Wireless Signaling for Expanded Capability UEs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face challenges in supporting devices with different capabilities while maintaining backward compatibility, as existing methods either increase signaling overhead or disrupt legacy systems when trying to signal new information to expanded capability UEs.
Innovation Solution
The approach involves using message fields with values that are invalid to legacy UEs to convey additional signaling information to expanded capability UEs, allowing for expanded signaling without modifying existing formats or introducing new signaling mechanisms, thus preserving backward compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If new capability information is signaled to expanded capability UEs using existing message formats, then backward compatibility is maintained, but signaling information capacity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the interpretation parameters of existing message fields by allowing expanded capability UEs to interpret certain field values (e.g., reserved bits, specific RIV values) as carrying new capability information, while legacy UEs continue to interpret them according to existing specifications. This enables the same signaling structure to convey different amounts of information to different UE types without modification.
2Loss of information
If new signaling mechanisms are introduced for expanded capability UEs, then signaling information capacity increases, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing signaling fields universal by enabling them to serve dual purposes: conveying traditional signaling information to legacy UEs and conveying new capability information to expanded capability UEs simultaneously. This eliminates the need for separate signaling mechanisms while maintaining enhanced functionality.
3Loss of information
If message formats are modified to include additional fields for new capabilities, then signaling information capacity increases, but backward compatibility is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the interpretation of message fields based on UE capability type. Expanded capability UEs are configured to recognize and interpret specific field configurations (such as reserved bits set to particular values, or specific RIV ranges) as indicators of new capability information, while legacy UEs process only the traditionally defined portions. This segmentation allows both UE types to coexist without interference.
Data Source
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AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide for signaling to expanded capability UEs that may limit the interruption of legacy UEs. According to certain aspects, a base station (e.g., an eNB) may generate and transmit one or more signals containing information that is recognizable by at least one expanded capability UE and identified as invalid by at least one legacy UE. An expanded capability UE may receive such signaling and identifying supplemental information in the signaling, while a legacy UE may regard the signaling as invalid.