Resource Block Grouping for LTE Signaling Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing LTE system faces challenges in efficiently managing resource blocks, leading to an increase in signaling bits when the number of resource blocks is increased, which complicates the allocation of resource blocks to users, especially when supporting both localized and distributed transmission.

Innovation Solution

A transmission device that groups resource blocks into consecutive subcarriers and allocates them as units, generating control information based on these groups rather than individual resource blocks, thereby minimizing the increase in signaling bits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of resource blocks is increased to support more users and data, then the system capacity and flexibility are improved, but the number of signaling bits required for allocation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidsignaling bits
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frequency spectrum into resource blocks and groups them into larger units called resource block groups. By allocating resources at the group level rather than individual block level, the system maintains flexibility while reducing the number of allocation signals needed. This segmentation approach allows the system to manage increased capacity requirements without proportionally increasing signaling overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple resource blocks into resource block groups for allocation purposes. By merging adjacent resource blocks into groups, the system reduces the number of individual allocation decisions and corresponding signaling bits required. This combining approach maintains system capacity while efficiently reducing control information overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If resource blocks are allocated individually to users, then the allocation precision is improved, but the control information complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveallocation precisionVSAvoidcontrol information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a hierarchical segmentation where resource blocks are first divided into groups, and then these groups are allocated to users. This segmentation maintains allocation precision at the resource block level while simplifying control information at the group allocation level, reducing the complexity of control messages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a grouping dimension to the resource allocation structure. Instead of flat individual block allocation, the system introduces an intermediate grouping layer that organizes resource blocks into manageable units, thereby reducing control information complexity while preserving allocation precision through the hierarchical structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system supports both localized and distributed transmission, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission mode supportVSAvoidsystem configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal resource block group allocation framework that can accommodate both localized and distributed transmission modes. The same grouping and allocation mechanism serves multiple transmission purposes, allowing the system to support different transmission modes without requiring separate complex configuration systems for each mode.

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

Data Source

PatentEP2056500B1Transmission device and transmission method
Publication Date: 2014.05.07 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP2056500B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2056500B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2056500B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A transmission device is disclosed that includes a frequency scheduling unit configured to allocate resource blocks as a unit to each user, the resource blocks being blocks of consecutive frequency subcarriers divided from a system bandwidth, constitute a first group including consecutive plural resource blocks, constitute plural second groups, each including one or more resource blocks of the plural resource blocks constituting each first group, and allocate the resource blocks of either the first group or one or more the second groups; a mapping unit configured to allocate transmission data to the resource blocks in accordance with the allocation; and a control information generating unit configured to generate control information with respect to a mobile station to which either the first group or one or more the second groups are allocated.