Carrier Configuration for Spectrum Utilization in 5G Networks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G communication networks, the lack of carrier aggregation (CA) capability in terminal devices limits the full utilization of large spectrum bandwidths provided by operators, leading to inefficient resource use.
Innovation Solution
A carrier configuration method where a radio access network device configures two carriers that may overlap, with their combined bandwidths exceeding the available spectrum resource, ensuring that the terminal device can fully utilize the spectrum without being restricted by the maximum carrier bandwidth at a subcarrier spacing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the maximum carrier bandwidth at a subcarrier spacing is used, then the terminal device can operate within standard specifications, but the available spectrum resource cannot be fully utilized when the spectrum bandwidth exceeds the maximum carrier bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single wideband carrier into multiple narrower component carriers, each within the maximum carrier bandwidth limit. The network device configures multiple component carriers with different bandwidths and subcarrier spacings, allowing the terminal to access and aggregate these carriers to achieve bandwidth exceeding the single carrier limit, thus fully utilizing available spectrum resources while maintaining standard compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces carrier aggregation in the frequency domain as an additional dimension for resource utilization. By configuring multiple component carriers across different frequency locations with different bandwidths and subcarrier spacings, the system transforms a single-dimensional bandwidth limitation into a multi-dimensional carrier aggregation solution, enabling total bandwidth to exceed the maximum single carrier bandwidth
2Productivity
If carrier aggregation capability is not supported in terminal devices, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to fully utilize large spectrum bandwidths is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wideband spectrum into multiple component carriers that can be individually processed by terminals without requiring full carrier aggregation capability. Each component carrier operates independently within standard bandwidth limits, allowing terminals to efficiently handle data transmission on multiple carriers through simplified mechanisms rather than full carrier aggregation
Solution Approach 2:
The network device acts as an intermediary that manages and configures multiple component carriers for terminals. The network device handles the complexity of carrier aggregation configuration, resource allocation, and scheduling, while terminals receive simplified configuration information and can utilize the aggregated bandwidth through straightforward reception and processing procedures
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this application disclose a carrier configuration method and a related apparatus, so that a terminal device can fully use a spectrum resource when the spectrum resource is greater than a maximum carrier bandwidth at a subcarrier spacing. Specifically, the method includes: A radio access network device obtains an available spectrum resource bandwidth and a maximum carrier bandwidth at a subcarrier spacing. If the available spectrum resource bandwidth is greater than the maximum carrier bandwidth, the radio access network device configures a first carrier and a second carrier, where a sum of a first carrier bandwidth of the first carrier and a second carrier bandwidth of the second carrier is greater than the available spectrum resource bandwidth, and the sum of the first carrier bandwidth and the second carrier bandwidth minus an overlapping bandwidth between the first carrier and the second carrier equals the available spectrum resource bandwidth.