Virtual Carrier Resource Allocation for Reduced Capability Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communications networks face inefficiencies in resource allocation, particularly for reduced capability devices that require less bandwidth, leading to increased complexity and cost in transceiver units, which hinders the widespread deployment of devices like smart meters.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of virtual carriers within a host carrier, where reduced capability devices are allocated specific sections of communications resources, allowing them to operate efficiently with reduced complexity transceiver units, and sharing common system information across multiple virtual carriers to optimize resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If mobile communications networks allocate communications resources to reduced capability devices across the entire host carrier bandwidth, then the devices can access all available resources, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The host carrier bandwidth is segmented into multiple virtual carriers, each with a narrower bandwidth. Reduced capability devices are allocated to specific virtual carriers rather than the entire host carrier, allowing them to operate with reduced complexity transceiver units while still accessing dedicated communications resources. This segmentation enables devices to operate in a subset of the total frequency range, reducing hardware requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the communications resources within the host carrier are designated with different characteristics - some sections are preferable for reduced capability devices (narrower bandwidth requirements) while others are for full capability devices. This local differentiation allows reduced capability devices to operate efficiently in designated frequency sections without requiring full bandwidth capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate system information is provided for each virtual carrier, then each carrier can be independently configured, but the network signaling overhead and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single set of system information is designed to serve multiple virtual carriers simultaneously. The system information includes configuration parameters that can be applied across different virtual carriers, allowing the same information structure to provide adaptability for each carrier while avoiding redundant signaling. This multi-functional approach reduces network overhead while maintaining configuration flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
System information that is common across multiple virtual carriers is merged into a single broadcast message. Instead of transmitting separate system information for each virtual carrier, the network combines common configuration parameters into one unified system information set that all virtual carriers can utilize, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining the ability to configure each carrier appropriately.
3Device complexity
If reduced capability devices are allocated narrow bandwidth sections, then device complexity is reduced, but the overall network resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The allocation of virtual carriers to reduced capability devices is made dynamic rather than static. The network can dynamically assign devices to different virtual carriers based on current resource availability and device requirements. This dynamic allocation allows narrow bandwidth sections to be efficiently utilized at any given time while maintaining the ability to adapt to changing network conditions, thereby improving overall resource utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual carrier structure enables continuous utilization of network resources by allowing multiple reduced capability devices to operate simultaneously in different frequency sections. Rather than leaving narrow bandwidth sections underutilized, the system continuously allocates these sections to appropriate devices, ensuring that the entire host carrier bandwidth is productively used across multiple concurrent operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A communications device transmitting/receiving signals to/from a mobile communications network includes one or more network elements providing a wireless access interface for the communications device. The wireless access interface includes plural communications resource elements across a host frequency range of a host carrier, and a first section of the communications resources within a first frequency range for preferable allocation to reduced capability devices forming a first reduced bandwidth carrier and a second section of the communications resources within a second frequency range for preferable allocation to the reduced capability devices forming a second reduced bandwidth carrier. Each of the first and second frequency ranges is within the host frequency range. The communications device is configured with a reduced capability to receive the signals only within a frequency bandwidth less than the host frequency range and equal to at least one of the first frequency range or the second frequency range.