JP7075449B2 - Wireless frame configuration - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to wireless communication in a mobile communication system, particularly a frame configuration in a cell.

background

With the vigorous demand for mobile data and the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT), which connects billions of devices, further development of telecommunications is required. Due to technologies such as remote health management and advanced logistics, network response times will be required to become shorter and shorter in the future in order to pursue faster reactions.

Description

In some embodiments, the subject matter of the independent claims is provided. Several embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

One or more embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings and the following description. Other features will be apparent from this description and drawings, as well as from the claims.

The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a wireless communication system to which the embodiment of the present invention is applicable. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a process of selecting a frame configuration according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a process of selecting a frame configuration according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a frame structure of a flexible special subframe according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a signaling diagram illustrating signaling of a subframe configuration of a flexible special subframe according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a process for constructing and transmitting a discovery reference signal in a cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a process for constructing and transmitting a discovery reference signal in a cell according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a procedure for executing a cell search in a terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the structure of the apparatus according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the structure of the apparatus according to some embodiments of the present invention.

The following embodiments are for illustration purposes only. The present specification may refer to "an embodiment", "one embodiment", or "several embodiments" in a plurality of places, but this does not necessarily mean that each reference refers to the same embodiment. It is not intended, nor does a particular feature apply to a single embodiment. It is also possible to combine a single feature of different embodiments into another embodiment.

Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS, 3G) based, HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced, based on W-CDMA (Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access) And / or in a wireless system such as at least one of 5G systems, the embodiments described herein can be realized. However, this embodiment is not limited to these systems.

The embodiments are not limited to the exemplified system, and those skilled in the art will be able to apply the solution to another communication system having the required characteristics. The 5G system listed above is an example of an applicable communication system. The 5G network architecture is expected to be fairly close to LTE Advanced. 5G will probably use multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) antennas and an overwhelming majority of base stations and nodes compared to current LTE network configurations (the concept of so-called small cells). Is). That is, it is conceivable to utilize various wireless technologies for cooperation between the macro cell site and a smaller local area access node, and for improving coverage and data rate. 5G is expected to use multiple Radio Access Technologies (RATs), each specialized for a particular application and / or spectrum.

It is certain that future networks will utilize Network Functions Virtualization (NFV). NFV is a concept of network architecture that advocates virtualization of network node functions to "blocks" or entities that are operationally connected or linked to provide services. A Virtualized Network Function (VNF) may include one or more virtualized machines running computer program code using standard or general purpose servers rather than dedicated hardware. In addition, cloud computing and cloud data storage are also available. In wireless communication, this means that node operation may, at least in part, be performed on a server, host, or node that is operational and connected to a Remote Radio Head (RRH). Furthermore, node operations can be shared among multiple servers, nodes, and hosts. It will be appreciated here that the division of labor between core network operation and base station operation may differ from that of LTE, or the division of labor may not occur. Further new technologies such as Software-Defined Networking (SDN), big data, and all-IP that can overturn the current network configuration and management may also be used.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a mobile communication system to which an embodiment of the present invention can be applied. Radio mobile communication networks such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A) of the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), and upcoming 5G technology are usually cells. Includes at least one network element, such as the network element 110 that implements 100. Each cell may be, for example, a macrocell, a microcell, a femtocell, or a picocell. The network element 110 may be an evolved node B base station (eNB) as in the case of LTE or LTE-A, or may be another device capable of controlling radio communication and managing radio resources in the cell. There may be. The 5G technology can be realized in the same manner as LTE-A as described above. The network element 110 may be referred to as a base station or an access node. The mobile communication system may consist of a radio access network of network elements 110, 112, 114 that control each cell or plurality of cells 100, 102, 104, such as an eNB. Each of the network elements 110 to 114 may control macrocells 100 to 104 that provide a vast coverage range for the terminal device 120. The network elements 110 to 114 may be referred to as access nodes because they allow the terminal device 120 to wirelessly access other networks such as the Internet. In addition, one or more local area access nodes 116 may be located within the control area of network elements 110, 112, 114 that control macrocells 100-104. The local area access node 116 may allow wireless access within a subcell 106 that may be provided within the macrocell 100. Examples of such subcells include microcells, picocells, and / or femtocells. Subcells usually form hotspots within macrocells. The operation of the local area access node 116 may be controlled by a network element 110 whose control area contains subcells. The network element 110 and the other network elements 112 to 116 may correspond to dual connectivity (DC). In this case, the terminal device 120 establishes a plurality of radio resource control (RRC) connections to the radio access network by the network elements 110 to 116. The terminal device 120 may establish one RRC connection with the network element 110 and another RRC connection with the local area access node 116. As a result, communication performance can be improved.

Network element 110 may utilize carrier aggregation alone or in combination with other network elements 116. In this case, the terminal device 112 is allocated resources from a plurality of component carriers, which may be on continuous or discontinuous frequency bands. One network element 110 may provide one component carrier, eg, a primary component carrier, and another network element 116 may provide another component carrier, eg, a secondary component carrier. The network element 110 corresponding to the primary component carrier may perform resource scheduling on all component carriers. Alternatively, the network elements 110 and 116 may control the scheduling of the corresponding component carriers, respectively. Alternatively, the network element 110 may provide one component carrier, eg, a primary component carrier, and another component carrier, eg, a sub-component carrier.

When there are a plurality of eNBs in the communication network, the eNBs may be connected to each other via the X2 interface as defined by LTE. Yet another communication method may be used between the network elements. The network elements 110 to 116 refer to the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) 130, more specifically the Mobility Management Entity (MME) 132, and the System Architecture Evolution Gateway (SAE-GW) 134. , May be connected via the S1 interface.

The wireless system of FIG. 1 may support Machine Type Communication (MTC). The MTC may be capable of providing services to a large number of MTC-enabled devices such as at least one terminal device 120. The at least one terminal device 120 may include mobile phones, smartphones, tablet computers, laptop computers, and other devices for performing user communications to wireless communication networks such as MTC networks. These devices may provide more advanced features than the MTC scheme, such as communication links for audio, video, and / or data transmission. However, in MTC, at least one terminal device 120 may be understood as an MTC device. It will be appreciated that at least one terminal device 120 may include other MTC-enabled devices such as sensor devices that provide information such as position, acceleration, and / or temperature.

In MTC, wireless communication networks may have to deal with an irregular and huge amount of access by MTC devices. Due to the large number of MTC devices that can be deployed, network access can be a limiting factor, unlike traditional network limiting factors where interference and / or limited coverage can be an issue. Many MTC devices may sporadically transmit small amounts of data. In this case, the MTC device is basically in a sleep mode that is disconnected from the network elements 110-116 and / or the mobile communication network. Therefore, the power consumption of the MTC device can be kept very low.

2 and 3 show processes constituting frame transmission in a cell of a mobile communication system, for example, cell 100 provided by network element 110. FIG. 2 shows a process executed by the network element 110 that controls the cell 100, and FIG. 3 shows a process for communicating with the network element 110 in the cell 100 in the terminal device 120 in the cell 100.

Referring to FIG. 2, network element 110 provides a first radio frame configuration that defines the frame structure of a radio frame including at least one subframe used only for downlink transmission (block 200). The network element further provides a second radio frame configuration that defines the frame structure of the radio frame including at least one flexible special subframe (block 202). This special subframe can be configured as a flexible downlink subframe or a flexible uplink subframe. The flexible downlink subframe and the flexible uplink subframe include both the uplink section and the downlink section, respectively. Both the uplink section and the downlink section carry at least one of the control information and the reference signal. At block 204, the network element selects a radio frame configuration from a radio frame configuration group that includes at least first and second radio frame configurations. At block 206, the network element carries a radio signal carrying an information element indicating the selected radio frame configuration.

Referring to FIG. 3, in block 300, the terminal device 120 stores a definition of a first radio frame configuration that defines a frame structure of a radio frame that includes at least one subframe dedicated to downlink transmission. Further, in block 302, the terminal device defines a frame structure of a radio frame including at least one flexible special subframe that can be configured as one of a flexible downlink subframe and a flexible uplink subframe. Remember the definition. The flexible downlink subframe and the flexible uplink subframe include both the uplink section and the downlink section, respectively. Both the uplink section and the downlink section carry at least one of the control information and the reference signal. At block 304, the terminal device 120 receives a radio signal from the network element 110 that carries an information element indicating the radio frame configuration applied to the cell of the mobile communication system. In block 306, the terminal device selects a wireless frame configuration from a wireless frame configuration group including at least a first wireless frame configuration and a second wireless frame configuration based on the received information element, and selects the selected frame configuration. Used to communicate with network elements in the cell.

In one embodiment, the first radio frame configuration further includes at least one subframe dedicated to uplink transmission and at least one special subframe including an uplink section and a downlink section. The first radio frame configuration may correspond to the LTE radio frame configuration. Table 1 below shows a conventional radio frame configuration in a Time Division (TD) -LTE system. Table 1 shows the structure of a radio frame containing 10 subframes. The radio frame may be a 10 millisecond (ms) frame, in which case the subframe in TD-LTE is a 1 ms subframe.

In Table 1, "D" indicates, for example, a downlink subframe dedicated to downlink transmission from an access node to a terminal device, and "U" indicates an uplink subframe dedicated to uplink transmission, for example, from a terminal device to an access node. A frame is indicated, and "S" indicates a special subframe including an uplink portion and a downlink portion. In the LTE system, the special subframe configuration is a semi-static parameter because it is represented by the network elements 110 to 116 in the system information block 1 (SIB1). That is, all special subframes in the radio frame configuration are of the same type. The special subframe can be regarded as a guard subframe in switching from the downlink subframe to the uplink subframe.

In one embodiment, the radio frame configuration group includes one or more of the radio frame configurations in Table 1 and even all of them. One of the wireless frame configurations in Table 1 is the first wireless frame configuration.

The second radio frame configuration includes at least one flexible special subframe that can be configured as a downlink special subframe or an uplink special subframe. In any configuration, since the flexible special subframe includes bidirectional control / reference signals, bidirectional communication of non-data information is possible in all flexible special subframes. Depending on the configuration of the flexible special subframe, the downlink special subframe has a longer downlink transmission time than the uplink transmission time, and the uplink special subframe has a longer uplink transmission time than the downlink transmission time. In addition, downlink or uplink transmission may be emphasized.

In one embodiment, one configuration of flexible special subframes allocates equal transmission time for both uplinks and downlinks.

In one embodiment, in each configuration of the flexible special subframe, the length of the guard period between the downlink and the uplink is defined. Different configurations may define different lengths of guard periods. Therefore, the network element can form the structure of the flexible special subframe with respect to the length, the uplink part, the downlink part, and the order of the guard period.

Table 2 below shows embodiments of some radio frame configurations loaded into the second radio frame configuration. One or more of the radio frame configurations in Table 2, or all of them, may be included in the radio frame configuration group from which the radio frame configuration used in the cell is selected by the network element 110. Although the selection may be made according to the cell, in some embodiments, the network element 110 may select the radio frame configuration according to each user or a group of a plurality of users. Therefore, the network element may utilize a plurality of radio frame configurations in parallel, in which case different radio frame configurations are used by different users or groups of users.

In Table 2, "SF" indicates a flexible special subframe that can be dynamically configured as a flexible special downlink subframe or a flexible special uplink subframe, and "SD" is statistically (or quasi-statistically). A flexible special subframe configured as a flexible special downlink subframe is indicated, and "SU" indicates a flexible special subframe configured as a statistically (or quasi-statistically) flexible special uplink subframe. The SD may be considered as an SF configured as a statistically (or quasi-statistically) flexible special downlink subframe. The SU may be considered as an SF configured as a statistically (or quasi-statistically) flexible special uplink subframe. As described above, the SD and SU may include a downlink portion and an uplink portion, respectively. This makes it possible to distinguish from D and U in Table 1. Statistical or quasi-statistically configured flexible special subframes can be used to improve cell-to-cell interference coordination. Further, more advanced channel estimation and power control can be performed for the subframe SD and SU than for the subframe SF. SD and SU may be used for special purposes such as sending important and even definitive signaling messages.

In the embodiments shown in Table 2, a portion of the radio frame configuration is a flexible special subframe that can be dynamically configured as a flexible special uplink or downlink subframe, for example, radio frame configurations 7, 9, 11. Consists of. In some of the radio frame configurations in Table 2, flexible special subframes that can be dynamically configured as flexible special uplinks or downlink subframes form a subset. This applies, for example, to radio frame configurations 8 and 10. However, even in the radio frame configurations 8 and 10, most of the subframes are occupied by flexible special subframes that can be dynamically configured as flexible special uplinks or downlink subframes.

As a variant of the radio frame configuration group in Table 2, at least a portion of the radio frame configuration is such that each radio frame configuration in Table 2 still contains at least one of the flexible special subframes SF, SD, SU. May include a downlink subframe D and / or an uplink subframe U of. However, even in some of the wireless frame configurations, flexible special subframes occupy most of the subframes. Therefore, flexible switching between the uplink and the downlink is possible. In one embodiment, all subframes in at least one radio frame configuration are flexible special subframes.

By using a flexible special subframe that supports bidirectional control (by the uplink and downlink in each subframe) for most or all of the subframes, lower latency can be realized than in the wireless frame configuration shown in Table 1. In the wireless frame configuration shown in Table 1, there may be 9 continuous downlink frames between the two uplink subframes (configuration 5). In this case, the uplink communication, such as the transmission of the acknowledgment message ACK / NAK, which is possible only in the uplink subframe, can be significantly delayed. Therefore, by making at least most of the subframes compatible with bidirectional control, it is possible to realize low latency, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) processing, and reduction of the HARQ buffer. Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) systems, such as FDD LTE, because confirmation messages can be sent in both the DL and UL directions in each subframe if all subframes are flexible special subframes. In the same manner as above, HARQ processing including HARQ recognition scheduling can be realized.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the flexible special subframe will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the flexible special downlink subframe 408 and an embodiment of the flexible special uplink subframe 418. The flexible special downlink subframe 408 includes a downlink section 400, an uplink section 406, and a guard period 404 between the downlink section and the uplink section. According to LTE terminology, the downlink section 400 is designated as the downlink pilot time slot (DwPTS) and the uplink section 406 is designated as the uplink pilot time slot (UpPTS). The downlink unit 400 may carry one or more downlink control channels and / or a downlink reference signal, such as a downlink sounding reference signal. This reference signal may be used for channel estimation, cell discovery, synchronization, and the like. The downlink control channel carried by the downlink unit may include a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and / or other physical layer control channel. The downlink unit 400 may carry user data by, for example, a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

The flexible special downlink subframe 408 may include an additional downlink portion 402. The downlink unit may include downlink data that may include payload data to the terminal device 120, or may consist of the downlink data.

The uplink unit 406 may include an uplink control signal and / or an uplink reference signal. The uplink control signal is an acknowledgment message ACK / NAK for HARQ processing, a scheduling request (SR) requesting scheduling of uplink transmission resources, and channel information suggesting the quality of the wireless environment between the network element 110 and the terminal device 120. At least one of the indicators (Channel Information Indicator: CSI) may be included.

