CN115459796B - Systems and methods for controlling radio frequency exposure - Google Patents

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for controlling radio frequency exposure. A wireless network may include a base station and a user equipment (UE). The UE may transmit an uplink (UL) signal to the base station using a dynamically adjustable maximum UL duty cycle. When the UE identifies that a user is approaching the UE, the UE may transmit an indicator to the base station. The indicator may identify that a radio frequency exposure (RFE) event has occurred and/or a recommended maximum UL duty cycle that will allow the UE to meet limits on RFE. The base station may limit UL authorization to the UE so that the UE performs subsequent communications using the recommended maximum UL duty cycle or a different maximum UL duty cycle. Coordinating the adjustment of the UL duty cycle in this manner may allow the UE to meet limits on RFE without requiring the UE to perform a maximum transmission power level reduction.

Description

System and method for controlling radio frequency exposure

The present divisional application is based on the divisional application of chinese patent application with the application number 202180007798.0, the application date 2021, 5, 17, and the name of "system and method for controlling radio frequency exposure".

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless networks, and more particularly to wireless networks having electronic devices with wireless communication circuitry.

Background

The electronic device typically includes wireless communication circuitry. For example, cellular telephones, computers, and other devices typically include antennas and wireless transceivers for supporting wireless communications. The electronic device communicates with a wireless base station in a wireless network.

Electronic devices with wireless capability are often subject to regulatory limits regarding radio frequency exposure. It may be difficult to provide satisfactory and efficient wireless communication between the wireless network and the electronic device while ensuring that regulatory limits are met.

Disclosure of Invention

The wireless network may include base stations with corresponding cells. A User Equipment (UE) device may be located within a cell and may communicate with a base station. The UE device and the base station may communicate using a communication protocol such as a 3GPP fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR) protocol. The UE device may use an antenna to transmit an Uplink (UL) signal to the base station with a maximum UL duty cycle. The maximum UL duty cycle may be dynamically adjustable. The network, base station, and UE device may quickly coordinate the dynamic adjustment of the maximum UL duty cycle.

The UE device may perform a proximity detection operation to identify when a user or other human body is in proximity to the UE device. The UE device may transmit an indicator to the base station when the UE device detects that a user or other human body is in proximity to the UE device. The indicator may identify that a Radio Frequency Exposure (RFE) event has occurred so that the UE device may need to adjust UL transmissions to continue to meet regulatory limits for RFE. The UE device may identify a recommended maximum UL duty cycle that will allow the UE device to continue to meet regulatory limits for RFE. The proposed maximum UL duty cycle may take into account the path loss between the UE device and the base station, if desired. The indicator may identify an RFE level generated at the UE device. The indicator may additionally or alternatively identify a suggested maximum UL duty cycle.

The base station may process the indicator to confirm that the UE device may use the suggested maximum UL duty cycle or identify a different updated maximum UL duty cycle for the UE device. The base station may adjust an UL schedule of the UE device that limits UL grants to the UE device such that the UE device performs subsequent communications using the suggested maximum UL duty cycle or the updated maximum UL duty cycle. If desired, the base station may provide a feedback signal identifying the acceptance of the proposed maximum UL duty cycle or identifying the updated maximum UL duty cycle. Coordinating the adjustment of the UL duty cycle in this manner may allow the UE device to continue to meet regulatory limits on RFE without requiring the UE device to perform maximum transmission power level reduction, thereby optimizing UL communication and throughput of the UE device.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary electronic device having radio circuitry for communicating with a wireless base station, according to some embodiments.

Fig. 2 is a diagram of an exemplary cell of a wireless base station and user equipment with steerable beam communication using radio frequency signals, in accordance with some embodiments.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart of exemplary operations that may be performed by a base station and a user equipment in dynamic maximum Uplink (UL) duty cycle adjustment for the user equipment determined using a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) coordinated network, according to some embodiments.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of exemplary operations that may be performed by a base station and a user equipment in coordinating a dynamic maximum Uplink (UL) duty cycle adjustment for the user equipment determined using PUCCH, according to some embodiments.

Fig. 5 is a flowchart of exemplary operations that may be performed by a base station and a user equipment in dynamic maximum Uplink (UL) duty cycle adjustment for the user equipment determined using a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) coordination network, according to some embodiments.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart of exemplary operations that may be performed by a base station and a user equipment in coordinating a dynamic maximum Uplink (UL) duty cycle adjustment for the user equipment determined using a PRACH, according to some embodiments.

Fig. 7 is a circuit block diagram of an exemplary radio circuit on a user equipment for generating Radio Frequency Exposure (RFE) level information and uplink duty cycle information for transmission to a base station, in accordance with some embodiments.

Fig. 8 is a table showing how an exemplary user equipment may identify different optimal uplink duty cycles for different path loss environments, according to some embodiments.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart of exemplary operations that may be performed by a user equipment to report RFE level information and uplink duty cycle information for coordinating maximum UL duty cycle adjustment or other network adjustments, in accordance with some embodiments.

Fig. 10 is a table showing how an exemplary user equipment may identify different RFE levels for a base station using different Media Access Channel (MAC) Control Element (CE) indicator values, in accordance with some embodiments.

Fig. 11 and 12 are tables showing how an exemplary user equipment may identify a requested UL duty cycle for a base station using different Media Access Channel (MAC) Control Element (CE) indicator values, according to some embodiments.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart of exemplary operations that may be performed by a base station and a user equipment in reporting RFE level information for the user equipment to the base station using a MAC CE, according to some embodiments.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart of exemplary operations that may be performed by a base station and a user equipment in reporting UL duty cycle information for the user equipment to the base station using a MAC CE, according to some embodiments.

Detailed Description

The electronic device 10 of fig. 1 may be a computing device such as a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a computer monitor including an embedded computer, a tablet, a cellular telephone, a media player, or other handheld or portable electronic device, a smaller device such as a wristwatch device, a hanging device, a headset or earpiece device, a device embedded in glasses, or other equipment worn on the user's head, or other wearable or miniature device, a television, a computer display not including an embedded computer, a gaming device, a navigation device, an embedded system (such as a system in which electronic equipment with a display is installed in a kiosk or automobile), a voice-controlled speaker connected to the wireless internet, a home entertainment device, a remote control device, a game controller, a peripheral user input device, a wireless base station or access point, equipment implementing the functionality of two or more of these devices, or other electronic equipment.

As shown in the functional block diagram of fig. 1, device 10 may include components located on or within an electronic device housing, such as housing 12. The housing 12 (which may sometimes be referred to as a shell) may be formed of plastic, glass, ceramic, fiber composite, metal (e.g., stainless steel, aluminum, metal alloys, etc.), other suitable materials, or a combination of these materials. In some cases, some or all of the housing 12 may be formed of dielectric or other low conductivity material (e.g., glass, ceramic, plastic, sapphire, etc.). In other cases, the housing 12 or at least some of the structures making up the housing 12 may be formed from metal elements.

The device 10 may include a control circuit 14. The control circuit 14 may include a memory device such as the memory circuit 20. The storage circuitry 20 may include hard drive storage, non-volatile memory (e.g., flash memory or other electrically programmable read-only memory configured to form a solid state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static random access memory or dynamic random access memory), and the like. The storage circuitry 20 may include storage and/or removable storage media integrated within the device 10.

The control circuit 14 may include processing circuitry such as processing circuitry 22. Processing circuitry 22 may be used to control the operation of device 10. The processing circuitry 22 may include one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, host processors, baseband processor integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits, central Processing Units (CPUs), graphics Processing Units (GPUs), and the like. Control circuitry 14 may be configured to perform operations in device 10 using hardware (e.g., dedicated hardware or circuitry), firmware, and/or software. The software code for performing operations in the device 10 may be stored on the storage circuitry 20 (e.g., the storage circuitry 20 may include a non-transitory (tangible) computer-readable storage medium storing the software code). The software code may sometimes be referred to as program instructions, software, data, instructions, or code. Software code stored on the memory circuit 20 may be executed by the processing circuit 22. If desired, portions of the memory circuit 20 may be located on the processing circuit 22 (e.g., as L1 and L2 caches), while other portions of the memory circuit 20 are located external to the processing circuit 22 (e.g., while still being accessible by the processing circuit 22 via a memory interface).

Control circuitry 14 may be used to run software on device 10 such as satellite navigation applications, internet browsing applications, voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephone call applications, email applications, media playback applications, gaming applications, operating system functions, and the like. To support interaction with external equipment, the control circuit 14 may be used to implement a communication protocol. Communication protocols that may be implemented using control circuitry 14 include Internet protocol, wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) protocol (e.g., IEEE802.11 protocol-sometimes referred to as) Such asProtocols or other Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) protocols, etc. for other short-range wireless communication links, IEEE 802.11ad protocols (e.g., ultra wideband protocols), cellular telephone protocols (e.g., 3G protocols, 4G (LTE) protocols, 3GPP fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR) protocols, etc.), antenna diversity protocols, satellite navigation system protocols (e.g., global Positioning System (GPS) protocols, global navigation satellite system (GLONASS) protocols, etc.), antenna-based spatial ranging protocols (e.g., radio detection and ranging (RADAR) protocols for signals transmitted at millimeter wave and centimeter wave frequencies or other desired distance detection protocols), or any other desired communication protocol. Each communication protocol may be associated with a corresponding Radio Access Technology (RAT) that specifies the physical connection method used to implement the protocol.

The device 10 may include an input-output circuit 16. The input-output circuit 16 may include an input-output device 18. The input-output device 18 may be used to allow data to be provided to the device 10 and to allow data to be provided from the device 10 to an external device. The input-output devices 18 may include user interface devices, data port devices, and other input-output components. For example, the input-output devices 18 may include touch sensors, displays (e.g., touch-sensitive and/or force-sensitive displays), lighting components such as displays without touch sensor capabilities, buttons (mechanical, capacitive, optical, etc.), scroll wheels, touch pads, keypads, keyboards, microphones, cameras, buttons, speakers, status indicators, audio jacks and other audio port components, digital data port devices, motion sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, and/or compasses that detect motion), capacitive sensors, proximity sensors, magnetic sensors, force sensors (e.g., force sensors coupled to the display to detect pressure applied to the display), and the like. In some configurations, keyboards, headphones, displays, pointing devices such as touch pads, mice, and joysticks, and other input-output devices may be coupled to the device 10 using wired or wireless connections (e.g., some of the input-output devices 18 may be peripheral devices coupled to a main processing unit or other portion of the device 10 via wired or wireless links).

The input-output circuitry 16 may include wireless circuitry 24 to support wireless communications. The wireless circuitry 24 (sometimes referred to herein as wireless communications circuitry 24) may include one or more antennas 30. The wireless circuitry 24 may also include baseband processor circuitry, transceiver circuitry, amplifier circuitry, filter circuitry, switching circuitry, radio-frequency transmission lines, and/or any other circuitry for transmitting and/or receiving radio-frequency signals using the antenna 30. Although control circuit 14 is shown separate from radio circuit 24 in the example of fig. 1 for clarity, radio circuit 24 may include processing circuitry that forms part of processing circuit 22 and/or memory circuitry that forms part of memory circuit 20 of control circuit 14 (e.g., portions of control circuit 14 may be implemented on radio circuit 24). For example, the control circuit 14 may include a baseband processor circuit or other control components that form a portion of the radio circuit 24. The baseband processor circuitry may, for example, access the communication protocol stack on the control circuitry 14 (e.g., the memory circuitry 20) to perform user plane functions at the PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, SDAP layer, and/or PDU layer, and/or control plane functions at the PHY layer, MAC layer, RLC layer, PDCP layer, RRC layer, and/or non-access layer. The PHY layer operations may additionally or alternatively be performed by Radio Frequency (RF) interface circuitry in the wireless circuitry 24, if desired.

