LTE Narrowband Resource Allocation for MTC Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no simple way to provide narrowbands within the LTE system bandwidth without compromising the efficiency of resource allocation signalling for Rel-13 low complexity MTC UEs, which are limited to a 1.4 MHz bandwidth and require enhanced coverage.
Innovation Solution
The system treats the cell bandwidth as non-overlapping band portions, each comprising a set of resource blocks with unique indices, allowing for efficient resource allocation signalling through jointly encoded control data, enabling MTC devices to communicate effectively within the limited bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the LTE system bandwidth is divided into multiple narrowbands to support reduced bandwidth MTC devices, then coverage and compatibility are improved, but resource allocation signalling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the LTE system bandwidth into multiple narrowbands, where each narrowband contains a subset of resource blocks. This segmentation allows reduced bandwidth MTC devices to operate within a single narrowband (1.4 MHz) while the overall system maintains full bandwidth capability. The resource allocation signalling is segmented to include a narrowband index field that identifies which narrowband the allocation refers to, enabling efficient addressing without requiring full bandwidth signalling for each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different resource allocation signalling approaches for different device types. Full bandwidth devices continue to use traditional resource allocation signalling, while reduced bandwidth MTC devices use the narrowband-based signalling approach. This local quality differentiation optimises the signalling for each device category, maintaining simplicity for MTC devices while preserving full functionality for other devices.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional resource allocation signalling is used for narrowbands, then implementation is simpler, but signalling efficiency and overhead are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the narrowband index information with the resource block allocation information into a unified resource allocation signalling structure. Instead of sending separate signalling for narrowband selection and resource block allocation, the system combines these into a single resource indication value (RIV) that encodes both pieces of information. This merging reduces signalling overhead and improves efficiency while maintaining implementation feasibility through standardized encoding procedures.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system (1) is disclosed in which a base station (5) communicates with a reduced bandwidth machine-type-communication, MTC, device (3-2) by dividing the base station's cell bandwidth into non-overlapping band portions, each band portion comprising a respective set of contiguous resource blocks that occupy a frequency bandwidth not exceeding the bandwidth of the MTC device (3-2), and each band portion having a respective index for identifying that band portion. The base station (5) obtains: i) an index of a band portion for use by the MTC device (3-2); and ii) information for identifying an allocation of at least one resource block within that band portion. The base station (5) generates and signals, to the MTC device (3-2), control data for uniquely identifying a position of the allocation of at least one resource block, within said cell bandwidth.