User equipment power saving

Abstract

The invention relates to user equipment power saving. Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for user equipment (UE) power saving. A method may include identifying a configuration for auxiliary information. The assistance information may indicate a power amplifier efficiency of the user equipment or indicate user equipment power consumption. The method may also include determining assistance information based at least in part on the configuration. The method may also include reporting the determined assistance information to the network element.

Description

Related applications

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 567,286, filed on March 19, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] Some example embodiments may generally relate to mobile or wireless telecommunication systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) or fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR) access technology, or 5G Beyond or sixth generation (6G) access technology, or other communication systems. For example, certain example embodiments may relate to apparatus, systems, and / or methods for user equipment (UE) power conservation. Background Art

[0003] Examples of mobile or wireless telecommunications systems may include the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), Long Term Evolution (LTE) Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), MulteFire, LTE-A Pro, fifth-generation (5G) radio access technology or new radio (NR) access technology, and / or sixth-generation (6G) radio access technology. Fifth-generation (5G) and sixth-generation (6G) wireless systems refer to next-generation (NG) radio systems and network architectures. 5G and 6G network technologies are primarily based on new radio (NR) technology, but 5G / 6G (or NG) networks may also be built on E-UTRAN radios. NR is estimated to provide bit rates of approximately 10-20 Gbit / s or higher and may support at least enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) as well as massive machine-type communications (mMTC). NR is expected to provide extreme broadband and ultra-robust, low-latency connectivity and large-scale networking to support the Internet of Things (IoT). Summary of the Invention

[0004] Some example embodiments may involve a method. The method may include identifying a configuration for assistance information. According to certain example embodiments, the assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency of a user equipment or indicate power consumption of the user equipment. The method may also include determining the assistance information based at least in part on the configuration. The method may also include reporting the determined assistance information to a network element.

[0005] Other example embodiments may relate to an apparatus. The apparatus may include: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to at least identify a configuration for assistance information. According to certain example embodiments, the assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency of the apparatus or indicate power consumption of the apparatus. The apparatus may also be configured to determine the assistance information based at least in part on the configuration. The apparatus may also be configured to report the determined assistance information to a network element.

[0006] Other example embodiments may involve an apparatus. The apparatus may include means for identifying a configuration for assistance information. According to certain example embodiments, the assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency of the apparatus or indicate power consumption of the apparatus. The apparatus may also include means for determining assistance information based at least in part on the configuration. The apparatus may further include means for reporting the determined assistance information to a network element.

[0007] According to other example embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may be encoded with instructions that, when executed in hardware, may perform a method. The method may include identifying a configuration for assistance information. According to certain example embodiments, the assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency of a user equipment or indicate power consumption of the user equipment. The method may also include determining the assistance information based at least in part on the configuration. The method may also include reporting the determined assistance information to a network element.

[0008] Other example embodiments may involve a computer program product for performing a method. The method may include identifying a configuration for assistance information. According to certain example embodiments, the assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency of a user equipment or indicate power consumption of the user equipment. The method may also include determining the assistance information based at least in part on the configuration. The method may also include reporting the determined assistance information to a network element.

[0009] Other example embodiments may relate to an apparatus that may include circuitry configured to identify a configuration for assistance information. According to certain example embodiments, the assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency of the apparatus or indicate power consumption of the apparatus. The apparatus may also include circuitry configured to determine the assistance information based at least in part on the configuration. The apparatus may also include circuitry configured to report the determined assistance information to a network element.

[0010] Another example embodiment may be directed to a method. The method may include sending a configuration for assistance information to a user equipment. The method may also include receiving a report of assistance information from the user equipment based at least in part on the configuration. According to certain example embodiments, the determined assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency or user equipment power consumption.

[0011] Other example embodiments may relate to an apparatus. The apparatus may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code. The at least one memory and the computer program code may be configured, together with the at least one processor, to cause the apparatus to at least transmit a configuration for assistance information to a user equipment. The apparatus may also be configured to receive, from the user equipment, a report of assistance information determined at least in part based on the configuration. According to certain example embodiments, the determined assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency or user equipment power consumption.

[0012] Other example embodiments may relate to an apparatus. The apparatus may include means for transmitting a configuration for assistance information to a user equipment. The apparatus may also include means for receiving, from the user equipment, a report of assistance information determined at least in part based on the configuration. According to certain example embodiments, the determined assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency or user equipment power consumption.

[0013] According to other example embodiments, a non-transitory computer-readable medium may be encoded with instructions that, when executed in hardware, may perform a method. The method may include sending a configuration for assistance information to a user equipment. The method may also include receiving a report of assistance information from the user equipment based at least in part on the configuration. According to certain example embodiments, the determined assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency or user equipment power consumption.

[0014] Other example embodiments may involve a computer program product for performing a method. The method may include sending a configuration for assistance information to a user equipment. The method may also include receiving a report of assistance information from the user equipment based at least in part on the configuration. According to certain example embodiments, the determined assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency or user equipment power consumption.

[0015] Other example embodiments may relate to an apparatus that may include circuitry configured to transmit a configuration for assistance information to a user equipment. The apparatus may also include circuitry configured to receive, from the user equipment, a report of assistance information determined at least in part based on the configuration. According to certain example embodiments, the determined assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency or user equipment power consumption. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] For a proper understanding of the example embodiments, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Figure 1 Examples of power amplifier incremental efficiency (PAE) curves for various 5G frequency bands are shown.

