U.S. patent application number 16/698351 was filed with the patent office on 2020-03-26 for uplink transmission bandwidth control and support.
The applicant listed for this patent is Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ). Invention is credited to Robert Baldemair, Erik Dahlman, Sorour Falahati, Daniel N. Larsson, Stefan Parkvall.
Application Number | 20200099485 16/698351 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60268433 |
Filed Date | 2020-03-26 |
![](/patent/app/20200099485/US20200099485A1-20200326-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20200099485/US20200099485A1-20200326-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20200099485/US20200099485A1-20200326-D00002.png)
![](/patent/app/20200099485/US20200099485A1-20200326-D00003.png)
![](/patent/app/20200099485/US20200099485A1-20200326-D00004.png)
![](/patent/app/20200099485/US20200099485A1-20200326-D00005.png)
![](/patent/app/20200099485/US20200099485A1-20200326-D00006.png)
![](/patent/app/20200099485/US20200099485A1-20200326-D00007.png)
![](/patent/app/20200099485/US20200099485A1-20200326-D00008.png)
![](/patent/app/20200099485/US20200099485A1-20200326-D00009.png)
![](/patent/app/20200099485/US20200099485A1-20200326-D00010.png)
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20200099485 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baldemair; Robert ; et
al. |
March 26, 2020 |
Uplink Transmission Bandwidth Control and Support
Abstract
Limited uplink bandwidth radio network devices (30) are
supported on wide bandwidth uplink carriers by configuring and
controlling the use of multiple control regions within the uplink
carrier bandwidth. In some embodiments, the total bandwidth of the
uplink carrier is divided into a plurality of sub-band portions,
wherein at least one sub-band portion includes at least one control
region nominally dedicated to the transmission of uplink control
signaling. The control regions may be configured at one or both
edges of sub-band portions, or elsewhere within a sub-band
portions. Sub-band portions may share a control region. Radio
network devices (30) are configured with a specified portion of the
uplink carrier bandwidth for use for uplink transmission, which
includes at least one control region. The specified portion may
comprise an integer number of sub-band portions, or may span only
part of one or more sub-band portions. Radio network devices (30)
may be dynamically configured to allow or suppress data signaling
in control regions.
Inventors: |
Baldemair; Robert; (Solna,
SE) ; Dahlman; Erik; (Stockholm, SE) ;
Falahati; Sorour; (Stockholm, SE) ; Larsson; Daniel
N.; (Stockholm, SE) ; Parkvall; Stefan;
(Bromma, SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) |
Stockholm |
|
SE |
|
|
Family ID: |
60268433 |
Appl. No.: |
16/698351 |
Filed: |
November 27, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15760499 |
Mar 15, 2018 |
10541795 |
|
|
PCT/SE2017/051067 |
Oct 31, 2017 |
|
|
|
16698351 |
|
|
|
|
62417208 |
Nov 3, 2016 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 5/0042 20130101;
H04W 72/0453 20130101; H04L 5/0005 20130101; H04L 5/0053 20130101;
H04L 5/0094 20130101; H04W 72/0413 20130101; H04L 5/0039 20130101;
H04L 5/001 20130101; H04L 5/0044 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04L 5/00 20060101
H04L005/00; H04W 72/04 20060101 H04W072/04 |
Claims
1. A method, implemented by a radio network device operative in a
wireless communication network, of transmitting uplink data and
uplink control signaling to the network, the method characterized
by: transmitting uplink data over a specified portion of a full,
continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier; and transmitting uplink
control signaling in at least one control region within the
specified portion.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the full, continuous bandwidth of
the uplink carrier is logically divided into two or more sub-band
portions, and wherein at least one sub-band portion includes at
least one control region; and further comprising, prior to
transmitting uplink data or uplink control signaling, receiving, in
a System Information message from a base station, information
regarding the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier and
identifying the sub-band portions.
3. The method claim 2, further characterized by, prior to receiving
information identifying the sub-band portions, transmitting uplink
bandwidth capability of the radio network device to the network;
and wherein the specified portion of the full, continuous bandwidth
of the uplink carrier is the uplink bandwidth on which the radio
network device is capable or configured to transmit.
4. The method of claim 3 further characterized by: receiving
dynamic signaling indicating for which control regions, within the
specified portion, the transmission of uplink data signaling should
be suppressed; and suppressing the transmission of uplink data
signaling in the indicated control regions within the specified
portion.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting uplink data over a
specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink
carrier comprises: subtracting from the specified portion, at least
part of a control region within the specified portion, yielding a
reduced specified portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of the
uplink carrier; and transmitting uplink data over the reduced
specified portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink
carrier.
6. A radio network device operative in a wireless communication
network, comprising: one or more antennas; a transceiver
operatively connected to the antennas; and processing circuitry
operatively connected to the transceiver, and operative to cause
the transceiver to transmit uplink data over a specified portion of
a full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier; and transmit
uplink control signaling in at least one control region within the
specified portion.
7. The radio network device of claim 6, wherein the full,
continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier is logically divided
into two or more sub-band portions, and wherein at least one
sub-band portion includes at least one control region; and the
processing circuitry is further operative to cause the transceiver
to receive, in a System Information message from a base station,
information regarding the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink
carrier and identifying the sub-band portions.
8. The radio network device of claim 7, wherein the processing
circuitry is further operative to cause the transceiver to transmit
uplink bandwidth capability of the radio network device to the
network; and the specified portion of the full, continuous
bandwidth of the uplink carrier is the uplink bandwidth on which
the radio network device is capable or configured to transmit.
9. The radio network device of claim 8 wherein the processing
circuitry is further characterized by causing the transceiver to:
receiving dynamic signaling indicating for which control regions,
within the specified portion, the transmission of uplink data
signaling should be suppressed; and suppressing the transmission of
uplink data signaling in the indicated control regions within the
specified portion.
10. The radio network device of claim 6 wherein the processing
circuitry is operative to cause the transceiver to transmit uplink
data over a specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an
uplink carrier by subtracting from the specified portion, at least
part of a control region within the specified portion, yielding a
reduced specified portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of the
uplink carrier; and causing the transceiver to transmit uplink data
over the reduced specified portion of the full, continuous
bandwidth of the uplink carrier.
11. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program
instructions which, when executed by processing circuitry of a
radio network device operative in a wireless communication network,
causes the device to perform the steps of: transmitting uplink data
over a specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an
uplink carrier; and transmitting uplink control signaling in at
least one control region within the specified portion.
12. A method, implemented by a radio network node operative in a
wireless communication network, of receiving uplink data and uplink
control signaling from a radio network device, the method
comprising: receiving uplink data from a radio network device over
a specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink
carrier; and receiving uplink control signaling from the radio
network device in at least one control region within the specified
portion.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the full, continuous bandwidth
of the uplink carrier is logically divided into two or more
sub-band portions, and wherein at least one sub-band portion
includes at least one control region; and further comprising, prior
to receiving uplink data or uplink control signaling, transmitting,
in a System Information message, information regarding the full,
continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier and identifying the
sub-band portions.
14. The method claim 13, further characterized by, prior to
transmitting information identifying the sub-band portions,
receiving uplink bandwidth capability of the radio network device;
and wherein the specified portion of the full, continuous bandwidth
of the uplink carrier is the uplink bandwidth on which the radio
network device is capable or configured to transmit.
15. The method of claim 14 further characterized by: transmitting
to the radio network device dynamic signaling indicating for which
control regions, within the specified portion, the transmission of
uplink data signaling should be suppressed.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein receiving uplink data over a
specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink
carrier comprises: receiving uplink data over a reduced specified
portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier;
wherein the reduced specified portion is determined by a radio
network device subtracting from the specified portion of the full,
continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier, at least part of a
control region within the specified portion, yielding the reduced
specified portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink
carrier.
