Measurement Gap Patterns for Inter-Frequency UE Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE systems are limited in their ability to configure multiple measurement gap patterns for user equipment (UE) across different frequency layers, leading to increased power consumption, reduced data rate, and slower small cell discovery, especially in heterogeneous networks with multiple frequency layers.
Innovation Solution
The technology allows an evolved Node B (eNB) to configure multiple measurement gap patterns for a user equipment (UE) to perform inter-frequency measurements, enabling simultaneous measurements across multiple RF chains with variable measurement gap lengths and repetition periods, optimizing resource usage and balancing measurement load across different frequency layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single measurement gap pattern is configured for UE, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision and small cell discovery speed deteriorate in heterogeneous networks with multiple frequency layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement gap configuration into multiple independent patterns, each optimized for specific frequency layers or measurement objectives. Instead of using a single universal measurement gap pattern, the system segments the measurement task into multiple specialized patterns that can be selectively applied to different frequency layers, thereby improving measurement precision without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
2Productivity
If measurement gap frequency is increased to improve small cell discovery speed, then productivity improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic measurement gap patterns where the measurement gap frequency and duration are adjusted based on current network conditions, UE state, and measurement priorities. Instead of using a fixed high-frequency measurement gap schedule that continuously drains power, the system dynamically adapts the measurement rhythm to achieve small cell discovery goals while minimizing unnecessary power consumption during stable conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes measurement parameters (gap frequency, duration, and pattern type) based on measurement progress and network conditions. When small cell discovery is urgent or network conditions change, the measurement gap frequency is increased to improve discovery speed. When discovery is complete or conditions are stable, the frequency is reduced to lower power consumption, thus dynamically optimizing the trade-off between productivity and energy usage.
Data Source
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AI summary
Technology for performing downlink scheduling is disclosed. One or more subframes can be identified within a defined frame of a primary cell to perform cross-subframe scheduling for a secondary cell. The primary cell can be configured to communicate with a user equipment (UE) using a licensed band and the secondary cell can be configured to communicate with the UE using an unlicensed band. The cross-subframe scheduling can be performed for one or more downlink subframes of the secondary cell using the one or more subframes of the primary cell.