Base Station Band Allocation for Mixed E-UTRA IMT-A Terminals

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Solution Overview

Problem

The transition from existing E-UTRA systems to future radio access systems like IMT-Advanced requires supporting both existing E-UTRA terminals with a maximum transmission and reception bandwidth of 20 MHz and new IMT-A terminals with wider bandwidths, up to 100 MHz, while ensuring efficient band allocation.

Innovation Solution

A base station and mobile station configuration that includes a receiving unit for UE capability and a specifying unit to select basic frequency blocks based on UE capabilities, allowing for efficient allocation of transmission and reception bands among plural basic frequency blocks within the system band.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the system bandwidth is increased to 100 MHz to achieve higher data rates in IMT-Advanced, then the data rate is improved, but the compatibility with existing E-UTRA terminals with maximum 20 MHz bandwidth deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rateVSAvoidterminal compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system band is divided into multiple basic frequency blocks, each with a bandwidth of 20 MHz or less. This segmentation allows the system to support both IMT-Advanced terminals (which can handle multiple blocks for higher data rates) and E-UTRA terminals (which can use a single block), thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving high data rates and maintaining terminal compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system supports multiple maximum transmission and reception bandwidths for different terminal types, then the adaptability to different terminals is improved, but the band allocation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal support capabilityVSAvoidband allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the system band into standardized basic frequency blocks of 20 MHz or less, the patent creates a modular structure that simplifies band allocation. The base station can allocate one or more blocks based on terminal type without requiring complex custom configurations, thus improving adaptability while controlling allocation complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of frequency block bandwidth to be 20 MHz or less, which is the maximum bandwidth that E-UTRA terminals can handle. This parameter standardization allows simple differentiation between terminal types (E-UTRA vs. IMT-Advanced) based on the number of blocks allocated, reducing allocation complexity while maintaining support for multiple terminal types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2262333B1Mobile station, base station, basic frequency block specifying method, and band control method
Publication Date: 2018.05.16 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP2262333B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2262333B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2262333B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A base station includes a receiving unit configured to receive a UE capability regarding a bandwidth from a mobile station; and a specifying unit configured to specify, among plural basic frequency blocks included in a system band, one or more basic frequency blocks to be used by the mobile station based on the UE capability.