17. A radio network node operative in a wireless communication
network, comprising: one or more antennas; a transceiver
operatively connected to the antennas; and processing circuitry
operatively connected to the transceiver, and operative to cause
the transceiver to receive uplink data from a radio network device
over a specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an
uplink carrier; and receive uplink control signaling from the radio
network device in at least one control region within the specified
portion.
18. The radio network node of claim 17, wherein the full,
continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier is logically divided
into two or more sub-band portions, and wherein at least one
sub-band portion includes at least one control region; and the
processing circuitry is further operative to cause the transceiver
to transmit, in a System Information message, information regarding
the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier and
identifying the sub-band portions.
19. The radio network node of claim 18, wherein the processing
circuitry is further operative to cause the transceiver to receive
uplink bandwidth capability of the radio network device to the
network; and the specified portion of the full, continuous
bandwidth of the uplink carrier is the uplink bandwidth on which
the radio network device is capable or configured to transmit.
20. The radio network node of claim 19 wherein the processing
circuitry is further characterized by causing the transceiver to:
transmit to the radio network device dynamic signaling indicating
for which control regions, within the specified portion, the
transmission of uplink data signaling should be suppressed.
21. The radio network node of claim 17 wherein the processing
circuitry is operative to cause the transceiver to receive uplink
data over a specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an
uplink carrier by receiving uplink data over a reduced specified
portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier;
wherein the reduced specified portion is determined by a radio
network device subtracting from the specified portion of the full,
continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier, at least part of a
control region within the specified portion, yielding the reduced
specified portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink
carrier.
22. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program
instructions which, when executed by processing circuitry of a
radio network node operative in a wireless communication network,
causes the node to perform the steps of: receiving uplink data from
a radio network device over a specified portion of a full,
continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier; and receiving uplink
control signaling from the radio network device in at least one
control region within the specified portion.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/760,499, which was filed on Mar. 15, 2018,
which is a national stage application of PCT/SE2017/051067, which
was filed Oct. 31, 2017, and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/417,208, which was filed Nov. 3, 2016, the
disclosures of each of which are incorporated herein by reference
in their entirety.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to wireless
communication networks, and in particular to systems and method for
enabling radio network devices having diverse uplink transmission
bandwidths to utilize specified portions of an uplink carrier
bandwidth.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Wireless communication networks, including network nodes and
radio network devices such as cellphones and smartphones, are
ubiquitous in many parts of the world. These networks continue to
grow in capacity and sophistication. To accommodate both more users
and a wider range of types of devices that may benefit from
wireless communications, the technical standards governing the
operation of wireless communication networks continue to evolve.
The fourth generation (4G) of network standards has been deployed,
and the fifth generation (5G, also known as New Radio, or NR) is in
development.
[0004] 5G is not yet fully defined, but in an advanced draft stage
within the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). 5G wireless
access will be realized by the evolution of Long Term Evolution
(LTE) for existing spectrum, in combination with new radio access
technologies that primarily target new spectrum. Thus, it includes
work on a 5G New Radio (NR) Access Technology, also known as next
generation (NX). The NR air interface targets spectrum in the range
from below 1 GHz up to 100 GHz, with initial deployments expected
in frequency bands not utilized by LTE. Some LTE terminology may be
used in this disclosure in a forward looking sense, to include
equivalent 5G entities or functionalities, although a different
term is or may eventually be specified in 5G. A general description
of the agreements on 5G NR Access Technology so far is contained in
3GPP TR 38.802 V0.3.0 (2016-10), of which a draft version has been
published as R1-1610848. Final specifications may be published
inter alia in the future 3GPP TS 38.2** series.
[0005] FIG. 1 depicts the major radio access technology (RAT) nodes
in both LTE and NR, as presently defined. The base station in NR
will be called gNB, corresponding to the eNB in LTE. These entities
may communicate over a link similar to the X2 interface. A NextGen
core in NR corresponds to the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) of LTE.
[0006] In addition to expanded bandwidth and higher bitrates to
enrich User Equipment (UE) experience, the 5G NR technology will
include expanded support for machine-to-machine (M2M) or machine
type communications (MTC), variously known as the Networked Society
or Internet of Things (IoT). This support focuses on optimized
network architecture and improved indoor coverage for a massive
number of radio network devices with the following characteristics:
low throughput (e.g., 2 kbps); low delay sensitivity (.about.10
seconds); ultra-low device cost (below 5 dollars); and low device
power consumption (battery life of 10 years). As used herein, the
term "radio network device" includes both UEs, such as cellphones
and smartphones, and M2M/MTC/IoT type devices, which are often
embedded in meters, appliances, vehicles, and the like, and are not
directly controlled by users.
[0007] In all radio network device communication with the wireless
network, uplink control signaling, also referred to as uplink L1/L2
control signaling, refers to time-critical signaling that is needed
to convey control information from a radio network device to the
network (i.e., in the uplink). Such control information may
include, but is not limited to, Hybrid ARQ ACK/NACK feedback;
channel quality information (CQI) including information that
supports Multiple Antenna transmission and reception (MIMO); and
Channel State Information (CSI), which can include information
about the channel rank, often denoted with the term Rank Indication
(RI). The control information may also include Scheduling Requests
(SR) by which the mobile terminal can request transmission
resources, e.g. triggered by user input, new data arriving to its
transmission buffers, and the like.
[0008] In LTE, uplink control signaling is transmitted from a radio
network device to the network either on the Physical Uplink Control
Channel (PUCCH), or in case the control signaling is transmitted
together with uplink data, multiplexed with the data on the
Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH). Thus, the radio network
device can transmit control signaling regardless of whether or not
it has data to transmit simultaneously.
[0009] FIG. 2 depicts the LTE uplink control channel PUCCH. The
PUCCH is arranged so that the physical resources that carry the
PUCCH are at the upper and lower edges of the uplink carrier
bandwidth. One benefit this arrangement is that all transmissions
of data (e.g., PUSCH) of radio network devices can be arranged for
transmission in contiguous spectrum simultaneously with radio
network devices that transmit control signaling alone. Such PUSCH
and PUCCH transmissions from different radio network devices are
orthogonal in the sense they are transmitted on different
time-frequency resources that do not interfere.
[0010] In particular, LTE configuration of PUCCH and PUSCH depicted
in FIG. 2 also allows for configuring dedicated PUCCH resources to
radio network devices, e.g., for periodic channel quality/state
information, periodically occurring resources for scheduling
requests, and the like.
[0011] In LTE, a radio network device does not use all PUCCH
resources available on the carrier; rather, each radio network
devices uses only a subset of PUCCH resources. In this manner,
multiple radio network devices can send PUCCH control information
to the network simultaneously. LTE therefore includes ways of
subdividing the available resources of the control region for
PUCCH, so many radio network devices can be allocated PUCCH
resources within the same slot. For example, it is possible to
configure radio network devices with dedicated PUCCH resources that
occur periodically, e.g., for SR and CQI/CSI reporting. It can be
anticipated that similar solutions, or at least solutions to
achieve the same results, will be used in NR/5G.
[0012] Contiguous transmission can result in better Peak to Average
Power Ratio (PAPR) and lower out-of-band emissions, as compared to
non-contiguous transmissions--at least for the Discrete Fourier
Transform Spread Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
(DFTS-OFDM) used in the LTE uplink. As used herein, contiguous
transmission means that the transmitter transmits on contiguous
frequency bands, whereas non-contiguous means that a transmitter
transmits on two or more frequency regions at the same time, with
intervening frequency regions (e.g., guard bands in the case of
carrier aggregation) where the transmitter does not transmit
signaling (other than outskirts of the waveform).
