Systems and methods for controlling radio frequency exposure

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for controlling radio frequency exposure. A wireless network may include a base station and a user equipment (UE). The UE may transmit an uplink (UL) signal to the base station using a dynamically adjustable maximum UL duty cycle. When the UE identifies that a user is approaching the UE, the UE may transmit an indicator to the base station. The indicator may identify that a radio frequency exposure (RFE) event has occurred and / or a recommended maximum UL duty cycle that will allow the UE to meet limits on RFE. The base station may limit UL authorization to the UE so that the UE performs subsequent communications using the recommended maximum UL duty cycle or a different maximum UL duty cycle. Coordinating the adjustment of the UL duty cycle in this manner may allow the UE to meet limits on RFE without requiring the UE to perform a maximum transmission power level reduction.

Description

[0001] This divisional application is a divisional application based on the Chinese patent application with application number 202180007798.0, application date May 17, 2021, and invention name “System and method for controlling radio frequency exposure”. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to wireless networks and, more particularly, to wireless networks having electronic devices with wireless communications circuitry. Background Art

[0003] The electronic devices often include wireless communication circuitry. For example, cellular phones, computers, and other devices often contain antennas and wireless transceivers for supporting wireless communication. The electronic devices communicate with wireless base stations in a wireless network.

[0004] Electronic devices with wireless capabilities are often subject to regulatory limits regarding radio frequency exposure. It can be difficult to provide satisfactory and effective wireless communication between a wireless network and an electronic device while ensuring that the regulatory limits are met. Summary of the invention

[0005] A wireless network may include a base station with a corresponding cell. A user equipment (UE) device may be located within a cell and may communicate with a base station. The UE device and the base station may communicate using a communication protocol such as the 3GPP fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) protocol. The UE device may use an antenna to transmit an uplink (UL) signal to the base station with a maximum UL duty cycle. The maximum UL duty cycle may be dynamically adjustable. The network, base station, and UE device may quickly coordinate the dynamic adjustment of the maximum UL duty cycle.

[0006] The UE device may perform proximity detection operations to identify when a user or other human body is approaching the UE device. When the UE device detects that a user or other human body is approaching the UE device, the UE device may transmit an indicator to a base station. The indicator may identify that a radio frequency exposure (RFE) event has occurred, so that the UE device may need to adjust UL transmissions to continue to meet regulatory limits on RFE. The UE device may identify a recommended maximum UL duty cycle that will allow the UE device to continue to meet regulatory limits on RFE. If necessary, the recommended maximum UL duty cycle may take into account the path loss between the UE device and the base station. The indicator may identify the level of RFE generated at the UE device. The indicator may additionally or alternatively identify a recommended maximum UL duty cycle.

[0007] The base station may process the indicator to confirm that the UE device may use the recommended maximum UL duty cycle or to identify a different updated maximum UL duty cycle for the UE device. The base station may adjust the UL scheduling of the UE device, which limits the UL authorization to the UE device so that the UE device uses the recommended maximum UL duty cycle or the updated maximum UL duty cycle to perform subsequent communications. If necessary, the base station may provide a feedback signal that identifies acceptance of the recommended maximum UL duty cycle or identifies the updated maximum UL duty cycle. Coordinating the adjustment of the UL duty cycle in this manner may allow the UE device to continue to meet regulatory limits on RFE without requiring the UE device to perform a maximum transmit power level reduction, thereby optimizing UL communications and throughput of the UE device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is a functional block diagram of an illustrative electronic device having wireless circuitry for communicating with a wireless base station according to some embodiments.

[0009] Figure 2 is a diagram of an illustrative cell of a wireless base station and user equipment having steerable beam communications using radio frequency signals according to some embodiments.

[0010] Figure 3 is a flow diagram of illustrative operations that may be performed by a base station and user equipment in coordinating network-determined dynamic maximum uplink (UL) duty cycle adjustments for user equipment using a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), in accordance with some embodiments.

[0011] Figure 4 is a flow diagram of illustrative operations that may be performed by a base station and user equipment in coordinating dynamic maximum uplink (UL) duty cycle adjustment for user equipment using PUCCH to determine user equipment, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0012] Figure 5 is a flow diagram of illustrative operations that may be performed by a base station and user equipment in coordinating network-determined dynamic maximum uplink (UL) duty cycle adjustments for user equipment using a physical random access channel (PRACH), in accordance with some embodiments.

[0013] Figure 6 is a flow diagram of illustrative operations that may be performed by a base station and user equipment in utilizing PRACH to coordinate user equipment determinations for dynamic maximum uplink (UL) duty cycle adjustments for user equipment in accordance with some embodiments.

[0014] Figure 7 is a circuit block diagram of illustrative wireless circuitry on a user equipment for generating radio frequency exposure (RFE) level information and uplink duty cycle information for transmission to a base station according to some embodiments.

[0015] Figure 8 is a table showing how an exemplary user equipment may identify different optimal uplink duty cycles for different path loss environments, according to some embodiments.

[0016] Fig. 9 is a flow diagram of exemplary operations that may be performed by a user equipment to report RFE level information and uplink duty cycle information for coordinating maximum UL duty cycle adjustments or other network adjustments, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0017] Fig.10 is a table showing how an exemplary user equipment may use different medium access channel (MAC) control element (CE) indicator values ​​to identify different RFE levels for a base station, according to some embodiments.

[0018] Fig.11 and Fig.12 is a table showing how an exemplary user equipment may use different Medium Access Channel (MAC) Control Element (CE) indicator values ​​to identify a requested UL duty cycle for a base station, according to some embodiments.

[0019] Fig.13 is a flow diagram of illustrative operations that may be performed by a base station and a user equipment in reporting RFE level information for a user equipment to a base station using a MAC CE, according to some embodiments.

[0020] Fig.14 is a flow diagram of illustrative operations that may be performed by a base station and a user equipment in reporting UL duty cycle information for a user equipment to a base station using a MAC CE, according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Figure 1 The electronic device 10 may be: a computing device, such as a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a computer monitor containing an embedded computer, a tablet computer, a cellular phone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device; a smaller device, such as a wristwatch device, a hanging device, a headset or earpiece device, a device embedded in glasses; or other equipment worn on the user's head; or other wearable or miniature devices, televisions, computer displays that do not contain embedded computers, gaming devices, navigation devices, embedded systems (such as systems in which electronic equipment with displays is installed in kiosks or cars), voice-controlled speakers connected to wireless Internet, home entertainment equipment, remote control devices, game controllers, peripheral user input devices, wireless base stations or access points, equipment that implements the functions of two or more of these devices; or other electronic equipment.

[0022] like Figure 1 As shown in the functional block diagram in , device 10 may include components located on or within an electronic device housing such as housing 12. Housing 12 (which may sometimes be referred to as a shell) may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramic, fiber composite material, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, metal alloy, etc.), other suitable materials, or combinations of these materials. In some cases, part or all of housing 12 may be formed of a dielectric or other low conductivity material (e.g., glass, ceramic, plastic, sapphire, etc.). In other cases, housing 12 or at least some of the structures that make up housing 12 may be formed of metal elements.

[0023] Device 10 may include control circuitry 14. Control circuitry 14 may include storage such as storage circuitry 20. Storage circuitry 20 may include hard drive storage, non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically programmable read-only memory configured to form a solid-state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static random access memory or dynamic random access memory), etc. Storage circuitry 20 may include storage integrated within device 10 and / or removable storage media.

[0024] Control circuit 14 may include processing circuits such as processing circuit 22. Processing circuit 22 may be used to control the operation of device 10. Processing circuit 22 may include one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, host processors, baseband processor integrated circuits, application-specific integrated circuits, central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), etc. Control circuit 14 may be configured to perform operations in device 10 using hardware (e.g., dedicated hardware or circuits), firmware, and / or software. Software code for performing operations in device 10 may be stored on storage circuit 20 (e.g., storage circuit 20 may include a non-transitory (tangible) computer-readable storage medium storing software code). The software code may sometimes be referred to as program instructions, software, data, instructions, or code. The software code stored on storage circuit 20 may be executed by processing circuit 22. If desired, portions of storage circuit 20 may be located on processing circuit 22 (e.g., as L1 and L2 caches), while other portions of storage circuit 20 are located outside processing circuit 22 (e.g., while still accessible by processing circuit 22 via a memory interface).

[0025] Control circuitry 14 may be used to run software on device 10, such as satellite navigation applications, Internet browsing applications, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) phone call applications, email applications, media playback applications, game applications, operating system functions, etc. To support interaction with external equipment, control circuitry 14 may be used to implement communication protocols. Communication protocols that may be implemented using control circuitry 14 include Internet protocols, wireless local area network (WLAN) protocols (e.g., IEEE 802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as ), such as Protocols for other short-range wireless communication links such as the IEEE 802.11ad protocol or other wireless personal area network (WPAN) protocols, IEEE 802.11ad protocols (e.g., ultra-wideband protocols), cellular phone protocols (e.g., 3G protocols, 4G (LTE) protocols, 3GPP fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) protocols, etc.), antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols (e.g., global positioning system (GPS) protocols, global navigation satellite system (GLONASS) protocols, etc.), antenna-based spatial ranging protocols (e.g., radio detection and ranging (RADAR) protocols or other desired distance detection protocols for signals transmitted at millimeter wave and centimeter wave frequencies), or any other desired communication protocols. Each communication protocol may be associated with a corresponding radio access technology (RAT), which specifies a physical connection method for implementing the protocol.

[0026] Device 10 may include input-output circuitry 16. Input-output circuitry 16 may include input-output devices 18. Input-output devices 18 may be used to allow data to be provided to device 10 and to allow data to be provided from device 10 to external devices. Input-output devices 18 may include user interface devices, data port devices, and other input-output components. For example, input-output devices 18 may include touch sensors, displays (e.g., touch-sensitive displays and / or force-sensitive displays), light-emitting components such as displays without touch sensor capabilities, buttons (mechanical, capacitive, optical, etc.), scroll wheels, touch pads, keypads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, buttons, speakers, status indicators, audio jacks and other audio port components, digital data port devices, motion sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, and / or compasses that detect motion), capacitive sensors, proximity sensors, magnetic sensors, force sensors (e.g., force sensors coupled to a display to detect pressure applied to the display), etc. In some configurations, keyboards, headsets, displays, pointing devices such as trackpads, mice, and joysticks, and other input-output devices may be coupled to device 10 using wired or wireless connections (e.g., some of input-output devices 18 may be peripheral devices coupled to a main processing unit or other portion of device 10 via a wired or wireless link).

[0027] Input-output circuitry 16 may include wireless circuitry 24 to support wireless communications. Wireless circuitry 24 (sometimes referred to herein as wireless communications circuitry 24) may include one or more antennas 30. Wireless circuitry 24 may also include baseband processor circuitry, transceiver circuitry, amplifier circuitry, filter circuitry, switching circuitry, radio frequency transmission lines, and / or any other circuitry for transmitting and / or receiving radio frequency signals using antenna 30. Although for clarity, the wireless circuitry 24 may be referred to herein as wireless circuitry 24. Figure 1 In the example of , the control circuit 14 is shown separately from the radio circuit 24, but the radio circuit 24 may include processing circuits forming part of the processing circuit 22 and / or storage circuits forming part of the storage circuit 20 of the control circuit 14 (e.g., portions of the control circuit 14 may be implemented on the radio circuit 24). For example, the control circuit 14 may include a baseband processor circuit or other control component forming part of the radio circuit 24. The baseband processor circuit may, for example, access a communication protocol stack on the control circuit 14 (e.g., the storage circuit 20) to: perform user plane functions at the PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, SDAP layer, and / or PDU layer; and / or perform control plane functions at the PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, RRC layer, and / or non-access layer. If desired, the PHY layer operations may be performed in addition or alternatively by radio frequency (RF) interface circuits in the radio circuit 24.

