Antenna Recycling for Carrier Aggregation Through Dynamic Assignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communications, existing systems face inefficiencies in antenna utilization during carrier aggregation, leading to reduced communications quality and reliability due to fixed antenna quantities per component carrier, resulting in unused antennas and suboptimal throughput.
Innovation Solution
User equipment (UE) dynamically distributes antenna assignments across multiple component carriers, allowing flexible antenna recycling by reporting capabilities and adjusting antenna quantities based on bandwidth and slot formats, enabling semi-static or dynamic antenna switching to optimize antenna utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If fixed antenna quantities are assigned per component carrier, then antenna configuration is simple, but antenna utilization is reduced and throughput is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic antenna assignment where the UE can flexibly allocate antennas across multiple component carriers based on real-time scheduling decisions. The antenna assignment is no longer fixed per carrier but dynamically adjusted based on which carriers are actively scheduled for downlink transmissions, allowing the system to optimize throughput by assigning antennas to carriers with active data flows.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of antenna quantity assignment from a static per-carrier configuration to a dynamic allocation based on scheduling. The UE reports a total quantity of antennas available, and the network scheduler determines the distribution of these antennas across different component carriers based on current traffic conditions, effectively changing the antenna allocation parameter in response to system state.
2Adaptability or versatility
If antennas are fixed per component carrier, then allocation is straightforward, but antenna recycling is prevented and resource management is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables antennas to serve multiple component carriers dynamically. An antenna assigned to one carrier can be reassigned to another carrier when scheduling changes occur. This multi-functional use of antennas across different carriers increases adaptability and allows the system to optimize resource management by recycling antennas to carriers that currently have active downlink transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the UE reports its antenna capability and the network scheduler uses this information to make informed decisions about antenna allocation. The scheduler receives feedback about which carriers are scheduled and adjusts antenna assignments accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes resource management based on real-time conditions.
3Reliability
If dynamic antenna distribution is implemented, then antenna utilization is improved, but capability indication and scheduling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE report its antenna capability in advance before actual data transmission occurs. This capability indication is provided during carrier configuration or reconfiguration, allowing the network scheduler to pre-plan antenna assignments without needing complex real-time decisions. The scheduler can prepare antenna allocation strategies based on the reported capability and expected traffic patterns.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may transmit an indication of a capability of the UE to receive downlink transmissions over a plurality of component carriers with a first quantity of antennas. The UE may receive, in accordance with the indication of the capability of the UE, the downlink transmissions with at least a subset of the first quantity of antennas and over at least a subset of the plurality of component carriers.