Sub-frame Allocation for Low Power LTE Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low power LTE devices face challenges with limited RF range and power consumption, leading to inefficient sub-frame allocation in existing LTE networks, which affects battery life and network capacity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a sub-frame allocation method where user equipment (UE) can request allocations based on its power state, merging un-allocated and closest allocated sub-frames, and using a downlink assignment index to manage acknowledged and unacknowledged sub-frames, allowing for dynamic switching between UL sub-frame allocations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If sub-frame allocation is optimized for low power devices, then power consumption is reduced, but network capacity may be impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the uplink sub-frames into different allocation patterns based on power state. Low power devices receive a subset of uplink sub-frames (e.g., every other sub-frame) while full power devices receive all uplink sub-frames. This segmentation allows the network to accommodate power-constrained devices without significantly impacting overall network capacity, as full power devices can utilize all available resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic sub-frame allocation that adapts to the power state of devices. The network can dynamically adjust which uplink sub-frames are allocated to low power devices based on their current power state, allowing them to switch between different allocation patterns. This dynamic approach optimizes power consumption while maintaining network flexibility and capacity.
2Duration of action of moving object
If transmit duty cycle is reduced for low power devices, then battery life is extended, but RF range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic transmit opportunities for low power devices through duty-cycled sub-frame allocation. Instead of continuous transmission, devices transmit periodically at reduced duty cycles (e.g., 50% or lower), which extends battery life by reducing the time the radio is active. The periodic nature of these allocations ensures that devices maintain connectivity while consuming less power, accepting limited RF range as a trade-off for extended battery operation.
3Ease of operation
If downlink association sets are merged for un-allocated sub-frames, then acknowledgment management is simplified, but sub-frame allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the downlink association sets of un-allocated uplink sub-frames with adjacent allocated sub-frames. This merging simplifies acknowledgment management by consolidating multiple downlink sub-frames into a single uplink transmission opportunity, reducing the number of separate acknowledgment messages needed. While this increases the complexity of managing the merged association sets, it significantly simplifies the overall acknowledgment process and reduces signaling overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) and base station may implement improved communication methods which enable a UE to operate according to a sub-frame allocation based on its current power state. The UE may transmit information including a maximum number of uplink (UL) sub-frames the UE can transmit in an allocation period and receive, from a base station, a first sub-frame allocation based on at least the first information. In embodiments, the UE may merge an un-allocated UL sub-frame's downlink association set with a next closest allocated UL sub-frame's downlink association set.