[0028] The wireless circuit 24 may transmit radio frequency signals using the 3GPP 5G New Radio (5G NR) communication band or any other desired communication band (sometimes referred to herein as a band or simply a band). These radio frequency signals may include millimeter wave signals, which are sometimes referred to as extremely high frequency (EHF) signals and propagate at frequencies above about 30 GHz (e.g., at 60 GHz or other frequencies between about 30 GHz and 300 GHz). These radio frequency signals may also additionally or alternatively include centimeter wave signals propagating at frequencies between about 10 GHz and 30 GHz. These radio frequency signals may additionally or alternatively include signals at frequencies less than 10 GHz, such as signals between about 410 MHz and 7125 MHz. In a scenario where RF signals are transmitted using a 5G NR communication band, these RF signals may be transmitted in a 5G NR communication band within a 5G NR frequency range 2 (FR2) (which includes centimeter and millimeter wave frequencies between approximately 24 GHz and 100 GHz), a 5G NR communication band within a 5G NR frequency range 1 (FR1) (which includes frequencies below 7125 MHz), and / or other 5G NR communication bands within other 5G NR frequency ranges FRx (e.g., where x is an integer greater than 2) (which may include frequencies above approximately 57 GHz to 60 GHz). If desired, the device 10 may also include an antenna for processing satellite navigation system signals, cellular phone signals (e.g., RF signals transmitted using a long-term evolution (LTE) communication band or other non-5G NR communication bands), wireless local area network signals, near field communications, optical-based wireless communications, or other wireless communications.

[0029] For example, Figure 1 As shown, the wireless circuit 24 may include a radio frequency transceiver circuit, such as a 5G NR transceiver circuit 28, for transmitting radio frequency signals using the 5G NR communication protocol and RAT. The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may support communications at frequencies between approximately 24 GHz and 100 GHz (e.g., within FR2, FRx, etc.) and / or at frequencies between approximately 410 MHz and 7125 MHz (e.g., within FR1). Examples of frequency bands that may be covered by the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 include frequency bands under the 3GPP wireless communication series of standards, communication bands under the IEEE 802.XX series of standards, IEEE K communication bands between approximately 18 GHz and 27 GHz, and K bands between approximately 26.5 GHz and 40 GHz. a Communications frequency band, K between approximately 12 GHz and 18 GHz uThe 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may be formed by one or more integrated circuits (e.g., multiple integrated circuits mounted on a common printed circuit in a system-level package or system-on-chip device, one or more integrated circuits mounted on different substrates, etc.). If desired, the wireless circuit 24 may cover different frequency bands used in different geographic regions.

[0030] Wireless communication using the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 can be bidirectional. For example, the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 can transmit a radio frequency signal 36 to an external wireless device such as an external device 8 and transmit a radio frequency signal from the external wireless device. The external device 8 can be another electronic device such as an electronic device 10, can be a wireless access point, can be a wireless base station, etc. The specific implementation in which the external device 8 is a wireless base station is sometimes described as an example in this article. Therefore, the external equipment 8 may sometimes be referred to as a wireless base station 8 or simply as a base station 8 in this article. The base station 8 may have a control circuit (such as the control circuit 14) and a wireless circuit (such as the wireless circuit 24 of the device 10). The control circuit on the base station 8 and / or other parts of the network 6 (for example, a control circuit running on other base stations, cloud networks, virtual or logical networks, physical networks, wired networks, wireless networks, local area networks, servers, network nodes, routers, terminals, computing devices, switches and / or any other desired components of the network 6) can store, maintain, operate, process and / or implement a network scheduler for the base station 8. The network scheduler can be implemented using software and / or hardware running on the network 6. The network scheduler may generate a network (communication) schedule for each UE device in the cell of the base station 8. The network scheduler may identify (allocate) time domain and / or frequency domain resources for each UE device to use for communicating with the base station 8 (e.g., in accordance with the 5G NR protocol). The network scheduler may include an uplink scheduler that schedules uplink resources and a downlink scheduler that schedules downlink resources. In this way, the network scheduler may coordinate communication resources to allow the base station 8 to provide satisfactory wireless communication and connection for each UE device in its cell.

[0031] Device 10 and base station 8 may form a portion (e.g., a node and / or terminal) of a wireless communication network such as communication network 6. Communication network 6 (sometimes referred to herein as network 6) may include any desired number of devices 10, base stations 8, and / or other network components (e.g., switches, routers, access points, servers, terminal hosts, local area networks, wireless local area networks, etc.) arranged in any desired network configuration. Network 6 may be managed by a wireless network service provider. Device 10 may also sometimes be referred to as user equipment (UE) 10 or UE device 10 (e.g., because device 10 may be used by an end user to perform wireless communications with a network). Base station 8 may operate within a corresponding cell spanning a specific geographic location or region. Base station 8 may be used to provide communication capabilities (e.g., 3GPP 5G NR communication capabilities) for multiple UE devices (such as device 10) located within its cell. The air interface via which UE devices and base station 8 communicate may be compatible with 3GPP technical specifications (TS), such as those defining 5G NR system standards.

[0032] Radio frequency signals 36 (sometimes referred to herein as wireless links 36) may include radio frequency signals transmitted by device 10 (e.g., in uplink direction 32) to base station 8 and radio frequency signals transmitted by base station 8 (e.g., in downlink direction 34) to device 10. Radio frequency signals 36 transmitted in uplink direction 32 may sometimes be referred to herein as uplink (UL) signals. Radio frequency signals in downlink direction 34 may sometimes be referred to herein as downlink (DL) signals. Radio frequency signals 36 may be used to transmit wireless data. The wireless data may include a data stream arranged into data packets, symbols, frames, etc. The wireless data may be organized / formatted according to a communication protocol (e.g., a 5G NR communication protocol) that manages the wireless link between device 10 and base station 8. Wireless data transmitted by an uplink signal transmitted by device 10 (e.g., in uplink direction 32) may sometimes be referred to herein as uplink data. Wireless data transmitted by a downlink signal transmitted by base station 8 (e.g., in downlink direction 34) may sometimes be referred to herein as downlink data. The wireless data may include, for example, data that has been encoded into corresponding data packets, such as wireless data associated with a telephone call, streaming media content, Internet browsing, wireless data associated with a software application running on the device 10, email messages, etc. Control signals may also be transmitted in the uplink and / or downlink directions between the base station 8 and the device 10.

[0033] If desired, wireless circuitry 24 may include transceiver circuitry for handling communications in non-5G NR communication bands, such as non-5G NR transceiver circuitry 26. Non-5G NR transceiver circuitry 26 may include processing for (IEEE802.11) communication in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands of wireless local area network (WLAN) transceiver circuits, processing 2.4GHz The present invention relates to a wireless personal area network (WPAN) transceiver circuit for a wireless communication frequency band, a cellular telephone transceiver circuit for processing cellular telephone communication frequency bands of 700 MHz to 960 MHz, 1710 MHz to 2170 MHz, 2300 MHz to 2700 MHz, and / or any other desired cellular telephone communication frequency band between 600 MHz and 4000 MHz (for example, cellular telephone signals transmitted using 4G LTE protocol, 3G protocol or other non-5G NR protocol), a GPS receiver circuit that receives GPS signals at 1575 MHz or signals for processing other satellite positioning data (for example, GLONASS signals at 1609 MHz, Beidou Satellite Navigation System (BDS) band signals, etc.), a television receiver circuit, an AM / FM radio receiver circuit, a paging system transceiver circuit, a near field communication (NFC) circuit, an ultra-wideband (UWB) transceiver circuit operating under the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol and / or other ultra-wideband communication protocols, etc. The non-5G NR transceiver circuit 26 and the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may each include one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuits, low noise input amplifiers, passive RF components, filters, synthesizers, modulators, demodulators, modems, mixers, switching circuits, transmission line structures, and other circuits for processing RF signals. The non-5G NR transceiver circuit 26 may use one or more antennas 30 to transmit and receive RF signals below 10 GHz (and organized according to a non-5G NR communication protocol). The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may use antennas 30 to transmit and receive RF signals (e.g., RF signals at FR1 and / or FR2 / FRx frequencies including frequencies above 57 GHz).

[0034] The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may, for example, include a baseband processor circuit. The baseband processor circuit may process / generate a baseband signal or waveform that carries information in a 3GPP compatible network such as network 6. If desired, the waveform may be based on cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP-OFDM) in the uplink or downlink, and discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM) in the uplink. The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may also include up-converter and / or down-converter circuits (e.g., mixer circuits) for converting signals between baseband and radio frequency, between baseband and intermediate frequency, between baseband and radio frequency, and / or between intermediate frequency and radio frequency.

[0035] In satellite navigation system links, cellular phone links, and other long-distance links, RF signals are often used to carry data over thousands of feet or miles. Link and In 5G NR links and other short-range wireless links, radio frequency signals are typically used to transmit data over tens or hundreds of feet. The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 can transmit radio frequency signals over short distances traveling on a line-of-sight path. In order to enhance signal reception for 5G NR communications, especially communications at frequencies above 10 GHz, phased antenna arrays and beamforming (steering) techniques (e.g., a scheme that adjusts the antenna signal phase and / or amplitude of each antenna in the array to perform beam steering) can be used. Since the operating environment of the device 10 is able to switch to not use and use higher performance antennas in their place, antenna diversity schemes can also be used to ensure that antennas have begun to be blocked or otherwise degraded.

[0036] The antenna 30 in the wireless circuit 24 can be formed using any suitable antenna type. For example, the antenna 30 may include an antenna having a resonant element, which is formed by a stacked patch antenna structure, a loop antenna structure, a patch antenna structure, an inverted F-shaped antenna structure, a slot antenna structure, a planar inverted F-shaped antenna structure, a monopole antenna structure, a dipole antenna structure, a spiral antenna structure, a Yagi (Yagi Uda) antenna structure, a mixture of these designs, etc. If necessary, one or more antennas in the antenna 30 can be a cavity-backed antenna. Different types of antennas can be used for different frequency bands and frequency band combinations. For example, one type of antenna can be used to form a non-5G NR wireless link for a non-5G NR transceiver circuit 26, and another type of antenna can be used to transmit a radio frequency signal in a 5G NR communication band for a 5G NR transceiver circuit 28. If necessary, the antenna 30 for transmitting a radio frequency signal for a 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 can be arranged into one or more phased antenna arrays.

[0037] Figure 2 is a diagram showing how a base station 8 can communicate with a device 10 within a corresponding cell of a network 6. Figure 2As shown, the network 6 may be organized into one or more cells, such as cells 40 distributed over one or more geographic regions or areas. The cell 40 may have any desired shape (e.g., a hexagonal shape, a rectangular shape, a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or any other desired shape having any desired number of straight sides and / or curved sides). The base station 8 may communicate with one or more UE devices (such as device 10) within the cell 40 (e.g., providing the device 10 with communication access to the rest of the network 6, other UE devices, other networks, the Internet, etc.). Although the storage and processing operations of the base station 8 may sometimes be described herein as being performed by or at the base station 8, some or all of the control circuitry for the base station 8 (e.g., storage circuits such as storage circuits 20 and / or processing circuits such as processing circuits 22) may be located at the base station 8 and / or may be distributed across two or more network devices in the network 6 (e.g., any desired number of base stations, servers, cloud networks, physical devices, distributed and / or virtual / logical devices implemented via software, etc.).

[0038] When operating at relatively high frequencies (such as frequencies greater than 10 GHz), radio frequency signals transmitted between base station 8 and device 10 may experience substantial over-the-air signal attenuation. In order to increase the gain of these signals, base station 8 and / or device 10 may use a phased antenna array (e.g., a phased array of antenna 30) to transmit radio frequency signals. Each antenna in the phased antenna array may transmit a radio frequency signal provided with a corresponding phase and magnitude. The signals transmitted by each antenna constructively and destructively interfere to produce a corresponding signal beam having a pointing direction (e.g., a direction of a signal beam having peak gain). The phase and / or magnitude provided to each antenna may be adjusted to actively steer the signal beam in different directions.

[0039] For example, Figure 2 As shown, device 10 may use a phased antenna array to transmit radio frequency signals on signal beam 42 (e.g., Figure 1RF signal 36). Device 10 may adjust the phase / magnitude provided to each antenna in the phased antenna array to direct signal beam 42 to a selected pointing direction (e.g., a peak gain direction), as indicated by arrow 48. Similarly, base station 8 may transmit RF signals on signal beam 44 using a phased antenna array. Base station 8 may adjust the phase / magnitude provided to each antenna in the phased antenna array to steer signal beam 44 to a point in a selected pointing direction, as indicated by arrow 46. Base station 8 may steer signal beam 44 to a point toward device 10, and device 10 may steer signal beam 42 to a point toward base station 8 to allow wireless data to be transmitted between base station 8 and device 10. Phased antenna arrays may also sometimes be referred to as phased array antennas (e.g., a phased array of antenna elements). As device 10 moves relative to base station 8, the signal beam direction may be adjusted over time. As device 10 moves between cells 40, handover operations may be performed with other base stations in network 6.

