Subframe Control Region Bandwidth Adjustment for Interference Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, the reduction of guard bands between uplink and downlink channels leads to increased interference, causing desensing issues that hinder the ability of receivers to decode signals effectively, particularly in scenarios where transmissions occur simultaneously and are geographically or frequency proximate.

Innovation Solution

The method involves adjusting the transmission bandwidth configurations by using indicators in scheduling grants to mute specific resource elements or adjust power levels in the control region, thereby creating an effective guard band that reduces interference between uplink and downlink channels, allowing for effective signal decoding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the guard band between uplink and downlink channels is reduced to increase spectrum efficiency, then spectrum efficiency is improved, but interference between channels increases causing receiver desensing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectrum efficiencyVSAvoidinterference between channels
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control region into two distinct parts: a first control region for downlink control information and a second control region for uplink control information. This segmentation allows each control region to be optimized independently, with the second control region positioned to avoid interference with downlink receivers while the first control region maintains standard positioning for downlink user equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new spatial dimension for control region positioning by placing the second control region in a different frequency location than the first control region. This dimensional separation in the frequency domain creates an effective guard band that isolates uplink and downlink control signals, preventing receiver desensing while maintaining spectrum efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Productivity

If transmissions on uplink or downlink channels occur simultaneously near receivers operating in adjacent channels, then spectrum utilization is improved, but receiver desensing occurs making signal decoding difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectrum utilizationVSAvoidsignal decoding capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control region is divided into separate downlink and uplink control regions positioned at different frequency locations. This segmentation ensures that uplink control signals do not interfere with downlink data reception, maintaining signal decoding capability even when transmissions occur simultaneously in adjacent channels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The separated control regions act as intermediary structures that mediate between uplink and downlink transmissions. By positioning the second control region specifically to avoid interfering with downlink receivers, it serves as a buffer that enables simultaneous uplink and downlink operations without desensing adjacent channel receivers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If the guard band is reduced by using additional frequency spectrum for carrier aggregation, then available bandwidth is increased, but interference causing desense issues increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveavailable bandwidthVSAvoidinterference causing desense
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

With carrier aggregation enabling multiple component carriers, the patent segments control regions across different frequency bands. The second control region is positioned in a frequency location that avoids interfering with downlink receivers even when the guard band is reduced, allowing full utilization of aggregated bandwidth without desense issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the frequency dimension created by carrier aggregation to position the second control region in a non-interfering location. This dimensional placement allows the system to expand available bandwidth through carrier aggregation while maintaining isolation between uplink and downlink control signals to prevent desense.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2890198B1Method and apparatus to adjust the control region of a subframe for reducing interference between channels in wireless communication systems
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
  • EP2890198B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2890198B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2890198B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method comprises receiving, during communication between network equipment (110) and a user equipment (102), a message in at least one subframe of a plurality of subframes (426). The plurality of subframes (426) each having one of a first transmission bandwidth configuration and a second transmission bandwidth configuration. The message indicates a transmission bandwidth configuration for a control region (408) in at least one of the first transmission bandwidth configuration and the second transmission bandwidth configuration for a plurality of subsequent subframes (424). The method further comprises receiving at least one of the plurality of subframes (426) having the control region (408) of the transmission bandwidth indicted by the message.