Dynamic Control Channel Positioning in Unlicensed Bands

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications, especially in high-density areas and with the strain on licensed spectrum, existing technologies face challenges in efficiently utilizing unlicensed spectrum for data communication, particularly due to limitations in channel resource management, leading to incomplete utilization of available unlicensed bands and communication disruptions when a control channel resource becomes unavailable.

Innovation Solution

A method for dynamically determining the position of a control channel resource within an unlicensed band set by configuring and indicating available unlicensed bands to terminal devices, using bitmap indicators and offset information to ensure continuous communication even when a semi-statically configured control channel resource becomes unavailable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a control channel resource is semi-statically configured in an unlicensed band, then the terminal device can initially access the unlicensed band, but the control channel resource may become unavailable due to LBT failure, causing communication disruptions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol channel availabilityVSAvoidflexibility in control channel position
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control channel positioning by introducing a dynamic indicator (such as a physical downlink control channel indicator) that enables the control channel to be flexibly relocated across different unlicensed bands. The terminal device and network device can dynamically adjust the control channel position based on LBT results, transforming the previously static control channel configuration into a dynamic one that adapts to channel availability, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the control channel is fixed in a specific unlicensed band, then configuration is simple, but the unlicensed band cannot be fully utilized when that band is unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunlicensed band utilizationVSAvoidcontrol channel management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control channel management into multiple components: a semi-static configuration that defines possible control channel positions across different unlicensed bands, and a dynamic indicator that selects which position to use. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simple configuration structures while enabling flexible utilization of multiple unlicensed bands, resolving the contradiction between productivity and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If multiple unlicensed bands are configured for data communication, then spectrum utilization improves, but communication cannot proceed if the configured control channel band is unavailable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of available unlicensed bandsVSAvoidcommunication continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements multi-functionality by enabling the control channel to operate across multiple unlicensed bands rather than being confined to a single band. The dynamic control channel positioning mechanism allows the same control channel resource to serve multiple bands, ensuring that data communication can continue on any available unlicensed band while maintaining reliable control signaling, thus resolving the contradiction between quantity of bands and communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3740008B1Method for determining location of control channel, and device and processor-readable storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.09.13 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3740008B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3740008B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP3740008B1 patent drawingFigure 3c

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a control channel position determining method, a device, and a processor-readable storage medium. In the method, the device, and the processor-readable storage medium, a terminal device determines an available unlicensed band set and a control channel resource group, and determines at least one first unlicensed band, to be specific, determines a first unlicensed band to which at least one of control channel resource groups belongs, based on bitmap information or offset information. The at least one first unlicensed band belongs to the available unlicensed band set. Compared with that a control channel resource group is semi-statically configured to belong to a first unlicensed band, in the method, the device and the processor-readable storage medium according to the embodiments of the present invention, no matter how an available unlicensed band included in an available unlicensed band set changes, a first unlicensed band to which at least one control channel resource group belongs can always be determined, thereby ensuring normal communication.