EP4725096A2 - Wireless power transfer to adaptive phase-changing devices - Google Patents

Abstract

Methods and devices in a wireless network system enable a wireless power transfer (280) to adaptive phase-changing devices (120) used to reflect communication signals (203, 204) between network entities (110) and a user equipment (130). In response to receiving a wireless power transfer request (205) from an adaptive phase-changing device (120), the network entity (110) transmits (207) an adaptive phase-changing device configuration for the wireless power transfer to the adaptive phase-changing device (120) and directs delivery of power supplying signals (208) for the wireless power transfer.

Description

Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER TO ADAPTIVE PHASE-CHANGING DEVICES FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE [0001] This document generally describes methods and devices operating in wireless communication systems, such as (but not limited to), the systems described in 5G standard documents, known as 3GPP communication systems. BACKGROUND [0002] Adaptive phase-changing devices (APDs) improve the coverage and capacity of wireless networks including 5G and 6G systems. An APD has a reflective intelligent surface (RIS, sometimes called an Intelligent Reflecting Surface, IRS) that includes antenna elements (e.g., a matrix of individually configurable areas) able to change signal phase, amplitude, and/or polarization when reflecting an incident signal. Individual RIS antenna element characteristics (e.g., absorption coefficient, phase change) are varied based on an APD configuration that the network may dynamically update via a control channel. The use of APDs has become more complex and appealing with the increased use of signals transmitted and/or received using multiple antennas at endpoints, because in-between the endpoints, multiple APD antenna elements reflecting the signals potentially in different manner for different paths. [0003] APDs may be permanently deployed (e.g., on walls of tall buildings) or temporarily deployed to improve wireless communication capacity and accuracy (by decreasing interferences) in case of an occasionally increased demand (e.g., an outdoor music festival, parade route, etc.). [0004] APDs reflect while modifying an incident signal without consuming large amounts of power. However, in case of a temporary deployment or a power supply failure, an APD may be rendered non-operational due to lack of power. Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO SUMMARY [0005] An APD able to absorb wireless (power supplying) signals informs, via a control channel, a network element (NE) about the APD’s need to receive power and, optionally, about its wireless power reception capability (i.e., the ability to receive a wireless power transfer, WPT). The NE may then indicate a power transfer channel and a duration of the WPT (in time or slots), to the APD, via the control channel. The NE directs a wireless power supply, WPS, to transmit the power supplying signals for the WPT to the APD. The WPS may be collocated/integrated into the NE. The NE may control plural WPSs at different locations and select one of these WPSs for the WPT (e.g., depending on the APD’s and WPSs’ locations and/or other factors). [0006] An APD may simultaneously receive the WPT and reflect signals pertaining to NE-UE communication. The WPT may use different frequencies, beams, and/or RIS antenna elements than the ones used for reflecting the signals between the NE and the UE. [0007] The APD may request a WPT depending on its current battery level, its thermal condition, and/or its current power usage (e.g., traffic). When scheduling WPTs to plural APDs, an NE may determine WPTs’ order (from one or more WPSs) based on the APDs’ priorities, their current battery levels, and/or their current power usage (traffic).

Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate one or more embodiments and, together with the description, explain these embodiments. [0009] Figure 1A illustrates a wireless communication scenario employing an APD. [0010] Figure 1B illustrates a scenario for wireless power transfer to the APD, according to an embodiment. [0011] Figure 1C illustrates a wireless communication system including plural APDs and plural wireless power sources. [0012] Figure 2 is a signal diagram related to a wireless power transfer to an APD according to an embodiment. [0013] Figure 3 is a logical diagram illustrating APD behavior according to an embodiment. [0014] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a method performed by an APD for wirelessly receiving power according to an embodiment. [0015] Figure 5 is a flowchart of a method performed by an NE (e.g., a base station) for wirelessly supplying power to an APD according to an embodiment. [0016] Figure 6 is a block diagram of an APD configured to wirelessly receive power and to facilitate NE-UE communications, and of an NE configured to facilitate wireless power transfer to the APD according to an embodiment.

Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0017] Methods and devices described in this section embody techniques related to a wireless power transfer, WPT, to an adaptive phase-changing device, APD, used in a wireless network. [0018] Wireless communication system 100 illustrated in Figure 1A employs APD 120 with plural antenna elements 128 (only one labeled) to enable information exchange between a network entity, NE 110 and user equipment, UE, 130 that do not have a line-of-sight signal transmission path due to an obstacle 125. APD 120 receives, via a control channel 112, signal 102 that conveys an APD configuration for configuring APD 120 to enable NE-UE communications. ADP 120 may send a signal 102’ (e.g., acknowledging receipt of signal 102) to NE 110 via the control channel. [0019] Configured APD 120 reflects an incident downlink signal 103 received from NE 110 via a first segment 113 of the NE-UE communication channel, as signal 104 towards UE 130 via a second segment 114 of the NE-UE communication channel. The NE-UE communication channel is bi-directional thereby being usable for an uplink signal 104’ transmitted by UE 130 and reflected as signal 103’ towards NE 110. The signals and channels representation in Figures 1A and 1B is merely illustrative, in reality the signal paths often overlap and the channels are space-time-frequency resources usable for exchanging signals. [0020] Figure 1B illustrates system 100 operating to provide a WPT to APD 120. Upon receiving signal 105 conveying a request for WPT from APD 120, NE 110 transmits a signal 107, which conveys a WPT configuration. Signals 105 and 107 are exchanged via the control channel 112 shown in FIG.1A. APD 120 then configures one or more of its antenna elements to receive the WPT. APD 120 may send other signals to the NE such as a signal indicating a preferred beam for the WPT or providing information such as APD’s location (that dynamically changes for a mobile APD). A wireless power supply, WPS, which is part of NE 110, then transmits a power supplying signal 108 to the ADP via a power transfer channel 118. The NE-UE communication illustrated in Figure 1A and the WPT illustrated in Figure 1B may occur in parallel (i.e., at least a partial time overlap) employing different antenna elements. Moreover, APD 120’s antenna elements may be configured to absorb part of the energy of incident signal used for wireless Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO communications. For example, referring again to Figure 1A, APD 120 can absorb some energy from incident signals 103 and 104’. However, such an energy harvesting is not likely to supply enough energy to replenish APD’s battery. [0021] More generally, as illustrated in Figure 1C, NE 110 may control plural WPS(s), such as, 135A that is part of NE 110, plus 135B and 135C, which are deployed at different locations than NE 110, to transmit power supplying signals 108B and 108C to plural APDs such as 120 and 121. NE 110 directs WPSs 135B and 135C to transmit the power supplying signals 108B and 108C via WPS control signals 131B and 131C, respectively. The NE may be an integrated base station (BS) or a distributed BS including at least a central unit, and a distributed unit or radio unit at different locations. In this context, a WPS such as 135C may be part of a distributed unit or radio unit of NE 110 or another NE. Moreover, the WPS(s) and the APD may be mobile. [0022] Figure 2 is a signal diagram illustrating communications and APD actions related to a WPT according to an embodiment. Here, the WPS is assumed to be part of (i.e., collocated with) the NE. APD 120 transmits 201 a WPT capability message. Communication 201 may be part of an APD setup process or may occur at a later time (e.g., any time in block 260, when APD 120 needs power, or before APD 120 detects a low power situation). The WPT capability message may be as simple as an indication (e.g., bit flag) that the APD is able to harvest power off wireless signals, but it may also be more specific and complex. For example, the WPT capability message may specify a (necessary/minimal) time gap 209 between (1) a slot (e.g., on FR1) of the APD-NE control channel (e.g., 112 in Figure 1A) used to indicate the WPT grant (e.g., 105 in Figure 1B) and (2) a slot (e.g., on FR2) on power transmission channel (e.g., 118 in Figure 1B) used to transmit the WPT signal (e.g.108). The control channel may be within the same frequency band as the WPT frequency or in a different frequency band than the WPT frequency. The capability message may also specify an APD-preferred frequency, frequency band, or frequency range for the WPT. [0023] Block 260 represents user and/or control plane communications between NE 110 and UE 130 performed using APD 120 as shown in FIG.1A. Signals 202, 203 and 204 in Figure 2 correspond to 102, 103 and 104 in Figure 1A. Block 280 represents user and/or control plane communications between NE 110 and APD 120 to achieve the Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO WPT as shown in FIG.1B. Signals 205, 