Power Amplifier Overdrive Regime for Uplink Reliability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional radio communications systems face challenges in providing high reliability and low latency for uplink transmissions, particularly in mission-critical communication scenarios, due to limitations in coverage and the inability to exploit time diversity due to latency constraints.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that allow for overdriving the power amplifier of a transmitter to increase transmission power for specific data symbols, with coordinated permission from the base station, while maintaining compliance with predetermined maximum average device output power and spectral emission masks, enhancing coverage and reliability for mission-critical and ultra-reliable low latency communications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the power amplifier is operated in conventional regime to comply with maximum output power limits, then spectral emission masks are satisfied, but transmission power is insufficient for reliable uplink coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuplink transmission reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission power

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The power amplifier operates in two distinct regimes: conventional regime for most transmissions and overdrive regime for critical data symbols. The system dynamically switches between these regimes based on the importance of data symbols, allowing high transmission power for critical symbols while maintaining compliance for non-critical transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of uniformly increasing power for all transmissions, the invention applies overdrive regime selectively only to specific critical data symbols that require enhanced reliability. This localized application of high power ensures that spectral emission masks are not violated while providing targeted power boosting where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If transmission power is increased for critical data symbols, then uplink coverage is improved, but maximum average output power limits may be exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuplink coverageVSAvoidaverage output power

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial overdrive action by transmitting only selected critical data symbols in overdrive regime rather than all symbols. This partial application allows the device to achieve enhanced coverage for important symbols while keeping the average power within acceptable limits by muting or reducing power for non-critical symbols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The power amplifier alternates between conventional and overdrive regimes in a periodic manner, with overdrive applied intermittently only when critical data symbols need transmission. This periodic switching allows the system to maintain compliance with average power limits while providing periodic power bursts for critical communications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Power

If overdrive regime is used without coordination, then transmission power is maximized, but interference to other users increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission powerVSAvoidinterference to other users

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The base station provides feedback to the device indicating whether overdrive regime is permitted for upcoming transmissions. The device monitors this feedback and adjusts its power amplifier operation accordingly, using overdrive regime only when explicitly permitted by the base station, thereby coordinating power usage and minimizing interference to other users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The base station acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the device's need for high power transmission and the network's need to control interference. The base station grants permission for overdrive regime based on current network conditions, serving as a mediator that allows high power transmission only when it will not harm other users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Area of stationary object

If conventional power amplification is used, then spectral emission masks are satisfied, but transmission power is limited reducing coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidtransmission power

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the power amplifier's operating regime based on the criticality of data symbols. For critical symbols requiring extended coverage, the system switches to overdrive regime, temporarily exceeding conventional power limits to achieve the necessary coverage area while maintaining spectral compliance through selective application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10979980B2Method and apparatus for performing permissable amplifying of one or more data symbols using an overdrive regime

Publication Date: 2021.04.13 ALCATEL LUCENT SA

AI summary

The invention relates to a device for a radio communications system, the device including: a processing unit; a memory unit; and a transceiver including a transmitter provided with a power amplifier; wherein said device is configurable to: send a request to a base station of said communications system for permission of transmission of one or more data symbols, the one or more data symbols being amplified with the power amplifier in an overdrive regime; receive a grant for such transmission; amplify the one or more data symbols with the power amplifier of the transmitter in the overdrive regime; and transmit the one or more data symbols to the base station.