Configurable Slot Structure for 5G-LTE Carrier Coexistence
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Solution Overview
Problem
The coexistence of fifth generation (5G) and legacy wireless communication networks, such as LTE, poses challenges in sharing the same carrier due to interference and complexity in designing NR transmissions that avoid legacy subframes, particularly during control regions.
Innovation Solution
A configurable slot structure for NR transmissions is implemented, allowing for alignment or offset of radio frame timing with legacy subframes to prevent transmission during control regions, and dividing carrier bandwidth for NR and legacy traffic regions, ensuring efficient coexistence and minimizing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If NR transmissions share the same carrier with legacy LTE transmissions, then spectrum utilization is improved, but interference between NR and legacy control regions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the radio frame structure by introducing a configurable slot structure with variable effective durations that can be selectively applied to different subframes. This allows NR transmissions to be divided into segments that avoid legacy control regions while utilizing legacy traffic regions, thereby reducing interference while maintaining spectrum utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different slot structure configurations to different subframes based on their specific characteristics. By identifying whether a subframe contains legacy control region, traffic region, or both, the system locally adapts the NR slot effective duration to match the subframe structure, ensuring NR transmissions only occur in regions where they will not interfere with legacy control signals.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a configurable slot structure is implemented to avoid legacy control regions, then interference is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic slot structure configuration where the effective duration of NR slots can be adjusted based on the identified legacy subframe structure. The system dynamically selects from multiple predefined slot duration configurations (e.g., full slot, shortened slot, mini-slot) to match the available resources in each subframe, balancing interference avoidance with implementation complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameter of slot effective duration to adapt to different legacy subframe configurations. By modifying the slot duration parameter rather than the entire frame structure, the system achieves flexible interference avoidance with minimal changes to the fundamental NR frame structure, reducing overall system complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If radio frame timing is aligned between NR and legacy subframes, then synchronization is improved, but transmission flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the timing relationship by allowing alignment at the subframe boundary level while permitting flexibility within subframes through configurable slot durations. This hierarchical segmentation maintains gross synchronization for legacy compatibility while enabling fine-grained timing adjustments for NR transmissions within the traffic region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic timing adjustment within the constraint of aligned subframe boundaries. The configurable slot effective duration allows the NR transmission timing to be dynamically adjusted within the traffic region of each subframe, providing flexibility while maintaining the stable aligned boundary structure required for legacy synchronization.
4Productivity
If carrier bandwidth is divided for NR and legacy traffic regions, then resource allocation efficiency is improved, but control region bandwidth utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the carrier bandwidth allocation by applying different slot duration configurations to different subframe types. Control region subframes use full-duration slots to maximize control signaling capacity, while traffic region subframes use shortened or zero-duration slots to optimize data transmission efficiency, achieving bandwidth division without compromising control region utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local bandwidth allocation strategies where the effective slot duration is adapted to the specific subframe type. In control region subframes, full bandwidth and full slot duration are utilized for control signaling, while in traffic region subframes, bandwidth and slot duration are optimized for data transmission, achieving efficient resource allocation without reducing control region capacity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate to next generation (e.g., fifth generation or 5G) cells that support legacy radio access technologies by sharing a carrier between 5G and legacy transmissions. To facilitate coexistence between legacy and 5G transmissions, a configurable slot structure may be utilized for 5G transmissions. The configurable slot structure may be configured to have an effective duration that prevents transmission thereof during at least a portion of a control region of a legacy subframe. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.