Dynamic Antenna Allocation for Multi-RAT User Equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited number of antennas on user equipment (UE) restricts the maximum MIMO number for wireless communication, limiting the potential benefits of higher MIMO streams supported by advanced wireless standards, as each spatial stream requires a dedicated antenna and physical space is a constraint for handheld devices.
Innovation Solution
The UE dynamically allocates antennas between different radio access technologies (RATs) by reconfiguring MIMO settings for each connection, allowing the release of antennas from one connection to enhance MIMO performance in another, such as using cellular antennas for Wi-Fi connections when necessary, by detecting preconditions like changing environments or application demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the UE is equipped with more antennas to support higher MIMO numbers, then the MIMO performance and data transmission rate are improved, but the physical size and complexity of the UE increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic antenna allocation where the UE can flexibly reconfigure which antennas are assigned to which RAT based on current communication needs. The system dynamically switches between different antenna configurations to support varying MIMO requirements of cellular and Wi-Fi connections without requiring permanent dedicated antennas for each RAT, thus achieving high MIMO performance temporarily when needed while maintaining a compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes antennas multi-functional by allowing the same physical antenna to serve different RATs at different times. Instead of having dedicated antennas for cellular and Wi-Fi, the system enables antennas to be shared and reallocated between RATs based on operational requirements, thereby reducing the total number of antennas needed while maintaining the ability to achieve high MIMO numbers when required.
2Reliability
If antennas are dedicated to specific RATs, then the MIMO performance for each RAT is stable, but the adaptability to varying communication requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic antenna allocation that allows real-time reconfiguration of antenna assignments between different RATs. When a precondition for changing MIMO settings is detected, the system can shift antennas between cellular and Wi-Fi connections as needed, providing both stability during active connections and adaptability when communication requirements change.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of antennas by modifying their assignment and configuration based on detected preconditions. The system monitors communication conditions and adjusts antenna allocation parameters dynamically, allowing the same physical antenna to operate in different modes and configurations to serve different RATs optimally under varying conditions.
3Productivity
If the UE uses a higher MIMO number for one connection, then the data transmission rate for that connection is improved, but the available antennas for other connections are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic time-sharing of antennas between different RATs. When high data transmission rate is required for one connection, the system allocates more antennas to that connection temporarily, and when the requirement changes, it reallocates antennas to the other connection. This dynamic allocation allows the UE to achieve high MIMO numbers for specific connections when needed without permanently sacrificing antenna availability for other connections.
Data Source
AI summary
Solutions pertaining to allocating antennas of a user equipment (UE) between connections using different RATs are proposed. A UE has a first connection to a first network and a second connection to a second network, each connection employing a respective radio access technology (RAT). During operation, the UE may identify a precondition of reconfiguring the connections. For example, the UE may intend to change a multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) setting of the first connection in order to release some antennas that can be allocated to the second connection to relieve a communication bottleneck thereof. Prior to reconfiguring the connections, the UE may communicate its intent to the first network. The UE may not reconfigure the connections until a confirmation is received from the first network.