Carrier Aggregation Configuration for Non-IMT Band Power Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, configuring user equipment to handle varying secondary carriers for carrier aggregation is challenging, particularly with non-IMT bands, leading to delays and potential quality of service issues during handovers, as well as unnecessary power consumption due to ongoing measurements on unusable carriers.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for controlling carrier aggregation that determine available carriers, indicate configuration types for varying behavior, and maintain carriers during periods of unavailability, allowing for efficient activation and deactivation of secondary carriers based on usability, reducing measurement operations and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user equipment continuously monitors and measures all configured carriers for carrier aggregation, then carrier availability and quality can be tracked, but power consumption increases unnecessarily when carriers are unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the measurement behavior adaptive rather than static. The user equipment dynamically adjusts its measurement operations based on the availability status of each carrier. When a carrier is marked as potentially unavailable with a configuration type indicating different behavior during a period, the UE suspends measurements during that period. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability through selective monitoring while reducing power consumption by avoiding unnecessary measurements on unusable carriers.
2Reliability
If user equipment performs full configuration procedures for secondary carriers, then carrier aggregation can be established, but configuration delays occur when carriers become unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing advance notification to the user equipment about carriers that may become unavailable. The base station sends an indication of configuration type before the carrier actually becomes unusable, allowing the UE to prepare by suspending measurements and adjusting its operation in advance. This prevents the need for lengthy reconfiguration procedures when the carrier actually becomes unavailable, thereby reducing configuration delays while maintaining reliable carrier aggregation establishment.
3Measurement precision
If user equipment maintains measurement operations on all configured carriers, then carrier quality can be monitored, but quality of service deteriorates during handovers due to configuration delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making measurement operations adaptive based on carrier availability status. When a carrier is indicated as potentially unavailable with a configuration type for different behavior during a period, the user equipment dynamically suspends measurements on that carrier during the period. This selective measurement suspension maintains measurement precision for available carriers while improving handover efficiency by avoiding delays associated with reconfiguring measurements on unusable carriers during critical handover operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to use of carriers for aggregation in a wireless system. A set of carriers available for use in carrier aggregation is first determined. It is then determined if at least one carrier of the set of carriers can become unavailable for use by a communication device. An indication of a configuration type of the at least one carrier is sent to the communication device, the configuration type being indicative of different behavior during a period. The at least one carrier is maintained in the set of carriers during said period. The communication device receives the indication. If a change in the availability state of the at least one carrier is determined, the communication is operated, device in relation to the at least one carrier, according to the availability state and the received indication during said period.