Cellular IoT Channel Structure for Low Power Operation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cellular IoT systems are not power efficient for low-throughput, infrequently communicating devices, as they often require simultaneous uplink and downlink capabilities and are not designed for devices with limited battery life, making them costly to upgrade and inefficient in terms of power usage.

Innovation Solution

A channel structure that allows IoT devices to synchronize with a common waveform, determine physical layer IDs, and perform random access procedures using a predetermined delay between control and data channel transmissions, enabling low power states and efficient resource allocation through flexible time and frequency tiling patterns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a wireless system is designed to serve devices with large battery capacity and high throughput, then system performance is improved, but power consumption increases and devices cannot effectively communicate when power is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments communication resources into distinct time and frequency slots, allowing devices to activate only during their assigned segments. This segmentation enables power-limited IoT devices to communicate effectively without requiring continuous high-power transmission, resolving the contradiction between throughput and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic communication cycles with predetermined delays between control channel transmissions and data channel transmissions. Devices can enter low-power states during these predetermined intervals, achieving periodic activation that maintains communication functionality while significantly reducing average power consumption compared to continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If simultaneous uplink and downlink communication is implemented, then communication efficiency is improved, but power consumption increases and simple IoT devices cannot effectively communicate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments communication into separate time slots for uplink and downlink, rather than requiring simultaneous operation. This time-division approach allows simple IoT devices to communicate effectively by activating only during their designated slots, eliminating the need for complex simultaneous transmission hardware while maintaining communication efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes predetermined delays between control channel transmissions and data channel transmissions, allowing devices to prepare for communication in advance and enter low-power states during non-communication periods. This preliminary scheduling enables efficient resource allocation without requiring devices to maintain continuous active state for simultaneous uplink and downlink communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If network components such as base stations are rebuilt to support power-limited devices, then compatibility with IoT devices is improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoiddeployment cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal channel structure that can serve both high-throughput devices and power-limited IoT devices within the same network infrastructure. By implementing flexible time and frequency resource allocation that works for all device types, the system achieves multi-functionality without requiring separate network components or costly base station rebuilds, thereby maintaining device compatibility while avoiding increased deployment costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3205144B1Channel structure for a cellular internet of things system
Publication Date: 2018.07.25 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3205144B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3205144B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3205144B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE). A UE may synchronize with a cell using a waveform known to the UE beforehand, and common to a group of cells. The UE may determine a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) time. The UE may receive the PBCH and determine a physical layer identification (ID) for the cell and a frequency for uplink transmissions. The PBCH may also indicate a channel configuration, which may enable the UE to perform a random access procedure. The channel configuration may include a time/frequency resource configuration of a shared traffic channel. In some cases, the UE may determine resources for data transmission based on an index of a control channel transmission. In some cases, there may be a predetermined delay between control channel transmissions and data channel transmissions. The UE may then enter a low power state during the delay.