Uplink Transmission Gap Scheduling for LTE-NR Coexistence

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently scheduling and multiplexing uplink transmissions between LTE and NR UEs, particularly in scenarios where UEs operate on overlapping frequencies or have different carrier bandwidths, leading to potential collisions and limited resource management.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves generating a transmission gap in LTE uplink transmissions by configuring a cell-specific SRS pattern and applying a timing advance, allowing for non-overlapping NR transmissions during the gap, which enables efficient scheduling and multiplexing of LTE and NR channels/signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If LTE and NR uplink transmissions are scheduled without coordination, then resource utilization may be maximized, but collisions between transmissions occur leading to reduced reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidresource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network device configures SRS transmission patterns for LTE UEs in advance, creating predetermined transmission gaps before NR uplink transmissions occur. This preliminary scheduling action prevents collisions between LTE and NR transmissions by ensuring LTE SRS transmissions are shifted away from NR transmission times, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If transmission gaps are created for NR uplink transmissions, then NR throughput is improved, but LTE uplink transmission time is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveNR throughputVSAvoidLTE uplink transmission duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Transmission gaps are created locally and selectively only in specific subframes where NR uplink transmissions are scheduled, rather than creating gaps throughout the entire LTE uplink schedule. This allows NR throughput to be improved where needed while minimizing the impact on overall LTE uplink transmission duration by maintaining normal LTE scheduling in non-gap subframes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If SRS transmission patterns are configured to avoid NR transmissions, then collision prevention is achieved, but scheduling flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision preventionVSAvoidscheduling flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The SRS transmission pattern is configured dynamically based on NR uplink scheduling requirements. The network device can adjust the SRS subframe configuration, periodicity, and offset parameters to create transmission gaps that align with NR transmission needs. This dynamic configuration maintains collision prevention while preserving scheduling flexibility by adapting the LTE SRS pattern to match varying NR traffic demands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10917264B2NR-LTE coexisting operation for uplink

Publication Date: 2021.02.09 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Methods of operating a network device for a user equipment, UE, in a telecommunications network is provided. Methods include generating a transmission gap at an end of a first type of uplink, UL, transmission and scheduling a second type of UL transmission that corresponds to the transmission gap. Generating the transmission gap includes sending, to the UE, a radio resource control that configures a potential sounding reference signal, SRS, transmission that generates the transmission gap.