Wireless Relay Node Floating Control Region Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, relay nodes (RN) often fail to receive control messages from base stations (eNB) when they need to transmit control information to users (UE2) at the same time the eNB is transmitting to other users (UE1), leading to resource allocation challenges and inefficiencies, particularly in LTE systems where control channels have fixed starting locations within sub-frames.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a 'floating control region' within sub-frames, where the RN can dynamically detect and decode control messages by knowing possible starting locations and sizes a priori, allowing non-overlapping time-frequency resources for RN-to-eNB communication, even when there is no traffic through the RN, and adjusting resource allocation based on traffic needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the RN transmits control information to UE2 at the same time the eNB transmits control information to UE1, then the RN can serve its users concurrently, but the RN fails to receive control messages from the eNB due to resource overlap
Solution Approach 1:
The control region is segmented into two separate parts: a first control region for eNB-to-UE1 communications and a second control region for eNB-to-RN communications. This segmentation allows the RN to receive control messages in the second control region while simultaneously transmitting control information to UE2 in the first control region, resolving the resource conflict and enabling concurrent operations.
2Device complexity
If control channels have fixed starting locations within sub-frames, then the control structure is simple and predictable, but resource allocation flexibility is reduced when relay operations are involved
Solution Approach 1:
The second control region is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing its starting location and size to be adjusted based on traffic needs and resource availability. This dynamic structure provides flexibility in resource allocation for relay operations while maintaining the simple fixed structure of the first control region for conventional communications.
3Ease of operation
If the RN behaves like a regular UE to receive control messages, then the control message reception process is simplified, but the RN cannot receive control messages when it needs to transmit control information simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The second control region acts as an intermediary resource specifically allocated for eNB-to-RN control communications. By providing this dedicated control region, the RN can receive control messages from the eNB without interference from its own transmissions to UE2, while still maintaining the simplified control message reception process analogous to regular UE operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication base station is disclosed. The base station includes a transceiver coupled to a controller configured to generate a sub-frame having first control region for a first set of users and a second control region for a second set of users that do not receive the first control region, the first control region has a fixed starting location within the sub-frame and the second control region has a starting location that is one of several possible starting locations within the sub-frame, wherein the controller is configured to cause the transceiver to transmit the sub-frame to the first and second sets of users without signaling the starting location of the second control region in the sub-frame.