The flexible special uplink subframe 418 may include a downlink section 410, an uplink section 416, and a guard period 412 between the downlink section and the uplink section. Similar to the flexible special downlink subframe 408, the downlink section 410 is designated as the downlink pilot time slot (DwPTS) and the uplink section 416 is designated as the uplink pilot time slot (UpPTS). .. The downlink unit 410 may carry one or more downlink control channels and / or, for example, a downlink reference signal such as a downlink sounding reference signal.

The flexible special downlink subframe 408 may include an additional uplink section 414. The uplink unit 414 may include uplink data that may include payload data from the terminal device 120, or may consist of the uplink data.

The uplink unit 416 may include an uplink control signal and / or an uplink reference signal. The uplink control signal is an acknowledgment message ACK / NAK for HARQ processing, a scheduling request (SR) requesting scheduling of uplink transmission resources, and channel information suggesting the quality of the wireless environment between the network element 110 and the terminal device 120. It may contain at least one of the indicators (CSI).

As shown in FIG. 4, the flexible special downlink subframe 408 includes an additional downlink section 402 for transmitting downlink data, and the flexible special uplink subframe 408 further uplinks for transmitting uplink data. Includes part 414.

In some embodiments, the flexible special subframe may include an additional downlink section 402 and an additional uplink section 414. Flexible special subframes may be defined as flexible special uplink subframes or flexible special downlink subframes, depending on the allocation of transmission resources to the link direction in the subframe. A subframe may be defined as a flexible special downlink subframe if more transmission resources are allocated in the downlink direction than in the uplink direction. A subframe may be defined as a flexible special uplink subframe if more transmission resources are allocated in the uplink direction than in the downlink direction. Transmission resources may be dynamically allocated with respect to the link direction.

As shown in Table 2, the subframe length may be defined individually for each radio frame configuration. Therefore, different subframe lengths may be applied to different radio frame configurations.

In one embodiment, the partial or total subframe length in the radio frame configuration of Table 2 may be 1 ms, as in Table 1.

In one embodiment, when multiple subframe lengths are set in a wireless frame configuration, the subcarrier spacing of the multicarrier signal transmitted with the shorter subframe length is set wider and the multi is transmitted with the longer subframe length. The subcarrier interval of the carrier signal may be set narrower. For example, in the case of a 20 MHz (MHz) carrier, a subcarrier interval of 15 kHz (kHz) may be set for a 1 ms subframe, and a subcarrier interval of 60 kHz may be set for a 0.25 ms subframe. In this example, a fixed size of the Fast Fourier Transform may be assumed. The longer the subcarrier interval, the wider the bandwidth of the multicarrier signal. For example, in the case of 20 MHz carriers with 60 kHz intervals, the 80 MHz carrier bandwidth can be obtained. Variable subframe lengths can be achieved with similar time-frequency scaling. A common use would be to transmit the same number of subcarriers and multicarrier symbols, where time-frequency scaling could be used to extend the subcarrier spacing to shorten the subframe length or to shorten the subcarrier spacing. Can be shortened to extend the subframe length.

In another embodiment, different subframe lengths may be applied by assigning different numbers of symbols, such as multi-carrier symbols. For example, a radio frame configuration with a subframe length of 1 ms may contain more carrier symbols than a radio frame configuration with a subframe length of 0.25 ms. In other words, a radio frame configuration with a subframe length of 1 ms may include more subcarriers than a radio frame configuration with a subframe length of 0.25 ms, thereby achieving a constant carrier bandwidth.

Further, the variable bandwidth may be used so that the radio frame configurations having different subframe lengths are applied to a plurality of carriers having different bandwidths. For example, 1 ms subframes may be used for carriers or cells with a bandwidth of 20 MHz or less, and subframes of less than 1 ms may be used for carriers or cells with a bandwidth of more than 20 MHz.

As yet another embodiment, each of the above-described embodiments may be combined. For example, different subcarrier spacing and / or bandwidth may be utilized at different parts of the subframe. For example, the first subcarrier spacing may be applied to the further downlinks 402 and the further uplinks 414, and different second subcarrier spacings may be applied to the downlinks 400, 410 and uplinks 406, 416. good. However, the same cyclic prefix may be applied to all symbols in the subframe. The total length of the subframe downlink section 400/410, uplink section 406/416, and guard period 404/412 is one or more multicarrier symbols of the further downlink section 402 / uplink section 414 of the subframe. May be equal to the length of. The length of the radio frame may be the same for all radio frame configurations in terms of the number of subframes. For example, as in the embodiment shown in Table 2, there are 10 subframes. Also, the time length of the radio frame may be scaled for different radio frame configurations, which corresponds to the scaling subframe length.

In one embodiment, time domain scaling of the subframe may be used to indicate arbitrary timing within the subframe. This allows, for example, to indicate periodic radio resources.

In one embodiment, in all radio frame configurations and / or all subframe configurations, the head of the flexible special subframe is the downlink portion. This makes the uplink section or further uplink section the end of the flexible special subframe. The subframe may include an additional downlink or guard period after the downlink.

In one embodiment, additional downlinks and downlinks are continuous within the subframe. Similarly, further uplinks and uplinks may be continuous within the subframe.

In one embodiment, the network element 110 corresponds to the radio frame configuration in Table 1 and the radio frame configuration in Table 2. In another embodiment, the network element corresponds only to the radio frame configurations in Table 2, eg, radio frame configurations including flexible special subframes.

Next, some embodiments that define a part of the downlink portions 400, 402, 410 and the uplink portions 406, 414, and 416 of the flexible special subframe will be described. Table 3 below shows some subframe configurations of flexible special subframes. In the embodiment of Table 3, the length of the subframe is fixed at 14 symbols.

As mentioned above, the length of the flexible special subframe may be variable depending on, for example, time-frequency scaling. Therefore, the lengths in Table 3 are taken as exemplary and can also be defined as "variable".

Table 4 below shows some of the different subframe configurations for flexible special subframes. In this embodiment, the length of the subframe is variable.

For example, in embodiments where the network elements correspond to the radioframe configurations of Tables 1 and 2, the network elements are at least partially the same subframes in Table 3 or Table 4 relative to special subframes and flexible special subframes. The configuration may be used. For example, subframe configurations 0-9 may be applied to special subframes and flexible special subframes. However, a part of the subframe configuration may be applicable only to the flexible special subframe, for example, the subframe configurations 10 to 15 in Table 3 and the subframe configurations 10 to 14 in Table 4.

Some embodiments of the ratio of the downlink portion to the further downlink portion in the flexible special downlink subframe and the ratio of the uplink portion to the further uplink portion in the flexible special uplink subframe will be described here. In some embodiments, the lengths of the downlinks 400, 410 and uplinks 406, 416 may be fixed, for example, to one multicarrier symbol. The lengths of guard periods 404, 412 are defined in Tables 3 and 4. The other part is used for the further downlink / uplink part. In another embodiment, the lengths of the downlinks 400, 410, uplinks 406, 416, additional downlinks 402, and additional uplinks 414 are clearly signaled or defined in the subframe configuration. To.

For example, the subframe configuration 2 has a flexible special downlink subframe 408 in which one symbol is assigned to the downlink portion 400, nine symbols are assigned to the further downlink portion 402, three symbols are assigned to the guard period 404, and one symbol is assigned to the uplink portion 406. Can be defined.

For example, the subframe configuration 4 defines a flexible special downlink subframe 408 in which one symbol is assigned to the downlink portion 400, 11 symbols are assigned to the further downlink portion 402, and one symbol is assigned to each of the guard period 404 and the uplink portion 406. Can be done.

For example, the subframe configuration 12 in Table 3 has a flexible special uplink subframe 418 having 1 symbol in the downlink portion 410, 1 symbol in the guard period 412, 11 symbols in the further uplink portion 414, and 1 symbol in the uplink portion 416. Can be defined.

For example, the subframe configuration 12 in Table 4 has a flexible special uplink subframe 418 having 2 symbols in the downlink portion 410, 1 symbol in the guard period 412, 3 symbols in the further uplink portion 414, and 1 symbol in the uplink portion 416. Can be defined.

In one embodiment, in all subframe configurations, the head of the flexible special subframe is the downlink portions 400, 410. This makes it possible to dynamically indicate the link direction of the flexible special subframe in the subframe itself. The link direction may be indicated for the control channel carried in the downlink units 400 and 410. Dynamic scheduling allows subframe configurations to be applied at high speed to current traffic demand. Therefore, the performance can be improved. FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of dynamic link direction selection for flexible special subframes.

Referring to FIG. 5, the network element 110 selects the radio frame configuration of the cell in block 204 and in step 500 transmits a signal indicating the selected radio frame configuration in the cell. In step 500, the terminal device 120 also receives the radio frame configuration and applies the radio frame configuration at the block 306. Functions 204, 500, 306 can be performed as described above. At block 502, the network element selects the link direction for the next subframe. This choice can be the amount of downlink data stored in the network elements for transmission (requires downlink resources), the number of pending uplink scheduling requests (necessities of uplink resources), or other criteria (multiple). Yes) may be based. If you select the link direction of the next subframe, even if the network element inserts an information element indicating the link direction of the subframe into the downlink part of the next subframe and starts transmitting the downlink part of the subframe. Good (step 504). When the subframe starts, the terminal device scans the control channel of the downlink to determine the link direction of the subframe, and in some embodiments, another indication of whether the terminal device has resources in the subframe. Target the information element of. If the terminal device has resources in the subframe, the terminal device may perform signal processing depending on the information element indicating the link direction of the subframe (block 506). For example, if an uplink transmission resource within a subframe, designated by an information element as a flexible special uplink subframe, is assigned to a terminal device, this terminal device will uplink in further uplinks of the subframe. Data may be sent.

In one embodiment, the information element carried in the downlink portion of the subframe in step 504 may indicate the subframe configuration index of Table 3 or Table 4.

Providing different radio frame configurations (subcarrier spacing in some embodiments) can complicate cell discovery in terminal device 120. The cell discovery may be based on a network element 110 that causes a broadcast of the discovery reference signal scanned by the terminal device 120 when performing the cell search. 6 and 7 show some embodiments for facilitating cell search when utilizing the radio frame configurations according to some embodiments.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the same discovery reference signal is broadcast in all radio frame configurations. Referring to FIG. 6, the network element selects the radio frame configuration in block 204 and shows the radio frame configuration in block 206. At block 600, network element 110 performs periodic discovery signal transmission. The network element may then select a new different radio frame configuration in block 602 and indicate a new radio frame configuration in block 604. After block 604, the network element may transmit in block 606 a discovery reference signal having the same configuration as that transmitted in block 600. In this embodiment, regardless of the radio frame configuration selected in blocks 204 and 602 and shown in blocks 206 and 604, the network element may transmit a periodic discovery signal with a predetermined constant radio frame configuration. ..

The discovery reference signal may have the same subcarrier spacing and periodicity in all radio frame configurations. When the discovery reference signal is transmitted in the uplink section or a further uplink section, the transmission of the discovery reference signal may hinder the uplink transmission. For example, the network element 110 may refrain from scheduling uplink resources that overlap with the periodic transmission of the discovery reference signal. A terminal device that notifies that a periodic uplink transmission resource that specifies a duplicate transmission resource for a periodic discovery reference signal has been allocated may refrain from transmitting on that transmission resource. Overlapping is limited, as the periodicity of the allocated periodic uplink transmission resource is usually different from the periodicity of the discovery reference signal.

In this embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the terminal device 120 may need to scan the discovery signal using only a single scan configuration applied to the discovery signal.

In FIG. 7, the network element utilizes a plurality of discovery reference signal configurations. For example, the periodicity of the discovery reference signal and / or the subcarrier spacing of the discovery reference signal may be applied to the radio frame configuration. The discovery reference signal may follow the periodicity of mapping the discovery reference signal to the downlink portion, and the discovery reference signal uses the same subcarrier interval for another signal in the radio frame configuration. May be.

When a radio frame configuration is selected in block 204, the network element 110 may select a discovery signal associated with the radio frame configuration and transmit the selected discovery signal in block 700.

In this embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the terminal device 120 may scan the discovery signal using only a plurality of scan configurations. FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a scanning procedure performed by the terminal device 120. Referring to FIG. 8, the terminal device may store a plurality of configurations for discovery reference signal (DRS) search in block 800. Different configurations may define fast Fourier transforms with different periods and / or different magnitudes. Different DRS subcarrier spacings may require different lengths of the Fast Fourier Transform.

At block 802, the terminal device selects the DRS configuration and initiates a scan of the DRS radio channel mapped to the DRS configuration. The terminal device may scan at least one period of DRS based on the periodicity of the DRS configuration. At block 804, the terminal device determines if a DRS configuration DRS has been found. If not found, the process returns to block 802, where the terminal device selects a new DRS configuration and performs a new scan. If the DRS is discovered, the terminal device may synchronize with the cell transmitting the DRS and extract the system information of the cell from the broadcast signal transmitted in the cell. The system information defines, for example, the radio frame configuration used in the cell.

In the embodiment in which the network element 110 corresponds to the wireless frame configuration of Table 1 (legacy device) and also corresponds to the wireless frame configuration shown in Table 2, the terminal device corresponding to only the wireless frame configuration of Table 1 and the terminal device corresponding to only the wireless frame configuration of Table 1 and Table 1 and There may be terminal devices corresponding to the wireless frame configurations shown in Table 2. In such a case, it is desirable that at least some terminal devices can use the wireless frame configuration shown in Table 2. Some embodiments that allow the network element to solve this problem by applying both types of terminal devices to the same carrier signal are described below.

In one embodiment, a subset of subframes, or a portion of a subframe in a wireless frame configuration, corresponds to a legacy device. In this embodiment, the length of the subframe may be 1 ms. Table 5 shows an example of such a radio frame configuration.

As shown in Table 5, this radio frame configuration is a modification of the radio frame configuration 0 in Table 1, and a given subframe is deformed to become a flexible special subframe. The network element is wireless so that the legacy device is assigned to the subframe corresponding to the subframe type (D, S, U) in Table 1 and the device corresponding to the flexible special subframe type is assigned to the corresponding subframe. You may configure the use of frame configurations. In addition, the device corresponding to the flexible special subframe type may be assigned to the subframe corresponding to the subframe type (D, S, U) in Table 1. If the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) is not transmitted by the legacy device, the uplink subframe that does not include the HARQ ACK / NAK of the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) may be converted to a flexible special subframe SF. The uplink subframe U containing the PUCCH HARQ may be converted to a flexible special subframe SF if it is not occupied by legacy devices.

All devices that support flexible special subframes assume that the network element does not schedule a reference signal or short random access channel (S-RACH) to the uplink section of the special subframe S. May be used.

The remaining subframe or part of the subframe may be designated as a flexible special subframe SF. However, the network element may determine the subframe configuration depending on whether or not a legacy device exists in each subframe. For example, the special subframe S may have a specific configuration for the downlink portion DwPTS1 in order to provide sufficient resources for legacy devices (including synchronization signals). The length of the downlink portion may exceed three symbols.

