Uplink Power Control for Multi-Link Wireless Deployments

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, particularly in multi-link deployments, the lack of an ideal backhaul link between base stations hinders efficient coordination of downlink transmissions, affecting the user equipment's ability to decode control information and communicate effectively with multiple transmission/reception points.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of control resource set monitoring and uplink power control techniques, where the user equipment identifies and monitors a set of search candidates for downlink control information during overlapping transmission time intervals, and adjusts power control modes to optimize uplink transmissions across multiple communication links, ensuring efficient communication despite non-ideal backhaul links.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE monitors all search candidates from multiple base stations during overlapping TTIs, then the control information decoding capability is improved, but the processing complexity and power consumption increase excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol information decoding capabilityVSAvoidprocessing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the search candidates into different groups or sets associated with different base stations. The UE processes these segmented candidate sets in a structured manner, applying different monitoring strategies to different segments. This segmentation allows the UE to manage the complexity of monitoring multiple candidates from multiple base stations by breaking down the overall task into smaller, more manageable parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and identifies overlapping TTIs between transmissions from different base stations. By detecting these overlapping time intervals, the system can apply special handling rules specifically to the overlapping portions, separating them from non-overlapping portions. This extraction of the problematic overlapping regions allows for targeted complexity reduction without compromising the monitoring of essential control information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the UE monitors all search candidates from multiple base stations during overlapping TTIs, then the control information decoding capability is improved, but the power consumption increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol information decoding capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial monitoring action by restricting the number of search candidates monitored during overlapping TTIs. Instead of monitoring all possible candidates from all base stations equally, the UE monitors a limited subset of candidates during overlapping periods. This partial action approach maintains adequate control information reception while significantly reducing power consumption compared to exhaustive monitoring of all candidates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic monitoring behavior that adapts to the TTI overlap condition. When TTIs from different base stations overlap, the UE dynamically adjusts its monitoring strategy, reducing the number of candidates monitored. When TTIs do not overlap, the UE can monitor more candidates. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize power consumption based on the actual interference conditions and overlap patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the UE splits transmit power equally across multiple communication links, then the power allocation simplicity is improved, but the uplink transmission efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower allocation simplicityVSAvoiduplink transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by allocating different power levels to different communication links based on their specific conditions. Instead of uniform power distribution, the system adjusts the power quality locally for each link according to factors such as channel conditions, distance, and traffic requirements. This allows some links to receive higher power allocation when needed, improving overall uplink transmission efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through localized decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4068866A1Control monitoring and power control for multi-link deployments
Publication Date: 2022.10.05 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4068866A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4068866A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4068866A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may be in communication with multiple base stations having a non-ideal backhaul link, where uplink and downlink transmission on a carrier may be sent on respective communication links. The transmissions may be synchronous or asynchronous, and the UE may identify a set of search candidates in overlapping TTIs associated with downlink transmissions from respective base stations. In some cases, a number or a timing of the set of search candidates may be based on the overlapping TTIs. The UE may also use different uplink transmit powers for transmissions on the different communication links. In some cases, a minimum reserved power may be used for each link where a remaining transmit power, for example, up to a maximum total transmit power, may be split between the links or applied to the uplink transmission that occurs temporally first.