Air Interface Configuration Indexing to Reduce Signaling Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
Next-generation wireless networks face challenges in efficiently configuring air interfaces to support diverse traffic types and varying channel conditions, requiring dynamic establishment of air interface configurations with high overhead.
Innovation Solution
The method involves sending an index and a modification instruction to wireless devices to establish a modified air interface configuration without first establishing a predefined configuration, reducing overhead by using fewer predefined configurations and signaling fewer bits, and allowing wireless devices to select or modify parameters such as waveforms, retransmission schemes, and physical layer parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional air interface configuration methods are used, then comprehensive configuration options are available, but control signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The configuration parameters are segmented into two categories: a first set of parameters that remain unchanged from a reference configuration, and a second set of parameters that are modified. Only the modified parameters are signaled to the wireless device, reducing overhead while maintaining configuration flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
A reference air interface configuration is pre-defined and stored at both the network device and wireless device. This preliminary action eliminates the need to signal all parameters, as both parties already have the baseline configuration available.
2Ease of operation
If all air interface parameters are signaled, then complete configuration control is achieved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary modified parameters from the complete air interface configuration and signals them separately. The unchanged parameters are inherited from the reference configuration, reducing the amount of data that needs to be transmitted.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of signaling what parameters should be used, the system inverts the approach by signaling what parameters should be modified from the reference configuration. This inversion reduces signaling overhead by focusing only on differences.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple predefined configurations are established, then configuration options increase, but establishment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple reference air interface configurations are pre-defined and stored at both network and device sides before actual communication begins. When configuration is needed, the system can quickly select from pre-prepared reference configurations and apply minimal modifications, reducing establishment time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains multiple reference configurations with different parameter sets. By changing which reference configuration is selected and what modifications are applied, the system can rapidly adapt to different communication scenarios without re-establishing entire configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
It is possible to reduce overhead when dynamically establishing an air interface configuration by communicating a modification instruction along with an index associated with a predefine air interface configuration. The modification instruction identifies a modification to one or more parameters of the predefined air interface configuration associated with the index. Together, the index and the modification indication specify a modified air interface configuration that is different than any of the candidate air interface configurations predefined for the network. The modification instruction allows networks to achieve similar degrees of flexibility while using substantially fewer predefined air interface configurations, which in turn permits the index associated with the selected air interface configuration to be signaled using fewer bits.