As another example, the subframe for transmitting the confirmation of the downlink HARQ in subframe 0 may be statistically designated as a flexible special uplink subframe SU. A subframe containing uplink control information from one or more legacy devices may be fixed to the uplink frame. That is, the downlink portion may be omitted from the subframe.

As another example, any downlink signal transmitted in the downlink subframe D or the special subframe S may make the legacy signal invariant. The legacy signal may include a main synchronization signal, a sub synchronization signal, and a cell-specific reference signal.

Upon signaling the special subframe S configuration, the network element may signal the radio frame configuration by a device-specific higher-order layer (eg, layer 3). A cell that does not contain a legacy device may signal a special subframe configuration in the system information broadcast within that cell. The flexible special subframe configuration may be signaled as described above with reference to FIG.

For example, the embodiments of Tables 1-5 will be described based on time division multiplexing (TDD). For example, both the first radio frame configuration and the second radio frame configuration utilize the TDD principle. The embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3 are also applicable to Frequency-Division Duplexing (FDD) or Auxiliary Downlink / Uplink (SDL / SDU) schemes. Auxiliary downlinks / uplinks may be defined as auxiliary carriers for capturing the primary carrier. In this case, the auxiliary carrier is used only for downlink / uplink transmission. Therefore, the auxiliary carrier is an auxiliary downlink / uplink resource.

In such embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, the first radio frame configuration may be applied depending on the FDD, SDL, and / or SDU. Table 6 below shows an embodiment of the first radio frame configuration in such a case.

Referring to Table 6, the radio frame configuration A may be used for a frequency band or a carrier dedicated to downlink transmission according to the FDD or SDL scheme. The radio frame configuration B may be used for a frequency band or a carrier dedicated to uplink transmission according to the FDD or SDU scheme. In the case of the FDD scheme, the frame configurations A and B can be used simultaneously as the first frame configuration. Similarly, the radio frame configurations C and D can be used for the downlink band, and the radio frame configuration E can be used for the uplink band. As these radio frame configurations C, D, and E, for example, a special subframe that can be the above-mentioned special subframe S including an uplink portion and a downlink portion such as UpPTS and DwPTS can be used. In one embodiment, if the configuration is SDL / SDU, it may be configured so that the uplink portion and the downlink portion of the special subframe are not used. Special subframes may be used to provide additional uplink / downlink resources to the downlink / uplink scheme. For example, in an unapproved frequency band, the transmission time is limited to the maximum and special subframes can be used to interrupt transmission.

In one embodiment, the network element 110 may utilize, for example, a radio frame configuration group including a first radio frame configuration selected from Table 6 and a second radio frame configuration selected from Table 2. .. The first radio frame configuration can be used for the first frequency band and the second radio frame configuration can be used for the second frequency band operated by the network element 110. These two radio frame configurations can be used at the same time.

In another embodiment, the network element switches the first radio frame configuration (Table 6) to the second radio frame configuration (Table 2) so that the first radio frame configuration is used in the first time, the first. The second radio frame configuration may be used in the second time after the first time. The first radio frame configuration and the second radio frame configuration may operate in the same frequency band or different frequency bands.

9 and 10 show the apparatus according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows a device configured to perform the above-mentioned functions in connection with the network element 110. FIG. 10 shows a device configured to perform the above-mentioned functions in connection with the terminal device 120. Each device has at least one processor and communication control circuit mechanisms 10, 30 such as at least one memory 20, 40 including computer program codes (software) 22, 42. The at least one memory and the computer program code (software) are configured by at least one processor to allow the corresponding device to implement any one of the embodiments of each of the devices described above.

The memories 20 and 40 may be realized by any suitable data storage technique. Examples of the technique include semiconductor memory devices, flash memories, magnetic memory devices and systems, optical memory devices and systems, built-in memories, and detachable memories. The memory may have configuration databases 24, 44 for storing configuration data for communication within the cell via the wireless interface. For example, the configuration databases 24, 44 may store the radio frame configurations corresponding to each device, such as the radio frame configurations shown in Tables 1 and / or Table 2.

The device may further include communication interfaces (TX / RX) 26, 46 including hardware and / or software that provide communication connectivity, depending on one or more communication protocols. With this communication interface, the device has a function of communicating with a mobile communication system, and enables communication of, for example, a communication network element 110 and a terminal device 120. Communication interfaces 26, 46 may have commonly known elements such as amplifiers, filters, frequency converters, modulators (demodulators), encoder / decoder circuit mechanisms, or one or more antennas. .. The communication interfaces 26 and 46 may have a wireless interface element that enables the network element 110 and the terminal device 120 to wirelessly communicate in the cell.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, at least a part of the function of the network element 110 may be shared between two physically independent devices to form one operating entity. Therefore, the device can be regarded as representing an operating entity that includes one or more physically independent devices for performing at least a portion of the above processing. Therefore, the device of FIG. 9 utilizing the shared architecture is a remote control unit (such as a host computer or server computer) that is operational and connected (eg, over a wireless or wired network) to a remote wireless head (RRH) in a base station facility. Remote Control Unit: RCU) may be included. In some embodiments, at least part of the processing of the network element 110 described above may be performed by the RCU. In some embodiments, at least part of the above process may be shared between RRH and RCU. Therefore, the RCU may have the elements shown in FIG. 9, and the communication interface 26 may make the RCU connectable to the RRH. On the other hand, the RRH may have, for example, a radio frequency signal processing circuit mechanism and an antenna.

In one embodiment, the RCU may create a virtual network to communicate with the RRH. Virtual networking typically involves integrating hardware, software network resources, and network functionality into a virtual network as a single software-based management entity. Network virtualization may include platform virtualization, which is often combined with resource virtualization. Network virtualization can be categorized as external virtual networking. That is, it integrates many networks or parts of a network into a server computer or host computer (ie, RCU). The purpose of external network virtualization is to optimize network sharing. It can also be classified as internal virtual networking. That is, the network function is provided in the software housing on a single system. Virtual networking can also be used to inspect terminal devices.

In one embodiment, the virtual network flexibly distributes the movement between the RRH and the RCU. In fact, any digital signal processing task may be performed on either RRH or RCU, and depending on the implementation, distribution boundaries for RRH and RCU may be drawn.

Referring to FIG. 9, the device may have a control circuit mechanism 12 that performs control plane signaling by a terminal device, another access node of the radio access network, and network elements of the core network 130. The control circuit mechanism 12 may perform steps 206, 500, 504, 600, 604, 606, and 700 at the network element 110.

The device may further include a radio frame configuration selection circuit mechanism 18 configured to select a radio frame configuration from the radio frame configurations stored in the configuration database 24. When the wireless frame configuration is selected, the wireless frame configuration selection circuit mechanism instructs the control circuit mechanism 12 to broadcast the wireless frame configuration as system information in the cell controlled by the first network element. The device may further include a subframe configuration selection circuit mechanism 14 that dynamically selects the subframe configuration for each flexible special subframe. After selection, the subframe configuration selection circuit mechanism 14 instructs the control unit to include an information element indicating the subframe configuration of the subframe in each flexible special subframe. The subframe configuration may define whether the flexible special subframe is a flexible special downlink subframe or a flexible special uplink subframe.

