BWP Allocation Control for Orthogonal MIMO Group Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in accommodating bandwidth part (BWP) concepts within multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication, particularly in managing power consumption, complexity, and cost associated with high bandwidths, and achieving optimal performance.

Innovation Solution

A method for controlling BWP allocation by organizing wireless communication devices into MIMO groups, selecting candidate devices for BWP updates and switches based on orthogonality and performance metrics, and performing BWP reconfiguration to ensure alignment with the BWP region of target MIMO groups.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high bandwidth operation is implemented to provide increasing data rate and new services, then data rate capability is improved, but power consumption increases drastically and device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rate capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the total bandwidth into multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs), where each BWP is a subset of the total bandwidth that can be independently allocated to different WCDs. This allows the system to support high bandwidth operation when needed while enabling individual devices to operate on smaller, more power-efficient bandwidths when full bandwidth is not required, thus resolving the contradiction between data rate capability and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If high bandwidth operation is implemented to provide increasing data rate and new services, then data rate capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata rate capabilityVSAvoidradio hardware complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the total bandwidth into multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs), where each BWP is a subset of the total bandwidth that can be independently allocated to different WCDs. This allows the system to support high bandwidth operation when needed while enabling individual devices to operate on smaller, more power-efficient bandwidths when full bandwidth is not required, thus resolving the contradiction between data rate capability and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If bandwidth part allocation is optimized for MIMO groups to improve performance metrics, then system efficiency is improved, but BWP reconfiguration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem efficiencyVSAvoidBWP reconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs) for each WCD before MIMO group switching is needed. When a WCD needs to be switched between MIMO groups, the target BWP is already configured and ready, allowing the network to quickly activate the appropriate BWP without complex real-time reconfiguration. This reduces the complexity of BWP management while maintaining optimized system efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4097891B1Bandwidth part allocation control
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP4097891B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4097891B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(d)
  • EP4097891B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A method for controlling bandwidth part (BWP) allocation for a plurality of wireless communication devices (WCDs) is disclosed. The WCDs are organized in one or more multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) groups, wherein each MIMO group comprises WCDs with a current BWP allocation that falls within a BWP region associated with the MIMO group. The method comprises selecting one of the plurality of WCDs as a candidate WCD for MIMO group switch, and determining a first orthogonality metric between the candidate WCD and WCDs of a candidate MIMO group, wherein the candidate WCD is not currently comprised in the candidate MIMO group. When the first orthogonality metric meets a first orthogonality criterion, the method comprises updating the BWP allocation for the candidate WCD, wherein the updated BWP allocation for the candidate WCD falls within the BWP region associated with the candidate MIMO group, and performing a MIMO group switch of the candidate WCD from its current MIMO group to the candidate MIMO group. Corresponding apparatus, network node and computer program product are also disclosed.