Carrier Aggregation Measurement Gap Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE-A standards lack flexibility in configuring measurement gaps across multiple component carriers, leading to inefficiencies such as unnecessary interruptions in data communications, increased latency, and higher power consumption, as a single measurement gap pattern is applied to all carriers regardless of their relative importance or radio conditions.
Innovation Solution
Introducing flexibility by allowing different measurement gap configurations or patterns to be applied simultaneously to each component carrier, enabling alternate or independent scheduling of measurement gaps based on the relative importance, load factors, and radio conditions of each carrier, thereby optimizing system performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single measurement gap pattern is applied to all component carriers, then measurement configuration is simplified, but data communication interruptions increase and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement gap configuration by applying different measurement gap patterns to different component carriers. Instead of using a single unified measurement gap pattern for all carriers, the system divides the configuration into carrier-specific patterns, allowing critical carriers to have minimal or no measurement gaps while non-critical carriers can have regular measurement gaps for radio condition monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by tailoring the measurement gap configuration to the specific characteristics and importance of each component carrier. Critical carriers that require continuous data communication are assigned different measurement gap patterns compared to non-critical carriers, optimizing the local configuration for each carrier's specific needs rather than applying a uniform global pattern.
2Reliability
If measurement gaps are scheduled on all component carriers, then radio measurements are comprehensive, but communication interruptions increase and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by scheduling measurement gaps only on non-critical component carriers while excluding critical carriers from measurement gap scheduling. This partial approach ensures that radio measurements are performed where they are sufficient (non-critical carriers) while avoiding measurements on critical carriers that would cause unacceptable communication interruptions and latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts critical component carriers from the measurement gap scheduling process. By identifying and separating critical carriers from the set of all component carriers, the system removes them from the measurement gap allocation, ensuring they remain dedicated to data communication without interruption, while measurements are performed on the remaining non-critical carriers.
3Ease of operation
If measurement gaps are applied uniformly across all carriers, then configuration management is easier, but power consumption increases due to unnecessary carrier switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement gap configuration to apply only where necessary. By dividing the component carriers into critical and non-critical groups and applying measurement gaps only to non-critical carriers, the system eliminates unnecessary carrier switching operations on critical carriers, thereby reducing overall power consumption while maintaining manageable configuration through standardized patterns for non-critical carriers.
4Loss of information
If a single measurement gap configuration is used for all carriers, then signaling overhead is reduced, but system performance and quality of service decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a standardized measurement gap pattern that can be selectively applied to different component carriers based on their criticality. The same measurement gap pattern configuration methodology serves multiple functions: it provides uniform management for non-critical carriers while being adaptable to exclude critical carriers, thereby maintaining quality of service without excessive signaling overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, network element and user equipment, where in one embodiment at a network element, allocating a measurement gap configuration for a user equipment (UE) capable of operating in a carrier aggregation environment using at least first and second component carriers; and sending the measurement gap allocation to the UE, the allocation indicating a first measurement gap configuration for the first component carrier, the first measurement gap configuration being different than a second measurement gap configuration allocated for the second component carrier. In another embodiment at a UE capable of operating in a carrier aggregation environment using at least first and second component carriers, sending a measurement gap preference to a network, the preference including preference information indicating a preference for a first measurement gap configuration for the first component carrier, the first measurement gap configuration being different than a second measurement gap configuration for the second component carrier.