Cellular communication system support for limited bandwidth communication devices

Abstract

A network node that serves a host cell in a cellular communication system transmits, at (a) first time interval(s), first control channel information on a control channel that extends over a first bandwidth of a radiofrequency spectrum. The first control channel communicates information necessary to enable a first type of communication device to receive data from the host cell. The first type of communication device can receive first bandwidth-wide signals. At (a) second time interval(s), second control channel information is transmitted on a second control channel of a first M-cell. The second control channel occupies a second bandwidth that is smaller than the first bandwidth. The second time interval(s) do(es) not coincide with any of the first time interval(s).; A second type of communication device having reduced receive bandwidth capabilities compared to those of the first type of communication device is thereby made capable of being served by the node.

Description

Background technique [0001] The present invention relates to cellular communication systems, and more particularly, to support for both full bandwidth and limited bandwidth devices in cellular communication systems. [0002] A cellular communication system typically includes a land-based network that provides wireless coverage to mobile terminals that can continue to receive service as they move around within the coverage area of ​​the network. The term "cellular" derives from the fact that the entire coverage area is divided into so-called "cells", each of which is typically served by a specific radio transceiver station (or equivalent) associated with a land-based network. Such transceiver stations are often referred to as "base stations". When a mobile device moves from one cell to another, the network hands over responsibility for serving the mobile device from the current serving cell to the "new" cell. In this way, the user of the mobile device experiences continuity o...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

But if all cellular networks support powerful and cost-effective MTC devices, asking them to limit themselves to small bandwidths would become too restrictive

[0011] Currently, there are incompatibilities between MTC devices that only support low bandwidth and / or have insufficient decoding performance (for example, the requirement for longer delays between possible data on PDCCH and PDSCH), which prevents such devices from being able to connect The LTE system so far defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standard

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