MBS Bandwidth Part Switching for Reliable UE Service Reception

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile communication systems face challenges in effectively providing multicast and broadcast services (MBS) when the bandwidth part (BWP) where the service is provided differs from the active BWP of the user equipment (UE).

Innovation Solution

The method involves identifying the mismatch between the active BWP and the BWP for the MBS service of interest, transmitting a message to the base station, and receiving information related to the MBS service, which may include BWP switching, updated MBS information, or configuring gaps and periods to align the active BWP with the MBS service.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE continues to use the current active BWP without switching, then the UE maintains stable resource allocation and avoids unnecessary switching overhead, but the MBS service cannot be received effectively when the MBS BWP differs from the active BWP

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMBS service reception reliabilityVSAvoidBWP management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The UE autonomously detects whether the MBS BWP matches the active BWP and determines the need for BWP switching without requiring explicit network commands for each MBS service, reducing network signaling overhead while ensuring reliable MBS reception

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The UE provides feedback to the network about its active BWP state and MBS service reception status, enabling the network to understand the BWP alignment situation and optimize MBS service delivery accordingly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the UE switches to a different BWP to receive MBS service, then MBS service reception is enabled, but additional signaling overhead and processing complexity are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMBS service delivery efficiencyVSAvoidBWP switching time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network pre-configures multiple BWPs for the UE including MBS-specific BWPs, so that when MBS service needs to be received, the UE can quickly switch to the pre-configured MBS BWP without extensive real-time configuration negotiations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The BWP switching mechanism allows the UE to rapidly transition between BWPs using compact signaling (such as DCI-based switching), minimizing the time required to align the active BWP with the MBS BWP and reducing service interruption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

3Quantity of substance

If the network provides MBS service on a dedicated BWP different from UE's active BWP, then resource allocation is optimized for MBS, but the UE cannot receive the service without BWP switching

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveResource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidService reception ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The BWP configuration framework allows each BWP to serve multiple purposes - dedicated BWPs can be configured specifically for MBS services while also being integrated into the UE's overall active BWP management, enabling a single BWP structure to fulfill both general communication and specialized MBS reception functions

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

Solution Approach 2:

The network acts as an intermediary by managing the BWP configuration and switching decisions, coordinating between the MBS service delivery requirements and the UE's active BWP state to ensure seamless service reception without requiring complex UE-side resource management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4135454B1Method and device for BWP switching for receiving MBS in mobile communication system
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4135454B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4135454B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4135454B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an operation method of a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system may be provided. The operation method may include identifying whether an active bandwidth part (BWP) is the same as a BWP for a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) selected by the UE, transmitting, to a base station, a message including information about the MBS when the active BWP is different from the BWP for the MBS, receiving, from the base station, based on the message, information for providing a service based on the MBS, and receiving the MBS, based on the information for providing the service based on the MBS.