[0018] Figure 2 A power headroom report (PHR) using estimated Tx physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) power is shown.

[0019] Figure 3 Examples of user equipment (UE) assistance information for UE power saving are shown in accordance with certain example embodiments.

[0020] Figure 4 An example signal flow diagram is shown, in accordance with certain example embodiments.

[0021] Figure 5 An example flow chart of a method according to certain example embodiments is shown.

[0022] Figure 6 An example flow chart of another method according to certain example embodiments is shown.

[0023] Figure 7 A set of apparatuses according to certain example embodiments is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] It will be readily understood that the components of certain example embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein may be arranged and designed in a variety of different configurations.The following is a detailed description of some example embodiments of systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for UE power conservation.

[0025] The features, structures, or characteristics of the example embodiments described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more example embodiments. For example, the use of the phrases "certain embodiments," "example embodiments," "some embodiments," or other similar language throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in certain embodiments," "example embodiments," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," or other similar language throughout this specification do not necessarily refer to the same set of embodiments, and the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more example embodiments. Furthermore, the terms "base station," "cell," "node," "gNB," "network," or other similar language may be used interchangeably throughout this specification.

[0026] As used herein, “at least one of: ” and “at least one of ” and similar expressions (wherein a list of two or more elements is connected by “and” or “or”) refer to at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all of the elements.

[0027] Power amplifiers (PAs) in gNB and UE devices often require significant amounts of power. Therefore, maximizing the efficiency of these devices can be crucial for achieving energy efficiency and power savings. PA efficiency can depend on the PA architecture (e.g., PA class, PA with envelope tracking, Doherty PA, etc.) and other parameters.

[0028] Requirements such as the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) and linearity / error vector magnitude (EVM) / adjusted channel leakage ratio (ACLR) of the PA input signal can define the required PA output power back-off (OBO) of the PA and, therefore, the PA output power for a given PA architecture and a given waveform / modulation (at P cmax The maximum achievable PA efficiency at (e.g., high PAPR -> high OBO -> lower PA efficiency) is determined by the input / output power level of the PA. However, the operating input / output power level may also affect the instantaneous PA efficiency and power consumption (e.g., battery life) compared to the maximum input / output power level of the PA. For example, for 4G and 5G LTE frequency division duplex (FDD) / time division duplex (TDD) new bands n7, n38, n40, and n41, the PA incremental efficiency (PAE) of a front-end module with a duplexer operating between 2.3 GHz and 2.7 GHz is Figure 1 (See F. Balteranu, “RF Front End Module Architures for 5G”, 2019 IEEE BiCMOS and Compound Semiconductor Integrated Circuits and Technology Symposium (BCICTS), Nashville, Tennessee, USA, 2019, pp. 1-8). In particular, Figure 1 The PAE curve of a 3.5 GHz GaAs PA for the 5G n77 / n78 band is shown.

[0029] like Figure 1 As shown in , PA architecture envelope tracking (ET) can enhance PA efficiency at high output powers close to maximum power rather than at low output powers. Figure 1 As shown, not all UEs have a PA architecture with ET. Even when advanced PA technology is present (e.g., ET with perfect synchronization), the PAE at low output power is low.

[0030] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) technical specifications describe uplink (UL) closed-loop power control, where the UE transmit power can be adjusted by the gNB in ​​the UL based on the configuration provided by the gNB or based on path loss. For example, the UE transmit power for the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) can be determined based on the following, as stated in 3GPP TS 38.213: The transmit power is P CMAX，f，c (i) Restriction, P CMAX，f，c (i) is defined as the maximum output power configured by the UE. CMAX，f，c The UE can set the P in each time slot within the following limits: CMAX，f，c value: P CMAX_L，f，c ≤P CMAX，f，c ≤P CMAX_H，f，c , Among them, P CMAX_L，f，c =MIN{P EMAX，c -ΔT C，c ,(P PowerClass -ΔP PowerClass )-MAX(MAX(MPR c +ΔMPR c , A-MPR c )+ΔT IB，c +ΔT C，c +ΔT RxSRS , P-MPR c )}, and P CMAX_H，f，c =MIN{P EMAX，c , P PowerClass -ΔP PowerClass}. In this example, since P CMAX，f，c The report of (i) must be carried together with the Power Headroom Report (PHR), so the gNB does not know the exact PHR that the UE can configure in time. CMAX，f，c (i). Therefore, the gNB can continuously know P CMAX，f，c (i) The upper and lower limits.

