Flexible Bandwidth Operation for Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE, face challenges in achieving higher data rates for devices like eMTC and NB-IoT while minimizing power consumption, as they often require monitoring the entire bandwidth for control channels, leading to unnecessary power usage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing flexible bandwidth operation by allowing devices to switch between narrowband and wideband modes based on need, where devices can operate in narrowband mode to conserve power and switch to wideband mode for higher data rates, and using dynamic or semi-static bandwidth switching techniques to optimize power usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices monitor the entire bandwidth for control channels, then control channel reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring bandwidth into multiple parts: a first bandwidth region for monitoring control channels and a second bandwidth region for data transmission. This segmentation allows devices to monitor only the necessary control channel bandwidth while maintaining reliability, reducing power consumption by avoiding full-bandwidth monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic bandwidth switching where devices can switch between narrowband and wideband modes based on service requirements. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt bandwidth allocation to actual needs, maintaining control channel reliability when necessary while reducing power consumption during normal operation.
2Productivity
If devices operate in wideband mode, then data rate is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth switching that allows devices to transition between narrowband and wideband modes based on service requirements. This enables the system to operate in power-efficient narrowband mode during normal operation and switch to high-performance wideband mode only when higher data rates are needed, optimizing the trade-off between productivity and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating bandwidth parameter dynamically based on service type and data rate requirements. By adjusting this key parameter, the system can optimize performance for different scenarios: using narrowband for low-power operations and wideband for high-data-rate applications, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy use.
3Adaptability or versatility
If devices support both narrowband and wideband operation, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic bandwidth switching mechanisms that allow devices to adapt between narrowband and wideband modes. This dynamic capability provides bandwidth adaptability while managing complexity through standardized switching procedures and protocol-based mode transitions, enabling versatile operation without excessive device complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus for flexible bandwidth operation in a wireless communication network are provided. A User Equipment (UE) monitors a first set of resources for a first control channel in a first bandwidth region. In response, to detecting the first control channel, the UE monitors a second set of resources in a second bandwidth region for at least one of control information or data, the second bandwidth region larger than the first bandwidth region, wherein the monitoring the second set of resources for the control information includes monitoring the second set of resources for a second control channel for receiving the control information scheduling resources for receiving the data.