Flexible Spectrum Carrier Configuration for UE-Specific LTE/NR Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, such as LTE and NR, face limitations in flexibility and restrictions related to carrier and cell configurations, leading to inflexible spectrum utilization and increased measurement overhead, particularly in dual connectivity scenarios.
Innovation Solution
Implementing flexible spectrum utilization by decoupling uplink and downlink carriers, allowing independent addition, release, modification, activation, deactivation, and scheduling of carriers and bandwidth parts (BWPs) on a UE-specific basis, with signaling for carrier configuration and support for multiple connectivity options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple carriers are configured with cell-related concepts (PCell, SCell, MCG, SCG) in LTE/NR systems, then connectivity and bandwidth are improved, but device complexity and configuration restrictions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the carrier configuration by separating uplink carriers and downlink carriers into independent entities. Each carrier can be independently configured, activated, deactivated, and released without requiring cell-level groupings. This segmentation eliminates the complexity of MCG/SCG structures while maintaining multi-carrier connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the uplink-downlink coupling relationship from the carrier configuration. By allowing independent uplink carrier and downlink carrier configurations, the system removes the restrictive cell concept that tied uplink and downlink to specific cell groups, thereby reducing configuration complexity while preserving connectivity flexibility.
2Ease of operation
If downlink and uplink carriers are coupled/linked in LTE/NR systems, then cell management is simplified, but spectrum utilization flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments uplink carrier configuration from downlink carrier configuration. The network can independently add, release, modify, activate, deactivate, and schedule uplink carriers and downlink carriers without requiring them to be paired or linked, enabling flexible spectrum utilization while maintaining simple independent management of each carrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic and flexible carrier configuration where uplink carriers can be independently activated or deactivated based on service requirements. The system can dynamically adjust uplink carrier availability without being constrained by fixed downlink-uplink pairings, allowing adaptive spectrum utilization.
3Measurement precision
If independent RRM measurement is performed for each carrier in LTE/NR systems, then carrier-specific optimization is improved, but measurement overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges RRM measurement resources across multiple carriers. By allowing a UE to perform RRM measurements on one carrier while utilizing resources from another carrier, the system reduces redundant measurements while maintaining carrier-specific optimization capabilities, thereby lowering measurement overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces multi-functional carrier usage where carriers can serve multiple purposes including data transmission and RRM measurement. A carrier configured for data transmission can also be used for RRM measurements, eliminating the need for separate dedicated measurement carriers and reducing overall measurement overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
Restrictions associated with the use of multiple carriers in long-term evolution (LTE) and/or new radio (NR) may impede implementing a flexible personalized spectrum for different user equipments (UEs). Apparatuses, devices, and methods are instead provided in which there is more flexible spectrum utilization, e.g. in which there may be fewer restrictions and more options for configuring carriers and/or bandwidth parts (BWPs) on a UE-specific basis. As one example, there may be a plurality of uplink and/or downlink carriers, with signaling indicating addition, modification, release, activation, deactivation, and/or scheduling of a particular carrier of the uplink carriers and/or downlink carriers, e.g. on an independent carrier-by-carrier basis.