Standalone MTC Operation Using Unused LTE Resources
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current eMTC technologies are inefficient due to the inability to utilize all available time-frequency resources in LTE carriers, leading to resource waste and limitations when LTE systems are re-farmed to NR, as they reserve specific OFDM symbols and PRBs for legacy PDCCH transmission, restricting eMTC's bandwidth usage.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves broadcasting unused time-frequency regions by base stations for eMTC user equipment to use for system information, wake-up signals, synchronization signals, or data transmission extensions, allowing Rel-16 UEs to access these regions without impacting legacy UEs, thereby optimizing resource utilization and supporting dual-mode NR-IoT UEs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If eMTC operates on a narrowband concept within LTE carrier, then legacy PDCCH transmission can be supported, but eMTC efficiency is reduced and resources are wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the time-frequency resources by separating legacy PDCCH transmission (first N OFDM symbols) from eMTC data transmission (remaining symbols). This allows legacy UEs to access control information while eMTC UEs utilize the remaining resources for data communication, resolving the contradiction between supporting legacy transmission and improving eMTC efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends eMTC operation from traditional narrowband LTE carrier to standalone mode within NR carrier, utilizing both time and frequency dimensions. By allowing eMTC to use all available PRBs across multiple bandwidths and all OFDM symbols except the first N, the system transitions from a constrained narrowband approach to a broader dimensional resource utilization approach.
2Productivity
If LTE systems are re-farmed to NR, then spectrum utilization is improved, but support for legacy eMTC UEs becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal resource allocation mechanism where NR carriers can simultaneously support both NR UEs and legacy eMTC UEs. The base station broadcasts availability information for unused time-frequency regions, allowing dual-mode UEs to dynamically select between NR and eMTC modes, thus maintaining versatility while achieving high spectrum utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic resource allocation where the base station can flexibly assign time-frequency regions to different UEs based on their needs. Dual-mode UEs can dynamically switch between NR and eMTC operations, and the system can adaptively allocate resources to maximize spectrum utilization while maintaining backward compatibility.
3Reliability
If first N OFDM symbols are reserved for legacy PDCCH transmission, then legacy UE compatibility is maintained, but eMTC cannot utilize all available time resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments OFDM symbols into two distinct parts: first N symbols reserved for legacy PDCCH transmission to maintain compatibility, and remaining symbols allocated for eMTC data transmission. This segmentation allows both legacy and enhanced eMTC operations to coexist within the same carrier, maximizing the quantity of available time resources for eMTC while preserving legacy support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality differentiation by assigning different functions to different time resources. The first N OFDM symbols maintain legacy PDCCH transmission characteristics for compatibility, while the remaining symbols provide enhanced eMTC data transmission capabilities. This local differentiation optimizes resource utilization while maintaining overall system compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Method, apparatus and computer program product where a base station broadcasts a signal indicating that at least one time-frequency region, which is unused by a data transmission in a first radio access technology, is available for a transmission, allowing the base station to maintain support for and/or extending coverage of certain legacy user equipment. Such a transmission includes system information for a second radio access technology, wake-up signal, synchronization signal, and/or extension of the data transmission. Thereafter, the base station transmits such a transmission in the at least one time-frequency region that was indicated.