207 and 208 in Figure 2 correspond to 105, 107 and 108 in Figure 1B. Thus, the signals illustrated in Figure 2 use: (a) a NE-UE communication channel 113-114 used for the communications between the NE and the UE, (b) an APD control channel used for information and commands exchanged between the NE and the APD aimed to control the antennas elements according to various configurations, and (c) a power transfer channel for the power supplying signals absorbed by the APD to recharge. These channels may be used at different times or in parallel and may have distinct characteristics (e.g., frequency). Alternatively, the system may use the same channel for different purposes. [0024] Some embodiments use the same frequency for the WPT as for the wireless communication between the NE and the UE via the APD. The advantage of such embodiments is simplified hardware at the endpoints of the WPT (i.e., the APD and the NE) because the same antenna elements can be used for both signal reflection and power transfer. The disadvantage of this approach is that the WPT cannot be scheduled simultaneously with NE-UE communications (i.e., signal reflection at APD). Moreover, optimal beams (including frequency dependencies) for WPT and for NE-UE communications may be different. Thus, when using the same frequency for both purposes, either WPT or NE-UE communication operates in a sub-optimal state. [0025] Some other embodiments use a different frequency for the WPT than the frequency used for signal reflection thereby allowing for simultaneous WPT and NE-UE communications. simultaneous WPT and NE-UE communications do not require use of non-overlapping surface-regions of the APD, but different antenna elements are used for WPT than for the NE-UE communications. [0026] Block 260, which includes signals 202, 203, and 204, illustrates NE-UE communication via APD. Signal 202 conveys an APD configuration for communication signal reflection. Such signal may be transmitted using an APD control channel as shown in Figure 1A. Based on the received APD configuration, the APD controller configures characteristics of one or more RIS antenna elements 128 for reflecting signals between NE 110 and UE 130 (which may be moving or may be part of a group of network devices receiving signals from NE 110). NE 110 then transmits signal 203 that is reflected by APD 120 as signal 204 directed to UE 130. The steps in box 260 are not required for WPT, that Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO is, NE-UE communications using the APD 120 can occur before, during, or subsequent to the WPT. [0027] Block 280 illustrates a WPT sequence. Upon detecting 240 a low battery power level, APD 120 transmits 205 a request for a WPT. APD 120 may transmit the request using an APD control channel 112 as shown in Figure 1A. The request may include APD location information. NE 110 may schedule periodic WPTs (e.g., using timers to implement a time pattern). Alternatively, the NE may initiate a WPT based on an estimated volume of APD-intermediated traffic. [0028] Before we continue with the remaining signals of block 280, Figure 3 is a logical diagram illustrating an embodiment for an APD transmitting the request for WPT according to an embodiment. APD monitors the battery power level, BPL, comparing 370 a current BPL value with a charging threshold. The charging threshold may be fixed or may be determined based on the WPT efficiency and APD’s power use (traffic). For example, an APD monitors power consumption, and estimates duration of a WPT for recharging the battery based on WPT charging efficiency and the average/expected power consumption. Upon detecting that the current BPL value falls below the charging threshold (NO branch of 370), the APD transmits a request for WPT at 305. Optionally (as suggested by the dashed lines), APD may compare 375 a current temperature T of the APD with a predetermined high APD thermal level, T_level and refrains from transmitting the request for WPT if T> T_level (YES branch of 375). The APD may include a timer to trigger performing periodically the sequence of tests (i.e., checking battery power and temperature) illustrated in Figure 3. [0029] Returning to FIG.2, the request 205 for the WPT may include a priority field, which may be set based on the APD battery level. If an APD’s request is denied, the APD may seek another NE via an acquisition procedure during which an APD control channel is established with another NE (e.g., in a manner similar to a UE). During the acquisition procedure, the APD may synchronize with the NE using synchronization pilots (such as PSS/SSS) on the control channel frequency band. A standardized Synchronization Signal Block, SSB, based acquisition can be used for APD to acquire the APD control channel. A mobile APD may use a random access procedure on the control channel to reattach to the NE or attach to another NE. Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO [0030] Related to also to WPT scheduling, the NE may receive WPT requests from multiple APDs (e.g., 120 and 121 in Figure 1C). The NE then may determine the order of the WPTs based on priority levels included in the requests (e.g., an APD priority is higher when its priority field value represents a lower APD battery level). The NE may also schedule the WPTs based on upcoming or predicted uplink or downlink traffic via the APDs requesting WPTs. [0031] Optionally (as suggested by the dashed line used for signal 206), APD 120 may indicate 206 a preferred beam to be used for the WPT, via the control channel. NE 110 may transmit reference signals enabling APD to detect the preferred beam for APD’s WPT, in order to enable the APD to identify the preferred beam. Alternative to selecting the beam, the APD may respond by transmitting a report on detected reference signals thereby enabling the NE to select the WPT beam. If APD 120 maintains a fixed location, the (best) beam for WPT can be identified or determined as part of APD’s deploying process (e.g., using additional equipment and/or signals to detect the best angle/beam). When the WPS is not co-located with the NE, the network may direct a WPS beam- sweeping procedure during which the APD can report which WPS beam provides the highest WPT efficiency. [0032] If the APD is mobile (e.g., on a drone), then the APD may transmit its location/position information in the request 205 to allow the NE to calculate the initial WPT beam or abbreviate the beam-sweeping procedure by focusing on beams that cover the reported location/position. Mobile APD’s optimal location (e. g., hovering closer to the WPS) can maximize the WPT efficiency, but the APD has to keep covering the UE (i.e., to maintain its ability to intermediate NE-UE communications). [0033] Continuing with Figure 2, in response to APD’s request 205 for WPT (and, potentially, also taking into consideration the indicated 206 preferred beam), NE 110 transmits 207 an APD configuration for the WPT via APD’s control channel. This APD configuration may indicate one or more particular slots allocated for power supplying signal(s) (e.g., 108 in Figure 1B and 108A, 108B, 108C in Figure 1C). In one embodiment, a slot indicator may include a bit-flag indicating whether the slot is to be used for WPT or for reflecting signals of NE-UE communication. Slots used for WPT may be interleaved with slots used only for reflecting NE-UE communication signals. Additional information, Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO such as a phase vector or amplitude vector for RIS antenna elements may be associated with a slot used for reflecting NE-UE communication signals. [0034] In some embodiments, the NE indicates a WPT start time and end time or WPT duration. In other embodiments, the NE indicates a WPT starting slot number and a WPT ending slot number or a number of slots used for the WPT. Such scheduling information may be included in the WPT configuration. [0035] APD 120 then configures 250 one or more RIS antenna elements to absorb power supplying signals. Reflection coefficient of the RIS elements that absorb the power supplying signals is very small, close to 0. WPS 135A (that is in this case co-located with NE 110) then transmits 208 the power supplying signals to APD 120. [0036] Figure 4 is a flowchart of a method 400 performed by an APD (e.g., 120) for a WPT according to an embodiment. Method 400 includes transmitting 405, to an NE, a request for a WPT. Features and actions discussed above relative to signal 205 may be part of operation 405. Method 400 further includes receiving 407, from the NE, a WPT configuration. Features discussed above relative to various embodiments of the WPT configuration transmitted using signal 207 are pertinent to operation 407. Method 400 then includes receiving 408 the WPT based on the WPT configuration. The WPT may be separate from or co-located with any part of the NE 110. [0037] Figure 5 is a flowchart of a method 500 performed by an NE (e.g., 110) for supplying power wirelessly to an APD (e.g., 120). Method 500 includes receiving 505, from the APD, a request for a WPT. Features and actions discussed above relative to signal 205 may be implemented in operation 505. Method 500 further includes transmitting 507 a WPT configuration to the APD. Features discussed above relative to various embodiments of the WPT configuration transmitted using signal 207 are pertinent to operation 507. Method 500 then includes directing 508 a delivery of the WPT to the APD, based on the WPT configuration. Features and actions discussed above relative to signal 208 may be implemented in operation 508. [0038] When, as illustrated in Figure 1C, the NE controls plural WPS upon receiving 505 the request for the WPT, the NE may first assess which of the WPS would most efficiently provide the WPT based on APD and WPSs locations and current data traffic via APD. Based on this assessment result, the NE may transmit a WPS Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO configuration signal (131B or 131C) to a WPS at another location than the NE (e.g., 135B or 135C) and the WPT configuration (that the NE transmits 507 to the APD) corresponds