The device may further include a data communication circuit mechanism 16 configured to send and receive payload data. For each flexible special subframe, the data communication circuit mechanism 16 receives information from the subframe configuration selection circuit mechanism 14 indicating whether the flexible special subframe includes an additional downlink portion or an additional uplink portion. You may. If the flexible special subframe includes an additional downlink section, the data communication circuit mechanism may control data transmission in the additional downlink section. If the flexible special subframe includes an additional uplink section, the data communication circuit mechanism 16 may extract data from the additional uplink section.

Referring to FIG. 10, the device may have a control circuit mechanism 32 that performs control plane signaling by, for example, one or more network elements of a mobile communication system such as the access node 110. The control circuit mechanism 32 may also perform a cell search procedure. The control circuit mechanism 32 may execute steps 304, 500, 504, 802 in the terminal device 120.

The device is further configured to determine the radio frame configuration used within the cell based on the system information received from the network element to provide the radio frame configuration for uplink and downlink communication in the cell. May include a wireless frame configuration controller 38 that constitutes the control circuit mechanism 32.

The device may further include a data communication circuit mechanism 16 configured to perform transmission and reception of payload data. For each flexible special subframe, the data communication circuit mechanism 36 receives information from the control circuit mechanism 32 indicating whether the flexible special subframe includes an additional downlink portion or an additional uplink portion. If the flexible special subframe includes an additional uplink section, the data communication circuit mechanism 36 may control data transmission in the additional uplink section. If the flexible special subframe includes an additional downlink section, the data communication circuit mechanism 36 may extract data from the additional downlink section.

As used herein, the term "circuit mechanism" refers to (a) a hardware-only circuit implementation, such as an analog and / or digital circuit mechanism-only implementation, and (b) a circuit and software (and / or firmware). Combinations, such as (if applicable): (i) Processor (s) or (ii) Part of a processor (s) that causes the device to perform various functions in collaboration / digital signal processor (s). A combination of software, software, and memory (s), including (c) part of a microprocessor (s) or microprocessors (s) that require software or firmware to operate (the software or firmware is physical). Refers to all of the circuits such as). This definition of "circuit mechanism" applies to all "circuit mechanisms" described herein. Further, as used herein, the term "circuit mechanism" also includes merely implementing a processor (or a plurality of processors) or a part of a processor and accompanying software and / or firmware. The term "circuit mechanism" is used, for example, in a baseband integrated circuit or application processor integrated circuit (for mobile phones), or similar integrated circuits used in a server, mobile network devices, or the like, if applicable to a particular element. Also includes network devices.

In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the process described with reference to FIGS. 2-8 may be performed by an apparatus comprising a corresponding means for performing at least a portion of the process described above. Examples of means for performing the above processing include detectors, processors (dual-core processors, multi-core processors, etc.), digital signal processors, controllers, receivers, transmitters, encoders, decoders, memories, RAMs, ROMs, etc. At least one of software, firmware, display, user interface, display circuit mechanism, user interface circuit mechanism, user interface software, display software, circuit, antenna, antenna circuit mechanism, and circuit mechanism can be mentioned. In one embodiment, these at least one processor, memory, and computer program code form a processing means for performing one or more operations according to any of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2-8. Alternatively, it includes one or more computer program code units.

The techniques and methods described herein may be implemented by various means. For example, these techniques may be implemented by hardware (one or more devices), firmware (one or more devices), software (one or more modules), or a combination thereof. In the case of hardware implementation, the apparatus (s) of the embodiment is one or more integrated circuits (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit: ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), and a digital signal processing device. (Digital Signal Processing Device: DSPD), Programmable Logic Device (PLD), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), Processor, Controller, Microcontroller, microprocessor, Performs the functions described herein. It may be implemented in other electronic parts designed to do so, or in combinations thereof. In the case of firmware or software, it can be implemented via at least one chipset module (eg, procedure, function, etc.) that performs the functions described herein. The software code may be stored in memory and executed by the processor. This memory unit may be mounted either inside or outside the processor. When mounted outside the processor, the memory unit can be communicably connected to the processor via various conventionally known means. In addition to this, the components of the system described herein may be repositioned or supplemented with additional components to facilitate the realization of the various aspects described in connection therewith. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that these components are not limited to the exact configurations shown.

The above embodiments may be implemented in the form of computer processing defined by a computer program or a portion thereof. Embodiments of the method described with reference to FIGS. 2-8 may be implemented by at least a portion of a computer program that includes the corresponding instructions. This computer program may be in the form of source code, object code, or an intermediate form thereof, and may be any entity or device that can carry the program, stored in a carrier of some sort. May be good. For example, the computer program may be stored in a computer program distribution medium readable by a computer or processor. The computer program medium includes, but is not limited to, recording media, computer memory, read-only memory, telecommunications signals, and software distribution packages. The computer program medium may be a non-temporary medium. Coding of software for carrying out the embodiments illustrated and described is within the common sense of the art of those skilled in the art.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above description, and it is clear that various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. Therefore, all terms should be broadly construed and are construed as exemplifying, but not limiting, embodiments. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the concepts of the present invention can be implemented in various ways as the art advances. Further, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the above-described embodiment is not essential, but may be combined with other embodiments in various ways.

