RedCap-Specific Initial Downlink Bandwidth Parts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication systems face challenges in supporting reduced-capability user equipment (UEs) during idle or inactive modes due to their limited capabilities, leading to missed communications and negatively impacting network and device performance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing reduced-capability-specific initial downlink bandwidth parts (BWP) that allow UEs to monitor control channels and receive communications, enabling them to perform idle or inactive mode procedures effectively, while network nodes transmit specific communications on non-RedCap and RedCap-specific channels to accommodate UEs' capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If standard initial downlink bandwidth parts are used for all UEs, then network coverage and control channel availability are maintained, but RedCap UEs with limited capabilities experience missed communications and cannot perform idle or inactive mode procedures effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliability for RedCap UEsVSAvoidbandwidth adaptability to different UE capabilities

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The initial downlink bandwidth part is segmented into two distinct types: standard initial downlink BWP for non-RedCap UEs and RedCap-specific initial downlink BWP for reduced-capability UEs. This segmentation allows each UE type to operate in its optimized bandwidth environment, ensuring RedCap UEs can reliably monitor control channels and perform idle/inactive mode procedures without missing communications, while non-RedCap UEs continue to use the standard configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different bandwidth characteristics are applied locally to different UE types. The RedCap-specific initial downlink BWP is configured with narrower bandwidth and adjusted transmission parameters specifically tailored to RedCap UEs' limited capabilities, while non-RedCap UEs continue to use the full-capability standard BWP. This local quality differentiation ensures each UE type receives appropriately matched resources without affecting the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Use of energy by moving object

If bandwidth is reduced for RedCap UEs to match their capabilities, then power consumption and complexity are reduced, but network coverage and control channel monitoring capability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumption for control channel monitoringVSAvoidcontrol channel reception reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The RedCap-specific initial downlink BWP employs parameter changes including reduced bandwidth, adjusted subcarrier spacing, and modified transmission power levels that are optimized for RedCap UEs' power constraints. These parameter adjustments reduce the power required for control channel monitoring while maintaining reliable communication by ensuring the reduced bandwidth configuration still provides sufficient signal quality and coverage for the UE's capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a single control channel configuration is used for all UEs, then network complexity is minimized, but RedCap UEs cannot effectively perform idle or inactive mode procedures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork configuration complexityVSAvoidease of performing idle or inactive mode procedures

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control channel configuration is segmented into two distinct configurations: standard control channels for non-RedCap UEs and RedCap-specific control channels within the RedCap-specific initial downlink BWP. This segmentation enables RedCap UEs to effectively monitor and respond to control channels during idle and inactive modes, while the network manages both configurations through standardized procedures, minimizing the increase in overall network complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20230104269A1Reduced-capability-specific initial bandwidth parts

Publication Date: 2023.04.06 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may monitor a control channel configured within a reduced capability (RedCap)-specific initial downlink bandwidth part (BWP), wherein the UE is a RedCap UE operating in idle mode or inactive mode. The UE may receive at least one communication via the control channel. Numerous other aspects are described.