[0031] The UE may be configured to report the PHR using a PHR Medium Access Control Element (MAC CE). The MAC CE may report the margin between the current UE Tx power (e.g., estimated power) and the nominal UE maximum transmit power as defined in 3GPP TS 38.321 or the configured maximum power as defined in 3GPP TS 38.101 / 38.213. The PHR report may support power-aware packet scheduling and allow the network to select an appropriate UL bandwidth and modulation and coding scheme (MCS) on a specific subframe without exceeding the UE power limit. Additionally, the PHR may also indicate the amount of transmit power remaining for the UE to use in addition to the power currently being used by the transmission, such as Figure 2 shown. Specifically, Figure 2 The PHR using the estimated Tx PUSCH power is shown. The PHR reporting range can be from -023 to +40 dB, and the report mapping can have 1 dB granularity. The determination of the amount of remaining power headroom can be expressed by the following equation: Power Headroom (PH) = P CMAX，f，c -P PUSCH

[0032] Currently, UE power consumption optimization and related signaling between the UE and the gNB do not take into account its PA characteristics (e.g., efficiency, consumption, etc.). Furthermore, there is no 3GPP signaling to the gNB to indicate auxiliary information about PA efficiency, which could help optimize UE power consumption for a given Quality of Service (QoS) in the scheduler. For example, when power headroom increases, operating at lower output power may consume more power due to increased transmission time and reduced PA efficiency. Furthermore, always operating at maximum power may lead to high cell interference and / or UE thermal / battery issues, and the UE may consume power unnecessarily if there is no data to transmit or QoS requirements are already met. The optimal operating power for a particular QoS may depend on UE PA efficiency, UE status (e.g., UL buffers), energy consumption characteristics, and system-level aspects of the communication system, cell, or network (e.g., interference management, etc.).

[0033] As a non-limiting example, with respect to interference management, the network can perform interference management by carefully scheduling, multiplexing, and allocating resources (in the time / frequency / spatial domain) for UE downlink (DL) and UL transmissions and / or by controlling DL and UL transmit power to reduce all possible interference (e.g., intra-cell, inter-cell, etc.) while aiming to meet the QoS (throughput, latency, etc.) for the majority of UEs. In other examples, the optimal power operating point can be based solely on UE efficiency or also on network considerations of overall system aspects (e.g., interference management). The optimal power operating point may be based on UE efficiency only in rare cases, if at all, such as low cell load; very low UE maximum power; operating in FR2 or higher frequency bands where propagation loss is high and interference is less likely to be an issue. Additionally, if all UEs communicate at maximum transmit power, they may interfere more with ongoing UL transmissions of other cells and worse with ongoing DL transmissions of other cells.

[0034] At the gNB, without such assistance information, the gNB may not be able to effectively minimize the total UE power consumption and improve the UE battery life for a given QoS, or optimize the UE power configuration by considering its power consumption impact and system-level aspects of the UE.

[0035] In an example scenario, a ratio may be provided to evaluate UE power consumption. For example, the following expression may be considered: P′ PUSCH =kP PUSCH (Linear) In this example, PAE may depend on the selected Tx power. The above formula takes into account the first UL power configuration and the second UL power configuration (given by P PUSCH and P' PUSCH PAE is the power added efficiency of PA, which is defined as PAE = (P PA_out -p PA_in ) / P DC , where PA output power p PA_out is the UL power P PUSCH , and p PA_in =P PUSCH / G, where G is the PA gain. By using the above equation, the ratio R of power consumption can be derived, where k is the first UL power (P PUSCH ) and the second UL power (P' PUSCH). In addition, k may be greater than 1 or less than 1 (i.e., the power difference between the first UL power and the second UL power in dB, which may be positive or negative). Although the above example is about PUSCH, it may also be applicable to any UL transmission.

[0036] For a first UL output power of 10 dBm, the PAE may be 2.5%, while for a second UL output power of 22 dBm (linear k=16), the PAE may be 30%. Thus, the linear ratio of power consumption between the first UL power configuration and the second UL power configuration may be: , where PAE = 30% => R = 1.33. In other words, with 16 times higher Tx power, there will be 33% more UE power consumption and, therefore, significant interference. In addition, the UE may experience increased thermal / battery issues. Therefore, if there is no new data to be sent or QoS is met at lower power with less interference, it may not be necessary.

[0037] Given the shortcomings of power configuration without considering PA efficiency or consumption, certain example embodiments may provide a way for the gNB and UE to coordinate with each other to minimize UE power consumption, thereby saving UE power and battery life while meeting QoS requirements. In certain example embodiments, the network may consider system aspects (e.g., intra-cell / inter-cell interference, network / cell capacity or spectral efficiency, network / cell power consumption, network / cell load, current and other UE coverage or throughput or latency impact, etc.) during coordination between the UE and gNB without disclosing potentially confidential UE information to the gNB. Given the above example scenarios, according to certain example embodiments, when the network has new UE assistance information, the network may adjust power while considering interference management and system-level aspects.

[0038] In some example embodiments, a third power configuration determined at least in part based on UE assistance information regarding PA power consumption may be 16 dBm (for a first UL power of 10 dBm, k=4), where the PAE at the third UL power is 12.5%. Thus, the relative power consumption between the first transmit power and the third transmit power (the first transmit power is the reference and its consumption is the denominator) may be expressed as R=4*2.5 / 12.5=0.8. This means that the relative UE power consumption of the two configurations is R=4*2.5 / 12.5=0.8, and the UE consumes 20% less power while using 4 times higher output power to send more data or avoid potential hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) / repeat delays.

[0039] In certain example embodiments, the UE may obtain configuration / information for assistance information indication (or reporting). In some example embodiments, the assistance information may indicate the PA efficiency of the UE. In other example embodiments, the UE may determine the assistance information based at least in part on the obtained configuration. After the assistance information is determined, the UE may report the assistance information to the network (e.g., gNB).

[0040] In some example embodiments, the UE may receive a configuration for assistance information indication (or reporting) from the network. In certain example embodiments, the configuration may include at least one target threshold or range for relative PA efficiency relative to the UE's maximum PA efficiency:

[0041] According to certain example embodiments, the assistance information may indicate one or more of: relative PA efficiency versus output power, or (relative) power consumption versus output power. Alternatively, the assistance information may be absolute PA efficiency versus output power level or amplitude variation / amplitude variation (AM / AM) characteristics. In some example embodiments, the absolute PA efficiency versus output power level or AM / AM characteristics may include parameters for a specific PA model (when the PA model is not confidential). According to other example embodiments, the assistance information may be used for UE power saving. In some example embodiments, the UE's assistance information indication / reporting may be requested / triggered / activated by the gNB via Radio Resource Control (RRC), MAC CE, or Downlink Control Information (DCI).

[0042] In certain example embodiments, the assistance information may be configured to be sent / provided per frequency band or frequency band combination, or per cell or cell group. In other example embodiments, the assistance information may be reported once (quasi-statically) as a capability (not necessarily based on PHR) or in a non-periodic manner triggered by a power level change or a frequency band change. In some example embodiments, the UE may provide a capability indication related to the PA characteristic indication to the network. For example, in some example embodiments, the capability indication may correspond to a UE that supports power saving and notifies the network of the capability. In some instances, the feature may not be mandatory for all UEs, and capability signaling to the network may be required to indicate whether the UE supports the feature (e.g., whether the UE can indicate information about UE power consumption or PA efficiency). In other example embodiments, the UE may also provide an indication of low battery life or low power devices (e.g., reduced capability (RedCap), Internet of Things (IoT), etc.), or request emergency power saving measures.

[0043] According to certain example embodiments, for a predetermined PAE efficiency ratio relative to the UE's maximum PAE Or within the range [AB] (or [AB]), the UE may indicate the absolute power level Pi (or relative to the configured maximum power (e.g., P cmax ) i ), or relative to the maximum power of the power stage (virtual P cmax (MPRs=0dB))PH i :.

[0044] Figure 3 An example of UE assistance information for UE power saving according to certain example embodiments is shown. Figure 3 As shown, the network can predetermine / indicate to the UE Target threshold (X, Y, etc.) or range (e.g., based on Figure 3 A, B, etc. in the table).

[0045] According to certain example embodiments, the network may consider UE assistance information, system-level aspects, QoS, and interference management to determine / indicate Tx power (e.g., transmit power control (TPC)) and UL scheduling based on the selected power (e.g., physical resource block (PRB) allocation, etc.). The network may also consider such UE power saving optimization for specific UE devices (e.g., RedCap, IoT, and UEs that have declared a low battery state).

[0046] In some example embodiments, the UE may indicate to the gNB its capabilities related to PA characteristics. The UE may also indicate whether it has low battery life or is a low power device (e.g. RedCap, IoT, etc.), or request emergency power saving measures. On the other hand, the network may request the UE to provide assistance information. The network may also determine / indicate the requirements for The target threshold ( Figure 3 X, Y, etc.) or ranges (e.g., based on Figure 3 A, B, etc. in the table).

[0047] In certain example embodiments, the UE may determine and indicate assistance information to the network for UE power saving. For example, the assistance information may indicate relative PA efficiency versus output power, or (relative) power consumption versus output power.

[0048] According to some example embodiments, the auxiliary information may be relative to the Pcma x (Virtual P with 0dB MPR cmax ) output power level or margin, or for PA efficiency relative to its maximum The absolute value of the PA efficiency may be confidential and not disclosed. In other example embodiments, the threshold / range may be configured by the gNB.

[0049] In certain example embodiments, the assistance information may follow a proactive approach to assist the network in selecting the best UL configuration for UE power conservation and for the system (e.g., interference management). In other example embodiments, the UE may indicate in the assistance information whether its PA efficiency is less or more sensitive to transmit power variations, so that the network may prioritize UEs with more sensitive conditions.

[0050] According to certain example embodiments, the network may perform scheduling based on UE assistance information, UE minimum QoS, and system-level / gNB / cell constraints (e.g., interference management, etc.) while taking UE power conservation into account. Once the network determines the UL schedule, the network may send the UL schedule to the UE. According to other example embodiments, the network may also request assistance information only from specific UEs (e.g., RedCap, IoT, low-power UEs, etc.). By making specific requests, the network scheduler may optimize UE power conservation only for specific UEs, rather than for all UEs in the cell.

[0051] Figure 4 An example signal flow diagram is shown between UE 400 and gNB 405 according to certain example embodiments. At 410, gNB 405 sends / indicates a configuration to UE 400. In certain example embodiments, the configuration may include a maximum PA efficiency for the UE. At least one target threshold or range of relative PA efficiency is determined for the UE 400. Once the UE 400 receives the configuration, at 415, the UE 400 determines assistance information based at least in part on the obtained configuration. For example, in some example embodiments, the UE 400 may determine an absolute or relative power level to achieve the target PA efficiency ratio or within the indicated range. At 420, the UE 400 reports the determined assistance information to the gNB 405. At 425, the gNB 405 determines the configuration or UL scheduling for the UE 400 based on the assistance information reported by the UE, while also taking into account system-level / gNB / cell constraints (e.g., DTx / DRx, cell load, interference management, etc.). For example, the gNB 405 may determine configuration / scheduling parameters (p0, alpha, TPC value, PRB allocation, MCS, etc.) that affect the UL power control formula defined above for the PUSCH, as well as the power control formulas for other UL signals / channels defined in 3GPP TS 38.213. At 430, gNB 405 schedules UL transmission with UE 400 and indicates the determined configuration to UE 400.

