Dual TDD Carrier Configuration for Low-Latency Uplink and Downlink

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The slot configuration of TDD carriers in 5G communication systems limits latency, preventing its application in vertical industries due to uplink and downlink data having to wait for non-continuous time slots, exceeding the 1 ms latency requirement.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a combination of two TDD carriers, where one type is predominantly downlink and the other is predominantly uplink, allowing data transmission to occur on the appropriate type carrier instead of waiting for the next available slot, mimicking FDD performance while maintaining a wider bandwidth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If TDD carrier slot configuration is used, then bandwidth is widened, but latency increases due to non-continuous time slots

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebandwidthVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two TDD carriers (first-type and second-type) into a carrier aggregation configuration, where the first-type carrier provides downlink resources and the second-type carrier provides uplink resources. This merging allows the system to achieve FDD-like simultaneous uplink-downlink transmission while maintaining TDD's bandwidth advantages, thereby reducing latency without sacrificing bandwidth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If single TDD carrier is used, then configuration is simple, but uplink and downlink data must wait for non-continuous time slots

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecarrier configurationVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the TDD carrier configuration into two distinct types: first-type TDD carrier (predominantly downlink) and second-type TDD carrier (predominantly uplink). This segmentation allows independent optimization of uplink and downlink transmission, enabling continuous data transmission without waiting for non-continuous time slots, thereby improving transmission efficiency while maintaining manageable configuration complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If TDD carrier combination is used, then latency is reduced, but configuration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoidcarrier configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a universal carrier aggregation framework that can accommodate different TDD carrier configurations. The network device can flexibly configure the first-type and second-type TDD carriers with different downlink-uplink ratios, making the system adaptable to various latency requirements. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve low latency while managing configuration complexity through standardized aggregation mechanisms.

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

Data Source

PatentEP4117365B1Carrier configuration method, apparatus and system
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4117365B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4117365B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4117365B1 patent drawingFigure 7~10

AI summary

Embodiments of this application provide a carrier configuration method, an apparatus, and a system. The method includes: A terminal device receives configuration information of at least two TDD carriers from a network device, where the at least two TDD carriers include at least one first-type TDD carrier and at least one second-type TDD carrier, and the configuration information indicates that in one slot configuration period, each slot corresponding to the first-type TDD carrier includes only downlink symbols or mainly downlink symbols, and indicates that in the slot configuration period, each slot corresponding to the second-type TDD carrier includes only uplink symbols or mainly uplink symbols. The terminal device transmits information based on the configuration information of the at least two TDD carriers. Two or more TDD carriers are combined to achieve an effect similar to that of an FDD carrier. In this way, resources for sending uplink and downlink data are fully guaranteed, a latency can be reduced, and uplink and downlink performance can be improved.