[0040] Device 10 may transmit uplink signals to base station 8 (sometimes referred to herein as gNB 8) within signal beam 42. Device 10 may transmit uplink signals at a selected output power level (sometimes referred to herein as an uplink output power level, a transmit power level, or a transmission power level). Device 10 may have a maximum output power level P CMAX (For example, the maximum output power level at which the device 10 may transmit radio frequency signals within the signal beam 42). The output power level may be adjusted using an uplink (UL) power control operation. In a cellular network, UL power control may be a complex process that includes an open-loop power control operation during initial access (e.g., during a physical random access channel (PRACH) procedure) followed by a closed-loop power control operation when the UE device is connected to the network (e.g., when the UE and the base station transmit physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) signals, physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signals, sounding reference signals (SRS), etc.).

[0041] During transmission of RF signals, some of the RF signals transmitted by device 10 may be incident on an external object, such as external object 50. External object 50 may be, for example, a user of device 10 or the body of another person or animal. External object 50 may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as user 50. In these scenarios, the amount of RF energy exposure at user 50 may be characterized by one or more radio frequency (RF) exposure metrics. RF exposure metrics may include the specific absorption rate (SAR) for RF signals at frequencies less than 6 GHz (in W / kg), the maximum permissible exposure (MPE) for RF signals at frequencies greater than 6 GHz (in mW / cm 2The SAR and MPE are measured in units of SAR and MPE, and the total exposure rate (TER) for the combined SAR and MPE. Regulatory requirements (e.g., as imposed by government, regulatory, or industry standards or regulations in the area where the cell 40 is located) typically impose limits on the amount of RF energy exposure permitted to external objects 50 in the vicinity of an antenna on the device 10 over a specified time period (e.g., SAR and MPE limits corresponding to the regulatory averaging time period).

[0042] Generally speaking, the maximum radiated radio frequency (RF) power allowed while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements is the position of device 10 relative to user 50, the current direction of signal beam 42 (and the sidelobe levels of signal beam 42; Figure 2 4 and the proximity of the user 50 to the antenna on the device 10 that generates the signal beam 42. The RF energy exposure (e.g., SAR and MPE) generated by the device 10 depends primarily on the transmit power level of the device 10 and the UL duty cycle of the device 10. The transmit (uplink) power level of the device 10 is determined by the wireless circuit 24 ( Figure 1 ) is provided by an amplifier (e.g., a power amplifier) ​​in the transmission chain of the device 10. The duty cycle of the device 10 is given by the fraction of the device 10's time resources used for UL transmissions (e.g., the fraction or percentage of time slots in a given time period in which the transmission chain is actively transmitting radio frequency signals).

[0043] In previous versions of 3GPP TSS, the power management item P-MPR (Power Management Maximum Power Reduction) was the only available resource for device 10 to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements regarding RF energy exposure. The power management item P-MPR (sometimes referred to herein as Maximum Power Reduction MPR) in 3GPP TSS specifies a reduction in the maximum transmission power level for device 10 (e.g., causing subsequently transmitted signals to be transmitted at a lower power level than the maximum transmission power level P of device 10). CMAX This reduction in the maximum transmit power level limits the amount of RF energy exposure to users 50 adjacent to device 10, thereby helping to ensure that device 10 meets regulatory requirements regarding RF energy exposure.

[0044] However, performing RF exposure compliance in this manner using only transmit power backoff (maximum power reduction) may result in reduced uplink coverage for device 10. For example, a transmit power backoff (MPR) of only 6 dB may result in a reduction of more than 30% in the uplink range (e.g., the distance over which device 10 may transmit uplink signals that are received at base station 8 with satisfactory signal quality) of device 10. As another example, a sudden and dramatic reduction in UL transmit power achieved with P-MPR (e.g., due to a sudden detected proximity of user 50 adjacent to device 10 or within signal beam 42) may cause a radio link failure (RLF) with base station 8.

[0045] On the other hand, in previous versions of 3GPP TSS, the maximum UL duty cycle of the device 10 remained static and was reported to the network by the device 10 only when the device 10 transmitted its UE capabilities to the base station 8 (e.g., using the maxUplinkDutyCycle-FR2 item). The maxUplinkDutyCycle-FR2 item is only a single static limit that does not take into account the different use cases that may occur and only defines the duty cycle limit at which the device 10 will start applying transmit power backoff (MPR). When the maxUplinkDutyCycle-FR2 item is not present in the UE capabilities transmitted by the device 10 to the base station 8, other means (such as MPR) must be used to meet the RF exposure requirements. In addition, the maxUplinkDutyCycle-FR2 item does not allow for dynamic scaling of the UL duty cycle to avoid transmit power backoff in different situations. For example, the device may be located in different positions relative to the user's head or body, thereby causing different amounts of RF energy exposure and thus allowing different UL duty cycle values ​​while transmitting at the maximum transmit power level.

[0046] In addition, devices such as device 10 may apply sensing to detect whether an external object (e.g., a part of user 50 such as the user's hand, finger, or head) is close to the device. The allowed RF energy exposure level depends on the sensing result (e.g., whether the object is close to the transmission antenna). Therefore, the device is required to scale the RF energy exposure accordingly, and such scaling will need to be performed dynamically. Considering the dynamic situation where an object is detected by the sensor or moves out of the sensor detection area, the maxUplinkDutyCycle-FR2 item defined in the 3GPP TSS does not allow scaling of RF exposure. In order to alleviate these problems associated with using only MPR and a static maximum UL duty cycle, the device 10 may dynamically adjust the UL duty cycle (e.g., the maximum UL duty cycle) used to transmit the UL signal to the base station 8 to meet regulatory requirements regarding RF energy exposure.

[0047] In order to allow the device 10 to dynamically adjust the UL duty cycle, the device 10 needs to quickly coordinate with the network (e.g., base station 8) so the network can adapt to any changes (adjustments) to the UL duty cycle over time. If care is not taken, using medium access control (MAC) control elements (CE) and radio resource control (RRC) interactions between the device 10 and the base station 8 can introduce an excessive amount of latency into the system. It may therefore be desirable to be able to coordinate dynamic UL duty cycle adjustments outside of MAC CE and RRC interactions where possible.

[0048] Figure 3 is a flow chart of illustrative operations that may be performed by network 6 to perform and coordinate dynamic UL duty cycle adjustment (eg, outside of MAC CE and RRC interactions). Figure 3 Operations 52 to 58 may be performed by the device 10 when located in the cell 40 of the corresponding base station 8 . Figure 3 Operations 60 to 64 may be performed by the base station 8 in the cell 30 where the device 10 is located.

[0049] At operation 52, device 10 may begin transmitting UL signals using the initial maximum UL duty cycle to base station 8. Uplink transmissions may be performed according to a UL schedule generated by base station 8 and / or other portions of network 6 that grants UL time slots that implement the initial maximum UL duty cycle to device 10 (e.g., after a wireless connection has been established between base station 8 and device 10). Base station 8 may begin receiving UL signals transmitted by device 10 using the initial maximum UL duty cycle at operation 92.

[0050] At operation 54, device 10 may perform proximity detection operations to determine whether user 50 is at, adjacent to, or proximate to active (transmitting) antenna 30 and / or signal beam 42 on device 10. The proximity detection operations assist device 10 in determining whether user 54 will be subject to RF energy exposure from signal beam 42, such that device 10 will accumulate SAR and / or MPE from the presence of user 54. Such communications may be subject to regulations regarding RF energy exposure (e.g., SAR limits and / or MPE limits).

[0051] Device 10 may perform proximity detection operations using one or more image sensors, one or more capacitive proximity sensors, one or more voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) sensors coupled to an active transmit antenna on device 10 (e.g., a sensor that measures the amount of RF energy reflected from a transmit antenna back to a transceiver due to the presence of an external object), one or more touch sensors integrated into a display of device 10 or separate from the display, one or more acoustic (e.g., ultrasonic) sensors, one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one or more sensors that collect wireless performance metric data such as a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) value or a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) value, information indicating that user 50 is currently providing user input to device 10, information indicating that user 50 is currently performing one or more software operations using a software application running on device 10, GPS data, one or more radar sensors, one or more light detection and ranging (Lidar) sensors, one or more infrared light or image sensors, one or more ambient light sensors, and / or any other desired sensor located on device 10 or coupled to the device and that can detect the presence of user 50 at, adjacent to, or in proximity to (e.g., within a threshold distance) one or more of the antennas on device 10. If desired, the proximity detection operation may distinguish between inanimate external objects and animate external objects (eg, parts of the body of user 50).

[0052] When device 10 detects that user 50 is present at, adjacent to, or in proximity to one or more of the antennas on device 10 (e.g., active antennas used to form signal beam 42), processing may proceed to operation 56. At operation 56, device 10 (e.g., Figure 1 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 and one or more antennas 30) may transmit to base station 8 an indicator identifying that an RF exposure event has occurred at device 10 (e.g., an event at which device 10 will begin accumulating SAR / MPE that is subject to regulatory limits for RF energy exposure). Device 10 may transmit the indicator as a bit or bit string (series) identifying that an RF exposure event has occurred. Figure 3 In the example of , the device 10 transmits the indicator via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) (eg, using a PUCCH signal). The device 10 may transmit the indicator, for example, within uplink control information (UCI) carried on the PUCCH.

[0053] At operation 62, the base station 8 may receive the indicator transmitted by the device 10 via the PUCCH. In this way, the device 10 may notify the base station 8 and the network 6 that the device needs to reduce its maximum UL duty cycle in order to comply with regulations regarding RF energy exposure in the presence of the user 50 (e.g., the indicator via the PUCCH may be used as a trigger for the network to adjust the maximum UL duty cycle of the device 10). In response to receiving the indicator, the base station 8 and / or other parts of the network 6 (e.g., the UL scheduler of the base station 8) may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle of the device 10 that is lower than the initial UL duty cycle. The updated maximum UL duty cycle may, for example, be a maximum UL duty cycle that is supported by the base station 8 and will allow the base station 8 to continue to communicate with the device 10 while also accommodating communications with other UE devices in the cell 40. The base station 8 and / or other parts of the network 6 may, for example, generate or update the UL schedule for the device 10 and / or other UE devices in the cell 40 to achieve / accommodate the updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by the device 10.

[0054] At operation 64, the base station 8 (e.g., 5G NR transceiver circuitry and one or more of the antennas on the base station 8) may transmit a feedback signal to the device 10 (e.g., using DL resources allocated to the particular device 10 that transmitted the indicator to the base station 8 at operation 56). The feedback signal may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by the device 10 (e.g., may identify an updated UL schedule or grant for use by the device 10 that accommodates / implements the updated maximum UL duty cycle). Figure 3 In the example of , the base station 8 transmits the feedback signal via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) (e.g., using a PDCCH signal). The base station 8 may transmit the feedback signal, for example, within downlink control information (DCI) carried on the PDCCH (e.g., as a bit series or bit string).

[0055] At operation 58, the device 10 may receive a feedback signal from the base station 8 and may begin transmitting UL signals using the updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., to implement an updated UL schedule or grant generated by the base station 8 and / or the network 6). The device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle for uplink communications while ensuring that any applicable regulations regarding RF energy exposure are met because the updated maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the initial maximum UL duty cycle and therefore produces less RF energy incident on the user 50. The updated maximum UL duty cycle may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as a reduced maximum UL duty cycle. The device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle until the user 50 is no longer detected at, adjacent to, or proximate to the transmit antenna or signal beam 42, until the base station 8 instructs the device 10 to use a different maximum UL duty cycle, or until any other desired trigger condition occurs.

[0056] If desired, device 10 may suggest or request a specific updated UL duty cycle in response to detecting that user 50 is at, adjacent to, or in proximity to device 10, such as Figure 4 shown. Figure 4 Operations 54 , 66 , 68 , and 70 may be performed by device 10 . Figure 4 Operations 72 to 82 may be performed by base station 8 and / or other parts of network 6. Figure 3 Operations 52 and 60 are also Figure 4 These operations are performed during the Figure 4 Omit.

[0057] Once the device 10 has detected the presence of the user 50 at operation 54, processing may proceed to Figure 4 Operation 66 of the present invention. At operation 66, the control circuit 14 on the device 10 may identify a new maximum UL duty cycle to be used during subsequent communications, the new maximum UL duty cycle being less than the initial maximum UL duty cycle. The new maximum UL duty cycle may sometimes be referred to herein as a suggested or requested maximum UL duty cycle. The new maximum UL duty cycle may be a maximum UL duty cycle that will be low enough to allow the device 10 to continue transmitting UL signals (e.g., using the new maximum UL duty cycle) while still meeting regulatory limits on MPE / SAR even in the presence of the user 50.