to receiving the WPT signal from the selected WPS. The WPS configuration synchronizes the WPS with the APD for performing the WPT (i.e., the WPS transmits the WPT signal after the APD is configured and expects to receive it). This synchronization may also involve beam management between the WPS and the APD using reference signals and transmit and receive beams. [0039] Figure 6 illustrates a wireless communication system 600 of an NE and an APD able to implement WPT to the APD as described above. NE 210 may be a base station, BS, but more generally, the term “network entity” stands for a wireless device with a well-defined network functionality (e.g., BS’s functionality as a radio access network (RAN) connects UEs to a core network including managing communications to and from the UEs). NE 610 and APD 620 may include additional functions and interfaces omitted from Figure 6 in the interest of brevity. [0040] NE 610 may provide the functionality of an gNB (i.e., a 5G or 6G base station). NE 610’s functionality may be distributed across multiple entities (e.g., a central unit, CU, a distributed unit, DU, and a radio unit, RU). NE 610 includes antennas, a Radio Frequency (RF) front end 611 and a transceiver 612 for communicating with APD 620 and other wireless network devices. NE 610’s antennas and RF front end 611 can be tuned to transmit signals on one or more frequency bands (e.g., as defined by 3GPP LTE, 5G NR, and 6G communication standards) prepared by transceiver 612. [0041] NE 610 further includes processor(s) 613 and computer-readable storage media (CRM) 614. Processor(s) 613 can include single or multiple-core processors, and CRM 614 includes any suitable memory/storage except propagating signals. For example, memory/storage can include random-access memory (RAM), static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), read-only memory (ROM), and/or flash memory. CRM 614 stores device data 615, which includes information (such as, network scheduling data, radio resource management data) and executable codes for applications and/or an operating system, which are executable by processor(s) 613 to enable wireless communications with APD 620 as well as with other network devices. Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO [0042] CRM 614 also stores an APD controller 616 and a power delivery controller 617. The APD controller 616 causes or supports NE 610 to perform various steps and actions for generating instructions directing APD 620 as applicable in support of some embodiments as described herein. The power delivery manager 617 provides instructions and/or information as needed to WPS(s) to transmit power supplying signals to APD 620 in support of some embodiments described herein. [0043] NE 610 also includes inter-base station interface 618 and core-network interface 619. Inter-base station interface 618 can be a standardized interface, such as an Xn and/or X2 interface, for exchanging user-plane and control-plane data with another NE (e.g., in case of a handover). Core-network interface 619 enables NE’s user-plane data and control-plane information exchange with core network functions and/or entities. [0044] APD 620 includes RIS antenna elements connected to a RF front end 621, and a transceiver 622. Transceiver 622 may be an LTE transceiver, a 5G NR transceiver, or another transceiver. The RIS antenna elements and RF front end 221 can be tuned to one or more frequency bands (e.g., as defined by 3GPP LTE, 5G NR, and 6G communication standards) and implemented by respective transceivers. APD 620 also includes one or more processor(s) 623, and computer-readable storage media (CRM) 624. Processor(s) 623 may be single or multiple-core processors, and CRM 624 includes any suitable memory/storage other than propagating signals. For example, memory/storage can include random-access memory (RAM), static RAM, dynamic RAM, non-volatile RAM, read-only memory (ROM), and/or flash memory. CRM 624 stores device data 625 necessary for APD’s communications, an APD power monitor 626 configured, for example, to implement steps and actions illustrated in Figure 3, and executable codes managing RIS configuration 627 including changing individual RIS antenna elements characteristics 628. [0045] In some embodiments, the NE’s APD controller 616 and the NE’s power delivery manager 617 as well as the APD’s RIS configuration manager 627 and individual RIS antenna controllers 628 may be implemented not only as software but also as hardware logic and/or circuitry. A wireless system such as the one schematically illustrated in Figure 6 may implement various techniques related to embodiments described in this “Detailed Description” section. Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO [0046] According to an exemplary embodiment, a method (e.g., 400) performed by an APD (e.g., 120, 620) for wirelessly receiving power includes: (i) transmitting (e.g., 405), to an NE (e.g., 110) a request for a WPT, (ii) receiving (e.g., 407), from the NE, a WPT configuration, and (iii) receiving (e.g., 408) the WPT based on the WPT configuration. The APD typically includes plural antenna elements and the receiving of the WPT may include configuring a subset of the plural antenna elements indicated in the WPT configuration, to absorb an WPT signal. The APD may receive the WPT from a WPS placed at a different location than the NE. The WPT configuration may indicate at least one of a timing, a duration, a frequency, or a beam direction for the receiving of the WPT. The transmitting of the request may include indicating at least one APD- preferred beam for the WPT. The method may further include providing, to the NE, information on the WPT capability of the APD. The method may also include monitoring the APD’s battery power level, and triggering the transmitting of the request for the WPT when the APD’s battery power level is less than a charging threshold. The method may further include receiving reference signals, and transmitting, to the NE, a report on detection of the reference signals, or an indication of a preferred beam selected based on the detection of the reference signals. The DSD may use an ADP control channel for transmitting of the request for the WPT and the receiving of the WPT configuration. The method may also include reflecting incident signals received from the NE towards a user equipment, UE. The reflecting may occur in parallel with the receiving of the WPT. The reflecting may use a first frequency while the receiving of the WPT uses a second frequency different from the first frequency. The reflecting may include reflecting a first beam and the receiving of the WPT may use a second beam different from the first beam. First APD elements of the APD employed in the reflecting may be distinct from second APD elements of the APD employed in absorbing power received via the WPT. [0047] According to another embodiment, a method (e.g., 500) performed by an NE (e.g., 120, 620) for wirelessly supplying power to a first APD includes: (i) receiving (e.g., 505), from the first APD, a first request for a first wireless power transfer, WPT, (ii) transmitting (e.g., 507), to the first APD, a WPT configuration, and (iii) directing (e.g., 508) delivery of the first WPT to the APD, based on the WPT configuration. The receiving of the first request may include receiving an indication of at least one preferred Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO beam for the first WPT. The method may further include (iv) receiving from the first APD, an indication of a wireless power reception capability of the first APD and (v) generating the WPT configuration based on the wireless power reception capability. The method may also include (vi) directing reference signals using different beams towards the first APD and (vii) receiving from the first APD, a report on detection of the reference signals, or an indication of a preferred beam among the different beams. The method may further include (viii) receiving from a second APD, a second request for a second WPT; and scheduling the first WPT to the first APD and the second WPT to the second APD according to a priority-based rule. The directing the delivery of the first WPT may include directing a WPS to provide the first WPT to the first APD. The method may also include selecting the WPS from at least two WPS available to provide the first WPT to the first APD, depending on locations of the first APD and of the at least two WPS. The receiving of the first request may include receiving APD location information. [0048] According to yet another embodiment, a wireless communication device (e.g., 610 or 620) has a transceiver (e.g., 612 or 622), a processor (e.g., 613 or 623), and a computer-readable storage media (e.g., 614or 624) storing executable instructions for the processor to perform any of the above-described methods using the transceiver. [0049] The embodiment descriptions in this section refer to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The detailed descriptions do preclude other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims. The embodiments are not limited to the described configurations but may be extended to other arrangements. [0050] Reference throughout this section to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO [0051] Numerical adjectives “first”, “second”, and “third” do not imply any order (are not ordinals) but are markers to distinguish separate instances of similar elements. References to the singular (e.g., “a” or “an”, “the”) should include the plural unless clearly indicated otherwise. [0052] Although the features and elements of the present embodiments are described in the embodiments in particular combinations, each feature or element can be used alone without the other features and elements of the embodiments or in various combinations with or without other features and elements disclosed herein. The methods or flowcharts may be implemented in a computer program, software or firmware tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage medium for execution by a specifically programmed computer or processor.

