Dynamic reallocation of transmit power on dual connectivity devices

Systems and methods are provided for dynamically reallocating available transmit power on a dual connectivity user device. A retransmission rate is monitored for the user device that can simultaneously communicate using two or more wireless communication protocols. It is determined that the retransmission rate for the user device is above a threshold for communications using a first wireless communication protocol, such as LTE. Channel assignment of a second wireless communication protocol, such as 5G, is reduced, thus allowing the user device to reallocate a portion of the transmit power previously allocated for the second wireless communication protocol to the first wireless communication protocol to improve the retransmission rate for the first wireless communication protocol.

The present disclosure is directed, in part, to optimizing transmit power allocation on a dual connectivity device, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, and as set forth more completely in the claims.

According to various aspects of the technology, transmit power of a user device when communicating through a wireless communications network may be dynamically reallocated based on monitoring of packet drop and/or retransmission rate for that particular user device. More specifically, for a user device that is capable of communication using more than one wireless communication protocols, when that user's device's packet drop and/or retransmission rate is above a threshold, channel assignment associated with one of the wireless communication protocols may be reduced and the transmit power previously used by the user device for that wireless communication protocol may be reallocated to the other wireless communication protocol to decrease packet drop and/or the retransmission rate. For example, if a user device is capable of both LTE and 5G, if packet drop and/or retransmission rate is above a threshold for that user device when communication using LTE, channel assignment may be reduced for 5G and the transmit power previously used for 5G may be reallocated to LTE to reduce packet loss and/or the retransmission rate, which more effectively utilized network resources and creates a better user experience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various technical terms are used throughout this description. An illustrative resource that fleshes out various aspects of these terms can be found in Newton's Telecom Dictionary, 31st Edition (2018).

Computer-storage media, or machine-readable media, include media implemented in any method or technology for storing information. Examples of stored information include computer-useable instructions, data structures, program modules, and other data representations. Computer-storage media include, but are not limited to RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile discs (DVD), holographic media or other optical disc storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage, and other magnetic storage devices and may be considered transitory, non-transitory, or a combination of both. These memory components can store data momentarily, temporarily, or permanently.

By way of background, a user device's transmission power (“transmit power”) is the power utilized by the user device to transmit data from the user device to/through a wireless communications network. Each user device has a certain amount of transmit power available for user. When a user device is capable of communicating with two or more wireless communication protocols, a certain amount of transmit power is first allocated to the first wireless communication protocol (e.g., LTE) and the rest is allocated to the second wireless communication protocol (e.g., 5G). While typically transmit power is not dynamically reallocated between the two protocols, here, upon determining that packet drop and/or retransmission rate is above a threshold for one of the wireless communication protocols, the network (e.g., eNodeB, gNodeB) may determine that a channel associated with the other wireless communication protocol is to be dropped or channel assignment is reduced for that other wireless communication protocol, and thus that channel would no longer be used for communications with the user device. When this happens, the user device may then reallocate transmit power that was previously used for that wireless communication protocol to the other wireless communication protocol.

Even more, while traditionally transmit power of a user device may remain static, including an allocation of transit power between two or more services being used by a user device, aspects herein provide many advantages over a static allocation of transmit power.

Accordingly, a first aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a system for dynamically reallocating available transmit power on a dual connectivity user device. A system includes a processor and one or more computer storage hardware devices storing computer-usable instructions that, when used by the processor, cause the processor to perform various method steps. These steps include monitoring a retransmission rate for the user device that can simultaneously communicate using two or more wireless communication protocols. Further, it is determined that the retransmission rate for the user device is above a threshold for communications with a first wireless communication protocol. The other steps include reducing channel assignment of a second wireless communication protocol, and instructing the user device to reallocate a portion of the transmit power previously allocated for the second wireless communication protocol to the first wireless communication protocol.

A second aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method for dynamically reallocating available transmit power on a dual connectivity user device. The method includes determining that at least one of a packet drop or a retransmission rate for a user device communicating with a first wireless communication protocol exceeds a threshold, the user device communicating with a wireless communications network using the first wireless communication protocol and a second wireless communication protocol. Further, the method includes reducing channel assignment for the second wireless communication protocol, and instructing the user device to reallocate transmit power previously allocated for the second wireless communication protocol to the first wireless communication protocol.

