MTC Device Sub-band Switching for Control Channel Reception

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Solution Overview

Problem

Machine type communication (MTC) devices operating in sub-bands outside the center region of a cell's system band fail to receive the cell-common channel/signal, leading to communication disruptions.

Innovation Solution

An MTC apparatus switches to a preconfigured cell-common sub-band to receive the downlink control channel, using configuration information for sub-bands and subframes to re-tune its RF unit and monitor the Enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel (EPDCCH) in the cell-specific search space, ensuring reception of both control and data channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If MTC apparatus uses a reduced sub-band to decrease costs, then device cost is reduced, but the apparatus fails to receive cell-common channel/signal when operating outside the center region

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice costVSAvoidchannel reception reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The MTC apparatus dynamically switches between operating in a dedicated sub-band (for cost reduction) and a cell-common sub-band (for reliable channel reception). The RF unit is re-tuned based on whether control channel reception is needed, allowing the device to adapt its operating frequency band dynamically rather than being fixed in one band

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-configures multiple sub-bands including a cell-common sub-band and dedicated sub-bands for MTC apparatuses. Before receiving control channels, the MTC apparatus switches to the pre-configured cell-common sub-band to ensure reliable reception, then returns to its dedicated sub-band for normal data communication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If MTC apparatus operates in non-center sub-bands to enable more devices, then device capacity increases, but communication coverage is reduced due to inability to receive control channels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice capacityVSAvoidcommunication coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the frequency band into multiple sub-bands: cell-common sub-bands for control channel transmission and dedicated sub-bands for MTC data communication. This segmentation allows MTC apparatuses to operate in various sub-bands while ensuring control channels are always available in cell-common sub-bands

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cell-common sub-band acts as an intermediary that enables MTC apparatuses operating in dedicated sub-bands to access control channels. The apparatus switches to this intermediary band to receive control information, then returns to its dedicated band for data communication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10382270B2Method and MTC device for receiving downlink channel

Publication Date: 2019.08.13 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

Provided is a method for receiving a downlink control channel in a machine type communication (MTC) device. A method for receiving a downlink control channel can comprise the steps of: receiving first configuration information about an MTC device-operable subband among system bands of a cell; receiving second configuration information, about a subframe, for monitoring a downlink control channel in a cell-specific search space (CSS); and switching from a subband with respect to the first configuration information to a pre-configured cell-common subband and then receiving, in the cell-common subband in a subframe with respect to the second configuration information, a downlink control channel in the CSS and another channel.