TDD Reconfiguration Timer for Adaptive Uplink-Downlink Signaling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in dynamically and efficiently updating Time Division Duplex (TDD) configurations to adapt to varying traffic loads, leading to suboptimal resource utilization and increased signaling overhead.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a reconfiguration timer and signaling mechanism to dynamically indicate uplink-downlink configurations in TDD operations, allowing for adaptive reconfiguration with minimal signaling overhead by selecting an appropriate reconfiguration timer value and informing user equipment (UE) accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If frequent TDD reconfiguration is performed to adapt to varying traffic loads, then system adaptability is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTDD configuration adaptabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential reconfiguration information into a compact format and transmits it only when necessary. The base station determines TDD configuration based on traffic load and extracts only the necessary configuration parameters to signal to UEs, rather than transmitting complete reconfiguration messages frequently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic TDD reconfiguration based on traffic load patterns rather than continuous reconfiguration. The base station monitors traffic load over time and performs reconfiguration at optimal intervals, reducing unnecessary signaling while maintaining adaptability to traffic variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Productivity

If rapid TDD reconfiguration is implemented to respond to traffic changes, then resource utilization is improved, but transmission reliability deteriorates due to HARQ timing issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidtransmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary actions by the base station to determine the optimal TDD configuration based on traffic load before signaling to UEs. The base station calculates the appropriate uplink-downlink configuration in advance, ensuring that reconfiguration timing does not conflict with ongoing HARQ processes, thus maintaining transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the base station monitors both traffic load and HARQ process status. This feedback allows the system to adjust reconfiguration timing dynamically, ensuring that rapid reconfiguration does not disrupt HARQ timing relationships and compromising transmission reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If continuous monitoring of downlink subframes is performed to detect configuration changes, then configuration accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration detection accuracyVSAvoidUE energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables UEs to self-determine their uplink-downlink configuration by monitoring only the necessary downlink subframes for configuration indications. UEs use their knowledge of the TDD configuration pattern to identify which subframes contain configuration information, reducing the need for continuous monitoring of all downlink subframes and thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2949171B1Method and apparatus for utilizing a reconfiguration timer for updating TDD configuration
Publication Date: 2018.10.03 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2949171B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2949171B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2949171B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In aspects, methods and apparatus for utilizing a reconfiguration timer for updating TDD configuration are provided. Certain aspects of the present disclosure propose methods and apparatus for improving system performance while using adaptive uplink-downlink reconfiguration in a time division duplex (TDD) system. For certain aspects, a reconfiguration timer may be utilized along with a signaling scheme, in order to enjoy benefits of the adaptive uplink-downlink reconfiguration with minimum signaling overhead.