Unlicensed Band Physical Channel Structure Timing Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing communication resources in unlicensed frequency bands, particularly in aligning timing structures between licensed and unlicensed frequency bands to minimize interference and ensure compliance with regulations.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using the same timing structure from licensed frequency bands for communication in unlicensed frequency bands, with adjustments such as offsetting symbol times to maintain alignment, and employing channel access management resources for monitoring and back-off periods to avoid interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If different timing structures are used for licensed and unlicensed frequency bands, then interference management becomes complex and resource coordination becomes difficult, but communication efficiency and spectral utilization improve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the timing structures of licensed and unlicensed frequency bands by aligning frame structures, subframe boundaries, and resource element positions. This unification allows devices to use a single timing reference for both bands, simplifying the timing structure while maintaining efficient communication through coordinated resource allocation across bands.
2Reliability
If channel access monitoring and back-off periods are implemented in unlicensed bands, then interference with licensed devices is reduced and regulatory compliance is achieved, but communication resource availability and transmission opportunities decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary channel access monitoring and back-off procedures before actual data transmission in unlicensed bands. By performing these actions in advance, the system ensures interference-free transmission when the channel becomes available, while the aligned timing structure with licensed bands maximizes the utilization of available resources through coordinated scheduling.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Communication equipment communicates in a licensed frequency band using a licensed band physical channel structure (licensed structure) and communicates in an unlicensed frequency communication band using an unlicensed band physical channel structure (unlicensed structure) where the unlicensed structure includes at least the same symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions as in the licensed structure. The symbol times and subcarriers form a plurality of time-frequency communication resource elements. A set of symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions form a licensed reference subset of communication resource elements that are allocated for reference signal transmission in the licensed structure. The same set of symbol times and subcarrier frequency divisions form an unlicensed reference subset of communication resource elements that are allocated for reference signal transmission in the unlicensed structure.