Autonomous Uplink Downlink Transmission in Shared Spectrum

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in reducing latency and meeting the latency requirements of time-critical traffic and ultra-reliability low latency communication (URLLC) over shared frequency spectra, particularly due to the time-division multiplexing nature of priority-based coordinated access schemes.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a priority-based spectrum sharing scheme that allocates a fraction of frequency resources for autonomous data transmission, allowing for independent communication outside scheduled times, and dynamic time-division duplexing to dynamically switch link priorities, thereby reducing transmission latency and improving bandwidth utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If medium-sensing procedures such as listen-before-talk are employed to avoid interference in shared spectrum, then interference between different devices is reduced, but signaling overhead increases and latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference avoidanceVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring autonomous transmission resources and performing prior sensing during exclusive access periods. This allows devices to transmit time-critical data immediately when resources become available, without performing full medium-sensing procedures at the moment of transmission, thereby reducing latency while maintaining interference avoidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If priority-based coordinated access scheme with time-division multiplexing is used for spectrum sharing, then multiple operators can operate over shared spectrum, but latency requirement of time-critical traffic and URLLC cannot be met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectrum sharing capabilityVSAvoidtransmission latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments spectrum access into two distinct types: exclusive access periods for medium-sensing and coordinated access, and autonomous transmission opportunities for time-critical data. This segmentation allows regular traffic to follow priority-based TDM scheduling while time-critical traffic can immediately utilize pre-configured autonomous resources, meeting latency requirements without compromising spectrum sharing capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between coordinated access mode and autonomous transmission mode based on traffic requirements. For time-critical URLLC traffic, the system transitions to autonomous transmission where devices can immediately use pre-sensed resources without waiting for scheduled opportunities, thereby reducing latency while maintaining the overall spectrum sharing framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of time

If autonomous data transmissions are allowed on pre-allocated resources, then transmission latency is reduced, but resource allocation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission latencyVSAvoidresource allocation management
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs resource allocation and medium-sensing in advance during exclusive access periods or setup phases. Base stations pre-configure autonomous transmission resources including frequency resources, time resources, and transmission parameters. This preliminary configuration reduces the complexity during actual autonomous transmission, as devices simply follow pre-established rules rather than making complex real-time decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3560257B1Autonomous uplink (UL)/downlink (DL) transmission in new radio-spectrum sharing (NR-ss)
Publication Date: 2022.12.07 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3560257B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3560257B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3560257B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Wireless communications systems and methods related to autonomous uplink transmission and autonomous downlink transmission in a shared spectrum are provided. A first wireless communication device identifies a transmission opportunity (TXOP) in a shared spectrum shared by a plurality of network operating entities. The first wireless communication device is associated with a first network operating entity of the plurality of network operating entities. The first wireless communication device a first frequency band of the shared spectrum designated for autonomous communication by the first network operating entity during the TXOP. The first wireless communication device communicates, with a second wireless communication device associated with the first network operating entity in the first frequency band, autonomous data during the TXOP.