Sounding Reference Signal Power Control in Wireless Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile communication systems face challenges in managing the increased demand for data traffic, high data rates, numerous connected devices, low latency, and energy efficiency, particularly in supporting advanced technologies like dual connectivity, massive MIMO, and NOMA, where legacy SRS power control mechanisms are inadequate for optimizing downlink channel acquisition and capacity enhancement.

Innovation Solution

A method is proposed to transmit a sounding reference signal (SRS) with independent power control for both legacy and additional SRS, using a specific power headroom report message to enable separate power management for each, even in scenarios where the additional SRS is configured in secondary cells, ensuring efficient power control without affecting conventional power headroom report operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If independent power control is implemented for additional SRS, then downlink channel acquisition and capacity are enhanced, but device complexity and power management overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownlink channel acquisition efficiencyVSAvoidpower control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power control mechanism is segmented into separate control paths: legacy SRS power control and additional SRS power control. Each type has its own power headroom report (PHR) mechanism, allowing independent optimization without interfering with the other. The additional SRS PHR is specifically designed to report power status only for additional SRS transmissions, while legacy SRS continues to use the conventional PHR approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different power control strategies are applied to different SRS types based on their specific requirements. Additional SRS, which is used for downlink channel acquisition and capacity enhancement, receives dedicated power control treatment with separate PHR reporting. This local quality approach ensures that each SRS type gets the appropriate power management without unnecessary complexity from universal reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate power headroom report is implemented for additional SRS, then independent power control is achieved, but message overhead and signaling complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower control flexibilityVSAvoidmessage overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The power headroom report mechanism is designed with multi-functionality to handle both legacy SRS and additional SRS scenarios. The same PHR message structure and reporting procedures are reused, with the addition of a specific field indicator to differentiate between SRS types. This universal approach allows the system to maintain flexibility for independent power control while avoiding the need for entirely separate messaging protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The additional SRS power headroom information is nested within the existing power headroom report framework. Rather than creating a completely separate reporting mechanism, the solution embeds the additional SRS PHR field within the conventional PHR message structure, allowing efficient packing of multiple power status reports in a single message transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Productivity

If additional SRS is configured in secondary cell, then downlink capacity is enhanced, but power management complexity across multiple cells increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownlink capacityVSAvoidmulti-cell power management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Power control is segmented at the cell level, with each secondary cell (SCell) having its own independent power headroom report mechanism for additional SRS. This segmentation allows the UE to manage power independently for each cell's additional SRS configuration, preventing the accumulation of complexity across multiple cells while still enabling enhanced downlink capacity through multi-cell operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4024968B1Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving sounding reference signal in wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4024968B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b)
  • EP4024968B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4024968B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of transmitting a sounding reference signal (SRS) by a terminal in a wireless communication system, according to an embodiment of the present specification, comprises: receiving configuration information related to transmission of a sounding reference signal (SRS); transmitting a message including information on power headroom (PH) related to the transmission power of the SRS; and receiving DCI triggering the transmission of the SRS; and transmitting the SRS with transmission power on the basis of a transmission power control command (TPC command) related to control of the transmission power. The SRS is set in a region consisting of at least one symbol excluding the last symbol of a subframe; the message comprises at least one specific field; and the specific field is associated with a specific type of power headroom report.