The embodiments of the present invention described in the claims at the time of filing the original application of the present application (Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-509621) are as follows.
● Embodiment (1)
A network element of a mobile communication system provides a first radio frame configuration that defines a frame structure of a radio frame that includes at least one subframe dedicated to downlink transmission.
The network element provides a second radio frame configuration that defines a frame structure of a radio frame that includes at least one flexible special subframe that can be configured as one of a flexible downlink subframe and a flexible uplink subframe. ,
The network element selects a radio frame configuration from the radio frame configuration group including at least the first and second radio frame configurations, and transmits a radio signal carrying an information element indicating the selected radio frame configuration. To do and
Is a method that includes
The flexible downlink subframe and the flexible uplink subframe include both an uplink portion and a downlink portion, respectively.
Both the uplink section and the downlink section carry at least one of the control information and the reference signal.
Method.
● Embodiment (2)
The method according to embodiment (1), wherein the first wireless frame configuration further includes at least one subframe dedicated to uplink transmission and at least one special subframe including an uplink portion and a downlink portion. ..
● Embodiment (3)
The flexible special subframe includes a further uplink portion or a further downlink portion depending on whether the flexible subframe is configured as the flexible uplink subframe or the flexible downlink subframe. , The method according to embodiment (1) or (2).
● Embodiment (4)
The method according to embodiment (3), wherein the further uplink section carries uplink data and the further downlink section carries downlink data.
● Embodiment (5)
The method according to any one of embodiments (1) to (4), wherein the uplink portion of the flexible special subframe carries a confirmation message indicating whether the terminal device has correctly made a downlink message.
● Embodiment (6)
The network element provides a plurality of different radio frame configurations each defining the at least one flexible special subframe, wherein at least two of the different radio frame configurations have different subframe lengths. The method according to any one of 1) to (5).
● Embodiment (7)
The method according to embodiment (6), wherein the longer the subframe length of the wireless frame configuration is, the larger the subcarrier interval is in the subframe.
● Embodiment (8)
The network element provides the plurality of different radio frame configurations each defining the at least one flexible special subframe, and at least one of the plurality of different radio frame configurations is a statistically flexible special downlink frame. Alternatively, the method according to any one of embodiments (1) to (7), wherein at least one subframe designated as a flexible special uplink frame is defined.
● Embodiment (9)
The method according to any one of embodiments (1) to (8), wherein most of the subframes in the second radio frame configuration are flexible special subframes.
● Embodiment (10)
The flexible special subframe of the second radio frame configuration has a maximum length of the uplink portion larger than the maximum length of the uplink portion of the special subframe of the first radio frame configuration (1). ) To (9).
● Embodiment (11)
In the network element, for each flexible special subframe, further comprising indicating whether the flexible special subframe is a flexible special downlink frame or a flexible special uplink frame, from the embodiment (1) to (10). ).
● Embodiment (12)
The terminal device of the mobile communication system stores the definition of the first radio frame configuration that defines the frame structure of the radio frame including at least one subframe dedicated to downlink transmission.
The terminal device stores a definition of a second radio frame configuration that defines a frame structure of a radio frame that includes at least one flexible special subframe that can be configured as one of a flexible downlink subframe and a flexible uplink subframe. That and
Receiving a radio signal from a network element of a mobile communication system that carries an information element indicating a radio frame configuration applied within the cell of the mobile communication system.
Based on the received information element, a radio frame configuration is selected from the radio frame configuration group including at least the first and second radio frame configurations, and the selected frame configuration is used as the network in the cell. Used for communication with elements and
Is a method that includes
The flexible downlink subframe and the flexible uplink subframe include both an uplink portion and a downlink portion, respectively.
Both the uplink section and the downlink section carry at least one of the control information and the reference signal.
Method.
● Embodiment (13)
The method according to embodiment (12), wherein the first wireless frame configuration further includes at least one subframe dedicated to uplink transmission and at least one special subframe including an uplink portion and a downlink portion. ..
● Embodiment (14)
The flexible special subframe includes a further uplink portion or a further downlink portion depending on whether the flexible subframe is configured as the flexible uplink subframe or the flexible downlink subframe. , The method according to embodiment (12) or (13).
● Embodiment (15)
The method according to embodiment (14), wherein the further uplink section carries uplink data and the further downlink section carries downlink data.
● Embodiment (16)
The method according to any one of embodiments (12) to (15), wherein the uplink portion of the flexible special subframe carries a confirmation message indicating whether the terminal device has correctly made a downlink message.
● Embodiment (17)
The terminal device stores the definition of a plurality of different radio frame configurations each defining the at least one flexible special subframe, and at least two of the different radio frame configurations have different subframe lengths. The method according to any one of the forms (12) to (16).
● Embodiment (18)
The method according to embodiment (17), wherein the longer the subframe length of the wireless frame configuration, the larger the subcarrier interval in the subframe.
● Embodiment (19)
The terminal device stores the definition of the plurality of different radio frame configurations each defining the at least one flexible special subframe, and at least one of the plurality of different radio frame configurations is statistically flexible special down. The method according to any of embodiments (12) to (18), wherein at least one subframe designated as a link frame or a flexible special uplink frame is defined.
● Embodiment (20)
The method according to any one of embodiments (12) to (19), wherein most of the subframes in the second radio frame configuration are flexible special subframes.
● Embodiment (21)
The flexible special subframe of the second radio frame configuration has a maximum length of the uplink portion larger than the maximum length of the uplink portion of the special subframe of the first radio frame configuration (12). ) To (20).
● Embodiment (22)
In the terminal device
Receiving a flexible special subframe and receiving information indicating whether the flexible special subframe is a flexible special downlink frame or a flexible special uplink frame together with the flexible special subframe.
Applying the subframe structure mapped to the received information to the received flexible special subframe,
The method according to any one of embodiments (12) to (21), further comprising.
● Embodiment (23)
The method according to any one of embodiments (1) to (22), wherein the first wireless frame configuration corresponds to the specifications of the long term evolution standard.
● Embodiment (24)
With at least one processor
A device that includes at least one memory that contains computer program code.
The processor, the memory, and the computer program code are delivered to the device.
To provide a first radio frame configuration that defines the frame structure of a radio frame containing at least one subframe dedicated to downlink transmission.
The network element provides a second radio frame configuration that defines a frame structure of a radio frame that includes at least one flexible special subframe that can be configured as one of a flexible downlink subframe and a flexible uplink subframe. ,
A radio frame configuration is selected from the radio frame configuration group including at least the first and second radio frame configurations, and a radio signal carrying an information element indicating the selected radio frame configuration is transmitted.
To execute,
The flexible downlink subframe and the flexible uplink subframe include both an uplink portion and a downlink portion, respectively.
Both the uplink section and the downlink section carry at least one of the control information and the reference signal.
Device.
● Embodiment (25)
The apparatus according to embodiment (24), wherein the first wireless frame configuration further includes at least one subframe dedicated to uplink transmission and at least one special subframe including an uplink portion and a downlink portion. ..
● Embodiment (26)
The flexible special subframe includes a further uplink portion or a further downlink portion depending on whether the flexible subframe is configured as the flexible uplink subframe or the flexible downlink subframe. , The apparatus according to embodiment (24) or (25).
● Embodiment (27)
The apparatus according to embodiment (26), wherein the further uplink section carries uplink data, and the further downlink section carries downlink data.
● Embodiment (28)
The device according to any one of embodiments (24) to (27), wherein the uplink portion of the flexible special subframe carries a confirmation message indicating whether the terminal device has correctly made a downlink message.
● Embodiment (29)
The processor, the memory, and the computer program code cause the device to provide a plurality of different radio frame configurations each defining at least one flexible special subframe, the plurality of different radio frame configurations. The apparatus according to any one of embodiments (24) to (28), wherein at least two of them have different subframe lengths.
● Embodiment (30)
The apparatus according to embodiment (29), wherein the longer the subframe length of the wireless frame configuration is, the larger the subcarrier interval is in the subframe.
● Embodiment (31)
The processor, the memory, and the computer program code cause the device to perform providing the plurality of different radio frame configurations each defining the at least one flexible special subframe, the plurality of different radio frames. One of embodiments (24) to (30), wherein at least one of the configurations defines at least one subframe that is statistically designated as a flexible special downlink frame or a flexible special uplink frame. The device described.
● Embodiment (32)
The apparatus according to any one of embodiments (24) to (31), wherein most of the subframes in the second wireless frame configuration are flexible special subframes.
● Embodiment (33)
The flexible special subframe of the second radio frame configuration has a maximum length of the uplink portion larger than the maximum length of the uplink portion of the special subframe of the first radio frame configuration (24). ) To (32).
● Embodiment (34)
The processor, the memory, and the computer program code further indicate to the device, for each flexible special subframe, whether the flexible special subframe is a flexible special downlink frame or a flexible special uplink frame. The apparatus according to any one of embodiments (24) to (33).
● Embodiment (35)
With at least one processor
A device that includes at least one memory that contains computer program code.
The processor, the memory, and the computer program code are delivered to the device.
The definition of the first radio frame configuration that defines the frame structure of the radio frame including at least one subframe dedicated to downlink transmission is stored in the at least one memory.
The definition of a second radio frame configuration that defines the frame structure of a radio frame including at least one flexible special subframe that can be configured as one of a flexible downlink subframe and a flexible uplink subframe in the at least one memory. To remember and
Receiving a message from a network element of a mobile communication system that carries an information element indicating a radio frame configuration applied within a cell of the mobile communication system.
A radio frame configuration is selected from the radio frame configuration group including at least the first and second radio frame configurations based on the received information element, and the selected radio frame configuration is used as the cell in the cell. Used for communication with network elements and
To execute,
The flexible downlink subframe and the flexible uplink subframe include both an uplink portion and a downlink portion, respectively.
Both the uplink section and the downlink section carry at least one of the control information and the reference signal.
Device.
● Embodiment (36)
The apparatus according to embodiment (35), wherein the first wireless frame configuration further includes at least one subframe dedicated to uplink transmission and at least one special subframe including an uplink portion and a downlink portion. ..
● Embodiment (37)
The flexible special subframe includes a further uplink portion or a further downlink portion depending on whether the flexible subframe is configured as the flexible uplink subframe or the flexible downlink subframe. , The apparatus according to embodiment (35) or (36).
● Embodiment (38)
The apparatus according to embodiment (37), wherein the further uplink section carries uplink data, and the further downlink section carries downlink data.
● Embodiment (39)
The device according to any one of embodiments (35) to (38), wherein the uplink portion of the flexible special subframe carries a confirmation message indicating whether the terminal device has correctly made a downlink message.
● Embodiment (40)
The processor, the memory, and the computer program code cause the device to store a definition of a plurality of different radio frame configurations each defining the at least one flexible special subframe, said the plurality of different radios. The apparatus according to any one of embodiments (35) to (39), wherein at least two of the frame configurations have different subframe lengths.
● Embodiment (41)
The device according to embodiment (40), wherein the longer the subframe length of the wireless frame configuration is, the larger the subcarrier interval is in the subframe.
● Embodiment (42)
The processor, the memory, and the computer program code cause the device to store the definition of the plurality of different radio frame configurations each defining the at least one flexible special subframe, and the plurality of different. Any of embodiments (35) to (41), wherein at least one of the radio frame configurations defines at least one subframe that is statistically designated as a flexible special downlink frame or a flexible special uplink frame. The device described in Crab.
● Embodiment (43)
The apparatus according to any one of embodiments (35) to (42), wherein most of the subframes in the second wireless frame configuration are flexible special subframes.
● Embodiment (44)
The flexible special subframe of the second radio frame configuration has a maximum length of the uplink portion larger than the maximum length of the uplink portion of the special subframe of the first radio frame configuration (35). ) To (43).
● Embodiment (45)
The processor, the memory, and the computer program code are delivered to the device.
Receiving a flexible special subframe and receiving information indicating whether the flexible special subframe is a flexible special downlink frame or a flexible special uplink frame together with the flexible special subframe.
Applying the subframe structure mapped to the received information to the received flexible special subframe,
The apparatus according to any one of embodiments (35) to (44).
● Embodiment (46)
The device according to any one of embodiments (24) to (45), the device having a wireless interface element configured to provide the device with a wireless communication function.
● Embodiment (47)
A system comprising the apparatus according to any one of embodiments (24) to (34) and the apparatus according to any one of embodiments (35) to (45).
● Embodiment (48)
An apparatus comprising means for performing all steps of the method according to any of embodiments (1) to (23).
● Embodiment (49)
A computer program product implemented on a computer-readable distribution medium that, when deployed on the apparatus, comprises a program instruction that implements the method according to any of embodiments (1) to (23). product.