Wireless circuitry 24 may transmit radio frequency signals using a 3gpp 5G new radio (5G NR) communication band or any other desired communication band (sometimes referred to herein as a band or simply a band). These radio frequency signals may include millimeter wave signals, sometimes referred to as Extremely High Frequency (EHF) signals, that propagate at frequencies above about 30GHz (e.g., at 60GHz or other frequencies between about 30GHz and 300 GHz). These radio frequency signals may additionally or alternatively include centimeter wave signals propagating at frequencies between about 10GHz and 30 GHz. These radio frequency signals may additionally or alternatively include signals at frequencies less than 10GHz, such as between about 410MHz and 7125 MHz. In a scenario in which radio frequency signals are transmitted using a 5G NR communication band, these radio frequency signals may be transmitted in a 5G NR communication band within a 5G NR frequency range 2 (FR 2), which includes centimeter and millimeter wave frequencies between about 24GHz and 100GHz, a 5G NR communication band within a 5G NR frequency range 1 (FR 1), which includes frequencies below 7125MHz, and/or other 5G NR communication bands within other 5G NR frequency ranges FRx (e.g., where x is an integer greater than 2), which may include frequencies from about 57GHz to above 60 GHz. If desired, the device 10 may also include an antenna for processing satellite navigation system signals, cellular telephone signals (e.g., radio frequency signals transmitted using a Long Term Evolution (LTE) communication band or other non-5G NR communication band), wireless local area network signals, near field communications, light-based wireless communications, or other wireless communications.

For example, as shown in fig. 1, the wireless circuitry 24 may include radio frequency transceiver circuitry, such as 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28, for transmitting radio frequency signals using a 5G NR communication protocol and RAT. The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may support communication at frequencies between about 24GHz and 100GHz (e.g., within FR2, FRx, etc.) and/or between about 410MHz and 7125MHz (e.g., within FR 1). Examples of frequency bands that may be encompassed by 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 include frequency bands under the 3GPP wireless communication series standard, communication bands under the IEEE 802.xx series standard, IEEE K communication bands between about 18GHz and 27GHz, K _a communication bands between about 26.5GHz and 40GHz, K _u communication bands between about 12GHz and 18GHz, V communication bands between about 40GHz and 75GHz, W communication bands between about 75GHz and 110GHz, and/or other frequency bands between about 10GHz and 110GHz, C bands between about 3300MHz and 5000MHz, S bands between about 2300MHz and 2400MHz, L bands between about 1432MHz and 1517MHz, and/or other frequency bands between about 410MHz and 7125 MHz. The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may be formed from one or more integrated circuits (e.g., multiple integrated circuits mounted on a common printed circuit in a system-in-package or system-on-a-chip device, one or more integrated circuits mounted on different substrates, etc.). Radio circuit 24 may cover different frequency bands used in different geographic areas if desired.

Wireless communication using 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 may be bi-directional. For example, the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may transmit the radio frequency signal 36 to and from an external wireless device such as the external device 8. The external equipment 8 may be another electronic device such as the electronic device 10, may be a wireless access point, may be a wireless base station, or the like. The implementation in which the external equipment 8 is a wireless base station is sometimes described herein as an example. Thus, the external equipment 8 may sometimes be referred to herein as a wireless base station 8 or simply a base station 8. Base station 8 may have control circuitry, such as control circuitry 14, and radio circuitry, such as radio circuitry 24 of device 10. Control circuitry on the base station 8 and/or other portions of the network 6 (e.g., control circuitry running on other base stations, cloud networks, virtual or logical networks, physical networks, wired networks, wireless networks, local area networks, servers, network nodes, routers, terminals, computing devices, switches, and/or any other desired component of the network 6) may store, maintain, operate, process, and/or implement a network scheduler for the base station 8. The network scheduler may be implemented using software and/or hardware running on the network 6. The network scheduler may generate a network (communication) schedule for each UE device in the cell of the base station 8. The network schedule may identify (allocate) time and/or frequency domain resources for each UE device to use for communication with the base station 8 (e.g., in accordance with the 5G NR protocol). The network scheduler may include an uplink scheduler that schedules uplink resources and a downlink scheduler that schedules downlink resources. In this way, the network scheduler may coordinate the communication resources to allow the base station 8 to provide satisfactory wireless communication and connectivity for each UE device in its cell.

The device 10 and the base station 8 may form part of a wireless communication network, such as the communication network 6 (e.g., nodes and/or terminals). Communication network 6 (sometimes referred to herein as network 6) may include any desired number of devices 10, base stations 8, and/or other network components (e.g., switches, routers, access points, servers, end hosts, local area networks, wireless local area networks, etc.) arranged in any desired network configuration. The network 6 may be managed by a wireless network service provider. The device 10 may also sometimes be referred to as a User Equipment (UE) 10 or UE device 10 (e.g., because the device 10 may be used by an end user to perform wireless communications with a network). Base station 8 may operate within a corresponding cell that spans a particular geographic location or area. Base station 8 may be used to provide communication capabilities (e.g., 3gpp 5g NR communication capabilities) for a plurality of UE devices, such as device 10, located within its cell. The air interface over which the UE device and the base station 8 communicate may be compatible with 3GPP Technical Specifications (TS), such as those defining the 5G NR system standard.

Radio frequency signals 36, which are sometimes referred to herein as wireless links 36, may comprise both radio frequency signals transmitted by device 10 (e.g., in uplink direction 32) to base station 8 and radio frequency signals transmitted by base station 8 (e.g., in downlink direction 34) to device 10. The radio frequency signals 36 transmitted in the uplink direction 32 may sometimes be referred to herein as Uplink (UL) signals. The radio frequency signals in the downlink direction 34 may sometimes be referred to herein as Downlink (DL) signals. The radio frequency signal 36 may be used to transmit wireless data. The wireless data may include a data stream arranged into data packets, symbols, frames, etc. The wireless data may be organized/formatted according to a communication protocol (e.g., a 5G NR communication protocol) that manages the wireless link between the device 10 and the base station 8. Wireless data transmitted by uplink signals transmitted by device 10 (e.g., in uplink direction 32) may sometimes be referred to herein as uplink data. The wireless data transmitted by the base station 8 in the downlink signal transmitted (e.g., in the downlink direction 34) may sometimes be referred to herein as downlink data. The wireless data may include, for example, data encoded into corresponding data packets, such as wireless data associated with a telephone call, streaming media content, internet browsing, wireless data associated with a software application running on device 10, email messages, and the like. Control signals may also be transmitted in the uplink and/or downlink direction between the base station 8 and the device 10.

If desired, wireless circuitry 24 may include transceiver circuitry for handling communications in a non-5G NR communications band, such as non-5G NR transceiver circuitry 26. The non-5G NR transceiver circuit 26 may include processing forWireless Local Area Network (WLAN) transceiver circuitry for 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands for (IEEE 802.11) communications, processing 2.4GHzWireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) transceiver circuitry for the communication band, GPS receiver circuitry for processing 700MHz to 960MHz, 1710MHz to 2170MHz, 2300MHz to 2700MHz cellular telephone communication band and/or any other desired cellular telephone communication band between 600MHz and 4000MHz (e.g., cellular telephone signals transmitted using the 4G LTE protocol, the 3G protocol, or other non-5G NR protocols), GPS receiver circuitry for receiving GPS signals at 1575MHz or signals for processing other satellite positioning data (e.g., GLONASS signals at 1609MHz, beidou satellite navigation system (BDS) band signals, etc.), television receiver circuitry, AM/FM radio receiver circuitry, paging system transceiver circuitry, near Field Communication (NFC) circuitry, ultra Wideband (UWB) transceiver circuitry operating under the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol and/or other ultra wideband communication protocols, etc. The non-5G NR transceiver circuitry 26 and the 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 may each include one or more integrated circuits, power amplifier circuitry, low noise input amplifiers, passive radio frequency components, filters, synthesizers, modulators, demodulators, modems, mixers, switching circuitry, transmit line structures, and other circuitry for processing radio frequency signals. The non-5G NR transceiver circuitry 26 may transmit and receive radio frequency signals below 10GHz (and organized according to a non-5G NR communication protocol) using one or more antennas 30. The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may use the antenna 30 to transmit and receive radio frequency signals (e.g., radio frequency signals at FR1 and/or FR2/FRx frequencies including frequencies above 57 GHz).

The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may include, for example, a baseband processor circuit. The baseband processor circuit may process/generate baseband signals or waveforms that carry information in a 3GPP compliant network, such as network 6. The waveforms may be based on cyclic prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (CP-OFDM) in the uplink or downlink, and discrete fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM) in the uplink, if desired. The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may also include up-converter and/or down-converter circuits (e.g., mixer circuits) for converting signals between baseband and radio frequency, between baseband and intermediate frequency, between baseband and radio frequency, and/or between intermediate frequency and radio frequency.

In satellite navigation system links, cellular telephone links, and other long range links, radio frequency signals are commonly used to transmit data over thousands of feet or miles. At 2.4GHz and 5GHzLink and methodIn links and other close range wireless links, radio frequency signals are typically used to transmit data over tens or hundreds of feet. The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may transmit radio frequency signals over a short distance traveled over a line-of-sight path. To enhance signal reception for 5G NR communications, particularly communications at frequencies above 10GHz, phased antenna arrays and beamforming (steering) techniques (e.g., schemes that adjust the antenna signal phase and/or amplitude of each antenna in the array to perform beam steering) may be used. Since the operating environment of the device 10 can be switched to not use and use higher performing antennas in their place, antenna diversity schemes can also be used to ensure that antennas have begun to be blocked or otherwise degraded.

The antenna 30 in the wireless circuit 24 may be formed using any suitable antenna type. For example, the antenna 30 may include an antenna having a resonating element formed from stacked patch antenna structures, loop antenna structures, patch antenna structures, inverted-F antenna structures, slot antenna structures, planar inverted-F antenna structures, monopole antenna structures, dipole antenna structures, helical antenna structures, yagi (yagi-uda) antenna structures, hybrids of these designs, or the like. One or more of the antennas 30 may be a cavity backed antenna, if desired. Different types of antennas may be used for different frequency bands and combinations of frequency bands. For example, one type of antenna may be used to form a non-5G NR wireless link for non-5G NR transceiver circuitry 26 and another type of antenna may be used to transmit radio frequency signals in the 5G NR communications band for 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28. If desired, antennas 30 for transmitting radio frequency signals for 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 may be arranged in one or more phased antenna arrays.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing how a base station 8 may communicate with a device 10 within a corresponding cell of a network 6. As shown in fig. 2, the network 6 may be organized into one or more cells, such as cells 40 distributed over one or more geographic areas or regions. The cells 40 may have any desired shape (e.g., hexagonal shape, rectangular shape, circular shape, oval shape, or any other desired shape having any desired number of straight and/or curved sides). Base station 8 may communicate with one or more UE devices (such as device 10) within cell 40 (e.g., provide device 10 with communication access to the rest of network 6, other UE devices, other networks, the internet, etc.). Although the storage and processing operations of the base station 8 may be described herein at times as being performed by or at the base station 8, some or all of the control circuitry for the base station 8 (e.g., storage circuitry such as storage circuitry 20 and/or processing circuitry such as processing circuitry 22) may be located at the base station 8 and/or may be distributed across two or more network devices in the network 6 (e.g., any desired number of base stations, servers, cloud networks, physical devices, distributed and/or virtual/logical devices implemented via software, etc.).

When operating at relatively high frequencies (such as frequencies greater than 10 GHz), radio frequency signals transmitted between the base station 8 and the device 10 may experience substantial over-the-air signal attenuation. To increase the gain of these signals, base station 8 and/or device 10 may transmit radio frequency signals using a phased antenna array (e.g., a phased array of antennas 30). Each antenna in the phased antenna array may transmit a radio frequency signal provided with a respective phase and magnitude. The signals transmitted by each antenna constructively and destructively interfere to produce a corresponding signal beam having a pointing direction (e.g., the direction of the signal beam having a peak gain). The phase and/or magnitude provided to each antenna may be adjusted to actively steer the signal beam in different directions.

For example, as shown in fig. 2, device 10 may transmit a radio frequency signal (e.g., radio frequency signal 36 of fig. 1) on signal beam 42 using a phased antenna array. The device 10 may adjust the phase/magnitude provided to each antenna in the phased antenna array to direct the signal beam 42 in a selected pointing direction (e.g., peak gain direction), as indicated by arrow 48. Similarly, base station 8 may transmit radio frequency signals on signal beam 44 using a phased antenna array. The base station 8 may adjust the phase/magnitude provided to each antenna in the phased antenna array to steer the signal beam 44 to a point in the selected pointing direction, as indicated by arrow 46. Base station 8 may steer signal beam 44 to a point toward device 10 and device 10 may steer signal beam 42 to a point toward base station 8 to allow wireless data to be transferred between base station 8 and device 10. Phased antenna arrays may also sometimes be referred to as phased array antennas (e.g., phased arrays of antenna elements). The signal beam direction may be adjusted over time as the device 10 moves relative to the base station 8. As the device 10 moves between cells 40, handover operations may be performed with other base stations in the network 6.

