CCA Pattern Management for Unlicensed Carrier Frequency Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge in improving frequency efficiency on unlicensed carriers for LTE systems is exacerbated by the need for Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) detection across the entire system bandwidth, leading to resource wastage and poor utilization due to interference from nodes under the same operator or system, especially for systems with small service volumes.

Innovation Solution

The method involves generating and exchanging CCA patterns among transmission nodes, including system-level, cell-level, and UE-level nodes, to optimize CCA detection stages, signal reserving periods, and data transmission periods, using different patterns with varying intervals and resource granularities, allowing for efficient channel availability determination and resource reuse.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If CCA detection is executed on the entire system bandwidth before using an unlicensed carrier, then channel availability can be determined, but resource wastage occurs especially for systems with small service volumes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel availability determinationVSAvoidresource wastage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system bandwidth into multiple frequency sub-bands, allowing CCA detection to be performed on only the required sub-bands rather than the entire bandwidth. This segmentation enables systems with small service volumes to detect channel availability efficiently without wasting resources on detecting unused frequency portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If CCA detection is continuously executed to discover channel occupancy by nodes under the same cell or operator, then interference can be avoided, but frequency domain utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference avoidanceVSAvoidfrequency domain utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic CCA detection at specific intervals rather than continuous detection. Nodes perform CCA detection periodically to check for interference from same-operator nodes, balancing reliable interference avoidance with maintaining frequency domain utilization efficiency by avoiding excessive detection overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple radio access stations are deployed to support large user quantity and diverse applications, then service coverage is improved, but centralized management overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice coverageVSAvoidcentralized management overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables each radio access station to independently determine its CCA detection parameters and frequency sub-band selections based on local service requirements and traffic conditions. This local quality approach allows multiple stations to be deployed for improved service coverage while reducing centralized management overhead by distributing decision-making authority to individual nodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3319356B1Management method and apparatus for pattern on unlicensed carrier
Publication Date: 2022.02.23 ZTE CORP
  • EP3319356B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3319356B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3319356B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A management method and apparatus for a pattern on an unlicensed carrier. The method comprises: transmission nodes generate and exchange clear channel assessment (CCA) patterns, the CCA patterns comprising patterns used in different stages of clear channel assessment (CCA) detection, a pattern used during data transmission, and a pattern for CCA detection, and the transmission nodes comprising one or more of a system-level node, a cell-level node, or a UE-level node.