Extended Bandwidth Carrier Spectrum Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telecommunications systems face challenges in efficiently utilizing fragmented spectrum bandwidths while maintaining backward compatibility for legacy user equipment, particularly when introducing carrier segments, which can lead to bottlenecks in the physical downlink control channel and resource block scheduling.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an extended bandwidth carrier that adds additional resource blocks to legacy bandwidths, allowing for a common resource allocation method for new and legacy user equipment, with control signaling placed in regions outside the legacy control bandwidth, enabling flexible scheduling and resource management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carrier segments are introduced to utilize fragmented spectrum bandwidths, then spectrum utilization efficiency is improved, but bottlenecks occur in the physical downlink control channel and resource block scheduling
Solution Approach 1:
The bandwidth is divided into a legacy bandwidth portion and an extended bandwidth portion, with resource blocks segmented into legacy RBs and extended RBs. This segmentation allows legacy UEs to operate in the legacy bandwidth while new UEs can access both legacy and extended resource blocks, enabling efficient utilization of fragmented spectrum without overwhelming the control channel for legacy devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the resource allocation from a single legacy bandwidth dimension to a two-dimensional structure comprising both legacy bandwidth and extended bandwidth portions. This dimensional extension allows the system to accommodate multiple UE types with different capabilities simultaneously, resolving the control channel bottleneck by providing separate resource pools.
2Quantity of substance
If an extended bandwidth carrier is implemented to add resource blocks, then capacity is enhanced, but backward compatibility for legacy user equipment must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The extended bandwidth carrier is designed to serve dual purposes: it provides additional resource blocks for new UEs while simultaneously maintaining the legacy bandwidth configuration for backward compatibility. The system can operate in modes that support only legacy UEs, only new UEs, or a combination of both, making the extended carrier universally applicable across different deployment scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The legacy bandwidth and its associated control structures are nested within the extended bandwidth carrier. The legacy resource blocks and control regions are contained within the broader extended carrier framework, allowing legacy UEs to function as if operating in a standalone legacy carrier while new UEs can access the additional extended resource blocks outside the legacy bandwidth.
3Ease of operation
If control signaling is placed in regions outside legacy control bandwidth, then flexible scheduling is enabled, but interference management becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
Control signaling is segmented into legacy control regions within the legacy bandwidth and extended control regions in the extended bandwidth portion. This segmentation allows flexible scheduling for new UEs in extended control regions while legacy UEs continue to receive control signaling in their dedicated legacy control regions, minimizing mutual interference between the two UE types.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatuses and methods allow for uplink selection using an extended bandwidth carrier. A user equipment (UE) comprises: a transceiver configured to receive control signaling on an extended bandwidth carrier, the extended bandwidth carrier having a first control region disposed within a legacy bandwidth, and a second control region including additional resource blocks disposed outside of the legacy bandwidth, wherein the transceiver can receive the control signaling in either or both of the first control region and the second control region.