The device 10 may transmit uplink signals to the base stations 8 (sometimes referred to herein as gnbs 8) within the signal beams 42. The device 10 may transmit the uplink signal at a selected output power level (sometimes referred to herein as an uplink output power level, a transmit power level, or a transmit power level). The device 10 may have a maximum output power level P _CMAX (e.g., the maximum output power level at which the device 10 may transmit radio frequency signals within the signal beam 42). The output power level may be adjusted using an Uplink (UL) power control operation. In cellular networks, UL power control may be a complex procedure that includes an open loop power control operation during initial access (e.g., during a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) procedure), followed by a closed loop power control operation when a UE device is connected to the network (e.g., when the UE and base station transmit a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) signal, a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) signal, a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS), etc.).

During the transmission of the radio frequency signal, some of the radio frequency signal transmitted by the device 10 may be incident on an external object, such as the external object 50. The external object 50 may be, for example, the body of a user of the device 10 or another person or animal. The external object 50 may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as a user 50. In these scenarios, the amount of radio frequency energy exposure at the user 50 may be characterized by one or more Radio Frequency (RF) exposure metrics. The RF exposure metrics may include a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of the radio frequency signal at less than 6GHz frequency (in W/kg), a maximum allowable exposure (MPE) of the radio frequency signal at greater than 6GHz frequency (in mW/cm ²), and a Total Exposure Rate (TER) of the combined SAR and MPE. Regulatory requirements (e.g., as imposed by government, regulatory, or industry standards or regulations in the area where the cell 40 is located) typically impose limits on the amount of RF energy exposure allowed by external objects 50 near the antenna on the device 10 over a specified period of time (e.g., corresponding SAR and MPE limits over an average period of time of the regulations).

In general, the maximum radiated Radio Frequency (RF) power allowed while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements is a function of the location of the device 10 relative to the user 50, the current direction of the signal beam 42 (and the side lobe levels of the signal beam 42; the main lobe of the signal beam 42 is shown in FIG. 2), and the proximity of the user 50 to the antenna on the device 10 that produced the signal beam 42. The RF energy exposure (e.g., SAR and MPE) produced by the device 10 is primarily dependent on the transmission power level of the device 10 and the UL duty cycle of the device 10. The transmit (uplink) power level of the device 10 is provided by an amplifier (e.g., a power amplifier) in the transmission chain of the wireless circuit 24 (fig. 1). The duty cycle of the device 10 is given by the fraction of the time resource of the device 10 for UL transmission (e.g., the fraction or percentage of time slots in a given period of time in which the transmission chain actively transmits the radio frequency signal).

In a previous version of the 3GPP TSS, the power management term P-MPR (Power management maximum Power reduction) is the only available resource for device 10 to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements regarding RF energy exposure. The power management term P-MPR in the 3GPP TSS (sometimes referred to herein as maximum power reduction MPR) specifies a reduction in the maximum transmission power level for the device 10 (e.g., such that subsequently transmitted signals are transmitted at an uplink power level that is less than the maximum transmission power level P _CMAX of the device 10 minus the power reduction specified by the power management term P-MPR). This reduction in maximum transmission power level limits the amount of RF energy exposure of the user 50 adjacent to the device 10, thereby helping to ensure that the device 10 meets regulatory requirements regarding RF energy exposure.

However, performing RF exposure compliance in this manner using only transmission power backoff (maximum power reduction) may result in reduced uplink coverage for the device 10. For example, a transmission power backoff (MPR) of only 6dB may result in a reduction of the uplink range of the device 10 (e.g., the distance that the device 10 may transmit uplink signals that are received at the base station 8 with satisfactory signal quality) by more than 30%. As another example, a sudden and abrupt decrease in UL transmission power achieved by P-MPR (e.g., due to a suddenly detected proximity of a user 50 adjacent to device 10 or within signal beam 42) may cause a Radio Link Failure (RLF) with base station 8.

On the other hand, in the previous version of the 3GPP TSS, the maximum UL duty cycle of the device 10 remains static and is reported to the network by the device 10 only when the device 10 transmits its UE capabilities to the base station 8 (e.g., using item maxUplinkDutyCycle-FR 2). The maxUplinkDutyCycle-FR2 term is only a single static limit that does not take into account the different use cases that may occur and only defines the duty cycle limit at which the device 10 will start to apply the transmission power backoff (MPR). When the maxUplinkDutyCycle-FR2 item is not present in the UE capability transmitted by the device 10 to the base station 8, then other means (such as MPR) must be used to meet the RF exposure requirements. Furthermore, the maxUplinkDutyCycle-FR2 term does not allow for dynamically scaling the UL duty cycle to avoid transmission power backoff under different conditions. For example, the device may be located in different positions relative to the user's head or body, resulting in different amounts of RF energy exposure and thus allowing different UL duty cycle values while transmitting at maximum transmission power levels.

Further, a device such as device 10 may apply sensing to detect whether an external object (e.g., a portion of user 50 such as a user's hand, finger, or head) is proximate to the device. The level of RF energy exposure allowed depends on the sensing result (e.g., whether the object is close to the transmit antenna). Thus, the device is required to scale RF energy exposure accordingly, and such scaling would need to be performed dynamically. The maxUplinkDutyCycle-FR2 term defined in the 3GPP TSS does not allow for scaling of RF exposure, taking into account the dynamics of objects detected by the sensor or moving out of the sensor detection area. To alleviate these problems associated with using only MPR and a static maximum UL duty cycle, device 10 may dynamically adjust the UL duty cycle (e.g., maximum UL duty cycle) for transmitting UL signals to base station 8 to meet regulatory requirements regarding RF energy exposure.

To allow the device 10 to dynamically adjust the UL duty cycle, the device 10 needs to quickly coordinate with the network (e.g., base station 8), so the network can accommodate any changes (adjustments) to the UL duty cycle over time. The use of Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Elements (CEs) and Radio Resource Control (RRC) interactions between the device 10 and the base station 8 can introduce an excessive amount of delay to the system if not careful. It may therefore be desirable to be able to coordinate dynamic UL duty cycle adjustment outside of MAC CE and RRC interactions, where possible.

Fig. 3 is a flow diagram of exemplary operations that may be performed by network 6 to perform and coordinate dynamic UL duty cycle adjustment (e.g., outside of MAC CE and RRC interactions). Operations 52 through 58 of fig. 3 may be performed by device 10 while located in cell 40 of the corresponding base station 8. Operations 60 through 64 of fig. 3 may be performed by base station 8 in cell 30 in which device 10 is located.

At operation 52, the device 10 may begin transmitting UL signals to the base station 8 using the initial maximum UL duty cycle. Uplink transmissions may be performed according to UL schedule generated by base station 8 and/or other portions of network 6 that grants device 10 UL slots that achieve an initial maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., after a wireless connection has been established between base station 8 and device 10). The base station 8 may begin receiving UL signals transmitted by the device 10 using the initial maximum UL duty cycle at operation 92.

At operation 54, the device 10 may perform a proximity detection operation to determine whether the user 50 is at, adjacent to, or proximate to the active (transmit) antenna 30 and/or the signal beam 42 on the device 10. The proximity detection operation assists the device 10 in determining whether the user 54 will experience RF energy exposure from the signal beam 42 so that the device 10 will accumulate SAR and/or MPE from the presence of the user 54. Such communications may be subject to regulations (e.g., SAR limits and/or MPE limits) regarding RF energy exposure.

The device 10 may perform a proximity detection operation using one or more image sensors, one or more capacitive proximity sensors, one or more Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) sensors coupled to an active transmission antenna on the device 10 (e.g., a sensor that measures the amount of radio frequency energy reflected back from the transmission antenna to the transceiver due to the presence of an external object), one or more touch sensors integrated into or separate from a display of the device 10, one or more acoustic (e.g., ultrasound) sensors, one or more accelerometers, one or more gyroscopes, one or more sensors that collect wireless performance metric data such as Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) values or signal to noise ratio (SNR) values, information indicating that the user 50 is currently providing user input to the device 10, information indicating that the user 50 is currently performing one or more software operations using a software application running on the device 10, GPS data, one or more radar sensors, one or more light sensors that detect infrared light (Lidar) sensors, one or more sensors that are located within the proximity of the device or one or more antennas 10, one or more sensors that are located within the proximity of the device or more of the device, one or more proximity sensors (e.g., within the proximity to the device 10, or any other sensor or device, or sensor-threshold, etc.). If desired, the proximity detection operation may distinguish an inanimate external object from an animate external object (e.g., a portion of the body of user 50).

When device 10 detects that user 50 is present at, adjacent to, or proximate to one or more of the antennas on device 10 (e.g., the active antenna used to form signal beam 42), the process may proceed to operation 56. At operation 56, the device 10 (e.g., the 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 and one or more antennas 30 of fig. 1) may transmit an indicator to the base station 8 identifying that an RF exposure event has occurred at the device 10 (e.g., the device 10 will begin accumulating events subject to SAR/MPE as to regulatory limits on RF energy exposure). The device 10 may transmit the indicator as a bit or string of bits (series) that identifies that an RF exposure event has occurred. In the example of fig. 3, the device 10 transmits the indicator over a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) (e.g., using a PUCCH signal). The device 10 may transmit the indicator, for example, within Uplink Control Information (UCI) carried on PUCCH.

At operation 62, the base station 8 may receive the indicator transmitted by the device 10 over the PUCCH. In this way, the device 10 may inform the base station 8 and the network 6 that the device needs to reduce its maximum UL duty cycle in the presence of the user 50 in order to comply with the regulations regarding RF energy exposure (e.g. the indicator through PUCCH may be used as a trigger for the network to adjust the maximum UL duty cycle of the device 10). In response to receiving the indicator, base station 8 and/or other portions of network 6 (e.g., UL scheduler of base station 8) may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle for device 10 that is lower than the initial UL duty cycle. The updated maximum UL duty cycle may be, for example, a maximum UL duty cycle that is supported by the base station 8 and that will allow the base station 8 to continue to communicate with the device 10 while also accommodating communications with other UE devices in the cell 40. Other parts of the base station 8 and/or the network 6 may, for example, generate or update UL schedules for the device 10 and/or other UE devices in the cell 40 to achieve/adapt to the updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by the device 10.

At operation 64, the base station 8 (e.g., the 5G NR transceiver circuitry and one or more of the antennas on the base station 8) may transmit the feedback signal to the device 10 (e.g., using DL resources allocated to the particular device 10 that transmitted the indicator to the base station 8 at operation 56). The feedback signal may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by device 10 (e.g., may identify an updated UL schedule or grant for use by device 10 that adapts/implements the updated maximum UL duty cycle). In the example of fig. 3, the base station 8 transmits the feedback signal over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) (e.g., using a PDCCH signal). The base station 8 may transmit the feedback signal, for example, within Downlink Control Information (DCI) carried on the PDCCH (e.g., as a series of bits or a series of bits).

At operation 58, device 10 may receive the feedback signal from base station 8 and may begin transmitting UL signals using the updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., to enable updated UL scheduling or grants generated by base station 8 and/or network 6). Device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle for uplink communications while ensuring that any applicable regulations regarding RF energy exposure are met, as the updated maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the initial maximum UL duty cycle and thus generates less RF energy incident on user 50. The updated maximum UL duty cycle may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as a reduced maximum UL duty cycle. The device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle until the user 50 is no longer detected at, adjacent to, or adjacent to the transmit antenna or signal beam 42, until the base station 8 instructs the device 10 to use a different maximum UL duty cycle, or until any other desired trigger condition occurs.

If desired, device 10 may suggest or request a particular updated UL duty cycle in response to detecting that user 50 is at, adjacent to, or proximate to device 10, as shown in fig. 4. Operations 54, 66, 68, and 70 of fig. 4 may be performed by device 10. Operations 72 through 82 of fig. 4 may be performed by base station 8 and/or other portions of network 6. Operations 52 and 60 of fig. 3 are also performed during these operations of fig. 4, but have been omitted from fig. 4 for clarity.

Once the device 10 has detected the presence of the user 50 at operation 54, processing may proceed to operation 66 of FIG. 4. At operation 66, control circuitry 14 on device 10 may identify a new maximum UL duty cycle for use during subsequent communications that is less than the initial maximum UL duty cycle. The new maximum UL duty cycle may sometimes be referred to herein as a suggested or requested maximum UL duty cycle. The new maximum UL duty cycle may be a maximum UL duty cycle that will be low enough to allow the device 10 to continue transmitting UL signals (e.g., using the new maximum UL duty cycle) while still meeting regulatory limits on MPE/SAR, even if the user 50 is present.

At operation 68, the device 10 (e.g., the 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 and the one or more antennas 30 of fig. 1) may transmit an indicator to the base station 8 identifying the new maximum UL duty cycle. The indicator may include a bit or bit string (series) identifying the new maximum UL duty cycle. In the example of fig. 4, the device 10 transmits the indicator over a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) (e.g., using a PUCCH signal). The device 10 may transmit the indicator, for example, within Uplink Control Information (UCI) carried on PUCCH.

At operation 62, the base station 8 may receive the indicator transmitted by the device 10 over the PUCCH. In this way, the device 10 may inform the base station 8 and the network 6 that the device needs to reduce its maximum UL duty cycle in the presence of the user 50 and the reduced maximum UL duty cycle that will allow the device 10 to continue to comply with the regulations regarding RF energy exposure. In response to receiving the indicator, the base station 8 and/or other portions of the network 6 (e.g., the UL scheduler of the base station 8) may process the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by the indicator to determine whether using the new maximum UL duty cycle for the device 10 would be satisfactory to the network (e.g., in view of the current traffic load on the base station 8 from any other UE devices in the cell 40, the load balancing policy of the base station 8, etc.).

If the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by device 10 is not satisfactory to network 6, processing may proceed via path 74 to operation 76. At operation 76, the base station 8 and/or other portions of the network 6 may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle for the device 10 that is lower than the initial UL duty cycle (e.g., which is supported by the base station 8 and will allow the base station 8 to continue to communicate with the device 10 while also accommodating communications with other UE devices in the cell 40). Other parts of the base station 8 and/or the network 6 may, for example, generate or update UL schedules for the device 10 and/or other UE devices in the cell 40 to achieve/adapt to the updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by the device 10.

If the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by the device 10 is satisfactory to the network 6, processing may proceed from operation 72 to operation 80 via path 78. At operation 80, the base station 8 and/or other portions of the network 6 may set the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by the device 10 to an updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., the base station 8 may accept/confirm the new maximum UL duty cycle suggested by the device 10 to allow the device 10 to continue to meet SAR/MPE limits).

At operation 82, the base station 8 may transmit a feedback signal to the device 10 (e.g., using DL resources allocated to the particular device 10, which transmits the indicator to the base station 8 at operation 56). The feedback signal may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by the device 10. For example, base station 8 may confirm to device 10 that the new maximum UL duty cycle as identified by device 10 operation 66 has been accepted by the network for subsequent use by device 10 (e.g., using one bit in the feedback signal) or may inform device 10 that a different maximum UL duty cycle as identified by base station 8 at operation 76 is to be used (e.g., using a series of bits in the feedback signal). In the example of fig. 4, the base station 8 transmits the feedback signal over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) (e.g., using a PDCCH signal). The base station 8 may transmit the feedback signal, for example, within Downlink Control Information (DCI) carried on the PDCCH.

At operation 70, the device 10 may receive the feedback signal from the base station 8 and may begin transmitting UL signals using the updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., based on the updated UL schedule generated by the base station 8 and/or the network 6). Device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle for uplink communications while ensuring that any applicable regulations regarding RF energy exposure are met, as the updated maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the initial maximum UL duty cycle and thus involves less RF energy incident on user 50. The device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle until the user 50 is no longer detected at, adjacent to, or adjacent to the transmit antenna or signal beam 42, until the base station 8 instructs the device 10 to use a different maximum UL duty cycle, or until any other desired trigger condition occurs.

The examples of fig. 3 and 4, in which device 10 and base station 8 use PUCCH/PDCCH to coordinate the dynamic adjustment of the maximum UL duty cycle used by device 10, are merely illustrative. The initial access procedure of the device 10 and the base station 8 may be used to coordinate the dynamic adjustment of the maximum UL duty cycle used by the device 10, if desired. For example, device 10 and base station 8 may use a Random Access Channel (RACH) procedure to coordinate dynamic adjustment of the maximum UL duty cycle used by device 10.

Fig. 5 is a flow chart of exemplary operations involving the use of a RACH procedure to coordinate dynamic adjustment of the maximum UL duty cycle used by device 10. Operations 84 to 90 of fig. 5 may be performed by the device 10 while located in the cell 40 of the corresponding base station 8. Operations 92 through 96 of fig. 5 may be performed by base station 8 in cell 40 where device 10 is located.

At operation 84, the device 10 may begin transmitting UL signals to the base station 8 using the initial maximum UL duty cycle. The base station 8 may begin receiving UL signals transmitted by the device 10 using the initial maximum UL duty cycle at operation 92. For example, operations 84 and 92 may be performed before device 10 has fully accessed and synchronized with network 6. Alternatively, operations 84 and 92 may be omitted, if desired.

At operation 86, the device 10 may perform a proximity detection operation to determine whether the user 50 is at, adjacent to, or proximate to the active (transmit) antenna 30 and/or the signal beam 42 on the device 10. The proximity detection operation may include, for example, the same proximity detection operation as performed at operation 54 of fig. 3 and 4.

When device 10 detects that user 50 is present at, adjacent to, or proximate to one or more of the antennas on device 10 (e.g., the active antenna used to form signal beam 42), the process may proceed to operation 88. At operation 88, the device 10 (e.g., the 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 and one or more antennas 30 of fig. 1) may transmit an indicator to the base station 8 identifying that an RF exposure event has occurred at the device 10 (e.g., the device 10 will begin accumulating events subject to SAR/MPE as to regulatory limits on RF energy exposure). In the example of fig. 5, the device 10 transmits the indicator over a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) (e.g., using a PRACH signal). In other words, the indicator transmitted by the device 10 may be carried on the PRACH. The device 10 may transmit the indicator as a bit or a bit string (series) identifying that an RF exposure event has occurred (e.g., within a PRACH preamble).

At operation 94, the base station 8 may receive the indicator transmitted by the device 10 over the PRACH. In this way, the device 10 can inform the base station 8 and the network 6 that the device needs to reduce its maximum UL duty cycle in the presence of the user 50 in order to comply with regulations regarding RF energy exposure. In response to receiving the indicator, base station 8 and/or other portions of network 6 (e.g., UL scheduler of base station 8) may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle for device 10 that is lower than the initial UL duty cycle. The updated maximum UL duty cycle may be, for example, a maximum UL duty cycle that is supported by the base station 8 and that will allow the base station 8 to continue to communicate with the device 10 while also accommodating communications with other UE devices in the cell 40. Other parts of the base station 8 and/or the network 6 may, for example, generate or update UL schedules for the device 10 and/or other UE devices in the cell 40 to achieve/adapt to the updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by the device 10.

At operation 96, the base station 8 may transmit a feedback signal to the device 10 (e.g., to the particular device 10 transmitting the indicator). The feedback signal may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by device 10 (e.g., may identify an updated UL schedule or grant for device 10 that accommodates/implements the updated maximum UL duty cycle). In the example of fig. 5, the base station 8 transmits the feedback signal using a Random Access Response (RAR) (e.g., msg2 RAR). In other words, a feedback signal (e.g., information identifying the updated maximum UL duty cycle) may be carried on the RAR.

At operation 90, device 10 may receive the feedback signal from base station 8 and may begin transmitting UL signals using the updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., to enable updated UL scheduling or grants generated by base station 8 and/or network 6). Device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle for uplink communications while ensuring that any applicable regulations regarding RF energy exposure are met, as the updated maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the initial maximum UL duty cycle and thus involves less RF energy incident on user 50. The updated maximum UL duty cycle may therefore sometimes be referred to herein as a reduced maximum UL duty cycle. The device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle until the user 50 is no longer detected at, adjacent to, or adjacent to the transmit antenna or signal beam 42, until the base station 8 instructs the device 10 to use a different maximum UL duty cycle, or until any other desired trigger condition occurs.

If desired, device 10 may suggest or request a particular updated UL duty cycle in response to detecting that user 50 is at, adjacent to, or proximate to device 10, as shown in fig. 6. Operations 86 and 100 through 104 of fig. 6 may be performed by device 10. Operations 106 through 116 of fig. 6 may be performed by base station 8 and/or other portions of network 6.

Once the device 10 has detected the presence of the user 50 at operation 86, processing may proceed to operation 100 of FIG. 6. At operation 86, control circuitry 14 on device 10 may identify a new maximum UL duty cycle for use during subsequent communications that is less than the initial maximum UL duty cycle. The new maximum UL duty cycle may sometimes be referred to herein as a suggested or requested maximum UL duty cycle. The new maximum UL duty cycle may be a maximum UL duty cycle that will be low enough to allow the device 10 to continue transmitting UL signals (e.g., using the new maximum UL duty cycle) while still meeting regulatory limits on MPE/SAR, even if the user 50 is present.

At operation 102, the device 10 (e.g., the 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 and the one or more antennas 30 of fig. 1) may transmit an indicator to the base station 8 identifying a new maximum UL duty cycle. The indicator may include a bit or bit string (series) identifying the new maximum UL duty cycle. In the example of fig. 6, the device 10 transmits the indicator over a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) (e.g., using a PRACH signal). In other words, the indicator transmitted by the device 10 may be carried on the PRACH.

At operation 106, the base station 8 may receive the indicator transmitted by the device 10 over the PRACH. In this way, the device 10 may inform the base station 8 and the network 6 that the device needs to reduce its maximum UL duty cycle in the presence of the user 50 and the reduced maximum UL duty cycle that will allow the device 10 to continue to comply with the regulations regarding RF energy exposure. In response to receiving the indicator, the base station 8 and/or other portions of the network 6 (e.g., UL scheduler of the base station 8) may process the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by the indicator to determine whether using the new maximum UL duty cycle for the device 10 would be satisfactory for the network (e.g., not unduly interfere with current traffic load from other UE devices in the cell 40 on the base station 8, load balancing policies based on the base station 8, etc.).

If the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by device 10 is not satisfactory to network 6, processing may proceed via path 108 to operation 110. At operation 110, the base station 8 and/or other portions of the network 6 may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle for the device 10 that is lower than the initial UL duty cycle (e.g., which is supported by the base station 8 and will allow the base station 8 to continue to communicate with the device 10 while also accommodating communications with other UE devices in the cell 40). Other parts of the base station 8 and/or the network 6 may, for example, generate or update UL schedules for the device 10 and/or other UE devices in the cell 40 to achieve/adapt to the updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by the device 10.

If the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by device 10 is satisfactory to network 6, processing may proceed from operation 106 to operation 114 via path 112. At operation 114, the base station 8 and/or other portions of the network 6 may set the new maximum UL duty cycle identified by the device 10 to an updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., the base station 8 may accept/confirm the new maximum UL duty cycle suggested by the device 10 to allow the device 10 to continue to meet SAR/MPE limits).

At operation 116, the base station 8 may transmit a feedback signal to the device 10. The feedback signal may identify an updated maximum UL duty cycle to be used by the device 10. In the example of fig. 6, the base station 8 transmits the feedback signal using a Random Access Response (RAR) (e.g., msg2 RAR). In other words, a feedback signal (e.g., information identifying the updated maximum UL duty cycle) may be carried on the RAR. For example, base station 8 may confirm to device 10 that the new maximum UL duty cycle as identified by device 10 operation 100 has been accepted by the network for subsequent use by device 10 (e.g., using one bit in a RAR message) or may inform device 10 to use a different maximum UL duty cycle as identified by base station 8 at operation 110 (e.g., using a series of bits in a RAR message).

At operation 104, device 10 may receive the feedback signal from base station 8 and may begin transmitting UL signals using the updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., according to the updated UL schedule generated by base station 8 and/or network 6). Device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle for uplink communications while ensuring that any applicable regulations regarding RF energy exposure are met, as the updated maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the initial maximum UL duty cycle and thus involves less RF energy incident on user 50. The device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle until the user 50 is no longer detected at, adjacent to, or adjacent to the transmit antenna or signal beam 42, until the base station 8 instructs the device 10 to use a different maximum UL duty cycle, or until any other desired trigger condition occurs.

If desired, device 10 may perform dynamic scaling of the maximum UL duty cycle to keep the RF exposure within regulatory limits (e.g., without using MPR). Device 10 may, for example, calculate a level of RF exposure caused by device 10. The calculation may take into account sensor data collected by sensors on the device 10 (e.g., in the input-output device 18 of fig. 1) indicating that the user 50 or another external object is present near the transmitting antenna on the device. The calculated RF exposure level may include an absolute value and a relative value that is compared to regulatory RF exposure limits.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram showing how wireless circuitry 24 on device 10 may include means for dynamically scaling the maximum UL duty cycle to keep RF exposure within regulatory limits. As shown in fig. 7, wireless circuitry 24 may include maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuitry 136, RF exposure (RFE) level calculation circuitry 132, and RF exposure limit (rule) database 134. These components may be implemented in hardware (e.g., one or more processors, circuit components, logic gates, diodes, transistors, switches, arithmetic Logic Units (ALUs), registers, application specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays, etc.) and/or software on the device 10. The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may also be sometimes referred to herein as a maximum UL duty cycle calculation engine 136 or a maximum UL duty cycle calculator 136.RFE level calculation circuit 132 may also be sometimes referred to herein as RFE level calculation engine 132 or RFE level calculator 132.

RF exposure limit database 134 may be coupled to maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 and RFE level calculation circuit 132 via control path 138. Maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may have an output coupled to 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 (or other transceiver circuits in device 10) through control path 130. RFE level calculation circuit 132 may have a first output coupled to 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 (or other transceiver circuits in device 10) via control path 128 and may have a second output coupled to maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 via control path 140. The 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may be coupled to an antenna 30 by a radio frequency transmission line path 124.

During UL transmission, the 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 may transmit an uplink signal ul_sig over the radio frequency transmission line path 124 and the antenna 30 (e.g., using a selected/current UL duty cycle ULDC _curr that is less than or equal to the current (e.g., initial) maximum UL duty cycle). The antenna 30 may transmit an uplink signal UL SIG to the base station 8 (e.g., over the wireless link 36). As shown in fig. 7, base station 8 may include an antenna 118, transceiver circuitry 120, and UL scheduler 122. This example is merely illustrative, and UL scheduler 122 may be located or distributed over other portions of network 6, if desired. Antenna 118 may also transmit DL signals (e.g., over wireless link 36) to antenna 30 on device 10. The antenna 30 may pass the received DL signals to the 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 through a radio frequency transmission line path 124.

RF exposure limit database 134 may be hard-coded or soft-coded into device 10 (e.g., into memory circuit 16 of fig. 1) and may include a database, a data table, or any other desired data structure. RF exposure limit database 134 may store RF exposure rules associated with the operation of wireless circuitry 24 within different geographic areas. The RF exposure LIMIT database 134 may, for example, store regulatory SAR LIMITs, regulatory MPE LIMITs, and average time periods of the SAR LIMITs and MPE LIMITs (sometimes collectively referred to herein as RF exposure LIMITs RFE LIMIT) for one or more geographic areas (e.g., country, continent, state, region, city, province, solitary country, etc.) that enforce regulatory LIMITs on the amount of RF energy exposure allowed by the user 50 in the vicinity of the antenna 30. For example, the RF exposure LIMIT database 134 may store a first RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit (e.g., a first SAR LIMIT, a first MPE LIMIT, and/or a first average time period) imposed by regulatory requirements of a first country, a second RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit (e.g., a second SAR LIMIT, a second MPE LIMIT, and/or a second average time period) imposed by regulatory requirements of a second country, and so forth. The entries of the RF exposure limit database 134 may be stored at the time of manufacture, assembly, testing, and/or calibration of the device 10 and/or may be updated over time during operation of the device 10 (e.g., periodically or in response to a triggering condition such as a software update or detection that the device 10 has first entered a new country).

If desired, RF exposure limit database 134 may receive a control signal DEV_LOC identifying the current location of device 10 (e.g., from other portions of control circuit 14 of FIG. 1). RF exposure LIMIT database 134 may use control signal dev_loc to identify a particular RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit (e.g., a particular average time period, SAR LIMIT, and/or MPE LIMIT imposed by a corresponding regulatory authority of the current location of device 10) applicable to device 10 within cell 40. RF exposure LIMIT database 134 may provide the identified RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit to maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 and RFE level calculation circuit 132 via control path 138. The control circuit 14 may generate the control signal DEV LOC based on the current GPS position of the device 10, sensor data such as compass or accelerometer data, the position of the device 10 as identified by the base station 8 or access point in communication with the device 10, and/or any other desired information indicative of the geographical position of the device 10. While RF exposure limit database 134 is sometimes described herein as providing data to other components (e.g., maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 and RFE level calculation circuit 132), one or more processors, memory controllers, or other components may actively access the database, may retrieve stored data from the database, and may pass the retrieved data to the other components for corresponding processing.

RFE level calculation circuit 132 may receive uplink information UL INFO from 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 via control path 126. The uplink information ul_info may include information identifying a current UL duty cycle ULDC _curr used by the 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 to transmit the uplink signal ul_sig, information identifying a modulation scheme and/or modulation order used by the 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 to transmit the uplink signal ul_sig, information identifying a transmission power level and/or a maximum transmission power level used by the 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 to transmit the uplink signal ul_sig, information identifying a frequency band used by the 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 to transmit the uplink signal ul_sig, and/or any other desired information associated with the transmission of the uplink signal ul_sig.

RFE level calculation circuit 132 may also receive sensor data SENS through control path 126 (e.g., from 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 or from a sensor located elsewhere on device 10). The sensor data SENS may be, for example, sensor data generated by one or more sensors on the device 10 in performing a proximity detection operation (e.g., at operation 54 of fig. 3 and 4 and operation 86 of fig. 5 and 6). The sensor data SENS may thus indicate the presence or absence of a part of the body of the user 50, whether the device 10 is held by the user, whether the device 10 is held to the user's head, the distance between the user 50 and the device 10, etc.

RFE level calculation circuit 132 may identify (e.g., generate, calculate, infer, derive, estimate, or operate on) a current RF exposure curr_rfe generated by 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 in transmitting uplink signal ul_sig (e.g., within a corresponding average period of time) based on information contained within uplink information ul_info received from 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 and based on sensor data SENS. The current RF exposure curr_rfe may depend on the sensor data SENS (e.g., sensor data SENS indicates that there may be more RF exposure for the user 50 to be near the device 10, hold the device 10 to its head, etc., than sensor data indicates that the user 50 is far from the device 10, not holding the device 10, etc.). RFE LEVEL calculation circuit 132 may also generate (e.g., identify, generate, calculate, infer, derive, estimate, or operate on) a current RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level of 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 based on the current RF exposure amount curr_rfe and the RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit received from RF exposure LIMIT database 134. For example, RFE LEVEL calculation circuit 132 may generate an RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level using equation 1.

RFE LEVEL calculation circuit 132 may include logic (e.g., digital logic) such as multipliers and dividers, for example, that generate the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level. RFE LEVEL calculation circuit 132 may communicate the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level to 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 via control path 128. RFE level calculation circuit 132 may also pass current uplink duty cycle ULDC _curr and current RF exposure curr_rfe from uplink information ul_info to maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 through control path 140.

Maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuitry 136 may generate (e.g., identify, generate, calculate, infer, derive, estimate, or operate on) a new (suggested/requested) maximum uplink duty cycle MAX ULDC based on a current uplink duty cycle ULDC _curr (e.g., as received from RFE level calculation circuitry 132), a current RF exposure amount curr_rfe received from RFE level calculation circuitry 132, and an RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit received from RF exposure LIMIT database 134. Maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuitry 136 may generate a maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC, for example, using equation 2.

Maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may, for example, include logic (e.g., digital logic) such as multipliers and dividers that generate a maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC. Maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may communicate the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC to 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 through control path 130. The maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC may be the maximum uplink duty cycle that will allow the device 10 to continue performing UL transmissions while meeting applicable regulatory limits regarding RF exposure taking into account the current RF exposure and the current UL duty cycle (e.g., without reducing the maximum transmission power level). The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may generate the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC, for example, when processing operation 66 of fig. 4 or operation 100 of fig. 6.

Additionally or alternatively, maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuitry 136 may control (adjust) the UL duty cycle (e.g., maximum uplink duty cycle) for other purposes, such as optimizing UL throughput for different usage scenarios. UL throughput depends on UL duty cycle, applied modulation scheme (e.g., quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) modulation scheme, quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) scheme such as 16-QAM, 64-QAM, 256-QAM, etc.), and transmission power level. In the scenario where the device 10 is relatively close to the base station 8, a relatively high UL duty cycle and a relatively high modulation order may be used to achieve the highest throughput, while only a relatively low transmission power level is required. On the other hand, in a scenario where the device 10 is relatively far from the base station 8, the device 10 needs a relatively high transmission power level to close the link, while achieving the highest UL throughput using a relatively low UL duty cycle and a relatively low modulation order such as QPSK (e.g., in a far cell scenario, decreasing the UL duty cycle may increase coverage and throughput).

To this end, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may estimate the distance between the device 10 and the base station 8 within the cell 40. The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may estimate the distance by measuring the signal strength (e.g., RSSI value) of the DL signal received from the base station 8 and/or the path loss associated with the received DL signal (e.g., because a greater distance correlates to a lower RSSI value and a higher path loss). The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may then identify (e.g., generate, calculate, derive, infer, etc.) the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC to use (e.g., a path loss optimized maximum uplink duty cycle) taking into account the estimated distance or measured path loss between the device 10 and the base station 8. Although the optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC is sometimes referred to herein as the optimal uplink duty cycle, the optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC may be the maximum uplink duty cycle that has been optimized to take into account, for example, the path loss environment of the device 10 in communication with the base station 8.

If desired, maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may store a table, such as table 142 of fig. 8, relating different measured path losses PL to the corresponding optimal UL duty cycles opt_ ULDC. Table 142 may be hard-coded or soft-coded into device 10 and may be implemented as a database, a data table, or any other desired data structure. The entries of table 142 may be stored at the time of manufacture, assembly, testing, and/or calibration of device 10 and/or may be updated over time during operation of device 10. As shown in fig. 8, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may store an optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC for each measured path loss value PL (e.g., a first optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC to be used when the measured path loss has a value PL1, a second optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC to be used when the measured path loss has a value PL2, an nth optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC to be used when the measured path loss has a value PLN, etc.). Maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuitry 136 may identify the best uplink duty cycle to use based on the measured path loss PL (e.g., circuitry 136 may identify that the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC1 should be used when measuring path loss PL1, may identify that the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC2 should be used when measuring path loss PL2, etc.).

Once the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 has identified the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC to be used for the currently measured path loss, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may transmit the lower of the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC to the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 over the control path 130. Transmitting the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC (sometimes referred to herein as RFE-related UL duty cycle) to 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 when the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC is below the optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC may be used to ensure RFE compliance by device 10. Transmitting the best uplink duty cycle OPT ULDC (sometimes referred to herein as a path-loss dependent UL duty cycle or path-loss dependent maximum UL duty cycle) when the best uplink duty cycle OPT ULDC is below the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX ULDC may be used to maximize UL throughput.

The 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 may transmit the uplink report ul_rpt to the base station 8 via the radio frequency transmission line path 124 and the antenna 30. The uplink report ul_rpt may include the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level generated by RFE LEVEL calculation circuit 132 and/or the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC (or the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC generated by maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 when opt_ ULDC is less than max_ ULDC). For example, a reporting entity on 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 (e.g., within baseband circuitry of 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28) or elsewhere in wireless circuitry 24 (e.g., interposed on control paths 128 and 130) may generate an uplink report ul_rpt containing information identifying RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level and/or maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC (or optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC) for transmission by antenna 30 over wireless link 36. The uplink report ul_rpt may be used as a dynamic report to network 6 informing network 6 of the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level generated at device 10 and/or the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC (or the optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC) that device 10 may provide to maintain RFE compliance (e.g., in view of the current path loss environment) when MPR is not being used.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart of exemplary operations that may be performed by wireless circuitry 24 on device 10 to generate an uplink report ul_rpt to be transmitted to base station 8 (e.g., to dynamically adjust the UL duty cycle of device 10 over time or otherwise ensure that device 10 is able to meet RFE requirements taking into account its current RFE level and path loss environment).

At operation 144, the control circuit 14 (fig. 1) may identify the RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit (e.g., SAR LIMIT, MPE LIMIT, and/or average time period) imposed on the devices 10 within the cell 40 using the RF exposure LIMIT database 134 (e.g., based on the control signal dev_loc). RF exposure LIMIT database 134 may communicate RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit to maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 and RFE level calculation circuit 132 via control path 138.

At operation 146, the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may begin transmitting an uplink signal UL SIG through the antenna 30 using a current (maximum) uplink duty cycle ULDC _curr. 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 may generate uplink information ul_info and may transmit the uplink information ul_info to RFE level calculation circuit 132 via control path 126. The uplink information ul_info may identify the current uplink duty cycle ULDC _curr and any other information that the RFE level calculation circuit 132 uses to identify the current RF exposure curr_rfe.

At operation 148, the sensor on device 10 may generate sensor data SENS and may provide the sensor data SENS to RFE level calculation circuit 132. Operations 144-148 may be performed in any desired sequence, or if desired, two or more (e.g., all) of the operations 144-148 may be performed concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) or in a time-interleaved manner.

At operation 150, RFE level calculation circuit 132 may identify a current RF exposure CURR RFE based on the uplink information ul_info and the sensor data SENS. RFE LEVEL calculation circuit 132 may then generate an RF exposure LEVEL RFE LEVEL (e.g., according to equation 1) based on the current RF exposure amount curr_rfe and the RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit. RFE LEVEL calculation circuit 132 may communicate the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level to 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 via control path 128. RFE level calculation circuit 132 may communicate current (maximum) uplink duty cycle ULDC _curr (e.g., as identified by uplink information ul_info) and current RF exposure curr_rfe to maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 via control path 140.

At operation 152, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may generate a maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC (e.g., according to equation 2) based on the RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit, the current (maximum) uplink duty cycle ULDC _curr, and the current RF exposure amount curr_rfe. The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may also identify (e.g., estimate, calculate, derive, calculate, infer, etc.) the path loss between the device 10 and the base station 8 (e.g., using the collected RSSI values or other wireless performance metric values), if desired. The maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may then identify (e.g., using table 142 of fig. 8) the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC corresponding to the estimated path loss. Maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuitry 136 may compare the optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC to the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC.

If the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ ULDC is less than or equal to the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ ULDC, processing may proceed from operation 152 to operation 156 via path 154. At operation 156, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may communicate the generated maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC to the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 through the control path 130.

At operation 158, the 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 may transmit an uplink report ul_rpt over the antenna 30 including information identifying the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level (e.g., as generated by the RFE LEVEL calculation circuitry 132) and/or the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC for subsequent processing by the base station 8 and/or other portions of the network 6.

If the optimal uplink duty cycle OPT_ ULDC is less than the maximum uplink duty cycle MAX_ ULDC, then processing may proceed from operation 152 to operation 162 via path 160. At operation 162, the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may pass the identified optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC to the 5G NR transceiver circuit 28 through the control path 130.

At operation 164, the 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 may transmit an uplink report ul_rpt over the antenna 30 including information identifying the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level (e.g., as generated by the RFE LEVEL calculation circuitry 132) and/or the optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC for subsequent processing by the base station 8 and/or other portions of the network 6.

The example of fig. 9 is merely illustrative. Maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136 may forego identifying the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC if needed. In these examples, the comparison at operation 152 may be omitted and operations 162 and 164 may be omitted (e.g., processing may proceed directly from operation 152 to operation 156). If desired, device 10 may transmit the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level only within the uplink report ul_rpt (e.g., without reporting max_ ULDC or opt_ ULDC). In these examples, operations 152 through 164 may be omitted and device 10 may transmit an uplink report ul_rpt at operation 150. If desired, device 10 may transmit max_ ULDC or opt_ ULDC only within the uplink report ul_rpt (e.g., without reporting rfe_level).

The 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 may transmit the uplink report ul_rpt using MAC CE element signaling (e.g., MAC CE element signaling may be extended to report RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level and/or maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC), if desired. If desired, device 10 may transmit an uplink report ul_rpt to base station 8 once when beginning communication with base station 8, and then may transmit a subsequent uplink report ul_rpt each time the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level and/or the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC (or the optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC) change to a different value.

The 5G NR transceiver circuitry 28 may, for example, transmit the uplink report ul_rpt as an indicator within the MAC CE element. The indicator may include a first indicator identifying the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level and/or a second indicator identifying the maximum UL duty cycle max_ ULDC or the optimal UL duty cycle opt_ ULDC. Each indicator may comprise, for example, a bit sequence/series. As one example, the first indicator may be a 3-bit indicator. The second indicator may be a 3-bit indicator or a 4-bit indicator. These examples are merely illustrative, and in general, each indicator may have any desired number of bits.

Fig. 10 shows a table 166 that illustrates one example of how the first indicator may be a 3-bit indicator for identifying different RF exposure LEVELs rfe_levels to the base station 8. As shown in fig. 10, the first indicator may have a first value (e.g., "0") when the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level is at a first value (e.g., when the RF exposure LEVEL is less than or equal to 25% relative to the RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit), a fourth value (e.g., "3") when the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level is at a second value greater than the first value (e.g., when the RF exposure LEVEL is at 50% relative to the RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit), a third value (e.g., "1") when the RF exposure LEVEL is at a third value greater than the second value (e.g., when the RF exposure LEVEL is at 75% relative to the RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit), a fourth value (e.g., when the RF exposure LEVEL is at a fourth value greater than the RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit) (e.g., when the RF exposure LEVEL is at 100%), a fifth value (e.g., when the RF exposure LEVEL is at a seventh value) is at a value greater than the RF exposure LEVEL (e.g., when the RF exposure LEVEL is at a seventh value) than the RF exposure LEVEL (e_limit) is at a fourth value (e.g., when the RF exposure LEVEL is at a seventh value greater than or at a seventh value (e.g., when the RF exposure LEVEL is at a seventh value) than the RF exposure LEVEL is at a fourth value (e.g., greater than the RF LIMIT) than the fourth value) than the RF exposure LEVEL (e_0) (e_0%). An eighth value (e.g., "7") is present when the RF exposure level is greater than or equal to 400% relative to the RF exposure LIMIT rfe_limit. This example is merely illustrative, and in general, each value of the first indicator may correspond to any desired RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level or may correspond to a range of RF exposure LEVELs rfe_levels (e.g., where the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level is rounded to the nearest value or the nearest larger value in the second row of the table 166). For example, if device 10 generates 55% rfe_level, MAC CE may be provided with a first indicator value of "1" (which is the value closest to 55% in table 166) or "2" (which is the larger value closest to 55% in table 166). For example, rounding to the closest larger value may allow device 10 to have a greater confidence that the RFE limit will be met. In general, the first indicator may include any desired number of bits to report the RF exposure level at any desired granularity.

Fig. 11 shows a table 168 showing one example of how the second indicator may be a 3-bit indicator for identifying a different maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or optimum uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC to the base station 8. As shown in fig. 11, the first indicator may have a first value (e.g., "0") when the (new/suggested/requested) uplink duty cycle (e.g., maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC) is 5%, a second value when the uplink duty cycle is 10%, a third value when the uplink duty cycle is 15%, and so on.

Fig. 12 shows a table 170 showing one example of how the second indicator may be a 4-bit indicator (e.g., with finer granularity than the 3-bit example of fig. 11) for identifying a different maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC to the base station 8. As shown in fig. 12, the first indicator may have a first value (e.g., "0") when the (new/suggested/requested) uplink duty cycle (e.g., maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC) is 5%, a second value when the uplink duty cycle is 7.5%, a third value when the uplink duty cycle is 10%, and so on. In tables 168 and 170, a UL duty cycle of 100% corresponds to UL transmissions by device 10 in all UL slots. The examples of fig. 11 and 12 are merely illustrative, and in general, each value of the second indicator may correspond to any desired uplink duty cycle having any desired roughness. In general, the second indicator may include any desired number of bits to report the RF exposure level at any desired granularity.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart of exemplary operations involving reporting RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level to base station 8 using MAC CE to allow base station 8 to adjust the UL duty cycle of device 10 or otherwise help ensure that device 10 meets RFE specifications. Operations 172 through 176 of fig. 13 may be performed by device 10. Operations 178 and 180 of fig. 13 may be performed by base station 8 and/or other portions of network 6.

At operation 172, the device 10 may transmit an uplink signal UL SIG using the current maximum uplink duty cycle ULDC _curr. The device 10 may acquire sensor data SENS for performing a proximity detection operation. The device 10 may begin generating uplink reports, such as uplink report ul_rpt. The uplink report ul_rpt may include information identifying the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level generated by the uplink signal ul_sig. Once device 10 has detected that an external object (e.g., user 50) is at, adjacent to, or proximate to a transmit antenna on device 10 (e.g., when performing a proximity detection operation), this may indicate a potential RFE event and processing may proceed to operation 174. The detection of an external object during a proximity detection operation may sometimes be referred to herein as detecting an RFE event at device 10. This example is merely illustrative, and in general, the process may proceed to operation 174 in response to any desired trigger condition. As an example, the process may proceed to operation 174 in response to a decrease in UL transmission power (e.g., associated with the device 10 being in close proximity to the base station), in response to detecting that the device 10 is a predetermined distance from the base station 8 or is in a predetermined path loss condition (e.g., based on a path loss value generated at the device 10, wireless performance metric data collected at the device 10, etc.), and so on. In other words, detecting the proximity of the external object 46 or user need not be a trigger condition to initiate dynamic adjustment of the UL duty cycle and coordinate the UL duty cycle with the network.

At operation 174, the device 10 may transmit an uplink report ul_rpt to the base station 8 through the MAC CE. The uplink report ul_rpt may, for example, include a first indicator identifying the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level generated by the device 10 (e.g., at processing operation 172).

At operation 178, the base station 8 may receive an uplink report ul_rpt from the device 10. UL scheduler 122 (fig. 7) may generate an updated UL schedule for the particular UE device (device 10) transmitting the uplink report based on the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level identified by the first indicator in the uplink report ul_rpt. The updated UL schedule may include (e.g., in the time domain) a restriction on the UL schedule of the device 10 such that the updated UL schedule identifies/achieves an updated maximum UL duty cycle for the device 10 that is less than the current maximum uplink duty cycle ULDC _ CURR. If the current maximum UL duty cycle ULDC _ CURR includes UL transmissions during each slot within a given period of time, the updated maximum UL duty cycle may grant UL transmissions to the device 10, for example, during 75% of the slots within the given period of time, 50% of the slots within the given period of time, etc.

At operation 180, the base station 8 may transmit (e.g., via PDCCH) a feedback signal to the device 10, the feedback signal including an uplink GRANT, such as the uplink GRANT ul_grant of fig. 7. The uplink GRANT UL GRANT may instruct the device 10 to perform subsequent communications according to its updated UL schedule (e.g., updated maximum UL duty cycle achieved using the updated UL schedule).

At operation 176, the device 10 may receive a feedback signal and an uplink GRANT ul_grant from the base station 8. The device 10 may then begin transmitting the uplink signal ul_sig according to the uplink GRANT ul_grant (e.g., according to the updated UL schedule of the device 10). The uplink GRANT ul_grant may configure the device 10 to transmit the uplink signal ul_sig using the updated maximum UL duty cycle (e.g., by performing UL transmissions within the time slots granted to the device 10 in accordance with the updated UL schedule of the device 10). In this way, device 10 may continue to perform UL transmissions while meeting regulatory limits on RF energy exposure without reducing transmission power levels.

The apparatus 10 may continue to generate the RF exposure value rfe_level during the processing of operations 174 and 176. Device 10 may continue to use the updated maximum UL duty cycle for uplink transmissions until device 10 (e.g., RFE LEVEL calculation circuit 132) identifies that there is a change in the RF exposure LEVEL RFE LEVEL. Once there is a change in the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level, the device 10 may generate a new uplink report ul_rpt identifying the new RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level and the process may loop back to operation 174 via path 182 to report the new RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level to the base station 8 (e.g., using the new uplink report ul_rpt). The base station 8 may then accommodate the change in RF exposure LEVEL (e.g., by authorizing the device 10 with an increased maximum UL duty cycle when the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level decreases and/or with a decreased maximum UL duty cycle when the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level increases).

The example of fig. 13 is merely illustrative. The handshake process of operations 180 and 176 is not necessary and operations 180 and 176 may be omitted if desired. In these examples, the UL scheduler may simply begin performing communications according to an updated UL schedule that effectively configures the device 10 to achieve an updated maximum duty cycle without having to acknowledge the change to the device 10 in a separate DL transmission (feedback signal). If desired, the network may schedule other changes, such as changes in the UL modulation scheme used by device 10 and/or MPR for device 10, in addition to or instead of the change in the UL duty cycle, to allow device 10 to comply with RFE regulations while performing communications with satisfactory UL throughput taking into account the current path loss environment of device 10.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart of exemplary operations involving reporting a maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or a best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC to base station 8 using MAC CE to instruct base station 8 to adjust the UL duty cycle of device 10 to the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC. Operations 172, 184, and 186 of fig. 14 may be performed by device 10. Operations 188 and 190 of fig. 14 may be performed by base station 8 and/or other portions of network 6.

At operation 172, the device 10 may transmit an uplink signal UL SIG using the current maximum uplink duty cycle ULDC _curr. The device 10 may acquire sensor data SENS for performing a proximity detection operation. The device 10 may begin generating uplink reports, such as uplink report ul_rpt. The uplink report ul_rpt may include information identifying the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC. Once device 10 has detected that an external object (e.g., user 50) is at, adjacent to, or near a transmission antenna on device 10, this may indicate a potential RFE event and processing may proceed to operation 184. This example is merely illustrative, and in general, the process may proceed to operation 184 in response to any desired trigger condition. As an example, the process may proceed to operation 184 in response to a decrease in UL transmission power (e.g., associated with the device 10 being in close proximity to the base station), in response to detecting the device 10 being a predetermined distance from the base station 8 or being in a predetermined path loss condition (e.g., based on a path loss value generated at the device 10, wireless performance metric data collected at the device 10, etc.), and so forth. In other words, detecting the proximity of the external object 46 or user need not be a trigger condition to initiate dynamic adjustment of the UL duty cycle and coordinate the UL duty cycle with the network.

At operation 184, the device 10 may transmit an uplink report ul_rpt to the base station 8 through the MAC CE. The uplink report ul_rpt may, for example, include a second indicator identifying the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC identified by the device 10 (e.g., as generated at processing operation 172).

At operation 188, the base station 8 may receive an uplink report ul_rpt from the device 10. UL scheduler 122 (fig. 7) may generate an updated UL schedule for the particular UE device (device 10) transmitting the uplink report based on the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC identified by the second indicator in the uplink report ul_rpt. The updated UL schedule may include (e.g., in the time domain) a restriction on the UL schedule of device 10 such that the updated UL schedule identifies/implements the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC as identified/requested by device 10.

If desired, the base station 8 (e.g., UL scheduler 122) may determine whether the base station 8 and/or network 6 is able to limit UL scheduling of the device 10 to achieve a maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or an optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC (e.g., by determining whether the newly proposed uplink duty cycle is compatible with the capabilities of the base station 8, whether the newly proposed uplink duty cycle may be used without unduly burdening communications of other UE devices in the cell 40, whether load balancing within the cell 40 will support the newly proposed uplink duty cycle, etc.). If base station 8 or network 6 is not able to limit the UL schedule of device 10 to achieve maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC, the updated UL schedule of device 10 may require a reduction in the maximum transmission power level (e.g., MPR) of device 10 without changing the UL duty cycle of device 10.

At operation 190, the base station 8 may transmit (e.g., via PDCCH) a feedback signal to the device 10, the feedback signal including an uplink GRANT, such as the uplink GRANT ul_grant of fig. 7. The uplink GRANT ul_grant may instruct the device 10 to perform subsequent communications according to its updated UL schedule (e.g., using the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC requested/proposed by the device 10). If base station 8 or network 6 is not able to limit UL scheduling of device 10 to achieve maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC, uplink GRANT ul_grant may instruct device 10 to perform subsequent communications using current maximum uplink duty cycle ULDC _cur and MPR.

At operation 186, the device 10 may receive a feedback signal and an uplink GRANT ul_grant from the base station 8. The device 10 may then begin transmitting the uplink signal ul_sig according to the uplink GRANT ul_grant (e.g., according to the updated UL schedule of the device 10). The uplink GRANT ul_grant may configure the device 10 to transmit the uplink signal ul_sig using the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC. If base station 8 or network 6 is not able to limit the UL scheduling of device 10 to achieve maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC, uplink GRANT ul_grant may configure device 10 to transmit uplink signals using current uplink duty cycles ULDC _curr and MPR. In this way, device 10 may continue to perform UL transmissions while meeting regulatory limits regarding RF energy exposure. Further, by identifying the optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC in the uplink report ul_rpt when the optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC is less than the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC (e.g., when processing operation 152 of fig. 9), the device 10 may maximize its UL throughput regardless of the distance between the device 10 and the base station 8 within the cell 40.

The device 10 may continue to generate the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC during the processing of operations 174 and 176. The device 10 may continue to use the maximum UL duty cycle authorized in the uplink GRANT ul_grant until the device 10 (e.g., the maximum UL duty cycle calculation circuit 136) identifies that there is a change in the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC. Once there is a change in the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC, the device 10 may generate a new uplink report ul_rpt identifying the new maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC and the process may loop back to operation 184 via path 192 to report the new maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC to the base station 8 (e.g., using the new uplink report ul_rpt). The base station 8 may then adapt to the change in maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or optimal uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC requested by the device 10.

The example of fig. 14 is merely illustrative. The handshake process of operations 190 and 186 is not necessary and operations 190 and 186 may be omitted if desired. In these examples, the UL scheduler may simply begin performing communications according to an updated UL schedule that effectively configures device 10 to implement max_ ULDC or opt_ ULDC without having to acknowledge the change to device 10 in a separate DL transmission (feedback signal). If desired, the network may schedule other changes, such as changes in the UL modulation scheme used by device 10 and/or MPR for device 10, in addition to or instead of the change in the UL duty cycle, to allow device 10 to comply with RFE regulations while performing communications with satisfactory UL throughput taking into account the current path loss environment of device 10.

The examples of fig. 13 and 14 may be combined if desired (e.g., by including both a first indicator identifying the RF exposure LEVEL rfe_level and a second indicator identifying the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC in the uplink report ul_rpt transmitted by the MAC CE). In these examples, when the network is adaptable, the base station 8 may assign the device 10 an updated maximum UL duty cycle as generated at the base station 8 or equal to the maximum uplink duty cycle max_ ULDC or the best uplink duty cycle opt_ ULDC. If the network cannot accommodate any change in maximum UL duty cycle, base station 8 may instruct device 10 to perform MPR without adjusting the duty cycle to ensure that device 10 can continue to meet RFE specifications.

The methods and operations described above in connection with fig. 1-14 may be performed by components of the device 10 and/or the base station 8 using software, firmware, and/or hardware (e.g., dedicated circuitry or hardware). The software code for performing these operations may be stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium (e.g., a tangible computer readable storage medium) stored on one or more of the components of the device 10 (e.g., the storage circuit 20 of fig. 1). The software code may sometimes be referred to as software, data, instructions, program instructions, or code. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium may include a drive, non-volatile memory such as non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), a removable flash drive or other removable medium, other types of random access memory, and the like. The software stored on the non-transitory computer readable storage medium may be executed by processing circuitry (e.g., processing circuitry 22 of fig. 1, etc.) on one or more of the components of device 10 and/or base station 8. The processing circuitry may include a microprocessor, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), an application-specific integrated circuit with processing circuitry, or other processing circuitry.

The device 10 may collect and/or use personally identifiable information. It is well known that the use of personally identifiable information should follow privacy policies and practices that are recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or government requirements for maintaining user privacy. In particular, personally identifiable information data should be managed and processed to minimize the risk of inadvertent or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be specified to the user.

For one or more aspects, at least one of the components shown in one or more of the foregoing figures may be configured to perform one or more operations, techniques, procedures, or methods described in the examples section below. For example, the baseband circuitry described above in connection with one or more of the foregoing figures may be configured to operate according to one or more of the following examples. As another example, circuitry associated with a UE, base station, network element, etc. described above in connection with one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the examples shown in the examples section below.

Examples

In the following sections, further exemplary aspects are provided.

Embodiment 1 includes a method of operating a user equipment to communicate with a wireless base station, the method comprising determining a preferred Uplink (UL) duty cycle for use by the user equipment in transmitting an uplink signal to the wireless base station, generating a message identifying the preferred UL duty cycle, and transmitting the message to the wireless base station.

Embodiment 2 includes the method of embodiment 1 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein determining the preferred UL duty cycle comprises determining the preferred UL duty cycle based at least on a path loss between the user equipment and the wireless base station.

Embodiment 3 includes a method according to embodiment 1 or 2 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein determining the preferred UL duty cycle comprises determining the preferred UL duty cycle based at least on a transmission power level of the user equipment.

Embodiment 4 includes the method of any one of embodiments 1-3 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein determining the preferred UL duty cycle includes determining the preferred UL duty cycle based at least on detection of a Radio Frequency Exposure (RFE) event at the user equipment.

Embodiment 5 includes a method according to any one of embodiments 1-4 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, further comprising detecting a radio frequency exposure event associated with the presence of an external object proximate to the user equipment.

Embodiment 6 includes a method according to embodiment 5 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, further comprising, in response to detecting the radio frequency exposure event, determining an additional preferred UL duty cycle for use by the user equipment in transmitting uplink signals to the radio base station, generating an additional message identifying the additional preferred UL duty cycle, and transmitting the additional message to the radio base station.

Embodiment 7 includes a method according to any one of embodiments 1-6 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the message to the wireless base station includes transmitting the message over a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

Embodiment 8 includes a method according to embodiment 7 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, further comprising receiving a feedback signal from the radio base station over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), the feedback signal indicating that the radio base station accepts the preferred UL duty cycle for the user equipment.

Embodiment 9 includes the method of any one of embodiments 1-6 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the message to the wireless base station includes transmitting the message over a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH).

Embodiment 10 includes a method according to embodiment 9 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, further comprising receiving a Random Access Response (RAR) from the radio base station, the RAR indicating that the radio base station accepts the preferred UL duty cycle for the user equipment.

Embodiment 11 includes the method of any one of embodiments 1-6 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the message to the wireless base station includes transmitting the message in a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

Embodiment 12 includes a method according to embodiment 11 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, further comprising receiving a feedback signal from the radio base station over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), the feedback signal indicating that the radio base station accepts the preferred UL duty cycle for the user equipment.

Embodiment 13 includes a method of operating a user equipment to communicate with a radio base station, the method comprising wirelessly transmitting an indicator to the radio base station, the indicator indicating that the user equipment requests an updated maximum Uplink (UL) duty cycle for use by the user equipment during a subsequent UL transmission, and transmitting an UL signal to the radio base station using the updated maximum UL duty cycle after transmitting the indicator to the radio base station.

Embodiment 14 includes the method of embodiment 13 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein wirelessly transmitting the indicator includes wirelessly transmitting the indicator in response to detecting a Radio Frequency Exposure (RFE) event associated with a presence of an external object proximate to the user equipment, and wherein the indicator identifies that the user equipment has detected the RFE event.

Embodiment 15 includes the method of embodiment 14 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies an RFE level generated by the user equipment when transmitting the first UL signal.

Embodiment 16 includes a method according to embodiment 15 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator includes one or more bits in a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

Embodiment 17 includes a method according to embodiment 16 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein further comprising receiving a feedback signal identifying the updated maximum UL duty cycle from the wireless base station over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

Embodiment 18 includes a method according to embodiment 16 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises a 3-bit indicator.

Embodiment 19 includes a method according to embodiment 14 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator over a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

Embodiment 20 includes a method according to embodiment 19 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator over the PUCCH includes transmitting the indicator as one or more bits in Uplink Control Information (UCI) of the PUCCH.

Embodiment 21 includes a method according to embodiment 19 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein further comprising receiving a feedback signal identifying the updated maximum UL duty cycle from the wireless base station over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

Embodiment 22 includes a method according to claim 21 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the feedback signal comprises one or more bits in Downlink Control Information (DCI) of the PDCCH.

Embodiment 23 includes a method according to embodiment 14 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator over a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH).

Embodiment 24 includes a method according to embodiment 23 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein further comprising receiving a Random Access Response (RAR) from the wireless base station identifying the second maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 25 includes the method of embodiment 14 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, further comprising identifying a suggested maximum UL duty cycle in response to detecting the RFE event, the suggested maximum UL duty cycle allowing the user equipment to meet a predetermined limit for RFE.

