Dynamic RF Signal Chain Configuration for LTE Carrier Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication devices face challenges in balancing battery power consumption and performance while maintaining high data throughput and reliable connections to LTE networks, as existing methods for managing RF signal chains are not optimal for conserving battery power without compromising data transmission quality.
Innovation Solution
A method for configuring wireless circuitry in LTE-capable devices to dynamically adjust the number of RF receive signal chains based on traffic activity and signal conditions, disabling receive diversity when single chain suffices for reliable decoding and enabling it for improved throughput and reliability during increased data activity or poor signal conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple RF receive signal chains are used for receive diversity, then data throughput and connection reliability are improved, but battery power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration of RF signal chains based on real-time traffic activity and signal condition measurements. The wireless communication device monitors downlink data activity and RF signal conditions, then adjusts the number of active RF signal chains accordingly - using multiple chains during high-activity periods for improved throughput and reliability, and reducing to fewer chains during low-activity periods to conserve battery power.
2Reliability
If multiple RF receive signal chains are used for receive diversity, then connection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active RF signal chains based on measured traffic activity and signal conditions. During periods requiring high reliability, multiple signal chains are activated for receive diversity. During periods with lower requirements, fewer chains are used, thereby reducing the effective complexity of the device operation while maintaining reliability when needed.
3Use of energy by moving object
If RF signal chains are reduced to conserve power, then battery life is improved, but data throughput may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the wireless communication device continuously measures traffic activity levels and RF signal conditions. Based on these measurements, the device determines the appropriate number of RF signal chains to activate. This feedback-driven approach ensures that sufficient signal chains remain active to maintain required data throughput while minimizing power consumption during low-activity periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically configures the number of active RF signal chains based on real-time conditions. During high traffic activity periods, multiple chains are activated to ensure high data throughput. During low activity periods, fewer chains are activated to extend battery life, thus dynamically balancing power consumption and throughput performance.
4Loss of energy
If receive diversity is disabled during low traffic activity, then power consumption is reduced, but signal reception quality may deteriorate under poor signal conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback from RF signal condition measurements to control the activation of receive diversity. The wireless communication device measures signal conditions and, when poor conditions are detected, activates receive diversity by enabling multiple RF signal chains regardless of current traffic activity levels. This ensures signal reception quality is maintained during poor signal conditions while still achieving power savings during good signal conditions with low traffic activity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, apparatuses and computer readable media are described that configure wireless circuitry in a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device establishes a connection via one or more component carriers to a wireless network using wireless circuitry that includes multiple radio frequency receive signal chain. The wireless communication device monitors traffic activity and measures downlink radio frequency receive signal conditions for each component carrier. The wireless communication device reconfigures the wireless circuitry to use a number of RF receive signal chains that matches a maximum supportable modulation and coding scheme (MCS) value for each component carrier to MCS values assigned by the wireless network to the respective component carrier. The wireless communication device reduces the number of RF receive signal chains for a component carrier only when reliable decoding of the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and/or the physical hybrid automatic repeat request indicator channel (PHICH) can be reliably decoded.