LTE Spectrum Resource Allocation with Multi-Cluster Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing LTE system faces limitations in resource allocation flexibility and frequency diversity due to the constraint of allocating at most two clusters to each user, leading to poor scheduling flexibility and high overheads.

Innovation Solution

A spectrum resource allocation method that determines a resource allocation pattern based on preset parameters such as starting and ending positions, cluster size, and period T, using a resource allocation indicator value to indicate resource position information to terminals, allowing for the allocation of multiple clusters and improving frequency diversity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If the number of clusters allocated to a terminal is limited to two or less, then the resource allocation overhead is reduced, but the scheduling flexibility and frequency diversity gains are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation overheadVSAvoidscheduling flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the resource allocation indicator into multiple parts: a first indicator for the first cluster and a second indicator for the second cluster. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each cluster's allocation, enabling flexible scheduling while keeping each individual indicator compact, thus resolving the contradiction between overhead reduction and scheduling flexibility enhancement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a frequency domain resource allocation dimension by allocating different clusters to different frequency resources. This dimensional expansion allows the system to achieve frequency diversity gains and improved scheduling flexibility without proportionally increasing overhead, as the additional freedom comes from a new resource dimension rather than simply increasing the number of bits for each cluster

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

2Device complexity

If the number of clusters allocated to a terminal is limited to two or less, then the resource allocation signaling is simplified, but the frequency diversity gains are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation signaling complexityVSAvoidfrequency diversity gains
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the resource allocation into separate indicators for the first and second clusters, with each indicator having simplified encoding rules. This segmentation maintains signaling simplicity for each individual cluster while allowing the system to allocate multiple clusters to different frequency resources, thereby achieving frequency diversity without significantly increasing overall signaling complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation by using different indicator formats for different clusters (e.g., RIV for first cluster, RID for second cluster). This parameter differentiation allows optimized encoding for each cluster's specific allocation pattern, reducing overall signaling complexity while enabling flexible multi-cluster allocation for frequency diversity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If inconsecutive resource allocation is used with limited clusters, then the resource allocation overhead is reduced, but the scheduling flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation overheadVSAvoidscheduling flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the allocation of first and second clusters into independent indicator fields, allowing each cluster to be allocated inconsequitively without requiring a single comprehensive indicator. This segmentation enables flexible inconsecutive allocation patterns while keeping each segment's overhead manageable, thus resolving the contradiction between overhead reduction and scheduling flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic allocation where the first and second clusters can be independently configured with different parameters (starting positions, lengths, resource types). This dynamic approach allows the system to adaptively allocate resources inconsequitively based on channel conditions and scheduling requirements, maintaining flexibility without proportionally increasing overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3319387B1Frequency spectrum resource allocation method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2020.11.18 ZTE CORP
  • EP3319387B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3319387B1 patent drawingFigure 4~7
  • EP3319387B1 patent drawingFigure 8~12

AI summary

A spectrum resource allocation method and apparatus are provided. The method includes: determining a resource allocation pattern of nodes according to a preset parameter, wherein the preset parameter comprises at least one of: a starting position of a frequency domain or an offset of the frequency domain, an ending position of the frequency domain, a length of consecutively allocated resources or a size of consecutively allocated clusters, a number of clusters or a number of resource sets, a period T, a number of multiplexing nodes in frequency domain resources, and a number of allocatable resources in a system; and obtaining a corresponding resource allocation indicator value r by the resource allocation pattern determined by at least one of the preset parameters in a preset encoding mode. The resource allocation indicator value r is used for indicating resource position information allocated to a terminal UE.