Virtual Component Carrier Allocation for NR-U Link Budget Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The expanded unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band in NR-U wireless communications is limited by reduced link budget due to lower power spectral density, leading to weaker uplink signals, which is not adequately addressed by conventional carrier aggregation systems.

Innovation Solution

Aggregating multiple component carriers to generate a virtual CC, allocating data and control channel resources based on a virtual bandwidth part (BWP), enabling efficient communication on both data and control channels within the virtual CC.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple component carriers are aggregated to form a virtual CC with increased bandwidth, then the downlink capacity is improved, but the uplink signal strength deteriorates due to power spectral density limitations in the 6 GHz band

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedownlink capacityVSAvoiduplink signal strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the aggregated component carriers into distinct downlink and uplink portions within the virtual CC. The downlink portion can utilize the full aggregated bandwidth for high capacity, while the uplink portion is separated to ensure adequate power spectral density and signal strength, resolving the contradiction between downlink capacity and uplink reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the virtual CC are assigned different characteristics: the downlink portion operates with higher power spectral density for capacity, while the uplink portion maintains appropriate power levels for reliable communication. This local differentiation allows each direction to optimize its performance independently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the bandwidth of a single component carrier is increased to improve link budget, then the downlink performance is enhanced, but the uplink performance deteriorates due to power spectral density constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedownlink performanceVSAvoiduplink performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a single wide component carrier, the patent segments the spectrum into multiple component carriers that are aggregated to form a virtual CC. This allows the downlink to utilize the aggregated bandwidth while the uplink maintains appropriate power spectral density through the structured aggregation of smaller carriers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple component carriers are merged/aggregated to form a virtual CC that provides the necessary bandwidth for downlink capacity while maintaining the power spectral density requirements for uplink communication through coordinated resource allocation across the aggregated carriers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12615112B2Radio-unlicensed (NR-U) virtual component carrier (CC) for improved link budget

Publication Date: 2026.04.28 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

A method for wireless communication performed by a wireless device includes aggregating a number of component carriers (CCs) to generate a virtual CC. The method also includes allocating data channel resources in the virtual CC based on a virtual bandwidth part (BWP) and allocating control channel resources in the virtual CC based on the virtual BWP. The method further includes communicating on a data channel based on the allocated data channel resources and communicating on a control channel based on the allocated control channel resources.