Bandwidth Part Switching Guard Interval Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

In the context of 5G NR communications, existing solutions waste time domain resources due to the allocation of excessively long guard intervals during bandwidth part (BP) switching in user equipment (UE), which is inefficient and affects power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A communication method that allows the network device to dynamically determine and set a proper guard interval based on the UE's RF bandwidth capability and center frequency location, enabling efficient BP switching without unnecessary retuning, thereby reducing the time required for switching between BPs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a long guard interval is allocated for BP switching to ensure complete switching, then reliability of BP switching is improved, but time domain resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveBP switching completionVSAvoidguard interval duration
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the guard interval duration adaptive rather than fixed. The network device dynamically adjusts the guard interval length based on the actual BP switching time requirements of the UE, allowing the system to optimize between reliability and time resource utilization in different scenarios

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of guard interval duration from a static configuration to a dynamic parameter that can be adjusted based on UE capability and switching requirements. This allows the system to find the optimal guard interval length that ensures reliable switching while minimizing time resource waste

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the UE tunes RF center frequency location timely to cover BP, then frequency domain resource utilization is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency domain resource utilizationVSAvoidUE power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by having the UE tune its RF center frequency only when necessary for BP switching, rather than continuously adjusting. The network device optimizes the timing and necessity of tuning operations, performing only the minimum required adjustments to maintain frequency domain resource utilization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network device receives information about UE RF tuning capability and uses this feedback to optimize BP allocation and timing. This allows the system to balance frequency resource utilization with power consumption by making informed decisions based on actual UE capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3629619B1Communications method, user equipment, network equipment and communications system
Publication Date: 2023.04.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3629619B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3629619B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3629619B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

This application provides a communication method, user equipment, a network device, and a communications system. The method includes: sending, by user equipment, RF bandwidth capability information to a network device; receiving, by the user equipment, BP configuration information sent by the network device; and determining, by the user equipment, BP group information, where the BP group information is used to indicate at least one BP group, one of the at least one BP group includes at least one BP, the at least one BP group includes a first BP group, the first BP group includes a first BP, and when the first BP group further includes a second BP, a guard interval of RF retuning that is required when the user equipment is switched from the first BP to the second BP is 0 symbols. According to the method in this application, the network device can be prevented from allocating an excessively long guard interval to the UE for BP switching, and a waste of time domain resources is possibly avoided.