[0052] Figure 5 An example flow chart of a method according to certain example embodiments is shown. In an example embodiment, Figure 5The method may be performed by a network entity or a set of multiple network elements in a 3GPP system (such as LTE or 5G-NR). For example, in an example embodiment, Figure 5 The method can be similar to Figure 7 The UE of one of the apparatuses 10 or 20 shown is executed.

[0053] According to certain example embodiments, Figure 5 The method may include, at 500, identifying a configuration for assistance information. According to certain example embodiments, the assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency of the user equipment or indicate user equipment power consumption. According to other example embodiments, the configuration may be identified, determined, or received from a UE memory or other UE processing layer or another entity (e.g., a network, gNB, or TRP). The method may also include, at 505, determining assistance information based at least in part on the configuration. The method may also include, at 510, reporting the determined assistance information to a network element.

[0054] According to certain example embodiments, the method may further include: receiving an uplink transmission schedule or an uplink power configuration from a network element. According to some example embodiments, the uplink transmission schedule or the uplink power configuration may be determined based at least in part on the determined assistance information. According to further example embodiments, the method may further include: receiving an identified configuration from the network element for use in determining the assistance information. According to some example embodiments, the identified configuration may include at least one target threshold or target range for power amplifier efficiency or power consumption.

[0055] In certain example embodiments, the power amplifier efficiency or power consumption of the user equipment may be related to the power amplifier efficiency or power consumption at a reference uplink transmit power of the user equipment. In some example embodiments, the power amplifier efficiency or power consumption of the user equipment may be related to the maximum power amplifier efficiency or maximum power consumption of the user equipment. In other example embodiments, determining the assistance information may include determining an absolute output power level or a relative output power level. In further example embodiments, the indication of the power consumption or power amplifier efficiency of the user equipment is less than, greater than, or equal to at least one target threshold, or is within a target range.

[0056] According to certain example embodiments, the indication of the power consumption of the user equipment may be related to the maximum power amplifier efficiency of the user equipment or the maximum power consumption of the user equipment. According to some example embodiments, the assistance information may be requested via at least one of a radio resource control request, a medium access control control element, or a downlink control message. According to other example embodiments, the assistance information report may be triggered by at least one of a bandwidth portion switching and a change in electrical power level to a predefined set of power levels. According to further example embodiments, the assistance information may be reported once as a capability or reported aperiodically.

[0057] In certain example embodiments, the assistance information may be configured to be sent per frequency band or frequency band combination, or per cell or cell group. In some example embodiments, the method may further include indicating to the network element that the user equipment has low battery life or that the user equipment is a low-power device, or requesting emergency power saving measures from the network element. In other example embodiments, the method may further include indicating that the power amplifier efficiency of the user equipment is less sensitive or more sensitive to transmit power variations, so that the network element can prioritize user equipment with more sensitive conditions.

[0058] Figure 6 An example flow chart of another method according to certain example embodiments is shown. In an example embodiment, Figure 6 The method may be performed by a network entity or a set of multiple network elements in a 3GPP system (such as LTE or 5G-NR). For example, in an example embodiment, Figure 6 The method can be similar to Figure 7 The gNB, network or TRP of one of the devices 10 or 20 shown is performed.

[0059] According to certain example embodiments, Figure 6 The method may include, at 600, sending a configuration for assistance information to a user equipment. The method may also include, at 605, receiving a report of assistance information determined from the user equipment based at least in part on the configuration. According to certain example embodiments, the determined assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency or may indicate user equipment power consumption.

[0060] According to certain example embodiments, the method may further include: determining a configuration or uplink transmission schedule based on the received auxiliary information; and transmitting the configuration or uplink transmission schedule to the user equipment. According to some example embodiments, the method may further include: determining a target threshold or target range for a power amplifier efficiency ratio relative to a maximum power amplifier efficiency of the user equipment. According to further example embodiments, the uplink transmission schedule is dependent on at least one of a quality of service of the user equipment or a cell constraint.

[0061] In certain example embodiments, the method may further include receiving, from the user equipment, reduced capabilities of the user equipment. In some example embodiments, the reduced capabilities may include the type of the user equipment or a reduced battery status of the user equipment. In other example embodiments, the assistance information may indicate the power amplifier efficiency of the user equipment or the power consumption of the user equipment. In further example embodiments, the assistance information may be received once as capabilities, or may be received aperiodically, triggered by a power level change or a frequency band change.

[0062] Figure 7 A set of apparatuses 10 and 20 are shown, according to certain example embodiments. In certain example embodiments, apparatuses 10 and 20 may be elements in a communication network or elements associated with such a network. For example, apparatus 10 may be a UE or other similar radio communication computer device, and apparatus 20 may be a network (i.e., a gNB or a TRP).

