Partial Subframe Uplink Access for Unlicensed Band Coexistence
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of efficiently transmitting signals in cellular wireless communication systems, particularly in unlicensed frequency bands, is exacerbated by interference from conventional wireless communication devices, necessitating a robust coexistence mechanism to ensure communication quality and channel sharing.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for transmitting signals using partial subframes, where the start time, symbol configuration, and LBT procedure are determined based on signaling information, allowing for efficient channel access and sharing in unlicensed bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If unlicensed band is used for cellular communication service, then spectrum shortage problem is solved, but communication quality cannot be guaranteed and interference with conventional wireless communication device occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) procedure where the base station performs channel sensing before transmitting signals in unlicensed bands. This preliminary channel check ensures that the channel is idle and no conventional wireless communication device is currently transmitting, thereby preventing interference and guaranteeing communication quality before data transmission begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the base station transmits signaling information to user equipment about the channel access status and transmission parameters. This feedback allows user equipment to adjust its transmission parameters accordingly, ensuring coordinated operation and maintaining communication quality in the shared unlicensed spectrum.
2Productivity
If multiple communication facilities use unlicensed band simultaneously, then spectrum efficiency improves, but interference between devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) channel sensing before initiating transmission in unlicensed bands. This preliminary action checks whether the channel is idle and no other communication facility is currently transmitting, thereby preventing interference while allowing multiple facilities to share the spectrum efficiently when conditions permit.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic transmission parameters where the base station adjusts transmission time, power, and other parameters based on real-time channel conditions and signaling information from user equipment. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize spectrum efficiency while minimizing interference by adjusting operations to current channel state.
3Ease of operation
If full subframe transmission is used, then transmission simplicity is maintained, but channel access efficiency in unlicensed band deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional full subframe transmission into partial subframes, where only the necessary portion of the subframe is transmitted after LBT succeeds. This segmentation allows the system to maintain operational simplicity through standardized subframe structures while improving channel access efficiency by transmitting only required data portions, reducing overhead and enabling faster access in the unlicensed band.
Data Source
AI summary
A base station and a user equipment of a wireless communication system are disclosed. Each of the base station and the user equipment of the wireless communication includes a communication module; and a processor. The processor is configured to receive signaling information related to the start of uplink (UL) transmission from the base station through the communication module. The processor is configured to determine whether to perform a UL transmission using a partial subframe based on the signaling information. When the processor performs the UL transmission using the partial subframe, the processor is configured to determine a symbol configuration of the partial subframe based on the signaling information and perform, through the communication module, the UL transmission using the partial subframe according to the symbol configuration. At this time, the partial subframe is a subframe which occupies less than 14 symbols.