According to another aspect of the technology described herein, a method is provided for dynamically reallocating available transmit power on a dual connectivity user device. The method includes determining that at least one of a packet drop or a retransmission rate for a user device communicating using two or more wireless communication protocols with a wireless communications network is above a threshold. The at least one of the packet drop or the retransmission rate is above the threshold for a first wireless communication protocol. Further, the method includes removing use of at least one channel associated with a second wireless communication protocol of the two or more wireless communication protocols, and instructing the user device to reallocate the transmit power from the second wireless communication protocol to the first wireless communication protocol.

FIG.1provides an exemplary network environment in which implementations of the present disclosure may be employed. Such a network environment is illustrated and designated generally as network environment100. Network environment100is but one example of a suitable network environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the invention. Neither should the network environment be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any one or combination of components illustrated.

Network environment100includes user device112, cell site110(which may be an access node, base station, or the like), transmission114and various network components. In network environment100, user device112may take on a variety of forms, such as a personal computer (PC), a user device, a smart phone, a smart watch, a laptop computer, a mobile phone, a mobile device, a tablet computer, a wearable computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a server, a CD player, an MP3player, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a video player, a handheld communications device, a workstation, a router, a hotspot, and any combination of these delineated devices, or any other device (such as the computing device500) that communicates via wireless communications with the cell site110in order to interact with a public or private network.

In some aspects, the user device112may correspond to computing device500inFIG.5. Thus, a user device can include, for example, a display(s), a power source(s) (e.g., a battery), a data store(s), a speaker(s), memory, a buffer(s), a radio(s) and the like. In some implementations, a user device (such as user device112) comprises a wireless or mobile device with which a wireless telecommunication network(s) can be utilized for communication (e.g., voice and/or data communication). In this regard, the user device can be any mobile computing device that communicates by way of a wireless network, for example, a 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE, CDMA, or any other type of network.

In some cases, user device112in network environment100can optionally utilize a network (not shown) to communicate with other computing devices (e.g., a mobile device(s), a server(s), a personal computer(s), etc.) through cell site110. The network may be a telecommunications network(s), or a portion thereof. A telecommunications network might include an array of devices or components (e.g., one or more base stations), some of which are not shown. Those devices or components may form network environments similar to what is shown inFIG.1, and may also perform methods in accordance with the present disclosure. Components such as terminals, links, and nodes (as well as other components) can provide connectivity in various implementations. The network can include multiple networks, as well as being a network of networks, but is shown in more simple form so as to not obscure other aspects of the present disclosure.

The network can be part of a telecommunication network that connects subscribers to their immediate service provider. In some instances, the network can be associated with a telecommunications provider that provides services (e.g., voice, data, SMS) to user devices, such as user device112. For example, the network may provide voice and non-voice services, including SMS, and/or data services to user devices or corresponding users that are registered or subscribed to utilize the services provided by a telecommunications provider. The network can comprise any communication network providing voice, SMS, and/or data service(s), such as, for example, a lx circuit voice, a 3G network (e.g., CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, GSM, UMTS), a 4G network (WiMAX, LTE, HSDPA), or a 5G network.

In some implementations, cell site110is configured to communicate with user devices, such as user device112that is located within the geographical area, or cell, covered by the one or more antennas of cell site110. Cell site110may include one or more base stations, nodes, base transmitter stations, radios, antennas, antenna arrays, power amplifiers, transmitters/receivers, digital signal processors, control electronics, GPS equipment, and the like. In particular, user device112may communicate with cell site110, according to any one or more of a variety of communication protocols, in order to access the network.

In aspects, user device112may be capable of communicating using 4G (e.g., LTE) and 5G. In some aspects, user device112may be an E-UTRAN New Radio-Dual Connectivity device (ENDC). ENDC allows the user device to connect to an LTE eNodeB that acts as a master node and a 5G gNodeB that acts as a secondary node. As such, in these aspects, user device112may access both LTE and 5G simultaneously, and in some cases, on the same spectrum band. As shown inFIG.1, user device112communicates by way of transmission114with cell site110using one or more of LTE (associated with eNodeB120) and 5G (associated with gNodeB122), sometimes simultaneously. Additionally, other wireless communication protocols may be utilized in conjunction with aspects described herein, as LTE and 5G are used for exemplary purposes only and not for limitation.