[0058] At operation 68, the device 10 (eg, Figure 1 The 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 and one or more antennas 30) may transmit an indicator identifying the new maximum UL duty cycle to the base station 8. The indicator may include a bit or a string (series) of bits identifying the new maximum UL duty cycle. Figure 4 In the example of , the device 10 transmits the indicator via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) (eg, using a PUCCH signal). The device 10 may transmit the indicator, for example, within uplink control information (UCI) carried on the PUCCH.

[0059] At operation 62, base station 8 may receive the indicator transmitted by device 10 via the PUCCH. In this way, device 10 may notify base station 8 and network 6 that the device needs to reduce its maximum UL duty cycle and the reduced maximum UL duty cycle in the presence of user 50, which will allow device 10 to continue to comply with regulations regarding RF energy exposure. In response to receiving the indicator, base station 8 and / or other parts of network 6 (e.g., a UL scheduler of base station 8) may process the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by the indicator to determine whether using the new maximum UL duty cycle for device 10 will be satisfactory to the network (e.g., taking into account the current traffic load on base station 8 from any other UE devices in cell 40, the load balancing strategy of base station 8, etc.).

[0060] If the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by device 10 is not satisfactory to network 6, processing may proceed to operation 76 via path 74. At operation 76, base station 8 and / or other portions of network 6 may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle for device 10 that is lower than the initial UL duty cycle (e.g., which is supported by base station 8 and will allow base station 8 to continue communicating with device 10 while also accommodating communications with other UE devices in cell 40). Base station 8 and / or other portions of network 6 may, for example, generate or update an UL schedule for device 10 and / or other UE devices in cell 40 to achieve / accommodate the updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by device 10.

[0061] If the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by device 10 is satisfactory to network 6, processing may proceed from operation 72 via path 78 to operation 80. At operation 80, base station 8 and / or other portions of network 6 may set the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by device 10 as the updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., base station 8 may accept / confirm the new maximum UL duty cycle proposed by device 10 to allow device 10 to continue to meet SAR / MPE limits).

[0062] At operation 82, base station 8 may transmit a feedback signal to device 10 (e.g., using DL resources allocated to the particular device 10 that transmitted the indicator to base station 8 at operation 56). The feedback signal may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by device 10. For example, base station 8 may confirm to device 10 that the new maximum UL duty cycle as identified by device 10 at operation 66 has been accepted by the network for subsequent use by device 10 (e.g., using a bit in the feedback signal) or may notify device 10 that a different maximum UL duty cycle as identified by base station 8 at operation 76 is to be used (e.g., using a bit series in the feedback signal). Figure 4In the example of , the base station 8 transmits the feedback signal via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) (eg, using a PDCCH signal). The base station 8 may transmit the feedback signal, for example, within downlink control information (DCI) carried on the PDCCH.

[0063] At operation 70, the device 10 may receive a feedback signal from the base station 8 and may begin transmitting UL signals using the updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., based on the updated UL schedule generated by the base station 8 and / or the network 6). The device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle for uplink communications while ensuring that any applicable regulations regarding RF energy exposure are met because the updated maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the initial maximum UL duty cycle and therefore involves less RF energy incident on the user 50. The device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle until the user 50 is no longer detected at, adjacent to, or proximate to the transmit antenna or signal beam 42, until the base station 8 instructs the device 10 to use a different maximum UL duty cycle, or until any other desired triggering condition occurs.

[0064] The device 10 and the base station 8 use PUCCH / PDCCH to coordinate the dynamic adjustment of the maximum UL duty cycle used by the device 10. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The example is merely illustrative. If desired, the initial access process of device 10 and base station 8 can be used to coordinate the dynamic adjustment of the maximum UL duty cycle used by device 10. For example, device 10 and base station 8 can use a random access channel (RACH) process to coordinate the dynamic adjustment of the maximum UL duty cycle used by device 10.

[0065] Figure 5 is a flow chart of illustrative operations involving the use of a RACH procedure to coordinate dynamic adjustment of a maximum UL duty cycle used by device 10. Figure 5 Operations 84 to 90 may be performed by the device 10 when located in the cell 40 of the corresponding base station 8 . Figure 5 Operations 92 to 96 may be performed by the base station 8 in the cell 40 where the device 10 is located.

[0066] At operation 84, the device 10 may begin transmitting UL signals to the base station 8 using the initial maximum UL duty cycle. The base station 8 may begin receiving UL signals transmitted by the device 10 using the initial maximum UL duty cycle at operation 92. For example, operations 84 and 92 may be performed before the device 10 has fully accessed and synchronized with the network 6. Alternatively, operations 84 and 92 may be omitted if desired.

[0067] At operation 86, device 10 may perform proximity detection operations to determine whether user 50 is at, adjacent to, or in proximity to active (transmitting) antenna 30 and / or signal beam 42 on device 10. Proximity detection operations may include, for example, detecting a user 50 at, adjacent to, or in proximity to an active (transmitting) antenna 30 and / or signal beam 42 on device 10. Figure 3 and Figure 4 The same proximity detection operation is performed at operation 54 of FIG.

[0068] When device 10 detects that user 50 is present at, adjacent to, or in proximity to one or more of the antennas on device 10 (e.g., active antennas used to form signal beam 42), processing may proceed to operation 88. At operation 88, device 10 (e.g., Figure 1 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 and one or more antennas 30) may transmit an indicator to base station 8 identifying that an RF exposure event has occurred at device 10 (e.g., an event at which device 10 will begin accumulating SAR / MPE that is subject to regulatory limits for RF energy exposure). Figure 5 In the example of , the device 10 transmits the indicator via a physical random access channel (PRACH) (e.g., using a PRACH signal). In other words, the indicator transmitted by the device 10 may be carried on the PRACH. The device 10 may transmit the indicator as a bit or a string (series) of bits (e.g., within a PRACH preamble) that identifies that an RF exposure event has occurred.

[0069] At operation 94, the base station 8 may receive the indicator transmitted by the device 10 via the PRACH. In this way, the device 10 may notify the base station 8 and the network 6 that the device needs to reduce its maximum UL duty cycle in order to comply with regulations regarding RF energy exposure in the presence of the user 50. In response to receiving the indicator, the base station 8 and / or other parts of the network 6 (e.g., the UL scheduler of the base station 8) may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle of the device 10 that is lower than the initial UL duty cycle. The updated maximum UL duty cycle may, for example, be a maximum UL duty cycle that is supported by the base station 8 and will allow the base station 8 to continue to communicate with the device 10 while also accommodating communications with other UE devices in the cell 40. The base station 8 and / or other parts of the network 6 may, for example, generate or update the UL schedule for the device 10 and / or other UE devices in the cell 40 to achieve / adapt to the updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by the device 10.

[0070] At operation 96, the base station 8 may transmit a feedback signal to the device 10 (e.g., to the particular device 10 that transmitted the indicator). The feedback signal may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by the device 10 (e.g., may identify an updated UL schedule or grant for the device 10 that accommodates / implements the updated maximum UL duty cycle). Figure 5In the example of , base station 8 transmits the feedback signal using a random access response (RAR) (eg, Msg2 RAR). In other words, the feedback signal (eg, information identifying the updated maximum UL duty cycle) may be carried on the RAR.

[0071] At operation 90, the device 10 may receive a feedback signal from the base station 8 and may begin transmitting UL signals using the updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., to implement an updated UL schedule or grant generated by the base station 8 and / or the network 6). The device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle for uplink communications while ensuring that any applicable regulations regarding RF energy exposure are met because the updated maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the initial maximum UL duty cycle and therefore involves less RF energy incident on the user 50. The updated maximum UL duty cycle may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as a reduced maximum UL duty cycle. The device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle until the user 50 is no longer detected at, adjacent to, or proximate to the transmit antenna or signal beam 42, until the base station 8 instructs the device 10 to use a different maximum UL duty cycle, or until any other desired trigger condition occurs.

[0072] If desired, device 10 may suggest or request a specific updated UL duty cycle in response to detecting that user 50 is at, adjacent to, or in proximity to device 10, such as Figure 6 shown. Figure 6 Operations 86 and 100 to 104 may be performed by device 10 . Figure 6 Operations 106 to 116 may be performed by base station 8 and / or other parts of network 6.

[0073] Once the device 10 has detected the presence of the user 50 at operation 86, processing may proceed to Figure 6 Operation 100 of . At operation 86, the control circuit 14 on the device 10 may identify a new maximum UL duty cycle to be used during subsequent communications, the new maximum UL duty cycle being less than the initial maximum UL duty cycle. The new maximum UL duty cycle may sometimes be referred to herein as a suggested or requested maximum UL duty cycle. The new maximum UL duty cycle may be a maximum UL duty cycle that will be low enough to allow the device 10 to continue transmitting UL signals (e.g., using the new maximum UL duty cycle) while still meeting regulatory limits on MPE / SAR even in the presence of the user 50.

[0074] At operation 102, the device 10 (eg, Figure 1 The 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 and one or more antennas 30) may transmit an indicator identifying the new maximum UL duty cycle to the base station 8. The indicator may include a bit or a string (series) of bits identifying the new maximum UL duty cycle. Figure 6In the example of , the device 10 transmits the indicator via a physical random access channel (PRACH) (eg, using a PRACH signal). In other words, the indicator transmitted by the device 10 may be carried on the PRACH.

[0075] At operation 106, the base station 8 may receive the indicator transmitted by the device 10 via the PRACH. In this way, the device 10 may notify the base station 8 and the network 6 that the device needs to reduce its maximum UL duty cycle and the reduced maximum UL duty cycle in the presence of the user 50, which will allow the device 10 to continue to comply with regulations regarding RF energy exposure. In response to receiving the indicator, the base station 8 and / or other parts of the network 6 (e.g., the UL scheduler of the base station 8) may process the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by the indicator to determine whether the use of the new maximum UL duty cycle for the device 10 will be satisfactory to the network (e.g., will not unduly interfere with the current traffic load on the base station 8 from other UE devices in the cell 40, based on the load balancing strategy of the base station 8, etc.).

[0076] If the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by device 10 is not satisfactory to network 6, processing may proceed to operation 110 via path 108. At operation 110, base station 8 and / or other portions of network 6 may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle for device 10 that is lower than the initial UL duty cycle (e.g., which is supported by base station 8 and will allow base station 8 to continue communicating with device 10 while also accommodating communications with other UE devices in cell 40). Base station 8 and / or other portions of network 6 may, for example, generate or update an UL schedule for device 10 and / or other UE devices in cell 40 to achieve / accommodate the updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by device 10.

[0077] If the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by device 10 is satisfactory to network 6, processing may proceed from operation 106 via path 112 to operation 114. At operation 114, base station 8 and / or other portions of network 6 may set the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by device 10 as the updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., base station 8 may accept / confirm the new maximum UL duty cycle proposed by device 10 to allow device 10 to continue to meet SAR / MPE limits).

[0078] At operation 116, base station 8 may transmit a feedback signal to device 10. The feedback signal may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by device 10. Figure 6In the example of , base station 8 transmits the feedback signal using a random access response (RAR) (e.g., Msg2RAR). In other words, the feedback signal (e.g., information identifying the updated maximum UL duty cycle) can be carried on the RAR. For example, base station 8 can confirm to device 10 that the new maximum UL duty cycle as identified by device 10 operation 100 has been accepted by the network for subsequent use by device 10 (e.g., using a bit in the RAR message) or can notify device 10 to use a different maximum UL duty cycle as identified by base station 8 at operation 110 (e.g., using a bit series in the RAR message).

[0079] At operation 104, the device 10 may receive a feedback signal from the base station 8 and may begin transmitting UL signals using the updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., according to the updated UL schedule generated by the base station 8 and / or the network 6). The device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle for uplink communications while ensuring that any applicable regulations regarding RF energy exposure are met because the updated maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the initial maximum UL duty cycle and therefore involves less RF energy incident on the user 50. The device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle until the user 50 is no longer detected at, adjacent to, or proximate to the transmit antenna or signal beam 42, until the base station 8 instructs the device 10 to use a different maximum UL duty cycle, or until any other desired triggering condition occurs.

[0080] If desired, device 10 may perform dynamic scaling of the maximum UL duty cycle to keep RF exposure within regulatory limits (e.g., without using MPR). Device 10 may, for example, calculate the RF exposure level caused by device 10. The calculation may take into account sensor data collected by sensors on device 10 (e.g., Figure 1 The sensor data indicates that a user 50 or another external object is present near a transmission antenna on the device. The calculated RF exposure level may include an absolute value and a relative value compared to a regulatory RF exposure limit.

