifth access point  144 ) and a second sub-set of access points (e.g., the third access point  124  and the fourth access point  134 ). As previously described with respect to  FIG.  3   , beam sweeping procedures may be performed with respect to the first sub-set of access points  104 ,  114 ,  144  to identify the desirable beams  155 ,  157 ,  159  employed by the first sub-set of access points  104 ,  114 ,  144 , respectively, for communicating with the user equipment device  10 . As described below, other data processing may be employed (e.g., by the user equipment device  10 ) to identify desirable beams from the second sub-set of access points  134 ,  144 . 
     For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the access points  104 ,  114 ,  124 ,  134 ,  144  and the user equipment device  10  are positioned on the coordinate system  170  having the X-axis  172  and the Y-axis  174 . A first position of the first access point  104  is represented by coordinates x 1 , y 1  on the coordinate system  170 , a second position of the second access point  114  is represented by coordinates x 2 , y 2  on the coordinate system  170 , a third position of the third access point  124  is represented as coordinates x 3 , y 3  on the coordinate system  170 , a fourth position of the fourth access point  134  is represented by coordinates x 4 , y 4  on the coordinate system  170 , and a fifth position of the fifth access point  144  is represented by coordinates x 5 , y 5  on the coordinate system  170 . Further, a position of the user equipment device  10  is represented as coordinates x 0 , y 0  on the coordinate system  170 . 
     The first desirable beam  155  corresponding to the first access point  104  and received at the user equipment device  10  may include a first angle Ø 1  relative to a direction  190 , the second desirable beam  157  corresponding to the second access point  114  and received at the user equipment device  10  may include a second angle Ø 2  relative to the direction  190 , and the fifth desirable beam  159  from the fifth access point  144  and received at the user equipment device  10  may include a fifth angle Ø s  relative to direction  190 . The first angle Ø 1 , the second angle Ø 2 , and the fifth angle Ø s  may be referred to as “angles of arrival” and may be estimated by the user equipment device  10 , for example, during an RX beam sweeping procedure later described with respect to  FIG.  8   . 
     Certain of the above-described location and/or angle (e.g., angle of arrival) data may be employed by the user equipment device  10  to estimate or otherwise determine desirable beams from the third access point  124  and the fourth access point  134 . As an example, the following system of equations may be employed by the user equipment device  10 :
 
 y   1 −tan({circumflex over (Ø)} 1 ) x   1   =y   0 −tan({circumflex over (Ø)} 1 ) x   0   +é   1   Equation 4:
 
 y   2 −tan({circumflex over (Ø)} 2 ) x   2   =y   0 −tan({circumflex over (Ø)} 2 ) x   0   +é   2   Equation 5:
 
 y   5 −tan({circumflex over (Ø)} 5 ) x   5   =y   0 −tan({circumflex over (Ø)} 5 ) x   0   +é   5   Equation 6:
 
     It should be noted that {tilde over (e)} 1 , {tilde over (e)} 2 , and {tilde over (e)} 5  may represent random errors/uncertainties during measurement. Using least squares, Equations 4-6 may be solved to reach the following: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     [ 
                     
                       
                         
                           
                             
                               x 
                               ˆ 
                             
                             0 
                           
                         
                       
                       
                         
                           
                             
                               y 
                               ˆ 
                             
                             0 
                           
                         
                       
                     
                     ] 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           
                             { 
                             
                               
                                 [ 
                                 
                                   
                                     
                                       
                                         
                                           
                                             
                                               
                                                 - 
                                                 tan 
                                               
                                               ⁢ 
                                               
                                                 ( 
                                                 
                                                   
                                                     ∅ 
                                                     ^ 
                                                   
                                                   1 
                                                 
                                                 ) 
                                               
                                             
                                           
                                           
                                             1 
                                           
                                         
                                       
                                     
                                   
                                   
                                     
                                       
                                         
                                           
                                             
                                               
                                                 - 
                                                 tan 
                                               
                                               ⁢ 
                                               
                                                 ( 
                                                 
                                                   
                                                     ∅ 
                                                     ^ 
                                                   
                                                   2 
                                                 
                                                 ) 
                                               
                                             
                                           
                                           
                                             1 
                                           
                                         
                                       
