Radio Communication System Band Management via Carrier Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional techniques face challenges in enabling communication terminals to recognize and utilize unlicensed frequency bands effectively, leading to difficulties in performing communication while ensuring the use of unlicensed bands in radio communication systems.

Innovation Solution

The proposed radio communication system includes a base station and communication terminal with dedicated units for managing licensed and unlicensed bands, allowing for the recognition and utilization of unlicensed bands by performing carrier aggregation and ensuring seamless communication through proper synchronization and resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional techniques are used for band management, then device complexity is reduced, but communication terminals cannot recognize or effectively utilize unlicensed frequency bands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability to recognize and utilize unlicensed bandsVSAvoidcomplexity of band management structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station divides band management into separate dedicated units: a licensed band managing unit and an unlicensed band managing unit. Each unit independently manages its respective band type, allowing the system to handle both licensed and unlicensed bands simultaneously without confusion. This segmentation enables communication terminals to recognize unlicensed bands through clear separation of management functions while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If carrier aggregation is implemented to increase bandwidth, then data transfer speed increases, but synchronization between multiple bands becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer speedVSAvoidcomplexity of synchronization management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The unlicensed band managing unit acts as an intermediary that receives band information from the licensed band managing unit and performs autonomous determination of unlicensed band usage. This intermediary structure enables carrier aggregation across licensed and unlicensed bands while maintaining synchronization through coordinated information exchange, allowing high data transfer speeds without excessive synchronization complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If unlicensed bands are integrated into the communication system, then usable frequency resources increase, but interference management becomes more challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of usable frequency bandsVSAvoidinterference in unlicensed bands
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The unlicensed band managing unit autonomously determines whether to use unlicensed bands by independently evaluating band information received from the licensed band managing unit. This self-service capability allows the system to dynamically adjust unlicensed band usage based on current conditions, increasing usable frequency resources while managing interference through autonomous decision-making without requiring complex external coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3297351B1Radio communication system, base station, communication terminal, and radio communication system control method
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 FUJITSU LTD
  • EP3297351B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3297351B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3297351B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A base station includes a terminal capability information controlling unit (156) that controls whether or not a first frequency is to be used for communication; a radio link controlling unit (157) that, when the first frequency is to be used for the communication, performs communication by using the first frequency and a second frequency; and a radio link control information generating unit (160) that, when the first frequency is to be used by the terminal capability information controlling unit (156) for the communication, notifies a communication terminal that the first frequency is to be used. The communication terminal includes a controlling unit that, when being notified that the first frequency is to be used, performs communication by using the first frequency and the second frequency.