LAA Burst Control Information Embedding in Preamble

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE systems face challenges in efficiently transmitting control information for License Assisted Access (LAA) burst transmissions, particularly in coordinating channel reservation and synchronization across unlicensed spectrum, which affects data throughput and network performance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a new LAA burst frame structure and preamble design, along with techniques for communicating LAA burst control information, such as using a channel reservation signal, LAA preamble, and optional Clear to Send (CTS) messages, facilitates efficient LAA operations by embedding control information within the preamble or transmitting it via a dedicated LAA burst control channel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If control information is transmitted separately from the LAA burst, then reliability of control signaling is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional transmission delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol signaling reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the LAA burst control information with the LAA burst transmission by embedding it in the preamble or transmitting it via a dedicated control channel within the burst. This combining approach ensures that control information and data transmission occur simultaneously, eliminating separate transmission delays while maintaining reliability through integrated error handling and acknowledgment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Loss of time

If LAA burst control information is embedded in the preamble, then loss of time is reduced by simultaneous transmission, but device complexity increases due to integrated control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission delayVSAvoidcontrol mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The preamble is designed to serve multiple functions: synchronization, channel estimation, and control information transmission. By making the preamble multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate control channels and minimizes additional complexity while achieving simultaneous transmission of control information and data burst.

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

3Reliability

If a dedicated LAA burst control channel is used, then reliability of control information transmission is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol information reliabilityVSAvoidchannel structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic control channel structure where the dedicated LAA burst control channel is activated only when required by the transmission scenario. The channel can be dynamically configured and deactivated based on traffic conditions, which reduces average complexity while maintaining high reliability when control information needs to be transmitted separately from the data burst.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3251458B1LAA (license assisted access) burst control information
Publication Date: 2022.07.06 APPLE INC
  • EP3251458B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3251458B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3251458B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques for transmission of license assisted access (LAA) burst control information are discussed. One example apparatus that can employ such techniques in an evolved nodeB (eNB) includes a processor and transmitter circuitry. The process can generate a license assisted access (LAA) burst comprising a channel reservation signal, a LAA preamble, one or more downlink (DL) control channel messages, and one or more data payloads; can generate LAA burst control information associated with the LAA burst, wherein the LAA burst control information indicates a length of the LAA burst; and can generate a physical layer encoding of the LAA burst control information. The transmitter circuitry can transmit the physical layer encoding of the LAA burst control information via an unlicensed carrier.