Carrier Aggregation Compatibility via Shared Component Carriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communication systems that use carrier aggregation face compatibility issues with conventional terminals that do not support carrier aggregation, requiring a solution to effectively serve both conventional and new terminals.
Innovation Solution
The system classifies component carriers as shared and dedicated, using a shared component carrier for control signals and physical data for conventional terminals and dedicated component carriers for new terminals, with adaptive selection and mapping of carriers, and employs component carrier indicators for terminal identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carrier aggregation is implemented to increase data transmission rate, then frequency bandwidth is increased, but compatibility with conventional terminals deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The frequency bandwidth is segmented into multiple component carriers (first component carrier and second component carrier), allowing the system to selectively activate carriers based on terminal capability. Conventional terminals use only the first component carrier while new terminals can utilize both carriers for aggregated bandwidth, resolving the contradiction between increased data rate and terminal compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The first component carrier is designed to serve dual purposes: it functions as a standalone carrier for conventional terminals and as part of an aggregated carrier pair for new terminals. This multi-functionality allows the same infrastructure to support both terminal types without requiring separate systems, thereby maintaining compatibility while enabling enhanced performance.
2Productivity
If new physical channels are designed for aggregated bandwidth, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Existing physical channels (PDSCH, PUSCH, PDCCH, PUCCH) are designed to handle both single-carrier and carrier-aggregated scenarios without requiring separate channel definitions. The same physical channel structures transmit data on either the first component carrier alone or on both component carriers, reducing design complexity while maintaining transmission efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which component carriers to activate based on terminal capability and traffic requirements. The base station configures carrier aggregation adaptively, enabling new terminals to use aggregated bandwidth when needed while conventional terminals operate on single carriers, thereby optimizing efficiency without permanently increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A type 1 system and a type 2 system are classified according to whether carrier aggregation is used. A shared component carrier is used for both a type 1 terminal and a type 2 terminal, whereas a dedicated component carrier is used only for the type 2 terminal. Also, a type 2 base station transmits broadcast information by using a shared component carrier. In this instance, the broadcast information includes the shared broadcast information used for both the type 1 terminal and the type 2 terminal and the dedicated broadcast information only for the type 2 terminal. Also, the type 2 base station indicates component carriers that are used by the type 2 terminal, by using a semi-static component carrier indicator or a dynamic component carrier indicator.