UE-Specific SRS Bandwidth Allocation in 5G Wireless Systems

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The 5G communication system requires a new SRS bandwidth design due to its operation using the bandwidth part concept, which necessitates UE-specific SRS bandwidth allocation and transmission, differing from LTE systems where all UEs are allocated the same SRS bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system that allows for UE-specific SRS bandwidth allocation and transmission, considering a bandwidth part, enabling the UE to receive and transmit SRS bandwidth and frequency position information from a base station, and determining the frequency position based on system bandwidth, supporting up to 272 resource blocks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If all UEs are allocated the same SRS bandwidth (LTE approach), then system complexity is reduced and signaling overhead is minimized, but UE-specific bandwidth requirements cannot be met and communication efficiency for diverse UE capabilities deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSRS bandwidth allocation complexityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the SRS bandwidth allocation into UE-specific allocations rather than a unified system-wide allocation. Each UE is assigned a dedicated SRS bandwidth based on its individual capabilities and requirements, allowing the system to handle diverse UE types (e.g., narrowband IoT UEs versus wideband enhanced mobile broadband UEs) efficiently without forcing a one-size-fits-all approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic SRS bandwidth allocation where the bandwidth assigned to each UE can be adjusted based on real-time network conditions, UE capabilities, and service requirements. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize communication efficiency for each UE while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized allocation procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If UE-specific SRS bandwidth allocation is implemented (5G approach), then communication efficiency for diverse UE capabilities is improved, but signaling overhead increases and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the SRS bandwidth allocation information from general system parameters and places it in dedicated UE-specific configuration messages. By separating UE-specific SRS bandwidth allocation from system-wide parameters, the patent reduces unnecessary signaling for UEs that don't require custom allocations while maintaining the capability for UE-specific allocation when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing detailed SRS bandwidth configuration only where needed for specific UEs rather than universally. The signaling overhead is localized to only those UEs that require UE-specific allocation, while other UEs use standardized default allocations, thereby reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining communication efficiency for diverse UE capabilities

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Area of stationary object

If SRS bandwidth is increased to cover comprehensive frequency range, then band coverage is improved, but resource allocation complexity and transmission overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveband coverageVSAvoidresource allocation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frequency band into multiple SRS bandwidth parts, each assigned to specific UEs based on their requirements. Instead of allocating the entire system bandwidth to every UE, the frequency resources are divided and assigned selectively, achieving comprehensive band coverage across the system while reducing the complexity of resource allocation for individual UEs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by allocating SRS bandwidth only to the extent needed for each UE's specific requirements rather than providing full system bandwidth to all UEs. This partial allocation approach ensures comprehensive frequency coverage is achieved through coordinated UE-specific allocations while minimizing resource allocation complexity and transmission overhead for each individual UE

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3673606B1A method and apparatus for transmitting reference signal in wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3673606B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP3673606B1 patent drawingFigure 1b
  • EP3673606B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A communication method and a system for converging a fifth generation (5G) communication system for supporting higher data rates beyond a fourth generation (4G) system with an internet of things (IoT) technology are provided, which may be applied to intelligent services based on the 5G communication technology and the IoT-related technology, such as smart home, smart building, smart city, smart car, connected car, health care, digital education, smart retail, security and safety services. A method and an apparatus for transmitting a reference signal are provided. The method includes receiving, from a base station, a first parameter and a second parameter associated with a sound reference signal (SRS) by higher layer signaling, identifying a bandwidth for the SRS based on the first parameter and the second parameter, and transmitting, to the base station, the SRS based on the identified bandwidth for the SRS.