Claims (17)

The network element of the mobile communication system is to select a radio frame configuration from a group of radio frame configurations including at least first and second radio frame configurations, wherein the first radio frame configuration is dedicated to the downlink. Defines the frame structure of a radio frame that includes at least one subframe of, said second radio frame configuration is at least one flexible special subframe that can be configured as either a flexible downlink subframe or a flexible uplink subframe. The frame structure of the radio frame including the above is defined, and the flexible downlink subframe and the flexible uplink subframe include both an uplink portion and a downlink portion, respectively, and both the uplink portion and the downlink portion. Is to carry at least one of the control information and the reference signal.
The network element transmits a radio signal that carries an information element indicating the selected radio frame configuration.
How to include. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first wireless frame configuration further includes at least one subframe dedicated to uplink transmission and at least one special subframe including an uplink portion and a downlink portion. The flexible special subframe includes a further uplink portion or a further downlink portion depending on whether the flexible subframe is configured as the flexible uplink subframe or the flexible downlink subframe. , The method according to claim 1 or 2 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the further uplink section carries uplink data, and the further downlink section carries downlink data. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the uplink portion of the flexible special subframe carries a confirmation message indicating whether the terminal device has correctly made a downlink message. 1. The network element provides a plurality of different radio frame configurations each defining the at least one flexible special subframe, wherein at least two of the different radio frame configurations have different subframe lengths. The method according to any one of 5 to 5 . The method according to claim 1, wherein the longer the subframe length of the wireless frame configuration, the larger the subcarrier interval in the subframe. The flexible special subframe of the second radio frame configuration has a maximum length of the uplink portion larger than the maximum length of the uplink portion of the special subframe of the first radio frame configuration, claims 1 to 7 . The method described in any of. One of claims 1 to 8 , further comprising indicating, in the network element, whether the flexible special subframe is a flexible special downlink frame or a flexible special uplink frame for each flexible special subframe. The method described in. Receiving from a network element of a mobile communication system a radio signal carrying an information element indicating a radio frame configuration for a cell of said network element.
Applying the radio frame configuration received in communication with the network element in the cell, the radio frame configuration received here is a radio frame configuration including at least the first and second radio frame configurations. Selected from the group, the first radio frame configuration defines a frame structure of a radio frame that includes at least one subframe dedicated to the downlink, and the second radio frame configuration is a flexible downlink subframe or flexible. It defines the frame structure of a radio frame that includes at least one flexible special subframe that can be configured as one of the uplink subframes, the flexible downlink subframe and the flexible uplink subframe, respectively, an uplink section and a downlink. Both of the uplink and the downlink are included, and both of the uplink and the downlink carry at least one of the control information and the reference signal.
How to include. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first radio frame configuration further comprises at least one subframe dedicated to uplink transmission and at least one special subframe including an uplink portion and a downlink portion. The flexible special subframe includes a further uplink portion or a further downlink portion depending on whether the flexible subframe is configured as the flexible uplink subframe or the flexible downlink subframe. , The method according to claim 10 or 11 . 12. The method of claim 12 , wherein the further uplink section carries uplink data and the further downlink section carries downlink data. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 13 , wherein the uplink portion of the flexible special subframe carries a confirmation message indicating whether the terminal device has correctly made a downlink message. The flexible special subframe of the second radio frame configuration has a maximum length of the uplink portion larger than the maximum length of the uplink portion of the special subframe of the first radio frame configuration, claims 10 to 14 . The method described in any of. With at least one processor
A device that includes at least one memory that contains computer program code.
The processor, the memory, and the computer program code are delivered to the device.
A radio frame configuration is selected from a group of radio frame configurations including at least the first and second radio frame configurations, wherein the first radio frame configuration is a radio including at least one subframe dedicated to the downlink. The frame structure of the frame is defined, and the second radio frame configuration defines a frame structure of a radio frame including at least one flexible special subframe that can be configured as either a flexible downlink subframe or a flexible uplink subframe. The flexible downlink subframe and the flexible uplink subframe, respectively, include both an uplink portion and a downlink portion, and both the uplink portion and the downlink portion include at least control information and a reference signal. It transports one side,
To transmit a radio signal carrying an information element indicating the selected radio frame configuration,
To execute,
Device. With at least one processor
A device that includes at least one memory that contains computer program code.
The processor, the memory, and the computer program code are delivered to the device.
Receiving a message from a network element of a mobile communication system carrying an information element indicating a radio frame configuration for a cell of the network element.
Applying the radio frame configuration received in communication with the network element in the cell, the radio frame configuration received here is a radio frame configuration including at least the first and second radio frame configurations. Selected from the group, the first radio frame configuration defines a frame structure of a radio frame that includes at least one subframe dedicated to the downlink, and the second radio frame configuration is a flexible downlink subframe or flexible. It defines the frame structure of a radio frame that includes at least one flexible special subframe that can be configured as one of the uplink subframes, the flexible downlink subframe and the flexible uplink subframe, respectively, an uplink section and a downlink. Both of the uplink and the downlink are included, and both of the uplink and the downlink carry at least one of the control information and the reference signal.
To execute,
Device.

Images