Multi-Carrier Cell Enhancement for NB-IoT Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The NarrowBand-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) network faces limitations in multi-carrier cell configurations, leading to high overhead, inefficient resource usage, and challenges in mobility management and power consumption due to independent frequency points, which are not supported by the current NB-IoT standard for certain combinations of stand-alone and in-band/guard band carriers.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that enhance multi-carrier cell performance by broadcasting configuration information to user equipment (UE) about common carrier lists and weight values, allowing UE to select target carriers based on support for multi-carrier cell enhancement functions, enabling combinations of in-band, stand-alone, and guard band modes, and supporting carrier spans exceeding preset bandwidths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple independent frequency points are used to support massive terminals, then network capacity is improved, but common channel overhead increases and system resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple frequency points into a single multi-frequency point cell, where common channels (NPSS, NSSS, NPBCH, SIB) are transmitted only once on the anchor carrier instead of being replicated on each frequency point. This combining approach maintains the ability to serve multiple terminals while eliminating redundant common channel transmissions, thus improving network capacity without proportionally increasing overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor carrier serves multiple functions by carrying both the common channels and serving as a reference for other frequency points. The non-anchor carriers focus on providing additional capacity while relying on the anchor carrier for common channel functions. This multi-functional design allows the system to support massive terminals while keeping common channel overhead manageable through shared resources.
2Productivity
If each frequency point is independent as a cell, then network capacity is improved, but mobility management becomes challenging due to too many inter-frequency cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple frequency points into a single cell entity with a unique cell ID, rather than treating each frequency point as an independent cell. This merging reduces the number of cells from multiple inter-frequency cells to a single multi-frequency point cell, significantly simplifying mobility management while maintaining the network capacity benefits of multiple frequency points.
Solution Approach 2:
The single cell ID serves multiple frequency points universally, allowing the UE to access any frequency point within the multi-frequency point cell using the same cell identification. This universal cell identity simplifies cell selection and mobility procedures compared to managing multiple independent cell IDs across different frequency points.
3Productivity
If each frequency point is independent as a cell, then network capacity is improved, but terminal power consumption increases during initial cell selection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple frequency points into a single cell with one cell ID, reducing the number of cell selection candidates from multiple independent cells to a single cell. This allows the terminal to complete initial cell selection by evaluating one cell rather than multiple cells across different frequency points, significantly reducing power consumption during the cell selection process while maintaining access to multiple frequency points for data transmission.
4Reliability
If carrier span is limited to meet NB-IoT standard requirements, then system compatibility is maintained, but flexibility in carrier configuration is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic carrier configuration capabilities within the multi-frequency point cell framework, allowing the network to flexibly adjust carrier spans, frequency point selections, and resource allocations based on actual network conditions and requirements. This dynamic approach enables the system to adapt to various deployment scenarios while maintaining compatibility with NB-IoT standards through proper configuration management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables changes in carrier configuration parameters such as carrier span, frequency point offsets, and resource block allocations within the multi-frequency point cell structure. By allowing these parameters to be adjusted dynamically according to network needs, the system achieves greater carrier configuration flexibility while maintaining standard compliance through controlled parameter ranges and validation mechanisms.
5Device complexity
If service reconfiguration between cells is not supported, then system simplicity is maintained, but load balance between carriers is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple carriers into a single multi-frequency point cell, eliminating the need for inter-cell service reconfiguration. Since all frequency points belong to the same cell with a single cell ID, the network can dynamically allocate services and balance load across frequency points without the complexity of inter-cell handovers or reconfigurations. This unified cell structure provides load balance capabilities while maintaining system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for enhancing a multi-carrier cell, and a computer storage medium. The method includes: when broadcasting a common carrier list of a multi-carrier cell, simultaneously broadcasting, by a base station, at least one piece of following configuration information at the same time: a first common carrier list of a first-type user equipment (UE), or a second common carrier list of the first-type UE, where the first-type UE is a UE supporting a multi-carrier cell enhancement function; and if the broadcast configuration information includes the second common carrier list of the UE, simultaneously broadcasting indication information about whether the first-type UE can use a carrier in a common carrier list of a second-type UE, or a weight value of each carrier configured for the first-type UE is broadcast at the same time, where the second-type UE is a UE not supporting the multi-carrier cell enhancement function.