Asymmetrical Uplink-Downlink Bandwidth Pairing in LTE FDD
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In LTE Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) systems, existing technologies do not effectively allocate bandwidths to match differing uplink and downlink data rates, leading to inefficient spectrum utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where a Self-Organizing Network (SON) controller determines the required bandwidths for uplink and downlink operations and configures sector-carriers to allocate bandwidth proportionally based on expected data rates, allowing for unequal pairing of uplink and downlink bandwidths to match specific performance needs, involving trimming of spectrum and adjustments in PHY layer operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If identical bandwidths are allocated to paired uplink and downlinks in LTE FDD systems, then system simplicity and ease of operation are maintained, but spectrum utilization efficiency deteriorates when uplink and downlink data rates are vastly different
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by allowing unequal bandwidth allocation between uplink and downlink in FDD systems. Specifically, it enables the downlink bandwidth to be configured independently from the uplink bandwidth, allowing the downlink to occupy more spectrum resources when downlink data rates are significantly higher than uplink rates. This asymmetric configuration resolves the contradiction by optimizing spectrum utilization according to actual traffic patterns while maintaining system operability through standardized configuration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by allowing different bandwidth configurations for different frequency resources. Through the introduction of separate downlink and uplink bandwidth parameters (downlinkBandwidth and uplinkBandwidth), the system can allocate appropriate spectrum width to each direction based on local traffic requirements. This enables high bandwidth where needed (downlink for video streaming, for example) and lower bandwidth where sufficient (uplink for control signals), thereby improving overall spectrum efficiency without compromising ease of operation.
2Device complexity
If symmetrical spectrum allocation is used in sector-carriers, then device complexity and configuration simplicity are maintained, but network performance deteriorates when uplink and downlink traffic requirements differ significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling flexible and adaptive bandwidth configuration for sector-carriers. The system allows the downlink and uplink bandwidths to be dynamically adjusted based on traffic requirements through independent parameter configuration. This dynamic capability ensures that sector-carriers can adapt to varying uplink and downlink traffic patterns, improving network performance matching while maintaining manageable configuration complexity through standardized procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by introducing separate configurable parameters for downlink bandwidth (downlinkBandwidth) and uplink bandwidth (uplinkBandwidth) in sector-carrier configurations. This allows the system to change the spectral parameters independently for each direction, enabling precise matching of bandwidth resources to actual traffic requirements. The parameter changes are managed through established configuration mechanisms, ensuring that improved performance matching does not excessively increase configuration complexity.
3Ease of operation
If equal bandwidth pairing is applied to all sector-carriers, then system simplicity is maintained, but spectrum resource efficiency deteriorates due to inability to match varying data rate requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing each sector-carrier to have customized bandwidth allocation based on its specific traffic characteristics. Through independent downlink and uplink bandwidth parameters, the system can assign appropriate spectrum width to each sector-carrier's downlink and uplink separately. This enables efficient spectrum utilization in high-traffic sector-carriers while maintaining simpler configurations in low-traffic ones, thereby improving overall spectrum resource efficiency without sacrificing system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements segmentation by dividing the spectrum allocation into independently configurable downlink and uplink portions for each sector-carrier. This segmentation allows the system to optimize bandwidth allocation for each direction separately based on actual data rate requirements. The segmented configuration approach enables fine-grained control over spectrum resources while maintaining system simplicity through modular, standardized configuration procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods are disclosed creating sector-carriers with unequal pairing of uplink and downlink bandwidths. In one embodiment a method includes determining, at a SON controller, a downlink required rate and a corresponding estimated downlink bandwidth required; determining, at the SON controller, an uplink required rate and a corresponding estimated uplink bandwidth required; determining, at the SON controller, an aggregate bandwidth of spectrum suitable for downlink operation; determining, at the SON controller, an aggregate bandwidth of spectrum suitable for uplink operation; and determining from the downlink required rate; the corresponding estimated downlink bandwidth required; the uplink required rate; the corresponding estimated uplink bandwidth required; the aggregate bandwidth of spectrum suitable for downlink operation; and the aggregate bandwidth of spectrum suitable for uplink operation, at least one sector-carrier configuration wherein the uplink data rate is different than the downlink data rate.