User Terminal Group-Based Measurement for Carrier Aggregation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In next-generation mobile communication systems, expanding the number of component carriers per user terminal increases load and power consumption for measurements, posing a challenge in LTE Rel. 13 and beyond.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a user terminal and radio base station communication method where measurements are made on a per group basis, using information related to component carriers grouped into timing advance groups or cell groups, reducing the number of individual measurements needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of component carriers that can be configured per user terminal is expanded to six or above, then carrier aggregation capability and data rates are improved, but load and power consumption for measurements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier aggregation capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption for measurements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the set of component carriers into multiple groups, where each group shares common measurement parameters. This segmentation allows the user terminal to perform measurements on a per-group basis rather than on each individual component carrier, significantly reducing the total number of measurements required when six or more component carriers are configured.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes that measurement results obtained from one component carrier within a group can be universally applied to other component carriers in the same group. This multi-functionality of measurement results eliminates redundant measurements across multiple component carriers, reducing power consumption while maintaining accurate channel state information for all carriers in the group.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of component carriers that can be configured per user terminal is expanded to six or above, then carrier aggregation capability and data rates are improved, but processing load increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarrier aggregation capabilityVSAvoidprocessing load

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments component carriers into groups with shared measurement characteristics. This segmentation reduces the processing load by requiring the user terminal to perform measurements and calculations only at the group level rather than individually for each component carrier, making the system manageable even with six or more carriers configured.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the measurement processing of multiple component carriers into a unified group-level measurement process. By combining the measurement activities for all component carriers within a group into a single measurement operation, the patent significantly reduces the overall processing load on the user terminal while still enabling carrier aggregation of six or more carriers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10980050B2User terminal, radio base station and radio communication method

Publication Date: 2021.04.13 NTT DOCOMO INC

AI summary

The present invention is designed so that it is possible to reduce the measurement-induced increase of load and power consumption in user terminals even when the number of component carriers that can be configured per user terminal is expanded. A user terminal communicates with a radio base station that configures groups (TAGs) comprised of one or more cells, and has a receiving section that receives information related to component carriers (CCs) included in the groups, and a measurement section that makes measurements on a per group basis based on the information related to the component carriers.