TDD Special Subframe TTI Bundling for Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing TDD system cannot employ TTI bundling with UL/DL configuration 2 and other configurations to enhance coverage, limiting the ability to improve cell coverage in scenarios where TD-SCDMA networks coexist with LTE TDD systems.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using special subframes for TTI bundling, where a base station determines the need for special subframes based on resource allocation and interference, and sends a message to user equipment (UE) to transmit TTI bundling packets on either special or normal subframes, allowing for enhanced coverage by configuring redundancy versions and resource allocation specific to each subframe type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If TTI bundling is used to improve cell coverage, then coverage is enhanced, but it cannot be applied with UL/DL configuration 2 and other configurations in TDD systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell coverageVSAvoidconfiguration compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the TDD subframes into different types (first type with more DL subframes, second type with more UL subframes) and applies TTI bundling selectively to uplink subframes within these segmented configurations. This allows TTI bundling to be adapted to work with UL/DL configurations 2, 3, and 4 that previously did not support it, while maintaining coverage enhancement benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If UL/DL configuration 2 is used for TDD system coexistence with TD-SCDMA network, then coexistence compatibility is improved, but TTI bundling cannot be used to enhance coverage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coexistence compatibilityVSAvoidcell coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic adaptation by allowing the system to flexibly apply TTI bundling to uplink subframes within UL/DL configuration 2 when coexisting with TD-SCDMA networks. The base station can dynamically determine whether to apply TTI bundling based on channel conditions and interference levels, enabling both configuration 2 compatibility and coverage enhancement to coexist.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If special subframes are introduced for TTI bundling, then coverage enhancement is achieved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage enhancementVSAvoidsubframe configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes existing uplink subframes in UL/DL configurations 2, 3, and 4 multi-functional by enabling them to support both normal uplink transmission and TTI bundling operations. Instead of creating entirely new special subframe structures, the invention repurposes existing uplink subframes to serve dual functions, thereby achieving coverage enhancement without significantly increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3288208B1Methods for enhancing coverage
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 NEC CORP
  • EP3288208B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3288208B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3288208B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method and apparatus for enhancing coverage in a TDD system, wherein there is at least one TDD UL/DL configuration for subframes in the TDD system, and the at least one UL/DL configuration comprises at least one special subframe and at least one normal subframe. In the method according to embodiments of the present invention, whether a special subframe is to be applied in TTI bundling is determined first, and then a message with an indication indicating that a special subframe is to be applied in TTI bundling is sent to a UE in response to determining that a special subframe is to be applied in TTI bundling, such that the UE transmits TTI bundling packets on at least one special subframe.