Multiple Active Bandwidth Parts BWP Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, the misalignment between base stations and wireless devices regarding bandwidth part (BWP) activation, deactivation, and switching leads to increased signaling overhead and decreased spectral efficiency due to the inability to determine whether downlink control information (DCI) is for switching, activating, or deactivating multiple active BWPs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of procedures for BWP control and timer management, where a base station sends messages to configure multiple BWPs as active, includes an indication of actions associated with BWPs in DCI or media access control control elements, allowing wireless devices to deactivate secondary BWPs based on primary BWP switching and restart inactivity timers upon activation, deactivation, or switching events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple active BWPs are configured, then adaptability and spectral efficiency are improved, but device complexity and misalignment risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments BWP management into distinct control procedures: activation procedures, deactivation procedures, and switching procedures. Each procedure is independently defined with specific DCI formats and timer management rules, reducing the complexity of managing multiple active BWPs by breaking down the overall management into manageable segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary indication mechanism in DCI formats that explicitly signals whether a BWP change is intended for activation, deactivation, or switching. This intermediary signaling layer mediates between the base station's intent and the wireless device's action, preventing misalignment while supporting multiple active BWPs.
2Productivity
If BWP activation and switching procedures are implemented, then spectral efficiency is improved, but signaling overhead increases due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by configuring BWP parameters and inactivity timers in advance through RRC signaling. The base station pre-configures multiple BWPs with their parameters (bandwidth, subcarrier spacing, cyclic prefix) and associated inactivity timers before activation is needed. This preliminary configuration reduces the signaling overhead during actual activation and switching operations, as only minimal indication signals are needed rather than full BWP parameter signaling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the wireless device confirms BWP activation, deactivation, and switching actions to the base station. The device monitors DCI formats for BWP indications and applies the indicated actions, with the base station's inactivity timer management providing implicit feedback about the expected BWP usage pattern. This feedback loop ensures alignment between base station and device, reducing redundant signaling.
Data Source
AI summary
Bandwidth parts (BWPs) and other resources for wireless communications are described. A wireless device may use a BWP control procedure and/or a BWP timer management procedure for activating, deactivating, and/or switching BWPs, for example, using multiple active BWPs. A base station may send information comprising one or more fields indicating an action associated with a BWP, for example, if multiple active BWPs are supported. A wireless device may control a first BWP inactivity timer associated with a first active BWP, for example, based on activating, deactivating, and/or switching a second BWP.