Bandwidth Part Aggregation for 5G Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current PDCP data duplication in 5G NR is limited by the need for multi-frequency layers, leading to suboptimal system performance and increased energy consumption due to bandwidth partitioning, which restricts frequency deployment and affects user equipment power usage.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves dynamic radio resource partitioning using 'virtual' component carriers (vCCs) within a single carrier, allowing non-overlapping bandwidth parts and transmission frames to be assigned to user equipment, enabling PDCP data duplication without splitting the carrier into component carriers, and utilizing new Xn signaling for inter-node BWP coordination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carrier aggregation is used to enable PDCP data duplication across distinct component carriers, then transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase due to multi-frequency layer coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple component carriers into a single carrier by utilizing bandwidth parts (BWPs). Instead of maintaining separate CCs for duplication, the invention combines their functionality within one carrier's bandwidth, allowing PDCP duplication while reducing the need for complex multi-frequency layer coordination at the UE.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention makes a single carrier universal by enabling it to perform multiple functions that previously required separate component carriers. By configuring different BWPs within the same carrier, the system allows PDCP duplication, eMBB, and mMTC services to coexist on one carrier, reducing UE complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If bandwidth is partitioned into multiple component carriers for PDCP duplication, then transmission diversity is achieved, but available bandwidth for non-duplicated traffic is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the carrier bandwidth into multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs) that can be simultaneously active. This segmentation allows different portions of the bandwidth to be used for different purposes (e.g., one BWP for duplicated traffic, another for eMBB), enabling transmission diversity while preserving total available bandwidth for various traffic types.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from frequency-domain partitioning (multiple CCs) to a combination of frequency and resource block domain partitioning (BWPs within one carrier). By adding the BWP dimension, the system achieves transmission diversity without sacrificing total bandwidth, as BWPs can be configured to utilize the full carrier bandwidth through time and frequency resource allocation.
3Reliability
If multiple component carriers are configured for data duplication, then error probability is reduced, but user equipment power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple component carrier operations into a single carrier with multiple BWPs, reducing the UE's radio frequency processing requirements. By eliminating the need to simultaneously process multiple independent CCs while maintaining PDCP duplication functionality, the invention significantly reduces UE power consumption while preserving transmission reliability through BWP-based diversity.
4Reliability
If carrier aggregation is deployed for PDCP duplication, then frequency diversity is achieved, but system performance becomes suboptimal due to coordination overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the frequency diversity benefits of carrier aggregation into a single carrier structure using BWPs. This eliminates the coordination overhead between multiple CCs while maintaining frequency diversity through BWP configurations, thereby optimizing system performance without sacrificing reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
It is provided a method, comprising instructing a first cell to transmit a first packet data unit to a terminal on a first active bandwidth part of a first carrier of the first cell in a first frame and to instruct a second cell to transmit a second packet data unit to the terminal on a second active bandwidth part of a second carrier of the second cell in a second frame; wherein the first and second bandwidth parts have first and second bandwidth part identifiers, respectively; if the first cell is the same as the second cell: the first and second bandwidth part identifiers are different from each other, and the first and second system frame numbers are the same; and if the first cell is different from the second cell: a frequency range of the first carrier is the same as the frequency range of the second carrier.