Uplink Power Allocation for Dual Connectivity in LTE-Advanced
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Solution Overview
Problem
In LTE-Advanced wireless environments, mobile devices face challenges in managing uplink power effectively, particularly when communicating with multiple cells, as the maximum transmission power is often reached by control messages to the primary cell, leaving insufficient power for data transmission to secondary cells.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a power allocation tradeoff strategy using a Minimum Proactive Power Limitation (MPLL) per component carrier, where the UE assigns a minimum proactive power to each serving cell and prioritizes power allocation to uplink channels based on priority, ensuring that control signaling with the primary cell remains intact while allowing data offloading to secondary cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If maximum transmission power is allocated to control messages for the primary cell, then control signaling reliability is improved, but data transmission power to secondary cells deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the uplink transmission power into distinct components: control signaling power (PUCCH, PUSCH with DCI) and data transmission power (PUSCH without DCI). By separating these power allocations, the system can guarantee minimum power for control signaling while allocating remaining power to data transmissions on secondary cells, thus resolving the contradiction between control reliability and data transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different power allocation strategies to different uplink channels based on their specific requirements. Control channels (PUCCH, PUSCH with DCI) receive prioritized power allocation to ensure reliability, while data channels (PUSCH without DCI) on secondary cells receive the remaining power. This localized quality differentiation allows each channel type to receive appropriate power levels for its function.
2Reliability
If power is prioritized to primary cell control channels, then control message transmission is ensured, but data offloading capability to secondary cells deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary power allocation by first determining the power required for control signaling channels (PUCCH and PUSCH with DCI) before allocating power to data channels. This preliminary action ensures that control message transmission requirements are met first, and then the remaining power is allocated to data offloading on secondary cells, maintaining both control reliability and data productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic power allocation that adjusts power distribution between control and data channels based on actual transmission needs. The UE calculates remaining power after control channel allocation and dynamically assigns it to PUSCH on secondary cells, allowing the system to adaptively balance control reliability and data offloading capability under varying power conditions.
3Device complexity
If total transmission power is limited, then power management simplicity is improved, but uplink channel performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power management process into clear sequential steps: (1) allocate power to PUCCH, (2) allocate power to PUSCH with DCI, (3) allocate remaining power to PUSCH without DCI. This segmentation transforms a complex power allocation problem into simple, manageable steps while ensuring each uplink channel receives appropriate power levels, thus maintaining uplink performance without excessive complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of user equipment and methods for improved uplink transmission power management and scheduling, are generally described herein. For example, in an aspect, an apparatus of user equipment (UE) configurable for dual connectivity is presented, the apparatus comprising: processing circuitry; and transceiver circuitry configured to: receive signaling from a primary cell group (CG1) associated with a master eNB (MeNB), the signaling to configure the UE with a secondary cell group (CG2) for dual connectivity, the CG2 associated with a secondary eNB (SeNB); receive scheduling information, from the MeNB, for a scheduled uplink transmission in the CG1; receive scheduling information, from the SeNB, for a scheduled uplink transmission in the CG2; allocate a minimum power for the scheduled uplink transmission in the CG2 before allocating at least some remaining power to the scheduled uplink transmission in the CG1 if the scheduled uplink transmission in the CG2 includes control information and if the scheduled uplink transmission in the CG2 is determined to overlap in time with the scheduled uplink transmission in the CG1; and transmit the scheduled uplink transmission in the CG2 and the scheduled uplink transmission in the CG1 in accordance with respective power allocations.