[0081] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram showing how wireless circuitry 24 on device 10 may include components for dynamically scaling the maximum UL duty cycle to keep RF exposure within regulatory limits. Figure 7As shown, the wireless circuit 24 may include a maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136, an RF exposure (RFE) level calculation circuit 132, and an RF exposure limit (rule) database 134. These components may be implemented in hardware (e.g., one or more processors, circuit components, logic gates, diodes, transistors, switches, arithmetic logic units (ALUs), registers, application specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, etc.) and / or software on the device 10. The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may also be sometimes referred to herein as a maximum UL duty cycle calculation engine 136 or a maximum UL duty cycle calculator 136. The RFE level calculation circuit 132 may also be sometimes referred to herein as an RFE level calculation engine 132 or an RFE level calculator 132.

[0082] RF exposure limit database 134 may be coupled to maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 and RFE level calculation circuit 132 via control path 138. Maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may have an output coupled to 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 (or other transceiver circuit in device 10) via control path 130. RFE level calculation circuit 132 may have a first output coupled to 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 (or other transceiver circuit in device 10) via control path 128, and may have a second output coupled to maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 via control path 140. 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may be coupled to antenna 30 via radio frequency transmission line path 124.

[0083] During UL transmission, the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may transmit an uplink signal UL_SIG via the RF transmission line path 124 and the antenna 30 (e.g., using a selected / current UL duty cycle ULDC_CURR that is less than or equal to the current (e.g., initial) maximum UL duty cycle). The antenna 30 may transmit the uplink signal UL_SIG to the base station 8 (e.g., via the wireless link 36). Figure 7 As shown, base station 8 may include antenna 118, transceiver circuit 120, and UL scheduler 122. This example is merely illustrative, and UL scheduler 122 may be located or distributed on other parts of network 6 if desired. Antenna 118 may also transmit DL signals to antenna 30 on device 10 (e.g., via wireless link 36). Antenna 30 may pass received DL signals to 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 via radio frequency transmission line path 124.

[0084] RF exposure limit database 134 may be hard-coded or soft-coded into device 10 (e.g., Figure 1The RF exposure limit database 134 may store RF exposure rules associated with the operation of the wireless circuit 24 in different geographic regions. The RF exposure limit database 134 may, for example, store regulatory SAR limits, regulatory MPE limits, and averaging time periods for SAR limits and MPE limits (sometimes collectively referred to herein as RF exposure limits RFE_LIMIT) for one or more geographic regions (e.g., countries, continents, states, regions, cities, provinces, independent states, etc.), which enforce regulatory limits on the amount of RF energy exposure allowed to users 50 near the antenna 30. For example, the RF exposure limit database 134 may store a first RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT (e.g., a first SAR limit, a first MPE limit, and / or a first averaging time period) enforced by the regulatory requirements of a first country, a second RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT (e.g., a second SAR limit, a second MPE limit, and / or a second averaging time period) enforced by the regulatory requirements of a second country, and the like. Entries of RF exposure limit database 134 may be stored when device 10 is manufactured, assembled, tested and / or calibrated and / or may be updated over time during operation of device 10 (e.g., periodically or in response to a trigger condition such as a software update or detection that device 10 has entered a new country for the first time).

[0085] If desired, the RF exposure limit database 134 may be (e.g., from Figure 1 The control signal DEV_LOC may be received by the control circuit 14 (or other parts of the control circuit 14) identifying the current location of the device 10. The RF exposure limit database 134 may use the control signal DEV_LOC to identify a specific RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT applicable to the device 10 within the cell 40 (e.g., a specific averaging time period, SAR limit, and / or MPE limit imposed by the corresponding regulatory body of the current location of the device 10). The RF exposure limit database 134 may provide the identified RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT to the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 and the RFE level calculation circuit 132 via the control path 138. The control circuit 14 may generate the control signal DEV_LOC based on the current GPS location of the device 10, sensor data such as compass or accelerometer data, the location of the device 10 as identified by the base station 8 or access point communicating with the device 10, and / or any other desired information indicating the geographic location of the device 10. Although the RF exposure limit database 134 is sometimes described herein as providing data to other components (e.g., the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 and the RFE level calculation circuit 132), one or more processors, memory controllers, or other components may actively access the database, may retrieve stored data from the database, and may pass the retrieved data to other components for corresponding processing.

[0086] The RFE level calculation circuit 132 may receive uplink information UL_INFO from the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 via the control path 126. The uplink information UL_INFO may include information identifying a current UL duty cycle ULDC_CURR used by the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 to transmit the uplink signal UL_SIG, information identifying a modulation scheme and / or a modulation order used by the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 to transmit the uplink signal UL_SIG, information identifying a transmission power level and / or a maximum transmission power level used by the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 to transmit the uplink signal UL_SIG, information identifying a frequency band used by the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 to transmit the uplink signal UL_SIG, and / or any other desired information associated with transmission of the uplink signal UL_SIG.

[0087] RFE level calculation circuitry 132 may also receive sensor data SENS via control path 126 (e.g., from 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 or from sensors located elsewhere on device 10). Sensor data SENS may be, for example, information generated by one or more sensors on device 10 in performing proximity detection operations (e.g., in Figure 3 and Figure 4 Operation 54 and Figure 5 and Figure 6 The sensor data SENS may thus indicate the presence or absence of a part of the body of the user 50, whether the device 10 is held by the user, whether the device 10 is held to the user's head, the distance between the user 50 and the device 10, etc.

[0088] The RFE level calculation circuit 132 may identify (e.g., generate, produce, calculate, infer, derive, estimate, or compute) a current RF exposure amount CURR_RFE generated by the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 in a transmitted uplink signal UL_SIG (e.g., during a corresponding averaging time period) based on information contained in uplink information UL_INFO received from the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 and based on the sensor data SENS. The current RF exposure amount CURR_RFE may depend on the sensor data SENS (e.g., there may be more RF exposure when the sensor data SENS indicates that the user 50 is close to the device 10, holds the device 10 to his head, etc., compared to when the sensor data indicates that the user 50 is far away from the device 10, is not holding the device 10, etc.). The RFE level calculation circuit 132 may also generate (e.g., identify, generate, calculate, infer, derive, estimate, or compute) a current RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL of the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 based on the current RF exposure amount CURR_RFE and the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT received from the RF exposure limit database 134. For example, the RFE level calculation circuit 132 may generate the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL using Formula 1.

[0089]

[0090] The RFE level calculation circuit 132 may, for example, include logic (e.g., digital logic) such as a multiplier and a divider to generate the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL. The RFE level calculation circuit 132 may pass the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL to the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 via the control path 128. The RFE level calculation circuit 132 may also pass the current uplink duty cycle ULDC_CURR and the current RF exposure amount CURR_RFE from the uplink information UL_INFO to the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 via the control path 140.

[0091] The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may generate (e.g., identify, generate, calculate, infer, derive, estimate, or compute) a new (suggested / requested) maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC based on the current uplink duty cycle ULDC_CURR (e.g., as received from the RFE level calculation circuit 132), the current RF exposure amount CURR_RFE received from the RFE level calculation circuit 132, and the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT received from the RF exposure limit database 134. The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may generate the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC, for example, using Formula 2.

[0092]

[0093] The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may, for example, include logic (e.g., digital logic) such as a multiplier and a divider to generate a maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC. The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may pass the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC to the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 via the control path 130. The maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC may be a maximum uplink duty cycle that will allow the device 10 to continue to perform UL transmissions while meeting applicable regulatory limits on RF exposure taking into account the current amount of RF exposure and the current UL duty cycle (e.g., without reducing the maximum transmit power level). The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may, for example, in processing Figure 4 Operation 66 or Figure 6 During operation 100, a maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC is generated.

[0094] Additionally or alternatively, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may control (adjust) the UL duty cycle (e.g., maximum uplink duty cycle) for other purposes (e.g., optimizing UL throughput for different usage scenarios). The UL throughput depends on the UL duty cycle, the applied modulation scheme (e.g., a quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation scheme, a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) scheme such as 16-QAM, 64-QAM, or 256-QAM, etc.), and the transmission power level. In a scenario where the device 10 is relatively close to the base station 8, a relatively high UL duty cycle and a relatively high modulation order may be used to achieve the highest throughput, while only a relatively low transmission power level is required. On the other hand, in a scenario where the device 10 is relatively far from the base station 8, the device 10 requires a relatively high transmission power level to close the link, while a relatively low UL duty cycle and a relatively low modulation order such as QPSK are used to achieve the highest UL throughput (e.g., in a far cell scenario, reducing the UL duty cycle may increase coverage and throughput).

[0095] To this end, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may estimate the distance between the device 10 and the base station 8 within the cell 40. The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may estimate the distance by measuring the signal strength (e.g., RSSI value) of the DL signal received from the base station 8 and / or the path loss associated with the received DL signal (e.g., because a greater distance is associated with a lower RSSI value and a higher path loss). The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may then identify (e.g., generate, generate, calculate, derive, infer, etc.) an optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC to be used (e.g., a path loss optimized maximum uplink duty cycle) taking into account the estimated distance or measured path loss between the device 10 and the base station 8. Although the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC is sometimes referred to herein as the optimal uplink duty cycle, the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC may be a maximum uplink duty cycle that has been optimized to take into account, for example, the path loss environment of the device 10 in communicating with the base station 8.

[0096] If desired, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may store a table that relates different measured path losses PL to corresponding optimal UL duty cycles OPT_ULDC, such as Figure 8 Table 142 may be hard-coded or soft-coded into device 10 and may be implemented as a database, data table, or any other desired data structure. Entries of table 142 may be stored when device 10 is manufactured, assembled, tested, and / or calibrated and / or may be updated over time during operation of device 10. Figure 8 As shown, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may store an optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC for each measured path loss value PL (e.g., a first optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC to be used when the measured path loss has a value PL1, a second optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC to be used when the measured path loss has a value PL2, an Nth optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC to be used when the measured path loss has a value PLN, etc.). The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may identify the optimal uplink duty cycle to be used based on the measured path loss PL (e.g., the circuit 136 may identify that the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC1 should be used when the path loss PL1 is measured, may identify that the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC2 should be used when the path loss PL2 is measured, etc.).

[0097] Once the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 has identified the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC to use for the currently measured path loss, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may transmit the lower of the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC to the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 via the control path 130. Transmitting the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC (sometimes referred to herein as the RFE-related UL duty cycle) to the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 when the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC is lower than the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC may be used to ensure RFE compliance of the device 10. Transmitting the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC (sometimes referred to herein as the path loss-related UL duty cycle or the path loss-related maximum UL duty cycle) when the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC is lower than the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC may be used to maximize UL throughput.

[0098] The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may transmit the uplink report UL_RPT to the base station 8 via the RF transmission line path 124 and the antenna 30. The uplink report UL_RPT may include the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL and / or the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC generated by the RFE level calculation circuit 132 (or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC generated by the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 when OPT_ULDC is less than MAX_ULDC). For example, a reporting entity on the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 (e.g., within the baseband circuit of the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28) or elsewhere in the wireless circuit 24 (e.g., inserted on the control paths 128 and 130) may generate an uplink report UL_RPT containing information identifying the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL and / or the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC (or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC) for transmission by the antenna 30 via the wireless link 36. The uplink report UL_RPT can be used as a dynamic report to the network 6, which notifies the network 6 of the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL generated at the device 10 and / or the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC (or optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC) that the device 10 can provide to maintain RFE compliance when not using MPR (for example, taking into account the current path loss environment).

[0099] Fig. 9is a flowchart of illustrative operations that may be performed by wireless circuitry 24 on device 10 to generate an uplink report UL_RPT to be transmitted to base station 8 (e.g., to dynamically adjust the UL duty cycle of device 10 over time or otherwise ensure that device 10 is able to meet RFE requirements given its current RFE level and path loss environment).

[0100] At operation 144, the control circuit 14 ( Figure 1 ) can use the RF exposure limit database 134 (e.g., based on the control signal DEV_LOC) to identify the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT (e.g., SAR limit, MPE limit and / or averaging time period) enforced on the device 10 within the cell 40. The RF exposure limit database 134 can pass the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT to the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 and the RFE level calculation circuit 132 via the control path 138.

[0101] At operation 146, the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may begin transmitting the uplink signal UL_SIG through the antenna 30 using the current (maximum) uplink duty cycle ULDC_CURR. The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may generate uplink information UL_INFO and may transmit the uplink information UL_INFO to the RFE level calculation circuit 132 through the control path 126. The uplink information UL_INFO may identify the current uplink duty cycle ULDC_CURR and any other information used by the RFE level calculation circuit 132 to identify the current RF exposure amount CURR_RFE.

