Component Carrier Selection in LTE-Advanced Wireless Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE-Advanced, face challenges in component carrier selection during handovers, especially when switching between different frequency layers, which requires complex cross-layer communication and may limit carrier aggregation to within one layer and one eNodeB, due to varying coverage and resource availability.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for component carrier selection in user equipment (UE) and evolved Node B (eNB) that involves receiving reference signals, obtaining signal quality measurements, and switching to optimal component carriers based on uplink and downlink channel conditions, allowing for more flexible carrier aggregation across multiple frequency layers by commanding UE measurements and resource allocation for improved channel condition determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If carrier aggregation is performed across different frequency layers during handover, then network capacity and resource utilization are improved, but system complexity increases due to required cross-layer communication and coordination between multiple eNodeBs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a serving eNodeB as an intermediary that coordinates carrier aggregation handover between a target eNodeB and a source eNodeB. The serving eNodeB receives measurement reports from the UE, determines the target component carrier, and manages the handover process, thereby simplifying the direct cross-layer communication complexity between multiple eNodeBs while enabling carrier aggregation across frequency layers
2Device complexity
If carrier aggregation is restricted to within one layer and one eNodeB, then system complexity is reduced and handover is simplified, but network capacity and resource utilization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends carrier aggregation from a single frequency layer to multiple frequency layers by introducing vertical dimensionality in the network architecture. The serving eNodeB acts as a coordinating layer that manages inter-eNodeB carrier aggregation, allowing the system to aggregate carriers across different frequency layers without proportionally increasing complexity at the UE or individual eNodeB level
3Quantity of substance
If multiple component carriers are aggregated from different eNodeBs, then resource availability and network capacity are improved, but handover coordination and resource management become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the carrier aggregation management function into distinct roles: the serving eNodeB handles high-level coordination and target CC determination, while the target and source eNodeBs handle specific resource allocation and configuration. This segmentation allows multiple component carriers to be aggregated from different eNodeBs while distributing the resource management complexity across multiple entities, making the system more manageable
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to component carrier (CC) selection in a wireless communication system. A user equipment (UE) that is in idle mode may receive a reference signal (RS) from an evolved Node B (eNB), obtain signal quality measurements with respect to the RS, and switch to a new CC based on the signal quality measurements. For a UE that is in connected mode, an eNB may obtain uplink channel condition information corresponding to uplink CCs, obtain downlink channel condition information corresponding to downlink CCs, and select a CC pair for the UE to use based on the uplink channel condition information and the downlink channel condition information.