Carrier Indication via Candidate Configuration and Bitmap
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communications, particularly in NB-IoT, there is a need to efficiently indicate the positions of multiple carriers, including both anchor and non-anchor carriers, to user equipment (UE) for data transmission, especially as the number of carriers used for transmission increases.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transmitting a candidate carrier configuration that includes parameters such as frequency position, frequency offset, operation mode, NRS information, CRS information, power offset, and EUTRA system bandwidth for each candidate carrier. This configuration allows the UE to determine which carriers can be used for data transmission, with the frequency position of non-anchor carriers being determined relative to the anchor carrier or indicated directly through frequency offsets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the number of carriers used for data transmission increases, then the data transmission capacity is improved, but the complexity of indicating carrier positions to UE increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple carrier indication parameters (frequency position, frequency offset, operation mode, NRS information, CRS information, power offset, EUTRA system bandwidth) into a unified candidate carrier configuration structure. This merging approach allows the system to indicate multiple carriers through a single integrated configuration message, reducing the overall complexity of carrier indication while supporting increased numbers of carriers for data transmission
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the carrier indication process into two distinct parts: (1) candidate carrier configuration that defines potential carriers with all necessary parameters, and (2) bitmap indicator that selectively activates specific carriers from the candidate set. This segmentation allows the system to prepare a pool of candidate carriers independently from the activation decision, making it easier to scale to multiple carriers without proportionally increasing indication complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If non-anchor carriers are configured as independent carriers with different operation modes, then the flexibility of carrier configuration is improved, but the difficulty of determining carrier positions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces frequency offset as an intermediary parameter that simplifies carrier position determination. Instead of requiring UE to independently determine absolute positions of multiple independent carriers with different operation modes, the system provides frequency offsets relative to a reference carrier. This intermediary parameter bridges the gap between diverse carrier configurations and UE position determination, reducing complexity while maintaining flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation from absolute frequency positions to relative frequency offsets. By expressing carrier positions as offsets from a reference carrier rather than absolute frequencies, the system maintains flexibility in configuring carriers with different operation modes while simplifying the UE's task of determining actual carrier positions through parameter transformation
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for indicating carrier are disclosed. A method comprises transmitting a candidate carrier configuration, wherein the candidate carrier configuration includes at least one of a frequency position, a frequency offset, an operation mode, NRS information, CRS information, power offset and EUTRA system bandwidth of at least one candidate carrier.