Timing Entity for Carrier Aggregation Control Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular communication networks face challenges in carrier aggregation, particularly with different time division duplex (TDD) configurations, where simultaneous transmission and reception are hindered by timing issues in control signaling transmission across aggregated carriers.
Innovation Solution
A timing entity determines the optimal timing for control signaling transmissions based on the temporal configuration of uplink and downlink resources of both carriers, allowing for flexible scheduling even with hard-coded configurations, and provides timing data to user equipment to adjust control signaling transmissions accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If TDD carriers with different configurations are aggregated and simultaneous transmission and reception are allowed, then all subframes can be scheduled and bandwidth utilization is improved, but the timing of control signaling transmission becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the control signaling timing flexible and adaptable to different carrier configurations. The system dynamically determines the timing of control signaling transmissions based on the specific TDD configurations of aggregated carriers, allowing the timing to change according to the operational state rather than being fixed. This resolves the contradiction by enabling all subframes to be scheduled while adapting control signaling timing to avoid conflicts between simultaneous transmission and reception.
2Productivity
If carrier aggregation with different TDD configurations is implemented, then available bandwidth is increased, but timing coordination between carriers becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing each aggregated carrier to maintain its own specific TDD configuration and timing characteristics. Instead of forcing uniform timing across all carriers, the system permits each carrier to have localized timing properties suited to its configuration. The control signaling timing is determined individually based on each carrier's uplink and downlink resource allocation, reducing overall coordination complexity while maintaining bandwidth benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the timing coordination problem by treating control signaling timing for each carrier independently. Rather than attempting to synchronize all carriers to a single timing reference, the system divides the timing determination into separate decisions for each carrier based on its specific configuration. This segmentation simplifies the overall coordination complexity while still achieving effective carrier aggregation.
3Ease of manufacture
If hard-coded carrier specific TDD configurations are used, then configuration simplicity is maintained, but flexibility in control signaling timing adjustment is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by introducing dynamic timing determination within the framework of hard-coded TDD configurations. While the carrier-specific TDD configurations remain fixed and simple to implement, the control signaling timing is determined dynamically based on the actual uplink and downlink resource allocation in each subframe. This allows the system to maintain configuration simplicity while achieving the flexibility needed for proper timing coordination in carrier aggregation scenarios.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a timing entity (108) for a communication network (100} which includes a base station (102) and a user equipment (104) capable of communicating with each other over at least two carriers which have different temporal configuration of its uplink and downlink resources. The timing entity (108) comprises a control entity (10) adapted for determining timing data (120) defining a timing of a control signalling transmission (112) which is related to a data transmission (114) on a first carrier and which uses a resource of a first type on the second carrier. According to an embodiment the timing data (120) specify for the control signalling transmission (112) a time slot in which there is available a resource of the first type on the second carrier (132) for the control signalling transmission (112). The control entity (108) may be implemented in a base station (102} and/or a user equipment (104).