Flexible Bandwidth Part TDD Switching for Duplex Interference Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing full-duplex communication in flexible bandwidth parts (BWPs) due to self-interference and the need for high throughput, where half-duplex communication may perform better in certain scenarios.

Innovation Solution

Implementing timing considerations and switching mechanisms between time division duplexing (TDD) patterns in flexible BWPs, allowing UEs to operate with BWP-specific TDD patterns for defined intervals before switching to underlying frequency band TDD patterns or other BWPs based on desired duplex operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If full-duplex communication is enabled in flexible BWPs with BWP-specific TDD patterns, then spectral efficiency and data rate are enhanced, but self-interference occurs between concurrent downlink and uplink transmissions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidself-interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bandwidth into multiple flexible BWPs, each with independent TDD patterns. This allows different portions of the spectrum to operate with different duplexing modes simultaneously, enabling full-duplex in some BWPs while maintaining half-duplex in others to avoid self-interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different TDD pattern configurations to different BWPs based on local requirements. Each BWP can be independently configured with specific TDD patterns, allowing the system to optimize spectral efficiency in certain BWPs while maintaining reliability in others, rather than applying a uniform configuration across the entire bandwidth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of time

If BWP-specific TDD patterns are configured for full-duplex operation, then latency is reduced, but device complexity increases due to multiple TDD pattern configurations

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoidTDD pattern configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables dynamic switching between different TDD patterns and BWPs based on traffic conditions and duplexing requirements. The UE can be configured with multiple TDD patterns and switch between them or between different BWPs, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized switching mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple flexible BWPs with different TDD patterns are configured, then adaptability to different duplexing scenarios is improved, but timing synchronization becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveduplexing scenario adaptabilityVSAvoidtiming synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic TDD patterns with defined structures that repeat over time. Each BWP is configured with periodic TDD patterns that have well-defined timing relationships, making it easier to synchronize multiple BWPs despite their different configurations. The periodic nature provides predictable timing behavior that simplifies synchronization compared to arbitrary aperiodic patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4430791B1Timing considerations and switching between time division duplexing patterns in flexible bandwidth parts
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4430791B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4430791B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4430791B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

To enable full-duplex communication in a time division duplexing (TDD) band, a network node (e.g., a user equipment (UE)) may be configured to communicate in one or more flexible bandwidth parts (BWPs) using BWP-specific TDD patterns regardless of a TDD pattern configured for the underlying band. However, in some cases, half-duplex communication may offer better performance than full-duplex communication (e.g., when full-duplex communication may cause self-interference or there is a need for high throughput half-duplex communication). Accordingly, some aspects described herein relate to timing considerations and switching indications for indicating an interval in which the network node is to operate in the flexible BWP using the BWP-specific TDD pattern and switching between the BWP-specific TDD pattern and the TDD pattern of the underlying band (e.g., using switching indications based on a number or quantity of transmission time intervals and/or a timer, among other examples).