CU-DU System Information Broadcasting via Selective SIB Decoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

In distributed radio access networks, the current methods for broadcasting system information and interacting between the central unit (CU) and distributed unit (DU) are inefficient, leading to increased decoding failure rates and power consumption due to the need for terminals to decode all system information blocks, even if only a subset is required.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves the CU and DU communicating through control information that indicates which system information blocks are to be sent in specific time intervals, allowing terminals to decode only the required blocks, and using separate or joint encoding of system information blocks based on shared or dedicated time-frequency resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If all system information blocks are broadcasted periodically, then system information completeness is improved, but terminal power consumption increases and decoding failure rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem information completenessVSAvoidterminal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides system information into multiple system information blocks (SIBs), where each SIB contains a subset of system information parameters. Terminals can selectively decode only the SIBs they need rather than decoding all system information blocks, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining access to complete system information when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables terminals to perform partial decoding of system information by allowing selective reception of only necessary system information blocks. The network can configure different SIBs with different contents, and terminals decode only the subset required for their specific needs, avoiding the excessive action of decoding all SIBs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Loss of information

If all system information blocks are broadcasted periodically, then system information completeness is improved, but decoding failure rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem information completenessVSAvoiddecoding success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting system information into multiple SIBs, the patent reduces the complexity and size of each individual decoding task. Terminals face lower decoding failure rates when decoding smaller, selective SIBs compared to attempting to decode all system information blocks simultaneously, while still accessing complete system information through selective reception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If system information is broadcasted using CU-DU architecture, then deployment cost is reduced, but interaction efficiency between CU and DU deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment costVSAvoidinteraction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation to the CU-DU interaction by dividing system information management into separate functions: the CU is responsible for generating and managing system information content, while the DU handles the actual broadcasting and configuration of SIBs. This segmented approach improves interaction efficiency by allowing parallel processing and reducing coordination overhead compared to centralized management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3573353B1Communication method and device
Publication Date: 2022.04.06 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3573353B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3573353B1 patent drawingFigure 3a
  • EP3573353B1 patent drawingFigure 3b

AI summary

This application provides a communication method and apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a distributed unit DU, a first indicator from a central unit CU, where the first indicator is used to indicate that first system information is to be broadcast; and broadcasting, by the DU, a second indicator and the first system information, where the second indicator indicates that the first system information is being broadcast. Therefore, the DU can correctly broadcast the system information.