System Information Repetition for MTC Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for transmitting system information in low-coverage environments, such as smart metering MTC devices, face challenges in ensuring reliable communication between MTC terminals and base stations due to limited data rate requirements and lack of enhanced coding and resource mapping solutions, leading to increased deployment costs and coverage issues.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining a system information repetition transmission resource area within a scheduling period, allowing for repetitive transmission of system information using resource elements, and configuring sub-frame resources to optimize transmission and reception, including coding, rate matching, scrambling, and modulation, to enhance coverage performance without additional device deployment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the MIB transmission times are increased within 40ms scheduling period to improve coverage performance, then the coverage performance of MTC terminal is improved, but the deployment cost increases due to need for additional devices such as sites and relays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage performanceVSAvoiddeployment cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic repetition of system information blocks within the 40ms scheduling period. Specifically, the MIB is transmitted multiple times (at least twice) within each 40ms period, with each repetition occurring at predetermined intervals. This periodic transmission ensures that terminals in low-coverage areas can successfully receive and decode the system information without requiring additional deployment infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary configuration of resource elements for system information repetition transmission before actual data transmission. The base station pre-allocates specific resource elements within the 40ms scheduling period dedicated to MIB repetitions, ensuring that the transmission resources are prepared in advance. This preliminary resource allocation enables efficient coverage enhancement without ad-hoc deployment of additional devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If additional devices such as sites and relays are deployed to guarantee normal communication in low-coverage environments, then the communication reliability is improved, but the deployment cost greatly increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoiddeployment cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the existing base station perform multiple functions: it simultaneously transmits both unique MIB instances and repeated MIB instances within the same 40ms scheduling period. This multi-functionality allows the base station to serve both normal coverage areas and low-coverage areas without requiring separate transmission infrastructure, thereby avoiding additional deployment costs while maintaining communication reliability.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transmission parameter of system information by increasing the repetition count within the fixed 40ms scheduling period. Instead of deploying additional devices, the system modifies the transmission parameters (number of repetitions, timing of repetitions) to adapt to low-coverage environments. This parameter adjustment enables the existing infrastructure to achieve improved communication reliability in challenging coverage areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the scheduling period for MIB transmission is shortened to increase transmission frequency, then the coverage performance is improved, but the system complexity increases due to need for enhanced coding and resource mapping solutions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage performanceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the 40ms scheduling period into multiple transmission opportunities for MIB repetitions. Instead of treating the scheduling period as a single block, it divides it into distinct resource element allocations for different MIB transmissions. This segmentation allows for systematic resource management and simplifies the implementation of repetition schemes by providing clear, structured transmission slots within the scheduling period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3082369B1Method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving system information
Publication Date: 2018.09.05 ZTE CORP
  • EP3082369B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3082369B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3082369B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving system information. The method for transmitting comprises: determining a system information repetition transmission resource area within a system information scheduling period, wherein the system information repetition transmission resource area comprises resource elements for repetitively transmitting the system information; and the receiving method comprises: a terminal detecting system information within a system information scheduling period, wherein the system information is system information transmitted on a broadcast channel and system information transmitted on a system information repetition transmission resource area, the system information repetition transmission resource area comprises resource elements for repetitively transmitting the system information.