Antenna Switching Management in Dual Connectivity UEs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in managing antenna switching during dual connectivity configurations, particularly when switching between different radio access technologies (RATs) like LTE and NR, which can cause communication disruptions due to the sharing of communication chains and antennas, leading to radio link failures and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented in user equipment (UE) to identify and select antenna switch configurations that minimize communication chain disruptions by determining the quantity of affected communication chains during antenna switching processes, allowing or blocking reconfigurations based on predefined thresholds to prevent excessive disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If antenna switching is performed during dual connectivity configuration between different RATs, then antenna diversity and communication flexibility are improved, but communication disruptions and radio link failures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of antenna switching impact before executing the switch. The UE determines the quantity of communication chains that would be affected by the antenna switching process, and only permits switching if the impact is within acceptable thresholds, thereby preventing disruptions before they occur
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the UE reports antenna switching impact information to the network. The network uses this feedback to make informed decisions about whether to permit antenna switching, creating a closed-loop control system that balances flexibility and reliability
2Adaptability or versatility
If antenna switching is allowed without restrictions, then communication flexibility is improved, but resource wastage increases due to radio link failures
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of antenna switching from unrestricted to threshold-constrained. By introducing quantitative thresholds for the number of affected communication chains, the system optimizes the balance between reconfiguration freedom and resource efficiency, permitting switches only when beneficial
3Ease of operation
If antenna switching process is simplified, then ease of operation is improved, but communication chain disruptions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna switching process is segmented into distinct evaluation and execution phases. The system first segments the assessment of impact on different communication chains, counts the affected chains, and only proceeds to the switching execution if the count is within thresholds, making the process both simple and reliable
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive an antenna switch selection associated with a dual connectivity antenna configuration, wherein the antenna switch selection is associated with a first radio access technology (RAT) and the dual connectivity antenna configuration permits communication via the first RAT and a second RAT; determine, based at least in part on the antenna switching selection, a quantity of communication chains, associated with the first RAT, that are affected by an antenna switching process of the second RAT; and selectively permit, based at least in part on the quantity of communication chains, a reconfiguration of the dual connectivity antenna configuration according to the antenna switch selection. Numerous other aspects are provided.