UE Transmit Power and Frequency Hopping for sTTI Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication systems face challenges in configuring user equipment (UE) for efficient communication during transmission time intervals (TTIs) of varying lengths, leading to inadequate power allocation and inefficient frequency hopping, which can result in insufficient or excessive power usage and reduced signal quality.

Innovation Solution

The UE adjusts transmit power and determines frequency hopping patterns based on the length of the TTI and allocation of symbols for SRS transmissions, using different power configurations and hopping patterns for each symbol to optimize power usage and signal diversity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the UE uses a fixed transmit power configuration for all TTI lengths, then the device complexity is reduced, but the power allocation becomes inadequate for shortened TTIs resulting in insufficient or excessive power usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower configuration complexityVSAvoidpower allocation adequacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the transmit power configuration adaptive rather than fixed. The UE determines the TTI length from downlink control information and dynamically selects the appropriate power configuration (first power configuration for normal TTI, second power configuration for shortened TTI). This allows the system to respond to varying communication needs and allocate power appropriately for each TTI type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the power parameter based on TTI length. Different power configurations are applied depending on whether the TTI is normal length or shortened. This parameter change ensures that the transmit power is optimized for the specific communication scenario, avoiding both insufficient and excessive power usage while maintaining manageable device complexity through predefined configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If the UE uses the same frequency hopping pattern for all TTI lengths, then the device complexity is reduced, but the signal quality deteriorates due to insufficient frequency diversity in shortened TTIs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency hopping configuration complexityVSAvoidsignal quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the frequency hopping pattern dynamic by selecting different patterns based on TTI length. For normal TTIs, a first frequency hopping pattern is used, while for shortened TTIs, a second frequency hopping pattern is applied. This dynamic adaptation ensures that frequency diversity is optimized for the specific TTI duration, improving signal quality without requiring overly complex configuration mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the frequency hopping parameter according to TTI length. The UE determines which frequency hopping pattern to use based on the TTI classification, ensuring that shortened TTIs utilize patterns that provide sufficient frequency diversity within their reduced time window. This parameter adaptation balances signal quality requirements with configuration simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the UE transmits uplink control information without considering TTI length variations, then the ease of operation is improved, but the productivity decreases due to inefficient communication resources utilization

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUE operation simplicityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE pre-determine the TTI length from downlink control information before transmitting uplink control information. The UE is configured with multiple power and frequency hopping patterns in advance, and simply selects the appropriate ones based on the determined TTI length. This preliminary determination and selection process maintains operational simplicity while achieving efficient resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes operational parameters (power configuration and frequency hopping pattern) based on TTI length determination. The UE maintains ease of operation by following a straightforward decision process: determine TTI length from control information, then select the corresponding pre-configured parameters. This approach avoids complex real-time calculations while optimizing communication efficiency through appropriate parameter adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3632166B1Transmit power and frequency hopping configurations for control information transmissions
Publication Date: 2022.01.12 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3632166B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3632166B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3632166B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. Some wireless communications systems may support communication between a base station and a user equipment (UE) during transmission time intervals (TTIs) having different lengths. The techniques described herein allow a UE to utilize appropriate configurations for communicating during a shortened TTI (sTTI) allocated for uplink communication (e.g., uplink control information transmissions). In one example, the UE may adjust a transmit power to use for transmitting uplink control information during an sTTI based on the length of the sTTI or based on the number of symbols allocated for transmitting the uplink control information in the sTTI. In another example, the UE may determine a frequency hopping pattern to use for transmitting uplink control information during an sTTI based on whether a portion of the sTTI is allocated for another transmission (e.g., a sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission).