EP4655989A1

EP4655989A1 - Systems and methods for transferring wireless power

Info

Publication number: EP4655989A1
Application number: EP23921974.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Shujuan Zhang; Bo Dai; Yuan SI; Zhifeng Yuan; Feng Bi
Original assignee: ZTE Corp
Current assignee: ZTE Corp
Priority date: 2023-02-17
Filing date: 2023-02-17
Publication date: 2025-12-03
Also published as: WO2024168824A1; EP4655989A4; CN120693942A

Abstract

Presented are systems and methods for transferring wireless power. A wireless receiving power device may determine whether to send a request to a first node. The request can be associated with requesting wireless power from a wireless transmitting power node. The wireless receiving power device may send the request to the first node, responsive to determining to send the request.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSFERRING WIRELESS POWER

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to wireless communications, including but not limited to systems and methods for transferring wireless power.

BACKGROUND

The standardization organization Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is currently in the process of specifying a new Radio Interface called 5G New Radio (5G NR) as well as a Next Generation Packet Core Network (NG-CN or NGC) . The 5G NR will have three main components: a 5G Access Network (5G-AN) , a 5G Core Network (5GC) , and a User Equipment (UE) . In order to facilitate the enablement of different data services and requirements, the elements of the 5GC, also called Network Functions, have been simplified with some of them being software based, and some being hardware based, so that they could be adapted according to need.
SUMMARY
The example embodiments disclosed herein are directed to solving the issues relating to one or more of the problems presented in the prior art, as well as providing additional features that will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings. In accordance with various embodiments, example systems, methods, devices and computer program products are disclosed herein. It is understood, however, that these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not limiting, and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art who read the present disclosure that various modifications to the disclosed embodiments can be made while remaining within the scope of this disclosure.
At least one aspect is directed to a system, method, apparatus, or a computer-readable medium of the following. A wireless receiving power device (e.g., a UE) may determine whether to send a request to a first node (e.g., a wireless transmitting power node, or a BS) . The request can be associated with requesting wireless power from a wireless transmitting power node. The wireless receiving power device may send the request to the first node, responsive to determining to send the request. The wireless receiving power device may receive wireless power from the wireless transmitting power node. The wireless receiving power device may receive a wireless power transfer signal from the wireless transmitting power node. The wireless power transfer signal may include at least one of: a broadcast signal, a group cast signal, a signal specified to the wireless receiving power device, a signal corresponding to a reference signal received by the wireless receiving power device, a periodic signal, or an aperiodic signal. Receiving the wireless power may comprise receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, the wireless power at least one of after, before or during the sending of the request to the first node. Receiving the wireless power after the sending of the request to the first node may comprise: receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, the wireless power after a first time (T1) after the sending of the request.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may receive the wireless power after the sending of the request regardless of whether any node receives the request. The wireless receiving power device may not detect a fourth signal.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may detect a fourth signal. The wireless receiving power device may receive the wireless power regardless of whether the fourth signal is detected by the wireless receiving power device.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may detect a fourth signal. The wireless receiving power device may receive the wireless power after the fourth signal is detected by the wireless receiving power device.
In some embodiments, the T1 can be determined according to at least one of: a capability reported by the wireless receiving power device; a signaling received from the first node or the wireless transmitting power node; a fixed number of time units; a sub-carrier spacing; or an agreement between the wireless receiving power device and the wireless transmitting power node or the first node. The wireless receiving power device may determine an occasion for receiving the wireless power according to at least one of the transmitted request, a received signaling, a mapping between a receiving power occasions and the transmitted request, a fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device, or a mapping between the receiving power occasions and a measurement reference signal received by the wireless receiving power device. The wireless receiving power device may receive the wireless power during a second time duration (T2) . The wireless receiving power device may receive the wireless power continuously or discontinuously during the T2.
In some embodiments, the T2 can be determined by the wireless receiving power device according to at least one of: a capability reported by the wireless receiving power device; a signaling received from the wireless transmitting power node or the first node; an agreement between the wireless receiving power device and the wireless transmitting power node; or a wireless power transfer signal for providing the wireless power to the wireless receiving power device.
In some embodiments, the sending of the request can be during a different time duration as the receiving of the power. The sending of the request can be during a different or same time duration as the receiving of the wireless power. In the case where the sending of the request can be during a different time duration as the receiving of the power, a frequency band of the sending of the request and a frequency band of the receiving of the power belong to a same frequency band (e.g., a frequency band (C) may include bands A and B) . In the case where the sending of the request can be during a different or same time duration as the receiving of the power, a frequency band of the sending of the request and a frequency band of the receiving of the power may belong to different frequency bands.
In some embodiments, determining, by the wireless receiving power device (e.g., a UW) , whether to send the request to the first node may comprise: determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether a first condition is met; and determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to send or re-send (e.g., repeat) the request to the first node when the first condition is met. The wireless receiving power device may determine to cancel the request when the first condition is not met. The wireless receiving power device may determine to not send the request when the first condition is not met. The wireless receiving power device may receive wireless power before sending the request. The wireless receiving power device may determine whether to send the request to the first node based on the received wireless power. The wireless receiving power device may transmit a third signal if a first condition is not satisfied.
In some embodiments, the first condition may comprise at least one of: (1) the wireless receiving power device cannot receive the wireless power during a second time duration (T2) ; (2) quantity of the wireless power received by the wireless receiving power device during the T2 is less than a power quantity threshold or a quantity of power needed by the wireless receiving power device; (3) the wireless receiving power device does not receive a fourth signal during a third time duration (T3) ; (4) a maximum number of times the request is sent by the wireless receiving power device is less than a first threshold; (5) quantity of power indicated in a fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device, is less than a quantity of power needed by the wireless receiving power device; (6) quantity of wireless power to be transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node is less than a quantity of wireless power requested by the wireless receiving power device; (7) an index of a power transfer request resource included in a fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device is not equal to an index of a power request transfer resource transmitted by the wireless receiving power device; (8) an index of a channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node and included in the fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device is not equal to an index of the channel measurement reference signal corresponding to the request; (9) an interval between a pair of adjacent transmissions of the request is smaller than a second threshold; (10) number of transmissions of the request during a time duration is smaller than a third threshold; (11) the wireless receiving power device receives a first signal from the wireless transmitting power node or the first node not before a first defined time duration (e.g., T5) prior to an occasion of the request; (12) the wireless receiving power device does not receive a second signal from the wireless transmitting power node or the wireless communication node not before a second defined time duration (e.g., T8) prior to the occasion of the request; (13) quantity of the wireless power requested by the wireless receiving power device is larger than zero; (14) there is at least one available transmission occasion for the request; or (15) the wireless receiving power device will stop receiving wireless power. T2 may occur before the transmitting of the request. T3 may occur before the transmitting of the request.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may detect a fourth signal at least one of: before sending the request, after sending the request, or while receiving the wireless power. Determining, by the wireless receiving power device (e.g., a UE) , whether to send the request to a first node may comprise: detecting, by the wireless receiving power device, a fourth signal before sending the request; and determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether to send the request to the first node based on at least one of: whether the fourth signal is detected, or information included in the detected fourth signal. Determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether to send the request to the first node based on whether the fourth signal is detected, may comprise at least one of: determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to not send the request to the first node if the fourth signal is detected by the wireless receiving power device; or determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to send the request to the first node if the fourth signal is not detected by the wireless receiving power device. Determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether to send the request to the first node based on information included in the detected fourth signal, may comprise at least one of: determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to not send the request to the first node if the information included in the detected fourth signal satisfies a second condition; or determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to send the request to the first node if the information included in the detected fourth signal does not satisfy the second condition.
In some embodiments, the second condition may include at least one of: an index of a power transfer request resource included in the fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device is equal to an index of a power request transfer resource transmitted by the wireless receiving power device; or an index of a channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node and included in the fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device, is equal to an index of the channel measurement reference signal corresponding to the request.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may determine an amount of wireless power that is desired or remaining (R) , after having received a first amount of the wireless power (X1) for a requested amount of the wireless power (X) . The wireless receiving power device may determine R = X –b*X1, where b can be equal to or less than 1. The wireless receiving power device may determine the R periodically. The wireless receiving power device may determine to not send the request when the R is zero or less than zero. The wireless receiving power device may determine an occasion of the request based at least on the R.
In some embodiments, the request may comprise or can be comprised in at least one of: a physical random access channel (PRACH) transmission, a scheduling request (SR) , an uplink control information (UCI) signaling, a sounding reference signal (SRS) , a preamble portion of an uplink transmission, or a preamble portion and data portion of an uplink transmission, a channel measurement signal, a signal with a frequency bandwidth larger than a threshold. The request may include at least one of: information about a quantity of power needed by the wireless receiving power device; or information about a wireless power transfer signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power device.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may send the request before a dedicated link is set up between the wireless receiving power device and the first node, or between the wireless receiving power device and the wireless transmitting power node. The wireless receiving power device may determine at least one candidate resource for sending the request, according to at least one of: a dedicated signal received by the wireless receiving power device; a mapping relationship between quantities of the wireless power requested by the wireless receiving power device and candidate power transfer request resources; a quantity of the wireless power requested by the wireless receiving power device; a candidate resource set, wherein at least one candidate resource for sending the request is from the candidate resource set; a mapping between types of power transfer signals transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node and candidate power transfer request resources; a received signal; a fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device; or a type of power transfer signal requested by the wireless receiving power device. The candidate resource set can be determined by one of: the dedicated signal received by the wireless receiving power device; a broadcast signal or a system information signaling; or a fixed parameter. The candidate resource set may comprise resources that are periodic or aperiodic, or comprises all time resources.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may determine one or more parameters related to wireless power transfer according to a received signaling which is at least one of a dedicated signaling, a broadcast signaling, a system information, a group cast signaling, or a fourth signal. The wireless receiving power device may determine that a plurality of wireless transmitting power nodes transmit same parameters related to wireless power transfer at least for the case where the plurality of wireless transmitting power nodes are within a bandwidth of a same frequency domain, or where the plurality of wireless transmitting power nodes are identified by a same identifying index or cell index.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may select a channel measurement signal from a plurality of channel measurement signals, the selected channel measurement signal being from the wireless transmitting power node. The wireless receiving power device may determine, according to the selected channel measurement signal, at least one of: a resource for sending the request; at least one occasion for receiving the wireless power; or whether to send the request.
In some embodiments, each of one or more channel measurement signals can be mapped to a respective request of the wireless receiving power device. Each of the one or more channel measurement signals can be mapped to a spatial filter of the respective request.
In some embodiments, the first signal at least one of: may indicate that the request can be sent during a third defined time duration (e.g., T6) ; may indicate that the wireless transmitting power node is to send the wireless power during a fourth defined time duration (e.g., T7) ; may include information about candidate resources for the wireless power transfer signal; may include information about one or more parameters related to wireless power transfer; may comprise a broadcast signal or a reference signal; may comprise an aperiodical signal; may comprise a broadcast signal; or may comprise a group cast signal.
In some embodiments, the second signal at least one of: may indicate that the request cannot be sent during a fifth defined time duration (e.g., T9) ; may indicate that the wireless transmitting power node does not to send wireless power transfer signal during a sixth defined time duration (e.g., T10) ; may comprise a reference signal; or may comprise one or more information bit.
In some embodiments, the third signal at least one of: may indicate that the wireless receiving power device stops receiving of the wireless power; or may indicate that the wireless receiving power device stops transmitting the request.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may send another request to the wireless transmitting power node or to another wireless transmitting power node, wherein at least one of: the request and the another request correspond to different types of power transfer signals; the request and the another request have at least one parameter that differs; or the request and the another request have at least one bit value that differs. The wireless receiving power device may send a channel measurement reference signal in response to a trigger included in a fourth signal or a received signaling. The first node may include at least one of: the wireless transmitting power node; a wireless communication node (e.g., a BS) ; or more than one nodes. The request can be associated with requesting the wireless power from the wireless transmitting power node for wireless charging (e.g., wireless power transfer) . The wireless receiving power device can be a wireless communication device (e.g., a UE) .
In some embodiments, the sending the request can be an initial sending when the wireless receiving power device is to be charged. The sending the request can be a re-sending when the wireless receiving power device is to be charged.
In some embodiments, the fourth signal may satisfy at least one of: the fourth signal includes one or more power parameters related to wireless power transfer; the fourth signal includes information indicating to the wireless receiving power device on whether to send a channel measurement reference signal; the fourth signal is associated with a reference signal; the fourth signal includes an index of an power transfer request resource; the fourth signal includes an index of a measurement reference signal; the fourth signal is a confirmation information of the request; the fourth signal is a confirmation information of another request; the fourth signal is a confirmation information for another request, where the another request and the request correspond to a same reference signal index; the fourth signal includes a confirmation information for the request; the fourth signal includes a confirmation information for another request; the fourth signal includes a confirmation information for another request, where the another request and the request correspond to a same reference signal index; the fourth signal is detected in an occasion corresponding to a measurement reference signal or the request; the fourth signal is a broadcast signal; the fourth signal and a wireless power transfer signal is quasi-co-located; the fourth signal includes information about a measure reference signal corresponding to the request; the fourth signal is a group cast signal; the fourth signal is a group cast signal; the fourth signal is a periodic signal; or the fourth signal is signal specified to the wireless receiving power device.
In some embodiments, the one or more power parameters related to wireless power transfer may include at least one of: a first time (T1) at which the wireless power is received after the sending of the request, a second time duration (T2) during which the wireless power is received, receiving power occasions, a mapping between receiving power occasions and candidate resources for requesting power transfer, a mapping between candidate resources for requesting power transfer and the quantity of the requested power, a parameter of a resource where the wireless receiving powder device can receive the wireless power, a mapping between measurement reference signals and candidate resources for requesting power transfer, a mapping between measurement reference signals and receiving power occasions, an quantity of power transfer signal, the type of the power transfer signal, the number of occasions of the power transfer signal, the time length of the power transfer signal, a parameter about the confirmation, or a parameter about a periodic wireless power transfer signal.
In some embodiments, the fourth signal can be associated with a reference signal. The reference signal may satisfy at least one of: the reference signal is received by the wireless receiving power device with a quantity higher than a threshold; the reference signal includes a measurement reference signal; the reference signal includes a synchronization signal; or the reference signal is transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node.
In some embodiments, a first node or a wireless transmitting power node may receive a request responsive to the wireless receiving power device determining to send the request to the first node from a wireless receiving power device. The request can be associated with requesting wireless power from the wireless transmitting power node.
Using above method, the wireless charging process can be completed efficiently. The method and system can sufficiently consider the feature of wireless power transfer.
This disclosure provides a method to determine parameter related to the wireless power transfer and candidate resources for requesting wireless power. Before sending the request for wireless charge, the wireless receiving power device can receive wireless power transfer signal and can also detect a fourth signal. The fourth signal or the wireless power transfer signal may be sent by the wireless transmitting power node because of receiving a requesting from another wireless receiving power device, or may be sent periodic. The wireless receiving power device may determine whether to send the request based on the fourth signal or the wireless power transfer signal. The wireless transmitting power node can transmit the wireless power transfer signal and/or the fourth signal once it receives a request from a wireless receiving power device regardless the request from which wireless receiving power device. The wireless power transfer signal and/or the fourth signal can be broadcast, group cast or dedicated signal. The method can allow many wireless transmitting power nodes to transmit wireless power to the wireless receiving power device. The wireless receiving power device may receive power from multiple wireless transmitting power nodes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various example embodiments of the present solution are described in detail below with reference to the following figures or drawings. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only and merely depict example embodiments of the present solution to facilitate the reader's understanding of the present solution. Therefore, the drawings should not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, or applicability of the present solution. It should be noted that for clarity and ease of illustration, these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example cellular communication network in which techniques disclosed herein may be implemented, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example base station and a user equipment device, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 4 illustrates an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 5 illustrates an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 6 illustrates an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 7 illustrates an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 9 illustrates an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 12 illustrates an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 13 illustrates an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 14 illustrates an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 15 illustrates a block diagram of an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 16 illustrates an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 17 illustrates an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 18 illustrates an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 19 illustrates an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure;
FIG. 20 illustrates an example implementation of a wireless power transfer, in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure; and
FIG. 21 illustrates a flow diagram for transferring wireless power, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

1. Mobile Communication Technology and Environment
FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless communication network, and/or system, 100 in which techniques disclosed herein may be implemented, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. In the following discussion, the wireless communication network 100 may be any wireless network, such as a cellular network or a narrowband Internet of things (NB-IoT) network, and is herein referred to as “network 100. ” Such an example network 100 includes a base station 102 (hereinafter “BS 102” ; also referred to as wireless communication node) and a user equipment device 104 (hereinafter “UE 104” ; also referred to as wireless communication device) that can communicate with each other via a communication link 110 (e.g., a wireless communication channel) , and a cluster of cells 126, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138 and 140 overlaying a geographical area 101. In Figure 1, the BS 102 and UE 104 are contained within a respective geographic boundary of cell 126. Each of the other cells 130, 132, 134, 136, 138 and 140 may include at least one base station operating at its allocated bandwidth to provide adequate radio coverage to its intended users.
For example, the BS 102 may operate at an allocated channel transmission bandwidth to provide adequate coverage to the UE 104. The BS 102 and the UE 104 may communicate via a downlink radio frame 118, and an uplink radio frame 124 respectively. Each radio frame 118/124 may be further divided into sub-frames 120/127 which may include data symbols 122/128. In the present disclosure, the BS 102 and UE 104 are described herein as non-limiting examples of “communication nodes, ” generally, which can practice the methods disclosed herein. Such communication nodes may be capable of wireless and/or wired communications, in accordance with various embodiments of the present solution.
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example wireless communication system 200 for transmitting and receiving wireless communication signals (e.g., OFDM/OFDMA signals) in accordance with some embodiments of the present solution. The system 200 may include components and elements configured to support known or conventional operating features that need not be described in detail herein. In one illustrative embodiment, system 200 can be used to communicate (e.g., transmit and receive) data symbols in a wireless communication environment such as the wireless communication environment 100 of Figure 1, as described above.
System 200 generally includes a base station 202 (hereinafter “BS 202” ) and a user equipment device 204 (hereinafter “UE 204” ) . The BS 202 includes a BS (base station) transceiver module 210, a BS antenna 212, a BS processor module 214, a BS memory module 216, and a network communication module 218, each module being coupled and interconnected with one another as necessary via a data communication bus 220. The UE 204 includes a UE (user equipment) transceiver module 230, a UE antenna 232, a UE memory module 234, and a UE processor module 236, each module being coupled and interconnected with one another as necessary via a data communication bus 240. The BS 202 communicates with the UE 204 via a communication channel 250, which can be any wireless channel or other medium suitable for transmission of data as described herein.
As would be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, system 200 may further include any number of modules other than the modules shown in Figure 2. Those skilled in the art will understand that the various illustrative blocks, modules, circuits, and processing logic described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented in hardware, computer-readable software, firmware, or any practical combination thereof. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability and compatibility of hardware, firmware, and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps are described generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware, firmware, or software can depend upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Those familiar with the concepts described herein may implement such functionality in a suitable manner for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the present disclosure
In accordance with some embodiments, the UE transceiver 230 may be referred to herein as an "uplink" transceiver 230 that includes a radio frequency (RF) transmitter and a RF receiver each comprising circuitry that is coupled to the antenna 232. A duplex switch (not shown) may alternatively couple the uplink transmitter or receiver to the uplink antenna in time duplex fashion. Similarly, in accordance with some embodiments, the BS transceiver 210 may be referred to herein as a "downlink" transceiver 210 that includes a RF transmitter and a RF receiver each comprising circuity that is coupled to the antenna 212. A downlink duplex switch may alternatively couple the downlink transmitter or receiver to the downlink antenna 212 in time duplex fashion. The operations of the two transceiver modules 210 and 230 may be coordinated in time such that the uplink receiver circuitry is coupled to the uplink antenna 232 for reception of transmissions over the wireless transmission link 250 at the same time that the downlink transmitter is coupled to the downlink antenna 212. Conversely, the operations of the two transceivers 210 and 230 may be coordinated in time such that the downlink receiver is coupled to the downlink antenna 212 for reception of transmissions over the wireless transmission link 250 at the same time that the uplink transmitter is coupled to the uplink antenna 232. In some embodiments, there is close time synchronization with a minimal guard time between changes in duplex direction.
The UE transceiver 230 and the base station transceiver 210 are configured to communicate via the wireless data communication link 250, and cooperate with a suitably configured RF antenna arrangement 212/232 that can support a particular wireless communication protocol and modulation scheme. In some illustrative embodiments, the UE transceiver 210 and the base station transceiver 210 are configured to support industry standards such as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) and emerging 5G standards, and the like. It is understood, however, that the present disclosure is not necessarily limited in application to a particular standard and associated protocols. Rather, the UE transceiver 230 and the base station transceiver 210 may be configured to support alternate, or additional, wireless data communication protocols, including future standards or variations thereof.
In accordance with various embodiments, the BS 202 may be an evolved node B (eNB) , a serving eNB, a target eNB, a femto station, or a pico station, for example. In some embodiments, the UE 204 may be embodied in various types of user devices such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA) , tablet, laptop computer, wearable computing device, etc. The processor modules 214 and 236 may be implemented, or realized, with a general purpose processor, a content addressable memory, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array, any suitable programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof, designed to perform the functions described herein. In this manner, a processor may be realized as a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, a state machine, or the like. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a digital signal processor core, or any other such configuration.
Furthermore, the steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in firmware, in a software module executed by processor modules 214 and 236, respectively, or in any practical combination thereof. The memory modules 216 and 234 may be realized as RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. In this regard, memory modules 216 and 234 may be coupled to the processor modules 210 and 230, respectively, such that the processors modules 210 and 230 can read information from, and write information to, memory modules 216 and 234, respectively. The memory modules 216 and 234 may also be integrated into their respective processor modules 210 and 230. In some embodiments, the memory modules 216 and 234 may each include a cache memory for storing temporary variables or other intermediate information during execution of instructions to be executed by processor modules 210 and 230, respectively. Memory modules 216 and 234 may also each include non-volatile memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processor modules 210 and 230, respectively.
The network communication module 218 generally represents the hardware, software, firmware, processing logic, and/or other components of the base station 202 that enable bi-directional communication between base station transceiver 210 and other network components and communication nodes configured to communication with the base station 202. For example, network communication module 218 may be configured to support internet or WiMAX traffic. In a typical deployment, without limitation, network communication module 218 provides an 802.3 Ethernet interface such that base station transceiver 210 can communicate with a conventional Ethernet based computer network. In this manner, the network communication module 218 may include a physical interface for connection to the computer network (e.g., Mobile Switching Center (MSC) ) . The terms “configured for, ” “configured to” and conjugations thereof, as used herein with respect to a specified operation or function, refer to a device, component, circuit, structure, machine, signal, etc., that is physically constructed, programmed, formatted and/or arranged to perform the specified operation or function.
The Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Model (referred to herein as, “open system interconnection model” ) is a conceptual and logical layout that defines network communication used by systems (e.g., wireless communication device, wireless communication node) open to interconnection and communication with other systems. The model is broken into seven subcomponents, or layers, each of which represents a conceptual collection of services provided to the layers above and below it. The OSI Model also defines a logical network and effectively describes computer packet transfer by using different layer protocols. The OSI Model may also be referred to as the seven-layer OSI Model or the seven-layer model. In some embodiments, a first layer may be a physical layer. In some embodiments, a second layer may be a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. In some embodiments, a third layer may be a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer. In some embodiments, a fourth layer may be a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer. In some embodiments, a fifth layer may be a Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer. In some embodiments, a sixth layer may be a Non Access Stratum (NAS) layer or an Internet Protocol (IP) layer, and the seventh layer being the other layer.
Various example embodiments of the present solution are described below with reference to the accompanying figures to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the present solution. As would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, after reading the present disclosure, various changes or modifications to the examples described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the present solution. Thus, the present solution is not limited to the example embodiments and applications described and illustrated herein. Additionally, the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed herein are merely example approaches. Based upon design preferences, the specific order or hierarchy of steps of the disclosed methods or processes can be re-arranged while remaining within the scope of the present solution. Thus, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the methods and techniques disclosed herein present various steps or acts in a sample order, and the present solution is not limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented unless expressly stated otherwise.
2. Systems and Methods for Transferring Wireless Power
Implementation Example 1
A wireless receiving power device may transmit a power transfer request signal to a wireless transmitting power node as shown in FIG. 3. A transmitting power transfer request signal can be defined as operation 1 in following description. The wireless receiving power device may receive wireless power from the wireless transmitting power node after transmitting the request as shown in FIG. 4. The receiving power can be defined as operation 2 in following description. A time gap T1 between an end of the request and a starting of receiving power (as shown in FIG. 4) can be determined by at least one of: a capability reporting from the wireless receiving power device, a signaling from the wireless transmitting power node or a base station, or a predefined gap determined by the wireless transmitting power node and the wireless receiving power device. For example, the predefined gap can be a fixed value or a fixed number of time units. The time unit can be one of an orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, a slot, or other time unit. The time length of the time unit may depend on a sub-carrier space.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device can continue to transmit (e.g., to repeat) the above operation 1 and operation 2 after T2 as shown in FIG. 5 when a condition is satisfied. The condition may include at least one of following conditions.
(1) A first condition may include that the wireless receiving power device cannot receive power during a predefined time gap, such as T2 as shown in FIG. 5. The T2 can be before sending the request. The power can be transmitted using a wireless power transfer signal which may be sent periodic. The wireless power transfer signal can also be an aperiodic signal whose parameter is included in a first signal or the confirmation message.
(2) A second condition may include that a quantity of the received power during a predefined time gap T2 as shown in FIG. 5 is smaller than a power quantity threshold or the receiving power needed by the wireless receiving power device.
(3) A third condition may include that the wireless receiving power device does not receive a confirmation (e.g., the fourth signal) for the transmitted power transfer request signal during a time gap T3. The time gap T2 and the time gap T3 can be same or different. The power quantity threshold can be fixed or informed by the wireless transmitting power node or the base station using a signaling. The signaling can be one of a dedicated signaling, a broadcast signaling, or group signaling.
(4) A fourth condition may include that a maximum number of transmitting power transfer request signal by the wireless receiving power device is smaller than a predefined number threshold N.
(5) A fifth condition may include that quantity of power included in the confirmation from the wireless transmitting power node (or a base station) is smaller than the quantity of power needed by the wireless receiving power device.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may detect a confirmation for the request while (or before, or after) transmitting the power transfer request. The confirmation may include information about at least one of: a quantity of power which may be transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node, an index of a power transfer request resource, or an index of a channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node. The wireless receiving power device may cancel (or delay, or suspend) the power transfer request if a condition is not satisfied. The receiving power device may continue to transmit the power transfer request if a condition is satisfied. The confirmation can also be transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node or the base station periodic.
(6) A six condition may include quantity of power which can be transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node is smaller than a quantity of power requested by the wireless receiving power device.
(7) A seventh condition may include that an index of an power transfer request resource included in the confirmation does not equal to the index of the power transfer request resource transmitted by the wireless receiving power device.
(8) An eighth condition may include that an index of the channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node included in the confirmation does not equal to the index of the channel measurement reference signal corresponding to the power transfer request resource transmitted by the transmitting power device.
(9) A ninth condition may include that an interval between two adjacent transmissions of the power transfer request can be smaller than a threshold.
(10) A tenth condition may include that a number of transmission of the power transfer request during a time gap can be smaller than a threshold. In some embodiments, the receiving power device may reduce the number of transmission of the power transfer request if the condition is not satisfied.
(11) An eleventh condition may include that a device receives the first signal from the transmitting node (or a base station) no before T5 time duration before the occasion of the power transfer request. T5 can be a real time equals or larger than 0. The first signal may indicate at least one of: the device can transmit a power transfer request during a time duration T6 (e.g., the third defined time duration) ; the transmitting node can transmit power signal during a time duration T7 (e.g., the fourth defined time duration) ; the first signal can be a reference signal or one or more information bit which is carried in the first signal; the first signal can include information about the candidate power transfer request resources and other parameter related to the wireless power transfer; the first signal can be a broadcast signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node or a base station; or the first signal can be non-periodical (aperiodical) signal. T5, T6, T7 can be a real time equal to or larger than 0. For example, the first signal may include information about at least one of: T1, T2, receiving power occasions, the mapping between the receiving power occasions, the candidate transmitted power transfer resources, the mapping between the candidates transmitted power transfer resources, the quantity of the requested power, or the parameter of a resource where the receiving powder device can receive power. In some embodiments, the first signal can be transmitted on demand. For example, the first signal can be transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node or a base station if the wireless transmitting power node or a base station decides to transmit power signal, or decides to turn on the transmitting power function, or decides that the wireless transmitting power node can transmit power signal during a duration.
(12) A twelfth condition may include that the device does not receive a second signal from the transmitting node (or a base station) not before a T8 time duration (e.g., the second defined time duration) before the occasion of the power transfer request. The second signal may indicate at least one of: the device cannot transmit a power transfer request during a time duration T9 (e.g., the fifth defined time duration) ; the transmitting node may not transmit power signal during a time duration T10 (e.g., the sixth defined time duration) ; or the second signal can be a reference signal or one or more information bit which is carried in the second signal. T8, T9, T10 can be a real time value equal to or larger than 0.
(13) A thirteenth condition may include that the quantity of the power requested by the receiving power device can be larger than 0.
(14) A fourteen condition may include that there can be at least one available transmission occasion of the request. If the wireless power receiving device determines that there is no available transmission occasion of the request, the wireless power receiving device may not send (or re-send) the request.
In some embodiments, the above fourteen conditions can apply to the first transmission of the power transfer request. That is if the device wants to charge, the device may transmit the power transfer request in the case where the condition is satisfied. The condition can be at least one of the above conditions.
In some embodiments, the confirmation can be from other nodes which is not the wireless power transfer node and is not the base station.
The wireless receiving power device may stop transmitting the power transfer request when the condition is not satisfied. The condition may include at least one of above fourteen conditions. For example, the wireless receiving power device may stop transmitting the power transfer request if the received power received by the receiving power device during a predefined time gap T2 becomes higher than a threshold. In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may directly receive power during T2 regardless of whether any node receives the request. The wireless receiving power device may not detects confirmation for the transmitted power transfer request signal.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may transmit a third signal to the wireless transmitting power node (or a base station) to indicate that the device can stop receiving power, and/or indicate that the device cannot transmit the power transfer request signal. In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may transmit the third signal to the wireless transmitting power node (or a base station) when the condition is not satisfied. The device may have got enough power. In such case, the quantity requested by the device can be 0. The device may not need addition power, or may not need to charge. The condition may include at least one of the fourteen conditions.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device can detect the confirmation for the transmitted power transfer request signal while the receiving power device receives power. The wireless receiving power device can receive power before the wireless receiving power device receives confirmation for the power transfer. The wireless receiving power device can still detect the confirmation for the transmitted power transfer request signal during time gap T3 while the receiving power device receives power. In some embodiments, if the received power (or energy) during time duration T2 is larger than a threshold, it can be viewed/considered as a confirmation for the transmitted power transfer request signal. In certain embodiments, if the received mean power during time duration T4 is larger than a threshold, it can be viewed/considered as a confirmation for the transmitted power transfer request signal. The time duration T4 can be time duration T2, or the front time duration of T2 as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. The confirmation can also be explicit information carried in a channel (or a reference signal) and can be transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node or a base station. If the confirmation is not received and the power received during the T2 is smaller than the power needed by the receiving device, the wireless receiving device may repeat to transmit a power transfer request signal. In some embodiments, the receiving power device may update the needed power based on the received power during T2 and determines next power transfer signal/resource based on the updated needed power. For example, the original quantity of power needed by the receiving device can be X and the quantity of received power during T2 can be X1, then the updated quantity of power needed by the receiving power device can be X-b*X1, wherein b can be 1 or a real number. For example, the b can be a real number smaller than 1. The b can be determined according to at least one of a capability of the wireless receiving power device, or a received signaling from the wireless transmitting power node or a base station. In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may update the needed power with a periodic cycle of T5. The wireless receiving power device may update the needed power every T5 period. In some embodiments, the receiving power device can cancel (or delay, or suspend) a power transfer request if the updated needed power is equal to 0 or smaller than 0.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving device may continuously receive power during T2 as shown in FIG 4. Alternatively, the wireless receiving device may non-continuously receive power during T2 as shown in FIG. 5. In some embodiments, the receiving power occasions (or windows/occasions for receiving power) can be determined based on the transmitted power transfer signal, or based on a received signaling. If the receiving power occasions are determined based on the transmitted power transfer request signal, there can be a mapping between the receiving power occasions and the transmitted power transfer request signal. The number of the receiving power occasions during T2 can be one or more than one.
In some embodiments, the T2 can be determined by the wireless receiving power device according to at least one of: a capability reporting from the wireless receiving power device, a signaling from the wireless transmitting power node or a base station, a predefined gap agreed by the wireless transmitting power node and the receiving power device, or a transmitted power transfer request signal.
In some embodiments, the power transfer request signal in operation 1 may carry information about the quantity of power needed by the wireless device. For example, there can be a mapping relationship between the quantity of the requested power and the candidate power transfer request resources. The candidate power transfer request resources may include at least one of: a time resource, a frequency resource, a sequence resource (e.g., code domain) , or a spatial resource where the power transfer request signal is transmitted. Alternatively, the request signal may carry information bits to present indicate the quantity of power needed by the wireless receiving power device. The request signal can also include information about at least one of: a power transfer signal, a time density of the power transfer signal, a time length of the power transfer signal, a power of the power transfer signal, an amplitude of the power transfer signal, a strength of the power transfer, or types of power transfer signal. The power transfer signal can be transmitted by the transmitting node to transmit power to the wireless receiving power node as shown in FIG. 3. The power transfer signal can be a wireless signal.
In some embodiments, there can be a mapping between a type of power transfer signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node and a power transfer request signal transmitted by the wireless receiving power device. For example, there can be two types of power transfer signals transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node and two types of power transfer request signals (as shown in Table 1) .
Table 1
If the wireless receiving power device transmits the power transfer request signal 1, the wireless receiving power device may request the wireless transmitting power node to transmit power using the type 1 of power transfer signal. Different types of power transfer signal may correspond to different parameters of power transfer signal. For example, different types of power transfer signal may correspond to different parameter of the power transfer signal. For example, different types of power transfer signal may correspond to at least one of: different time densities of the power transfer signal, different amplitudes (or strengths) of the power transfer signal, or different time length of the power transfer signal.
In some embodiments, the power transfer request signal can be one of: a PRACH, an uplink control bit in a PUCCH (or in a PUSCH) , or a dedicated signal for requesting power transfer. For example, the dedicated signal for requesting power transfer can be a dedicated reference signal. For example, the dedicated reference signal can be a channel measurement reference signal on which the wireless transmitting power node can get channel and precoding used for transmitting power to the wireless receiving power device. In some embodiments, the power transfer request signal can be a wide bandwidth reference signal to let the wireless transmitting power node get more accurate precoding matrix used for transmitting power signal. In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may transmit the information of power transfer request using an uplink control information on a channel, such as a PUCCH or a PUSCH, especially for the case where the wireless receiving power device and the wireless transmitting power node has a dedicated link. Even when there is no dedicated link between the wireless receiving power device and the wireless transmitting power node, the wireless receiving power device can transmit a channel with uplink control information for power transfer request. In some embodiments, the channel can be shared by multiple receiving power devices. Multiple receiving power devices can transmit using the same channel. The wireless transmitting power node may transmit the power signal based on received the channel regardless of which and how many receiving power devices transmit the power transfer request signal. The multiple receiving devices use a same demodulation reference signal (DMRS) on a same time and frequency resource to transmit the power transfer request channel with request information.
In some embodiments, before transmitting power transfer request signal, the wireless receiving power device may determine parameters of the power transfer request signal. The parameter of the power transfer request signal may include at least one of: a time resource parameter, a frequency resource parameter, a code domain parameter, a power control parameter, or a spatial domain parameter. The power transfer request signal with one value of the parameters can be one power transfer request resource. The one value of parameters may mean/indicate that each type of the parameters has one value. The one value can be named by one set values. Each of the one set values may correspond to one type of parameter.
In some embodiments, the time resource parameter of the power transfer request resource may include a periodic and periodic offset of the power transfer request resource. The resource can be periodical. If the wireless receiving power device want to charge, the wireless receiving power device may transmit the power transfer request signal on one or more periodic of the power transfer request resource. If the device does not want to charge on one periodic of the power transfer request resource, the device may not transmit the request signal on the one periodic. In certain embodiments, if the device does not demand of charging on one periodic of the power transfer request resource, the device may transmit a signal on the one periodic and the signal may indicate that the device does not want to charge.
In some embodiments, the power transfer request resource can be transmitted any time. The time resource parameter of the power transfer request resource cannot be configured. The device can determine that the request can be transmitted on any time. The device can transmit the request signal on any time once the device has prepared to transmit the request.
The power transfer request resource can be determined by at least one of following methods.
Method 1: the power transfer request resource can be determined according to a received dedicated signaling (or group signaling) from the transmitting power device or from a base station which may be different from the transmitting power device. The power transfer request resource can be the receiving power device specific resource. For example, before transmitting power transfer request signal, the receiving power may have set up a dedicated link with the transmitting power device or with a base station which may be different from the transmitting power device. The wireless transmitting power node or the base station may inform the wireless receiving power device a specific resource to the wireless receiving power device. The wireless receiving power device may transmit power transfer request signal on the informed resource when the wireless receiving power device needs power. In some embodiments, the dedicated signaling may include other parameters related to wireless power transfer. For example, the dedicated signaling can also include an indication of at least one of: T1, T2, receiving power occasions, a mapping between the receiving power occasions and the power transfer request signal, a mapping between the power request signal and the quantity of the requested power, a parameter of a resource where the receiving powder device can receive power, a parameter about the confirmation, or a parameter about a periodic wireless power transfer signal. The dedicated signaling may also include a parameter of power transfer. If the number of the dedicated power transfer request signals is larger than 1, the receiving device may select one from the multiple dedicated power transfer request signals according to a rule, or according to the quantity of power needed by the receiving power device. Because the receiving power device has set up a dedicated link with the wireless transmitting power node, the receiving power device may not detect confirmation for the transmitted power transfer request signal.
In some embodiments, because the receiving power device has set up a dedicated link with the wireless transmitting power node, the wireless receiving power device can transmit the quantity of power requested by the receiving power device using explicit information bit in uplink control information, or a MAC-CE.
Method 2: the candidate power transfer request resources can be determined according to a broadcast signaling or a system information signaling. The resource can be shared by multiple receiving power devices in an area. For example, the broadcast signaling or the system information signaling can be transmitted by the wireless transmitting power device or by a base station which may be different from the wireless transmitting power device. For example, if the receiving device has not set up a dedicated link with the wireles transmitting power device or the base station, the wireless receiving power device may determine the candidate power transfer request resources according to the broadcast signaling or the system information signaling. If the number of the candidate power transfer request resources are larger than 1, the wireless receiving power device may determine one from the candidate power transfer request resources according to a rule, or according to the quantity of power needed by the wireless receiving power device. For example, the wireless receiving power device may randomly select one from the candidate power transfer request resources. In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may not set up a dedicated link with the wireless transmitting power node (or the base station) if the receiving power device only wants to receive power from the wireless transmitting power node.
In some embodiments, although the wireless receiving power device has set up a dedicate link with the wireless transmitting power node or with a base station, the wireless receiving power device may determine the candidate power transfer request resources according to the broadcast signaling or the system information signaling instead of a dedicated signaling.
In some embodiments, the broadcast signaling or the system information signaling may also include other parameters related to wireless power transfer. For example, the broadcast signaling or the system information signaling can also include parameters including at least one of T1, T2, receiving power occasions, a mapping between the receiving power occasions and the candidate transmitted power transfer resources, a mapping between the candidate transmitted power transfer resources and the quantity of the requested power, a parameter of a resource where the receiving power device can receive power, a parameter about the confirmation, or a parameter about a periodic wireless power transfer signal. The broadcast signaling or the system information may also include a parameter of power transfer.
In some embodiments, there can be no relationship between the parameters of the candidate power transfer request signal and a physical cell identify index. The parameters of the candidate power transfer request signal of multiple physical cell identifying indexes can be same at least for the case where the multiple physical cells are in one same frequency domain bandwidth as shown in FIG. 7. The working frequency bandwidths of the multiple physical cells can overlap, or may not overlap, but they can be in the one same wide frequency domain bandwidth. If the wireless receiving power device transmits one power transfer request signal, the wireless receiving power device may be received by multiple cells as shown in FIG. 8. The multiple wireless transmitting power nodes can receive the request. The wireless receiving power device may disregard which transmitting power node receives the request. The wireless receiving power device can receive power from any wireless transmitting power node. A cell may mean/indicate a transmitting node or a base station with transmitting power function.
In some embodiments, different wireless transmitting nodes may not need to be distinguished. They may not be associated with different identifying indexes such as cell index. The multiple transmitting nodes can broadcast same parameters related to the wireless power transfer.
In some embodiments, the wireless transmitting power node may not transmit a synchronization signal because the distance between the wireless transmitting power node and the wireless receiving power device can be short. The wireless transmitting power node may only broadcast the parameter of the candidate power transfer. The occasions of broadcast channel carrying the broadcast information or system information can be fixed as shown in FIG. 9. All the wireless transmitting power nodes may transmit the broadcast channel carrying the broadcast information or system information in same time and frequency resource at least for the case where the multiple transmitting power nodes are in one same frequency domain bandwidth. The DMRS of the broadcast channels carrying the broadcast information or system information transmitted by multiple wireless transmitting power nodes can be same. The wireless receiving power device can receive the broadcast channel from multiple transmitting nodes. The wireless receiving power device can transmit the power transfer request signal, then one or more wireless transmitting power nodes can receive the power transfer request signal and can transmit power signal to the wireless receiving power device. In another aspect, there can be more than one receiving device to select and to transmit same power transfer request signal resource. The wireless transmitting power node may receive the same signal from multiple receiving power devices as shown in FIG. 10.
The wireless transmitting power node may determine a mixed channel as shown in the following example formula: Y= (H₁ H₂) s n. Y can be received signal at transmitting power node. s can be the power transfer request signal transmitted by the wireless receiving power device 1 and wireless receiving power device 2. n can be a received noise at the transmitting power node. The wireless transmitting power node may determine a precoding matrix based on the estimated channelFor example, the precoding matrix can be:
The received signal at receiving power device 1 can be:
The received signal at receiving power device 2 can be:
Although there are multiple wireless receiving power devices transmitting same power transfer signal, the wireless transmitting power node can directly transmit a wireless same power signal using a precoding matrix based on the mixed channel and all of the receiving power devices can receive the power signal and get power. It can be different from communication cases where the transmitting end can get a respective channel between the transmitting end and each receiving end respectively to efficiently transmit communication signal to each receiving end. The shorter the distance between the two receiving power devices, the higherThe receiving power at each receiving power device can be higher. The higher coherent between H₁ and H₂ , the higherthen the receiving power at each wireless receiving power device can be higher. The efficiency of wireless power transfer can be higher. To achieve the target, the wireless transmitting power device can transmit multiple channel measurement reference signals (e.g., a CSI-RS, a synchronization signal, or other channel measurement reference signal) . Different channel measurement reference signals may correspond to different beams at the transmitting power node as shown in FIG. 11. If the wireless receiving power device needs power, the wireless receiving power device may first search the multiple channel measurement reference signals and may get a channel measurement reference signal with received RSRP higher than a threshold. The wireless receiving power device may determine a power transfer request resource based on the determined channel measurement reference signal with received RSRP higher than the threshold. There can be a mapping between power transfer request resources and the multiple channel measurement reference signals transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node. Different channel measurement reference signals transmitted by the transmitting power node may correspond to different power transfer request resources. In some embodiments, the number of power transfer request resources which correspond to one channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node can be one because the wireless transmitting power node may not need to distinguish the multiple receiving power devices locating in the one area corresponds to the one channel measurement reference signal. As shown in FIG. 11, the multiple wireless receiving power devices in receiving power device group 1 may correspond to channel measurement signal 1. Multiple wireless receiving power devices corresponding to one channel measurement reference signal can transmit same power transfer request signal on same power transfer request resource. The wireless transmitting power node may know /be notified that there is at least one receiving power device of the one receiving device group requests power based on received request signal. The wireless transmitting power node may transmit a power signal using beam corresponding to the channel measurement reference signal. For example, if the transmitting node receives power transfer request signal on one resource of request resource set 1, the transmitting node may know /be notified that at least one receiving power device of group 1 requests power, then the transmitting node may transmit power signal using beam 1.
In some embodiments, different beams can correspond to different direction of department (DOD) of the wireless transmitting power node, such as in far field. Different beams can also correspond to different combination of direction of department (DOD) of the wireless transmitting power node and distant between the wireless transmitting power node and the wireless receiving power device, such as in near field. Each combination may include one DOD and one distant.
In some embodiments, the number of power transfer request resources which correspond to one channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the transmitting power node can be more than one and can equal to the number of different quantities of power requested by a wireless receiving power device. For example, there can be four power transfer request resources correspond to one channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node. The four power transfer request resources may correspond to four quantities of power requested by a wireless receiving power device as shown in Table 2. When the wireless transmitting power node receives the power transfer request, the wireless transmitting power node may know /be notified the channel measurement reference signal selected by the wireless receiving power device and the quantity of power requested by the wireless receiving power device.
Table 2
In some embodiments, there can be a relationship between the parameters of the candidate power transfer request signal and physical cell identifying indexes (or wireless transmitting power nodes) at least for the case where the multiple physical cells on one same frequency band width. A cell can be named as a wireless transmitting power node. Each wireless transmitting power node can broadcast (or transmit) its respective parameter related to power transfer request. The power transfer request resources from different wireless receiving power devices in areas of different wireless transmitting power nodes can be different. The interference between the different wireless receiving power devices can be reduced. The device can select more than one request resources and can transmit request signal on the more than one resources. In some embodiments, different resources of the more than one resources may correspond to different physical cell identify indexes.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may receive a confirmation for the transmitted power transfer request. The confirmation may implicitly or explicitly carry information about the channel measure reference signal corresponding to the transmitted power transfer request signal. In some embodiments, the confirmation may implicitly or explicitly carry information about the transmitted power transfer request signal. There may be multiple wireless receiving power devices transmitting one same power transfer request resource. The multiple wireless receiving power device can receive the confirmation. In some embodiments, a first wireless receiving power device may receive a confirmation for the transmitted power transfer request signal even the wireless transmitting power node or the base station does not receive the power transfer request signal from the first device actually. The node or base station may receive a request from a second device which transmits the same request signal index on same or different time and frequency resources as the first device. However, the first device may not know it. The first device may stop transmitting a power transfer request. To make sure that the first device can receive power after receive the confirmation, the confirmation and the power transfer signal transmitted by transmitting node can be use same or similar beam. The signal carrying the confirmation and the power transfer signal can be quasi-co-location (QCL-ed) with aspect to at least one channel character. If the first device receives the confirmation regardless whether the transmitting power node receives the request from the first device, the first device can receive power.
Method 3: the candidate power transfer request resources can be determined according to a rule. For example, at least the frequency resource and the time frequency resource of the candidate power transfer request resources can be fixed. The candidate power transfer request resources may not be determined by a received signaling.
In some embodiments, if the wireless receiving power device needs to charge on duration 1 and there are one or more receiving power occasions on duration 2 before the next available occasion of transmitting the power transfer request signal on duration 3 as shown in FIG. 12, the device first may receive power on the one or more receiving power occasions. If the received power is equal to or larger than the power needed by the wireless receiving power device, the wireless receiving power device can cancel (or delay, or suspend) the prepared power transfer request. The device may stop transmitting the power transfer request signal on duration 2. In some embodiments, the device may receive power on occasion which corresponds to the selected power transfer request resource on duration 2. Different power transfer request resources may correspond to different channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node.
In some embodiments, if the receiving power device needs to charge on time duration 1, there can be occasion of multiple channel measurement reference signals on duration 2 and one or more receiving power occasions on duration 3 before the next occasion of transmitting the power transfer request signal on duration 4 as shown in FIG. 13, the device may measure the multiple reference signals and may select one or more channel measurement signals. The device may receive power on the one or more receiving power occasions corresponding to the selected one or more channel measurement signals. If the received power is equal to or larger than the power needed by the receiving power device, the receiving power device can cancel (or delay, or suspend) the prepared power transfer request. The device may stop transmitting the power transfer request signal on duration 4. Each of the multiple channel measurement signals can be transmitted by the transmitting node using a beam. Different channel measurement signals may correspond to different beams.
In some embodiments, if the receiving power device needs to charge and there are one or more occasions for receiving confirmation for power transfer request before the next occasion of transmitting the power transfer request signal, the receiving power device can detect confirmation during a time gap T6 even the device has not transmit power request signal. The device can cancel (or delay, or suspend) power transfer request if it detects the confirmation during a time gap T6. In some embodiments, the device may only detect a confirmation on occasions corresponding to the selected power transfer request resource (or corresponding to the selected channel measurement signal transmitted by the transmitting power node) . If the device detects the confirmation, the device can cancel (or delay, or suspend) the prepared request even the device does not transmit the request. Because the device may know that the transmitting node has received a request from another device, the wireless transmitting power node may transmit power signal. The device can directly receive power without transmitting power transfer request signal. If there is a mapping between channel measurement signals transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node and the occasions of the confirmation. The device may detect confirmation on a confirmation. The device may know that the node has received a request from at least one other device of a device group corresponding to a channel measurement signal. The wireless power transmitting node may transmit power signal using the beam corresponding to the channel measurement signal.
In some embodiments, the confirmation may further include information about at least one of the quantity of power transfer signal, the type of the power transfer signal, the occasions of the power transfer signal, the number of occasions of the power transfer signal, or the time length of the power transfer signal. In some embodiments, the receiving power device (e.g., the wireless receiving power device) can be a UE with wireless receiving power function and wireless communication function, or a device with wireless receiving power function and without wireless communication function.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device can receive wireless power, but cannot transmit power transfer signal to another wireless receiving power device. Alternative, the wireless receiving power device not only can receive wireless power but also can transmit power transfer signal to another receiving power device.
In some embodiments, the wireless transmitting power node (e.g., the transmitting power node) can be a base station with wireless transmitting power function and wireless communication function, or a node with wireless transmitting power function and without wireless communication function.
In some embodiments, the wireless transmitting power node can be named a device such as another UE. In some embodiments, the wireless transmitting power node can transmit wireless power transfer signal to the wireless receiving power device, but cannot receive power transfer signal from another wireless transmitting power node. Alternatively, the wireless transmitting power node not only can transmit wireless power but also can receive wireless power transfer signal from another wireless transmitting power node.
In above examples, the wireless transmitting power node may transmit power (e.g., wireless power) . For example, the wireless transmitting power node may transmit wireless signal. The wireless receiving power device may receive the wireless signal to get/obtain/receive wireless power. The base station can be a node with communication function and can be same or different from the wireless transmitting power node.
In above examples, a signal can be a reference signal or a signal transmitted on a channel which is similar with at least one of a physical data shared channel (PDSCH) , a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) , a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) , or a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) .
In some embodiments, the quantity of power may be presented by a time length of receiving power. In some embodiments, the power in above description can replaced with energy.
In some embodiments, the quantity of energy may be presented by a multiplier of a time length of receiving power and the receiving power.
In some embodiments, the quantity of power (or energy) may be presented by at least one of following power transfer signal: a time density of the power transfer signal, a time length of the power transfer signal, a power of the power transfer signal, an amplitude of the power transfer signal, or a strength of the power transfer.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may keep/maintain/support two links. One link can be a link between a communication node and the wireless receiving power device. Another link can be a link between the wireless transmitting power node and the wireless receiving power device.
In FIGs. 2 to 4, at the wireless receiving power device side, the transmission of the power transfer request to the wireless transmitting power node (or a base station) and the wireless receiving power from the wireless transmitting power node can be in different time. For example, the transmission and the receiving (or reception) can be in same frequency bandwidth, which can be in a time division duplex (TDD) mode.
In some embodiments, at the wireless receiving power device side, the transmission of the power transfer request to the wireless transmitting power node (or a base station) and the receiving power from the wireless transmitting power node can be in same or different times. For example, the transmission can be in frequency bandwidth 1 and the receiving (or reception) can be in frequency bandwidth 2. The transmission and the reception can be in same time as shown in FIG. 14. The transmission and the reception can be in different frequency domain bandwidth. The transmission and the receiving can be in frequency division duplex (FDD) mode.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may set up a link with a communication node. The wireless receiving power device may receive a signaling from the communication node. The signaling may inform the transmitting power node list. In some embodiments, the signaling may also include a mapping between a channel measurement reference signal and the transmitting power node list. Different channel measurement reference signals can correspond to different transmitting node lists as shown in FIG. 15.
In above description, the channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the transmitting power node (or the base station) can be replaced with a synchronization signal, such as a synchronization signal block (SSB) .
In above description, the power transfer request signal can be replaced with a preamble of PRACH, or a preamble of PRACH and a PUSCH. The power transfer request signal can be replaced with message 1 of PRACH.
In above description, the confirmation for the power transfer request signal can be replaced with message 2 of PRACH. For example, there can be a mapping between SSB and PRACH occasion. There can be also mapping between SSB and message 2 occasion as shown in FIG. 16.
In some embodiments, the confirmation for the power transfer request signal may include an information about whether to let the receiving power device to transmit a channel measurement reference signal. For example, the transmitting node cannot get accurate channel estimation based on the power transfer request signal, then the transmitting node may inform the wireless receiving power device to transmit a channel measurement reference signal. The wireless transmitting power node can get the beam used for the power transfer signal based on the received channel measurement signal transmitted by the wireless receiving power device. The information to trigger a channel measurement reference signal can be in other signaling which is not in the confirmation. The wireless receiving power device may receive power after transmitting the channel measurement reference signal.
In some embodiments, the channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the receiving power device may have similar pattern as a sound reference signal (SRS) . Alternatively, because multiple receiving power device may transmit same channel measurement reference signal, the channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the receiving power device can have a pattern different from a SRS. For example, the channel measurement reference signal may occupy all REs of one PRB. That is its number of comb can be 1.
In some embodiments, the channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the transmitting power device may have similar pattern as a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) .
Implementation Example 2
The wireless receiving power device may transmit a power transfer request signal and may receive power. The receiving power device can repeat above process based on the updated quantity of power requested/needed by the wireless receiving power device as shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 14.
Implementation Example 3
The wireless receiving power device may transit different power transfer request signals at different occasions of the power transfer request resource. For example, the wireless receiving power device may transmit a first power transfer request signal and may receive power. The wireless receiving power device may transmit a second power transfer request signal and may receive power as shown in FIG. 17 or FIG. 18. The first power transfer request signal and the second power transfer request signal may correspond to different types of power transfer signal as Table 1. The receiving power device may request different types of power transfer signal.
In some embodiments, the first power transfer request signal and the second power transfer request signal can be distinguished by different parameters of power transfer request signal. Alternatively, the first power transfer request signal and the second power transfer request signal can be distinguished by different values of one or more bits carried in the first power transfer request signal and the second power transfer request signal. Different types of power transfer signal may correspond to different parameters of power transfer signal. For example, different types of power transfer signal may correspond to different parameter of the power transfer signal. For example, different types of power transfer signal may correspond to at least one of: different time densities of the power transfer signal, different amplitudes (or strengths) of the power transfer signal, or different time length of the power transfer signal.
Implementation Example 4
The wireless receiving power device may transmit a third signal to the wireless transmitting power node (or a base station) to indicate that the device can stop receiving power, and/or to indicate that the device may not transmit the power transfer request signal.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may transmit the third signal to the wireless transmitting power node (or a base station) when a condition is not satisfied. The condition can includes at least one above fourteen conditions.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may transmit the third signal to the wireless transmitting power node (or a base station) if the wireless receiving power device has got enough power. The quantity requested by the wireless receiving power device can be 0. The wireless receiving power device may not need addition power, or may not to charge.
As shown in FIG. 19, the time duration of transmission of the third signal can be after receiving power, or can overlap with the time duration of receiving power.
Implementation Example 5
The wireless receiving power device may receive information about whether to let the wireless receiving power device to transmit a channel measurement reference signal. For example, the transmitting node may not get accurate channel estimation based on the power transfer request signal, then the transmitting node may inform the wireless receiving power device to transmit a channel measurement reference signal. The wireless transmitting power node can get the beam used for the power transfer signal based on the received channel measurement signal transmitted by the wireless receiving power device. The information to trigger a channel measurement reference signal can be in confirmation for the power transfer request signal transmitted by a wireless receiving power device, or in other signaling which is not in the confirmation. The wireless receiving power device may receive power after transmitting the channel measurement reference signal.
If the transmitting node can get accurate channel estimation based on the power transfer request signal, the information can indicate that the receiving power device does not need to transmit a channel measurement reference signal.
In some embodiments, the channel measurement reference signal have similar pattern as a sound reference signal (SRS) . Because multiple wireless receiving power device may transmit same channel measurement reference signal, the channel measurement reference signal can have a pattern different from a SRS. For example, the channel measurement reference signal may occupy all REs of one PRB (e.g., its number of comb can be 1) .
Implementation Example 6
A base station (or wireless transmitting power node) may transmit a synchronization signal. Different synchronization signal groups may correspond to different powers of a physical random access channel (PRACH) .
For example, one SSB group may correspond to one polar area of the wireless communication. As shown in FIG. 17, each circle may correspond to one polar area of the wireless communication. The circle may represent a group of beams of the base station (or wireless transmitting power node) . The base station (or wireless transmitting power node) may transmit a signal using beams of the SSB of one circle. The device on the circle may receive the signal with high power. The device which is not on the circle may receive the signal with lower power. The further the device is away the circle, the lower the device receives the signal. The horizontal axis can be x axis. The vertical axis can be y axis in FIG. 20.
It should be understood that one or more features from the above implementation examples are not exclusive to the specific implementation examples, but can be combined in any manner (e.g., in any priority and/or order, concurrently or otherwise) .
FIG. 21 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 2100 for transferring wireless power. The method 2100 may be implemented using any one or more of the components and devices detailed herein in conjunction with FIGs. 1–2. In overview, the method 2100 may be performed by a wireless receiving power device, in some embodiments. Additional, fewer, or different operations may be performed in the method 2100 depending on the embodiment. At least one aspect of the operations is directed to a system, method, apparatus, or a computer-readable medium.
A wireless receiving power device (e.g., a UE) may determine whether to send a request to a first node (e.g., a wireless transmitting power node, or a BS) . The request can be associated with requesting wireless power from a wireless transmitting power node. The wireless receiving power device may send the request to the first node, responsive to determining to send the request. The wireless receiving power device may receive wireless power from the wireless transmitting power node. The wireless receiving power device may receive a wireless power transfer signal from the wireless transmitting power node. The wireless power transfer signal may include at least one of: a broadcast signal, a group cast signal, a signal specified to the wireless receiving power device, a signal corresponding to a reference signal received by the wireless receiving power device, a periodic signal, or an aperiodic signal. Receiving the wireless power may comprise receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, the wireless power at least one of after, before or during the sending of the request to the first node. Receiving the wireless power after the sending of the request to the first node may comprise: receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, the wireless power after a first time (T1) after the sending of the request.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may receive the wireless power after the sending of the request regardless of whether any node receives the request. The wireless receiving power device may not detect a fourth signal.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may detect a fourth signal. The wireless receiving power device may receive the wireless power regardless of whether the fourth signal is detected by the wireless receiving power device.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may detect a fourth signal. The wireless receiving power device may receive the wireless power after the fourth signal is detected by the wireless receiving power device.
In some embodiments, the T1 can be determined according to at least one of: a capability reported by the wireless receiving power device; a signaling received from the first node or the wireless transmitting power node; a fixed number of time units; a sub-carrier spacing; or an agreement between the wireless receiving power device and the wireless transmitting power node or the first node. The wireless receiving power device may determine an occasion for receiving the wireless power according to at least one of the transmitted request, a received signaling, a mapping between a receiving power occasions and the transmitted request, a fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device, or a mapping between the receiving power occasions and a measurement reference signal received by the wireless receiving power device. The wireless receiving power device may receive the wireless power during a second time duration (T2) . The wireless receiving power device may receive the wireless power continuously or discontinuously during the T2.
In some embodiments, the T2 can be determined by the wireless receiving power device according to at least one of: a capability reported by the wireless receiving power device; a signaling received from the wireless transmitting power node or the first node; an agreement between the wireless receiving power device and the wireless transmitting power node; or a wireless power transfer signal for providing the wireless power to the wireless receiving power device.
In some embodiments, the sending of the request can be during a different time duration as the receiving of the power. The sending of the request can be during a different or same time duration as the receiving of the wireless power. In the case where the sending of the request can be during a different time duration as the receiving of the power, a frequency band of the sending of the request and a frequency band of the receiving of the power belong to a same frequency band (e.g., a frequency band (C) may include bands A and B) . In the case where the sending of the request can be during a different or same time duration as the receiving of the power, a frequency band of the sending of the request and a frequency band of the receiving of the power may belong to different frequency bands.
In some embodiments, determining, by the wireless receiving power device (e.g., a UW) , whether to send the request to the first node may comprise: determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether a first condition is met; and determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to send or re-send (e.g., repeat) the request to the first node when the first condition is met. The wireless receiving power device may determine to cancel the request when the first condition is not met. The wireless receiving power device may determine to not send the request when the first condition is not met. The wireless receiving power device may receive wireless power before sending the request. The wireless receiving power device may determine whether to send the request to the first node based on the received wireless power. The wireless receiving power device may transmit a third signal if a first condition is not satisfied.
In some embodiments, the first condition may comprise at least one of: (1) the wireless receiving power device cannot receive the wireless power during a second time duration (T2) ; (2) quantity of the wireless power received by the wireless receiving power device during the T2 is less than a power quantity threshold or a quantity of power needed by the wireless receiving power device; (3) the wireless receiving power device does not receive a fourth signal during a third time duration (T3) ; (4) a maximum number of times the request is sent by the wireless receiving power device is less than a first threshold; (5) quantity of power indicated in a fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device, is less than a quantity of power needed by the wireless receiving power device; (6) quantity of wireless power to be transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node is less than a quantity of wireless power requested by the wireless receiving power device; (7) an index of a power transfer request resource included in a fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device is not equal to an index of a power request transfer resource transmitted by the wireless receiving power device; (8) an index of a channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node and included in the fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device is not equal to an index of the channel measurement reference signal corresponding to the request; (9) an interval between a pair of adjacent transmissions of the request is smaller than a second threshold; (10) number of transmissions of the request during a time duration is smaller than a third threshold; (11) the wireless receiving power device receives a first signal from the wireless transmitting power node or the first node not before a first defined time duration (e.g., T5) prior to an occasion of the request; (12) the wireless receiving power device does not receive a second signal from the wireless transmitting power node or the wireless communication node not before a second defined time duration (e.g., T8) prior to the occasion of the request; (13) quantity of the wireless power requested by the wireless receiving power device is larger than zero; (14) there is at least one available transmission occasion for the request; or (15) the wireless receiving power device will stop receiving wireless power. T2 may occur before the transmitting of the request. T3 may occur before the transmitting of the request.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may detect a fourth signal at least one of: before sending the request, after sending the request, or while receiving the wireless power. Determining, by the wireless receiving power device (e.g., a UE) , whether to send the request to a first node may comprise: detecting, by the wireless receiving power device, a fourth signal before sending the request; and determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether to send the request to the first node based on at least one of: whether the fourth signal is detected, or information included in the detected fourth signal. Determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether to send the request to the first node based on whether the fourth signal is detected, may comprise at least one of: determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to not send the request to the first node if the fourth signal is detected by the wireless receiving power device; or determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to send the request to the first node if the fourth signal is not detected by the wireless receiving power device. Determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether to send the request to the first node based on information included in the detected fourth signal, may comprise at least one of: determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to not send the request to the first node if the information included in the detected fourth signal satisfies a second condition; or determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to send the request to the first node if the information included in the detected fourth signal does not satisfy the second condition.
In some embodiments, the second condition may include at least one of: an index of a power transfer request resource included in the fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device is equal to an index of a power request transfer resource transmitted by the wireless receiving power device; or an index of a channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node and included in the fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device, is equal to an index of the channel measurement reference signal corresponding to the request.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may determine an amount of wireless power that is desired or remaining (R) , after having received a first amount of the wireless power (X1) for a requested amount of the wireless power (X) . The wireless receiving power device may determine R = X –b*X1, where b can be equal to or less than 1. The wireless receiving power device may determine the R periodically. The wireless receiving power device may determine to not send the request when the R is zero or less than zero. The wireless receiving power device may determine an occasion of the request based at least on the R.
In some embodiments, the request may comprise or can be comprised in at least one of: a physical random access channel (PRACH) transmission, a scheduling request (SR) , an uplink control information (UCI) signaling, a sounding reference signal (SRS) , a preamble portion of an uplink transmission, or a preamble portion and data portion of an uplink transmission, a channel measurement signal, a signal with a frequency bandwidth larger than a threshold. The request may include at least one of: information about a quantity of power needed by the wireless receiving power device; or information about a wireless power transfer signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power device.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may send the request before a dedicated link is set up between the wireless receiving power device and the first node, or between the wireless receiving power device and the wireless transmitting power node. The wireless receiving power device may determine at least one candidate resource for sending the request, according to at least one of: a dedicated signal received by the wireless receiving power device; a mapping relationship between quantities of the wireless power requested by the wireless receiving power device and candidate power transfer request resources; a quantity of the wireless power requested by the wireless receiving power device; a candidate resource set, wherein at least one candidate resource for sending the request is from the candidate resource set; a mapping between types of power transfer signals transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node and candidate power transfer request resources; a received signal; a fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device; or a type of power transfer signal requested by the wireless receiving power device. The candidate resource set can be determined by one of: the dedicated signal received by the wireless receiving power device; a broadcast signal or a system information signaling; or a fixed parameter. The candidate resource set may comprise resources that are periodic or aperiodic, or comprises all time resources.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may determine one or more parameters related to wireless power transfer according to a received signaling which is at least one of a dedicated signaling, a broadcast signaling, a system information, a group cast signaling, or a fourth signal. The wireless receiving power device may determine that a plurality of wireless transmitting power nodes transmit same parameters related to wireless power transfer at least for the case where the plurality of wireless transmitting power nodes are within a bandwidth of a same frequency domain, or where the plurality of wireless transmitting power nodes are identified by a same identifying index or cell index.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may select a channel measurement signal from a plurality of channel measurement signals, the selected channel measurement signal being from the wireless transmitting power node. The wireless receiving power device may determine, according to the selected channel measurement signal, at least one of: a resource for sending the request; at least one occasion for receiving the wireless power; or whether to send the request.
In some embodiments, each of one or more channel measurement signals can be mapped to a respective request of the wireless receiving power device. Each of the one or more channel measurement signals can be mapped to a spatial filter of the respective request.
In some embodiments, the first signal at least one of: may indicate that the request can be sent during a third defined time duration (e.g., T6) ; may indicate that the wireless transmitting power node is to send the wireless power during a fourth defined time duration (e.g., T7) ; may include information about candidate resources for the wireless power transfer signal; may include information about one or more parameters related to wireless power transfer; may comprise a broadcast signal or a reference signal; may comprise an aperiodical signal; may comprise a broadcast signal; or may comprise a group cast signal.
In some embodiments, the second signal at least one of: may indicate that the request cannot be sent during a fifth defined time duration (e.g., T9) ; may indicate that the wireless transmitting power node does not to send wireless power transfer signal during a sixth defined time duration (e.g., T10) ; may comprise a reference signal; or may comprise one or more information bit.
In some embodiments, the third signal at least one of: may indicate that the wireless receiving power device stops receiving of the wireless power; or may indicate that the wireless receiving power device stops transmitting the request.
In some embodiments, the wireless receiving power device may send another request to the wireless transmitting power node or to another wireless transmitting power node, wherein at least one of: the request and the another request correspond to different types of power transfer signals; the request and the another request have at least one parameter that differs; or the request and the another request have at least one bit value that differs. The wireless receiving power device may send a channel measurement reference signal in response to a trigger included in a fourth signal or a received signaling. The first node may include at least one of: the wireless transmitting power node; a wireless communication node (e.g., a BS) ; or more than one nodes. The request can be associated with requesting the wireless power from the wireless transmitting power node for wireless charging (e.g., wireless power transfer) . The wireless receiving power device can be a wireless communication device (e.g., a UE) .
In some embodiments, the sending the request can be an initial sending when the wireless receiving power device is to be charged. The sending the request can be a re-sending when the wireless receiving power device is to be charged.
In some embodiments, the fourth signal may satisfy at least one of: the fourth signal includes one or more power parameters related to wireless power transfer; the fourth signal includes information indicating to the wireless receiving power device on whether to send a channel measurement reference signal; the fourth signal is associated with a reference signal; the fourth signal includes an index of an power transfer request resource; the fourth signal includes an index of a measurement reference signal; the fourth signal is a confirmation information of the request; the fourth signal is a confirmation information of another request; the fourth signal is a confirmation information for another request, where the another request and the request correspond to a same reference signal index; the fourth signal includes a confirmation information for the request; the fourth signal includes a confirmation information for another request; the fourth signal includes a confirmation information for another request, where the another request and the request correspond to a same reference signal index; the fourth signal is detected in an occasion corresponding to a measurement reference signal or the request; the fourth signal is a broadcast signal; the fourth signal and a wireless power transfer signal is quasi-co-located; the fourth signal includes information about a measure reference signal corresponding to the request; the fourth signal is a group cast signal; the fourth signal is a periodic signal; or the fourth signal is signal specified to the wireless receiving power device.
In some embodiments, the one or more power parameters related to wireless power transfer may include at least one of: a first time (T1) at which the wireless power is received after the sending of the request, a second time duration (T2) during which the wireless power is received, receiving power occasions, a mapping between receiving power occasions and candidate resources for requesting power transfer, a mapping between candidate resources for requesting power transfer and the quantity of the requested power, a parameter of a resource where the wireless receiving powder device can receive the wireless power, a mapping between measurement reference signals and candidate resources for requesting power transfer, a mapping between measurement reference signals and receiving power occasions, an quantity of power transfer signal, the type of the power transfer signal, the number of occasions of the power transfer signal, the time length of the power transfer signal, a parameter about the confirmation, or a parameter about a periodic wireless power transfer signal.
In some embodiments, the fourth signal can be associated with a reference signal. The reference signal may satisfy at least one of: the reference signal is received by the wireless receiving power device with a quantity higher than a threshold; the reference signal includes a measurement reference signal; the reference signal includes a synchronization signal; or the reference signal is transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node.
In some embodiments, a first node or a wireless transmitting power node may receive a request responsive to the wireless receiving power device determining to send the request to the first node from a wireless receiving power device. The request can be associated with requesting wireless power from the wireless transmitting power node.
Using above method, the wireless charging process can be completed efficiently. The method and system can sufficiently consider the feature of wireless power transfer.
This disclosure provides a method to determine parameter related to the wireless power transfer and candidate resources for requesting wireless power. Before sending the request for wireless charge, the wireless receiving power device can receive wireless power transfer signal and can also detect a fourth signal. The fourth signal or the wireless power transfer signal may be sent by the wireless transmitting power node because of a requesting from another wireless receiving power device, or may be sent periodic. The wireless receiving power device may determine whether to send the request based on the fourth signal or the wireless power transfer signal. The wireless transmitting power node can transmit the wireless power transfer signal and/or the fourth signal once it receives a request from a wireless receiving power device regardless the request from which wireless receiving power device. The wireless power transfer signal and/or the fourth signal can be broadcast, group cast or dedicated signal. The method can allow many wireless transmitting power nodes to transmit wireless power to a device. The wireless receiving power device may receive power from multiple wireless transmitting power nodes.
While various embodiments of the present solution have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams may depict an example architectural or configuration, which are provided to enable persons of ordinary skill in the art to understand example features and functions of the present solution. Such persons would understand, however, that the solution is not restricted to the illustrated example architectures or configurations, but can be implemented using a variety of alternative architectures and configurations. Additionally, as would be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, one or more features of one embodiment can be combined with one or more features of another embodiment described herein. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described illustrative embodiments.
It is also understood that any reference to an element herein using a designation such as "first, " "second, " and so forth does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. Rather, these designations can be used herein as a convenient means of distinguishing between two or more elements or instances of an element. Thus, a reference to first and second elements does not mean that only two elements can be employed, or that the first element must precede the second element in some manner.
Additionally, a person having ordinary skill in the art would understand that information and signals can be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits and symbols, for example, which may be referenced in the above description can be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.
A person of ordinary skill in the art would further appreciate that any of the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, processors, means, circuits, methods and functions described in connection with the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented by electronic hardware (e.g., a digital implementation, an analog implementation, or a combination of the two) , firmware, various forms of program or design code incorporating instructions (which can be referred to herein, for convenience, as "software" or a "software module) , or any combination of these techniques. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware, firmware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware, firmware or software, or a combination of these techniques, depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans can implement the described functionality in various ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions do not cause a departure from the scope of the present disclosure.
Furthermore, a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that various illustrative logical blocks, modules, devices, components and circuits described herein can be implemented within or performed by an integrated circuit (IC) that can include a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP) , an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) , a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, or any combination thereof. The logical blocks, modules, and circuits can further include antennas and/or transceivers to communicate with various components within the network or within the device. A general purpose processor can be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor can be any conventional processor, controller, or state machine. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other suitable configuration to perform the functions described herein.
If implemented in software, the functions can be stored as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Thus, the steps of a method or algorithm disclosed herein can be implemented as software stored on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media including any medium that can be enabled to transfer a computer program or code from one place to another. A storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a computer.
In this document, the term "module" as used herein, refers to software, firmware, hardware, and any combination of these elements for performing the associated functions described herein. Additionally, for purpose of discussion, the various modules are described as discrete modules; however, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, two or more modules may be combined to form a single module that performs the associated functions according embodiments of the present solution.
Additionally, memory or other storage, as well as communication components, may be employed in embodiments of the present solution. It will be appreciated that, for clarity purposes, the above description has described embodiments of the present solution with reference to different functional units and processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units, processing logic elements or domains may be used without detracting from the present solution. For example, functionality illustrated to be performed by separate processing logic elements, or controllers, may be performed by the same processing logic element, or controller. Hence, references to specific functional units are only references to a suitable means for providing the described functionality, rather than indicative of a strict logical or physical structure or organization.
Various modifications to the embodiments described in this disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the novel features and principles disclosed herein, as recited in the claims below.

Claims

A method comprising:

determining, by a wireless receiving power device, whether to send a request to a first node, wherein the request is associated with requesting wireless power from a wireless transmitting power node; and

sending, by the wireless receiving power device, the request to the first node, responsive to determining to send the request.
The method of claim 1, comprising receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, wireless power from the wireless transmitting power node.
The method of claim 2, comprising receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, a wireless power transfer signal from the wireless transmitting power node, wherein the wireless power transfer signal includes at least one of: a broadcast signal, a group cast signal, a signal specified to the wireless receiving power device, a signal corresponding to a reference signal received by the wireless receiving power device, a periodic signal, or an aperiodic signal.
The method of claim 2, wherein receiving the wireless power comprises receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, the wireless power at least one of after, before or during the sending of the request to the first node.
The method of claim 4, wherein receiving the wireless power after the sending of the request to the first node comprises:

receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, the wireless power after a first time (T1) after the sending of the request.
The method of claim 2, comprising at least one of:

receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, the wireless power after the sending of the request regardless of whether any node receives the request; or

not detecting, by the wireless receiving power device, a fourth signal.
The method of claim 4, comprising at least one of:

detecting, by the wireless receiving power device, a fourth signal; or

receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, the wireless power regardless of whether the fourth signal is detected by the wireless receiving power device.
The method of claim 4, comprising at least one of:

detecting, by the wireless receiving power device, a fourth signal; or

receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, the wireless power after the fourth signal is detected by the wireless receiving power device.
The method of claim 5, wherein the T1 is determined according to at least one of:

a capability reported by the wireless receiving power device;

a signaling received from the first node or the wireless transmitting power node;

a fixed number of time units;

a sub-carrier spacing; or

an agreement between the wireless receiving power device and the wireless transmitting power node or the first node.
The method of any of claims 2 to 5, comprising:

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, an occasion for receiving the wireless power according to at least one of the transmitted request, a received signaling, a mapping between a receiving power occasion and the transmitted request, a fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device, or a mapping between the receiving power occasions and a measurement reference signal received by the wireless receiving power device.
The method of any of claims 1 to 10, comprising:

receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, the wireless power during a second time duration (T2) .
The method of claim 11, comprising:

receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, the wireless power continuously or discontinuously during the T2.
The method of claim 11, wherein the T2 is determined by the wireless receiving power device according to at least one of:

a capability reported by the wireless receiving power device;

a signaling received from the wireless transmitting power node or the first node;

an agreement between the wireless receiving power device and the wireless transmitting power node; or

a wireless power transfer signal for providing the wireless power to the wireless receiving power device.
The method of claim 2, wherein:

the sending of the request is during a different time duration as the receiving of the power; or

the sending of the request is during a different or same time duration as the receiving of the wireless power.
The method of claim 14, wherein in the case where the sending of the request is during a different time duration as the receiving of the power,

a frequency band of the sending of the request and a frequency band of the receiving of the power belong to a same frequency band.
The method of claim 14, wherein in the case where the sending of the request is during a different or same time duration as the receiving of the power,

a frequency band of the sending of the request and a frequency band of the receiving of the power belong to different frequency bands.
The method of claim 2, wherein determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether to send the request to the first node comprises:

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether a first condition is met; and

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to send or re-send the request to the first node when the first condition is met.
The method of claim 17, comprising at least one of:

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to cancel the request when the first condition is not met; or

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to not send the request when the first condition is not met.
The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the wireless receiving power device, wireless power before sending the request; and

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether to send the request to the first node based on the received wireless power.
The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the wireless receiving power device, a third signal if a first condition is not satisfied.
The method of any of claim 17, claim 18, or claim 19, wherein the first condition comprises at least one of:

(1) the wireless receiving power device cannot receive the wireless power during a second time duration (T2) ;

(2) quantity of the wireless power received by the wireless receiving power device during the T2 is less than a power quantity threshold or a quantity of power needed by the wireless receiving power device;

(3) the wireless receiving power device does not receive a fourth signal during a third time duration (T3) ;

(4) a maximum number of times the request is sent by the wireless receiving power device is less than a first threshold;

(5) quantity of power indicated in a fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device, is less than a quantity of power needed by the wireless receiving power device;

(6) quantity of wireless power to be transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node is less than a quantity of wireless power requested by the wireless receiving power device;

(7) an index of a power transfer request resource included in a fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device is not equal to an index of a power request transfer resource transmitted by the wireless receiving power device;

(8) an index of a channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node and included in the fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device is not equal to an index of the channel measurement reference signal corresponding to the request;

(9) an interval between a pair of adjacent transmissions of the request is smaller than a second threshold;

(10) number of transmissions of the request during a time duration is smaller than a third threshold;

(11) the wireless receiving power device receives a first signal from the wireless transmitting power node or the first node not before a first defined time duration prior to an occasion of the request;

(12) the wireless receiving power device does not receive a second signal from the wireless transmitting power node or the wireless communication node not before a second defined time duration prior to the occasion of the request;

(13) quantity of the wireless power requested by the wireless receiving power device is larger than zero;

(14) there is at least one available transmission occasion for the request; or

(15) the wireless receiving power device will stop receiving wireless power.
The method of claim 21, wherein at least one of

T2 occurs before the transmitting of the request; or

T3 occurs before the transmitting of the request.
The method of any of claim 1 to 22, further comprising:

detecting, by the wireless receiving power device, a fourth signal at least one of: before sending the request, after sending the request, or while receiving the wireless power.
The method of claim 23, wherein determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether to send the request to a first node comprises:

detecting, by the wireless receiving power device, a fourth signal before sending the request; and

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether to send the request to the first node based on at least one of: whether the fourth signal is detected, or information included in the detected fourth signal.
The method of claim 24, wherein determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether to send the request to the first node based on whether the fourth signal is detected, comprises at least one of:

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to not send the request to the first node if the fourth signal is detected by the wireless receiving power device; or

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to send the request to the first node if the fourth signal is not detected by the wireless receiving power device.
The method of claim 24, wherein determining, by the wireless receiving power device, whether to send the request to the first node based on information included in the detected fourth signal, comprises at least one of:

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to not send the request to the first node if the information included in the detected fourth signal satisfies a second condition; or

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to send the request to the first node if the information included in the detected fourth signal does not satisfy the second condition.
The method of claim 26, wherein the second condition includes at least one of:

an index of a power transfer request resource included in the fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device is equal to an index of a power request transfer resource transmitted by the wireless receiving power device; or

an index of a channel measurement reference signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node and included in the fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device, is equal to an index of the channel measurement reference signal corresponding to the request.
The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, an amount of wireless power that is desired or remaining (R) , after having received a first amount of the wireless power (X1) for a requested amount of the wireless power (X) .
The method of claim 28, wherein at least one of:

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, R = X –b*X1, where b is equal to or less than 1;

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, the R periodically;

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, to not send the request when the R is zero or less than zero; or

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, an occasion of the request based at least on the R.
The method of any of claim 1 to claim 29, wherein the request comprises or is comprised in at least one of: a physical random access channel (PRACH) transmission, a scheduling request (SR) , an uplink control information (UCI) signaling, a sounding reference signal (SRS) , a preamble portion of an uplink transmission, or a preamble portion and data portion of an uplink transmission, a channel measurement signal, a signal with a frequency bandwidth larger than a threshold.
The method of claim 1 to 30, wherein the request includes at least one of

information about a quantity of power needed by the wireless receiving power device; or

information about a wireless power transfer signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting power device.
The method of any of claim 1 to 31 , comprising:

sending, by the wireless receiving power device, the request before a dedicated link is set up between the wireless receiving power device and the first node, or between the wireless receiving power device and the wireless transmitting power node.
The method of any of claim 1 to 32, comprising determining, by the wireless receiving power device, at least one candidate resource for sending the request, according to at least one of:

a dedicated signal received by the wireless receiving power device;

a mapping relationship between quantities of the wireless power requested by the wireless receiving power device and candidate power transfer request resources;

a quantity of the wireless power requested by the wireless receiving power device;

a candidate resource set, wherein at least one candidate resource for sending the request is from the candidate resource set;

a mapping between types of power transfer signals transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node and candidate power transfer request resources;

a received signal;

a fourth signal received by the wireless receiving power device; or

a type of power transfer signal requested by the wireless receiving power device.
The method of claim 33, wherein the candidate resource set is determined by one of:

the dedicated signal received by the wireless receiving power device;

a broadcast signal or a system information signaling; or

a fixed parameter.
The method of claim 33, wherein the candidate resource set comprises resources that are periodic or aperiodic, or comprises all time resources.
The method of any of claim 1 to 35, wherein

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, one or more parameters related to wireless power transfer according to a received signaling which is at least one of a dedicated signaling, a broadcast signaling, a system information, a group cast signaling, or a fourth signal.
The method of claim 1, wherein

determining, by the wireless receiving power device, that a plurality of wireless transmitting power nodes transmit same parameters related to wireless power transfer at least for the case where the plurality of wireless transmitting power nodes are within a bandwidth of a same frequency domain, or where the plurality of wireless transmitting power nodes are identified by a same identifying index or cell index.
The method of any of claim 1 to 37, comprising:

selecting, by the wireless receiving power device, a channel measurement signal from a plurality of channel measurement signals, the selected channel measurement signal being from the wireless transmitting power node; and

determining, by the wireless receiving power device according to the selected channel measurement signal, at least one of:

a resource for sending the request;

at least one occasion for receiving the wireless power; or

whether to send the request.
The method of any of claim 1 to 38, wherein at least one of:

each of one or more channel measurement signals is mapped to a respective request of the wireless receiving power device; or

each of the one or more channel measurement signals is mapped to a spatial filter of the respective request.
The method of claim 21, wherein the first signal at least one of:

indicates that the request can be sent during a third defined time duration;

indicates that the wireless transmitting power node is to send the wireless power during a fourth defined time duration;

includes information about candidate resources for the wireless power transfer signal;

includes information about one or more parameters related to wireless power transfer;

comprises a broadcast signal or a reference signal;

comprises an aperiodical signal;

comprises a broadcast signal; or

comprises a group cast signal.
The method of claim 21, wherein the second signal at least one of:

indicates that the request cannot be sent during a fifth defined time duration;

indicates that the wireless transmitting power node does not to send wireless power transfer signal during a sixth defined time duration;

comprises a reference signal; or

comprises one or more information bit.
The method of claim 20, wherein the third signal at least one of:

indicates that the wireless receiving power device stops receiving of the wireless power; or

indicates that the wireless receiving power device stops transmitting the request.
The method of any of claim 1 to 43, comprising:

sending, by the wireless receiving power device, another request to the wireless transmitting power node or to another wireless transmitting power node, wherein at least one of:

the request and the another request correspond to different types of power transfer signals;

the request and the another request have at least one parameter that differs; or

the request and the another request have at least one bit value that differs.
The method of claim 1, comprising:

sending, by the wireless receiving power device, a channel measurement reference signal in response to a trigger included in a fourth signal or a received signaling.
The method of any of claims 1 to 44, wherein the first node includes at least one of:

the wireless transmitting power node;

a wireless communication node; or

more than one nodes.
The method of claim 1 to 45, wherein the request is associated with requesting the wireless power from the wireless transmitting power node for wireless charging.
The method of claim 1 to 46, wherein the wireless receiving power device is a wireless communication device.
The method of claim 1 to 47, wherein:

the sending the request is an initial sending when the wireless receiving power device is to be charged; and

the sending the request is a re-sending when the wireless receiving power device is to be charged.
The method of any of claims 6-8, 10, 21, 23-27, 33, 36 or 44, wherein the fourth signal satisfies at least one of:

the fourth signal includes one or more power parameters related to wireless power transfer;

the fourth signal includes information indicating to the wireless receiving power device on whether to send a channel measurement reference signal;

the fourth signal is associated with a reference signal;

the fourth signal includes an index of an power transfer request resource;

the fourth signal includes an index of a measurement reference signal;

the fourth signal is a confirmation information of the request;

the fourth signal is a confirmation information of another request;

the fourth signal is a confirmation information for another request, where the another request and the request correspond to a same reference signal index;

the fourth signal includes a confirmation information for the request;

the fourth signal includes a confirmation information for another request;

the fourth signal includes a confirmation information for another request, where the another request and the request correspond to a same reference signal index;

the fourth signal is detected in an occasion corresponding to a measurement reference signal or the request;

the fourth signal is a broadcast signal;

the fourth signal and a wireless power transfer signal is quasi-co-located;

the fourth signal includes information about a measure reference signal corresponding to the request;

the fourth signal is a group cast signal;

the fourth signal is a periodic signal; or

the fourth signal is signal specified to the wireless receiving power device.
The method of any of claim 36, 37, 40, or 49, wherein the one or more power parameters related to wireless power transfer includes at least one of:

a first time (T1) at which the wireless power is received after the sending of the request, a second time duration (T2) during which the wireless power is received, receiving power occasions, a mapping between receiving power occasions and candidate resources for requesting power transfer, a mapping between candidate resources for requesting power transfer and the quantity of the requested power, a parameter of a resource where the wireless receiving powder device can receive the wireless power, a mapping between measurement reference signals and candidate resources for requesting power transfer, a mapping between measurement reference signals and receiving power occasions, an quantity of power transfer signal, the type of the power transfer signal, the number of occasions of the power transfer signal, the time length of the power transfer signal, a parameter about the confirmation, or a parameter about a periodic wireless power transfer signal.
The method of claim 49, wherein the fourth signal is associated with a reference signal, wherein the reference signal satisfies at least one of:

the reference signal is received by the wireless receiving power device with a quantity higher than a threshold;

the reference signal includes a measurement reference signal;

the reference signal includes a synchronization signal; or

the reference signal is transmitted by the wireless transmitting power node.
A method comprising:

receiving, by a first node or a wireless transmitting power node from a wireless receiving power device, a request responsive to the wireless receiving power device determining to send the request to the first node,

wherein the request is associated with requesting wireless power from the wireless transmitting power node.
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform the method of any one of claims 1-52.
An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to implement the method of any one of claims 1-52.