Terminal Device Resource Allocation via Delayed Grant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current approaches for enabling low-complexity devices to communicate over LTE-type networks are inefficient due to hard partitioning of spectrum, reduced scheduling flexibility, and increased complexity in implementing virtual carriers and reduced frequency bands, which complicates the integration into LTE standards and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a 'delayed grant' or 'delayed allocation' approach where control region data in one subframe is used to allocate resources in a subsequent subframe, allowing terminal devices to process only the necessary parts of the downlink subframe, reducing processing overhead and simplifying device requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If virtual carriers with hard partitioning of spectrum are used to enable low-complexity devices, then device complexity is reduced, but scheduling flexibility is reduced and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static hard partitioning to dynamic resource allocation. The eNodeB dynamically determines resource allocation for MTC terminals based on actual transmission needs rather than fixed partitions. This allows flexible adaptation to varying traffic conditions while maintaining simple terminal processing requirements through delayed grant mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of resource allocation timing from immediate to delayed. By allocating resources in advance (in subframe n-1) and transmitting them in subsequent subframes, the system maintains scheduling flexibility while reducing terminal processing complexity. The parameter change from same-subframe to cross-subframe allocation enables dynamic adaptation without hard partitioning.
2Device complexity
If virtual carriers with hard partitioning of spectrum are used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the resource allocation process into two independent parts: control information transmission in one subframe and actual data transmission in subsequent subframes. This segmentation allows standardization of the control mechanism while maintaining flexibility in data transmission, making integration into LTE standards easier compared to hard partitioning approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (delayed grant with resource indication in control information) that mediates between the eNodeB scheduling decisions and terminal processing requirements. This intermediary layer enables flexible resource allocation while keeping terminal processing simple, avoiding the need for complex standard modifications.
3Manufacturing precision
If terminal devices buffer and process entire subframes, then resource allocation accuracy is improved, but processing overhead and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary control information (resource allocation indicators) from the complete subframe and transmits it in advance. The terminal processes only this extracted control information rather than the entire subframe, reducing processing overhead while maintaining accurate resource allocation through the resource indication in the control region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by transmitting resource allocation control information in subframe n-1 before the actual data transmission in subframe n. This allows the terminal to process and prepare for resource allocation in advance, reducing real-time processing burden while maintaining allocation accuracy through the提前 provided resource indicators.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of operating a telecommunications system comprising a base station and a plurality of terminal devices arranged to communicate over a radio interface supporting a downlink shared channel for conveying user-plane data from the base station to the terminal devices and a downlink control channel for conveying control-plane data from the base station to the terminal devices, wherein the control-plane data is arranged to convey information on physical resource allocations for the downlink shared channel for respective ones of the terminal devices, and wherein the radio interface is based on a radio frame structure comprising a plurality of subframes, wherein each subframe comprises a control region for supporting the downlink control channel and a user-plane region for supporting the downlink shared channel, and wherein the method comprises using the control region of a first radio subframe to convey an indication of a physical resource allocation for a first terminal device on the shared downlink channel in the user-plane region of a second radio subframe, the second radio frame being subsequent to the first radio subframe.