Uplink Relay for Wireless Powered IoT Backscatter Range Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G NR systems lack mechanisms to efficiently support wireless powered IoT devices, particularly due to limited range, insufficient link budget, and interference issues, which hinder the effective configuration and operation of these devices in various applications such as asset management and logistics.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves configuring a base station to transmit power and information signals to wireless powered IoT devices, enabling them to relay backscatter transmissions through a user equipment (UE), which decodes and relays these transmissions back to the base station using scheduled PUSCH resources, thereby overcoming range and interference limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If wireless powered IoT devices transmit data directly to the base station, then the base station can receive data, but the transmission range is limited and link budget is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
A UE acts as an intermediary relay node between the wireless powered IoT device and the base station. The IoT device transmits data to the UE, which then relays the data to the base station. This two-hop transmission path extends the effective communication range while maintaining sufficient link budget at each hop, resolving the contradiction between range and reliability.
2Productivity
If multiple UEs and IoT devices access the network simultaneously, then network capacity increases, but interference and congestion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network accesses are segmented into different time resources. The base station configures specific time slots for IoT device transmissions and separate time slots for UE relay transmissions. This time-division multiplexing reduces simultaneous interference while maintaining high network capacity by allowing more devices to access the network across different time periods.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the base station transmits power signals to wireless powered IoT devices, then the IoT devices can be powered, but the operational range is limited by power signal attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The UE serves as a power signal relay, receiving power signals from the base station and forwarding them to the wireless powered IoT devices. This extends the operational range of power signal transmission while maintaining sufficient power delivery, as the power signal only needs to reach the UE (which is closer to the base station) and then be retransmitted to the IoT device.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the operational range and reliability of wireless powered IoT devices by providing energy and configuration for efficient data relay, improving network performance and supporting diverse IoT applications.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting, to the one or more IoT devices, a power signal configured to provide energy for the one or more IoT devices to power communication circuitry
Implementation Method 2
detecting the at least one transmission from the one or more wireless powered IoT devices based on the configuration information for the one or more wireless powered IoT devices
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and devices for wireless communication that support mechanisms for configuring an uplink relay for wireless powered IoT operations in a wireless communication system. A base station transmits a power signal to wireless powered IoT devices. The wireless powered IoT devices harvest energy from the power signal to power their reception/transmission circuitry. The base station transmits an information signal to trigger the wireless powered IoT devices to reflect a backscatter transmission. The wireless powered IoT devices transmit a backscatter transmission in response to receiving the information signal from the base station. The base station transmits configurations to a UE including configuration information respectively corresponding to the wireless powered IoT devices, and include information that the UE may use to detect the backscatter transmissions from the wireless powered IoT devices and relay them to the base station based on the configurations.