[0102] At operation 148, sensors on the device 10 may generate sensor data SENS and may provide the sensor data SENS to the RFE level calculation circuit 132. Operations 144 to 148 may be performed in any desired sequence, or if desired, two or more (e.g., all) of operations 144 to 148 may be performed concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) or in a time-interleaved manner.

[0103] At operation 150, the RFE level calculation circuit 132 may identify a current RF exposure amount CURR_RFE based on the uplink information UL_INFO and the sensor data SENS. The RFE level calculation circuit 132 may then generate an RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL based on the current RF exposure amount CURR_RFE and the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT (e.g., according to Formula 1). The RFE level calculation circuit 132 may pass the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL to the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 via the control path 128. The RFE level calculation circuit 132 may pass the current (maximum) uplink duty cycle ULDC_CURR (e.g., as identified by the uplink information UL_INFO) and the current RF exposure amount CURR_RFE to the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 via the control path 140.

[0104] At operation 152, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may generate the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC based on the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT, the current (maximum) uplink duty cycle ULDC_CURR, and the current RF exposure amount CURR_RFE (e.g., according to Formula 2). If necessary, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may also identify (e.g., estimate, calculate, derive, calculate, infer, etc.) the path loss between the device 10 and the base station 8 (e.g., using the collected RSSI value or other wireless performance metric). The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may then (e.g., using Figure 8 The table 142 of FIG. 142) identifies the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC corresponding to the estimated path loss. The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may compare the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC with the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC.

[0105] If the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC is less than or equal to the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC, the process may proceed from operation 152 via path 154 to operation 156. At operation 156, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may pass the generated maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC to the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 via the control path 130.

[0106] At operation 158, the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may transmit an uplink report UL_RPT via the antenna 30, which includes information identifying the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL (e.g., as generated by the RFE level calculation circuit 132) and / or the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC for subsequent processing by the base station 8 and / or other portions of the network 6.

[0107] If the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC is less than the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC, processing may proceed from operation 152 to operation 162 via path 160. At operation 162, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may pass the identified optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC to the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 via the control path 130.

[0108] At operation 164, the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may transmit an uplink report UL_RPT via the antenna 30, which includes information identifying the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL (e.g., as generated by the RFE level calculation circuit 132) and / or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC for subsequent processing by the base station 8 and / or other portions of the network 6.

[0109] Fig. 9 The examples are merely illustrative. If desired, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may forgo identifying the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC. In these examples, the comparison at operation 152 may be omitted and operations 162 and 164 may be omitted (e.g., processing may proceed directly from operation 152 to operation 156). If desired, the device 10 may transmit only the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL within the uplink report UL_RPT (e.g., without reporting MAX_ULDC or OPT_ULDC). In these examples, operations 152 to 164 may be omitted and the device 10 may transmit the uplink report UL_RPT at operation 150. If desired, the device 10 may transmit only MAX_ULDC or OPT_ULDC within the uplink report UL_RPT (e.g., without reporting RFE_LEVEL).

[0110] If necessary, the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may transmit the uplink report UL_RPT using MAC CE element signaling (e.g., the MAC CE element signaling may be extended to report the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL and / or the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC). If necessary, the device 10 may transmit the uplink report UL_RPT to the base station 8 once when starting to communicate with the base station 8, and then transmit subsequent uplink reports UL_RPT each time the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL and / or the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC (or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC) changes to a different value.

[0111] The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may, for example, transmit an uplink report UL_RPT as an indicator within a MAC CE element. The indicator may include a first indicator identifying an RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL and / or a second indicator identifying a maximum UL duty cycle MAX_ULDC or an optimal UL duty cycle OPT_ULDC. Each indicator may include, for example, a bit sequence / series. As an example, the first indicator may be a 3-bit indicator. The second indicator may be a 3-bit indicator or a 4-bit indicator. These examples are merely illustrative, and in general, each indicator may have any desired number of bits.

[0112] Fig.10 Table 166 is shown, which shows an example of how the first indicator can be a 3-bit indicator used to identify different RF exposure levels RFE_LEVEL to the base station 8. Fig.10As shown, the first indicator may have a first value (e.g., “0”) when the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL is at a first value (e.g., when the RF exposure level is less than or equal to 25% relative to the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT), a second value (e.g., “1”) when the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL is at a second value greater than the first value (e.g., when the RF exposure level is 50% relative to the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT), a third value (e.g., “2”) when the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL is at a third value greater than the second value (e.g., when the RF exposure level is 75% relative to the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT), a fourth value (e.g., “3”) when the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL is at a fourth value greater than the third value (e.g., when the RF exposure level is 100% relative to the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT), and a fourth value (e.g., “4”) when the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL is at a fourth value greater than the third value (e.g., when the RF exposure level is 100% relative to the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT). The RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL has a fifth value (e.g., “4”) when the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL is at a fifth value greater than the fourth value (e.g., when the RF exposure level is at 150% relative to the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT), has a sixth value (e.g., “5”) when the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL is at a sixth value greater than the fifth value (e.g., when the RF exposure level is at 200% relative to the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT), has a seventh value (e.g., “6”) when the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL is at a seventh value greater than the sixth value (e.g., when the RF exposure level is at 300% relative to the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT), or has an eighth value (e.g., “7”) when the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL is at an eighth value greater than the seventh value (e.g., when the RF exposure level is greater than or equal to 400% relative to the RF exposure limit RFE_LIMIT). This example is merely illustrative, and in general, each value of the first indicator may correspond to any desired RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL or may correspond to a range of RF exposure levels RFE_LEVEL (e.g., where the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL is rounded to the nearest value or the nearest larger value in the second row of Table 166). For example, if the device 10 generates an RFE_LEVEL of 55%, the MAC CE may be provided with a first indicator value of "1" (which is the closest value to 55% in Table 166) or "2" (which is the closest larger value to 55% in Table 166). For example, rounding to the nearest larger value may allow the device 10 to have greater confidence that the RFE limit will be met. In general, the first indicator may include any desired number of bits to report the RF exposure level at any desired granularity.

[0113] Fig.11Table 168 is shown, which shows an example of how the second indicator can be a 3-bit indicator for identifying a different maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or an optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC to the base station 8. Fig.11 As shown, the first indicator may have a first value (e.g., "0") when the (new / suggested / requested) uplink duty cycle (e.g., the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC) is 5%, a second value when the uplink duty cycle is 10%, a third value when the uplink duty cycle is 15%, and so on.

[0114] Fig.12 Table 170 is shown, which shows an example of how the second indicator can be a 4-bit indicator for identifying a different maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or an optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC to the base station 8 (e.g., using a ratio Fig.11 3-bit example with finer granularity). Fig.12 As shown, the first indicator may have a first value (e.g., "0") when the (new / suggested / requested) uplink duty cycle (e.g., maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC) is 5%, a second value when the uplink duty cycle is 7.5%, a third value when the uplink duty cycle is 10%, etc. In Tables 168 and 170, a UL duty cycle of 100% corresponds to UL transmission of device 10 in all UL time slots. Fig.11 and Fig.12 The example of is merely illustrative, and in general, each value of the second indicator may correspond to any desired uplink duty cycle with any desired coarseness. In general, the second indicator may include any desired number of bits to report the RF exposure level at any desired granularity.

[0115] Fig.13 is a flow chart of illustrative operations involved in using a MAC CE to report an RF exposure level, RFE_LEVEL, to base station 8 to allow base station 8 to adjust the UL duty cycle of device 10 or otherwise help ensure that device 10 meets RFE regulations. Fig.13 Operations 172 to 176 may be performed by device 10. Fig.13 Operations 178 and 180 may be performed by base station 8 and / or other parts of network 6.

[0116] At operation 172, the device 10 may transmit an uplink signal UL_SIG using the current maximum uplink duty cycle ULDC_CURR. The device 10 may collect sensor data SENS for performing a proximity detection operation. The device 10 may begin generating an uplink report, such as an uplink report UL_RPT. The uplink report UL_RPT may include information identifying the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL generated by the uplink signal UL_SIG. Once the device 10 has detected an external object (e.g., a user 50) at, adjacent to, or near a transmission antenna on the device 10 (e.g., when performing a proximity detection operation), this may indicate a potential RFE event and the process may proceed to operation 174. Detecting an external object during a proximity detection operation may sometimes be referred to herein as detecting an RFE event at the device 10. This example is merely illustrative, and in general, the process may proceed to operation 174 in response to any desired trigger condition. As an example, in response to a reduction in UL transmission power (e.g., associated with device 10 being in close proximity to a base station), in response to detecting that device 10 is a predetermined distance from base station 8 or is in a predetermined path loss condition (e.g., based on a path loss value generated at device 10, wireless performance metric data collected at device 10, etc.), etc., processing may proceed to operation 174. In other words, detecting the proximity of an external object 46 or a user is not necessarily a trigger condition to initiate dynamic adjustment of the UL duty cycle and coordinate the UL duty cycle with the network.

[0117] At operation 174, the device 10 may transmit an uplink report UL_RPT to the base station 8 through a MAC CE. The uplink report UL_RPT may, for example, include a first indicator identifying an RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL generated by the device 10 (eg, when processing operation 172).

[0118] At operation 178, the base station 8 may receive an uplink report UL_RPT from the device 10. The UL scheduler 122 ( Figure 7 ) may generate an updated UL schedule for a specific UE device (device 10) transmitting an uplink report based on the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL identified by the first indicator in the uplink report UL_RPT. The updated UL schedule may include (e.g., in the time domain) restrictions on the UL schedule of the device 10, so that the updated UL schedule identifies / implements an updated maximum UL duty cycle of the device 10 that is smaller than the current maximum uplink duty cycle ULDC_CURR. If the current maximum UL duty cycle ULDC_CURR includes UL transmissions during every time slot within a given time period, the updated maximum UL duty cycle may, for example, authorize UL transmissions to the device 10 during 75% of the time slots within the given time period, 50% of the time slots within the given time period, and so on.

[0119] At operation 180, base station 8 may transmit a feedback signal to device 10 (eg, via PDCCH), the feedback signal including an uplink grant, such as Figure 7 The uplink grant UL_GRANT may instruct the device 10 to perform subsequent communications according to its updated UL scheduling (eg, an updated maximum UL duty cycle achieved using the updated UL scheduling).

[0120] At operation 176, the device 10 may receive a feedback signal and an uplink grant UL_GRANT from the base station 8. The device 10 may then begin transmitting the uplink signal UL_SIG according to the uplink grant UL_GRANT (e.g., according to the updated UL schedule of the device 10). The uplink grant UL_GRANT may configure the device 10 to transmit the uplink signal UL_SIG using the updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., by performing UL transmissions in the time slots granted to the device 10 according to the updated UL schedule of the device 10). In this way, the device 10 may continue to perform UL transmissions while meeting regulatory limits on RF energy exposure without reducing the transmission power level.

[0121] The device 10 may continue to generate an RF exposure value RFE_LEVEL during the processing of operations 174 and 176. The device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle for uplink transmissions until the device 10 (e.g., the RFE level calculation circuit 132) identifies that there is a change in the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL. Once there is a change in the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL, the device 10 may generate a new uplink report UL_RPT identifying the new RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL and the processing may loop back to operation 174 via path 182 to report the new RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL to the base station 8 (e.g., using the new uplink report UL_RPT). The base station 8 may then adapt to the change in RF exposure level (e.g., by authorizing an increased maximum UL duty cycle to the device 10 when the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL decreases and / or authorizing a decreased maximum UL duty cycle to the device when the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL increases).

[0122] Fig.13The examples are merely illustrative. The handshake process of operations 180 and 176 is not necessary, and operations 180 and 176 may be omitted if desired. In these examples, the UL scheduler may simply begin to perform communications according to the updated UL schedule, which effectively configures device 10 to implement the updated maximum duty cycle without having to confirm the change to device 10 in a separate DL transmission (feedback signal). If desired, in addition to or in lieu of a change in the UL duty cycle, the network may schedule other changes such as a UL modulation scheme used by device 10 and / or a change in the MPR for device 10, so as to allow device 10 to comply with RFE regulations while performing communications with a satisfactory UL throughput taking into account the current path loss environment of device 10.

[0123] Fig.14 is a flow chart of exemplary operations involving using MAC CE to report the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC to the base station 8 to instruct the base station 8 to adjust the UL duty cycle of the device 10 to the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC. Fig.14 Operations 172 , 184 , and 186 may be performed by device 10 . Fig.14 Operations 188 and 190 may be performed by base station 8 and / or other parts of network 6.

