Subcarrier Frequency Spacing Adaptation for Energy Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing multi-carrier communication systems face challenges in managing energy efficiency, particularly due to high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of signals, which affects battery life and power consumption in communication devices.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves adjusting the sub-carrier frequency spacing of multi-carrier communication signals based on an energy efficiency indicator provided by communication devices, allowing for adaptive transmission and radio resource management to optimize energy efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If iterative clipping based approach is used to reduce PAPR, then peak-to-average power ratio is reduced, but processing complexity and processing delay increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of subcarrier spacing to control PAPR. By adjusting the subcarrier spacing parameter, the system achieves PAPR reduction without requiring complex iterative clipping processing, thus resolving the contradiction between energy consumption and processing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If iterative clipping based approach is used to reduce PAPR, then peak-to-average power ratio is reduced, but spectrum regrowth increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidspectrum regrowth
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses subcarrier spacing adjustment to achieve PAPR reduction while avoiding the spectrum regrowth problem that occurs with iterative clipping methods. This parameter-based approach resolves the contradiction between energy consumption and harmful spectral emissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If filter bank spread and DFT spread based approaches are used to reduce PAPR, then peak-to-average power ratio is reduced, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs subcarrier spacing parameter adjustment as a simpler alternative to filter bank spread and DFT spread based approaches. This achieves PAPR reduction with lower processing complexity, resolving the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Use of energy by moving object

If single carrier filter-bank multi-carrier modulation is used, then peak-to-average power ratio is reduced, but flexibility of communications decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidflexibility of communications
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by allowing the network entity to adjust subcarrier spacing based on energy efficiency indicators from multiple communication devices. This dynamic parameter adjustment maintains communication flexibility while achieving PAPR reduction, resolving the contradiction between energy consumption and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3254424B1Adaptation of subcarrier frequency spacing based on energy efficiency indicator
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3254424B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3254424B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3254424B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a network entity (100) for managing communications of a plurality of communication devices within a communication network, a communication device of the plurality of communication devices being configured to transmit a multi-carrier communication signal comprising a plurality of sub-carriers, and to transmit an energy efficiency indicator indicating an energy efficiency specification of the communication device, the network entity (100) comprising a communication interface (101) being configured to receive the energy efficiency indicator over the communication network, and a processor (103) being configured to determine a sub-carrier frequency spacing of the plurality of sub-carriers upon the basis of the energy efficiency indicator, and to generate a resource block indicator associated with the communication device, wherein the resource block indicator indicates the sub-carrier frequency spacing, wherein the communication interface (101) is further configured to transmit the resource block indicator over the communication network to the communication device.