                                     
                                   
                                   
                                     
                                       
                                         
                                           
                                             
                                               
                                                 - 
                                                 tan 
                                               
                                               ⁢ 
                                               
                                                 ( 
                                                 
                                                   
                                                     ∅ 
                                                     ^ 
                                                   
                                                   5 
                                                 
                                                 ) 
                                               
                                             
                                           
                                           
                                             1 
                                           
                                         
                                       
                                     
                                   
                                 
                                 ] 
                               
                               [ 
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     
                                       
                                         
                                           
                                             
                                               - 
                                               tan 
                                             
                                             ⁢ 
                                             
                                               ( 
                                               
                                                 
                                                   ∅ 
                                                   ^ 
                                                 
                                                 1 
                                               
                                               ) 
                                             
                                           
                                         
                                         
                                           1 
                                         
                                       
                                     
                                   
                                 
                                 
                                   
                                     
                                       
                                         
                                           
                                             
                                               - 
                                               tan 
                                             
                                             ⁢ 
                                             
                                               ( 
                                               
                                                 
                                                   ∅ 
                                                   ^ 
                                                 
                                                 2 
                                               
                                               ) 
                                             
                                           
                                         
                                         
                                           1 
                                         
                                       
                                     
                                   
                                 
                                 
                                   
                                     
                                       
                                         
                                           
                                             
                                               - 
                                               tan 
                                             
                                             ⁢ 
                                             
                                               ( 
                                               
                                                 
                                                   ∅ 
                                                   ^ 
                                                 
                                                 5 
                                               
                                               ) 
                                             
                                           
                                         
                                         
                                           1 
                                         
                                       
                                     
                                   
                                 
                               
                               ] 
                             
                             } 
                           
                           
                             - 
                             1 
                           
                         
                         [ 
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     
                                       
                                         - 
                                         tan 
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                         ( 
                                         
                                           
                                             ∅ 
                                             ^ 
                                           
                                           1 
                                         
                                         ) 
                                       
                                     
                                   
                                   
                                     1 
                                   
                                 
                               
                             
                           
                           
                             
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     
                                       
                                         - 
                                         tan 
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                         ( 
                                         
                                           
                                             ∅ 
                                             ^ 
                                           
                                           2 
                                         
                                         ) 
                                       
                                     
                                   
                                   
                                     1 
                                   
                                 
                               
                             
                           
                           
                             
                               
                                 
                                   
                                     
                                       
                                         - 
                                         tan 
                                       
                                       ⁢ 
                                       
                                         ( 
                                         
                                           
                                             ∅ 
                                             ^ 
                                           
                                           5 
                                         
                                         ) 
                                       
                                     
                                   
                                   
                                     1 
                                   
                                 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                         ] 
                       
                       H 
                     
                     [ 
                     
                       
                         
                           
                             
                               y 
                               ⁢ 
                               1 
                             
                             - 
                             
                               
                                 tan 
                                 ⁡ 
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   ∅ 
                                   1 
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               ⁢ 
                               
                                 x 
                                 1 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                       
                       
                         
                           
                             
                               y 
                               ⁢ 
                               1 
                             
                             - 
                             
                               
                                 tan 
                                 ⁡ 
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   ∅ 
                                   2 
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               ⁢ 
                               
                                 x 
                                 2 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                       
                       
                         
                           
                             
                               y 
                               ⁢ 
                               1 
                             
                             - 
                             
                               
                                 tan 
                                 ⁡ 
                                 ( 
                                 
                                   ∅ 
                                   5 
                                 
                                 ) 
                               
                               ⁢ 
                               
                                 x 
                                 5 
                               
                             
                           
                         
                       
                     
                     ] 
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   Equation 
                   ⁢ 
                       
                   7 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     From Equation 7, the user equipment device  10  can infer angles of arrival corresponding to the desirable beams of the third access point  124  and the fourth access point  134  as follows: 
     
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       ∅ 
                       ^ 
                     
                     3 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     arctan 
                     ⁢ 
                         
                     
                       { 
                       
                         
                           
                             y 
                             3 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             
                               y 
                               ˆ 
                             
                             0 
                           
                         
                         
                           
                             x 
                             3 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             
                               x 
                               ˆ 
                             
