UE Power Adjustment for Overlapping LTE NR Uplink Grants

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Solution Overview

Problem

User equipment (UE) in dual connectivity scenarios with different radio access technologies (RATs) often face challenges in transmitting uplink data due to overlapping resource grants from LTE and NR base stations, leading to power limitations and potential collisions, which existing methods fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

The UE adjusts transmit power for one of the uplink transmissions by either reducing or dropping it, prioritizing based on temporal proximity and content sensitivity, while base stations coordinate to avoid scheduling conflicts by modifying grant timing or resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the UE transmits both uplink transmissions at their respective transmit powers, then the data rate is maximized, but the UE cannot transmit both due to power limitations and resource collisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidtransmission capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the transmit power level of one of the conflicting uplink transmissions. The UE determines whether to transmit at full power or reduced power based on the timing relationship between the two grants and the available power headroom, thereby resolving the contradiction between maximizing data rate and maintaining reliable transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by making the transmit power adjustment adaptive rather than fixed. The UE continuously monitors the timing relationships between grants from different base stations and dynamically decides whether to scale down power based on real-time conditions, allowing the system to flexibly handle power constraints while maximizing throughput when possible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the UE scales down power for one of the uplink transmissions, then power limitations are respected, but the data rate is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower complianceVSAvoiddata rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by selectively scaling down power only when necessary to resolve conflicts, rather than always transmitting at full power. The UE partially reduces power (not completely dropping transmission) when power headroom is insufficient, thereby maintaining reliability while maximizing data rate under the given constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by adjusting the transmit power parameter dynamically based on the specific conditions of each transmission opportunity. The UE changes the power level parameter from full power to reduced power only when the timing and power headroom conditions require it, thereby minimizing the impact on data rate while ensuring power compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the base station modifies the timing of uplink grants to avoid collisions, then transmission reliability is improved, but the scheduling flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission coordinationVSAvoidscheduling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE report its power headroom and timing information to the base station in advance. This allows the base station to perform preliminary coordination and adjust grant timing before conflicts occur, thereby improving transmission reliability without requiring complex real-time scheduling adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by establishing a mechanism where the UE provides information about its power headroom and grant timing to the base station. This feedback loop enables the base station to make informed scheduling decisions that avoid conflicts, reducing the need for complex coordination while maintaining high reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3811691B1Dual connectivity transmission techniques
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3811691B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3811691B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3811691B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive multiple uplink grants that schedule uplink transmissions for two different radio access technologies (RATs) during overlapping time resources. The UE may adjust the power for one of the uplink transmissions based on the temporal proximity of the second received uplink grant relative to the first uplink transmission. The UE may adjust the power of the uplink transmission by partially or completely reducing its power.