User Equipment Retuning Rules for Wireless Bandwidth Adaptation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G and NR technologies, face challenges in efficiently managing radio component retuning across different bandwidths and transmission modes, leading to potential interference and reduced performance in supporting diverse quality of service requirements for various communication services.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of rules for user equipment (UE) to determine when to retune radio components, such as phased lock loop and voltage controlled oscillator, based on resource allocation and bandwidth changes, ensuring alignment with base station signals and minimizing interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If radio components are retuned frequently to adapt to different bandwidths and transmission modes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to varying bandwidths and transmission modesVSAvoidcomplexity of retuning management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE autonomously determines when retuning is required by comparing resource allocation information from different subframes against retuning criteria, eliminating the need for network-controlled retuning commands and reducing signaling overhead while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The retuning decision mechanism dynamically adapts to changing transmission conditions by evaluating resource allocation changes between subframes and applying retuning only when necessary, allowing the system to flexibly respond to varying bandwidth and transmission mode requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If retuning rules are simplified to reduce complexity, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of retuning determinationVSAvoidprecision of resource allocation alignment detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The retuning determination is segmented into distinct evaluation steps: obtaining resource allocation information, comparing allocations between subframes, evaluating against retuning criteria, and making retuning decisions. This structured approach simplifies operation while maintaining precise detection of alignment changes through systematic comparison

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If retuning is performed aggressively to maintain signal alignment, then reliability is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvealignment with base station signalsVSAvoidtime for retuning operations
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The UE proactively determines retuning requirements by comparing resource allocation information before transmission occurs, allowing retuning to be performed at optimal times rather than reactively, thus maintaining signal alignment while minimizing disruption to communication timing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3577845B1Method and apparatus for retuning in machine type communications
Publication Date: 2021.09.22 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3577845B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3577845B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3577845B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for applying rules to determine when to retune radio components of a user equipment (UE). Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for wireless communications by a UE. The method includes determining first resources assigned to the UE in a first subframe and second resources assigned to the UE for uplink transmissions in a second subframe. The method further includes determining whether to retune radio frequency (RF) circuitry prior to transmitting in the second subframe based on at least one rule involving an overlap between the first resources and second resources.