LTE-NR Signal Nesting for Overlapping Band Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for improved techniques in LTE and NR technologies to enhance mobile broadband access, particularly in managing the coexistence and synchronization of LTE and NR systems to optimize communication efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for a user equipment (UE) to obtain synchronization information from an LTE system and receive reference signals from an overlapping NR system using quasi-co-location (QCL) indications, enabling efficient channel state feedback and reporting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a RAN is designed to support both LTE and NR access technologies, then multi-RAT capability is achieved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-RAT capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the RAN into separate LTE E-UTRAN and NR NG-RAN components, each handling their respective access technologies independently. The E-UTRAN handles LTE connections while the NG-RAN handles NR connections, allowing each segment to be optimized independently rather than requiring a single complex unified system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces the EPC (Evolved Packet Core) as an intermediary that bridges LTE and NR systems. The EPC provides common core network functions that both LTE E-UTRAN and NR NG-RAN can connect to, enabling multi-RAT capability while keeping the complexity managed through a standardized intermediate interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If LTE and NR systems share common network architecture, then deployment efficiency improves, but signal interference between systems increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment efficiencyVSAvoidsignal interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent physically and logically separates the LTE and NR radio access networks into distinct systems (E-UTRAN and NG-RAN). This segmentation allows each system to operate on separate frequency resources and with independent signal processing, eliminating inter-system signal interference while maintaining efficient deployment through shared core network infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-generated harmful factors

If separate network architectures are used for LTE and NR, then signal interference is reduced, but deployment complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal interferenceVSAvoiddeployment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the radio access into separate E-UTRAN and NG-RAN systems to eliminate signal interference, while both systems connect to the same EPC core network. This approach achieves the interference reduction of separate architectures while maintaining the deployment efficiency of shared infrastructure through the common core network platform.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The EPC core network is designed with universal multi-functionality to support both LTE E-UTRAN and NR NG-RAN access technologies. This allows a single core network deployment to serve both radio access systems, reducing overall deployment time and complexity while maintaining the benefits of separate radio access architectures.

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

Data Source

PatentEP3622644B1Techniques and apparatuses for nesting a new radio system and a long term evolution system
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3622644B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3622644B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3622644B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a UE may measure a first reference signal, associated with a frequency band of a long term evolution (LTE) system, and a second reference signal associated with a frequency band of a new radio (NR) system. The frequency band of the NR system may overlap the frequency band of the LTE system. The UE may determine first channel state feedback, associated with the frequency band of the LTE system, and second channel state feedback, associated with the frequency band of the NR system, based at least in part on the first reference signal and the second reference signal, respectively. The UE may report the first channel state feedback or the second channel state feedback in uplink control information (UCI). Other aspects are provided.