NR-U Subband Resource Allocation with Guard Bands for PUSCH

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, particularly in New Radio unlicensed (NR-U) deployments, UEs face challenges in identifying and utilizing resource blocks for PUSCH communications due to uncertainties in subband and guard band configurations in unlicensed frequency bands, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of subband configurations that include guard bands, which are either hard-coded system-wide or configured on a cell or bandwidth part basis, allowing UEs to identify resource blocks for PUSCH transmissions by specifying subband and guard band parameters, thereby enabling effective resource allocation in unlicensed frequency bands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If subband configurations with guard bands are implemented in NR-U, then resource allocation accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation accuracyVSAvoidsubband configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the unlicensed frequency band into multiple subbands, each with defined guard bands, allowing UEs to identify specific resource blocks for PUSCH communications. This segmentation enables precise resource allocation by separating the frequency band into manageable units with clear boundaries, resolving the contradiction between allocation accuracy and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different configurations to different subbands, with each subband having its own guard band parameters. This local differentiation allows the system to optimize resource allocation for each subband independently while maintaining overall system manageability, addressing the trade-off between precision and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If subband and guard band parameters are configured on a cell or bandwidth part basis, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but configuration overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidconfiguration overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes subband configuration parameters at the cell or bandwidth part level, making these configurations universally applicable across multiple UEs and resource allocations. This universal configuration approach reduces per-UE overhead while maintaining efficient resource utilization, as the same subband and guard band parameters can be reused across different contexts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent pre-configures subband parameters and guard band settings before actual resource allocation occurs. By establishing these configurations in advance at the cell or bandwidth part level, the system eliminates the need for repeated per-UE configuration signaling, thereby reducing configuration overhead while maintaining high resource utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If UEs identify resource blocks based on subband configuration, then interference reduction is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference reductionVSAvoidresource identification time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the frequency band into subbands with defined guard bands, the patent enables UEs to quickly identify valid resource blocks within specific subbands rather than searching the entire frequency spectrum. This segmentation reduces interference by confining transmissions to designated subbands and accelerates resource identification through structured organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the organizational parameters of resource allocation by introducing subband-based structure with guard bands. This parameter change transforms the resource identification process from a complex search across all frequencies to a streamlined selection within predefined subbands, reducing both interference and processing time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3984157B1Techniques for subband based resource allocation for NR-u
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3984157B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3984157B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3984157B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may identify a subband configuration for a plurality of subbands configured for the UE, the subband configuration including one or more guard bands for the plurality of subbands. The UE may identify one or more resource blocks, in which to transmit a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) communication, based at least in part on the subband configuration. The UE may transmit, to a base station (BS), the PUSCH communication in the one or more resource blocks. Numerous other aspects are provided.