Uplink Frequency Hopping Allocation in E-UTRA

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radio communication systems, particularly in E-UTRA, lack configurations or methods for signaling a frequency hopping pattern and allocated resource units in frequency hopping for uplink radio access, which leads to interference and reduced signal quality due to overlapping frequency bands between neighboring cells.

Innovation Solution

A base station is designed to implement frequency hopping for uplink radio access in E-UTRA by determining whether to apply frequency hopping to user devices based on propagation information and traffic types, allocating resource units with different frequency bands in different slots, and reporting these allocations via an uplink scheduling grant, thereby reducing interference and improving frequency diversity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If frequency bands are allocated in neighboring cells independently without coordination, then each cell can optimize its own resource allocation, but frequency bands may overlap between neighboring cells causing interference and reduced signal quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidinterference between neighboring cells
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies frequency hopping where the frequency band allocated to a user device changes dynamically from one slot to another. The allocation information includes a hopping pattern that determines the frequency sequence, allowing the system to adapt frequency allocation over time to avoid persistent interference while maintaining efficient resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic frequency hopping where resource units are allocated in a repeating pattern across slots. The allocation information specifies a hopping pattern with a defined period, creating rhythmic frequency changes that systematically avoid interference while ensuring fair resource distribution across different time intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If frequency hopping is applied to improve frequency diversity and reduce interference, then signal quality improves, but signaling complexity for frequency hopping pattern and resource unit allocation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidsignaling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses the existing uplink scheduling grant mechanism to carry both traditional scheduling information and frequency hopping allocation information. The allocation information field is designed to serve multiple purposes: indicating resource unit allocation, specifying hopping patterns, and providing frequency sequence information, thereby reducing overall signaling complexity through multi-functionality.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent encodes frequency hopping parameters efficiently by changing the representation method. Instead of explicitly signaling every frequency assignment, the system uses compact parameters such as hopping patterns, resource unit indices, and frequency offsets that can be derived by the user device, reducing the number of bits required for signaling while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2919491B1User equipment for uplink frequency hopping
Publication Date: 2016.12.21 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP2919491B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2919491B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2919491B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A base station communicates with a user device transmitting an uplink signal based on a single-carrier transmission scheme. The base station includes a frequency hopping determining unit configured to determine whether to apply frequency hopping to the user device based on radio-wave propagation information from the user device and a traffic type of data to be transmitted by the user device; a scheduler configured to allocate frequencies to the user device based on uplink channel reception conditions of the user device; and a reporting unit configured to report allocation information indicating resource units allocated by the scheduler to the user device. When the frequency hopping determining unit determines to apply the frequency hopping to the user device, the scheduler allocates, to the user device, resource units with different frequency bands in different slots.