Bandwidth Part Resource Grids for Shared-Spectrum Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing bandwidth parts within wideband channels, particularly in scenarios where multiple radio access technologies share unlicensed bands, leading to interference and inefficient resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for a user equipment to determine a starting physical resource block of a common physical resource block grid associated with a wideband channel, identify a wideband channel guard band, and establish a bandwidth part-specific physical resource block grid, enabling efficient allocation and utilization of bandwidth parts within the wideband channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple radio access technologies share unlicensed bands, then spectrum utilization is improved, but interference between different technologies increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the unlicensed spectrum into multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs) within a wideband channel. Each BWP is a distinct subset of frequency resources that can be independently managed and allocated. This segmentation allows different radio access technologies to share the unlicensed band with reduced interference, as each technology can operate in its designated BWP without interfering with others in different BWPs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a guard band as an intermediary element between different bandwidth parts. This guard band acts as a buffer zone that reduces harmful interference between adjacent BWPs used by different radio access technologies. The guard band provides frequency separation that mitigates cross-technology interference while still allowing efficient spectrum utilization.
2Productivity
If bandwidth parts are allocated within a wideband channel, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but the complexity of managing multiple grids increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple bandwidth part-specific physical resource block grids into a single common physical resource block grid. Instead of maintaining separate grids for each BWP, the system uses one unified grid structure that accommodates all BWPs. This merging approach simplifies resource allocation management while still enabling efficient bandwidth part allocation, as the common grid provides a consistent reference framework for all frequency resources within the wideband channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The common physical resource block grid serves multiple functions simultaneously. It acts as the reference grid for resource allocation across all bandwidth parts, provides a unified structure for scheduling and resource management, and enables the system to handle multiple radio access technologies with a single management framework. This multi-functionality reduces management complexity while maintaining allocation efficiency.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If guard bands are introduced between bandwidth parts, then interference is reduced, but available bandwidth for data transmission decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by introducing guard bands only at specific locations where interference is most likely to occur between different bandwidth parts. Rather than uniformly reducing guard bands throughout the entire spectrum, the system places guard bands strategically at the boundaries between BWPs used by different radio access technologies. This localized approach provides interference protection where needed while minimizing the impact on overall available bandwidth for data transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an example embodiment, a method may include determining, by a user equipment in a wireless network, a starting physical resource block of a common physical resource block grid that is associated with a wideband channel, wherein a plurality of bandwidth parts are provided within the common physical resource block grid, each bandwidth part having a bandwidth that is less than the bandwidth of the wideband channel; determining, by the user equipment, a wideband channel guard band for the wideband channel, the wideband channel guard band provided between a lowest frequency of the wideband channel and a first usable physical resource block of the common physical resource block grid; and, determining, by the user equipment for at least one bandwidth part of the plurality of bandwidth parts, a bandwidth part-specific physical resource block grid that is a subset of the common physical resource block grid.