In aspects, nodes118may work in conjunction with monitoring component128, threshold component130, channel removal component132, and transmit power reallocation component134. Monitoring component128may be responsible for monitoring packet drop and/or a retransmission rate for at least one user device served by cell site110. As mentioned, user device112may simultaneously communicating using two or more wireless communication protocols, such as LTE and 5G. Threshold component130receives information from monitoring component128and determines when a threshold has been met with respect to the packet drop and/or retransmission rate of a user device, such as user device112. Once a particular threshold has been met, meaning that too many packets are being dropped or retransmissions are too high for a particular period of time causing a waste of network resources and a poor user experience, channel removal component132may communicate to another network component to reduce channel assignment or remove an existing channel from the wireless communication protocol without the packet drop and/or retransmission rate issues. Transmit power reallocation component134may then communicate to one or more of a network component or user device112to reallocate user device's112transmit power from the wireless communication protocol without the packet drop and/or retransmission rate issues to the wireless communication protocol having the issues. The advantage of this is that by allocating more transmit power to the wireless communication protocol with the high packet drop and/or retransmission rate, the packet drop and/or retransmission rate will drop, providing for a more efficient use of network resources and a better user experience.

For exemplary purposes, if user device112is experiencing high packet drop and/or a retransmission rate above a threshold in its communications using LTE, a node118, such as eNodeB120or gNodeB122may determine that channel assignment should be reduced on 5G, which would then allow for transmit power of user device112to dynamically be reallocated from 5G to LTE. This would improve the packet drop and/or retransmission rate issues on the LTE side by focusing more transmit power on that wireless communication protocol. In some aspects, user device112is capable of carrier aggregation on both LTE and 5G radio access technologies. In this aspect, in the event of high packet drop and/or retransmission rate above a certain threshold on LTE on all of the carrier aggregation channels, the eNodeB120may dynamically notify the gNodeB122to delay the 5G channel addition that is part of 5G carrier aggregation so that the additional transmit power meant for carrier aggregation on 5G can be reassigned to LTE.

Alternatively, rather than reducing channel assignment on 5G, if packet drop and/or retransmission rate is higher than a second threshold, which may be higher than the threshold used for reduced channel assignment, the gNodeB may remove or tear down an existing 5G channel so that the current transmit power allocated to that channel can be reassigned to LTE.

FIG.2depicts a diagram200of transmit power allocation between two wireless communication protocols. Power allocation area210illustrates that, in one aspect, 26 dBm of total transmit power may be available for a particular user device to allocate between two or more wireless communication protocols, such as LTE and 5G. Many different arrangements are illustrated of how total transmit may be allocated between two wireless communication protocols. For example,FIG.2illustrates that 25.4 dBm may be allocated to LTE, while 17 dBm is allocated to 5G. LTE is shown with three channels, LTE channel1212, LTE channel2214, and LTE channel3216. Additionally, 5G is illustrated as having 5G NR channel1218, and 5G NR channel2220.

UsingFIG.2as a reference for an example, if it is determined that packet drop and/or retransmission rate has met a threshold for a particular user device for LTE transmissions, the eNodeB and/or gNodeB may be notified of the issue. One action that may be taken is to reduce channel assignment or tear down an existing channel on the 5G side, 5G NR channel2220as illustrated inFIG.2, such that the transmit power used for 5G NR channel2220can be dynamically reallocated to LTE and used for one or more of the LTE channels (212,214,216). Providing LTE with more transmit power, in aspects, may correct the issue with the high packet drop and/or retransmission rate, thus utilizing network resources more efficiently and providing a better user experience. In some aspects, 5G NR channel2220may already be in use when it is removed/torn down, or may be assigned to 5G but not yet in use. In either scenario, the transmit power is reallocated from 5G to use with LTE.

Turning now toFIG.3, a flow diagram is depicted of an exemplary method300for dynamically reallocating transmit power on a dual connectivity user device, in accordance with an aspect herein. Initially, at block310, a retransmission rate is monitored for a user device that can simultaneously communicate using two or more wireless communication protocols. For example, a user device may utilize both LTE and 5G for communications with the wireless communications network. At block312, it is determined that the retransmission rate for the user device utilizing a first wireless communication protocol is above a threshold. Generally, retransmission rate indicates the resending of packets that have been either damaged or lost during transmission. A high retransmission rate or packet drop indicates that there are issues efficiently delivering packets to/from a mobile device from the wireless communications network.

