Unlicensed Spectrum Data Scheduling for LTE Bandwidth

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Solution Overview

Problem

LTE devices face bandwidth limitations in licensed spectrum resources, making it difficult to meet increasing bandwidth requirements for mobile services.

Innovation Solution

A data scheduling method using unlicensed spectrum resources, where a base station configures and sends scheduling commands to user equipment to transmit data over unlicensed-spectrum serving cells, including configuration parameter information for center frequency, bandwidth, cell identity, and data transfer modes, enabling effective use of unlicensed spectrum for LTE devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If LTE devices use only licensed spectrum resources, then control and reliability are maintained, but bandwidth availability is limited and cannot meet increasing mobile service requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebandwidthVSAvoidspectrum flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines licensed and unlicensed spectrum resources into a unified carrier aggregation framework. The LTE device simultaneously utilizes both licensed spectrum (providing control and reliability) and unlicensed spectrum (providing additional bandwidth), merging their advantages to meet increasing bandwidth requirements while maintaining network control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the unlicensed spectrum to serve multiple functions: it acts as both an additional data transmission channel and a controlled resource under LTE protocol management. The unified carrier aggregation mechanism allows the same spectrum resource to be dynamically allocated for different purposes based on network conditions.

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

2Quantity of substance

If unlicensed spectrum is introduced for LTE devices, then bandwidth requirements are met, but protocol compatibility and control mechanisms become more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebandwidthVSAvoidprotocol complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a unified carrier aggregation mechanism that universally handles both licensed and unlicensed spectrum through the same LTE protocol stack. This universal approach allows the network to manage diverse spectrum types with a single control framework, reducing the need for separate protocol implementations.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a unified carrier aggregation controller as an intermediary layer between the LTE protocol stack and the heterogeneous spectrum resources. This mediator abstracts the complexity of unlicensed spectrum management, translating diverse spectrum characteristics into standardized control commands that the LTE network can handle uniformly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If cross-carrier scheduling is used on primary cell to schedule frequency hopping resources, then control signaling overhead is reduced, but scheduling flexibility for unlicensed band is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol signaling overheadVSAvoidscheduling flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the scheduling function into two parts: cross-carrier scheduling for primary cell resources (reducing control overhead) and unified carrier aggregation scheduling for unlicensed band resources (providing flexibility). This segmentation allows each scheduling mechanism to optimize for its specific purpose while working together through the unified framework.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic scheduling where the unified carrier aggregation mechanism can adaptively allocate resources between licensed and unlicensed bands based on real-time network conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to switch between cross-carrier scheduling and unified scheduling modes, optimizing both overhead reduction and flexibility as needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3099125B1Method, apparatus and device for scheduling data by using unlicensed spectrum
Publication Date: 2018.11.21 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3099125B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3099125B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3099125B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention provides a data scheduling method using an unlicensed spectrum, an apparatus, and a device, and relates to the radio communications field. According to the method, apparatus, and device, an unlicensed spectrum resource can be effectively used, thereby meeting a bandwidth requirement of an LTE device. The method is as follows: first, an unlicensed-spectrum serving cell is configured for user equipment by using a configuration message of the unlicensed-spectrum serving cell; then, data is transmitted over the unlicensed-spectrum serving cell by using a scheduling command. Embodiments of the present invention are applied to data transfer over the unlicensed-spectrum serving cell.