Frequency-Block Resource Allocation Signaling for LTE-Advanced
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high signalling overheads in LTE-Advanced systems supporting large bandwidths pose a challenge for efficient resource allocation, particularly in orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for signalling resource allocation data using a plurality of frequency blocks, where resource blocks are grouped into sequences and encoded with bit masks, allowing efficient allocation and reduced signalling overheads through techniques like Virtual Dis-contiguous Resource Block (VDRB), Fixed-Length Virtual Dis-contiguous Resource Block (FVDRB), and Virtual Contiguous Resource Block (VCRB) assignments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If scalable bandwidth up to 100 MHz or greater is supported to accommodate LTE-Advanced devices, then device capability and bandwidth support are improved, but signalling overheads increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency spectrum into multiple frequency blocks (e.g., 5 blocks for 100 MHz bandwidth), where each block can be independently allocated to user devices. This segmentation allows the system to support large bandwidths by distributing resources across blocks rather than treating the entire bandwidth as a single resource pool, thereby reducing the complexity and overhead of resource allocation signalling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a two-dimensional resource allocation framework: the first dimension is the frequency block level (coarse granularity) and the second dimension is the resource block level within each frequency block (fine granularity). This dimensional approach enables efficient signalling by first identifying which frequency blocks are allocated to a user device, then specifying resource blocks within those blocks, rather than signalling every individual resource block across the entire bandwidth.
2Measurement precision
If resource blocks are individually allocated across the entire bandwidth, then resource allocation precision is improved, but signalling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments resource allocation into two levels: frequency block level (coarse) and resource block level (fine). By first segmenting the bandwidth into frequency blocks and allocating these blocks to user devices, the system achieves precise resource allocation within each block while avoiding the need to signal every individual resource block across the entire bandwidth, thus reducing signalling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by allocating resource blocks only within the frequency blocks that have been assigned to a user device, rather than considering the entire bandwidth. This partial approach maintains allocation precision where needed (within active frequency blocks) while avoiding unnecessary signalling for frequency blocks not allocated to the user.
Data Source
AI summary
Efficient encoding techniques are described for encoding resource allocation data to be signalled to a user device. In one encoding technique one or more frequency blocks are assigned to a user device and a plurality of resource blocks within the assigned frequency blocks are allocated to the user device. The assignment of frequency blocks and the resource block allocation are encoded separately and signalled to the user device. On receipt of the signalled information the user device interprets the frequency block assignment and uses this when interpreting the resource block allocation.