eMTC Uplink Multiplexing with Sub-Region Retuning Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in managing uplink transmissions from machine type communication (MTC) devices with limited resources, such as eMTC devices, which struggle to support multiple users due to insufficient dimensions in narrowband regions, leading to interference and reduced data rates.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method that identifies and assigns sub-regions within a wider system bandwidth for MTC devices to transmit or receive symbols, using techniques like frequency resource hopping and orthogonal multiplexing, allowing for flexible spreading factor adjustments and retuning options to maintain orthogonality and improve user capacity without reducing data rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If narrowband regions are used for MTC devices to conserve resources, then device power consumption and complexity are reduced, but user capacity and data rates deteriorate due to insufficient dimensions for multiple users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension for resource allocation by dividing the narrowband region into multiple sub-regions (first sub-region and second sub-region) with different retuning time requirements. This dimensional segmentation allows multiple MTC devices to be multiplexed within the same narrowband region by assigning them to different sub-regions, thereby increasing user capacity while maintaining the resource-efficient narrowband structure.
2Productivity
If multiple MTC devices are multiplexed in the same narrowband region, then user capacity is improved, but interference between devices increases due to limited resource dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the narrowband region into multiple sub-regions based on retuning time characteristics. Devices with different retuning time requirements are assigned to different sub-regions, which isolates their transmissions and reduces mutual interference. This segmentation strategy enables higher user capacity while managing interference through spatial-frequency separation within the narrowband region.
3Productivity
If retuning time is reduced for frequent frequency hopping, then data rate is improved, but orthogonality between multiplexed users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic retuning time allocation where different sub-regions are assigned different retuning time values based on their specific requirements. The first sub-region uses a first retuning time value while the second sub-region uses a second retuning time value, allowing the system to optimize data rate for frequency-hopping devices while maintaining orthogonality for devices that require longer retuning times. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction between data rate and orthogonality.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communications, and more specifically increasing user capacity through a frame structure which supports enhanced Machine Type Communication (eMTC) UL multi-user multiplexing. For example, a User Equipment (UE) identifies at least one narrowband region within a wider system bandwidth. The UE receives signaling, from a base station, indicating a sub-region of the narrowband region assigned to the UE for transmitting symbols of a physical uplink channel that are multiplexed with symbols transmitted by one or more other UEs in the narrowband region. The UE transmits the physical uplink channel in the assigned sub-region. Similar techniques are also provided that may be applied to DL multi-user multiplexing.