Power Headroom Reporting in 5G LAA Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G communication systems, especially in Licensed-Assisted Access (LAA) systems, there is a challenge in efficiently managing power headroom and reporting power headroom information due to the use of two-step scheduling and varying time intervals for uplink transmissions across different carriers, which leads to difficulties in power adjustment and interference management, particularly in unlicensed frequency bands.

Innovation Solution

A method where a terminal in a wireless communication system receives uplink scheduling information and identifies power headroom information for a second serving cell based on two-step scheduling, allowing for the transmission of power headroom information to a base station in a subframe identified by the second uplink scheduling information, enabling dynamic power adjustment across carriers with different time intervals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two-step scheduling is used in LAA systems to manage uplink transmissions across different carriers, then power adjustment capability is improved, but the complexity of power headroom reporting increases due to varying time intervals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower adjustment capabilityVSAvoidpower headroom reporting complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent determines power headroom information in advance (in a first subframe) before the actual uplink transmission occurs (in a second subframe). This preliminary determination allows the system to account for varying time intervals and two-step scheduling requirements, reducing the complexity of real-time power reporting while maintaining adaptability across different carriers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary reporting mechanism where power headroom information is reported on a first serving cell for a second serving cell. This intermediary approach decouples the power determination process from the actual transmission timing, allowing flexible power adjustment across carriers with different time intervals without increasing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If power headroom information is reported in real-time for each uplink transmission, then transmission efficiency is improved, but interference management becomes difficult due to varying time intervals across carriers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidinterference management difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Power headroom information is determined in advance in a first subframe before the actual uplink transmission in a second subframe. This preliminary determination allows sufficient time for interference management while maintaining transmission efficiency, as the power levels are pre-calculated considering the varying time intervals across different carriers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where power headroom information is reported to the base station, which then uses this information to adjust scheduling decisions and power allocation. This feedback loop enables effective interference management across carriers with different time intervals while maintaining high transmission efficiency through optimized resource allocation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If different time intervals are used for uplink transmissions across carriers to optimize performance, then power adjustment flexibility is improved, but accurate power headroom reporting becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower adjustment flexibilityVSAvoidpower headroom reporting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The power headroom information is determined in advance in a first subframe, allowing the system to account for the specific time interval to the actual uplink transmission in the second subframe. This preliminary determination ensures accurate power reporting even with varying time intervals across different carriers, as each carrier's power headroom is calculated based on its specific timing requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by determining power headroom information specifically for a second serving cell based on scheduling information from that cell, while reporting it on a first serving cell. This localized approach ensures that power adjustment flexibility for each carrier is maintained while achieving accurate power headroom reporting that accounts for carrier-specific time intervals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS11665650B2Method for reporting power headroom and corresponding user equipment

Publication Date: 2023.05.30 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed are a communication method and system for converging a 5th-Generation (5G) communication system for supporting higher data rates beyond a 4th-Generation (4G) system with a technology for Internet of Things (IoT), applicable to intelligent services based on the 5G communication technology and the IoT-related technology, such as smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, smart retail, security and safety services.