Component Carrier Selection via Coverage Distribution Modes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE systems face limitations in transmission bandwidth, necessitating carrier aggregation to support higher requirements, while maintaining backward compatibility with both supporting and non-supporting terminals, requiring efficient methods for selecting and updating component carriers to ensure optimal radio resource management.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for selecting and updating component carriers in a carrier aggregating communication network, involving determining coverage ranges, adhering to predetermined distribution modes, and switching or adding carriers based on terminal position, movement, and network conditions to optimize carrier usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If carrier aggregation is implemented to support higher transmission bandwidth requirements, then the transmission bandwidth capacity is improved, but the system complexity and difficulty of managing multiple carriers increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission bandwidthVSAvoidcarrier management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments carrier management into two distinct parts: primary component carrier (PCC) management handled by the network side for centralized control, and secondary component carrier (SCC) management handled by the terminal side for autonomous operation. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by distributing management responsibilities according to capability and necessity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of the traditional approach where the network manages all carriers, the patent inverts the management model by enabling terminals to autonomously select and manage SCCs based on their own measurements and decisions. This inversion reduces network signaling overhead and simplifies network-side management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the primary component carrier is frequently updated to optimize quality of service, then the quality of service is improved, but the signaling overhead and network resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of serviceVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal performs preliminary actions by autonomously measuring carrier conditions, selecting suitable SCCs, and preparing configuration information before needing network confirmation. This preliminary action reduces the frequency and volume of signaling interactions with the network while maintaining optimal service quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal provides self-service by independently managing SCC selection and configuration based on its own measurements and decisions. The terminal only communicates with the network when necessary for PCC management or to report measurement results, significantly reducing signaling overhead compared to network-controlled carrier management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Volume of moving object

If multiple carriers are aggregated to achieve wider transmission bandwidth, then the bandwidth capacity is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring carrier conditions and selecting optimal carriers increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission bandwidthVSAvoidcarrier condition detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by enabling the terminal to perform autonomous measurements and evaluations of carrier conditions specifically for SCC selection. The terminal uses its local measurement capabilities to assess carrier quality metrics and make informed decisions about which carriers to aggregate, reducing the need for extensive network-side measurement and coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3579486A1Method, base station, terminal and communication system for selecting a component carrier
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3579486A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3579486A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3579486A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method, base station, terminal and communication system for selecting a component carrier are provided in the present invention. The method includes the following steps: determining the coverage range of each available carrier which can be used by the terminal; determining whether the distribution of the coverage ranges of all available carriers accords with a preset distribution mode; in the case of according with the presetting distribution mode, at least according to a rule which is determined by the distribution mode, determining a component carrier to be used. With the embodiments provided in the invention, a component carrier used by the terminal can be reasonably chosen.