Layer-1 Reference Signaling Beyond Carrier Bandwidth Limits

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently transmitting and receiving reference signals (RS) outside the configured carrier bandwidth (CBW) of user equipment (UE), leading to potential reception delays or failures, especially in congested bands, and lack flexibility in bandwidth management.

Innovation Solution

The system enables UE capabilities to communicate a frequency separation threshold (FST) between the CBW and RS, allowing RS transmission outside the CBW, with mechanisms for scheduling interruptions, bandwidth reconfiguration, and measurement gaps to optimize RS reception.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If reference signals are transmitted outside the configured carrier bandwidth, then bandwidth flexibility and frequency spectrum utilization are improved, but reception reliability and timing synchronization deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth flexibilityVSAvoidreception reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by configuring the UE with bandwidth part information and frequency separation thresholds before RS transmission. The network node prepares measurement gaps and schedules interruptions in advance, ensuring the UE is ready to receive RS outside CBW without compromising reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the UE's active bandwidth configuration during operation. The network can reconfigure bandwidth parts and activate different CBWs based on channel conditions and RS transmission requirements, allowing flexible adaptation while maintaining reliable reception.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If reference signals are transmitted outside the configured carrier bandwidth, then frequency spectrum utilization is improved, but timing synchronization and reception timing deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency spectrum utilizationVSAvoidreception timing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Measurement gaps are configured and scheduled in advance before RS transmission outside CBW. This preliminary arrangement ensures the UE has dedicated time resources ready to capture RS without timing conflicts, preventing reception delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback mechanisms where the network monitors UE reception status and adjusts timing configurations. Based on UE capability information and reception feedback, the network optimizes measurement gap timing and RS transmission schedules to minimize timing losses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the UE monitors the entire bandwidth for reference signals, then complete RS detection is improved, but power consumption and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRS detection completenessVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The total bandwidth is segmented into bandwidth parts (BWPs) with different configurations. The UE only needs to monitor specific CBWs and frequency regions where RS are likely to be transmitted, determined by FST configurations and UE capability information, rather than scanning the entire bandwidth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by concentrating monitoring resources on specific frequency regions and time intervals where RS transmission is expected. The UE configures its receiver to focus on relevant CBWs and measurement gaps, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining complete RS detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If bandwidth reconfiguration and measurement gaps are implemented, then RS reception outside CBW is improved, but device complexity and scheduling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRS receptionVSAvoidscheduling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The measurement gap configuration serves multiple functions: it enables RS reception outside CBW, provides timing synchronization opportunities, and allows bandwidth reconfiguration. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system manages complexity by dynamically adjusting parameters such as measurement gap duration, periodicity, and frequency separation thresholds based on UE capability information. These parameter changes allow flexible RS reception while maintaining manageable scheduling complexity through standardized configuration procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12483371B2Layer-1 reference signaling outside of carrier bandwidths

Publication Date: 2025.11.25 APPLE INC

AI summary

Techniques discussed herein can facilitate transmission and reference signals (RS) associated with layer-1 (L1) operations outside of a configured carrier bandwidth (CBW) of a user equipment (UE). One example aspect is a UE with one or more processors configured to transmit UE capability information. The UE capability information includes a frequency separation threshold, where the frequency separation threshold represents a frequency separation from a CBW of the UE. The one or more processors are further configured to receive a RS within the frequency separation threshold and outside of the CBW, and subsequently perform a L1 operation based on the RS.