Embodiment 26 includes a method according to embodiment 13 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies the suggested maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 27 includes the method of embodiment 26 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein further comprising receiving a feedback signal from the radio base station identifying that the radio base station has accepted the user equipment to use the proposed maximum UL duty cycle as the updated maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 28 includes the method of embodiment 27 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator over a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) and wherein receiving the feedback signal includes receiving the feedback signal over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

Embodiment 29 includes the method of embodiment 27 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator over a Random Access Channel (RACH) and wherein receiving the feedback signal includes receiving a Random Access Response (RAR).

Embodiment 30 includes a method according to embodiment 27 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator in a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) and wherein receiving the feedback signal includes receiving the feedback signal over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

Embodiment 31 includes a method according to embodiment 26 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, further comprising receiving a feedback signal from the wireless base station identifying the updated maximum UL duty cycle, wherein the suggested maximum UL duty cycle is different from the updated maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 32 includes a method according to embodiment 31 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator over a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) and wherein receiving the feedback signal includes receiving the feedback signal over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

Embodiment 33 includes a method according to embodiment 31 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator over a Random Access Channel (RACH) and wherein receiving the feedback signal includes receiving a Random Access Response (RAR).

Embodiment 34 includes a method according to embodiment 31 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein transmitting the indicator includes transmitting the indicator in a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE) and wherein receiving the feedback signal includes receiving the feedback signal over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).

Embodiment 35 includes a method according to embodiment 26 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises a plurality of bits in a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

Embodiment 36 includes the method of embodiment 35 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, further comprising receiving a feedback signal from the wireless base station over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), the feedback signal identifying that the wireless base station has accepted the user equipment to use the proposed maximum UL duty cycle as the updated maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 37 includes the method of embodiment 35 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein further comprising receiving a feedback signal identifying the updated maximum UL duty cycle from the wireless base station over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), wherein the updated maximum UL duty cycle is different than the proposed maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 38 includes a method according to embodiment 35 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises a 3-bit indicator.

Embodiment 39 includes a method according to embodiment 35 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises a 4-bit indicator.

Embodiment 40 includes a method according to embodiment 13 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the updated maximum UL duty cycle is less than an initial maximum UL duty cycle for UL transmission by the user equipment prior to transmitting the indicator.

Embodiment 41 includes a method of operating a wireless base station within a cell comprising receiving an Uplink (UL) signal transmitted by a user equipment device in the cell using a first maximum UL duty cycle, wirelessly receiving an indicator transmitted by the user equipment device, and generating an UL schedule for the user equipment device based on the indicator, the UL schedule implementing a second maximum UL duty cycle that is less than the first maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 42 includes a method according to embodiment 41 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises one or more bits transmitted by the user equipment device over a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH).

Embodiment 43 includes a method according to embodiment 42 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, further comprising transmitting a feedback signal to the user equipment device over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), wherein the feedback signal instructs the user equipment device to transmit an additional UL signal at the second maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 44 includes a method according to embodiment 43 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies the second maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 45 includes the method of embodiment 43 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies a third maximum UL duty cycle that is different from the first maximum UL duty cycle and different from the second maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 46 includes a method according to embodiment 41 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator includes one or more bits transmitted by the user equipment device over a Random Access Channel (RACH).

Embodiment 47 includes the method of embodiment 46 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein further comprising transmitting a Random Access Response (RAR) to the user equipment device, wherein the RAR instructs the user equipment device to transmit additional UL signals at the second maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 48 includes a method according to embodiment 47 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies the second maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 49 includes the method of embodiment 47 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies a third maximum UL duty cycle that is different from the first maximum UL duty cycle and different from the second maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 50 includes a method according to embodiment 41 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator comprises one or more bits transmitted by the user equipment device in a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

Embodiment 51 includes a method according to embodiment 50 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, further comprising transmitting a feedback signal to the user equipment device over a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), wherein the feedback signal instructs the user equipment device to transmit an additional UL signal at the second maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 52 includes a method according to embodiment 51 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies the second maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 53 includes a method according to embodiment 52 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein further comprising determining whether the wireless base station can support the second maximum UL duty cycle, generating the UL schedule when the wireless base station can support the second maximum UL duty cycle, and instructing the user equipment device to perform maximum transmission power reduction when the wireless base station cannot support the second maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 54 includes the method of embodiment 51 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator identifies a third maximum UL duty cycle that is different from the first maximum UL duty cycle and different from the second maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 55 includes a method according to embodiment 41 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the indicator includes a Radio Frequency Exposure (RFE) level generated by the user equipment device when transmitting the UL signal using the first maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 56 includes an electronic device operable in an environment including a wireless base station, the electronic device including one or more antennas, one or more sensors configured to generate sensor data indicative of a proximity of an external object to the one or more antennas, a transceiver configured to transmit an Uplink (UL) signal through the one or more antennas using a first maximum UL duty cycle, and one or more processors configured to generate a Radio Frequency Exposure (RFE) level based at least on the sensor data and the first maximum UL duty cycle, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit information identifying the RFE level to the wireless base station.

Embodiment 57 includes an electronic device according to embodiment 56 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to identify a current amount of RFE based at least on the sensor data and the first maximum UL duty cycle, and to generate the RFE level based on the current amount of RFE and a predetermined RFE limit.

Embodiment 58 includes the electronic device of embodiment 57 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate a second maximum UL duty cycle different from the first maximum UL duty cycle based at least on the predetermined RFE limit, the current RFE amount, and the first maximum UL duty cycle, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit information identifying the second maximum UL duty cycle to the wireless base station.

Embodiment 59 includes an electronic device according to embodiment 58 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to identify a path loss between the electronic device and the wireless base station, and generate a third maximum UL duty cycle that is different from the first maximum UL duty cycle and the second maximum UL duty cycle based at least on the path loss between the electronic device and the wireless base station.

Embodiment 60 includes the electronic device of embodiment 59 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the third maximum UL duty cycle to the wireless base station when the third maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the second maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 61 includes the electronic device of embodiment 56 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein after transmitting the information identifying the RFE level, the transceiver is configured to receive an uplink grant from the wireless base station, the uplink grant indicating that the transceiver transmit additional UL signals over the one or more antennas using a second maximum UL duty cycle that is less than the first maximum UL duty cycle.

Embodiment 62 includes an electronic device according to embodiment 56 or some other embodiment or combination of embodiments herein, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the information identifying the RFE level using a Medium Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE).

Embodiment 63 may comprise an apparatus comprising means for performing one or more elements of the method according to or associated with any one of embodiments 1-62, or any combination thereof, or any other method or process described herein.

Embodiment 64 may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to perform one or more elements of the method according to or related to any one of embodiments 1-62, or any combination thereof, or any other method or process described herein.

Embodiment 65 may comprise an apparatus comprising logic, modules, or circuitry to perform one or more elements of the method according to or in connection with any one of embodiments 1-62, or any combination thereof, or any other method or process described herein.

Embodiment 66 may include a method, technique, or process, or portion or part thereof, according to or in association with any one of embodiments 1 to 62, or any combination thereof.

Embodiment 67 may comprise an apparatus comprising one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method, technique, or process, or portion thereof, according to or related to any one of embodiments 1-62, or any combination thereof.

Embodiment 68 may comprise a signal according to or associated with any one of embodiments 1 to 62 or any combination thereof, or a portion or part thereof.

Embodiment 69 may comprise a datagram, an information element, a packet, a frame, a segment, a PDU, or a message according to or related to any one of embodiments 1-62 or any combination thereof, or portions or components thereof, or otherwise described in this disclosure.

Embodiment 70 may include a signal encoded with data according to or related to any one of embodiments 1-62 or any combination thereof, or portions or components thereof, or otherwise described in this disclosure.

Embodiment 71 may comprise a signal encoded with a datagram, IE, packet, frame, segment, PDU or message according to or related to any of embodiments 1-62 or any combination thereof, or portions or components thereof, or otherwise described in this disclosure.

Embodiment 72 may comprise electromagnetic signals carrying computer-readable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, will cause the one or more processors to perform the method, technique, or process, or portions thereof, in accordance with or in association with any one of embodiments 1 to 62, or any combination thereof.

Embodiment 73 may comprise a computer program comprising instructions, wherein execution of the program by a processing element will cause the processing element to perform a method, technique, or process, or portion thereof, in accordance with or in association with any one of embodiments 1 to 62, or any combination thereof.

Embodiment 74 may include signals in a wireless network as shown and described herein.

Embodiment 75 may include a method of communicating in a wireless network as shown and described herein.

Embodiment 76 may include a system for providing wireless communications as shown and described herein.

Embodiment 77 may include an apparatus for providing wireless communications as shown and described herein.

Any of the above examples may be combined with any other example (or combination of examples) unless explicitly stated otherwise. The foregoing description of one or more implementations provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the aspects to the precise form disclosed.

The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may be implemented independently or may be implemented in any combination.

Claims (15)

1. An electronic device operable in an environment including a wireless base station, the electronic device comprising:

one or more antennas;

One or more sensors configured to generate sensor data indicative of a proximity of an external object to the one or more antennas;

A transceiver configured to transmit UL signals using a first maximum uplink UL duty cycle through the one or more antennas, and

One or more of the processors of the present invention, the one or more processors are configured to:

identifying a current amount of radio frequency exposure, RFE, based at least on the sensor data and the first maximum UL duty cycle, and

Generating an RFE level by dividing the current amount of RFE by a predetermined RFE limit, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit information identifying the RFE level to the wireless base station.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, the one or more processors further configured to:

A second maximum UL duty cycle different from the first maximum UL duty cycle is generated based at least on the predetermined RFE limit, the current amount of RFE, and the first maximum UL duty cycle.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit information identifying the second maximum UL duty cycle to the wireless base station.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, the one or more processors further configured to:

A third maximum UL duty cycle different from the first maximum UL duty cycle and the second maximum UL duty cycle is generated based on path loss between the electronic device and the wireless base station, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit information identifying the third maximum UL duty cycle to the wireless base station.

5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the information identifying the third maximum UL duty cycle to the wireless base station when the third maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the second maximum UL duty cycle.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, after transmitting the information identifying the RFE level, the transceiver is configured to receive an uplink grant from the wireless base station, the uplink grant indicating that the transceiver transmit additional UL signals over the one or more antennas using a second maximum UL duty cycle that is less than the first maximum UL duty cycle.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to transmit the information identifying the RFE level using a medium access control element, MAC CE.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the MAC CE comprises a 3-bit or 4-bit indicator.

9. A method of operating an electronic device, the method comprising:

Generating sensor data indicative of a proximity of an external object to one or more antennas of the electronic device using one or more sensors;

transmitting, using a transmitter, UL signals through the one or more antennas using a first maximum uplink UL duty cycle;

Identifying, using one or more processors, a current amount of radio frequency exposure, RFE, based at least on the sensor data and the first maximum UL duty cycle;

Generating, using the one or more processors, an RFE level by dividing the current amount of RFE by a predetermined RFE limit, and

Using the transmitter, information identifying the RFE level generated by the one or more processors is transmitted.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

Transmitting, with the transmitter, information identifying a second maximum UL duty cycle to the wireless base station using the one or more antennas, the second maximum UL duty cycle being different from the first maximum UL duty cycle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

Transmitting, with the transmitter, information identifying a third maximum UL duty cycle to the wireless base station using the one or more antennas when the third maximum UL duty cycle is lower than the second maximum UL duty cycle, the third maximum UL duty cycle being different from the first and second maximum UL duty cycles.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the third maximum UL duty cycle is based on a path loss between the electronic device and the wireless base station.

13. A method of operating a wireless base station, the method comprising:

receiving information from a user equipment, UE, device using one or more antennas, wherein:

The information identifies a radio frequency exposure RFE level of the UE device,

The RFE level is proportional to a current RFE of the UE device,

The RFE level is inversely proportional to a predetermined RFE limit, and

The current RFE being based on a maximum UL duty cycle of the UE device and sensor data generated by the UE device, and

Transmitting, to the UE device, a downlink DL signal using the one or more antennas, the DL signal including an uplink grant for the UE device based on the RFE level.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the uplink grant comprises an updated maximum UL duty cycle for the UE device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the updated maximum UL duty cycle comprises a maximum UL duty cycle identified by the UE device.