[0013] As used herein, the term "control region" refers to spectrum
within an uplink carrier nominally dedicated to uplink control
signaling (although in some embodiments, data signaling may be
allowed in control regions). PUCCH in LTE is one example of a
control region. Non-contiguous data transmission could be necessary
if a control region were to be placed at a central frequency region
within the uplink carrier frequency. To avoid collision between
radio network devices transmitting control signaling in the control
region, and those radio network devices transmitting data, the data
transmissions normally must not be allowed within the control
region. This results in non-contiguous transmission for radio
network devices transmitting data, if the devices utilize the full
carrier bandwidth.
[0014] Having control regions (i.e., PUCCH) at the edges of the
available uplink carrier bandwidth works well in LTE, where all
radio network devices are required to support the full uplink
carrier bandwidth. Having PUCCH at both edges also allows for
frequency hopping between the regions, which provides frequency
diversity gains, as illustrated by the shaded regions in FIG. 2.
Since all radio network devices use the full transmission
bandwidth, the control region is at the edges of the carrier for
all radio network devices.
[0015] Since Release 10, LTE also supports carrier aggregation.
With carrier aggregation, and particularly for uplink carrier
aggregation, each aggregated uplink carrier has a structure similar
to that described above, where control regions are placed at the
edges of each carrier. Between each aggregated carrier, there is
typically also a guard band for the purposes of aligning carriers
on a carrier raster, and ensuring isolation between the uplink
carriers--i.e., to ensure that transmitters on the different
carriers do not interfere.
[0016] In the future, and particularly with the introduction of
5G/NR radio access technology, it is likely bandwidths will be
defined even wider than the maximum 20 MHz carriers used in LTE.
With bandwidths of, e.g., 40, 50, 100, 200 MHz, and even more than
1 GHz in high frequency spectra, there will be a need to support
different types of radio network devices on the uplink carriers. In
particular, there will be a need to support radio network devices
that do not have the capability or need to transmit over the full
uplink carrier bandwidth of, e.g., 100 MHz. A radio network device
might have the capability of only transmitting over, e.g., 20 MHz,
or the terminal might have the capability, but be currently
configured to only transmit over 20 MHz. As another example, the
network must support an anticipated explosion of narrowband radio
network devices--for example, Narrowband Internet of Things
(NB-IoT) utilizes the smallest allocable bandwidth unit in LTE: a
Physical Resource Block (PRB), defined as 12 subcarriers by one
slot (0.5 msec). With 15 KHz subcarrier spacing, NB-IoT radio
network devices have a bandwidth of only 180 KHz. In these cases,
the known solution from LTE, where the control regions are limited
to the edges of wide uplink carrier bandwidth, are deficient.
[0017] Limiting at least some uplink carriers to smaller
bandwidths, e.g., 5 MHz, will not alleviate the problem of radio
network devices with still lower uplink bandwidth. For example, it
is anticipated that many radio network device implementations will
require low cost, and hence low maximum bit-rate, long battery
life, and the like. Similar constraints (e.g., preserving battery
life) may prompt radio network devices having higher capability to
only transmit at a low bit-rate if that will satisfy current
performance requirements.
[0018] FIG. 3 depicts one problem raised in supporting radio
network devices utilizing less than a full uplink carrier
bandwidth. Assume the uplink carrier bandwidth is 100 MHz, and a
first radio network device transmits over the full 100 MHz. The
first radio network device may transmit control signaling in the
control regions at the carrier bandwidth edges, and (contiguous)
data signaling throughout the remaining bandwidth. A second radio
network device, however has only the capability, or is configured,
to transmit over only a 20 MHz bandwidth. It is not possible to
configure the second radio network device to utilize control
regions at both edges of the 100 MHz carrier bandwidth. The second
radio network device could use one of the control regions at either
edge of the 100 MHz band if it would use one of the two
corresponding sub-band portions of 20 MHz; however, the three 20
MHz sub-band portions in the middle of the 100 MHz carrier
bandwidth would not be available for the narrower-bandwidth radio
network devices, as these do not include any control region. This
non-usability of much of the uplink carrier bandwidth, for radio
network devices similar to the second one of FIG. 3, would severely
limit the possibility of supporting both wide- and narrow-bandwidth
radio network devices at the same time in the same network and/or
in the same cells. It would also prevent the use of frequency
hopping for narrower-bandwidth radio network devices between the
control regions to achieve frequency diversity gains, as
implemented and used in LTE.
[0019] Simply allocating control regions in the middle of the 100
MHz bandwidth presents a disadvantage to wide-bandwidth radio
network devices, as it forces non-contiguous data transmission,
which yields worse PAPR and out-of-band emissions.
[0020] The Background section of this document is provided to place
embodiments of the present invention in technological and
operational context, to assist those of skill in the art in
understanding their scope and utility. Unless explicitly identified
as such, no statement herein is admitted to be prior art merely by
its inclusion in the Background section.
SUMMARY
[0021] The following presents a simplified summary of the
disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to those of
skill in the art. This summary is not an extensive overview of the
disclosure and is not intended to identify key/critical elements of
embodiments of the invention or to delineate the scope of the
invention. The sole purpose of this summary is to present some
concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the
more detailed description that is presented later.
[0022] According to embodiments of the present invention described
herein, at least some of the aforementioned deficiencies of the
prior art are ameliorated by configuring and controlling the use of
multiple control regions within an uplink carrier bandwidth. In
some embodiments, the total bandwidth of the uplink carrier is
divided into a plurality of sub-band portions, wherein at least one
sub-band portion includes at least one control region nominally
dedicated to the transmission of uplink control signaling. In some
embodiments, the control region or regions are at one or both edges
of the respective sub-band portion. In some embodiments, each
sub-band portion has a control region at both edges of the sub-band
portion. In some embodiments, two or more sub-band portions may
share a control region. The sub-band portion bandwidth may be
configured in accordance with the transmission bandwidth of
currently configured radio network devices. Radio network devices
that support and are configured to transmit over multiple sub-band
portions, are configured with information concerning control
regions that fall within configured/covered sub-band portions. The
radio network devices are subsequently informed, e.g., by means of
applicable signaling, whether the radio network device shall
suppress transmitting data or any other information in the control
regions, or whether the radio network devices is permitted and
scheduled to transmit, e.g., data within or on the concerned
control regions. In some embodiments, the applicable signaling may
be realized with semi-static configuration, e.g., by RRC signaling.
In some embodiments, the signaling by which a radio network device
receives transmission suppression information for one or more
control regions may be realized with dynamic scheduling, using
downlink L1/L2 signaling, or MAC control signaling, such as MAC
control elements.
[0023] One embodiment relates to a method, implemented by a radio
network device operative in a wireless communication network, of
transmitting uplink data and uplink control signaling to the
network. Uplink data are transmitted over a specified portion of a
full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier. Uplink control
signaling is transmitted in at least one control region within the
specified portion. In some embodiments, the transmission of uplink
data is suppressed in one or more control regions within the
specified portion.
[0024] Another embodiment relates to a radio network device
operative in a wireless communication network. The device includes
one or more antennas and a transceiver operatively connected to the
antennas. The device also includes processing circuitry operatively
connected to the transceiver. The processing circuitry is operative
to cause the transceiver to transmit uplink data over a specified
portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier; and
transmit uplink control signaling in at least one control region
within the specified portion. In some embodiments, the processing
circuitry is further operative to suppress the transmission of
uplink data in one or more control regions within the specified
portion.
[0025] Yet another embodiment relates to an apparatus operative in
a wireless communication network. The apparatus includes a first
module operative to transmit uplink data over a specified portion
of a full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier. The apparatus
also includes a second module operative to transmit uplink control
signaling in at least one control region within the specified
portion. The apparatus optionally further includes a third module
operative to suppress the transmission of uplink data in one or
more control regions within the specified portion.
[0026] Still another embodiment relates to a computer program
comprising instructions which, when executed by processing
circuitry of a radio network device operative in a wireless
communication network, causes the device to carry out the method of
transmitting uplink data and uplink control signaling to the
network described above. Another embodiment relates to a carrier
containing the computer program, wherein the carrier is one of an
electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer
readable storage medium.
