UE-Specific Channel Bandwidth Configuration in Wireless Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in configuring channel bandwidths to accommodate user equipment (UEs) with varying capabilities, leading to suboptimal resource allocation and potential interference between UEs with different bandwidth requirements.

Innovation Solution

The system allows for UE-specific channel bandwidth configuration, where base stations can set and signal unique bandwidths for each UE, enabling coexistence of UEs with different capabilities and optimizing resource allocation by allowing UEs to signal their maximum supported bandwidths and adjusting accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a base station configures a high channel bandwidth (e.g., 100 MHz) to provide high data transmission rates, then network efficiency and data rates are improved, but UEs with lower bandwidth capabilities cannot operate or must operate at reduced performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission rateVSAvoidUE bandwidth capability support
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by configuring different bandwidth parameters for different UEs within the same cell. Each UE receives a UE-specific bandwidth configuration (e.g., scs-SpecificCarrierList-UE) that matches its capabilities, while the base station maintains a cell-specific configuration (scs-SpecificCarrierList) for high-bandwidth operations. This allows the system to optimize for high data rates where possible while accommodating lower-capability UEs with appropriate bandwidth allocations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If a base station uses a single cell-specific channel bandwidth configuration for all UEs, then system complexity is reduced, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates due to inability to optimize for individual UE capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth configuration managementVSAvoidresource allocation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the bandwidth configuration into two distinct parts: a cell-specific configuration (scs-SpecificCarrierList) that defines the overall cell bandwidth and resource structure, and UE-specific configurations (scs-SpecificCarrierList-UE) that are assigned to individual UEs based on their capabilities. This segmentation allows the base station to maintain a simple cell-level configuration while optimizing resource allocation for each UE individually, thereby improving resource allocation efficiency without significantly increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Use of energy by moving object

If UEs operate at lower channel bandwidths to save power, then energy consumption is reduced, but network capacity and data transmission rates are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveUE power consumptionVSAvoidnetwork capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bandwidth configuration where UEs can be assigned different bandwidth parameters (scs-SpecificCarrierList-UE) based on their capabilities, channel conditions, and traffic requirements. This dynamic approach allows UEs to operate at lower bandwidths when appropriate (saving power) while enabling the network to allocate higher bandwidths to capable UEs when needed (maintaining network capacity). The base station dynamically adjusts these configurations through RRC signaling and random access procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Reliability

If the base station rejects connection requests from UEs with lower bandwidth capabilities, then network performance is maintained, but adaptability to diverse UE types deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork performance consistencyVSAvoidUE type support
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the bandwidth parameter (scs-SpecificCarrierList-UE) on a per-UE basis during connection establishment and RRC reconfiguration procedures. When a UE with lower bandwidth capability initiates a connection, the base station can assign an appropriate bandwidth configuration that matches the UE's capabilities rather than rejecting the connection. This parameter customization allows the network to maintain consistent performance for high-capability UEs while successfully accommodating diverse UE types with varying bandwidth capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3834473B1Bandwidth configuration techniques in wireless communications
Publication Date: 2023.06.28 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3834473B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3834473B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3834473B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described that provide for configuration of channel bandwidth that may be specific to a particular user equipment (UE). A UE may be configured with a channel bandwidth that is less than or equal to a channel bandwidth of the serving base station, and may also be different than a channel bandwidth of one or more other UEs that are served by the base station. The base station may signal the UE-specific channel bandwidth in UE-specific signaling, such as UE-specific radio resource control (RRC) signaling.