Irregular Bandwidth Scheduling in 5G NR Radio Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radio access technologies, such as 5G NR, face inefficiencies in utilizing irregular bandwidths that do not align with standard channel bandwidths, leading to underutilization of spectrum and potential non-compliance with unwanted emissions requirements.
Innovation Solution
Radio devices and networks implement methods to operate in irregular bandwidths by transmitting capability messages to schedule radio resources, allowing for blanking of unused parts of the channel bandwidth to maximize spectral efficiency while ensuring compliance with emissions limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard channel bandwidths are used for NR operation, then compliance with 3GPP requirements and regulatory emissions limits is ensured, but spectrum utilization efficiency deteriorates when operator spectrum blocks do not align with standard channel bandwidths
Solution Approach 1:
The channel bandwidth is segmented into an active bandwidth part (BWP) for data transmission and a blanked bandwidth part that is muted to suppress emissions. This segmentation allows the system to use a standard channel bandwidth for compliance while effectively utilizing only the required irregular operator spectrum block, thus resolving the contradiction between compliance and spectrum efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the channel bandwidth are assigned different functions: the active BWP allows normal transmission for spectrum utilization, while the blanked BWP applies emission suppression to ensure compliance with regulatory limits. This local differentiation enables simultaneous optimization of both spectrum efficiency and emissions compliance.
2Productivity
If irregular bandwidths are used to match operator spectrum blocks, then spectrum utilization efficiency improves, but compliance with unwanted emissions requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration of the active BWP to match the irregular operator spectrum block before transmission begins. By pre-defining the active bandwidth boundaries and applying appropriate emission suppression in advance, the system can efficiently utilize the irregular spectrum while ensuring compliance with emissions limits from the outset.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the channel bandwidth is increased to accommodate irregular operator blocks, then spectrum flexibility improves, but unwanted emissions outside the operator block increase
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful emissions are extracted and isolated into a separate blanked BWP that is specifically muted. By extracting the emission-prone regions from the active transmission bandwidth and applying targeted suppression, the system achieves spectrum flexibility for irregular operator blocks while eliminating unwanted emissions outside the allocated spectrum.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are provided to enable radio devices to operate using irregular bandwidths that are not defined channel bandwidths by the applicable RAT. A UE designed to limit emissions outside the irregular bandwidth block but within the channel bandwidth can indicate this capability when it accesses the network. When a UE indicates a capability to use irregular bandwidths, the network can schedule the UE in an irregular bandwidth block while blanking the part of the channel bandwidth outside the irregular bandwidth block in order to maximize the use of the irregular bandwidth block. If a UE does not indicate capability for using irregular bandwidth blocks, the network can schedule the UE in a defined bandwidth inside the irregular bandwidth block provided there is a defined channel bandwidth less than the irregular block bandwidth.