Uplink Radar Resource Allocation via UL Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing uplink radar signals for body proximity detection while minimizing interference and maintaining high UL throughput, particularly in scenarios where power back-off is required for compliance with exposure guidelines, leading to potential UL failures and throughput degradation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of uplink (UL) gaps for UE power management and radar calibration, allowing for periodic radar measurements without disrupting UL transmissions and minimizing interference with other UEs, by configuring and activating/deactivating UL gaps based on network signaling and UE indications, and using random access occasions for radar measurements to reduce interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If uplink radar signals are transmitted for body proximity detection, then MPE estimation capability is improved, but uplink throughput deteriorates due to power back-off and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the uplink transmission resources by introducing specific gap patterns (e.g., gap pattern 1 with 4 gaps per 10ms, gap pattern 2 with 2 gaps per 10ms) that divide the uplink timeline into radar measurement intervals and normal transmission intervals. This segmentation allows radar signals to be transmitted in dedicated gaps without continuously impacting uplink throughput, thereby resolving the contradiction between MPE estimation accuracy and uplink productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic radar measurements using configured gap patterns that repeat at defined intervals (e.g., every 10ms or 20ms). The network can dynamically activate or deactivate these periodic gap patterns based on MPE compliance requirements, allowing radar calibration to occur periodically without continuously degrading uplink throughput. This periodic action enables the system to maintain high throughput during normal operation while periodically performing necessary MPE measurements
2Object-affected harmful factors
If power back-off is applied for MPE compliance, then exposure guidelines compliance is improved, but uplink reliability deteriorates leading to potential UL failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the network gNB acts as a mediator between UE power management and MPE compliance. The gNB configures specific gap patterns and receives MPE measurement reports from the UE, then makes informed decisions about power back-off application. This intermediary control allows the system to apply power back-off only when necessary for MPE compliance while maintaining uplink reliability through network-coordinated resource allocation and interference management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic power management where the gNB can dynamically activate or deactivate gap patterns based on real-time MPE compliance requirements. The system transitions from static power back-off to dynamic power adjustment, allowing the UE to maintain full power during normal uplink transmission and only apply power back-off during configured radar measurement gaps when MPE compliance is required, thereby maintaining uplink reliability while ensuring exposure guideline compliance
3Object-generated harmful factors
If UL gaps are configured for radar measurements, then interference with other UEs is reduced, but uplink throughput loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring UE-specific or cell-specific gap patterns rather than applying uniform gap configurations across all UEs. The network can assign different gap patterns (e.g., gap pattern 1, gap pattern 2, gap pattern 3) to different UEs or cell groups based on their specific radar measurement requirements and interference characteristics. This localized configuration allows the system to minimize interference to other UEs in specific time-frequency resources while maintaining high uplink throughput for other users during non-gap periods
4Device complexity
If random access occasions are used for radar measurements, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may be affected due to shared resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by enabling random access occasions to serve dual purposes: both for standard random access procedures and for uplink radar measurements. The UE can use the same physical uplink resources (PRACH occasions) for both random access preamble transmission and radar signal transmission, depending on the configured gap pattern. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity by reusing existing random access infrastructure while the network coordinates usage to maintain measurement precision through proper resource allocation and timing configuration
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for robust radio resource allocation for uplink radar and other user equipment calibration are provided. For example, a method may include receiving, at a network element, measurements of a set of synchronization signal blocks or channel state information reference signals or both synchronization signal blocks and channel state information reference signals from a user equipment. The method may additionally include sending to the user equipment a direct or indirect indication of a random access opportunity corresponding to a synchronization signal block index value or channel state information reference signal index value, wherein the indication is for usage to perform user equipment calibration.