Flexible Uplink Downlink Carrier Configuration for LTE

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing LTE system faces limitations in carrier aggregation due to rigid uplink and downlink carrier configurations, leading to performance degradation and inefficiencies in data transmission, particularly on unlicensed bands, where interference and channel availability issues hinder effective carrier utilization.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for configuring uplink and downlink carriers that allow for flexible pairing and activation/deactivation based on association, timing reference, and pathloss information, enabling more effective carrier aggregation and improving LTE system performance by optimizing carrier utilization across licensed and unlicensed bands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of downlink carriers is increased to improve data transmission capacity, then the peak rate increases, but the uplink control signaling offload increases greatly causing performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission capacityVSAvoiduplink control signaling transmission performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides uplink carriers into multiple groups, with each group handling control signaling for specific downlink carriers. This segmentation distributes the control signaling offload across multiple uplink carriers rather than concentrating it on a single carrier, thereby maintaining uplink control signaling performance while supporting increased downlink capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a new dimension of carrier grouping and association, where uplink carriers are organized into groups that correspond to sets of downlink carriers. This dimensional organization allows multiple downlink carriers to share uplink control resources efficiently, enabling scalable carrier aggregation without proportionally increasing uplink control overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If carriers on unlicensed band are used to increase available spectrum, then more carriers can be supported, but interference from other devices and channel availability issues reduce effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailable spectrumVSAvoidcarrier effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention dynamically changes the operational parameters of carriers based on their actual status. When a carrier on unlicensed band becomes unavailable or ineffective, the system adjusts by reconfiguring carrier associations and activating alternative carriers, thereby maintaining reliable communication despite interference and channel availability issues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces dynamic carrier configuration where uplink and downlink carrier associations can be flexibly adjusted based on real-time channel conditions. This allows the system to adapt to changing unlicensed band availability and interference conditions by reconfiguring which uplink carriers serve which downlink carriers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If paired uplink and downlink carriers are bound in existing LTE system, then configuration is simplified, but ineffectiveness of one carrier results in ineffectiveness of the paired carrier reducing overall system performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier configuration complexityVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the binding relationship between uplink and downlink carriers by introducing carrier groups. Instead of rigid one-to-one pairing, multiple downlink carriers can be associated with the same uplink carrier group, allowing independent operation and reducing the propagation of ineffectiveness across paired carriers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If primary secondary carrier is selected from unlicensed band to provide accurate reference, then licensed band carrier limitations are overcome, but channel seizing failures lead to deactivated carriers and inaccurate synchronization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier selection flexibilityVSAvoidsynchronization accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention prepares backup synchronization references in advance by maintaining multiple potential primary secondary carriers. When the currently active primary secondary carrier fails to seize the channel, the system can quickly switch to a pre-configured alternative, cushioning against synchronization failures without requiring lengthy reconfiguration procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS11245574B2Method and apparatus for configuration uplink and downlink carriers

Publication Date: 2022.02.08 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and an apparatus for configuring uplink and downlink carriers. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the UE determines according to received uplink and downlink carrier configuration signaling, the pairing between the uplink and downlink carriers, and/or a timing reference downlink carrier for the uplink, and/or a pathloss reference cell for the uplink. Thus, the uplink and downlink carriers may be configured more flexibly. Further, through the configuration of the reference downlink carrier for the uplink timing and the uplink power control, the carrier aggregation performance and that on the unlicensed band may be supported more effectively, so as to improve the performance of the LTE system.