MTC PUCCH Resource Allocation for Reduced Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reduced bandwidth MTC devices face challenges in communication due to limited bandwidth support and network coverage issues, particularly with the current PDCCH/PUCCH channel design, which can result in incomplete message reception and low data rates, especially when PUCCH slot hopping is employed.
Innovation Solution
Configuring MTC specific PUCCH resources within a reduced bandwidth, either by over-provisioning, using shared resources like PUSCH, or providing a separate PUCCH channel near the cell's center, ensuring compatibility with legacy devices and maintaining frequency diversity through techniques like time division multiplexing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If PUCCH slot hopping is employed to improve frequency diversity, then frequency diversity is improved, but reduced bandwidth MTC devices cannot access PUCCH resources at opposite edges of cell bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring MTC-specific PUCCH resources with localized frequency properties. MTC devices are allocated PUCCH resources within a restricted frequency range (e.g., around the cell center or within 1.4 MHz bandwidth) rather than across the entire cell bandwidth. This localized resource allocation allows MTC devices with limited bandwidth capability to access PUCCH resources while legacy devices continue to use the full bandwidth, thus resolving the contradiction between frequency diversity and bandwidth compatibility.
2Reliability
If PUCCH resources are allocated at edges of cell bandwidth for legacy devices, then frequency diversity is improved, but reduced bandwidth MTC devices cannot utilize these resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the PUCCH resource space into distinct segments: legacy PUCCH resources at the cell bandwidth edges for legacy devices, and MTC-specific PUCCH resources within a restricted frequency range (e.g., around cell center or within 1.4 MHz) for MTC devices. This segmentation allows both device types to operate simultaneously without interference, with each segment optimized for its target device type's capabilities.
3Device complexity
If the PUCCH bandwidth is limited to 1.4 MHz for MTC devices, then device complexity is reduced, but frequency diversity is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces MTC-specific PUCCH resources as an intermediary solution between the full cell bandwidth PUCCH resources and the limited 1.4 MHz bandwidth capability of MTC devices. These intermediary resources are configured within a restricted frequency range that MTC devices can handle, while still providing sufficient frequency diversity through techniques like slot hopping within the restricted range or through time-domain diversity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system is described in which machine-type communication devices having a reduced bandwidth can be allocated physical uplink control channel resources that fall within that reduced bandwidth whilst other, legacy, devices can continue to use physical uplink control channel resources that do not fall within that reduced bandwidth.