UE Carrier Aggregation Band Configuration Beyond Signaled Capabilities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face issues with invalid configurations due to out-of-sync UE capabilities, leading to radio link failures and degraded network performance during carrier aggregation, particularly in scenarios involving intra-LTE and inter-RAT mobility.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves configuring UE-supported band combinations by considering unreported capabilities beyond the signaled UE capabilities, ensuring synchronization between the UE and the network by determining and utilizing additional supported band configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the network configures band combinations based only on signaled UE capabilities, then the configuration process is simple and fast, but invalid configurations occur due to out-of-sync capabilities leading to radio link failures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration validityVSAvoidcapability synchronization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary actions by determining additional supported band combinations beyond what is explicitly signaled by the UE. The network proactively identifies and stores these additional capabilities before they are needed, so that when configuration is required, valid band combinations are already available, preventing radio link failures due to out-of-sync capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the network acts as a mediator between the UE's signaled capabilities and the actual configuration needs. The network determines additional supported band combinations that serve as an intermediary layer, bridging the gap between what the UE reports and what the network needs to configure, ensuring capability synchronization without requiring direct complex UE-network capability negotiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the network determines additional supported band combinations beyond signaled capabilities, then configuration validity improves, but processing complexity and signaling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveband combination configuration accuracyVSAvoidcapability determination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network's capability determination mechanism serves multiple functions: it identifies additional supported band combinations for future use, validates current configurations, and prepares contingency plans for mobility scenarios. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate processing steps and minimizes overall system complexity despite the enhanced capability analysis.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The network performs capability determination and identifies additional supported band combinations in advance, before actual carrier aggregation configuration or mobility events occur. This preliminary action stores capability information that can be reused across multiple scenarios, reducing real-time processing complexity and signaling overhead when configurations are actually needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If UE reports all possible band combinations, then network has complete capability information, but signaling overhead and message size increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability information completenessVSAvoidsignaling message size
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential capability information that the UE explicitly supports and signals to the network. Instead of transmitting complete band combination lists, the UE provides condensed capability indicators, and the network extracts and determines additional supported combinations based on these minimal signals, reducing message size while maintaining information completeness through intelligent processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The network acts as an intermediary that expands the condensed UE capability signals into complete capability information. The UE sends minimal capability indicators, and the network intermediates by determining additional supported band combinations, effectively translating compact signaling into comprehensive capability knowledge without increasing the actual transmitted message size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Productivity

If the network uses only signaled capabilities for carrier aggregation, then processing is faster and simpler, but radio link failures occur due to capability desynchronization during mobility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration processing speedVSAvoidradio link stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network performs preliminary determination of additional supported band combinations and stores this information in advance. When carrier aggregation configuration or mobility events occur, the network can quickly retrieve pre-determined capability information without performing complex real-time analysis, maintaining fast processing speeds while ensuring reliability through pre-validated capability knowledge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network dynamically adapts its capability usage based on operational context. It uses signaled capabilities for routine fast configurations but switches to utilizing determined additional capabilities when mobility scenarios or validation requirements arise. This dynamic approach optimizes both processing speed and radio link stability by selecting the appropriate capability source based on current system state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4241413B1Techniques for configuring user equipment supported carrier aggregation band combinations
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4241413B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4241413B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4241413B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may transmit first capability information indicating a first set of band configurations. The UE may transmit, after the transmission of the first capability information, second capability information indicating a second set of band configurations. The UE may receive information indicating a band configuration, wherein the band configuration that is not included in at least one of the first set of band configurations or the second set of band configurations. The UE may communicate using the band configuration. Numerous other aspects are provided.