[0063] In some example embodiments, apparatus 10 and apparatus 20 may include one or more processors, one or more computer-readable storage media (e.g., memory, storage, etc.), one or more radio access components (e.g., modems, transceivers, etc.), and / or a user interface. In some example embodiments, apparatus 10 and apparatus 20 may be configured to operate using one or more radio access technologies (such as GSM, LTE, LTE-A, NR, 5G, WLAN, WiFi, NB-IoT, Bluetooth, NFC, MulteFire, and / or any other radio access technology). It should be noted that persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that apparatus 10 and apparatus 20 may include Figure 7 Components or features not shown.

[0064] like Figure 7 As shown in the example of , the device 10 and the device 20 may include or be coupled to a processor 12 and a processor 22 for processing information and executing instructions or operations. The processor 12 and the processor 22 may be any type of general-purpose or special-purpose processor. In fact, as an example, the processor 12 and the processor 22 may include one or more of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a microprocessor, a DSP, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a processor based on a multi-core processor architecture. Although in Figure 71 and 2. A single processor 12 and processor 22 are shown in FIG. 1 , but multiple processors may be utilized according to other example embodiments. For example, it should be understood that in some example embodiments, apparatus 10 and apparatus 20 may include two or more processors that may form a multi-processor system that may support multi-processing (e.g., in which case processor 12 may represent a multi-processor). According to some example embodiments, the multi-processor system may be tightly coupled or loosely coupled (e.g., to form a computer cluster).

[0065] Processors 12 and 22 may perform functions associated with the operation of apparatuses 10 and 20, including, as some examples, precoding of antenna gain / phase parameters, encoding and decoding of individual bits forming communication messages, formatting of information, and overall control of apparatuses 10 and 20, including Figures 1 to 6 The process and examples shown in .

[0066] Devices 10 and 20 may also include or be coupled to memory 14 and memory 24 (internal or external), which may be coupled to processors 12 and 24, respectively, for storing information and instructions that can be executed by processors 12 and 24. Memory 14 and memory 24 may be one or more memories of any type suitable for the local application environment and may be implemented using any suitable volatile or non-volatile data storage technology (such as semiconductor-based memory devices, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, fixed memory, and / or removable memory). For example, memory 14 and memory 24 may include any combination of random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), static storage devices such as magnetic or optical disks, hard disk drives (HDDs), or any other type of non-transitory machine or computer-readable media. The instructions stored in memory 14 and memory 24 may include program instructions or computer program code that, when executed by processors 12 and 22, enable devices 10 and 20 to perform the tasks described herein.

[0067] In certain example embodiments, apparatus 10 and apparatus 20 may also include or be coupled to a (internal or external) drive or port configured to accept and read an external computer-readable storage medium, such as an optical disc, a USB drive, a flash drive, or any other storage medium. For example, the external computer-readable storage medium may store programs for execution by processors 12 and 22 and / or apparatuses 10 and 20 to perform Figures 1 to 6 Any computer program or software of the methods and examples shown in.

[0068] In some example embodiments, apparatus 10 and apparatus 20 may further include or be coupled to one or more antennas 15 and 25 for receiving downlink signals and transmitting them from apparatus 10 and apparatus 20 via the UL. Apparatus 10 and apparatus 20 may further include transceivers 18 and 28 configured to transmit and receive information. Transceivers 18 and 28 may further include a radio interface (e.g., a modem) coupled to antennas 15 and 25. The radio interface may correspond to a variety of radio access technologies, including one or more of GSM, LTE, LTE-A, 5G, NR, WLAN, NB-IoT, Bluetooth, BT-LE, NFC, RFID, UWB, etc. The radio interface may include other components, such as filters, converters (e.g., digital-to-analog converters, etc.), symbol demappers, signal shaping components, inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) modules, etc., to process symbols carried by the downlink or UL, such as OFDMA symbols.

[0069] For example, transceivers 18 and 28 may be configured to modulate information onto a carrier waveform for transmission by antennas 15 and 25, and to demodulate information received via antennas 15 and 25 for further processing by other components of apparatuses 10 and 20. In other example embodiments, transceivers 18 and 28 may be capable of directly transmitting and receiving signals or data. Additionally or alternatively, in some example embodiments, apparatus 10 may include input and / or output devices (I / O devices). In certain example embodiments, apparatuses 10 and 20 may also include a user interface, such as a graphical user interface or a touch screen.

[0070] In certain example embodiments, memory 14 and memory 24 store software modules that provide functionality when executed by processor 12 and processor 22. These modules may include, for example, an operating system that provides operating system functionality for device 10 and device 20. The memory may also store one or more functional modules, such as applications or programs, to provide additional functionality for device 10 and device 20. The components of device 10 and device 20 may be implemented in hardware, or as any suitable combination of hardware and software. According to certain example embodiments, device 10 and device 20 may optionally be configured to communicate with each other via a wireless or wired communication link 70 (in any combination) according to any radio access technology (such as NR).

[0071] According to certain example embodiments, processors 12 and 22 and memories 14 and 24 may be included in or form part of a processing circuit or a control circuit. In addition, in some example embodiments, transceivers 18 and 28 may be included in or form part of a transceiver circuit.

