Reference Signal Cell Activation Interruption Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications systems, the process of activating or deactivating serving cells can cause interruptions in wireless communications due to the need for retuning of common antennas or antenna arrays, leading to extended interruption periods, particularly when activating or deactivating secondary cells within the same frequency band as primary cells.

Innovation Solution

The use of temporary reference signals on active serving cells to reduce the duration of interruptions by providing necessary synchronization and control information, allowing for quicker resumption of communications upon receipt of these signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If serving cells are activated or deactivated to increase data throughput and alleviate network congestion, then network capacity and throughput are improved, but interruptions occur in wireless communications within other serving cells in the same frequency band

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata throughputVSAvoidcommunication continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The base station transmits a reference signal on the first serving cell before the actual activation or deactivation of the second serving cell. This preliminary transmission allows the UE to prepare for the upcoming cell state change, maintaining synchronization and reducing the interruption duration when the second cell is activated or deactivated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A reference signal acts as an intermediary between the base station and the UE during the cell activation/deactivation process. This reference signal carries necessary synchronization information and serves as a bridge to maintain communication continuity on the first serving cell while the second serving cell state changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If common antennas or antenna arrays are retuned during serving cell activation or deactivation, then serving cell state changes are achieved, but the duration of communication interruptions is extended

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveserving cell configuration flexibilityVSAvoidinterruption period duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The reference signal transmission ensures that useful communication action continues on the first serving cell during the antenna retuning process. By maintaining reference signal transmissions, the UE can continue synchronization and communication procedures without full interruption, even while the base station retunes antennas for the second serving cell activation or deactivation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11777678B2Techniques for serving cell activation and deactivation using reference signals

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may be configured to receive, while the UE is in wireless communications with a first serving cell supported by a base station, an indication to activate or deactivate a second serving cell supported by the base station. The UE may receive a reference signal from the base station via the first serving cell, the reference signal received a duration of time after receipt of the indication, where the duration of time is an interruption period for the wireless communications with the first serving cell. The UE may then resume the wireless communications with the first serving cell based on the interruption period ending at receipt of the reference signal.