[0124] At operation 172, the device 10 may transmit an uplink signal UL_SIG using the current maximum uplink duty cycle ULDC_CURR. The device 10 may collect sensor data SENS for performing proximity detection operations. The device 10 may begin generating uplink reports, such as uplink reports UL_RPT. The uplink report UL_RPT may include information identifying the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC. Once the device 10 has detected an external object (e.g., a user 50) at, adjacent to, or near a transmit antenna on the device 10, this may indicate a potential RFE event and processing may proceed to operation 184. This example is merely illustrative, and in general, processing may proceed to operation 184 in response to any desired trigger condition. As an example, in response to a reduction in UL transmission power (e.g., associated with device 10 being in close proximity to a base station), in response to detecting that device 10 is a predetermined distance from base station 8 or is in a predetermined path loss condition (e.g., based on a path loss value generated at device 10, wireless performance metric data collected at device 10, etc.), etc., processing may proceed to operation 184. In other words, detecting the proximity of an external object 46 or a user is not necessarily a trigger condition to initiate dynamic adjustment of the UL duty cycle and coordinate the UL duty cycle with the network.

[0125] At operation 184, the device 10 may transmit an uplink report UL_RPT to the base station 8 via a MAC CE. The uplink report UL_RPT may, for example, include a second indicator identifying the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC identified by the device 10 (e.g., as generated when processing operation 172).

[0126] At operation 188, the base station 8 may receive an uplink report UL_RPT from the device 10. The UL scheduler 122 ( Figure 7 ) may generate an updated UL schedule for a specific UE device (device 10) transmitting an uplink report based on the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC identified by the second indicator in the uplink report UL_RPT. The updated UL schedule may include (e.g., in the time domain) restrictions on the UL schedule of the device 10, so that the updated UL schedule identifies / implements the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC as identified / requested by the device 10.

[0127] If necessary, the base station 8 (e.g., the UL scheduler 122) may determine whether the base station 8 and / or the network 6 is able to restrict the UL scheduling of the device 10 to achieve the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC (e.g., by determining whether the newly proposed uplink duty cycle is compatible with the capabilities of the base station 8, whether the newly proposed uplink duty cycle can be used without unduly burdening the communications of other UE devices in the cell 40, whether load balancing within the cell 40 will support the newly proposed uplink duty cycle, etc.). If the base station 8 or the network 6 is not able to restrict the UL scheduling of the device 10 to achieve the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC, the updated UL scheduling of the device 10 may require reducing the maximum transmission power level (e.g., MPR) of the device 10 without changing the UL duty cycle of the device 10.

[0128] At operation 190, base station 8 may transmit a feedback signal to device 10 (eg, via PDCCH), the feedback signal including an uplink grant, such as Figure 7The uplink grant UL_GRANT may instruct the device 10 to perform subsequent communications according to its updated UL scheduling (e.g., using the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC requested / proposed by the device 10). If the base station 8 or the network 6 is unable to restrict the UL scheduling of the device 10 to achieve the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC, the uplink grant UL_GRANT may instruct the device 10 to use the current maximum uplink duty cycle ULDC_CURR and MPR to perform subsequent communications.

[0129] At operation 186, the device 10 may receive a feedback signal and an uplink grant UL_GRANT from the base station 8. The device 10 may then begin transmitting an uplink signal UL_SIG according to the uplink grant UL_GRANT (e.g., according to the updated UL scheduling of the device 10). The uplink grant UL_GRANT may configure the device 10 to transmit the uplink signal UL_SIG using the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC. If the base station 8 or the network 6 is unable to limit the UL scheduling of the device 10 to achieve the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC, the uplink grant UL_GRANT may configure the device 10 to transmit the uplink signal using the current uplink duty cycle ULDC_CURR and MPR. In this way, the device 10 may continue to perform UL transmissions while meeting regulatory limits on RF energy exposure. Furthermore, by identifying the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC in the uplink report UL_RPT when the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC is less than the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC (e.g., in processing Fig. 9 In operation 152 of the embodiment, the device 10 can maximize its UL throughput regardless of the distance between the device 10 and the base station 8 within the cell 40.

[0130] The device 10 may continue to generate the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC during the processing of operations 174 and 176. The device 10 may continue to use the maximum UL duty cycle authorized in the uplink grant UL_GRANT until the device 10 (e.g., the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136) identifies that there is a change in the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC. Once there is a change in the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC, the device 10 may generate a new uplink report UL_RPT identifying the new maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC and the processing may loop back to operation 184 via path 192 to report the new maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC to the base station 8 (e.g., using the new uplink report UL_RPT). The base station 8 may then adapt to the change in the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC requested by the device 10 .

[0131] Fig.14 The examples are merely illustrative. The handshake process of operations 190 and 186 is not necessary, and operations 190 and 186 may be omitted if desired. In these examples, the UL scheduler may simply begin to perform communications according to the updated UL schedule that effectively configures device 10 to achieve MAX_ULDC or OPT_ULDC without having to confirm the changes to device 10 in a separate DL transmission (feedback signal). If desired, in addition to or in lieu of changes in the UL duty cycle, the network may schedule other changes such as changes in the UL modulation scheme used by device 10 and / or the MPR for device 10, so as to allow device 10 to comply with RFE regulations while performing communications with a satisfactory UL throughput taking into account the current path loss environment of device 10.

[0132] If necessary, you can combine Fig.13 and Fig.14Examples of (e.g., by including a first indicator identifying the RF exposure level RFE_LEVEL and a second indicator identifying the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC in an uplink report UL_RPT transmitted via a MAC CE). In these examples, when the network is able to adapt, the base station 8 may assign to the device 10 an updated maximum UL duty cycle as generated at the base station 8 or equal to the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ULDC. If the network cannot adapt to any changes in the maximum UL duty cycle, the base station 8 may instruct the device 10 to perform MPR without adjusting the duty cycle to ensure that the device 10 can continue to meet the RFE regulations.

[0133] Combination of the above Figures 1 to 14 The described methods and operations may be performed by components of device 10 and / or base station 8 using software, firmware, and / or hardware (e.g., dedicated circuits or hardware). The software code for performing these operations may be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (e.g., a tangible computer-readable storage medium) stored on one or more of the components of device 10 (e.g., a computer-readable storage medium). Figure 1 The software code may sometimes be referred to as software, data, instructions, program instructions, or code. Non-transitory computer-readable storage media may include a drive, non-volatile memory such as non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), a removable flash drive or other removable media, other types of random access memory, etc. The software stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may be executed by processing circuits (e.g., Figure 1 The processing circuit may include a microprocessor, a central processing unit (CPU), a dedicated integrated circuit with a processing circuit, or other processing circuits.

[0134] Device 10 may collect and / or use personally identifiable information. As is well known, use of personally identifiable information should be subject to privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized to meet or exceed industry or government requirements for maintaining user privacy. Specifically, personally identifiable information data should be managed and processed to minimize the risk of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly stated to the user.

[0135] For one or more aspects, at least one of the components shown in one or more of the foregoing figures may be configured to perform one or more operations, techniques, processes, or methods described in the following example section. For example, the baseband circuit described above in conjunction with one or more of the foregoing figures may be configured to operate according to one or more of the following examples. For another example, the circuits associated with the UE, base station, network element, etc. described above in conjunction with one or more of the foregoing figures may be configured to operate according to one or more of the examples shown in the example section below.

[0136] Example

[0137] In the following sections, additional exemplary aspects are provided.

[0138] Embodiment 1 includes a method for operating a user equipment to communicate with a wireless base station, the method comprising: determining a preferred uplink (UL) duty cycle for the user equipment to use when transmitting an uplink signal to the wireless base station; generating a message identifying the preferred UL duty cycle; and transmitting the message to the wireless base station.

[0139] Embodiment 2 includes a method according to embodiment 1 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein determining the preferred UL duty cycle includes determining the preferred UL duty cycle based at least on a path loss between the user equipment and the wireless base station.

[0140] Embodiment 3 includes the method according to embodiment 1 or 2 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein determining the preferred UL duty cycle includes determining the preferred UL duty cycle based at least on a transmission power level of the user equipment.

[0141] Embodiment 4 includes a method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein determining the preferred UL duty cycle includes determining the preferred UL duty cycle based at least on detection of a radio frequency exposure (RFE) event at the user equipment.

[0142] Embodiment 5 includes the method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 4 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: detecting a radio frequency exposure event associated with the presence of an external object proximate to the user equipment.

[0143] Embodiment 6 includes the method according to embodiment 5 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: in response to detecting the RF exposure event, determining an additional preferred UL duty cycle for the user equipment to use when transmitting an uplink signal to the wireless base station; generating an additional message identifying the additional preferred UL duty cycle; and transmitting the additional message to the wireless base station.

[0144] Embodiment 7 includes a method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the message to the wireless base station includes transmitting the message via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

[0145] Embodiment 8 includes the method according to embodiment 7 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: receiving a feedback signal from the wireless base station via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), the feedback signal indicating that the wireless base station accepts the preferred UL duty cycle for the user equipment.

[0146] Embodiment 9 includes a method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the message to the wireless base station includes transmitting the message via a physical random access channel (PRACH).

[0147] Embodiment 10 includes the method according to embodiment 9 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: receiving a random access response (RAR) from the wireless base station, the RAR indicating that the wireless base station accepts the preferred UL duty cycle for the user equipment.

[0148] Embodiment 11 includes a method according to any one of embodiments 1 to 6 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the message to the wireless base station includes transmitting the message in a media access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0149] Embodiment 12 includes a method according to embodiment 11 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: receiving a feedback signal from the wireless base station via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), the feedback signal indicating that the wireless base station accepts the preferred UL duty cycle for the user equipment.

[0150] Embodiment 13 includes a method of operating a user equipment to communicate with a wireless base station, the method comprising: wirelessly transmitting an indicator to the wireless base station, the indicator indicating that the user equipment requests an updated maximum uplink (UL) duty cycle for use by the user equipment during subsequent UL transmissions; and after transmitting the indicator to the wireless base station, transmitting a UL signal to the wireless base station using the updated maximum UL duty cycle.

[0151] Embodiment 14 includes a method according to embodiment 13 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein wirelessly transmitting the indicator includes wirelessly transmitting the indicator in response to detecting a radio frequency exposure (RFE) event associated with the presence of an external object proximate to the user equipment, and wherein the indicator identifies that the user equipment has detected the RFE event.

[0152] Embodiment 15 includes the method according to embodiment 14 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies a level of RFE generated by the user equipment when transmitting the first UL signal.

[0153] Embodiment 16 includes the method of embodiment 15 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises one or more bits in a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0154] Embodiment 17 includes a method according to embodiment 16 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: receiving a feedback signal identifying the updated maximum UL duty cycle from the wireless base station via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[0155] Embodiment 18 includes the method of embodiment 16 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises a 3-bit indicator.

[0156] Embodiment 19 includes the method of embodiment 14 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

[0157] Embodiment 20 includes a method according to embodiment 19 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator through the PUCCH includes transmitting the indicator as one or more bits in uplink control information (UCI) of the PUCCH.

[0158] Embodiment 21 includes a method according to embodiment 19 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: receiving a feedback signal identifying the updated maximum UL duty cycle from the wireless base station via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[0159] Embodiment 22 includes the method of claim 21 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the feedback signal includes one or more bits of downlink control information (DCI) of the PDCCH.

[0160] Embodiment 23 includes the method of embodiment 14 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator via a physical random access channel (PRACH).

[0161] Embodiment 24 includes the method according to embodiment 23 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: receiving a random access response (RAR) identifying the second maximum UL duty cycle from the wireless base station.

[0162] Embodiment 25 includes a method according to embodiment 14 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: in response to detecting the RFE event, identifying a recommended maximum UL duty cycle that allows the user equipment to meet a predetermined limit on RFE.

[0163] Embodiment 26 includes the method of embodiment 13 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies the recommended maximum UL duty cycle.

[0164] Embodiment 27 includes the method described in accordance with embodiment 26 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: receiving a feedback signal from the wireless base station, the feedback signal identifying that the wireless base station has accepted that the user equipment uses the recommended maximum UL duty cycle as the updated maximum UL duty cycle.

[0165] Embodiment 28 includes a method according to embodiment 27 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and wherein receiving the feedback signal includes receiving the feedback signal via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[0166] Embodiment 29 includes a method according to embodiment 27 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator via a random access channel (RACH) and wherein receiving the feedback signal includes receiving a random access response (RAR).