Claims

Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A method (400) performed by an adaptive phase-changing device, APD, (120, 620) for wirelessly receiving power, the method comprising: transmitting (405), to a network element, NE, (110) a request for a wireless power transfer, WPT; receiving (407), from the NE, a WPT configuration; and receiving (408) the WPT based on the WPT configuration. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the APD includes plural antenna elements and the receiving of the WPT includes: configuring a subset of the plural antenna elements indicated in the WPT configuration, to absorb an WPT signal. 3. The method of any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the APD receives the WPT from a wireless power source, WPS, placed at a different location than the NE. 4. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the WPT configuration indicates at least one of a timing, a duration, a frequency, or a beam direction for the receiving of the WPT. 5. The method of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transmitting of the request includes indicating at least one APD-preferred beam for the WPT. 6. The method of any of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: receiving reference signals; and transmitting, to the NE, a report on detection of the reference signals, or an indication of a preferred beam selected based on the detection of the reference signals. 7. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the transmitting of the request for the WPT and the receiving of the WPT configuration use an ADP control channel. Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO 8. The method of any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising: reflecting incident signals received from the NE towards a user equipment, UE in parallel with the receiving of the WPT, wherein at least one of following conditions is met: the reflecting uses a first frequency and the receiving of the WPT uses a second frequency different from the first frequency, the reflecting includes reflecting a first beam and the receiving of the WPT uses a second beam different from the first beam, or first APD elements of the APD employed in the reflecting are distinct from second APD elements of the APD employed in absorbing power received via the WPT. 9. A method (500) performed by a network element, NE, (120, 620) for wirelessly supplying power to an adaptive phase-changing device, APD, the method comprising: receiving (505), from the APD, a request for a wireless power transfer, WPT; transmitting (507), to the APD, a WPT configuration; and directing (508) delivery of the WPT to the APD, based on the WPT configuration. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the receiving of the request includes receiving an indication of at least one preferred beam for the WPT. 11. The method of any of claims 9 or 10, further comprising: receiving, from the APD, an indication of a wireless power reception capability of the APD, and generating the WPT configuration based on the indication. 12. The method of any of claims 9 to 11, further comprising: directing reference signals using different beams towards the APD; and receiving, from the APD, a report on detection of the reference signals, or an indication of a preferred beam among the different beams. Patent Application Attorney Docket Number 0683-054-WO 13. The method of any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the directing the delivery of the WPT comprises: directing a wireless power supply, WPS, to provide the WPT to the APD. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: selecting the WPS from at least two WPS available to provide the WPT to the APD, the selecting depending on locations of the APD and of the at least two WPS. 15. A wireless communication device (610, 620) comprising a transceiver (612, 622), a processor (613, 623), and a computer-readable storage media (614, 624) storing executable instructions for the processor to perform any of the methods recited in claims 1-14, using the transceiver.