Uplink Bandwidth Part Segmentation for Reduced Capability Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently supporting reduced capability devices, particularly in initial uplink communications, due to bandwidth limitations and frequency hopping operations during radio frequency retuning, which can lead to resource inefficiencies and compatibility issues with non-reduced capability devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing methods for reduced capability devices to perform initial uplink communications over shared initial uplink bandwidth parts with higher bandwidths, using specific frequency hopping and random access procedures, including configuring physical resource block offsets and time-division multiplexing for PUCCH transmissions, to enable efficient frequency hopping and resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If reduced capability devices use a shared initial uplink bandwidth part with higher bandwidth, then resource efficiency is improved, but frequency hopping operations during radio frequency retuning become more complex and resource inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the initial uplink bandwidth part into different frequency resources with specific PRB offsets for reduced capability devices. This segmentation allows reduced capability devices to operate within a shared BWP while avoiding frequency hopping conflicts, thereby maintaining resource efficiency without increasing frequency hopping complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a separate PRB offset as an intermediary parameter to manage frequency resources for reduced capability devices within the shared BWP. This intermediary mechanism enables efficient resource allocation without requiring complex frequency hopping operations during RF retuning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If reduced capability devices share the initial uplink bandwidth part with non-reduced capability devices, then system compatibility is improved, but radio frequency retuning operations become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring specific PRB offsets tailored to reduced capability devices within the shared BWP. This localized configuration allows reduced capability devices to operate with optimized frequency resources, making RF retuning easier while maintaining compatibility with non-reduced capability devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency resource parameters by introducing separate PRB offset configurations for reduced capability devices. This parameter modification enables reduced capability devices to share the BWP effectively, improving compatibility while simplifying RF retuning operations through predictable frequency allocation.
3Reliability
If frequency hopping is implemented for PUCCH transmissions in shared bandwidth part, then spectral diversity is improved, but time-division multiplexing requirements increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring separate PRB offsets for frequency hopping in the shared BWP. This preliminary configuration establishes clear frequency allocation rules before transmissions occur, enabling spectral diversity through frequency hopping while reducing real-time time-division multiplexing complexity through predetermined resource allocation.
Data Source
AI summary
A reduced capacity (redcap) device may perform initial uplink communications, including transmitting a redcap physical uplink control channel (R-PUCCH), over an initial uplink bandwidth part (BWP) shared with a second device, the initial uplink BWP having a bandwidth (BW) larger than a maximum BW supported by the redcap device and smaller than or equal to a maximum BW supported by the second device. Frequency hopping operation for the redcap device may be supported for the R-PUCCH transmission through frequency division multiplexing and/or time division multiplexing settings for the resources used for the R-PUCCH transmission, and for PUCCH transmission by the second device. Restrictions may be implemented to create a gap for redcap devices to perform RF retuning between a physical RACH transmission and a subsequent physical control channel (e.g. PDCCH) monitoring for random access reception when the frequency gap is larger than the maximum BW supported by the redcap device.