Very Narrow Band LTE Resource Block Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE implementations require a minimum bandwidth of 1.4 MHz, which is not suitable for low-power devices and services that need very low bandwidth communications to minimize radio bandwidth usage or reduce power requirements, such as machine-type communications (MTC) or enhanced MTC (eMTC).
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a very narrow band (VNB) design that allows for communications spanning a single resource block in a transmission time interval (TTI), which is LTE compatible and can coexist with existing LTE deployments, reducing bandwidth requirements to 180 KHz per resource block.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If LTE minimum bandwidth of 1.4 MHz is used, then system compatibility and standard adherence are maintained, but power consumption increases and spectral efficiency decreases for low-power devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the LTE resource block structure into smaller units, allowing allocation of individual resource blocks (180 KHz) rather than requiring the full 1.4 MHz bandwidth. This segmentation enables low-power devices to use only the necessary bandwidth portion, reducing power consumption while maintaining LTE compatibility through standardized resource block interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the bandwidth parameter from the fixed LTE minimum of 1.4 MHz to variable allocations of single resource blocks (180 KHz). This parameter change allows the system to adapt bandwidth usage to actual device needs, enabling low-power mode operations while preserving LTE protocol compatibility through maintained resource block structure and scheduling mechanisms.
2Quantity of substance
If bandwidth is reduced to single resource block (180 KHz), then power requirements decrease and spectral efficiency improves, but resource allocation flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the base station can assign different resource blocks to different low-power devices on different time slots. This dynamic approach maintains operational flexibility despite the reduced bandwidth per device, as the system can adaptively allocate the limited 180 KHz resources based on traffic demands and device priorities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the single resource block serve multiple functions and support multiple devices through time-division multiplexing. The same 180 KHz resource block can be allocated to different devices at different times, and can carry different types of traffic (data, control signaling, etc.), thereby maintaining resource allocation flexibility while keeping bandwidth usage minimal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If very narrow band design is implemented, then compatibility with existing LTE systems is maintained, but system complexity increases for supporting multiple bandwidth modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the existing LTE resource block structure as an intermediary layer that bridges full-bandwidth LTE and narrowband operations. By allocating resources in standardized 180 KHz resource blocks and using LTE-compatible scheduling and signaling mechanisms, the system maintains LTE compatibility without requiring separate narrowband protocol stacks, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention relate to wireless communications by a user equipment (UE), comprising, identifying resources in a narrowband region, the narrowband region spanning no more than a single resource block in a transmission time interval (TTI) and communicating with a base station using the identified resources.