[0027] One embodiment relates to a method, implemented by a radio
network node operative in a wireless communication network, of
receiving uplink data and uplink control signaling from a radio
network device. Uplink data are received from a radio network
device over a specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of
an uplink carrier. Uplink control signaling is received from the
radio network device in at least one control region within the
specified portion.
[0028] Another embodiment relates to a radio network node operative
in a wireless communication network. The device includes one or
more antennas and a transceiver operatively connected to the
antennas. The device also includes processing circuitry operatively
connected to the transceiver. The processing circuitry is operative
to cause the transceiver to receive uplink data from a radio
network device over a specified portion of a full, continuous
bandwidth of an uplink carrier; and receive uplink control
signaling from the radio network device in at least one control
region within the specified portion.
[0029] Yet another embodiment relates to an apparatus operative in
a wireless communication network. The apparatus includes a first
module operative to receive uplink data from a radio network device
over a specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an
uplink carrier. The apparatus also includes a second module
operative to receive uplink control signaling from the radio
network device in at least one control region within the specified
portion.
[0030] Still another embodiment relates to a computer program
comprising instructions which, when executed by processing
circuitry of a radio network node operative in a wireless
communication network, causes the device to carry out the method of
receiving uplink data and uplink control signaling from a radio
network device described above. Another embodiment relates to a
carrier containing the computer program, wherein the carrier is one
of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer
readable storage medium.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] The present invention will now be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
embodiments of the invention are shown. However, this invention
should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth
herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the
scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers
refer to like elements throughout.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of LTE and NR radio access
technology and network nodes.
[0033] FIG. 2 is a spectrum diagram of a prior art LTE uplink
carrier.
[0034] FIG. 3 is a spectrum diagram of a wideband uplink carrier
divided into sub-band portions.
[0035] FIG. 4 is a spectrum diagram of a wideband uplink carrier
divided into sub-band portions with a control region in each
sub-band portion.
[0036] FIG. 5 is a spectrum diagram of a wideband uplink carrier
divided into sub-band portions with a control region at each edge
of each sub-band portion.
[0037] FIG. 6 is a spectrum diagram of a wideband uplink carrier
divided into sub-band portions with shared control regions between
sub-band portions.
[0038] FIG. 7 is a spectrum diagram of a wideband uplink carrier
depicting specified portions of bandwidth for various radio network
devices that do not necessarily correspond to sub-band portion
boundaries.
[0039] FIG. 8 is a spectrum diagram of a wideband uplink carrier
depicting control region resources subtracted from scheduled UL
data transmission resources.
[0040] FIG. 9 is a signaling diagram.
[0041] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a method, implemented by a
radio network node, of receiving uplink data and uplink control
signaling from a radio network device.
[0042] FIG. 11 is a block diagram of a radio network node, such as
a base station.
[0043] FIG. 12 is a diagram of physical units in processing
circuitry in the network radio node of FIG. 11.
[0044] FIG. 13 is a diagram of software modules in memory in the
network radio node of FIG. 11.
[0045] FIG. 14 is a diagram of modules comprising a virtual
function module architecture of a radio network node apparatus.
[0046] FIG. 15 is a flow diagram of a method, implemented by a
radio network device, of transmitting uplink data and uplink
control signaling to the network.
[0047] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a radio network device, such
as a UE or NB-IoT device.
[0048] FIG. 17 is a diagram of physical units in processing
circuitry in the network radio device of FIG. 16.
[0049] FIG. 18 is a diagram of software modules in memory in the
network radio device of FIG. 16.
[0050] FIG. 19 is a diagram of modules comprising a virtual
function module architecture of a radio network device
apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0051] For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the present
invention is described by referring mainly to an exemplary
embodiment thereof. In the following description, numerous specific
details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding
of the present invention. However, it will be readily apparent to
one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be
practiced without limitation to these specific details. In this
description, well known methods and structures have not been
described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present
invention.
[0052] The full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier may be
logically divided into two or more segments, referred to herein as
"sub-band portions." At least one sub-band portion includes at
least one control region. As used herein, a "control region" is a
segment of bandwidth of an uplink carrier nominally allocated to
the transmission of uplink control signaling. In various
embodiments, the allocation of a control region to uplink control
signaling may be absolute (i.e., no data signaling transmission is
allowed), or both uplink data and uplink control signaling may be
transmitted in a control region.
[0053] According to embodiments of the present invention, a radio
network device may be configured to transmit over a specified
portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier.
Each radio network device may be capable, or be configured, to
transmit over a different specified portion. Each specified portion
includes a control region for the transmission of uplink control
signaling. In some embodiments, a specified portion comprises one
or more sub-band portion of the carrier bandwidth. However, in
other embodiments, a specified portion for a radio network device
may span only part of one or more sub-bands.
[0054] FIG. 4 depicts the bandwidth of an uplink carrier divided
into sub-band portions. Each sub-band portion includes a control
region. Division of an uplink carrier bandwidth into sub-band
portions is performed by the network, and communicated to radio
network devices. In one embodiment, the carrier identification and
sub-band portion information is transmitted in System Information
by a base station (gNB). In one embodiment, the sub-band portion
information comprises the number of sub-band portions, wherein the
sub-band portions are equal, as depicted in FIG. 4. However, this
is not a limitation of embodiments of the present invention, and in
other embodiments the sub-band portions may be of unequal size. An
uplink carrier bandwidth may be divided into any number of sub-band
portions.
[0055] The upper and lower sub-band portions depicted in FIG. 4
include a control region at the upper edge, and at both the upper
and lower edge of the sub-band portions, respectively. The middle
sub-band portion in FIG. 4 includes a control region that is not
located at an edge of the sub-band portion. In general, a control
region may appear anywhere within a sub-band portion. Regardless of
the location of a control region, uplink control signaling is
transmitted over a control channel, e.g. PUCCH in LTE, where the
PUCCH is carried using the physical resources of the control
region(s). Note that NR or other future wireless communication
network specifications may use a different designation than PUCCH
for the uplink control channel.
[0056] In one embodiment, the specified portion of the full,
continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier utilized by a radio
network device (either due to its capability or due to being
configured as such) is an integral number of sub-band portions.
FIG. 5 depicts an uplink carrier bandwidth divided into three,
equal-size sub-band portions, each with a control region at both
the upper and lower edge. A first type of radio network device,
capable of a relatively wide uplink bandwidth, may be configured
such that its specified portion of the uplink carrier bandwidth
spans two or even all three of the sub-band portions. A second type
of radio network device, capable of or configured to use only a
relatively narrow uplink bandwidth, may be configured such that its
specified portion of the uplink carrier bandwidth is limited to one
sub-band portion. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, each
sub-band portion includes a control region at both the upper and
lower edge. This allows contiguous transmission for the second type
of radio network devices, and also allows for frequency diversity
in the uplink control channel.
[0057] FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment in which control regions are
located throughout the uplink carrier bandwidth, and in which the
specified portion of the uplink carrier bandwidth for each radio
network device may be defined such that the control regions are
shared, also referred to as control region pooling. These
embodiments are possible since there are no guard-bands between the
sub-band portions, in contrast to the known carrier-aggregation
solution implemented in LTE Release 10. FIG. 6 depicts various
specified portions defined for a first, wide-bandwidth type radio
network device, each of which is defined so as to include a control
region at both the upper and lower edge. FIG. 6 also depicts
various specified portions defined for a second, narrower-bandwidth
type radio network device. These specified portions may include two
control regions, located at both the upper and lower edge of the
specified portion, as indicated by the three left-most arrows
labeled second type. Additionally, FIG. 6 depicts, in the two
right-most arrows of the second type, embodiments in which the
specified portion of the uplink carrier bandwidth includes only one
control region. This reduces the transmission bandwidth of the
radio network device. However, it also reduces the possibility for
frequency diversity, e.g., through hopping techniques between the
control regions.
[0058] Radio network devices can thus be configured to use any of
the sub-band portions within the uplink carrier bandwidth, and the
radio network devices can be configured with control channel
resources within the sub-bands. For example, some periodically
occurring control channel resources could be configured to radio
network devices, for e.g., SR or CQI/CSI purposes. In all
embodiments, the radio network devices may be configured with a
specified portion of the uplink carrier bandwidth by higher-layer
signaling, such as Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling (or its
5G equivalent). In this manner, both the radio network device and
the base station (gNB) have the same understanding of where the UE
will transmit its signals.
[0059] In all the embodiments described above, the specified
portions of uplink carrier bandwidth comprise an integral number of
sub-bands portions (with possible control region pooling, as in
FIG. 6). However, the invention is not so limited. FIG. 7 depicts
embodiments in which the specified portions of uplink carrier
bandwidth for radio network devices do not necessarily coincide
with sub-band portion boundaries (the sub-band portions in FIG. 7
share control regions). For example a first, wideband type of radio
network device may have a specified portion covering the upper two
sub-band portions and part of the lower sub-band portion, or may
include the center sub-band portion and only parts of both the
upper and lower sub-band portion. A second, narrowband type of
radio network device may have a specified portion comprising the
upper sub-band, or may comprise only portions of the two lower
sub-band portions, and their shared control region. This latter
embodiment is less preferable from a frequency-diversity
perspective, but may be necessary to accommodate the uplink
transmission capabilities of a particular radio network device.
[0060] FIG. 8 depicts an embodiment in which resources scheduled
for data transmission cross a control region, the resources of
which the radio network device must reserve to uplink control
signaling. In this case, the resources of the control region (which
may comprise the entire defined control region, or only part of it)
are subtracted from the portion of uplink bandwidth specified for
use by the radio network device, yielding a reduced portion of the
uplink carrier bandwidth in which the radio network device may
transmit data. Uplink data is then transmitted over this reduced
portion.
[0061] In some embodiments, particularly with wider-bandwidth radio
network devices, whose specified portion of the uplink carrier
bandwidth may span multiple sub-band portions, and hence a
plurality of control regions, it may be advantageous in some cases,
e.g., for interference suppression, to prevent the radio network
devices from transmitting data in the control regions. In other
cases, the radio network devices may be allowed to utilize one or
more of the control regions for data signaling, providing a more
contiguous spectrum (this is depicted in the upper control region
of FIG. 8, wherein data is allowed to be transmitted in a nominal
control region). The control information for selectively
suppressing the transmission of data signaling in control regions
can be conveyed to the radio network device using dynamic
scheduling, or by use of higher-layer signaling.
[0062] For example, a radio network device may be semi-statically
configured with information about the presence and location of
control regions using higher-layer signaling, and whenever the
network finds it appropriate, the radio network device may be
dynamically controlled to suppress transmissions in one or more
control regions. For example, the dynamic control could be
implemented using a downlink physical control channel carrying an
assignment message that includes information whether the radio
network device shall transmit or shall not transmit in a control
region already configured by higher layer signaling. The assignment
message could be carried on a Physical Downlink Control Channel
(PDCCH) using Downlink Control Information (DCI), or the
functionally equivalent signaling in 5G/NR. The granularity of such
directive could be per control region, per group of control regions
(with the grouping being previously semi-statically configured), or
by one flag (e.g., one bit) for all configured control regions. In
one embodiment, particularly applicable where a control region
spans many resource blocks, the control region may be divided into
two or more sub-control-regions. The transmission suppression
directive may in this case be on a fractional control region
granularity, whereby a separate "muting" indication is provided for
each sub-control-region.
[0063] In one embodiment, the higher-layer signaling of control
regions is omitted, and the radio network device used hard-coded or
provisioned parameters to identify the control regions. In one
embodiment, the control regions may occur at intervals and
locations that are dependent on the carrier bandwidth, for example
using a predetermined relationship. As discussed above, the carrier
bandwidth and the sub-band portions could also be signaled using
System Information. In one embodiment, the full bandwidth may be
reported together with a parameter that identifies the number of
sub-band portions. In one embodiment, the sub-band portions are
then of equal bandwidth, based on the parameter or parameters.
[0064] Those of skill in the art will understand that a base
station (gNB) must know the type of radio network device that is in
the need of uplink transmission resources, to be able to provision
it with a specified portion of an uplink carrier bandwidth in which
to transmit. In one embodiment, the radio network device transmits,
and the base station receives, information about the radio network
device capability for transmitting over one or multiple sub-band
portions, or more generally its uplink transmission bandwidth
capability and configuration. The capability/configuration
information transmitted from the radio network device to the base
station may also include information about whether the radio
network device can support muting in control regions. The base
station then configures the radio network device accordingly.
[0065] FIG. 9 depicts one non-limiting example of signaling between
a radio network device and the network to achieve specified portion
of uplink carrier bandwidth configuration. First (signal 1), a
radio network device sends its capability information to the base
station. In embodiments in which the radio network device has
previously provided the network with capability information, this
step can be omitted.
[0066] Second (signal 2), based on the radio network device
capability and also potentially based on other factors, such as
network load and service requirements of the radio network device,
the base station initiates a configuration of the radio network
device. The configuration may include information about carrier
bandwidth and sub-band partitioning of the carrier. The
configuration may also include information about control regions.
The radio network device is also configured with its specified
portion of the uplink carrier bandwidth, which may or may not
exactly coincide with one or multiple sub-band portions. In one
embodiment, the radio network device is not made aware of any
information about the carrier bandwidth, only about the sub-band
portions and its specified portion. The configuration of the radio
network device may be performed with higher layer signaling, such
as the RRC protocol. The radio network device may send a message
back to the base station, in which it confirms that the reception
of the configuration message was successful.
[0067] Third (signal 3), after the radio network device is aware of
its specified portion, as well as the sub-band portions which
overlap with its specified portion (either fully or partly), and
control regions within is specified portion, the radio network
device receives a scheduling command, telling the radio network
device to transmit uplink data over its specified portion of the
uplink carrier bandwidth, and uplink control signaling in one or
more control regions within the specified portion. In one
embodiment, the scheduling command includes information informing
the radio network device whether it should mute its data
transmission over one or more control regions within its specified
region, or if it is allowed to transmit data over the respective
control region.
[0068] FIG. 10 depicts a flow diagram of a method 100, implemented
by a radio network node operative in a wireless communication
network, of receiving uplink data and uplink control signaling from
a radio network device. The radio network node receives uplink data
from a radio network device over a specified portion of a full,
continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier (block 102). The radio
network node receives uplink control signaling from the radio
network device in at least one control region within the specified
portion (block 104).
[0069] FIG. 11 depicts a radio network node 10 operative in a
wireless communication network. The radio network node 10 includes
communication circuits 12 operative to exchange data with other
network nodes; processing circuitry 14; memory 16; and radio
circuits, such as a transceiver 18, one or more antennas 20, and
the like, to effect wireless communication across an air interface
to one or more radio network devices. As indicated by the broken
connection to the antenna(s) 20, the antenna(s) may be physically
located separately from the radio network node 10, such as mounted
on a tower, building, or the like. Although the memory 16 is
depicted as being separate from the processing circuitry 14, those
of skill in the art understand that the processing circuitry 14
includes internal memory, such as a cache memory or register file.
Those of skill in the art additionally understand that
virtualization techniques allow some functions nominally executed
by the processing circuitry 14 to actually be executed by other
hardware, perhaps remotely located (e.g., in the so-called
"cloud"). In one embodiment, the radio network node 10 is a base
station, known as eNB in LTE or gNB in NR.
