Uplink Cell-Pair Switching Configuration for Multi-Band Antennas

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in configuring the switching period of uplink transmission switching due to the increase in the number of bands per antenna, which cannot be adequately managed by conventional methods.

Innovation Solution

Introduce new Information Elements (IEs) such as ServingCellPair, PairedCellList, and SwitchingPairedCellList in RRC Configuration to define cell pairs and determine the switching period location for each pair, allowing flexible configuration regardless of the number of bands per antenna.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the number of bands per antenna is increased to three or four, then the system capacity and data transmission rate are improved, but the switching period configuration becomes impossible with conventional methods

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidswitching period configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cell configuration into pairs (ServingCellPair, PairedCellList, SwitchingPairedCellList) to manage the switching period. By dividing the plurality of cells into paired groups, the system can handle three or four bands per antenna through structured pairing rather than attempting to configure all bands simultaneously, thus resolving the configuration impossibility while maintaining high system capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic switching period configuration where the network can flexibly set the switching period location for each cell pair through RRC signaling. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt the switching period based on the specific number of bands (three or four) without requiring fixed conventional configuration methods, enabling the system to maintain high productivity with increased bands

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the switching period is configured for each cell pair, then the configuration flexibility is improved, but the signaling overhead between terminal and network increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates universal configuration structures (ServingCellPair, PairedCellList, SwitchingPairedCellList) that can handle multiple scenarios (two bands, three bands, or four bands per antenna) through a single unified approach. This multi-functionality allows the same IE structures to provide configuration flexibility across different band configurations without requiring separate signaling mechanisms for each scenario, thus reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4618675A1Terminal, base station, and communication method

Publication Date: 2025.09.17 NTT DOCOMO INC

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AI summary

A terminal includes: a control unit configured to perform uplink transmission switching between two cells from among a plurality of cells; and a reception unit configured to receive, from a base station, information indicating pairs of two cells from among the plurality of cells. The control unit determines a location in a time domain of a switching period of the uplink transmission switching for each of the pairs, based on the information.