Antenna Module Failure Capability Signaling for Link Budget Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems do not effectively mitigate the performance degradation caused by antenna module failures in user equipment (UE), leading to a loss in link budget and quality of service due to untreated mechanical failures and assembly issues.

Innovation Solution

The UE detects antenna module failure and transmits an indication of the failure along with uplink-downlink power changes, enabling the network node to adjust the number of antenna elements to compensate for the loss in link budget, thereby improving system performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If antenna module failure is not detected and signaled, then the system operates with default configuration, but link budget loss and quality of service degradation occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality of serviceVSAvoidlink budget loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The UE detects antenna module failure and provides feedback to the network node by transmitting capability signaling indicating the failure. This feedback loop enables the network to adjust its configuration in response to the detected failure, thereby maintaining quality of service and preventing link budget loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of antenna module failure at the UE side and communicates this information to the network node before significant performance degradation occurs. This allows the network to proactively adjust its configuration to compensate for the failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the network node uses the original number of antenna elements, then the transmission configuration remains simple, but communication performance degrades due to antenna failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication performanceVSAvoidantenna element adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network node dynamically adjusts the number of antenna elements used for communication based on the failure indication received from the UE. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize communication performance while accounting for the reduced antenna capability, rather than using a fixed configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The network node changes the parameter of antenna element count in response to the capability signaling from the UE. By adjusting this key parameter, the system adapts to the antenna module failure and maintains effective communication performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If capability signaling is implemented to indicate antenna failure, then compensation is possible, but signaling overhead is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem performanceVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The capability signaling mechanism serves multiple functions: it indicates antenna module failure, communicates the affected antenna elements, and enables network configuration adjustment. By consolidating these functions into a single signaling mechanism, the system minimizes overhead while achieving comprehensive compensation for the failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250287328A1Capability signaling associated with antenna module failure

Publication Date: 2025.09.11 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may detect an antenna module failure at the UE. The UE may transmit, as part of a capability signaling, an indication of the antenna module failure and an uplink-downlink power change associated with the antenna module failure. The UE may transmit signaling associated with a power control update that is based at least in part on the antenna module failure. Numerous other aspects are described.