Power Headroom Reporting for Multi-Cell Coordinated Scheduling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In non-ideal backhaul conditions, conventional LTE communications systems face challenges in accurately determining the power usage state of user equipment (UE) across multiple cells, leading to potential power compression and resource waste due to the inability to dynamically coordinate scheduling across cells with large time delays and limited information exchange.

Innovation Solution

A method where the UE determines and transmits power headroom information along with channel configuration details to the controlling network device, enabling the device to accurately assess the power usage state and perform coordinated scheduling, even in non-ideal backhaul scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If carrier aggregation is implemented with non-ideal backhaul, then multi-carrier transmission capability is supported, but information exchange delay between network devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-carrier transmission capabilityVSAvoidinformation exchange delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs preliminary power headroom reporting for multiple cells before scheduling decisions are made. By reporting PH values in advance (even for cells not yet scheduled), the network device has prior information about available power resources, enabling faster scheduling decisions without waiting for real-time power status updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the UE acts as a mediator between multiple network devices (eNodeBs). The UE collects power headroom information from multiple cells and reports it to the serving eNodeB, which then uses this information for coordinated scheduling. This intermediary approach bypasses the need for direct real-time communication between distant eNodeBs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If power headroom information from multiple cells is not shared across network devices, then device complexity is reduced, but power allocation accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation exchange complexityVSAvoidpower usage state determination accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power headroom reporting function: each cell independently calculates its own PH value, and the UE segments the reporting by including PH information for multiple cells in a single report. This segmentation allows each network device to maintain independent cell management while the UE provides aggregated power status information, reducing inter-device communication complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the UE continuously reports power headroom information to the network device. This feedback loop provides the network with accurate, up-to-date power usage state information without requiring complex real-time communication between network devices. The network device uses this feedback for accurate power allocation and scheduling decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If coordinated scheduling is performed without accurate power usage information, then scheduling speed is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling speedVSAvoidresource waste due to power compression
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The network device performs preliminary analysis of power headroom information before making scheduling decisions. By having PH values reported in advance for multiple cells, the network can pre-calculate optimal power allocation and scheduling strategies, enabling fast scheduling execution without compromising resource utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical power compression mechanism with an information-based solution. Instead of physically compressing power due to lack of coordination information, the system uses PH reporting to substitute the missing information, allowing the network device to make informed scheduling decisions that avoid power compression and its associated resource waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3073796B1Transmission method and device for power usage state information
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3073796B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3073796B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3073796B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a power usage state information transmission method and apparatus. The transmission method for transmitting power usage state information according to the present invention includes: determining, by a terminal device, a power headroom PH of a second cell corresponding to the terminal device; and sending, by the terminal device to the first network device, the PH and channel configuration information corresponding to the PH. According to the embodiments of the present invention, the first network device can readily acquire, according to the PH and the channel configuration information, a power usage state of the second cell corresponding to the terminal device. In this way, transmit power of UE between different network devices can be properly allocated, and therefore, system resources are properly used.