Narrow-band Physical Control Channel Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in configuring narrow-band physical channels to coexist with wide-band communication systems within the same radio frequency spectrum, requiring efficient resource allocation and compatibility to ensure effective communication.
Innovation Solution
The method involves allocating resources in a downlink carrier with a first set of resource elements for cell-specific reference signals and a second set for narrow-band cell-specific reference signals, rate-matching these resources based on deployment modes, and transmitting information to narrow-band communication devices using a subset of allocated resources, potentially employing space frequency block coding for transmit diversity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If narrow-band communication devices operate within the same radio frequency spectrum band as wide-band communication devices, then spectrum utilization is improved, but resource allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the downlink carrier resources by defining separate resource element sets: a first set for cell-specific reference signals (CRS) associated with wide-band communication devices, and a second set for narrow-band CRS (NB-CRS) associated with narrow-band communication devices. This segmentation allows independent resource allocation and rate-matching strategies for each device type, reducing allocation complexity while maintaining spectrum efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by configuring different reference signal structures and rate-matching behaviors in different resource regions. Wide-band devices use CRS-based reference signals with standard rate-matching, while narrow-band devices use NB-CRS with specific rate-matching around the first set of resource elements. This localized optimization enables each device type to operate efficiently in its designated resource domain.
2Adaptability or versatility
If resources are allocated for both wide-band and narrow-band communication, then communication compatibility is improved, but available resources for each device type are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges wide-band and narrow-band communication resources within a unified downlink carrier framework. By allowing narrow-band physical channels to share the downlink carrier with wide-band communication while applying rate-matching around CRS resource elements, the system achieves spectral efficiency through resource consolidation while maintaining compatibility with both device types through differentiated resource element allocation.
3Reliability
If rate-matching is applied around cell-specific reference signals and narrow-band CRS, then transmission reliability is improved, but resource allocation overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the rate-matching behavior around CRS and NB-CRS resource elements through higher-layer signaling. The base station signals the number of resource elements for NB-CRS and the rate-matching pattern in advance, allowing narrow-band devices to pre-calculate their available resources and avoid complex real-time resource allocation decisions, thereby reducing overhead while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for wireless communication. One method includes allocating, in a downlink carrier including a plurality of resource blocks, a first set of resource elements for cell-specific reference signals (CRS) associated with communication with one or more communication devices of a first type; allocating resources of a resource block of the plurality of resource blocks to a narrow-band physical channel for communication with one or more communication devices of a second type, the allocated resources being rate-matched around the first set of resource elements and a second set of resource elements allocated to narrow-band CRS (NB-CRS) associated with communication with the one or more communication devices of the second type; and transmitting information to the one or more communication devices of the second type mapped to a subset of the allocated resources of the narrow-band physical channel.