Supplementary Uplink Use of Unlicensed Spectrum for 5G Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The 5G network coverage is weaker than 4G due to higher frequency loss, and carrier aggregation technologies lack flexibility in improving coverage.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing an unlicensed spectrum for supplementary uplink (SUL) communication by determining a target unlicensed frequency band based on RSRP, RSRQ, and SINR thresholds, reducing interference, and enabling flexible carrier aggregation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carrier aggregation technology is used to improve 5G coverage, then transmission capability is improved, but flexibility is reduced due to carrier binding requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the uplink and downlink carriers, allowing the supplementary uplink carrier to operate independently without being bound to a specific downlink carrier. This enables flexible configuration where uplink carriers can be selected and configured separately based on coverage requirements, resolving the contradiction between improving coverage through carrier aggregation and maintaining system flexibility.
2Speed
If higher frequency bands are used for 5G communication, then transmission speed is improved, but coverage capability deteriorates due to higher loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines licensed spectrum carriers for downlink with unlicensed spectrum carriers for uplink in a supplementary uplink configuration. This merging of different spectrum types allows the system to maintain high-speed communication capabilities while extending coverage to areas where higher frequency bands have poor performance, effectively resolving the coverage-speed trade-off.
3Reliability
If unlicensed frequency band is used for SUL communication, then uplink coverage is improved, but interference from other devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where terminal devices report channel quality indicators (CQI) and measurement results about unlicensed frequency bands to the network device. The network device uses this feedback information to dynamically select appropriate unlicensed carriers, adjust transmission parameters, and manage interference, thereby maintaining improved uplink coverage while controlling interference levels through informed decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
This application relates to the field of communication technologies and discloses methods and apparatuses for using an unlicensed spectrum. An example method includes: obtaining information about a target unlicensed frequency band, and transmitting, based on the information about the target unlicensed frequency band, a signal on a supplementary uplink (SUL), where a spectrum of the SUL includes the target unlicensed frequency band. The information about the target unlicensed frequency band includes one or more of the following information: reference signal received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), and a signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR).