User Equipment Cooperation for Uplink Coverage Extension

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Solution Overview

Problem

Uplink transmissions in wireless communication systems, particularly in low-power user equipment, are power-limited and face significant coverage gaps compared to downlink transmissions, due to lower transmission power and differing capabilities.

Innovation Solution

Implementing user equipment (UE) cooperation by pairing a low-power UE with a cooperative UE of higher transmit power to assist in uplink transmissions, where the cooperative UE receives a shared uplink configuration from the base station and transmits scheduled uplink transmissions on behalf of the target UE, enhancing power and coverage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If low-power UE transmits uplink signals, then power consumption is reduced, but transmission coverage is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidtransmission coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cooperative UE as an intermediary device that assists the low-power target UE in transmitting uplink signals. The cooperative UE receives signals from the target UE and retransmits them with higher power, effectively extending the transmission coverage without requiring the low-power UE to increase its own power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the transmission capabilities of multiple UEs by establishing a cooperative relationship where the target UE and cooperative UE work together. The cooperative UE combines its higher transmission power with the target UE's signals, creating a combined transmission system that overcomes the power limitations of individual low-power devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Area of stationary object

If UE increases transmit power to extend coverage, then transmission coverage improves, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission coverageVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cooperative UE serves as a mediator that provides the necessary transmission power boost. Instead of the low-power target UE increasing its own power consumption, the cooperative UE with higher power capabilities amplifies the signal, thereby extending coverage while keeping the target UE's power consumption low.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial action by having only the cooperative UE perform the high-power transmission function rather than requiring all UEs to operate at high power. This selective approach extends coverage where needed while maintaining low power consumption for the target UE during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Power

If multiple UEs cooperate for uplink transmission, then transmission power and coverage improve, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission powerVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station acts as a coordinator and mediator that manages the complexity of multi-UE cooperation. It assigns cooperative relationships, controls power levels, and coordinates timing between the target UE and cooperative UE, thereby enabling improved transmission power while keeping the system manageable through centralized control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary configuration where the base station pre-establishes cooperative UE relationships and power settings before actual transmission occurs. This advance setup simplifies the real-time operation by having pre-configured parameters, reducing the complexity burden during active communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20240073889A1Extending uplink communications by user equipment cooperation

Publication Date: 2024.02.29 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Apparatus, methods, and computer-readable media for extending uplink communications by user equipment (UE) cooperation are disclosed herein. A target UE may receive, from a base station (BS), a target UE uplink configuration for a scheduled uplink transmission. The target UE may determine that the target UE uplink configuration includes an indication that a cooperative UE is configured to transmit the scheduled uplink transmission for the target UE based on a cooperative UE uplink configuration of the cooperative UE. The target UE may transmit, to the cooperative UE, information for transmitting the scheduled uplink transmission. The BS transmits, to the target UE, the target UE uplink configuration indicating the cooperative UE uplink configuration. The BS transmits, to the cooperative UE, the cooperative UE uplink configuration indicating an uplink resource allocation for transmitting the scheduled uplink transmission for the target UE. The BS receives, from the cooperative UE, the scheduled uplink transmission.