Virtual Port Uplink Power Signaling for Cell-Edge UEs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently utilizing virtual ports for maximum transmit power due to inconsistent UE capabilities and lack of information at the base station regarding UE's ability to synthesize virtual ports that support maximum transmit power, leading to suboptimal power allocation and reduced communication quality, especially at cell edges.

Innovation Solution

UEs signal their capabilities to use virtual ports for maximum transmit power based on their hardware configuration, allowing the base station to configure appropriate precoders and sounding reference signals, enabling efficient power utilization and transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the base station configures precoders and sounding reference signals without knowing UE's virtual port capability, then the configuration can be applied generally to all UEs, but the UE cannot transmit at maximum power leading to reduced communication quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidUE capability information
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs preliminary capability signaling before actual data transmission. The UE transmits capability information indicating whether it can synthesize virtual ports that support maximum transmit power, allowing the base station to prepare appropriate precoder and sounding reference signal configurations in advance that match the UE's capabilities, thereby ensuring maximum power transmission and improved communication quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Power

If the UE synthesizes virtual ports to transmit at full power, then the transmit power is maximized, but the base station lacks information to properly configure precoders and sounding reference signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmit powerVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The capability signaling is performed in advance before resource allocation and precoder configuration. This preliminary action provides the base station with necessary information to simplify subsequent configuration processes, avoiding complex trial-and-error approaches and enabling direct configuration of appropriate precoders and sounding reference signals

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE provides feedback to the base station about its virtual port synthesis capability. This feedback mechanism allows the base station to adapt its configuration strategy based on the UE's actual capabilities, enabling optimized precoder and sounding reference signal configurations that match the UE's power transmission abilities without requiring complex blind configuration approaches

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If inconsistent UE capabilities are not accounted for, then the system can operate with a uniform configuration approach, but power allocation becomes suboptimal and communication quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower allocation efficiencyVSAvoidUE capability adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from uniform configuration to localized quality configuration where each UE receives configurations tailored to its specific capabilities. The base station uses the capability signaling information to apply different precoder and sounding reference signal configurations to different UEs based on their individual virtual port synthesis abilities, optimizing power allocation efficiency for each UE while maintaining system-wide compatibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the configuration parameters (precoder settings, sounding reference signal configurations) based on the UE's capability parameters. When a UE indicates it can synthesize virtual ports for maximum power, the base station adjusts the configuration parameters to enable full power transmission; otherwise, alternative configurations are applied, thereby adapting the system to handle inconsistent UE capabilities while maximizing overall productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4062660B1Signaling and configuration of maximum transmit power using virtual ports
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4062660B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4062660B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4062660B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may transmit, to a base station, an indication of whether the UE is capable of using a virtual port to transmit uplink communications using a maximum transmit power according to a power class of the UE. The virtual port may be a combination of one or more antenna ports. The indication may be based at least in part on an operating mode of the UE. The UE may receive, from the base station, a sounding reference signal configuration based at least in part on the indication. Numerous other aspects are provided.