[0072] For example, in certain example embodiments, apparatus 10 may be controlled by memory 14 and processor 12 to identify a configuration for assistance information. According to certain example embodiments, the assistance information indicates power amplifier efficiency of the apparatus or indicates power consumption of the apparatus. Apparatus 10 may also be controlled by memory 14 and processor 12 to determine assistance information based at least in part on the configuration. Apparatus 10 may also be controlled by memory 14 and processor 12 to report the determined assistance information to a network element.

[0073] In other example embodiments, apparatus 20 may be controlled by memory 24 and processor 22 to transmit a configuration for assistance information to a user equipment. Apparatus 20 may also be controlled by memory 24 and processor 22 to receive a report of assistance information from the user equipment based at least in part on the configuration. According to certain example embodiments, the determined assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency or user equipment power consumption.

[0074] In some example embodiments, an apparatus (e.g., apparatus 10 and / or apparatus 20) may include components for performing the methods, processes, or any variations discussed herein. Examples of components may include one or more processors, memories, controllers, transmitters, receivers, and / or computer program code for causing operations to be performed.

[0075] Certain example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus comprising means for performing any of the methods described herein, including, for example, means for identifying a configuration for assistance information. According to certain example embodiments, the assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency of the apparatus or indicate power consumption of the apparatus. The apparatus may further comprise means for determining assistance information based at least in part on the configuration. The apparatus may further comprise means for reporting the determined assistance information to a network element.

[0076] Other example embodiments may be directed to an apparatus comprising means for performing any of the methods described herein, including, for example, means for transmitting a configuration for assistance information to a user equipment. The apparatus may also include means for receiving, from the user equipment, a report of assistance information determined at least in part based on the configuration. According to certain example embodiments, the determined assistance information may indicate power amplifier efficiency or indicate user equipment power consumption.

[0077] Certain example embodiments described herein provide several technical improvements, enhancements, and / or advantages to mitigate, avoid, and / or prevent the aforementioned disadvantages. For example, in some example embodiments, the UE may achieve greater power savings while taking into account system-level constraints (e.g., interference management) and UE PA characteristics, and potentially reduce latency or increase throughput. In other example embodiments, the UE may achieve power savings and / or increase UE battery life while taking into account system-level aspects. In addition, potential throughput enhancements and / or latency reductions (e.g., in some cases, HARQ retransmissions may be avoided while saving UE power) may be achieved.

[0078] The computer program product may include one or more computer-executable components that are configured to perform certain exemplary embodiments when the program is executed. The one or more computer-executable components may be at least one software code or portion thereof. Modifications and configurations required to implement the functionality of certain exemplary embodiments may be performed as routines, which may be implemented as added or updated software routines. The software routines may be downloaded to a device.

[0079] By way of example, software or computer program code or portions thereof may be in source code form, object code form, or some intermediate form, and may be stored on some carrier, distribution medium, or computer-readable medium, which may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. Such carriers may include, for example, recording media, computer memories, read-only memories, optoelectronic and / or electrical carrier signals, telecommunications signals, and software distribution packages. Depending on the required processing power, the computer program may be executed in a single electronic digital computer, or the computer program may be distributed across multiple computers. The computer-readable medium or computer-readable storage medium may be a non-transitory medium.

[0080] In other example embodiments, the functions may be performed by hardware or circuitry included in a device (e.g., device 10 or device 20), such as by using an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable gate array (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), or any other combination of hardware and software. In yet another example embodiment, the functions may be implemented as signals, non-tangible components that may be carried by electromagnetic signals downloaded from the Internet or other networks.

[0081] According to certain example embodiments, an apparatus such as a node, a device or a corresponding component may be configured as a circuit, a computer or a microprocessor (such as a single-chip computer element), or as a chipset that includes at least a memory for providing storage capacity for arithmetic operations and an operation processor for performing arithmetic operations.

[0082] Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present disclosure, as discussed above, can be practiced using processes in a different order and / or using hardware elements in configurations different from those disclosed. Therefore, while the present disclosure has been described based on these example embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that certain modifications, variations, and alternative configurations will be apparent while remaining within the spirit and scope of the example embodiments. Although the above embodiments relate to 5G NR and LTE technologies, the above embodiments may also be applied to any other current or future 3GPP technologies, such as LTE-Advanced and / or fourth generation (4G) technologies.

[0083] Clause 1. An apparatus for communication, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: identify a configuration for assistance information, wherein the assistance information indicates power amplifier efficiency of the apparatus or indicates power consumption of the apparatus; determine the assistance information based at least in part on the configuration; and report the determined assistance information to a network element.

[0084] Clause 2. An apparatus according to clause 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to at least: receive an uplink transmission schedule or an uplink power configuration from a network element, wherein the uplink transmission schedule or the uplink power configuration is determined at least in part based on the determined auxiliary information.

[0085] Clause 3. An apparatus according to clause 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to at least: receive an identified configuration from a network element for determining auxiliary information, wherein the identified configuration includes at least one target threshold or target range for power amplifier efficiency or power consumption.

[0086] Clause 4. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the power amplifier efficiency or power consumption of the apparatus is related to the power amplifier efficiency or power consumption at a reference uplink transmit power of the apparatus.

[0087] Clause 5. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the power amplifier efficiency or power consumption of the apparatus is related to a maximum power amplifier efficiency or maximum power consumption of the apparatus.