[0070] According to embodiments of the present invention, the
memory 16 is operative to store, and the processing circuitry 14 is
operative to execute, software 22 which when executed is operative
to cause the radio network node 10 to receive uplink data from a
radio network device over a specified portion of a full, continuous
bandwidth of an uplink carrier, and to receive uplink control
signaling from the radio network device in at least one control
region within the specified portion, as described and claimed
herein. This allows the radio network node 10 to utilize very wide
bandwidth uplink carriers, and efficiently support radio network
devices having very different uplink bandwidth capabilities or
configurations.
[0071] FIG. 12 illustrates example processing circuitry 14, such as
that in the radio network node 10 of FIG. 11. The processing
circuitry 14 comprises a plurality of physical units. In
particular, the processing circuitry 14 comprises an uplink data
receiving unit 51, and an uplink control signaling receiving unit
53. The uplink data receiving unit 51 is configured to receive
uplink data from a radio network device over a specified portion of
a full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier. The uplink
control signaling receiving unit 53 is configured to receive uplink
control signaling from the radio network device in at least one
control region within the specified portion.
[0072] FIG. 13 illustrates example software 22, such as that
depicted in the memory 16 of the radio network node 10 of FIG. 11.
The software 22 comprises a plurality of software modules. In
particular, the software 22 comprises an uplink data receiving
module 57, and an uplink control signaling receiving module 59. The
uplink data receiving module 57 is configured to receive uplink
data from a radio network device over a specified portion of a
full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier. The uplink control
signaling receiving module 59 is configured to receive uplink
control signaling from the radio network device in at least one
control region within the specified portion.
[0073] FIG. 14 illustrates a plurality of modules comprising a
virtual function module architecture of an apparatus operative as a
radio network node in a wireless communication network. A first
module 63 is configured to receive uplink data from a radio network
device over a specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of
an uplink carrier. A second module 65 is configured to receive
uplink control signaling from the radio network device in at least
one control region within the specified portion.
[0074] FIG. 15 depicts a flow diagram of a method 200 of
transmitting uplink data and uplink control signaling from a radio
network device to a wireless communication network. Following
appropriate configuration, the radio network device transmits
uplink data over a specified portion of a full, continuous
bandwidth of an uplink carrier (block 202). The radio network
device transmits uplink control signaling in at least one control
region within the specified portion (block 204). In some
embodiments (as indicated by the dashed-line directional arrow and
block), the radio network device suppresses the transmission of
uplink data in one or more control regions within the specified
portion (block 206).
[0075] FIG. 16 depicts a radio network device 30 operative in
embodiments of the present invention. A radio network device 30 is
any type device capable of communicating with a base station of a
wireless communication network over radio signals. A radio network
device 30 may therefore refer to a machine-to-machine (M2M) device,
a machine-type communications (MTC) device, a Narrowband Internet
of Things (NB-IoT) device, etc. The radio network device may also
be a User Equipment (UE); however it should be noted that the UE
does not necessarily have a "user" in the sense of an individual
person owning and/or operating the device. A radio network device
30 may also be referred to as a radio device, a radio communication
device, a wireless communication device, a wireless terminal, or
simply a terminal--unless the context indicates otherwise, the use
of any of these terms is intended to include device-to-device UEs
or devices, machine-type devices or devices capable of
machine-to-machine communication, sensors equipped with a radio
network device, wireless-enabled table computers, mobile terminals,
smart phones, laptop-embedded equipped (LEE), laptop-mounted
equipment (LME), USB dongles, wireless customer-premises equipment
(CPE), etc. In the discussion herein, the terms machine-to-machine
(M2M) device, machine-type communication (MTC) device, wireless
sensor, and sensor may also be used. It should be understood that
these devices may be UEs, but may be configured to transmit and/or
receive data without direct human interaction.
[0076] A radio network device 30 as described herein may be, or may
be comprised in, a machine or device that performs monitoring or
measurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring
measurements to another device or a network. Particular examples of
such machines are power meters, industrial machinery, or home or
personal appliances, e.g. refrigerators, televisions, personal
wearables such as watches etc. In other scenarios, a wireless
communication device as described herein may be comprised in a
vehicle and may perform monitoring and/or reporting of the
vehicle's operational status or other functions associated with the
vehicle.
[0077] In some embodiments, the radio network device 30 includes a
user interface 32 (display, touchscreen, keyboard or keypad,
microphone, speaker, and the like); in other embodiments, such as
in many M2M, MTC, or NB-IoT scenarios, the radio network device 30
may include only a minimal, or no, user interface 32 (as indicated
by the dashed lines of block 32 in FIG. 16). The radio network
device 30 also includes processing circuitry 34; memory 36; and
radio circuits, such a transceiver 38, one or more antennas 40, and
the like, to effect wireless communication across an air interface
to one or more radio network nodes 10. As indicated by the dashed
lines, the antenna(s) 40 may protrude externally from the radio
network device 30, or the antenna(s) 40 may be internal. In some
embodiments, the radio network device 30 may additionally include
features such as a camera, removable memory interface, short-range
communication interface (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and the like), wired
interface (USB), battery recharge port, and the like (these
features are not shown in FIG. 16).
[0078] According to embodiments of the present invention, the
memory 36 is operative to store, and the processing circuitry 34
operative to execute, software 42 which when executed is operative
to cause the radio network device 30 to transmit uplink data over a
specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink
carrier, and transmit uplink control signaling in at least one
control region within the specified portion, as described herein.
In particular, the software 42, when executed on the processing
circuitry 34, is operative to perform the method 200 described
herein. This allows the radio network device 30 to effectively
function, including transmitting uplink control signaling in a
control region, within the bandwidth of an uplink carrier that may
be much broader than the bandwidth the radio network device 30 is
capable of or configured to utilize.
[0079] FIG. 17 illustrates example processing circuitry 34, such as
that in the radio network device 30 of FIG. 16. The processing
circuitry 34 comprises a plurality of physical units. In
particular, the processing circuitry 34 comprises an uplink data
transmitting unit 50, an uplink control signaling transmitting unit
52, and in some embodiments (as indicated by dashed lines), an
uplink data transmission suppression unit 54. The uplink data
transmitting unit 50 is configured to transmit uplink data over a
specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink
carrier. The uplink control signaling transmitting unit 52 is
configured to transmit uplink control signaling in at least one
control region within the specified portion. The uplink data
transmission suppression unit 54 is configured to suppress the
transmission of uplink data in one or more control regions within
the specified portion.
[0080] FIG. 18 illustrates example software 42, such as that
depicted in the memory 36 of the radio network device 30 of FIG.
16. The software 42 comprises a plurality of software modules. In
particular, the software 42 comprises an uplink data transmitting
module 56, an uplink control signaling transmitting module 58, and
in some embodiments (as indicated by dashed lines), an uplink data
transmission suppression module 60. The uplink data transmitting
module 56 is configured to transmit uplink data over a specified
portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier. The
uplink control signaling transmitting module 58 is configured to
transmit uplink control signaling in at least one control region
within the specified portion. The uplink data transmission
suppression module 60 is configured to suppress the transmission of
uplink data in one or more control regions within the specified
portion.
[0081] FIG. 19 illustrates a plurality of modules comprising a
virtual function module architecture of an apparatus operative as a
radio network device in a wireless communication network. A first
module 63 is configured to transmit data and control signaling over
a specified portion of uplink carrier bandwidth. A second module 64
is configured to transmit control signaling in at least one control
region. An optional third module 66 is configured to suppress
transmission of uplink data signaling in specified control
regions.
[0082] In all embodiments, the processing circuitry 14, 34 may
comprise any sequential state machine operative to execute machine
instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs 22, 42 in
memory 16, 36, such as one or more hardware-implemented state
machines (e.g., in discrete logic, FPGA, ASIC, etc.); programmable
logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more
stored-program, general-purpose processors, such as a
microprocessor or Digital Signal Processor (DSP), together with
appropriate software; or any combination of the above.
