Radio Network Node Antenna Reconfiguration for 5G Uplink Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
5G mmWave systems face poor uplink (UL) coverage due to the significant power difference between user equipment (UE) and base stations, necessitating smaller UL bandwidths that limit data transfer rates.
Innovation Solution
A radio network node configures antenna panel elements based on whether communication is for downlink (DL) or uplink (UL) to optimize bandwidth usage, increasing elements per carrier for UL to enhance power spectral density and coverage without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If smaller UL bandwidths are used to compensate for power limitations, then uplink coverage is improved, but data transfer rates are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna panel elements are dynamically reconfigured based on communication direction (UL/DL). During UL communication, more elements are activated to increase beamforming gain and improve coverage. During DL communication, the full bandwidth is utilized. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between coverage and data rate depending on the communication phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the number of active antenna elements and bandwidth configuration based on communication direction. For UL, the number of elements per carrier is increased to enhance power spectral density and coverage. For DL, the bandwidth is maximized. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by adapting system characteristics to operational requirements.
2Reliability
If the number of antenna elements per carrier is increased for UL, then power spectral density and coverage are enhanced, but hardware complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The antenna panel configuration is made dynamic, allowing the same hardware to be reconfigured between UL and DL modes. The system activates different numbers of elements based on communication direction, avoiding the need for permanently complex hardware while achieving enhanced UL coverage when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The antenna panel is designed to serve multiple functions: it can operate with fewer elements for UL coverage enhancement and with more elements for DL high-rate communication. This multi-functionality allows a single hardware configuration to address both coverage and capacity requirements without permanently increasing complexity.
3Productivity
If full bandwidth is allocated for DL communication, then downlink data transfer rates are maximized, but uplink coverage is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches bandwidth allocation based on communication direction. During DL slots, full bandwidth is allocated to maximize data transfer rates. During UL slots, the system reconfigures to use more antenna elements per carrier, accepting reduced bandwidth utilization to improve coverage. This temporal separation resolves the contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The bandwidth and antenna configuration are periodically adjusted according to the TDD uplink-downlink slot structure. The system alternates between DL-optimized configuration (full bandwidth) and UL-optimized configuration (more elements per carrier), allowing both high DL rates and adequate UL coverage to be achieved over time.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein may relate to a method performed by a radio network node for handling communication for a user equipment, UE, in a wireless communication network. The radio network node configures a bandwidth to use for an antenna panel of the radio network node or a part of the antenna panel based on whether communication is for DL communication or UL communication, by configuring a number of elements of the antenna panel, of the radio network node, per carrier for the UE, wherein the number of elements is based on whether communication is for DL communication or UL communication.