Carrier Activation via DL Assignment in Mobile Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communication systems face inefficiencies in rapidly activating carriers due to the inefficiency in transmitting carrier activation commands, particularly in minimizing battery consumption by activating only necessary carriers and deactivating others during inactive data transmission/reception.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for a User Equipment (UE) in a mobile communication system that receives Down-Link (DL) assignments from an Evolved Node B (ENB), determines whether to activate carriers based on the DL assignment, and temporarily activates or deactivates carriers as needed, using a carrier activation command within the DL assignment to optimize carrier usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carrier activation commands are transmitted with DL assignment, then carrier activation can be achieved, but transmission inefficiency occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the carrier activation command from the DL assignment message by using a specific field (carrier indicator field) within the DL assignment to indicate carrier activation status. This allows the activation command to be transmitted efficiently as part of the existing DL assignment structure without requiring separate dedicated signaling messages, thereby improving activation speed while minimizing additional energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The DL assignment message is given multi-functionality by enabling it to simultaneously perform scheduling functions and carrier activation/deactivation functions. The carrier indicator field within the DL assignment can indicate both the carrier for data transmission and the activation status of carriers, allowing a single message to accomplish multiple tasks and reducing overall signaling overhead and energy consumption.
2Productivity
If multiple carriers are activated, then data transmission capacity increases, but battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic carrier activation and deactivation based on real-time data transmission requirements. The network can activate additional carriers when high data capacity is needed and deactivate them when data activity is low or absent. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize the balance between data transmission capacity and battery consumption by activating carriers only when necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational state parameter of carriers (activated/deactivated) based on data transmission needs. By controlling the number of active carriers through parameter changes in the DL assignment messages, the system can adjust data transmission capacity dynamically while managing battery consumption, as fewer activated carriers result in lower power consumption at the UE.
3Use of energy by moving object
If carriers are deactivated during inactive data transmission, then battery consumption decreases, but activation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by maintaining carrier configuration information in the UE even when carriers are deactivated. The UE stores the necessary configuration parameters and can rapidly reactivate carriers by simply changing their operational state from deactivated to activated based on received DL assignments, avoiding the need for full reconfiguration and thus reducing activation time while still achieving energy savings during inactive periods.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is provided for activating a carrier by a User Equipment (UE) in a mobile communication system supporting carrier aggregation. The UE receives a Down-Link (DL) assignment from an Evolved Node B (ENB), and determines whether to activate a carrier based on the DL assignment. By doing so, the UE may perform carrier activation rapidly and efficiently.