Soft Buffer Partitioning for Unlicensed Spectrum Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication networks face interference and congestion due to increasing demand for mobile broadband access, which degrades performance, especially in scenarios where multiple users share network resources and unlicensed spectrum is underutilized.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for determining different numbers of component carriers for monitoring and partitioning a soft buffer by a base station, where the second number for partitioning differs from the first number configured for a UE, optimizing soft buffer management in wireless communication systems, including LTE/LTE-A networks operating in licensed and unlicensed spectra.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the number of component carriers for soft buffer partitioning is set equal to the number of monitored component carriers, then the configuration is simple and easy to implement, but the soft buffer management becomes inefficient and network performance degrades under interference and congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the soft buffer allocation by introducing a separate parameter (second number of CCs) specifically for soft buffer partitioning, which is independent from the first number of CCs monitored by the UE. This allows the soft buffer to be divided into distinct partitions corresponding to different CC groups, enabling more granular and efficient buffer management under interference and congestion conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between configuration simplicity and network efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter configuration by allowing the second number of CCs (for soft buffer partitioning) to differ from the first number of CCs (monitored by UE). The base station can independently configure these parameters based on channel conditions, interference levels, and congestion status, enabling dynamic optimization of soft buffer management to improve network efficiency without being constrained by the monitored CC count.
2Device complexity
If the soft buffer is partitioned using the same number of component carriers as monitored, then the management overhead is reduced, but the ability to handle interference and congestion in unlicensed spectrum is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the soft buffer into distinct partitions based on the second number of CCs, which can be specifically optimized for unlicensed spectrum operations. This segmentation allows separate buffer management strategies for licensed and unlicensed CCs, enabling more reliable handling of interference and congestion in unlicensed bands while maintaining manageable overhead through standardized partitioning procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different buffer partitioning configurations for different CC groups. The second number of CCs can be specifically tailored for unlicensed spectrum CCs that are more susceptible to interference, providing localized optimization for reliability-critical operations while keeping the overall management overhead reasonable through structured configuration.
3Quantity of substance
If the base station configures the UE to monitor more component carriers to increase capacity, then the network capacity increases, but the soft buffer becomes insufficient and performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the soft buffer allocation by introducing a separate second number of CCs parameter for buffer partitioning. This allows the network to configure the UE to monitor a first number of CCs for capacity purposes while simultaneously allocating soft buffer resources based on the second number of CCs, ensuring sufficient buffer capacity is reserved for unsuccessfully decoded data packets even when monitoring many carriers for increased network capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the soft buffer partitioning based on the second number of CCs before actual data transmission occurs. This allows the UE to have pre-allocated buffer space for HARQ processes across the configured CCs, ensuring that when capacity is increased by adding more monitored CCs, the soft buffer is already properly sized and partitioned to handle the additional traffic without performance degradation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Soft buffer management is disclosed in which a base station determines a first number of component carriers (CCs) monitored by a user equipment (UE) and determines a second number of CCs for partitioning a soft buffer for storing one or more unsuccessfully decoded data packets, wherein the second number is different than the first number. Various aspects provide for determination of the second number of CCs using clear channel assessment (CCA) clearance information with regard to unlicensed CCs used in the communication system.