Uplink Resource Allocation Protocol for LTE-Advanced
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE systems are limited in their ability to support non-contiguous uplink resource allocation, which is necessary for LTE-Advanced, and lack a specified protocol for efficient allocation of time-frequency resources, leading to suboptimal performance and increased overhead in multi-cluster scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for allocating uplink channel resources in a downlink control channel that detects and interprets DCI formats to distinguish between clustered and contiguous uplink resource allocation protocols, allowing for flexible allocation of resource blocks across multiple clusters, matching the size of downlink resource allocation protocols, and supporting MIMO operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If contiguous resource allocation protocol is used in LTE, then compatibility with legacy systems is maintained, but ability to support non-contiguous uplink resource allocation for LTE-Advanced is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the uplink resource allocation into two distinct protocols: contiguous allocation for legacy LTE compatibility and non-contiguous (multi-cluster) allocation for LTE-Advanced. This segmentation allows each protocol to be optimized for its specific use case while maintaining overall system compatibility through unified DCI formatting.
2Adaptability or versatility
If non-contiguous resource allocation is implemented, then resource allocation flexibility is improved, but overhead increases due to lack of specified protocol
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal DCI format structure that can accommodate both contiguous and non-contiguous resource allocation protocols. By designing the DCI format to be size-matched and multi-functional, the system achieves flexible resource allocation for LTE-Advanced while maintaining compatibility with legacy LTE systems without increasing overhead.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate DCI formats are created for clustered and contiguous allocation, then resource allocation capability is improved, but DCI format complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of separate DCI formats into a unified structure that supports both clustered and contiguous resource allocation. By combining these functions into a single size-matched DCI format, the system achieves enhanced resource allocation capability while avoiding the overhead and complexity of maintaining multiple separate formats.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, apparatus and computer program products are provided to receive downlink control information (DCI) in a downlink control channel, where the downlink control information configured to indicate an allocation of uplink resources with a clustered uplink resource allocation protocol or a contiguous uplink resource allocation protocol, to detect which of the clustered uplink resource allocation protocol and the contiguous uplink resource allocation protocol is indicated and to allocate the uplink resources based on the indicated uplink resource allocation protocol.