Subcarrier Resource Unit Allocation for MTC PUSCH Flexibility

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing Machine Type Communications (MTC) systems face inflexibility in resource assignment for the Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) due to a fixed minimum resource allocation granularity, which limits coverage performance and spectral efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for determining and sending resource information with a subcarrier as the minimum granularity, allowing joint resource assignment at both Physical Resource Block (PRB) and subcarrier Resource Unit (RU) levels, enhancing flexibility in resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If resource assignment uses a fixed minimum granularity of one Physical Resource Block (PRB), then the resource assignment overhead is reduced and system complexity is simplified, but resource allocation flexibility deteriorates and spectral efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource assignment complexityVSAvoidresource allocation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the PRB into smaller subcarrier-level resource units (RUs), where each RU consists of one or more contiguous subcarriers. This segmentation enables resource assignment at a granularity finer than the traditional PRB level, allowing the system to allocate resources in smaller increments and thereby improve flexibility and spectral efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through structured resource unit definitions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new dimension of resource allocation by enabling joint PRB-level and subcarrier-level assignment. The resource assignment indicator can specify both the PRB index and the RU index within that PRB, creating a two-level hierarchical assignment mechanism that expands the allocation space and improves adaptability without linearly increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of manufacture

If resource assignment uses a fixed minimum granularity of one Physical Resource Block (PRB), then system implementation is simplified, but coverage performance and spectral efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem implementation easeVSAvoidspectral efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the PRB into smaller subcarrier-level resource units (RUs), where each RU consists of one or more contiguous subcarriers. This segmentation enables resource assignment at a granularity finer than the traditional PRB level, allowing the system to allocate resources in smaller increments and thereby improve flexibility and spectral efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through structured resource unit definitions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic resource allocation by allowing the resource assignment indicator to flexibly specify both PRB index and RU index based on channel conditions and traffic requirements. This dynamic assignment mechanism enables the system to adapt resource allocation to varying spectral efficiency requirements while maintaining a relatively simple implementation framework through standardized signaling structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of information

If resource assignment uses a fixed minimum granularity of one Physical Resource Block (PRB), then signaling overhead is reduced, but resource assignment precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignaling overheadVSAvoidresource assignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the PRB into smaller subcarrier-level resource units (RUs), where each RU consists of one or more contiguous subcarriers. This segmentation enables resource assignment at a granularity finer than the traditional PRB level, allowing the system to allocate resources in smaller increments and thereby improve flexibility and spectral efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through structured resource unit definitions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a nested structure where resource units (RUs) are nested within PRBs, and the resource assignment indicator nestedly specifies both the PRB level and the RU level within that PRB. This nested assignment mechanism achieves fine-grained resource allocation precision while controlling signaling overhead through hierarchical indication, where the RU index is interpreted within the context of the assigned PRB

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11595183B2Joint resource assigning method and device for allocating resources to terminal

Publication Date: 2023.02.28 ZTE CORP

AI summary

Provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure are a resource determination and information sending method and device, a storage medium and a processor. The resource determination method includes: receiving configuration information, the configuration information carrying indication information for indicating information of a Physical Resource Block (PRB) that supports resource assignment for a terminal with a subcarrier Resource Unit (RU) as a minimum granularity; receiving information carrying a resource assignment field, a Resource Indication Value (RIV) of a specified field in the resource assignment field being used for indicating resource information assigned to the terminal; and determining, according to the indication information and the RIV, a resource assigned to the terminal.