Carrier Aggregation for Ultra-Low Latency Wireless Communications
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly those using LTE technology, face challenges in achieving low latency due to the limitations of traditional transmission time intervals (TTIs), which hinder efficient bandwidth utilization as demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of ultra-low latency (ULL) communication methods over multiple component carriers (CCs) by configuring a set of CCs to include both primary and secondary cells, allowing for communication using shorter TTIs, enabling the activation and deactivation of ULL communications to optimize latency and bandwidth allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional LTE transmission time intervals (TTIs) are used, then legacy communication compatibility is maintained, but communication latency increases and bandwidth utilization efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the component carriers into different types (first type for legacy communications with longer TTI, second type for ULL communications with shorter TTI). This allows the system to divide the carrier aggregation into functionally distinct groups, enabling simultaneous support for both legacy compatibility and ultra-low latency requirements without interference between the two communication modes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic activation and deactivation of second type component carriers based on ULL communication requirements. When ULL communications are needed, the system activates carriers with shorter TTI configurations; when legacy communications are sufficient, these carriers can be deactivated or used in legacy mode. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to switch between operational modes as needed.
2Loss of time
If component carriers are activated for ULL communications with shorter TTIs, then communication latency is reduced, but device complexity and management overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent configures component carriers with multi-functionality, where carriers can operate in different modes (legacy or ULL) depending on activation state and communication requirements. The same carrier infrastructure supports both traditional LTE communications and ultra-low latency communications, reducing the need for completely separate hardware paths while maintaining performance benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service mechanisms through automated activation and deactivation of component carriers based on detected ULL communication requirements. The network can autonomously manage carrier states without extensive manual configuration, reducing operational complexity while enabling low latency communications when needed.
3Productivity
If multiple component carriers are aggregated for both legacy and ULL communications, then bandwidth efficiency is enhanced, but system complexity and resource management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the aggregated component carriers into distinct groups based on their functional role - first type carriers for legacy communications and second type carriers for ULL communications. This segmentation simplifies resource management by allowing independent configuration and control of each group, avoiding the complexity of managing heterogeneous carriers as a single pool while still achieving high bandwidth efficiency through aggregation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Various aspects described herein relate to managing ultra low latency (ULL) communications over a plurality of component carriers (CC). A configuration for aggregating a set of CCs can be received, wherein the set of CCs includes at least a primary cell and a secondary cell. Based on the received configuration, at least the primary cell can be communicated with for legacy communications, wherein the legacy communications are based on a first transmission time interval (TTI) having a first duration. Based on the received configuration, the primary cell and the secondary cell can be communicated with for ULL communications, wherein the ULL communications are based on a second TTI having a second duration that is less than the first duration.