Per-CC Measurement Gap Configuration for LTE Carrier Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE and LTE-Advanced networks, face inefficiencies in measurement gap configurations for user equipment (UE) with multiple RF chains, leading to unnecessary resource wastage and complex measurement gap requirements due to shared hardware components across component carriers, which complicates seamless network transitions and handovers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing per-component carrier (Per-CC) based measurement gap configurations that allow for shorter measurement gap lengths and dynamic configuration based on UE capabilities, enabling more efficient measurement operations by determining the need for measurement gaps on a per-serving band basis, thereby optimizing resource usage and reducing autonomous interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If measurement gaps are configured for all component carriers, then measurement coverage is improved, but resource wastage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the measurement gap configuration from a system-wide approach into per-component carrier (per-CC) configuration. Each component carrier can be individually assessed and configured with measurement gaps only when necessary, rather than applying gaps across all carriers uniformly. This segmentation allows the system to maintain measurement coverage for carriers that need it while avoiding resource wastage on carriers that don't require measurement gaps.
2Reliability
If measurement gaps are configured for all component carriers, then measurement coverage is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic configuration of measurement gaps based on UE capabilities and specific component carrier requirements. The network can adaptively enable or disable measurement gaps for different component carriers based on real-time conditions, UE measurement capabilities, and carrier characteristics. This dynamic approach reduces complexity by only configuring gaps where and when they are actually needed, rather than using a static all-or-nothing configuration.
3Measurement precision
If longer measurement gap lengths are used, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different measurement gap lengths to different component carriers based on their specific requirements and UE capabilities. Instead of using a uniform long gap length for all carriers, the system can configure shorter gaps for carriers where sufficient measurement precision can be achieved with reduced gap duration, and longer gaps only where absolutely necessary. This local differentiation optimizes the balance between measurement precision and resource efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
Devices, methods, user equipment (UE), core network devices, evolved node B (eNB), and storage media for per component carrier (CC) measurement gap configuration. In one embodiment, processing circuitry of a UE decodes an RRCConnectionReconfiguration communication from an eNB to identify an information element (IE) with a per component carrier gap indication request (perCCgapRequest), where the perCCgapRequest requests measurement gap preferences of the UE per component carrier. The circuitry sets content of an RRCConnectionReconfigurationComplete message to include an indication of the measurement gap preferences of the UE per component carrier in response to the PerCCgapRequest, and initiates transmission of the RRCConnectionReconfigurationComplete message comprising the measurement gap preferences of the UE per component carrier. In various embodiments, additional capability, reconfiguration, and measurement operations using the configured gaps are performed. Corresponding operations by eNB and network devices are also described.