Voice Call Uplink Skipping for NTN UE Power and SAR Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
User equipment (UE) configured for voice calls in non-terrestrial networks (NTN) consumes significant power and processing resources by transmitting in each uplink occasion even when there is no data to transmit, affecting the specific absorption rate (SAR) budget and reducing communication quality and reliability.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an instruction to skip one or more uplink occasions associated with ongoing voice calls, optionally with time or occasion limits, to conserve power and processing resources and improve communication quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the UE transmits in each uplink occasion, then the communication reliability is maintained, but the power consumption and processing resources are significantly consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic uplink transmission with configurable skipping patterns. Instead of transmitting in every uplink occasion, the UE transmits periodically at configured intervals, allowing it to skip intermediate occasions. This periodic action maintains communication reliability by ensuring regular transmissions while significantly reducing power consumption by avoiding unnecessary transmissions during periods when data is not available.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic transmission skipping through configurable parameters that allow the transmission pattern to adapt based on data availability and network conditions. The network can dynamically adjust the skipping pattern via RRC configuration, enabling the system to transition between frequent transmission (high reliability) and sparse transmission (low power consumption) modes based on current operational requirements.
2Reliability
If the UE transmits in each uplink occasion, then the communication reliability is maintained, but the SAR budget is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing periodic transmission with configurable skipping, the patent reduces the frequency of uplink transmissions. This periodic action lowers the cumulative SAR exposure while maintaining communication reliability through structured, predictable transmission intervals that ensure periodic connectivity without excessive power density accumulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent explicitly applies skipping by allowing the UE to bypass certain uplink transmission occasions based on configured patterns. This rushing through of non-essential transmission opportunities reduces SAR budget consumption while maintaining adequate communication reliability by skipping only those occasions where transmission is not critical.
3Reliability
If the UE transmits in each uplink occasion, then the network coverage is maintained, but the processing resources are significantly consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic transmission scheduling that reduces the number of transmission occasions the UE must process. By transmitting only at configured periodic intervals rather than every occasion, the processing load for signal preparation, encoding, and transmission management is significantly reduced while network coverage is maintained through regular periodic connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network performs preliminary configuration of transmission skipping patterns via RRC signaling before actual data transmission begins. This preliminary action allows the UE to pre-know which occasions require transmission and which can be skipped, reducing real-time processing requirements and enabling more efficient resource utilization while maintaining network coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive an instruction to skip one or more uplink occasions. The instruction may be associated with one or more ongoing voice calls. The UE may refrain from transmitting in the one or more uplink occasions in response to the instruction. Numerous other aspects are described.