[0088] Clause 6. An apparatus according to clause 1, wherein the determination of the auxiliary information comprises determining an absolute output power level or a relative output power level, and wherein the indication of the power consumption or power amplifier efficiency of the apparatus is below, greater than, or equal to at least one target threshold or within a target range.

[0089] Clause 7. The apparatus of clause 6, wherein the indication of power consumption of the apparatus is related to a maximum power amplifier efficiency of the apparatus or a maximum power consumption of the apparatus.

[0090] Clause 8. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the assistance information is requested via at least one of: a radio resource control request, a medium access control control element, or downlink control information.

[0091] Clause 9. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the assistance information reporting is triggered by at least one of: a bandwidth fraction handover, or a power level change to a predefined set of power levels.

[0092] Clause 10. The apparatus of clause 9, wherein the assistance information is reported once as a capability or in an aperiodic manner.

[0093] Clause 1]. The apparatus according to clause 1, wherein the assistance information is configured to be sent per frequency band or frequency band combination, or per cell or cell group.

[0094] Clause 12. The apparatus of clause 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to at least: indicate to a network element that the apparatus has low battery life or that the apparatus is a low-power device, or request emergency power conservation measures from the network element.

[0095] Clause 13. An apparatus according to any one of clauses 1 to 12, wherein the instructions, when executed by at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to at least: indicate whether the power amplifier efficiency of the apparatus is less sensitive or more sensitive to variations in transmit power, so that a network element can prioritize apparatuses with more sensitive conditions.

[0096] Clause 14. An apparatus for communication, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: send a configuration for auxiliary information to a user equipment; and receive a report of auxiliary information determined at least in part based on the configuration from the user equipment, wherein the determined auxiliary information indicates power amplifier efficiency or indicates user equipment power consumption.

[0097] Clause 15. A method for communication, comprising: identifying a configuration for assistance information, wherein the assistance information indicates power amplifier efficiency of a user equipment or indicates user equipment power consumption; determining the assistance information based at least in part on the configuration; and reporting the determined assistance information to a network element.

[0098] Clause 16. A method for communication, comprising: sending a configuration for assistance information to a user equipment; and receiving a report of assistance information determined from the user equipment based at least in part on the configuration, wherein the determined assistance information indicates power amplifier efficiency or indicates user equipment power consumption.

[0099] Partial glossary: 3GPP Third Generation Partnership Project 5G fifth generation 5GCN 5G Core Network 5GS 5G system BS Base Station BW Bandwidth CBD candidate beam detection CSI Channel State Information DCI Downlink Control Indicator DL Downlink DRX Discontinuous Reception eNB Enhanced Node B EPRE Energy per resource element ET Envelope Tracking E-UTRAN Evolved UTRAN EVM Error Vector Magnitude FDD Frequency Division Duplex FR frequency range LTE Long Term Evolution MAC CE Medium Access Control Element MCS modulation and coding scheme MPR Maximum Power Reduction NR New Radio OBO Output Power Back-off PA power amplifier PAE power amplifier increases efficiency PAPR Peak to Average Power Ratio PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel PH Power Headroom PHR Power Headroom Report PSD power spectral density PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared Channel RB Resource Block QoS Quality of Service RE resource element RRC Radio Resource Control Rx Receiver SNR / SNIR Signal-to-Noise Ratio / Signal-to-Interference-and-Noise Ratio TDD Time Division Duplex Tput throughput TRP Transmit Receiving Point Tx Transmitter UCI Uplink Control Information UE User Equipment UL Uplink

Claims

1. A device for communication, comprising: at least one processor; as well as at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: identifying a configuration for auxiliary information, wherein the auxiliary information indicates power amplifier efficiency of the apparatus or indicates power consumption of the apparatus; determining the assistance information based at least in part on the configuration; as well as The determined assistance information is reported to a network element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to at least: An uplink transmission schedule or an uplink power configuration is received from the network element, wherein the uplink transmission schedule or the uplink power configuration is determined based at least in part on the determined assistance information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the apparatus to at least: receiving, from said network element, said identified configuration for said determining of said assistance information, The identified configuration includes at least one target threshold or target range for power amplifier efficiency or power consumption.

4. The device according to claim 1, The power amplifier efficiency or the power consumption of the device is related to the power amplifier efficiency or the power consumption at a reference uplink transmission power of the device. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the power amplifier efficiency or the power consumption of the apparatus is related to a maximum power amplifier efficiency or a maximum power consumption of the apparatus.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said determining of said auxiliary information comprises determining an absolute output power level or a relative output power level, and The power consumption of the device or the indication of the power amplifier efficiency is lower than, greater than or equal to at least one target threshold or within a target range. 7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the indication information of the power consumption of the apparatus is related to a maximum power amplifier efficiency of the apparatus or a maximum power consumption of the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the assistance information is requested by at least one of: Radio Resource Control Request, Media Access Control Element, or Downlink control information.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the assistance information report is triggered by at least one of the following: Bandwidth partial switching, or The power level changes to a predefined set of power levels.

10. A method for communication, comprising: identifying a configuration for auxiliary information, wherein the auxiliary information indicates a power amplifier efficiency of a user equipment or indicates power consumption of the user equipment; determining the assistance information based at least in part on the configuration; as well as The determined assistance information is reported to a network element.

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