Dynamic Power Category Selection for Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced wireless networks, such as 5G and mmW systems, consume excessive power due to increased complexity and hardware usage, leading to battery life issues and unnecessary power wastage in areas with limited coverage or directional transmissions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing power consumption categories that allow wireless devices to dynamically adjust ADC/DAC resolutions, antenna configurations, and circuitry usage based on traffic demands, path loss conditions, and device capabilities, enabling the network to explicitly or autonomously select power-saving configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If advanced wireless network components and processes are used to improve network performance, then network performance is improved, but power consumption by wireless devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power consumption category selection where the UE can switch between different power categories (0-3) based on current network conditions, device capabilities, and traffic demands. The base station receives capability information from the UE and configures appropriate power categories, allowing the system to adapt between high-performance modes and power-saving modes in real-time, resolving the contradiction between maintaining network performance and reducing power consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more hardware components are configured in wireless devices to support advanced networks, then network capability is enhanced, but battery life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of hardware components by defining different power consumption categories that configure various hardware settings including ADC/DAC resolutions, antenna configurations, and circuitry usage. Instead of permanently configuring all hardware components, the system dynamically adjusts parameter settings based on actual network needs, allowing the device to maintain enhanced network capability when required while extending battery life during normal operation.
3Measurement precision
If high-resolution ADC/DAC and multiple antennas are used, then communication performance is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring specific hardware components with different resolutions and capabilities based on actual needs. Different power consumption categories configure different ADC/DAC resolutions (e.g., 6-bit vs 10-bit) and different antenna configurations (e.g., 1 antenna vs 4 antennas). This allows the system to use high-resolution components locally when needed for specific communication tasks while using lower-resolution components for other functions, optimizing the balance between communication performance and power consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
The described techniques provide for the identification and utilization of different power consumption categories by a user equipment (UE) in wireless communications system. A power consumption category may correspond to a power consumption level (e.g., a powered circuitry configuration) of the UE. For example, a power consumption category may configure an analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) resolution, a digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) resolution, a number of antennas, etc., that a UE may employ for communications. In some examples, a UE may report capability information to a base station, and the base station may use the information to explicitly or implicitly (e.g., via conveying thresholds or conditions to the UE for power consumption category switching or power consumption category selection) configure the UE with various power consumption categories. As such, the power consumption categories may be used by the base station and UE, in some scenarios, for reducing power consumption.