Downlink Bandwidth Part Timer Management for Multiple Active Configurations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing NR technologies only allow for automatic fallback to a default downlink bandwidth part in cases where there is one active downlink bandwidth part in a cell, limiting the expansion of application scenarios.
Innovation Solution
Each active downlink bandwidth part is associated with a timer to record inactivity periods, allowing for the determination of timed-out bandwidth parts and switching them back to a preset state, enabling multiple active downlink bandwidth parts per serving cell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If only one active downlink bandwidth part is allowed per cell, then the fallback function is simple to implement, but the application scenario expansion is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single active downlink bandwidth part into multiple independent active downlink bandwidth parts, each with its own timer and configuration. This segmentation allows the system to support multiple bandwidth parts simultaneously while maintaining individual management capabilities, thereby expanding application scenarios without overwhelming complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal mechanism that works whether there is one or multiple active downlink bandwidth parts. The timer-based inactivity detection and fallback function is designed to be applicable to each bandwidth part independently, making the system versatile for various deployment scenarios including single BWP, multiple BWPs, and dynamic switching
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single timer is used for bandwidth part inactivity detection, then the timer management is simple, but multiple active bandwidth parts cannot be distinguished
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns a separate timer to each active downlink bandwidth part, enabling independent tracking of inactivity periods for each BWP. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between multiple active bandwidth parts and apply fallback logic to specific BWPs without affecting others, thus supporting multiple active BWPs while maintaining manageable timer complexity through structured association
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a timer as an intermediary element that mediates between the bandwidth part configuration and the inactivity detection logic. Each timer acts as a dedicated mediator for its associated BWP, recording inactivity duration and triggering fallback when thresholds are exceeded, thereby enabling multiple BWP support with clear separation of concerns
3Reliability
If automatic fallback is implemented for inactive bandwidth parts, then communication reliability is improved, but the complexity of bandwidth part management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling each active downlink bandwidth part to automatically detect its own inactivity through associated timers and trigger fallback to default or initial BWPs without requiring external intervention. This automatic self-management improves communication reliability by ensuring inactive BWPs are cleaned up autonomously while avoiding the complexity of centralized management and manual configuration
Data Source
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AI summary
A downlink bandwidth part adjustment method, applicable to a user equipment. The method comprises: determining whether timers associated with a plurality of activated downlink bandwidth parts of a current serving cell of the user equipment time out (S 1); if there is a timeout timer among the timers, deactivating each activated downlink bandwidth part associated with the timeout timer, and activating the downlink bandwidth part in a preset state corresponding to each activated downlink bandwidth part (S2). A plurality of activated downlink bandwidth parts can be configured for one serving cell to enable the serving cell to be applied to a wide range of application scenarios. In addition, each activated downlink bandwidth part is separately clocked by associating each activated downlink bandwidth part with timers so as to ensure normally communication of a user equipment by means of a serving cell configured with a plurality of activated downlink bandwidth parts.