Signaling Carrier Bandwidth Combinations via Bitmap

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of carrier bandwidth combinations in wireless communication networks for carrier aggregation poses a significant implementation and testing burden, as only a subset of these combinations is of commercial interest, leading to potential interference issues when new bandwidths are enabled.

Innovation Solution

User Equipment (UE) signals supported carrier bandwidth combinations, simplifying testing and operation by indicating specific combinations, using methods such as bitmaps or indices, to reduce the burden of extensive testing across all possible permutations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all possible carrier bandwidth combinations are tested, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and testing burden increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetesting completenessVSAvoidtesting burden
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the commercially relevant carrier bandwidth combinations from the complete set of possible combinations. By identifying and testing only this subset, the solution maintains reliability for practical deployments while significantly reducing testing burden and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing exhaustive testing of all possible carrier bandwidth combinations, the patent applies partial action by testing only the necessary subset that is of commercial interest. This approach achieves sufficient reliability for practical purposes without the excessive burden of complete testing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Adaptability or versatility

If new bandwidth combinations are enabled, then adaptability is improved, but interference issues arise from untested bandwidths

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth flexibilityVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables new bandwidth combinations only after they have been pre-tested and validated. This preliminary testing ensures that adaptability is improved while preventing interference issues from untested bandwidths, as all enabled combinations have already been verified for proper operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If comprehensive carrier bandwidth combinations are supported, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of time increases due to extensive testing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidtesting time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the commercially relevant carrier bandwidth combinations from the complete set. This reduces testing time significantly while maintaining ease of operation for practical deployments, as only the necessary combinations need to be tested and supported.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by testing only the subset of carrier bandwidth combinations that are of commercial interest. This achieves sufficient configuration flexibility for real-world operations while avoiding the time loss associated with exhaustive testing of all possible combinations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4152674A1Signaling of supported carrier bandwidths for carrier aggregation
Publication Date: 2023.03.22 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4152674A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4152674A1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP4152674A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Techniques for signaling carrier bandwidths supported by a user equipment (UE) for carrier aggregation are disclosed. A UE may be configured with a plurality of carriers for carrier aggregation. Each carrier may have one carrier bandwidth of a set of possible carrier bandwidths. The set of possible carrier bandwidths may be dependent on a band in which the carrier belongs. Multiple combinations of carrier bandwidths for the plurality of carriers may be possible. The UE may identify at least one supported carrier bandwidth combination for the plurality of carriers. Each of the supported carrier bandwidth combinations may include a particular carrier bandwidth for each configured carrier. The UE may send signaling indicative of the at least one supported carrier bandwidth combination, wherein the signaling comprises a bitmap of a plurality of bits for a plurality of available carrier bandwidth combinations for the plurality of carriers. The UE may thereafter communicate on the plurality of carriers based on a carrier bandwidth combination selected from the supported carrier bandwidth combination(s).