Per-Component Carrier Measurement Gaps in Carrier Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, user equipment (UE) configured with multiple component carriers in carrier aggregation configurations face delays and reduced throughput due to fixed-length measurement gaps, which disrupt communication with serving base stations, especially when performing measurements on neighboring cells.
Innovation Solution
The UE signals band-specific measurement gap indications based on receiver capabilities, allowing the base station to configure measurement gaps independently for each component carrier, enabling continued communication on non-gapped carriers and minimizing interruptions during measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fixed-length measurement gaps are provided to assist UE to perform measurements on neighboring cells, then measurement capability is improved, but communication throughput and continuity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement gap configuration into component carrier-specific gaps rather than applying a single fixed-length gap to all carriers. Each CC can have its own measurement gap configuration, allowing measurements to be performed on specific carriers without interrupting communication on other carriers, thus segmenting the impact of measurement activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic adjustment of measurement gap configurations based on UE capabilities and network requirements. The base station can configure different gap patterns, lengths, and positions for different CCs, and the UE can signal its capability to support such configurations, making the system adaptable rather than static.
2Measurement precision
If the UE pauses communication with the serving base station to perform measurements on target frequency bands, then measurement accuracy is improved, but communication delay and throughput reduction worsen
Solution Approach 1:
By configuring measurement gaps on a per-component-carrier basis rather than system-wide, the patent allows measurements to be performed on specific CCs while maintaining communication on other CCs. This segmentation reduces the overall time loss since not all carriers need to be interrupted simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality levels of service to different component carriers during measurement periods. Some CCs may have measurement gaps configured while others maintain continuous communication, allowing local optimization where measurements are performed only where necessary rather than uniformly across all carriers.
3Productivity
If the UE is configured with a large number of component carriers in carrier aggregation, then system capacity and data rate are improved, but the impact of measurement gaps on throughput worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the carrier aggregation into groups where measurement gaps are applied selectively to specific CCs rather than all CCs simultaneously. This allows the UE to maintain communication on non-gapped CCs while performing measurements on gapped CCs, preserving system capacity while reducing overall throughput loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous communication on component carriers that are not configured with measurement gaps, while measurements are performed on other carriers. This maintains the continuity of useful communication actions across the carrier aggregation, ensuring that system capacity is utilized efficiently even during measurement periods.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication. A user equipment (UE) may signal a band-specific measurement gap indication based on the capability of a set of receivers to measure target frequency bands while monitoring a set of component carriers (CCs). The UE may receive a measurement gap configuration for a first component carrier (CC) associated with measuring the target frequency bands accounting for the band-specific measurement gap indication. The UE may then perform a measurement on one or more of the target frequency bands according to the measurement gap configuration while continuing to monitor other configured CCs for downlink messages and transmit uplink control messages during gaps configured for the first CC (e.g., using a different receiver). In some examples the measurement gap configuration message includes configuration options and the UE may select the measurement gap configuration for the first CC from the set of available options.