Power Headroom Report Configuration for Carrier Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile communication systems supporting carrier aggregation, existing technologies face challenges in efficiently configuring Power Headroom Reports (PHR) for User Equipment (UE), particularly in managing uplink transmission power across multiple carriers, leading to suboptimal data rates and potential interference.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for configuring PHR in a mobile communication system that generates a header with a Logical Channel IDentifier (LCID) and length indicator, allowing Power Headrooms (PHs) of multiple activated carriers to be inserted into an extended PHR, enabling efficient reporting of PHs for individual carriers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the UE uses a single uplink carrier and single downlink carrier with existing PHR configuration, then the PHR configuration is simple, but it cannot support carrier aggregation and leads to suboptimal data rates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier aggregation supportVSAvoidPHR configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The PHR is segmented into multiple parts, each corresponding to a different carrier. The MAC PDU includes separate PH fields for primary carrier and secondary carrier, allowing independent power headroom reporting for each carrier while maintaining a unified reporting structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The PHR mechanism is extended to serve multiple carriers simultaneously. The same PHR reporting structure is made universal to accommodate both single-carrier and carrier aggregation scenarios, with the ability to include or exclude secondary carrier PH fields based on configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If separate PHR reports are generated for each carrier in carrier aggregation, then accurate power headroom information is available for each carrier, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower headroom information accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple PHR reports for different carriers are merged into a single MAC PDU. The combined PHR includes power headroom information for both primary and secondary carriers in one reporting message, reducing the number of separate transmissions required while maintaining accurate per-carrier power information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the transmission power determination algorithm is designed for single carrier operation, then the algorithm is simple, but it cannot be applied to carrier aggregation scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealgorithm simplicityVSAvoidcarrier aggregation compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The transmission power determination algorithm is made dynamic to adapt between single-carrier and carrier aggregation modes. The algorithm automatically selects which PH field to use based on the current carrier aggregation configuration, and the PHR structure dynamically includes or excludes secondary carrier information based on activation state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10194405B2Method and apparatus for configuring power headroom information in mobile communication system supporting carrier aggregation

Publication Date: 2019.01.29 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method and apparatus for configuring Power Headroom Report (PHR) of a User Equipment (UE) efficiently in a mobile communication system supporting carrier aggregation are provided. The method includes generating a header including a LCID for identifying extended PHR and L indicating a length of the extended PHR, and inserting Power Headrooms (PHs) of multiple activated carriers into the extended PHR of one of the carriers.