Multi-Slot Frequency Hopping for 5G Uplink Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G wireless systems, configuring user equipment (UE) with multi-slot operations and frequency hopping does not achieve full diversity gains due to the same frequency hopping pattern across all slots, leading to reduced coverage, especially in low signal-to-noise ratio (SINR) conditions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing different frequency hopping patterns for each slot during multi-slot operations, with the network node determining the optimal configuration based on UE location and channel conditions, such as Doppler metrics, to enhance frequency diversity and power gain, thereby improving uplink control channel coverage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the same frequency hopping pattern is used across all slots in multi-slot operations, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but frequency diversity gain is insufficient and coverage is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration simplicityVSAvoidfrequency diversity gain

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the frequency hopping pattern variable across different slots rather than static. Specifically, the second frequency hopping pattern is applied in slots that are not the first slot, creating a dynamic hopping behavior that adapts to different time instances. This temporal variation enables the system to capture frequency diversity gains while maintaining reasonable operational complexity through structured pattern selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If different frequency hopping patterns are implemented for each slot, then frequency diversity gain and coverage are improved, but device complexity and configuration complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency diversity gainVSAvoidconfiguration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frequency hopping configuration into distinct patterns for different slot types. The first slot uses a first frequency hopping pattern, while non-first slots use a second frequency hopping pattern. This segmentation allows the system to achieve frequency diversity through pattern differentiation without requiring completely independent configuration for each slot, thereby managing complexity through structured categorization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the frequency hopping pattern parameter across different slots to achieve frequency diversity. By switching between at least two different frequency hopping patterns based on slot position (first slot versus non-first slots), the system modifies the frequency domain characteristics over time, capturing diversity gains while maintaining manageable configuration complexity through parameter variation rather than structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS10992339B2Uplink coverage for 5G or other next generation network using multi-slot frequency hopping

Publication Date: 2021.04.27 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Facilitating multi-slot frequency hopping can comprise generating configuration data associated with configuring a mobile device with a multi-slot operation, associated with slots of the mobile device, for sending uplink channel control data or traffic channel data. Additionally, facilitating multi-slot frequency hopping can comprise transmitting the configuration data to the mobile device, resulting in a multi-slot configuration of the mobile device, wherein the configuration data comprises hopping patterns to be used by the slots.