Antenna Panel Switching for Wireless Device Power Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices face challenges in efficiently utilizing multiple antenna panels for improved cellular communication performance while minimizing power consumption, as maintaining all panels activated is impractical due to battery constraints.
Innovation Solution
A framework is implemented where a cellular base station and wireless device determine the necessary activation time for inactive antenna panels and adjust scheduling offsets for downlink signal reception, allowing for efficient activation of panels only when needed, thereby reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple antenna panels are maintained in an activated state, then cellular communication performance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic antenna panel activation where panels are switched between active and inactive states based on real-time communication needs. The base station determines which panels should be activated for specific transmissions, allowing the system to adapt its configuration dynamically rather than maintaining a static active state, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining performance when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs periodic activation of antenna panels based on scheduling decisions. Instead of continuous activation, panels are activated in periodic intervals or specific time slots when downlink transmissions are scheduled, allowing the device to enter low-power states between activations while still providing communication service when required.
2Use of energy by moving object
If antenna panels are activated only when needed, then power consumption is reduced, but transmission delay increases due to panel activation time
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary determination of which antenna panels need to be activated before scheduling transmissions. By anticipating which panels will be needed and preparing activation commands in advance, the system can minimize the actual activation delay experienced during transmissions, as the decision-making process is already completed before the data transmission begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the timing parameters of transmission scheduling to account for antenna panel activation delays. The base station adjusts scheduling offsets and timing advances based on the activation state of panels, allowing sufficient time for panel activation while optimizing the overall transmission timeline to minimize idle delay and maintain efficient power usage.
3Reliability
If scheduling offset is increased to allow panel activation, then panel activation is completed, but spectral efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different scheduling offset values to different transmissions and user equipment based on their specific requirements. Instead of uniformly increasing offsets for all transmissions, the base station determines the appropriate offset on a per-transmission basis, applying the minimum necessary delay only where panel activation is required, thus preserving spectral efficiency in transmissions that do not require panel switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The scheduling offset is dynamically adjusted based on the activation state of antenna panels and the specific transmission requirements. The base station monitors panel states and adapts the timing parameters in real-time, increasing offsets only when necessary for panel activation while maintaining tighter scheduling when panels are already active, thereby optimizing the balance between reliable activation and spectral efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, systems, and methods for performing downlink signal reception with antenna panel switching in a wireless communication system. A cellular base station may receive an indication of an antenna panel activation delay from a wireless device. The cellular base station may select a scheduling offset for a transmission to the wireless device based at least in part on the antenna panel activation delay. The scheduling offset may be selected to be at least the length of the antenna panel activation delay if it is expected that the wireless device may perform antenna panel activation to receive the transmission. The cellular base station may schedule the transmission to the wireless device using the selected scheduling offset, and may perform the transmission to the wireless device at the selected scheduling offset after scheduling the transmission to the wireless device.