NR Power Reporting for Fast Cell Switching and Waveform Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing NR systems face challenges in rapid and efficient power control during dynamic waveform switching and cell changes, leading to high latency, signaling overhead, and resource inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A method for power reporting in NR systems that supports dynamic waveform switching by using MAC CEs to designate power values based on cell type and waveform, allowing for flexible and accurate power control, especially during L1/L2-triggered mobility scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If L3-based serving cell change is implemented through RRC signaling, then power control can be performed, but latency is high and signaling overhead is large

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower control performanceVSAvoidswitching latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power control function from the L3 RRC layer and implements it at the L1/L2 layer through MAC CE messages. This segmentation allows power reporting to occur independently of lengthy L3 reconfiguration procedures, reducing switching latency while maintaining power control reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables preliminary power reporting for candidate cells before L3-based serving cell change is completed. By performing power control setup in advance at L1/L2, the system prepares power parameters ahead of time, reducing the actual switching latency when cell change occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If L3-based serving cell change is implemented through RRC signaling, then power control can be performed, but signaling overhead is high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower control performanceVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent separates power control signaling from L3 RRC signaling by implementing it at L1/L2 through MAC CE. This segmentation reduces L3 signaling overhead while maintaining power control functionality, as MAC CE messages are more efficient for this specific purpose.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the power control function from the L3 RRC signaling framework and implements it independently at L1/L2. This extraction eliminates redundant L3 signaling overhead associated with power control while preserving the essential power control performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If dynamic waveform switching is supported with separate power values for different waveforms, then power control accuracy is improved, but MAC CE size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower control accuracyVSAvoidMAC CE data size
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic waveform switching where the UE can switch between DFT-s-OFDM and CP-OFDM waveforms. The MAC CE structure is designed to dynamically include or exclude second power value based on whether dual-waveform support is configured, optimizing the balance between power control accuracy and message size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by making the second power value field optional in the MAC CE - it is only included when the UE is configured to support both DFT-s-OFDM and CP-OFDM. This selective inclusion maintains power control accuracy for waveform-specific scenarios while reducing MAC CE size when full waveform switching is not required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4683398A1Method used in new radio system, and apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.01.21 APOGEE 5G GLOBAL LLC
  • EP4683398A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4683398A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4683398A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed in the present application are a method used in a new radio system, and an apparatus. Serving as a response to any condition in a first condition set being satisfied, a first node striggers a first PHR for a first cell, and the first cell waits to be designated as a serving cell. The first condition set comprises: since the latest PHR transmission, changes in path loss of at least one first type of signal in the first cell exceed a first threshold, and the first threshold is configurable. The present application may transmit a PHR to a network in advance, thus better ensuring the performance of power control.