Half-Duplex Radio Terminal Scheduling Across Mixed Numerologies

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Future radio communication systems face challenges in multiplexing frame structures with different numerologies in the same carrier, leading to improper half-duplex communication due to overlapping communicating directions.

Innovation Solution

A user terminal and radio base station control the allocation of DL and UL signals based on frame structures of different numerologies, using blanking periods to disallow conflicting communication directions, ensuring proper half-duplex communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If frame structures of different numerologies are multiplexed in the same carrier, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but communication reliability deteriorates due to overlapping communicating directions causing improper half-duplex operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frame structure of the first numerology by identifying specific periods (slots or symbols) where communicating directions overlap with the second numerology. These overlapping periods are segmented out and treated as disallowed communication periods, preventing the reliability issue while maintaining the resource efficiency benefit of multiplexing different numerologies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by determining and marking disallowed communication periods in advance, before actual communication occurs. The user terminal identifies overlapping communicating directions between different numerologies and pre-configures which periods should not be used for communication, thereby preventing improper half-duplex operation before it can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If frame structures of different numerologies are multiplexed in the same carrier, then system adaptability is improved, but communication quality deteriorates due to conflicting communicating directions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem adaptabilityVSAvoidcommunication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frame structure to identify and isolate periods where communicating directions conflict between different numerologies. By segmenting these conflicting periods and marking them as disallowed, the system maintains adaptability to support multiple numerologies while preventing communication quality deterioration from direction conflicts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism through the network device that provides indication information about disallowed communication periods to the user terminal. This intermediary signaling resolves the conflict between supporting multiple numerologies (adaptability) and maintaining communication quality by mediating which periods should be avoided.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If blanking periods are introduced to prevent overlapping communicating directions, then communication reliability is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates due to disallowed communication periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by introducing blanking periods only in specific slots or symbols where communicating directions actually overlap, rather than blanket restrictions. This partial application of blanking maintains communication reliability in critical overlapping periods while minimizing the impact on overall resource utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts communication parameters by changing the TDD uplink-downlink configuration based on the numerology being used. By parameter-changing the frame structure to align communicating directions and reduce overlaps, the system improves reliability without requiring excessive blanking periods, thereby maintaining resource utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3493622B1User terminal, wireless base station, and wireless communication method
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP3493622B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3493622B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3493622B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

The present invention is designed so that, even when communication is carried out by multiplexing a number of numerologies in the same carrier, it is still possible to communicate properly. A user terminal communicates in a radio communication system where frame structures of a plurality of numerologies are frequency-division-multiplexed, and has a receiving section that receives first information, which relates to a frame structure of a predetermined numerology, and second information, which specifies a period in which DL communication and/or UL communication are disallowed, or a period in which a specific communicating direction is configured, in the predetermined numerology, and a control section that controls DL receipt and/or UL transmission based on the first information and the second information.