Interlace Determination for Wireless Resource Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication networks, especially those using LTE FDD, determining interlaces for efficient bandwidth utilization is challenging due to operational requirements such as occupied bandwidth and power spectrum density constraints, which can lead to excessive signaling overhead and difficulty in accommodating unlicensed spectrum requirements.

Innovation Solution

The system determines a set of interlaces for devices within a wireless communication system, where each interlace includes a set of physical resource blocks (PRBs) uniformly spaced in frequency, with a frequency span exceeding a predetermined percentage of the system bandwidth, allowing for efficient bandwidth allocation and reduced signaling overhead by transmitting signals indicating the allocated interlaces to devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional bandwidth allocation methods are used to meet operational requirements, then occupied bandwidth and power spectrum density constraints can be satisfied, but signaling overhead becomes excessive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational requirements complianceVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system bandwidth is divided into multiple interlaces, where each interlace consists of a specific number of physical resource blocks (PRBs). This segmentation allows the network to indicate resource allocation through interlace indices rather than individually indicating each PRB, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining compliance with occupied bandwidth and power spectrum density constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of resource allocation by organizing PRBs into interlaces with specific frequency spacing patterns. Instead of allocating PRBs sequentially or contiguously, the system uses interlace-based allocation where PRBs within an interlace are spaced by a fixed number of subcarriers, enabling more efficient signaling and better control over spectral distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Manufacturing precision

If detailed interlace allocation signaling is transmitted to each device, then precise bandwidth control is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth control precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the allocation parameters from individual PRB indices to interlace indices. Each interlace is defined by a starting PRB index and a number of PRBs, and devices allocate resources by selecting interlaces based on these parameters. This parameter transformation simplifies the signaling structure and reduces system complexity while maintaining precise bandwidth control capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If unlicensed spectrum requirements are accommodated with traditional methods, then operational constraints are met, but difficulty in implementation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunlicensed spectrum compatibilityVSAvoidimplementation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The interlace-based resource allocation mechanism is designed to be universal and can be applied to both licensed and unlicensed spectrum scenarios. The same interlace structure and allocation principles work across different spectrum types, providing a unified approach that meets various operational requirements including those for unlicensed spectrum without requiring separate implementation mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3975466A1Interlace determination for device
Publication Date: 2022.03.30 LENOVO INNOVATIONS LTD (HONG KONG)
  • EP3975466A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3975466A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3975466A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for interlace determination. One apparatus includes a processor that determines a system bandwidth including multiple interlaces. Each interlace of the multiple interlaces includes a set of physical resource blocks ("PRBs") that are uniformly spaced in frequency. The processor also determines a first set of interlaces of the multiple interlaces for a first device. The first set of interlaces includes one or more interlaces. The apparatus includes a transmitter that transmits a first signal to the first device. The first signal indicates the first set of interlaces, and a number of bits of the first signal is less than a number of interlaces of the multiple interlaces.