Narrowband IoT UE Random Access via Carrier Aggregation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face limitations in communication capacity, speed, flexibility, and efficiency, particularly in supporting low complexity and bandwidth-reduced user equipment (UE) for Machine-Type Communications (MTC) and Narrowband-IoT (NB-IoT) operations, which require enhanced coverage and low power consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method for user equipment (UE) and evolved Node B (eNB) that enables efficient radio resource utilization through carrier aggregation, dual connectivity, and NB-IoT multi-carrier operations, supporting bandwidth-reduced UEs with enhanced coverage and low power consumption, by configuring multiple serving cells and using dedicated RRC signaling for optimized radio access procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple connections are used for wireless communication, then communication capacity and functionality are improved, but device complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication system into two distinct parts: a first radio access technology (RAT) for control plane operations and a second RAT for user plane data transmission. This segmentation allows low complexity UEs to maintain multiple connections by separating the complex control functions (handled via simplified procedures in the first RAT) from the data transmission functions (handled via efficient mechanisms in the second RAT), thereby improving communication capacity while managing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple connections are used for wireless communication, then communication functionality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the communication functionality into control plane operations (first RAT) and user plane operations (second RAT), allowing low complexity UEs to optimize power consumption by using energy-efficient mechanisms for each. The control plane uses simplified procedures with reduced signaling overhead, while the user plane leverages efficient data transmission mechanisms, enabling enhanced communication functionality without proportionally increasing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic monitoring and switching between the two radio access technologies, allowing the UE to alternate between control plane activities on the first RAT and user plane activities on the second RAT. This periodic action optimizes power consumption by keeping the UE in low-power states during transitions and only activating necessary communication functions at specific intervals.
3Device complexity
If bandwidth-reduced UE configurations are used, then device complexity and power consumption are reduced, but communication capacity and coverage are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the capabilities of two different radio access technologies into a single unified communication system. Low complexity UEs with bandwidth-reduced configurations can simultaneously utilize the first RAT for control plane operations and the second RAT for user plane data transmission, effectively combining the strengths of both technologies to achieve communication capacity and coverage that exceeds what either technology could provide alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal communication framework where a single UE configuration can operate across multiple radio access technologies. The first RAT and second RAT are designed to work together, allowing bandwidth-reduced UEs to perform both control plane and user plane functions across different technological platforms, thereby achieving multi-functionality without increasing device complexity.
4Reliability
If traditional random access procedures are used, then compatibility with existing systems is maintained, but efficiency and flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the random access procedure into two distinct phases: a first random access procedure for the control plane using the first RAT, and a second random access procedure for the user plane using the second RAT. This segmentation maintains compatibility with existing systems by preserving traditional random access mechanisms in the control plane, while simultaneously improving communication efficiency through optimized random access procedures in the user plane that are tailored to the specific characteristics of the second RAT.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method performed by a user equipment (UE) is described. The method includes performing a random access procedure in a first downlink frequency resource and/or a first uplink frequency resource; in the random access procedure, monitoring an NPDCCH in the first downlink frequency resource; detecting an NPDCCH in the first downlink frequency resource; transmitting, to an evolved Node B (eNB), a narrowband physical uplink shared channel (NPUSCH) on a second uplink frequency resource based on detection of the NPDCCH on the first downlink frequency resource, in a case that the NPDCCH contains an uplink (UL) grant for contention resolution; and receiving, from the evolved Node B (eNB), a narrowband physical downlink shared channel (NPDSCH) on a second downlink frequency resource based on detection of the NPDCCH on the first downlink frequency resource, in a case that the NPDCCH contains a downlink (DL) assignment for contention resolution.