                             0 
                           
                         
                       
                       } 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   Equation 
                   ⁢ 
                       
                   8 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     
                       ∅ 
                       ^ 
                     
                     4 
                   
                   = 
                   
                     arctan 
                     ⁢ 
                         
                     
                       { 
                       
                         
                           
                             y 
                             4 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             
                               y 
                               ˆ 
                             
                             0 
                           
                         
                         
                           
                             x 
                             4 
                           
                           - 
                           
                             
                               x 
                               ˆ 
                             
                             0 
                           
                         
                       
                       } 
                     
                   
                 
               
               
                 
                   Equation 
                   ⁢ 
                       
                   9 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     The results of Equation 8 and Equation 9 may be employed to select desirable beams corresponding to the third access point  124  and the fourth access point  134 . That is, the user equipment device  10  may transmit data indicative of {circumflex over (Ø)} 3  (which may be referred to as data indicative of the third desirable beam) to the third access point  124 , and data indicative of {circumflex over (Ø)} 4  (which may be referred to as data indicative of the fourth desirable beam) to the fourth access point  134 .  FIG.  7    is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the distributed multi-antenna system  100  of  FIG.  3   . In  FIG.  7   , the third desirable beam  160  of the third access point  124  includes the angle Ø 3  (e.g., relative to the direction  190 ), and the fourth desirable beam  162  of the fourth access point  134  includes the angle Ø 4  (e.g., relative to the direction  190 ). 
     Further, as previously described, it should be noted that the user equipment device  10  in  FIGS.  6  and  7    may estimate an angle of arrival from an access point (e.g., of the first, second, and fifth access points  104 ,  114 ,  144 ) in a variety of ways. One example is provided in  FIG.  8   , which is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a portion of the distributed multi-antenna system  100  of  FIG.  3   . In  FIG.  8   , the user equipment device  10  may estimate the angle of arrival (e.g., Ø 1 ) of the desirable beam  155  corresponding to the first access point  104  during an RX beam sweeping procedure in which a receiving (e.g., RX) beam  194  is selected by the user equipment device  10 , where the angle of the RX beam  194  (e.g., Ø RX ) is employed to estimate the angle of arrival of the desirable beam  155  from the first access point  101  (e.g., Ø 1 =Ø RX ). 
       FIGS.  9 ,  10 , and  11    are schematic diagrams of an embodiment of a distributed multi-antenna system  200  including the user equipment device  10  and ten access points (e.g., base stations, cellular towers) at various moments or intervals of time (e.g., a first moment or interval of time corresponding to  FIG.  9   , a second moment or interval of time corresponding to  FIG.  10   , and a third moment or interval of time corresponding to  FIG.  11   ) in an access point selection procedure. For example, the distributed multi-antenna system  200  includes a first access point  202 , a second access point  204 , a third access point  206 , a fourth access point  208 , a fifth access point  210 , a sixth access point  212 , a seventh access point  214 , an eight access point  216 , a ninth access point  218 , and a tenth access point  220 . The user equipment device  10  is also shown in each of  FIGS.  9 ,  10 , and  11   . For purposes of clarity and brevity, processing circuitry, memory circuitry, and antennas are excluded from the illustrations in  FIGS.  9 ,  10 , and  11   , but it should be understood that the various access points  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 ,  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216 ,  218 ,  220  and the user equipment device  10  may include processing circuitry, memory circuitry, and antennas (e.g., as illustrated in  FIGS.  3 - 8   ). 
     Beginning with  FIG.  9   , the first access point  202 , the sixth access point  212 , and the seventh access point  214  (which may form a “first sub-set of access points”) may each transmit one or more beams. Beam sweeping procedures may be performed in an effort to identify desirable or suitable beams transmitted by the first, sixth, and/or seventh access points  202 ,  212 ,  214  (e.g., by determining signal strength measurements associated with the beam(s) emitted by the first, sixth, and/or seventh access points  202 ,  212 ,  214 ). As previously described, the signal strength measurements may include RSRP measurements, beam indexes, or both. 
