Dual-Connectivity Uplink Power Control for Overlapping Transmissions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power sharing schemes for dual connectivity (DC) in user equipment (UE) lack flexibility and efficiency, particularly in dynamic power sharing (DPS) and semi-static power sharing (SPS), leading to inefficiencies in uplink transmission power management.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a look ahead window-based DPS scheme where UE determines overlapping transmissions across master and secondary cell groups to dynamically adjust transmission power, and using maximum transmission power parameters for SPS to ensure efficient power distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic power sharing is implemented to adjust transmission power based on transmission activity, then power management flexibility is improved, but power management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower management flexibilityVSAvoidpower management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by using a look-ahead window to determine overlapping transmissions before they occur. The UE identifies time overlaps between MCG and SCG transmissions in advance, allowing the power adjustment logic to be prepared and executed systematically, reducing the complexity of real-time power management while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If semi-static power sharing is used to split transmission power between cell groups, then power distribution simplicity is improved, but power distribution efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower distribution simplicityVSAvoidpower distribution efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from static to dynamic power sharing by adjusting transmission power based on actual transmission activity detected through the look-ahead window. The UE dynamically determines whether power sharing is needed by checking for overlapping transmissions, thereby maintaining simplicity when not needed while achieving efficiency when transmissions overlap.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If transmission power is dynamically adjusted to prevent power exceedance, then compliance with maximum power limits is improved, but transmission power optimization is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompliance with maximum power limitsVSAvoidtransmission power optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring transmission activity in both MCG and SCG through the look-ahead window, comparing scheduled transmissions against maximum power limits, and adjusting power accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures compliance while optimizing power usage by adjusting transmission power only when necessary to prevent exceedance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12557030B2Uplink power control for dual connectivity

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 APPLE INC

AI summary

A user equipment (UE) configured to perform uplink power control. The UE determines that a first uplink transmission is scheduled to overlap in time with a second uplink transmission based on a look ahead window, determines a first transmission power for the first uplink transmission, determines a second transmission power for the second uplink transmission based on the first transmission power for the first uplink transmission and performs the first uplink transmission and the second uplink transmission.