Inter-Band Carrier Aggregation Switching for Reduced-Capability UEs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G NR, face challenges in efficiently supporting reduced capability user equipment (UE) with inter-band downlink carrier aggregation due to increased complexity and cost associated with multiple receive chains for different frequency bands, leading to inefficiencies in non-simultaneous transmission and reception.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method where the UE provides capability information to the base station indicating fully or partially non-concurrent inter-band downlink carrier aggregation with reception switching, allowing the base station to adjust communication accordingly, enabling the reuse of the same RF chain or component for different operating bands, thereby reducing complexity and cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a UE is configured with downlink carrier aggregation for simultaneous reception on multiple component carriers, then the data transmission capacity is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase due to requiring multiple receive chains for different frequency bands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple receive chains by implementing a single receive chain that can be dynamically switched between different frequency bands. The base station coordinates transmissions so that the UE receives data on different component carriers at different time instances, combining the reception function across multiple bands using one physical receive chain instead of requiring separate chains for each band.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic switching of the receive chain between different frequency bands based on scheduling decisions from the base station. The receive chain is dynamically allocated to different component carriers at different time instances, allowing the system to adapt the reception configuration according to traffic demands and channel conditions while using a reduced number of physical receive chains.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a UE uses multiple receive chains for different frequency bands, then the capability to simultaneously receive on multiple component carriers is improved, but the cost and complexity for reduced capability UEs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes a single RF receive chain universal by enabling it to operate across multiple frequency bands through dynamic switching. The same physical receive chain is reused for different component carriers at different time instances, allowing the UE to maintain multi-band reception capability while using a single multifunctional receive chain instead of requiring dedicated receive chains for each frequency band.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station self-coordinates the transmission scheduling to accommodate the UE's reduced capability configuration. The network side manages the resource allocation and timing to ensure that the single receive chain at the UE can successfully receive data from multiple component carriers by switching between them, with the network adapting its transmission strategy to serve the UE's constrained hardware configuration.
3Device complexity
If a UE reuses the same RF chain for different operating bands, then the cost and complexity are reduced, but the reception capability becomes non-simultaneous across multiple bands
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic time-division multiplexing where the single receive chain alternates between different frequency bands in a periodic manner. The base station schedules transmissions on different component carriers at different time instances, creating a periodic pattern of band switching that allows the UE to receive data from multiple bands sequentially rather than simultaneously, using one reused RF chain.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) transmits transmitting a UE capability to a base station, the UE capability indicating a fully non-concurrent capability or a partially non-concurrent capability for inter-band downlink carrier aggregation with reception switching. Then, the UE monitors for downlink communication from the base station based on the UE capability. The base station transmits downlink communication to the UE based on the UE capability for the fully non-concurrent capability or the partially non-concurrent capability for inter-band downlink carrier aggregation with reception switching.