LTE Base Node SIB Transmission via Valid Subframe Indication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE systems face challenges in efficiently transmitting system information blocks (SIBs) for low-cost, low-bandwidth devices, especially in areas with poor coverage and during wideband communication sessions, leading to increased power consumption and longer decoding times due to collisions with wideband transmission subframes.

Innovation Solution

A method for transmitting system information blocks by a base node that dynamically adjusts the deployment of SIBs within the LTE frame structure, using valid subframe indications to differentiate between available and unavailable subframes during wideband transmissions, allowing for continuous transmission in dedicated resource regions and reducing the size of SIB1, thereby optimizing power usage and decoding efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If SIBs are transmitted repeatedly in enhanced coverage areas, then coverage enhancement gain is achieved, but transmission time and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage enhancementVSAvoiddecoding time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base node transmits valid subframe indication information in advance within SIB1, enabling wireless communication devices to pre-identify which subframes contain valid SIB transmissions and which subframes should be skipped due to wideband transmissions. This preliminary information allows devices to avoid wasting time attempting to decode invalid subframes, thereby reducing overall decoding time while maintaining the necessary repetition transmissions for coverage enhancement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If SIB transmissions are scheduled around wideband transmission subframes, then resource collision is avoided, but scheduling flexibility is severely constrained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidscheduling flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of maintaining rigid scheduling constraints that limit flexibility, the invention introduces dynamic valid subframe indication fields that adaptively mark which subframes contain valid SIB transmissions. This allows the base node to freely schedule SIB repetitions in any subframe while dynamically indicating to devices which ones are valid, thereby maintaining transmission reliability without sacrificing scheduling flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The valid subframe indication information acts as an intermediary between the base node's scheduling decisions and the wireless communication devices' reception processes. This intermediary layer allows the base node to maintain full scheduling flexibility while ensuring devices can reliably identify valid transmissions, decoupling the constraint from the actual scheduling behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If SIB1 includes valid subframe indication fields, then devices can identify available subframes, but SIB1 size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubframe identificationVSAvoidSIB1 size
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The valid subframe indication is implemented as a compact bit field where each bit corresponds to a specific subframe, allowing devices to efficiently identify valid transmissions. This parameter-based representation achieves subframe identification with minimal overhead compared to more verbose indication methods, balancing ease of operation with controlled SIB1 size expansion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If SIB repetitions are interrupted during wideband transmissions, then resource collision is avoided, but acquisition time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocationVSAvoidsystem information acquisition time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By providing valid subframe indication information in advance through SIB1, the invention enables devices to proactively identify which subframes contain valid SIB repetitions and which should be skipped. This preliminary knowledge allows devices to efficiently navigate through interrupted repetitions without wasting time on invalid subframes, thereby reducing overall acquisition time while maintaining proper resource allocation during wideband transmissions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3449670B1Method for transmitting system information by a base node
Publication Date: 2020.05.27 THALES DIS AIS DEUT GMBH
  • EP3449670B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3449670B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3449670B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for transmitting system information by a base node being part of a cellular wireless network for long term evolution, to at least one wireless communication device camping on the base node, the base node being configured to support a dedicated resource region for a subset of camping wireless communication devices, which is capable of being deployed at least in-band and out-of-band in relation to a common frequency band, the method comprising the steps of: - collecting configuration parameter for said dedicated resource region according to a predetermined time period and to arrange said configuration parameter in system information blocks, - identifying if the dedicated resource region is deployed in-band, ⋅ incase it is deployed in-band and a wideband transmission session is active, adding to at least one of the system information blocks an valid subframe indication for submitting system information blocks instead of wideband transmission blocks, and transmitting said system information blocks according to said valid subframe indication, ⋅ in case it is not deployed in-band transmitting the system information blocks unchanged in a carrier frequency outside of the common frequency band.