[0083] In all embodiments, the memory 16, 36 may comprise any
machine-readable media known in the art or that may be developed,
including but not limited to magnetic media (e.g., floppy disc,
hard disc drive, etc.), optical media (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD-ROM,
etc.), solid state media (e.g., SRAM, DRAM, DDRAM, ROM, PROM,
EPROM, Flash memory, solid state disc, etc.), or the like. In some
embodiments, the software 22, 42, may be retrieved by the
processing circuitry 14, 34 from a carrier which may comprise an
electronic signal, optical signal, or radio signal, in addition to,
or in lieu of, a computer readable storage medium such as memory
16, 36.
[0084] In all embodiments, the radio circuits may comprise one or
more transceivers 18, 38 used to communicate with one or more other
transceivers via a Radio Access Network (RAN) according to one or
more communication protocols known in the art or that may be
developed, such as IEEE 802.xx, CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN,
WiMax, NB-IoT, NR, or the like. The transceiver 18, 38 implements
transmitter and receiver functionality appropriate to the RAN links
(e.g., frequency allocations and the like). The transmitter and
receiver functions may share circuit components and/or software, or
alternatively may be implemented separately.
[0085] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that
embodiments herein further include corresponding computer programs.
A computer program comprises instructions which, when executed on
at least processing circuitry 34 of a radio network device 30,
cause the device 30 to carry out any of the respective processing
described above, such as the method 200. A computer program in this
regard may comprise one or more code modules corresponding to the
modules 56, 58, 60 described above.
[0086] Embodiments further include a carrier containing such a
computer program. This carrier may comprise one of an electronic
signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage
medium 36.
[0087] One embodiment relates to a method, implemented by a radio
network device operative in a wireless communication network, of
transmitting uplink data and uplink control signaling to the
network. Uplink data are transmitted over a specified portion of a
full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier. Uplink control
signaling is transmitted in at least one control region within the
specified portion. In some embodiments, the transmission of uplink
data is suppressed in one or more control regions within the
specified portion.
[0088] In one embodiment, the full, continuous bandwidth of the
uplink carrier is logically divided into two or more sub-band
portions, and at least one sub-band portion includes at least one
control region.
[0089] In one embodiment, prior to transmitting uplink data or
uplink control signaling, information is received, in a System
Information message from a base station, regarding the full,
continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier and identifying the
sub-band portions.
[0090] In one embodiment, a control region within at least one
sub-band portion is at the lower or upper extent of the sub-band
portion bandwidth.
[0091] In one embodiment, control regions within at least one
sub-band portion are at both the lower and upper extent of the
sub-band portion bandwidth.
[0092] In one embodiment, the control regions are at locations
derived in a predetermined manner from the carrier bandwidth.
[0093] In one embodiment, the specified portion of the full,
continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier is the uplink bandwidth
on which the radio network device (30) is capable or configured to
transmit.
[0094] In one embodiment, prior to transmitting uplink data or
uplink control signaling, uplink bandwidth capability of the radio
network device is transmitted to the network.
[0095] In one embodiment, prior to transmitting uplink data or
uplink control signaling, information operative to configure the
specified portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink
carrier in the radio network device is received.
[0096] In one embodiment, the radio network device (30) is
semi-statically configured by the network with information
regarding control regions within the specified portion.
[0097] In one embodiment, dynamic signaling is received, indicating
for which control regions, within the specified portion, the
transmission of uplink data signaling should be suppressed.
[0098] In one embodiment, indication of transmission suppression
for one or more control regions is valid for a predetermined
signaling duration.
[0099] In one embodiment, the dynamic signaling indicates
transmission suppression per control region.
[0100] In one embodiment, at least part of at least one control
region in the specified portion is reserved for the transmission of
device-prompted uplink control signaling.
[0101] In one embodiment, transmitting uplink data over a specified
portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier
comprises subtracting from the specified portion, at least part of
a control region within the specified portion, yielding a reduced
specified portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink
carrier; and transmitting uplink data over the reduced specified
portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink
carrier.
[0102] Another embodiment relates to a radio network device
operative in a wireless communication network. The device includes
one or more antennas and a transceiver operatively connected to the
antennas. The device also includes processing circuitry operatively
connected to the transceiver. The processing circuitry is operative
to cause the transceiver to transmit uplink data over a specified
portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier; and
transmit uplink control signaling in at least one control region
within the specified portion. In some embodiments, the processing
circuitry is further operative to suppress the transmission of
uplink data in one or more control regions within the specified
portion.
[0103] In another embodiment, the full, continuous bandwidth of the
uplink carrier is logically divided into two or more sub-band
portions, and wherein each sub-band portion includes at least one
control region.
[0104] In another embodiment, the processing circuitry is further
operative to cause the transceiver to receive information regarding
the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier and
identifying the sub-band portions in a System Information broadcast
from a base station.
[0105] In another embodiment, a control region within at least one
sub-band portion is at the lower or upper extent of the sub-band
portion bandwidth.
[0106] In another embodiment, control regions within at least one
sub-band portion are at both the lower and upper extent of the
sub-band portion bandwidth.
[0107] In another embodiment, the control regions are at locations
derived in a predetermined manner from the carrier bandwidth.
[0108] In another embodiment, the specified portion of the full,
continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier is the uplink bandwidth
on which the radio network device is capable or configured to
transmit.
[0109] In another embodiment, the processing circuitry is further
operative to cause the transceiver to transmit uplink bandwidth
capability of the radio network device to the network prior to
transmitting uplink data or uplink control signaling.
[0110] In another embodiment, the processing circuitry is further
operative to cause the transceiver to receive information operative
to configure the specified portion of the full, continuous
bandwidth of the uplink carrier in the radio network device prior
to transmitting uplink data or uplink control signaling.
[0111] In another embodiment, the radio network device is
semi-statically configured by the network with information
regarding control regions within the specified portion.
[0112] In another embodiment, the processing circuitry is further
operative to cause the transceiver to receive dynamic signaling
indicating for which control regions, within the specified portion,
the transmission of uplink data signaling should be suppressed.
[0113] In another embodiment, the indication of transmission
suppression for one or more control regions is valid for a
predetermined signaling duration.
[0114] In another embodiment, the dynamic signaling indicates
transmission suppression per control region.
[0115] In another embodiment, at least part of at least one control
region in the specified portion is reserved for the transmission of
device-prompted uplink control signaling.
[0116] In another embodiment, the processing circuitry is further
operative to transmit uplink data over a specified portion of a
full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier by subtracting from
the specified portion, at least part of a control region within the
specified portion, yielding a reduced specified portion of the
full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier; and transmitting
uplink data over the reduced specified portion of the full,
continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier.
[0117] Yet another embodiment relates to an apparatus operative in
a wireless communication network. The apparatus includes a first
module operative to transmit uplink data over a specified portion
of a full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier. The apparatus
also includes a second module operative to transmit uplink control
signaling in at least one control region within the specified
portion. The apparatus optionally further includes a third module
operative to suppress the transmission of uplink data in one or
more control regions within the specified portion.
[0118] Still another embodiment relates to a computer program
comprising instructions which, when executed by processing
circuitry of a radio network device operative in a wireless
communication network, causes the device to carry out the method of
transmitting uplink data and uplink control signaling to the
network described above. Another embodiment relates to a carrier
containing the computer program, wherein the carrier is one of an
electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer
readable storage medium.
[0119] One embodiment relates to a method, implemented by a radio
network node operative in a wireless communication network, of
receiving uplink data and uplink control signaling from a radio
network device. Uplink data are received from a radio network
device over a specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of
an uplink carrier. Uplink control signaling is received from the
radio network device in at least one control region within the
specified portion.
