How 5G Networks Intelligently Switch Your Phone's Connection Beams
This patent describes how a 5G network efficiently manages and switches the directional radio signals (beams) your phone uses, especially when needing to look beyond its current cell tower.
Original patent title: “Network architecture, methods, and devices for a wireless communications network”
This patent describes how a 5G network efficiently manages and switches the directional radio signals (beams) your phone uses, especially when needing to look beyond its current cell tower. Granted to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB in 2025 with 16 claims and 3 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2042.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent details a method for a "network node" (like a cell tower) to manage how a "user equipment" (UE, your phone) connects. When the network decides your phone needs a "beam reconfiguration" (a change in its radio signal connection), it first picks a set of "candidate beams" for your phone to check. If the beams available from your current cell tower ("intra-cell candidate beams") aren't enough, the network will activate special "mobility reference signals" (MRS) in these candidate beams (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). Your phone then measures these signals and sends the results back. Finally, the network uses these results to pick the best "target beam" for your phone (Claim 1). For example, if you're moving from one cell tower's coverage to another, this system helps the network find the best new connection point.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover beam reconfigurations where the network node does not determine to trigger the change itself.
- Does not cover scenarios where the network node selects a target beam without first receiving measurement results from the UE.
- Does not cover beam reconfigurations that rely solely on intra-cell candidate beams without activating MRS for broader options.
- Does not cover methods where the UE independently selects a new beam without network guidance.
- Does not cover beam management in wireless communication networks older than 5G, as the abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more → specifies a fifth-generation network.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever part is the conditional activation of "mobility reference signals" (MRS). The network only turns on these special signals in candidate beams if the beams within the current cell are "insufficient" for a proper reconfiguration (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). This saves power and processing resources by not broadcasting MRS unnecessarily when simpler, local beam options are available.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
5G base stations
5G-enabled smartphones
Cellular network infrastructure
Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) devices
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This patent is significant for improving the efficiency and reliability of 5G cellular networks. By intelligently managing beam reconfigurations, especially when a device might need to connect to a different cell tower, it helps ensure smoother transitions and better signal quality. This is crucial for applications requiring consistent, high-speed connections, like streaming video or autonomous driving, as users move through different coverage areas.
Filed
June 8, 2022
Granted
February 18, 2025
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, is a major developer of 5G infrastructure and continues to innovate in this area. Other telecommunications equipment providers like Nokia, Huawei, and Samsung also contribute to and build upon similar network management techniques for 5G and future wireless standards. These companies are constantly developing and deploying advanced beamforming and beam management solutions to enhance network performance.
Market impact
This type of technology contributes to the ongoing evolution of 5G networks, enabling more robust and efficient mobile broadband. It helps to ensure seamless connectivity as users move, which is critical for the widespread adoption of 5G services and the development of new applications that rely on high-speed, low-latency communication. It allows network operators to optimize resource usage and improve user experience, directly impacting the quality and reliability of modern cellular services.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent details a method for a "network node" (like a cell tower) to manage how a "user equipment" (UE, your phone) connects. When the network decides your phone needs a "beam reconfiguration" (a change in its radio signal connection), it first picks a set of "candidate beams" for your phone to check. If the beams available from your current cell tower ("intra-cell candidate beams") aren't enough, the network will activate special "mobility reference signals" (MRS) in these candidate beams (Claim 1). Your phone then measures these signals and sends the results back. Finally, the network uses these results to pick the best "target beam" for your phone (Claim 1). For example, if you're moving from one cell tower's coverage to another, this system helps the network find the best new connection point.
The clever bit
The clever part is the conditional activation of "mobility reference signals" (MRS). The network only turns on these special signals in candidate beams if the beams within the current cell are "insufficient" for a proper reconfiguration (Claim 1). This saves power and processing resources by not broadcasting MRS unnecessarily when simpler, local beam options are available.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover beam reconfigurations where the network node does not determine to trigger the change itself.
- Does not cover scenarios where the network node selects a target beam without first receiving measurement results from the UE.
- Does not cover beam reconfigurations that rely solely on intra-cell candidate beams without activating MRS for broader options.
- Does not cover methods where the UE independently selects a new beam without network guidance.
- Does not cover beam management in wireless communication networks older than 5G, as the abstract specifies a fifth-generation network.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Strong
Citation count
12/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
11/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
20/20
Major company or institution
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$82K – $262K
Midpoint $164K · 15.7 yr remaining · industry ×1.4
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
16 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Parkvall, S., Peisa, J., Mildh, G., Baldemair, R., Wager, S., Kronander, J., Werner, K., Abrahamsson, R., AKTAS, I., Alriksson, P., Ansari, J., ASHRAF, S. A., Asplund, H., Athley, F., Axelsson, H., Axmon, J., Axnäs, J., Balachandran, K., Bark, G., ..., & Zheng, Y. (2025). How 5G Networks Intelligently Switch Your Phone's Connection Beams (U.S. Patent No. 12,231,284). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12231284/network-architecture-methods-and-devices-for-a-wireless-communications-network
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How 5G Networks Intelligently Switch Your Phone's Connection Beams cover?
This patent describes how a 5G network efficiently manages and switches the directional radio signals (beams) your phone uses, especially when needing to look beyond its current cell tower.
Who owns patent US 12231284?
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB owns this patent, granted in 2025.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on June 8, 2042, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 12231284 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 3 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This patent is significant for improving the efficiency and reliability of 5G cellular networks. By intelligently managing beam reconfigurations, especially when a device might need to connect to a different cell tower, it helps ensure smoother transitions and better signal quality. This is crucial for applications requiring consistent, high-speed connections, like streaming video or autonomous driving, as users move through different coverage areas.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover beam reconfigurations where the network node does not determine to trigger the change itself.
Same assignee
More from Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson AB
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