Inter-Carrier Frequency Cooperation for 5G Capacity and Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in increasing capacity and improving quality of service, particularly with the transition to higher frequency bands in 5th-generation mobile communication systems, where research on inter-carrier frequency cooperation is limited.

Innovation Solution

An inter-carrier frequency cooperation method is introduced, where a first communication node sends description information of a second carrier frequency to a second communication node, including control channel information, pilot information, and data channel information, optimized for higher frequency bands to enhance system capacity and service quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If high frequency band is used to increase spectrum resources, then available spectrum resources increase, but electromagnetic wave diffraction capability deteriorates and coverage capability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavailable spectrum resourcesVSAvoidelectromagnetic wave diffraction capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the carrier frequency into multiple frequency bands (first frequency band and second frequency band), where the first band provides coverage and the second band provides capacity. This allows the system to utilize both low frequency diffraction advantages and high frequency spectrum资源优势, resolving the contradiction between spectrum resources and diffraction capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different frequency bands are assigned different functions based on their local characteristics: the first frequency band (lower frequency) is used for coverage and control channels where diffraction capability is important, while the second frequency band (higher frequency) is used for data transmission where spectrum resources are critical. This local optimization resolves the contradiction by matching function to frequency characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If carrier frequency cooperation between high and low frequency bands is implemented, then system capacity improves, but control channel resource allocation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidcontrol channel resource allocation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the first communication node sends description information of the second carrier frequency to the second communication node. This intermediary information exchange simplifies the control channel resource allocation by providing pre-configured parameters and relationships between frequency bands, reducing the complexity of inter-frequency coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary configuration by establishing the relationship between first and second frequency bands in advance. The description information including resource allocation parameters is prepared beforehand, which simplifies real-time control channel operations and reduces the complexity of dynamic resource allocation across frequency bands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If control channel sending period on high frequency band is shortened, then transmission responsiveness improves, but control channel overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission responsivenessVSAvoidcontrol channel overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the control channel sending period based on the frequency band characteristics. For the second frequency band (higher frequency), the control channel sending period is set to be shorter than for the first frequency band, optimizing responsiveness for high-frequency data transmission while managing overhead through parameter optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3307001B1Inter-carrier frequency cooperation method and device
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 ZTE CORP
  • EP3307001B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3307001B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3307001B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are an inter-carrier frequency cooperation method and device. According to the method, description information of a second carrier frequency is determined (101) and a communication node sends the description information of the second carrier frequency to a second communication node via a first carrier frequency (102). The description information of the second carrier frequency includes one of: sending beam information of the second carrier frequency, pilot information of the second carrier frequency, control channel information of the second carrier frequency, data channel information of the second carrier frequency, Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) timing information of the second carrier frequency and working time information of the second communication node on the second carrier frequency.