User Terminal Uplink Control Channel Region Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dual connectivity scenarios, the increased signaling amount and delay associated with transferring control signals between base stations in a 3GPP mobile communication system hinder effective communication control when multiple carriers are used simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A user terminal is designed to transmit control signals using a second physical uplink control channel region on a secondary carrier, allowing direct communication with a secondary base station, reducing the need for signal transfer through a master base station and minimizing signaling delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If control signals are transferred through a master base station in dual connectivity, then centralized control is maintained, but signaling amount increases and delay occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control signal transmission path by introducing a secondary physical uplink control channel region that allows direct transmission to the secondary base station, bypassing the master base station for certain control signals. This segmentation reduces the signaling path length and eliminates unnecessary intermediate transfers, thereby reducing delay while maintaining centralized control through selective use of transmission paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new intermediary structure - the second physical uplink control channel region - that enables direct communication between the user terminal and secondary base station. This intermediary channel acts as a dedicated pathway that reduces the burden on the master base station and eliminates the need for control signals to be routed through it, thereby reducing signaling delay and overhead.
2Reliability
If control signals are transferred through a master base station in dual connectivity, then centralized control is maintained, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control signal transmission function from the master base station path and creates a separate, dedicated transmission path through the second physical uplink control channel region. This extraction removes the unnecessary signaling overhead associated with routing all control signals through the master base station, while maintaining the essential centralized control functionality for critical signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the uplink control channel into two distinct regions: a first region for transmission through the master base station and a second region for direct transmission to the secondary base station. This segmentation allows control signals to be routed through the most efficient path, reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining reliable communication control.
3Productivity
If multiple carriers are used simultaneously, then communication capacity increases, but communication control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control channel resources by frequency, creating dedicated first and second physical uplink control channel regions on different carriers. This segmentation allows independent control of each carrier's signaling path, simplifying the management of multiple carriers by providing clear, separated pathways for control signals rather than requiring complex coordination across all carriers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension in the frequency domain by allocating a second physical uplink control channel region on a second carrier, distinct from the first carrier's control channel. This dimensional separation in frequency space enables parallel control signal transmission paths, reducing the complexity of managing multiple carriers simultaneously while maintaining high communication capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
A user terminal according to a first feature performs uplink communication with a radio access network by simultaneously using a plurality of carriers. The plurality of carriers include a first carrier used for mobility control of the user terminal, and a second carrier that provides radio communication in coordination with the first carrier. The first carrier includes a first physical uplink control channel region provided at each of both end portions in a frequency direction of the first carrier. The second carrier includes a second physical uplink control channel region provided at a center frequency side of the second carrier away from each of both end portions in a frequency direction of the second carrier.