Wireless PCell Switching with Inactive-Cell and Dormant-BWP Checks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in dynamically changing primary cells (PCells) and efficiently managing bandwidth parts (BWPs) to optimize energy consumption and prevent cell inactivation.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for changing a primary cell (PCell) in a wireless communication system by performing a random access procedure, configuring cells, and receiving indications to switch between cells or switch active bandwidth parts (BWPs) to manage cell states and configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the base station continuously monitors and manages cell states to enable dynamic PCell changing, then the flexibility and adaptability of the system is improved, but the energy consumption at the base station increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal autonomously determines whether to perform cell switching based on receiving PCell change indications from the base station. The terminal independently evaluates the inactive state of target cells and dormant status of active BWPs, then executes the switching decision without requiring continuous base station intervention. This self-service mechanism reduces base station energy consumption while maintaining system adaptability through the terminal's autonomous decision-making capability.
2Productivity
If the system allows PCell change to an inactive cell, then the productivity and response time are improved, but the reliability of the cell transition is worsened due to potential inactivation issues
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal checks whether the target cell is in inactive state and whether the active BWP is dormant before executing the PCell switching operation. By performing these preliminary state verifications, the terminal ensures that the target cell is suitable for switching, thereby maintaining transition reliability while enabling rapid switching to inactive cells when conditions are met.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal dynamically changes the state parameters of the cell (from inactive to active) and the BWP (from dormant to active) as part of the switching process. This parameter change approach allows the system to transition to inactive cells reliably by changing their operational state, ensuring both speed and reliability in the cell transition process.
3Reliability
If the terminal performs multiple state checks (inactive state and dormant BWP) before switching, then the reliability of switching is improved, but the time required for switching increases
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal performs only the necessary state checks (inactive state verification and dormant BWP verification) required for reliable switching, rather than conducting exhaustive checks of all possible cell parameters. This partial action approach achieves sufficient switching reliability by focusing on the critical state conditions while minimizing the time required for the switching decision process.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and method for changing a primary cell (PCell) in a wireless communication system, and a method for operating a terminal may include performing a random access procedure with a base station, configuring a first cell as a PCell among cells of the base station, configuring a second cell as a secondary cell (SCell) among the cells of the base station, receiving an indication to change the PCell to the second cell, and based on the second cell being in inactive state or an active bandwidth part (BWP) of the terminal being dormant in the second cell, changing the PCell to a third cell different from the second cell or changing the PCell to the second cell after switching the active BWP.