Bandwidth Part Switching With MAC-CE Feedback for UE-Network Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems experience inefficiencies and unreliability due to bandwidth part (BWP) mismatches between user equipment (UE) and network entities, leading to increased latency and decreased efficiency, primarily because of the lack of a feedback mechanism for downlink control information (DCI) messages indicating BWP switches.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a medium access control (MAC)-control element (CE) message for BWP switch commands, enabling UE to transmit feedback messages acknowledging or denying the switch, and suggesting alternative BWPs, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reliability of BWP switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a feedback mechanism is implemented for BWP switch commands, then the reliability and accuracy of BWP switching is improved, but the device complexity and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the UE transmits a feedback message to the network entity after receiving a BWP switch command. This feedback message indicates whether the UE has successfully switched to the target BWP or if it needs to switch back to the source BWP. This feedback loop ensures reliable BWP switching by allowing the network to verify the switching status and take corrective action if needed, directly resolving the technical contradiction by improving reliability while managing complexity through structured feedback protocols.
2Productivity
If MAC-CE messages are used for BWP switch commands, then the efficiency and resource consumption are improved, but the implementation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of the control message type from traditional DCI (Downlink Control Information) to MAC-CE (Medium Access Control Control Element). This parameter change enables more efficient BWP switching with reduced resource consumption. The MAC-CE message structure allows for more flexible and resource-efficient signaling, directly improving productivity while the standardized nature of MAC-CE messages keeps the implementation complexity manageable within existing wireless communication frameworks.
3Measurement precision
If feedback messages are transmitted for each BWP switch command, then the accuracy of switching is improved, but the latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains continuous monitoring and feedback during the BWP switching process. The feedback message is transmitted after the switching operation to confirm accuracy, allowing the network to verify the switch without requiring continuous interruptions. This approach ensures high accuracy by confirming the switching result while minimizing latency by performing the feedback check after the critical switching action is complete, rather than requiring continuous verification during the switch.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some wireless communication systems, a user equipment (UE) may transmit, to a network entity, a capability message indicating that the UE is capable of performing a bandwidth part (BWP) switching procedure. Based on the receiving the capability message, the network entity may then transmit a configuration message indicated for the UE to perform the BWP switching procedure in response to a bandwidth part switch command that comprises an indication of a respective downlink grant, uplink grant, or both in the respective target bandwidth part. The UE may further transmit a feedback message to accept or reject the BWP switch command that instructs the UE to switch the active BWP of the UE to a target BWP, which is the same BWP or a different BWP than the target BWP indicated by the network entity.