Unlicensed Carrier RSSI Measurement for LAA Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In licensed-assisted access using Long Term Evolution (LAA-LTE) systems, network devices cannot transmit reference signals on unlicensed carriers, preventing terminal devices from reporting radio resource management (RRM) measurement results, which hampers network scheduling performance.

Innovation Solution

The method involves the network device sending indication information to the terminal device specifying a time-frequency resource for RSSI measurement on an unlicensed carrier, allowing the terminal device to perform RSSI measurements and report results, with configurable measurement time windows and granularities to optimize power consumption and reflect load or interference status.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the network device uses LBT to contend for unlicensed carrier resources, then the terminal device can potentially access unlicensed carriers, but the network device cannot guarantee transmission of reference signals, causing the terminal device to fail in performing RRM measurement and reporting

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunlicensed carrier access capabilityVSAvoidRRM measurement reporting reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces RSSI measurement as an intermediary mechanism that does not depend on reference signal transmission. The terminal device measures RSSI on unlicensed carriers independently of whether the network device successfully transmitted reference signals, allowing RRM measurement reporting to proceed even when LBT fails.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device performs self-service by autonomously measuring RSSI on unlicensed carriers without requiring network device coordination for reference signal transmission. This self-measured RSSI data enables the terminal to generate RRM measurement reports independently of the network's LBT success.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If the terminal device continuously monitors unlicensed carriers for RRM measurement, then the network device can obtain timely channel state information, but the terminal device's power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel state information timelinessVSAvoidterminal device power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic RSSI measurement where the terminal device measures RSSI at regular intervals on unlicensed carriers rather than continuously. This periodic approach maintains channel state information timeliness while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The measurement configuration is made dynamic through network device control. The network device can configure measurement parameters such as measurement bandwidth, reporting periodicity, and triggering conditions, allowing the system to adapt measurement intensity to actual network needs and balance information timeliness with power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3300414B1Radio resource management measurement method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.09.01 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3300414B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3300414B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3300414B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The present invention discloses a radio resource management measurement method and apparatus. This helps resolve a prior-art problem that a network device cannot transmit a reference signal on an unlicensed carrier and consequently a terminal device cannot feedback an RRM measurement result. The method includes: receiving, by the terminal device, indication information sent by the network device, where the indication information indicates a time-frequency resource used to perform received signal strength indicator RSSI measurement on the unlicensed carrier; performing, by the terminal device on the time-frequency resource, the RSSI measurement on the unlicensed carrier to obtain an RSSI measurement result; and sending, by the terminal device, the RSSI measurement result to the network device.