Narrowband Allocation for MTC UEs in LTE Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current narrowband allocation methods for Machine Type Communication (MTC) User Equipment (UE) in LTE/LTE-A systems are limited in flexibility and efficiency, leading to high overheads in resource allocation and potential interference with legacy UE scheduling.
Innovation Solution
The method involves allocating non-overlapping or partially overlapping narrowbands to MTC UE, using specific PRB index intervals and grouping strategies to minimize resource allocation overheads and ensure compatibility with legacy UEs, while ensuring the presence of complete SRS narrowbands for uplink data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple narrowbands are allocated to MTC UE in LTE/LTE-A systems, then resource allocation flexibility is improved, but resource allocation overheads increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the available spectrum into multiple narrowbands, each consisting of a specific number of contiguous physical resource blocks (PRBs). This segmentation allows MTC UE to be allocated specific narrowbands based on their needs, improving resource allocation flexibility while enabling efficient indication through narrowband indices rather than detailed resource descriptions
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of indicating resource allocations directly through detailed resource block assignments, the patent inverts the approach by defining narrowbands as the basic allocation unit and indicating allocations through narrowband indices. This inversion reduces the number of bits required for resource allocation signaling, thereby reducing overheads while maintaining flexibility
2Adaptability or versatility
If narrowbands are allocated to MTC UE, then compatibility with legacy UE scheduling is improved, but interference with legacy UE scheduling may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by ensuring that narrowband allocations to MTC UE do not overlap with resource allocations to legacy UE. The system checks the resource allocation status of legacy UE and configures narrowbands in regions that do not interfere with legacy scheduling, thereby maintaining compatibility while avoiding harmful interference
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coordination mechanism as an intermediary between MTC UE narrowband allocation and legacy UE scheduling. The eNodeB acts as the mediator, managing and coordinating the resource allocations to ensure that narrowband assignments to MTC UE do not conflict with legacy UE scheduling, thus preventing interference
3Productivity
If uplink narrowbands are allocated for data transmission, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but SRS transmission may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The uplink bandwidth is segmented into multiple narrowbands, and the system ensures that at least one complete narrowband is always available for SRS transmission. This segmentation allows the eNodeB to allocate specific narrowbands for data transmission while reserving others for SRS, thereby maintaining both data transmission efficiency and SRS transmission reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring uplink narrowbands to ensure that at least one complete narrowband is always available for SRS transmission before data transmission begins. This advance preparation ensures that SRS transmission requirements are met while still allowing efficient data transmission in other narrowbands
Data Source
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AI summary
At least some embodiments of disclosure provide a method and device for narrowband allocation, and a method and device for acquiring narrowband allocation. In the method, at least one narrowband is allocated to a User Equipment (UE), wherein at least one Physical Resource Block (PRB) contained in each of the at least one narrowband is not overlapped, or at least one PRB contained in part or all of the at least one narrowband is partially overlapped. According to a technical solution provided in the disclosure, overheads of indicating uplink and downlink resource allocations can be reduced, a downlink narrowband defined in the technical solution provided in the disclosure neither splits a Resource Block Group (RBG) nor causes an effect on scheduling of a legacy UE, and a defined uplink narrowband contains a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) bandwidth having four PRBs, so that an evolved Node B (eNB) can schedule the UE to send data without giving up sending an SRS.