Unlicensed Carrier Aggregation via Base Station Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE systems lack support for carrier aggregation using unlicensed bands, which limits spectrum efficiency and increases operator costs, as they require new measurement and sensing mechanisms to effectively utilize unlicensed spectrum for improved throughput and traffic offloading.
Innovation Solution
The system identifies and configures component carriers within unlicensed radio spectra as secondary carriers companion to primary carriers in licensed spectra, using existing communication system mechanisms for low-complexity evaluation and interference avoidance, involving network access nodes and user equipment to sense and measure unlicensed bands for suitability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carrier aggregation is implemented using unlicensed bands, then spectrum efficiency and system throughput are improved, but measurement and sensing mechanisms become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a base station as an intermediary that performs sensing and measurement of unlicensed band component carriers on behalf of user equipment. The base station evaluates channel quality indicators and interference levels, then provides configuration information to UEs, thereby centralizing the complex measurement functions and reducing UE complexity while enabling carrier aggregation on unlicensed bands
Solution Approach 2:
The base station performs preliminary sensing and measurement of unlicensed component carriers before configuring them for carrier aggregation. By pre-evaluating channel conditions and identifying suitable unlicensed bands, the system prepares the necessary measurement data in advance, allowing UEs to quickly activate carrier aggregation without performing complex real-time measurements
2Adaptability or versatility
If unlicensed spectrum is utilized for carrier aggregation, then operator costs are reduced and traffic offloading is improved, but interference management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where user equipment reports channel quality indicators and interference measurements back to the base station. The base station uses this feedback to dynamically adjust carrier aggregation configurations, select appropriate unlicensed component carriers, and manage interference levels, thereby enabling adaptable traffic offloading while maintaining interference control
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically manages carrier aggregation configurations on unlicensed bands based on real-time channel conditions and interference levels. The base station can activate or deactivate unlicensed component carriers as needed, and adjust UE configurations dynamically, allowing the system to adapt to changing interference conditions while maximizing traffic offloading opportunities
3Adaptability or versatility
If new measurement mechanisms are developed for unlicensed bands, then carrier aggregation capability is enhanced, but system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs measurement and sensing mechanisms at the base station that can evaluate multiple unlicensed component carriers simultaneously using unified channel quality indicators. This multi-functional approach allows the same measurement infrastructure to assess different unlicensed bands and frequencies, enhancing carrier aggregation capability without proportionally increasing system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A network access node identifies a component carrier within an unlicensed radio spectrum, determines whether or not to configure the component carrier for use as a secondary component carrier, and based on the determining configures the component carrier for use as a secondary component carrier companion to a primary component carrier within a licensed radio spectrum, In various non-limiting embodiments the network node senses the component carrier within the unlicensed radio spectrum, and as more data is needed to make the determination employs a mobile device to also sense and further to measure the component carrier within the unlicensed radio spectrum. Specific procedures are detailed for both the network node and the mobile device.