Secondary Carrier Deactivation via Physical Layer Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks like LTE or NR, the existing secondary carrier activation or deactivation mechanisms using MAC CE or timers are slow, and while physical layer control information can activate/deactivate carriers quickly, it increases signaling overheads, posing a challenge to quickly deactivate or activate secondary carriers without increasing radio air interface signaling overheads.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using physical layer control information to deactivate or activate a secondary carrier based on a default bandwidth part (BWP), allowing for quick carrier management without introducing new signaling information, thus maintaining low signaling overheads. This is achieved by controlling the activation or deactivation based on power saving and performance requirements using information such as frequency domain resource allocation, HARQ process identification, and modulation and coding scheme information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If physical layer control information is introduced to quickly activate or deactivate secondary carriers, then the activation/deactivation speed is improved, but the signaling overheads of radio air interface increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing physical layer control information (DCI) serve multiple functions: it continues to control resource allocation and transmission parameters while also controlling secondary carrier activation and deactivation. This is achieved by defining specific bit patterns in existing DCI fields (e.g., frequency domain resource allocation field, modulation and coding scheme field) to indicate carrier activation/deactivation states, eliminating the need for separate dedicated control signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the carrier activation/deactivation control function with existing resource allocation control functions in the same physical layer control information. By merging these functions into a single DCI message, the patent achieves fast carrier management without increasing overall signaling overhead, as the same control channel resources are being utilized for dual purposes.
2Loss of information
If MAC CE or timer mechanisms are used to deactivate secondary carriers, then signaling overheads are kept low, but the deactivation speed becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the relatively slow MAC CE and timer-based mechanisms with direct physical layer control. By substituting the MAC layer control elements with physical layer DCI messages, the system achieves faster response times since physical layer processing and transmission are significantly quicker than MAC layer operations, while maintaining efficient use of signaling resources through the multi-functionality approach.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a method for deactivating a carrier and an apparatus. The method includes: A terminal receives first information, where the first information indicates a default bandwidth part (BWP). The terminal deactivates a secondary carrier based on the default BWP. According to the provided embodiments, the secondary carrier is deactivated by using physical layer control information for activating or deactivating a BWP.