At block314, channel assignment is reduced for the second wireless communication protocol. Because the high packet drop and/or retransmission rate is associated with the first wireless communication protocol, aspects reduce channel assignment for the other wireless communication protocol to redirect resources from the second to the first wireless communication protocol. At block,316, the user device is instructed to reallocate the transmit power previously used for the second wireless communication protocol to one or more channels associated with the first wireless communication protocol. In aspects, this provides more transmit power to the wireless communication protocol experiencing high packet drop and/or retransmission rate for the user device, which helps to fix these issues, lowering packet drop and/or retransmission rates.

FIG.4depicts a flow diagram of another exemplary method400for dynamically reallocating transmit power on a dual connectivity user device, in accordance with an aspect herein. At block410, it is determined that packet drop and/or retransmission rate for a user device communication using a first wireless communication protocol in a wireless communications network is above a threshold. At block412, channel assignment is reduced for a second wireless communication network. At block414, the user device is instructed to reallocate transmit power from the second wireless communication protocol to the first wireless communication protocol. For example, if the high packet drop and/or retransmission rate is on the LTE network, channel assignment may be reduced on the 5G network, thus not as many channels will be assigned to 5G as originally planned. Alternatively, an existing channel could be removed/torn down from the 5G network. In either scenario, the transmit power that was used or was going to be used for that channel in 5G is reallocated to one or more channels in the LTE network, with a goal of improving the packet drop and/or retransmission rate in LTE.

Referring toFIG.5, a diagram is depicted of an exemplary computing environment suitable for use in implementations of the present disclosure. In particular, the exemplary computer environment is shown and designated generally as computing device500. Computing device500is but one example of a suitable computing environment and is not intended to suggest any limitation as to the scope of use or functionality of the invention. Neither should computing device500be interpreted as having any dependency or requirement relating to any one or combination of components illustrated.

With continued reference toFIG.5, computing device500includes bus502that directly or indirectly couples the following devices: memory504, one or more processors506, one or more presentation components508, input/output (I/O) ports510, I/O components512, and power supply514. Bus502represents what may be one or more busses (such as an address bus, data bus, or combination thereof). Although the devices ofFIG.5are shown with lines for the sake of clarity, in reality, delineating various components is not so clear, and metaphorically, the lines would more accurately be grey and fuzzy. For example, one may consider a presentation component such as a display device to be one of I/O components512. Also, processors, such as one or more processors506, have memory. The present disclosure hereof recognizes that such is the nature of the art, and reiterates thatFIG.5is merely illustrative of an exemplary computing environment that can be used in connection with one or more implementations of the present disclosure. Distinction is not made between such categories as “workstation,” “server,” “laptop,” “handheld device,” etc., as all are contemplated within the scope ofFIG.5and refer to “computer” or “computing device.”

Memory504includes computer-storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory. Memory504may be removable, nonremovable, or a combination thereof. Exemplary memory includes solid-state memory, hard drives, optical-disc drives, etc. Computing device500includes one or more processors506that read data from various entities such as bus502, memory504or I/O components512. One or more presentation components508presents data indications to a person or other device. Exemplary one or more presentation components508include a display device, speaker, printing component, vibrating component, etc. I/O ports510allow computing device500to be logically coupled to other devices including I/O components512, some of which may be built in computing device500. Illustrative I/O components512include a microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, printer, wireless device, etc.

Radio516represents a radio that facilitates communication with a wireless telecommunications network. Illustrative wireless telecommunications technologies include CDMA, GPRS, TDMA, GSM, and the like. Radio516might additionally or alternatively facilitate other types of wireless communications including Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE, or other VoIP communications. As can be appreciated, in various embodiments, radio516can be configured to support multiple technologies and/or multiple radios can be utilized to support multiple technologies. A wireless telecommunications network might include an array of devices, which are not shown so as to not obscure more relevant aspects of the invention. Components such as a base station, a communications tower, or even access points (as well as other components) can provide wireless connectivity in some embodiments.