NR Carrier Subband Aggregation for UE Bandwidth and Beamforming Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing bandwidth and resource allocation in new radio access technology (NR) carriers due to varying UE system bandwidths and the need for power-saving and efficient resource management, particularly with limited TXRU installation and hybrid beamforming limitations.
Innovation Solution
The method and apparatus configure subband aggregation in NR carriers by allowing UEs to support different bandwidths through data subbands composed of contiguous or non-contiguous physical resource blocks, enabling efficient communication and resource management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a transceiver unit (TXRU) is provided for each antenna element to enable independent beamforming, then beamforming flexibility and frequency selective beaming are improved, but cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency band into multiple subbands and maps different antenna elements to different subbands. Each antenna element is associated with a specific subband, allowing frequency-selective beamforming without requiring a TXRU for every antenna element. This segmentation enables the system to achieve beamforming flexibility while reducing hardware complexity by sharing TXRUs across multiple antenna elements within the same subband.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a frequency-domain dimension to the beamforming process by mapping antenna elements to specific subbands. Instead of requiring spatial separation for frequency-selective beaming, the system uses frequency subband allocation to achieve the same effect. This dimensional transformation allows multiple antenna elements to share TXRUs while maintaining beamforming flexibility through frequency-domain resource allocation.
2Device complexity
If analog beamforming is used to reduce cost, then device complexity is reduced, but frequency selective beaming capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency spectrum into multiple subbands and assigns different antenna elements to different subbands. This segmentation enables frequency-selective beamforming in analog beamforming systems by allowing each antenna element to operate on a specific frequency subband. The gNodeB can then select which subbands to activate for beamforming, achieving frequency selectivity without requiring complex digital beamforming architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic subband allocation where the gNodeB can flexibly assign different subbands to different antenna elements based on channel conditions and beamforming requirements. This dynamic resource allocation allows the system to adapt to varying operational needs and achieve frequency-selective beamforming capabilities while maintaining the simplicity of analog beamforming architecture.
3Device complexity
If hybrid beamforming with B TXRUs is used, then cost is reduced compared to full digital beamforming, but the number of simultaneously transmissible beam directions is limited to B or less
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the limitation on simultaneous beam directions by introducing frequency subbands as an additional dimension. Instead of being constrained to B beam directions with B TXRUs, the system can allocate different subbands to different beam directions. This allows more than B simultaneous beam transmissions by utilizing the frequency domain, effectively decoupling the number of beam directions from the number of TXRUs through subband-based resource allocation.
4Device complexity
If fixed bandwidth configuration is used for all UEs, then system simplicity is maintained, but UE power consumption cannot be optimized for different bandwidth requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth configuration where the gNodeB can allocate different bandwidths (subband aggregations) to different UEs based on their requirements. The system can dynamically adjust the allocated bandwidth for each UE, allowing power-saving operation for UEs with lower bandwidth needs while maintaining simplicity through automated network-side configuration. This dynamic adaptation enables optimal power consumption without requiring complex UE-side bandwidth management.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for configuring a data subband in a wireless communication system is provided. A user equipment (UE) receives an indication of a data subband from a network, configures at least one data subband according to the indication, and performs communication with the network via the at least one data subband. One data subband consists of contiguous or noncontiguous physical resource blocks (PRBs).