Power Sharing Carrier Sets for LTE-A Uplink Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

In carrier aggregation for radio technologies like LTE-A, managing power amplifiers for multiple carriers is challenging, especially when carriers are in different frequency bands, affecting scheduling and uplink transmission efficiency.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of power sharing carrier sets, where carriers sharing the same power amplifier are grouped together, allowing for flexible power management and efficient uplink transmissions, with features like joint scheduling and power scaling to ensure total power does not exceed maximum allowable limits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If multiple carriers use separate power amplifiers, then each carrier can be transmitted independently, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent carrier transmissionVSAvoidnumber of power amplifiers
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple power amplifiers into a single shared power amplifier for transmitting multiple carriers. The base station groups carriers that can share the same power amplifier, reducing the total number of power amplifiers needed while maintaining the ability to independently control transmission on each carrier through scheduling and power allocation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If a power amplifier is shared between multiple carriers, then device complexity is reduced, but scheduling and power management become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of power amplifiersVSAvoidscheduling and power management
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments carriers into different groups based on their power amplifier sharing relationships. Each group of carriers that share a power amplifier is managed as a separate entity with its own power allocation and scheduling rules. This segmentation allows the system to manage power sharing complexity on a per-group basis rather than across all carriers simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary scheduling mechanism at the base station that mediates between multiple carriers sharing a power amplifier. This intermediary layer handles power allocation, scheduling decisions, and coordination between carriers, abstracting the complexity from the power amplifier itself and enabling easier management of shared resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If power is reduced on some component carriers to meet UE capabilities, then total power requirements are satisfied, but uplink transmission efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower requirement complianceVSAvoiduplink transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic power allocation and scheduling that adapts to real-time conditions. When a UE's total power requirements exceed its capabilities, the system dynamically adjusts power distribution across carriers, selects which carriers to transmit on, and modifies transmission parameters to meet power constraints while maximizing uplink transmission efficiency within the available power budget.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2465309B1Method and apparatus for configuring a power sharing carrier set in the context of carrier aggregation
Publication Date: 2016.10.05 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2465309B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2465309B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2465309B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and apparatus for configuring a power sharing carrier set on a user equipment having multiple component carriers, the method receiving an indication from a network that carrier configuration information is supported in a cell of the network; providing at least one of capability information regarding carriers and bands supported by the user equipment and power sharing information the user equipment is capable of supporting; and obtaining configuration information for power sharing carrier sets. Furthermore, a network element for to providing a power sharing carrier set configuration, the network element configured to: send an indication from a network that carrier configuration information is supported in a cell of the network; receive at least one of capability information regarding carriers and bands supported by a user equipment and power sharing information the user equipment is capable of supporting; and provide configuration information for power sharing carrier sets.