Cell Group Signaling Reduction via Reference Configuration

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face significant signaling overhead and latency issues, particularly in dense small cell deployments, which hinder efficient radio resource utilization and increase transmission delays, especially with dual connectivity and carrier aggregation technologies.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves signaling methods that use reference configurations and identification (IDs) to reduce signaling overhead by sharing common parameter configurations among cells and bandwidth parts, allowing cells and bandwidth parts to configure based on delta signaling and reference information, thereby minimizing redundant signaling and optimizing cell and BWP configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If separate configuration signaling is used for each cell and bandwidth part, then configuration accuracy and completeness are improved, but signaling overhead and latency increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges configuration parameters that are common across multiple cells and bandwidth parts into a single reference configuration. Instead of transmitting separate full configurations for each cell, the system creates one reference configuration containing shared parameters (such as physical layer parameters, resource allocation patterns, and common settings), which is then referenced by multiple cells through compact indicator signaling. This combining approach maintains complete configuration accuracy while dramatically reducing the total signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a copying mechanism where a reference configuration is created once and then referenced (copied) by multiple cells and bandwidth parts. Each cell or BWP contains lightweight indicators that point to the reference configuration rather than containing full duplicate configurations. This allows the system to efficiently replicate configuration data across multiple entities without the overhead of transmitting identical information repeatedly, achieving both configuration completeness and signaling reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Manufacturing precision

If separate configuration signaling is used for each cell and bandwidth part, then configuration completeness is improved, but transmission latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration completenessVSAvoidtransmission latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges configuration parameters that are common across multiple cells and bandwidth parts into a single reference configuration. Instead of transmitting separate full configurations for each cell, the system creates one reference configuration containing shared parameters (such as physical layer parameters, resource allocation patterns, and common settings), which is then referenced by multiple cells through compact indicator signaling. This combining approach maintains complete configuration accuracy while dramatically reducing the total signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining a reference configuration that contains all common parameters before they are needed by individual cells or bandwidth parts. The reference configuration is established in advance and can be reused multiple times, eliminating the need to re-transmit identical configuration data for each cell. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces the time required for configuration signaling while ensuring all necessary parameters are complete and accurate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Quantity of substance

If reference configuration sharing is implemented, then signaling overhead is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling overheadVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing configuration parameters into two distinct segments: common parameters that are shared across multiple cells and bandwidth parts (placed in the reference configuration), and cell-specific parameters that are unique to each cell (transmitted separately as deltas or overrides). This segmentation allows the system to efficiently manage complexity by handling common parameters once at the reference level while maintaining the ability to customize individual cell configurations, thereby reducing overall signaling overhead without sacrificing device-specific configuration needs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12022339B2Signaling reduction in cell group level configuration

Publication Date: 2024.06.25 ZTE CORP

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for signaling reduction schemes in a wireless communication are described. A wireless communication method is provided to include signaling, by a network device, a cell configuration information including a first cell configuration for a first cell, a reference configuration information, and a reference identification (ID) for establishing a logical link between the first cell and the reference configuration information, and wherein the signaling is used to configure the first cell based on the first cell configuration for the first cell and the reference configuration information.