     Further, the user equipment device  10  may compare the signal strength measurements with a threshold signal strength and identify whether the signal strength measurements exceed the threshold signal strength. In  FIG.  9   , a first beam  203  corresponding to the first access point  202 , a sixth beam  213  corresponding to the sixth access point  212 , and a seventh beam  215  corresponding to the seventh access point  214  are shown. However, the user equipment device  10  may determine that the signal strength measurements of the first, sixth, and seventh beams  203 ,  213 ,  215  do not exceed the threshold signal strength. In some embodiments, the user equipment device  10  may not even receive or otherwise detect the first, sixth, and seventh beams  203 ,  213 ,  215 . 
     In  FIG.  10   , the second access point  204 , the third access point  206 , and the eight access point  216  (which may form a “second sub-set of access points”) may each transmit one or more beams. Beam sweeping procedures may be performed in an effort to identify desirable or suitable beams transmitted by the second, third, and/or eighth access points  204 ,  206 ,  216  (e.g., by determining signal strength measurements associated with the beam(s) emitted by the second, third, and/or eighth access points  204 ,  206 ,  216 ). As previously described, the signal strength measurements may include RSRP measurements, beam indexes, or both. 
     Further, the user equipment device  10  may compare the signal strength measurements with a threshold signal strength and identify whether the signal strength measurements exceed the threshold signal strength. In  FIG.  10   , a second beam  205  corresponding to the second access point  204 , a third beam  207  corresponding to the third access point  206 , and an eighth beam  217  corresponding to the eighth access point  216  are shown. The user equipment device  10  may determine that the signal strength measurements of the second and eighth beams  205 ,  217  do not exceed the threshold signal strength, and that the signal strength measurement of the third beam  207  does exceed the threshold signal strength. In some embodiments, beam sweeping may be stopped in response to the user equipment device  10  identifying that, for example, the signal strength measurement of the third beam  207  exceeds the threshold signal strength. In other embodiments, the user equipment device  10  may continue with beam sweeping procedures relative to additional access points (e.g., a “third sub-set of access points” including the fourth access point  208 , the fifth access point  210 , the ninth access point  218 , and the tenth access point  220 ) until the user equipment device  10  identifies a threshold number of beams having signal strength measurements that exceed the threshold signal strength. 
     For example, in  FIG.  10   , the fourth access point  208 , the fifth access point  210 , the ninth access point  218 , and the tenth access point  220  (which may form a “third sub-set of access points”) may each transmit one or more beams. Beam sweeping procedures may be performed in an effort to identify desirable or suitable beams transmitted by the fourth, fifth, ninth, and/or tenth access points  208 ,  210 ,  218 ,  220  (e.g., by determining signal strength measurements associated with the beam(s) emitted by the fourth, fifth, ninth, and/or tenth access points  208 ,  210 ,  218 ,  220 ). As previously described, the signal strength measurements may include RSRP measurements, beam indexes, or both. 
     Further, the user equipment device  10  may compare the signal strength measurements with a threshold signal strength and identify whether the signal strength measurements exceed the threshold signal strength. In  FIG.  11   , a fourth beam  209  corresponding to the fourth access point  208 , a fifth beam  211  corresponding to the fifth access point  210 , a ninth beam  219  corresponding to the ninth access point  218 , and a tenth beam  221  corresponding to the tenth access point  210  are shown. The user equipment device  10  may determine that the signal strength measurements of the fifth and ninth beams  211 ,  219  do not exceed the threshold signal strength, and that the signal strength measurements of the fourth and tenth beams  209 ,  221  do exceed the threshold signal strength. In some embodiments, beam sweeping may be stopped in response to the user equipment device  10  identifying that, for example, the signal strength measurement of two or more beams (e.g., where a threshold number of beams is equal to two) exceed the threshold signal strength. It should be understood that the threshold number of beams may be greater than two in another embodiment. By employing the system  200  illustrated in  FIGS.  9 - 11   , beam sweeping may be performed with respect to individual sub-sets of access points at separate moments or intervals of time, while ultimately enabling the user equipment device  10  access the corresponding network. 
       FIG.  12    is a schematic diagram of a distributed multi-antenna system  300  employing a preconfigured division of regions to identify desirable beams between various access points (e.g., base stations, cellular towers) and the user equipment device  10 . The access points include, for example, a first access point  302 , a second access point  304 , a third access point  306 , a fourth access point  308 , and a fifth access point  310 . For purposes of clarity and brevity, processing circuitry, memory circuitry, and antennas are excluded from the illustration in  FIG.  12   , but it should be understood that the various access points  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310  and the user equipment device  10  may include processing circuitry, memory circuitry, and antennas (e.g., as illustrated in  FIGS.  3 - 8   ). 
