Bandwidth Part Configuration for 5G Resource Flexibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G NR, the large system bandwidth of carriers limits resource allocation flexibility due to the need for all slots/mini-slots to cover common control signals, leading to inefficient resource utilization and load imbalance across the system bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

A method for configuring bandwidth parts in user equipment (UE) that allows for different configurations per slot/mini-slot, enabling flexible resource allocation and activation of specific bandwidth parts based on network-side information, including size, position, and time-domain structure, to improve scheduling flexibility and load balancing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single group of bandwidth part configurations is indicated by DL signaling for all slots/min-slots, then the UE's bandwidth part can always cover the bandwidth of common control signals, but the flexibility of resource allocation is dramatically limited and load imbalance occurs between different parts of the system bandwidth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage of common control signalsVSAvoidflexibility of resource allocation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bandwidth part configuration into multiple groups, where each group is associated with specific slots or mini-slots. This allows different bandwidth part configurations to be applied to different time resources, enabling flexible resource allocation while ensuring that common control signals are always covered in their designated slots. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing specialized configurations for control signals and flexible configurations for data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic bandwidth part configuration where the UE can be configured with multiple bandwidth part groups and switch between them based on slot type and network indications. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt resource allocation to different service requirements (control vs. data) while maintaining reliable coverage for common control signals through dedicated configurations in control signal slots.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the UE's bandwidth part always covers the bandwidth of common control signals across all slots, then control signal coverage is ensured, but resource utilization efficiency decreases due to load imbalance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol signal coverageVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating specialized bandwidth part configurations tailored to specific slot types. Control signal slots have bandwidth part configurations optimized for control signal coverage, while data slots have configurations optimized for data transmission efficiency. This local optimization ensures reliable control signal coverage where needed while maximizing resource utilization efficiency in data transmission slots, resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple bandwidth part configurations are provided for different slots, then resource allocation flexibility is improved, but the complexity of configuration management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation flexibilityVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple bandwidth part groups in advance, where each group is associated with specific slots or mini-slots. The network device prepares these configurations beforehand and indicates to the UE which group to use for each slot type. This preliminary configuration approach enables flexible resource allocation while reducing runtime complexity, as the UE can directly apply pre-configured bandwidth parts based on network indications rather than performing complex real-time configuration management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3603274B1Method for configuring resource, user equipment, network device and computer storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.10.04 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP3603274B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3603274B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3603274B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is provided a method for configuring resource, a user equipment (UE), a network device and a computer storage medium. The method for configuring resource includes receiving first information from a network-side, wherein the first information indicates to the UE configurations of at least one bandwidth part, and activating at least portion of at least one configured bandwidth part, or activating at least portion of the at least one configured bandwidth part through the network-side.