Common Search Space for Bandwidth Part Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G radio access networks, managing user equipment (UE) switching between bandwidth parts with different characteristics poses challenges in consistent and reliable handling of control signaling, particularly in common search spaces, leading to potential decoding failures due to differences in scrambling codes, numerology, and resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method and network node configuration that enables UEs to operate with a common search space across multiple bandwidth parts, allowing for the reception and transmission of control signaling based on the characteristics of the activated bandwidth part, using processing and radio circuitry to manage and configure the UE's operation, including frequency domain extensions and shared frequency resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If UEs are configured to operate on different bandwidth parts with different characteristics, then flexibility and performance are improved, but control signaling handling becomes inconsistent and unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a common search space as an intermediary structure that is shared across multiple bandwidth parts. This common search space contains control signaling that is independently decodable from each bandwidth part, acting as a mediator that ensures reliable control information delivery regardless of which bandwidth part is currently activated. The common search space decoupling mechanism allows control signaling to be transmitted and received reliably even when UEs switch between bandwidth parts with different characteristics.
2Adaptability or versatility
If UEs switch between bandwidth parts with different characteristics, then network flexibility is enhanced, but decoding failures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control signaling structure into two independent parts: a common search space that is shared across bandwidth parts and contains independently decodable control information, and bandwidth-part-specific search spaces that contain scheduling information. This segmentation ensures that critical control signaling can be decoded independently of the activated bandwidth part characteristics, preventing decoding failures when switching between bandwidth parts with different numerologies or configurations.
3Ease of operation
If common search space is included in multiple bandwidth parts, then control signaling accessibility is improved, but signaling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal common search space structure that serves multiple bandwidth parts simultaneously. This common search space is configured once and can be accessed by UEs regardless of which bandwidth part is activated, providing multi-functional access to control signaling. The common search space contains control information that is independently decodable from any bandwidth part, eliminating the need for separate control signaling configurations for each bandwidth part and reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is disclosed a method of operating a user equipment in a radio access network, the user equipment being configured with a set of bandwidth parts, the user equipment being operable for communicating utilising an activated bandwidth part of the set of bandwidth part. The set of bandwidth parts comprises a first bandwidth part and a second bandwidth part, the first bandwidth part of the set being associated to a first set of characteristics, the second bandwidth part of the set being associated to a second set of characteristics. Further, the first set of characteristics and the second set of characteristics comprise at least one characteristic different between the first set and the second set of characteristics. The user equipment (10) further operates with a common search space for control signaling, the common search space being included in the first bandwidth part and the second bandwidth part. The method comprises receiving control signaling in the common search space based on the first set of characteristics while the second bandwidth part is activated. The disclosure also pertains to related devices and methods.