User Equipment MIMO Configuration Confirmation via Antenna Power Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing communication initialization process for uplink MIMO communications in wireless devices often results in limited signal power, making communications more vulnerable to distance, environmental changes, and other transmission variables.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves the user equipment selecting a subset of antennas to send a sounding reference signal based on maximum transmit power levels, confirming the number of data layers and channel selected by the network, and adjusting the communication configuration to optimize signal power and quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the communication initialization process is used to determine MIMO configuration, then the communication setup is simplified, but the signal power is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication setupVSAvoidsignal power

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic confirmation of data layer transmission modes where the user equipment actively verifies and can modify the MIMO configuration based on real-time sensing data about antenna power levels, transforming a static initialization process into a dynamic adaptive system that optimizes signal power while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a feedback mechanism where the user equipment receives sensing data about antenna power levels and uses this information to confirm or adjust the data layer transmission mode, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes signal power while keeping the initialization process simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If the signal power is limited, then the communication configuration is simplified, but the communication reliability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication configurationVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of data layer transmission mode based on sensing data about antenna power levels, allowing the system to adapt between different transmission configurations to optimize both complexity and reliability by selecting appropriate modes rather than being fixed to a single configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If the existing initialization process is used, then the setup time is reduced, but the communication quality is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesetup timeVSAvoidcommunication quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary sensing of antenna power levels before finalizing the MIMO configuration, allowing the system to pre-determine optimal transmission modes and confirm them quickly, thereby reducing overall setup time while improving communication quality through informed configuration decisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250112673A1User equipment confirmation of network-initialized multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) communication

Publication Date: 2025.04.03 APPLE INC

AI summary

Systems and methods described herein may enable user equipment to confirm and/or change a multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) communication configuration selected by a network, such as to change a number of data layers used in the MIMO communication and/or to change one or more antennas used in the MIMO communication. The user equipment may confirm and/or change the MIMO communication configuration based on transmit power levels associated with the one or more antennas, a distance between power amplifiers and respective antennas, or the like, as described herein.