BWP Indication via Position Index in 5G Downlink Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G communication systems lack a specific method for a network-side device to indicate to a terminal-side device which bandwidth part (BWP) needs to be activated, limiting the ability to efficiently manage and configure BWPs.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using downlink control information to indicate the position of the active BWP within a set of configured BWPs, allowing the terminal-side device to determine the active BWP based on positional information within the indication field, even when the number of configured BWPs is less than the maximum allowed, thereby ensuring real-time updates and minimal bit usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a BWP identifier is used to indicate the active BWP in downlink control information, then the indication can be specific, but the downlink control information cannot accommodate the BWP identifier when N is less than the maximum quantity of BWPs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the indication parameter from BWP identifier to position index. When N is less than the maximum quantity of BWPs, the downlink control information uses a position index to indicate the active BWP among the initially configured BWPs, avoiding the need to accommodate a BWP identifier that would exceed the available bit states in the indication field.
2Device complexity
If the downlink control information uses an indication field with fixed bit states, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adapt when BWPs are added or deleted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the indication field dynamic by re-establishing the correspondence between position indices and BWPs when BWPs are added or deleted. The network-side device updates the position indexing scheme to reflect current BWP configuration, allowing the fixed-bit indication field to adapt to changing BWP quantities while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a preliminary correspondence between position indices and BWP configurations. When BWPs are initially configured, the network-side device sets up the position indexing scheme in advance, and subsequent additions or deletions of BWPs trigger updates to this correspondence, ensuring the indication field remains valid without requiring complete reconfiguration.
3Quantity of substance
If the network configures the maximum quantity of BWPs, then the system supports more BWPs, but more bits are required in the indication field
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the indication parameter from BWP identifier to position index, which optimizes bit usage. When N is less than the maximum quantity of BWPs, the position index requires fewer bits than a full BWP identifier, reducing the information loss in the indication field while still uniquely identifying the active BWP among the configured set.
Data Source
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AI summary
An information indication method and an apparatus are disclosed. The method includes: A terminal-side device receives first higher layer signaling from a network-side device, where the first higher layer signaling is used to configure N bandwidth parts BWPs, and N is a positive integer. The terminal-side device receives downlink control information from the network-side device, where the downlink control information includes an indication field. When N is less than a maximum quantity of BWPs that can be configured through the first higher layer signaling when the terminal-side device is in a connected mode (for example, an RRC connected mode) or a maximum quantity of BWPs that can be determined by using candidate bit states of the indication field that is used to determine an active BWP and that is in the downlink control information, the indication field indicates a position of the active BWP located in an initial BWP and the N BWPs.