Physical Layer Measurement Scheduling for LTE-Advanced

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In telecommunications, performing physical layer measurements on frequency resources can generate transients that disrupt communication, especially when switching on or off reception, affecting power consumption and data transmission quality in multi-carrier systems like LTE-Advanced.

Innovation Solution

A mobile terminal is configured to determine if data is being communicated over secondary frequency resources within a specific time period, adjusting physical layer measurements to avoid transients by skipping or delaying signal measurements on the primary frequency resource if data is present on secondary resources, thereby minimizing interference with active communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If physical layer measurements are performed on frequency resources, then measurement accuracy is improved, but transients are generated that disrupt communication

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephysical layer measurement accuracyVSAvoidtransients disrupting communication

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by checking whether data is scheduled for transmission before performing physical layer measurements. This advance checking allows the system to plan measurement timing in advance, ensuring measurements occur only when no data transmission is scheduled, thereby avoiding transient generation during active communication periods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement scheduling is made dynamic by continuously monitoring data transmission schedules and adjusting measurement timing accordingly. The system dynamically adapts measurement occasions based on real-time communication requirements, switching between performing measurements and deferring them based on whether data transmission is scheduled at those moments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If reception is switched on for measurements, then measurement capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuously maintaining reception capability for measurements, the system applies partial action by activating reception only when absolutely necessary - specifically when no data transmission is scheduled. This selective activation reduces power consumption while maintaining measurement capability when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic checking of data transmission schedules to determine when measurement activities should occur. By periodically assessing whether data is scheduled and only performing measurements during appropriate windows, the system reduces unnecessary reception activation and associated power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If measurements are delayed to avoid transients, then communication reliability is improved, but measurement timing precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidmeasurement timing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback by continuously monitoring data transmission schedules and using this information to make real-time decisions about measurement timing. This feedback mechanism ensures measurements are postponed only when necessary (when data is scheduled), maintaining communication reliability while minimizing delays in measurement activities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8942171B2Technique for performing physical layer measurements

Publication Date: 2015.01.27 OPTIS WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a technique for performing physical layer measurements on a frequency resource relative to other frequency resources in a telecommunications system operable to communicate over multiple frequency resources. A method aspect of this technique includes determining that a mobile terminal is to perform a physical layer measurement with regard to a first frequency resource, determining if there is data to be communicated over one or more second frequency resource(s) within a time period wherein the first frequency resource is distinct from the second frequency resources: if it is determined that there is no data to be communicated over the second frequency resource(s) within the time period, performing the physical layer measurement on the first frequency resource and forming a quality measure of the first frequency resource based on the physical layer measurement; or if it is determined that there is data to be communicated over the second frequency resource(s) within the time period, modifying the physical layer measurement and forming a quality measure of the first frequency resource based on the modified physical layer measurement.