[0120] In one embodiment, the full, continuous bandwidth of the
uplink carrier is logically divided into two or more sub-band
portions, and wherein at least one sub-band portion includes at
least one control region.
[0121] In one embodiment, prior to receiving uplink data or uplink
control signaling, information regarding the full, continuous
bandwidth of the uplink carrier and identifying the sub-band
portions is transmitted in a System Information message.
[0122] In one embodiment, a control region within at least one
sub-band portion is at the lower or upper extent of the sub-band
portion bandwidth.
[0123] In one embodiment, control regions within at least one
sub-band portion are at both the lower and upper extent of the
sub-band portion bandwidth.
[0124] In one embodiment, the control regions are at locations
derived in a predetermined manner from the carrier bandwidth.
[0125] In one embodiment, the specified portion of the full,
continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier is the uplink bandwidth
on which the radio network device is capable or configured to
transmit.
[0126] In one embodiment, prior to receiving uplink data or uplink
control signaling, uplink bandwidth capability of the radio network
device is received.
[0127] In one embodiment, prior to receiving uplink data or uplink
control signaling, information operative to configure the specified
portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier is
transmitted to the radio network device.
[0128] In one embodiment, dynamic signaling is transmitted to the
radio network device indicating for which control regions, within
the specified portion, the transmission of uplink data signaling
should be suppressed.
[0129] In one embodiment, the indication of uplink transmission
suppression for one or more control regions is valid for a
predetermined signaling duration.
[0130] In one embodiment, the dynamic signaling indicates uplink
transmission suppression per control region.
[0131] In one embodiment, at least part of at least one control
region in the specified portion is reserved for the receipt of
device-prompted uplink control signaling.
[0132] In one embodiment, receiving uplink data from a radio
network device over a specified portion of a full, continuous
bandwidth of an uplink carrier comprises receiving uplink data over
a reduced specified portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of
the uplink carrier; wherein the reduced specified portion is
determined by a radio network device subtracting from the specified
portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier, at
least part of a control region within the specified portion,
yielding the reduced specified portion of the full, continuous
bandwidth of the uplink carrier.
[0133] Another embodiment relates to a radio network node operative
in a wireless communication network. The device includes one or
more antennas and a transceiver operatively connected to the
antennas. The device also includes processing circuitry operatively
connected to the transceiver. The processing circuitry is operative
to cause the transceiver to receive uplink data from a radio
network device over a specified portion of a full, continuous
bandwidth of an uplink carrier; and receive uplink control
signaling from the radio network device in at least one control
region within the specified portion.
[0134] In another embodiment, the full, continuous bandwidth of the
uplink carrier is logically divided into two or more sub-band
portions, and wherein each sub-band portion includes at least one
control region.
[0135] In another embodiment, the processing circuitry is further
operative to cause the transceiver to transmit information
regarding the full, continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier and
identifying the sub-band portions in a System Information
broadcast.
[0136] In another embodiment, a control region within at least one
sub-band portion is at the lower or upper extent of the sub-band
portion bandwidth.
[0137] In another embodiment, control regions within at least one
sub-band portion are at both the lower and upper extent of the
sub-band portion bandwidth.
[0138] In another embodiment, the control regions are at locations
derived in a predetermined manner from the carrier bandwidth.
[0139] In another embodiment, the specified portion of the full,
continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier is the uplink bandwidth
on which the radio network device is capable or configured to
transmit.
[0140] In another embodiment, the processing circuitry is further
operative to cause the transceiver to receive uplink bandwidth
capability of the radio network device prior to receiving uplink
data or uplink control signaling.
[0141] In another embodiment, the processing circuitry is further
operative to cause the transceiver to transmit information
operative to configure the specified portion of the full,
continuous bandwidth of the uplink carrier in the radio network
device prior to receiving uplink data or uplink control
signaling.
[0142] In another embodiment, the processing circuitry is further
operative to cause the transceiver to transmit signaling to the
radio network device operative to semi-statically configure control
regions within the specified portion.
[0143] In another embodiment, the processing circuitry is further
operative to cause the transceiver to transmit dynamic signaling
indicating for which control regions, within the specified portion,
the transmission of uplink data signaling should be suppressed.
[0144] In another embodiment, the indication of transmission
suppression for one or more control regions is valid for a
predetermined signaling duration.
[0145] In another embodiment, the dynamic signaling indicates
transmission suppression per control region.
[0146] In another embodiment, at least part of at least one control
region in the specified portion is reserved for the transmission of
device-prompted uplink control signaling.
[0147] In another embodiment, the processing circuitry is further
operative to cause the transceiver to receive uplink data from a
radio network device over a specified portion of a full, continuous
bandwidth of an uplink carrier by receiving uplink data over a
reduced specified portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of the
uplink carrier; wherein the reduced specified portion is determined
by a radio network device subtracting from the specified portion of
the full, continuous bandwidth of an uplink carrier, at least part
of a control region within the specified portion, yielding the
reduced specified portion of the full, continuous bandwidth of the
uplink carrier.
[0148] Yet another embodiment relates to an apparatus operative in
a wireless communication network. The apparatus includes a first
module operative to receive uplink data from a radio network device
over a specified portion of a full, continuous bandwidth of an
uplink carrier. The apparatus also includes a second module
operative to receive uplink control signaling from the radio
network device in at least one control region within the specified
portion.
[0149] Still another embodiment relates to a computer program
comprising instructions which, when executed by processing
circuitry of a radio network node operative in a wireless
communication network, causes the device to carry out the method of
receiving uplink data and uplink control signaling from a radio
network device described above. Another embodiment relates to a
carrier containing the computer program, wherein the carrier is one
of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer
readable storage medium.
[0150] The above descriptions and figures depict the network
defining control regions in various portions of the uplink carrier
bandwidth, and assigning uplink resources to radio network devices
based on their capability and/or configuration. Those of skill in
the art will readily realize that, while the network could
partition or define the uplink carrier bandwidth according any of
FIGS. 4-8, and assign resources to all radio network devices based
on one or more of these partitions, there is no reason that all
requesting radio network devices must be assigned resources based
on the same (one or more) predefined partitions. That is, the
network may assign portions of an available uplink carrier
bandwidth, and define control regions within the portions, on an ad
hoc basis, whereby each radio network device (or group, or class,
of similar radio network devices) is independently assigned such a
portion. The signaling between the base station and radio network
device would proceed as described herein, with the actual
partitioning of the uplink carrier bandwidth and definition of
control regions therein, being determined on a per-device (or
per-group or per-class) basis, rather than one or a few such
partitions being applied to all requesting radio network
devices.
[0151] Embodiments of the present invention present numerous
advantages over the prior art. Embodiments of the invention enable
a network to simultaneously accommodate radio network devices that
have, or are configured to use, different uplink transmission
bandwidths within an uplink carrier having a bandwidth that is
wider than the transmission bandwidth of some or all of the radio
network devices. Embodiments described herein ensure efficient use
of uplink resources in a dynamic fashion, so that control regions
can be used for data transmission whenever no other radio network
device is transmitting control signaling in those control regions.
Embodiments also enable frequency diversity gains for radio network
devices configured with multiple control regions within their
specified portion of the uplink carrier bandwidth. Whenever a radio
network device is not required to suppress data transmission over a
control region within its specified portion of the uplink carrier
bandwidth, the radio network device may transmit data signaling
contiguously over a larger spectrum. the radio network device may
thus achieve better PAPR and lower out-of-band emissions, compared
to a system in which the control region must always be protected
from data transmission, which results in non-contiguous data
transmissions for radio network devices transmitting over multiple
sub-band portions. The PAPR reduction is particularly advantageous
for radio network devices transmitting DFTS-OFDM.
[0152] The present invention may, of course, be carried out in
other ways than those specifically set forth herein without
departing from essential characteristics of the invention. The
present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the
meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended
to be embraced therein.
* * * * *