Virtual Carrier Allocation via Terminal Identifier Hashing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless telecommunications systems face challenges in efficiently allocating terminal devices to specific virtual carriers within LTE-type networks, leading to increased signalling complexity and overhead, especially in environments with a high number of devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where terminal devices and base stations independently select a restricted frequency band based on an identifier for the terminal device, allowing downlink communications to occur within a selected virtual carrier without dedicated signalling, thereby reducing complexity and overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dedicated signalling is used to allocate terminal devices to virtual carriers, then allocation accuracy is improved, but signalling complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Terminal devices autonomously select virtual carriers based on their identifiers without requiring dedicated signalling from the base station. The terminal device determines its selected virtual carrier by applying a hashing function to its identifier, enabling self-allocation and eliminating complex signalling procedures while maintaining accurate device-to-carrier mapping
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the allocation information from dedicated signalling channels and embeds it directly into the terminal device's identifier through a hashing function. This allows the virtual carrier selection to be derived from existing identifier information without requiring additional signalling overhead
2Reliability
If dedicated signalling is used for virtual carrier allocation, then allocation reliability is improved, but signalling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
Terminal devices perform autonomous selection of virtual carriers using a deterministic hashing function applied to their identifiers. This self-service mechanism ensures reliable allocation without requiring base station signalling, as each terminal independently determines its carrier assignment based on its unique identifier
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device identifier serves multiple functions: it identifies the terminal for network management and simultaneously determines its virtual carrier assignment. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate signalling messages for carrier allocation, reducing overhead while maintaining reliability
3Productivity
If more terminal devices are supported in a network, then network capacity is improved, but signalling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each terminal device autonomously determines its virtual carrier assignment using a hashing function applied to its identifier. This self-service approach scales efficiently with network capacity as terminals can be allocated carriers without base station intervention, avoiding the signalling complexity that would increase linearly with the number of devices
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the allocation problem from a signalling-based parameter transmission to a mathematical transformation of the terminal identifier. By applying a hashing function to the identifier, the system converts identification parameters into carrier assignment parameters, enabling scalable allocation regardless of network size
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless telecommunications system in which downlink communications are made using a radio interface that spans a system frequency bandwidth (host carrier) and supports at least some communications from a base station to least some terminal devices within a plurality of restricted frequency bands (virtual carriers) which are narrower than and within the system frequency bandwidth. A terminal device conveys an indication of its identity, to the base station during an initial connection procedure as the terminal device seeks to access the radio interface. The terminal device and the base station both determine a selected restricted frequency band from among the plurality of restricted frequency bands based on the identity of the terminal device in the same way. Thus the terminal device and base station select the same restricted frequency band and can accordingly configure their respective transceivers to allow downlink communications between them within the selected restricted frequency band.