Relay Node Control Channel Resource Allocation in LTE-A Backhaul

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE-A, the allocation of control channel resources for relay nodes within backhaul subframes is inefficient due to high hardware complexity and the need for frequent blind decodings, leading to resource wastage and increased implementation complexity.

Innovation Solution

The method involves dividing the resource region for relay nodes into multiple resource groups and allocating the same resource group to relays operating in the same transmission mode, reducing the number of blind decodings and maximizing frequency diversity gain by supporting both interleaved and non-interleaved resource groups.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the control channel resource is allocated semi-statically to relay nodes, then the resource allocation is simplified and easier to manage, but the resource cannot be easily changed in size and cannot be allocated in a frequency selective manner, resulting in resource wastage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation simplicityVSAvoidfrequency selective allocation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control channel resource is divided into multiple resource groups, each group being independently allocable. This segmentation allows the system to maintain semi-static allocation for simplicity while enabling frequency-selective allocation by selecting specific resource groups based on channel conditions, thus resolving the contradiction between allocation simplicity and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If a large amount of semi-static resource is informed to perform frequency selective resource allocation, then frequency selective allocation is enabled, but the number of blind decodings increases especially when small transmission resource is allocated, resulting in degradation of efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency selective allocation capabilityVSAvoidrelay decoding efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the control channel resource into multiple resource groups, the relay node only needs to perform blind decoding on the specific resource group allocated to it rather than searching through all semi-static resources. This reduces the number of blind decodings and improves decoding efficiency while maintaining frequency selective allocation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different resource groups can be allocated to different relay nodes based on their specific channel conditions and transmission modes. This local quality approach ensures that each relay node performs blind decoding only in its allocated resource group, reducing overall system complexity and improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If the relay resource region is pre-configured in a large size, then frequency selective resource allocation can be performed, but the relay must perform a plurality of blind decodings, resulting in an increase of relay implementation complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency selective allocation capabilityVSAvoidrelay implementation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The large pre-configured resource region is segmented into multiple smaller resource groups. The relay node only needs to monitor and perform blind decoding on its specifically allocated resource group rather than the entire large resource region, significantly reducing implementation complexity while preserving frequency selective allocation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3454618B1Method and apparatus for allocating a control channel resource of a relay node in a backhaul subframe
Publication Date: 2022.02.16 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3454618B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3454618B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3454618B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method by a base station in a communication system comprises generating, by the base station, a signaling message including information for a control channel, the information for the control channel including information on at least one of resource block set, and information on a reference signal. The base station transmits the signaling message including information for the control channel to a node, and generates the control channel and the reference signal based on the information for the control channel. The base station transmits the control channel and the reference signal generated based on the at least one of resource block set, to the node, wherein the information for the control channel comprises resource assignment information, which indicates the Resource Block set.