[0167] Embodiment 30 includes a method according to embodiment 27 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator in a media access control (MAC) control element (CE) and wherein receiving the feedback signal includes receiving the feedback signal via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[0168] Embodiment 31 includes a method according to embodiment 26 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: receiving a feedback signal identifying the updated maximum UL duty cycle from the wireless base station, wherein the recommended maximum UL duty cycle is different from the updated maximum UL duty cycle.

[0169] Embodiment 32 includes a method according to embodiment 31 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and wherein receiving the feedback signal includes receiving the feedback signal via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[0170] Embodiment 33 includes a method according to embodiment 31 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator via a random access channel (RACH) and wherein receiving the feedback signal includes receiving a random access response (RAR).

[0171] Embodiment 34 includes a method according to embodiment 31 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator in a media access control (MAC) control element (CE) and wherein receiving the feedback signal includes receiving the feedback signal via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).

[0172] Embodiment 35 includes a method according to embodiment 26 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises multiple bits in a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0173] Embodiment 36 includes the method described in accordance with embodiment 35 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: receiving a feedback signal from the wireless base station via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), the feedback signal identifying that the wireless base station has accepted the user equipment's use of the recommended maximum UL duty cycle as the updated maximum UL duty cycle.

[0174] Embodiment 37 includes a method according to embodiment 35 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: receiving a feedback signal identifying the updated maximum UL duty cycle from the wireless base station via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), wherein the updated maximum UL duty cycle is different from the recommended maximum UL duty cycle.

[0175] Embodiment 38 includes a method according to embodiment 35 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises a 3-bit indicator.

[0176] Embodiment 39 includes a method according to embodiment 35 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises a 4-bit indicator.

[0177] Embodiment 40 includes the method of embodiment 13 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the updated maximum UL duty cycle is less than an initial maximum UL duty cycle used by the user equipment for UL transmissions prior to transmitting the indicator.

[0178] Embodiment 41 includes a method for operating a wireless base station within a cell, the method comprising: receiving an uplink (UL) signal transmitted by a user equipment device in the cell using a first maximum UL duty cycle; wirelessly receiving an indicator transmitted by the user equipment device; and generating a UL scheduling for the user equipment device based on the indicator, the UL scheduling achieving a second maximum UL duty cycle that is less than the first maximum UL duty cycle.

[0179] Embodiment 42 includes the method according to embodiment 41 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises one or more bits transmitted by the user equipment device via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

[0180] Embodiment 43 includes a method according to embodiment 42 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: transmitting a feedback signal to the user equipment device via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), wherein the feedback signal indicates that the user equipment device transmits an additional UL signal at the second maximum UL duty cycle.

[0181] Embodiment 44 includes the method of embodiment 43 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies the second maximum UL duty cycle.

[0182] Embodiment 45 includes a method according to embodiment 43 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies a third maximum UL duty cycle, which is different from the first maximum UL duty cycle and different from the second maximum UL duty cycle.

[0183] Embodiment 46 includes the method of embodiment 41 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises one or more bits transmitted by the user equipment device via a random access channel (RACH).

[0184] Embodiment 47 includes a method according to embodiment 46 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: transmitting a random access response (RAR) to the user equipment device, wherein the RAR indicates that the user equipment device transmits an additional UL signal at the second maximum UL duty cycle.

[0185] Embodiment 48 includes the method of embodiment 47 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies the second maximum UL duty cycle.

[0186] Embodiment 49 includes a method according to embodiment 47 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies a third maximum UL duty cycle, which is different from the first maximum UL duty cycle and different from the second maximum UL duty cycle.

[0187] Embodiment 50 includes the method of embodiment 41 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises one or more bits transmitted by the user equipment device in a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0188] Embodiment 51 includes a method according to embodiment 50 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: transmitting a feedback signal to the user equipment device via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), wherein the feedback signal indicates that the user equipment device transmits an additional UL signal at the second maximum UL duty cycle.

[0189] Embodiment 52 includes the method of embodiment 51 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies the second maximum UL duty cycle.

[0190] Embodiment 53 includes the method described in accordance with embodiment 52 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, the method further comprising: determining whether the wireless base station can support the second maximum UL duty cycle; when the wireless base station can support the second maximum UL duty cycle, generating the UL scheduling; and when the wireless base station cannot support the second maximum UL duty cycle, instructing the user equipment device to perform maximum transmission power reduction.

[0191] Embodiment 54 includes a method according to embodiment 51 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies a third maximum UL duty cycle, which is different from the first maximum UL duty cycle and different from the second maximum UL duty cycle.

[0192] Embodiment 55 includes a method according to embodiment 41 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator includes a radio frequency exposure (RFE) level generated by the user equipment device when transmitting the UL signal using the first maximum UL duty cycle.

[0193] Embodiment 56 includes an electronic device that can operate in an environment including a wireless base station, the electronic device comprising: one or more antennas; one or more sensors, the one or more sensors configured to generate sensor data indicating the proximity of an external object to the one or more antennas; a transceiver, the transceiver configured to transmit an uplink (UL) signal using a first maximum UL duty cycle through the one or more antennas; and one or more processors, the one or more processors configured to generate a radio frequency exposure (RFE) level based at least on the sensor data and the first maximum UL duty cycle, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit information identifying the RFE level to the wireless base station.

[0194] Embodiment 57 includes an electronic device according to embodiment 56 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: identify a current RFE amount based at least on the sensor data and the first maximum UL duty cycle; and generate the RFE level based on the current RFE amount and a predetermined RFE limit.

[0195] Embodiment 58 includes an electronic device according to embodiment 57 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: generate a second maximum UL duty cycle different from the first maximum UL duty cycle based at least on the predetermined RFE limit, the current RFE amount and the first maximum UL duty cycle, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit information identifying the second maximum UL duty cycle to the wireless base station.

[0196] Embodiment 59 includes an electronic device according to embodiment 58 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: identify a path loss between the electronic device and the wireless base station; and generate a third maximum UL duty cycle that is different from the first maximum UL duty cycle and the second maximum UL duty cycle based at least on the path loss between the electronic device and the wireless base station.

[0197] Embodiment 60 includes an electronic device according to embodiment 59 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the transceiver is configured to: transmit the third maximum UL duty cycle to the wireless base station when the third maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the second maximum UL duty cycle.

[0198] Embodiment 61 includes an electronic device according to embodiment 56 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein, after transmitting the information identifying the RFE level, the transceiver is configured to receive an uplink authorization from the wireless base station, the uplink authorization instructing the transceiver to transmit an additional UL signal through the one or more antennas using a second maximum UL duty cycle that is less than the first maximum UL duty cycle.

[0199] Embodiment 62 includes an electronic device according to embodiment 56 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the information identifying the RFE level using a media access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0200] Embodiment 63 may include an apparatus comprising means for performing one or more elements of a method as described or related to any one of Embodiments 1 to 62 or any combination thereof, or any other method or process described herein.

[0201] Embodiment 64 may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media, which include instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform one or more elements of a method described in or related to any one of Embodiments 1 to 62 or any combination thereof, or any other method or process described herein.

[0202] Embodiment 65 may include a device comprising logic components, modules, or circuits for performing one or more elements of a method as described or related to any of Embodiments 1 to 62 or any combination thereof, or any other method or process described herein.

[0203] Embodiment 66 may include methods, techniques or processes, or portions or components thereof, as described or related to any one of Embodiments 1 to 62, or any combination thereof.

[0204] Embodiment 67 may include a device comprising: one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media, wherein the one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media include instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method, technique, or process, or portion thereof, as described or related to any one of Embodiments 1 to 62 or any combination thereof.

[0205] Embodiment 68 may include signals as described or related to any one of embodiments 1 to 62, or any combination thereof, or portions or components thereof.

[0206] Embodiment 69 may include a datagram, information element, packet, frame, segment, PDU or message, or a portion or component thereof, as described or related to any one of embodiments 1 to 62 or any combination thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure.

[0207] Embodiment 70 may include a signal encoded with data as described or associated with any one of Embodiments 1 to 62, or any combination thereof, or a portion or component thereof, or otherwise described in this disclosure.

[0208] Embodiment 71 may include a signal encoded with a datagram, IE, packet, frame, segment, PDU or message, or a portion or component thereof, as described or related to any of Embodiments 1 to 62 or any combination thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure.

[0209] Embodiment 72 may include an electromagnetic signal carrying computer-readable instructions, wherein execution of these computer-readable instructions by one or more processors will cause the one or more processors to perform a method, technique, or process, or portion thereof, as described or related to any one of Embodiments 1 to 62 or any combination thereof.

[0210] Embodiment 73 may include a computer program comprising instructions, wherein execution of the program by a processing element will cause the processing element to perform a method, technique, or process, or portion thereof, as described or related to any one of Embodiments 1 to 62 or any combination thereof.

[0211] Embodiment 74 may include signals in a wireless network as shown and described herein.

[0212] Embodiment 75 may include a method of communicating in a wireless network as shown and described herein.

[0213] Embodiment 76 may include a system for providing wireless communications as shown and described herein.

[0214] Embodiment 77 may include an apparatus for providing wireless communications as shown and described herein.

[0215] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, any of the above examples may be combined with any other example (or combination of examples).The foregoing description of one or more specific implementations provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the various aspects to the precise forms disclosed.

[0216] The foregoing is merely illustrative, and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the embodiments described. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented independently or in any combination.

Claims

1. An electronic device capable of operating in an environment including a wireless base station, the electronic device comprising: one or more antennas; one or more sensors configured to generate sensor data indicative of a proximity of an external object to the one or more antennas; a transceiver configured to transmit a UL signal using a first maximum uplink (UL) duty cycle through the one or more antennas; as well as One or more processors configured to: identifying a current amount of radio frequency exposure (RFE) based at least on the sensor data and the first maximum UL duty cycle; as well as An RFE level is generated by dividing the current amount of RFE by a predetermined RFE limit, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit information identifying the RFE level to the wireless base station.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: A second maximum UL duty cycle different from the first maximum UL duty cycle is generated based at least on the predetermined RFE limit, the current amount of RFE, and the first maximum UL duty cycle. 3 . The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit information identifying the second maximum UL duty cycle to the wireless base station.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: Based on a path loss between the electronic device and the wireless base station, a third maximum UL duty cycle different from the first maximum UL duty cycle and the second maximum UL duty cycle is generated, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit information identifying the third maximum UL duty cycle to the wireless base station. 5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the information identifying the third maximum UL duty cycle to the wireless base station when the third maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the second maximum UL duty cycle.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein: After transmitting the information identifying the RFE level, the transceiver is configured to receive an uplink grant from the wireless base station, the uplink grant instructing the transceiver to transmit additional UL signals via the one or more antennas using a second maximum UL duty cycle that is less than the first maximum UL duty cycle. 7 . The electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the information identifying the RFE level using a Media Access Control Element (MAC CE). The electronic device according to claim 7 , wherein the MAC CE comprises a 3-bit or 4-bit indicator.

9. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising: generating, using one or more sensors, sensor data indicative of proximity of an external object to one or more antennas of the electronic device; Using a transmitter, transmitting a UL signal using a first maximum uplink (UL) duty cycle through the one or more antennas; identifying, using one or more processors, a current amount of radio frequency exposure (RFE) based at least on the sensor data and the first maximum UL duty cycle; generating, using the one or more processors, an RFE level by dividing the current amount of RFE by a predetermined RFE limit; and Using the transmitter, information identifying the RFE level generated by the one or more processors is transmitted.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: Information identifying a second maximum UL duty cycle different from the first maximum UL duty cycle is transmitted, with the transmitter, to a wireless base station using the one or more antennas.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising: When a third maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the second maximum UL duty cycle, information identifying the third maximum UL duty cycle is transmitted to the wireless base station using the transmitter and the one or more antennas, wherein the third maximum UL duty cycle is different from the first maximum UL duty cycle and the second maximum UL duty cycle. 12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the third maximum UL duty cycle is based on a path loss between the electronic device and the wireless base station.

13. A method of operating a wireless base station, the method comprising: Receiving information from a user equipment (UE) device using one or more antennas, wherein: The information identifies the radio frequency exposure (RFE) level of the UE device, The RFE level is proportional to the current RFE of the UE device, The RFE level is inversely proportional to the predetermined RFE limit, and The current RFE is based on a maximum UL duty cycle of the UE device and sensor data generated by the UE device; and A downlink (DL) signal is transmitted to the UE device using the one or more antennas, the DL signal including an uplink grant for the UE device based on the RFE level.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the uplink grant comprises an updated maximum UL duty cycle for the UE device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the updated maximum UL duty cycle comprises a maximum UL duty cycle identified by the UE device.

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