Self-Contained Air Interface Partitions for 5G Control Signaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless networks face complexity in monitoring resource partitions and common control channels due to wide frequency spacings, especially when different air interface configurations are used, making it difficult for mobile devices to manage multiple partitions effectively.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of self-contained air interface partitions, where each partition includes all physical control channel signaling necessary for decoding data, allowing mobile devices to communicate using a single air interface configuration without needing to monitor a common control channel, and utilizing an anchor partition for initial access information and load indications to facilitate access to other partitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If mobile devices monitor common control channels across multiple partitions, then control signaling can be centralized, but device complexity and power consumption increase due to wide frequency spacings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemobile device complexityVSAvoidcontrol channel monitoring

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the carrier into multiple self-contained partitions, where each partition includes its own control channels and data channels. This segmentation allows mobile devices to monitor only the control channels within their assigned partition rather than monitoring a common control channel across the entire carrier, thereby reducing device complexity and power consumption while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If different air interface configurations are used across partitions, then resource allocation flexibility improves, but system complexity increases due to multiple configurations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource allocation flexibilityVSAvoidair interface configuration management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the carrier into self-contained partitions, each capable of supporting different air interface configurations independently. This allows the network to allocate resources with high flexibility across different partitions while each mobile device only needs to manage the air interface configuration for its specific partition, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining system-wide adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each partition is configured with local air interface parameters that are optimized for specific service requirements or channel conditions. Mobile devices adapt to the local quality of their assigned partition rather than managing global configurations, which simplifies device complexity while enabling versatile resource allocation across different partitions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If control signaling is centralized in a common control channel, then resource utilization efficiency improves, but access delay increases for self-contained partitions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidaccess delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments control signaling into partition-specific control channels within each self-contained partition. This allows mobile devices to access control signaling locally within their partition without waiting for centralized control channel transmissions, thereby reducing access delay while maintaining efficient resource utilization through dedicated control-data associations in each partition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Control signaling for each partition is prepared and transmitted in advance within the partition structure itself, allowing mobile devices to immediately access required control information without waiting for centralized scheduling decisions. This preliminary placement of control signaling within partitions reduces access delay while maintaining efficient resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11483827B2Systems and methods for self-contained air interface partitions

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Signal processing complexity in fifth generation (5G) networks can be reduced by communicating wireless signals over self-contained partitions of a carrier such that the wireless transmission communicated over each self-contained partition of the carrier includes all physical control channel signaling required to decode data carried in a physical data channel of the partition. The control signaling may include resource assignment within the partition, modulation and coding scheme indication, reference signal configuration and retransmission information. In some embodiments, an anchor partition of a carrier is used to communicate initial access information for self-contained partitions of the carrier. The initial access information may include center-frequencies, bandwidths, and/or air interface configurations of the self-contained partitions. The anchor partition may also carry load indications associated with the self-contained partitions.