     Certain aspects of  FIG.  12    and the description below relate to RX beam sweeping procedures (e.g., beam sweeping procedures utilized to identify a desirable RX beam from the user equipment device  10 ). In traditional systems, RX beam sweeping may involve an access point transmitting a beam (e.g., TX beam) over time while the user equipment device  10  sweeps various RX beams to identify a desirable RX beam from the user equipment device  10 . However, this can be time consuming and resource exhaustive. In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in  FIG.  12   , the access points  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310  may signal to the user equipment device  10  the relative directions between the each of the access points  302 ,  304 ,  306 ,  307 ,  310  and the user equipment  10 . For example, the first access point  302  may signal to the user equipment device  10  the relative direction between the first access point  302  and the user equipment device  10 . This relative direction may be obtained at the first access point  302  during TX beam sweeping, for example, in terms of azimuth and/or elevation angles. 
     Additionally or alternatively, the relative direction may be represented by indexing a preconfigured region division. As an example,  FIG.  12    includes a two-dimensional area divided into region one  312 , region two  314 , region three  316 , region four  318 , region five  320 , region six  322 , region seven  324 , and region eight  326 . The user equipment device  10  may receive an indication, for example, from the first access point  302  indicative of region one  312  in which the first access point  302  is disposed. The user equipment device  10  may employ the indication with other contextual information at the user equipment device  10  (e.g., data indicative of movement of the user equipment device  10 , such as lateral or rotational movement, that occurred after TX beam sweeping) to subsequently perform RX beam sweeping in another region (e.g., the region two  314 , region three  316 , region four  318 , region five  320 , region six  322 , region seven  324 , and region eight  326 ), which is predicted based on the signaled region information as well as a local movement (e.g., lateral and/or rotational) pattern of the user equipment device  10 . 
     In general, embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward beam management for a distributed multi-antenna system employed in wireless network telecommunications, where at least one beam from at least one access point of the distributed multi-antenna system is selected without performing a beam sweeping procedure between the at least one access point and a user equipment device. For example, various information (e.g., location information of the access points and/or user equipment device, data indicative of other beams selected for other access points, etc.) may be employed by the distributed multi-antenna system to infer a best beam for transmitting data to the user equipment device via the at least one access point. In this way, technical effects or benefits associated with embodiments of the present disclosure include reducing resources required for establishing communications between the user equipment device and the access points of the distributed multi-antenna system, reducing an amount of time required to establish the communications between the user equipment device and the access points, reducing latency, reducing signaling overhead between the access points and user equipment device, and/or reducing a cost of the distributed multi-antenna system. 
     It is well understood that the use of personally identifiable information should follow privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular, personally identifiable information data should be managed and handled so as to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users. 
     The specific embodiments described above have been shown by way of example, and it should be understood that these embodiments may be susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms. It should be further understood that the claims are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed, but rather to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. 
     The techniques presented and claimed herein are referenced and applied to material objects and concrete examples of a practical nature that demonstrably improve the present technical field and, as such, are not abstract, intangible or purely theoretical. Further, if any claims appended to the end of this specification contain one or more elements designated as “means for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ” or “step for [perform]ing [a function] . . . ,” it is intended that such elements are to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f). However, for any claims containing elements designated in any other manner, it is intended that such elements are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f).

Metadata:
Filing Date: 20220920
Publication Date: 20241231
Grant Date: 20241231
Priority Date: 20220920
Inventors: SUN, WANLU
SAMBHWANI, SHARAD
Assignee: APPLE INC
CPC Classifications: [{"code": "H04B7/0491", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/024", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B17/318", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/022", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/0695", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/088", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B17/318", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/0491", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/088", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/024", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B17/318", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/0491", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/024", "inventive": true, "first": false, "tree": "[]"}, {"code": "H04B7/088", "inventive": true, "first": true, "tree": "[]"}]
Family ID: 90243268