Tunneling PDCCH via LTE to Extend 5G NR Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited coverage area of 5G NR base stations using millimeter wave (mmW) communication systems due to increased propagation loss and susceptibility to blockage affects the synchronization of user equipment (UE) with the NR cell, particularly in accessing and transitioning between base stations.
Innovation Solution
Tunneling control information associated with the random access channel (RACH) from a 5G NR base station to a UE via an LTE master base station, which includes scheduling information such as frequency domain resource assignment, time domain resource assignment, and modulation coding scheme, to extend the coverage of the NR base station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If 5G NR base stations use millimeter wave (mmW) communication systems to provide high data rates and capacity, then data rate and network capacity are improved, but coverage area is reduced due to increased propagation loss and susceptibility to blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an LTE base station as an intermediary to relay control information (PDCCH) from the 5G NR base station to the UE. This mediator enables the UE to obtain scheduling information for PDSCH reception without requiring direct mmW control channel communication, thereby extending the effective coverage area while maintaining high data rate capabilities.
2Productivity
If 5G NR base stations use millimeter wave (mmW) communication systems to enable high capacity, then network capacity is improved, but reliability is reduced due to susceptibility to blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The LTE base station serves as a reliable intermediary that receives PDCCH control information from the 5G NR base station and forwards it to the UE via LTE downlink shared channel. This approach maintains connection reliability by using the more robust LTE connection for control information delivery, while the 5G NR connection handles high-capacity data transmission.
3Area of stationary object
If the coverage area of NR base stations is reduced due to propagation loss, then device density requirements increase, but deployment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The LTE base station performs multiple functions: it serves as a control information relay for 5G NR cells, provides scheduling information to UEs, and maintains existing LTE connectivity. This multi-functionality allows existing LTE infrastructure to support 5G NR coverage extension without requiring additional dedicated relay infrastructure, thereby reducing deployment complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for tunneling control information associated with random access procedure (RACH) from a fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) base station (e.g., secondary base station (SgNB)) to the user equipment (UE) via long term evolution (LTE) master base station (e.g., “MeNB”) in order to extend the coverage of the SgNB. The tunneled PDCCH control information may include one or more of frequency domain resource assignment, time domain resource assignment (e.g., physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduled slot index, start symbol index and duration in the slow), and/or modulation coding scheme (MCS).