Method of handling shortened resource block for machine type communication device and related communication device

• US 9,166,754 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Lee, Chien-Min
• Primary Examiner(s): Mered, Habte
• Assistant Examiner(s): Islam, Rownak
• Application Number:
  US13/670,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20130114393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 370/210, 370/203, 370/329, 370/310, 370/328, 370/330, 370/485, 455/450, 455/509
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0005 Time-frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/003 Arrangements for allocating sub-channels of the transmission path
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal

Abstract

A method of arranging a shortened resource block (RB) without a direct current (DC) subcarrier for a wireless communication system comprising a communication device and a network is disclosed. The method comprises selecting a RB from a plurality of RBs comprising a plurality of available subcarriers, according to a configuration, wherein the RB comprises a plurality of subcarriers; and removing the DC subcarrier from the plurality of subcarriers of the RB according to the configuration, to construct the shortened RB without the DC subcarrier.

Claims

1. A method of arranging a shortened resource block (RB) without a direct current (DC) subcarrier for a wireless communication system comprising a communication device and a network, the method comprising:

selecting, by the communication device or the network, a RB from a plurality of RBs comprising a plurality of available subcarriers, according to a configuration, wherein the RB comprises a plurality of subcarriers; and

removing, by the communication device or the network, the DC subcarrier from the plurality of subcarriers of the RB according to the configuration, to construct the shortened RB without the DC subcarrier, to solve misalignment of DC subcarriers of the communication device and a legacy communication device;

wherein the configuration is determined according to a carrier frequency of the communication device;

wherein a number of subcarriers of the shortened RB is less than a number of subcarriers of another RB in the plurality of RBs.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a machine type communication (MTC) device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration is determined according to a maximum bandwidth supported by the communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration is determined by the network, and is transmitted to the communication device via a higher layer signaling.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration comprises determining the last subcarrier of the RB as the DC subcarrier, when a maximum bandwidth supported by the communication device is one of 1.4 MHz, 10 MHz and 20 MHz, wherein the bandwidths of 1.4 MHz, 10 MHz and 20 MHz correspond to orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols with fast Fourier transform (FFT) sizes of 128, 1024 and 2048, respectively.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein an index of the shortened RB is determined according to the following equation:

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration comprises determining the first subcarrier of the RB as the DC subcarrier, when a maximum bandwidth supported by the communication device is one of 1.4 MHz, 10 MHz and 20 MHz, wherein the bandwidths of 1.4 MHz, 10 MHz and 20 MHz correspond to OFDM symbols with FFT sizes of 128, 1024 and 2048, respectively.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein an index of the shortened RB is determined according to the following equation:

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration comprises determining a middle subcarrier of the RB as the DC subcarrier, when a maximum bandwidth supported by the communication device is one of 3 MHz, 5 MHz and 15 MHz, wherein the bandwidths of 3 MHz, 5 MHz and 15 MHz correspond to OFDM symbols with FFT sizes of 256, 512 and 1536, respectively.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein an index of the shortened RB is determined according to the following equation:

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the third orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, the fourth OFDM symbol, the sixth OFDM symbol and the seventh OFDM symbol in at least one even-numbered slot for a first antenna port, when a normal cyclic prefix (CP) is used in each OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the third OFDM symbol, the fourth OFDM symbol, the sixth OFDM symbol and the seventh OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot for a second antenna port, when the normal CP is used in each OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the third OFDM symbols and the fourth OFDM symbols in at least one even-numbered slot and at least one odd-numbered slot for a first antenna port, when a normal CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the third OFDM symbols and the fourth OFDM symbols in the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot for a second antenna port, when the normal CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the sixth OFDM symbols and the seventh OFDM symbols in at least one even-numbered slot and at least one odd-numbered slot for a first antenna port, when a normal CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the sixth OFDM symbols and the seventh OFDM symbols in the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot for a second antenna port, when the normal CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the second subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, the eighth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in at least one even-numbered slot for a first antenna port, when an extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the second subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, the eighth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot for a second antenna port, when the extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the fourth subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in at least one even-numbered slot for a first antenna port, when an extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the fourth subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot for a second antenna port, when the extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the fourth subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in at least one even-numbered slot and are arranged at the second subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, the eighth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in at least one odd-numbered slot, for a first antenna port, when an extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the fourth subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot and are arranged at the second subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, the eighth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in the at least one odd-numbered slot, for a second antenna port, when the extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the second subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, the eighth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in at least one even-numbered slot and are arranged at the first subcarrier, the fourth subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in at least one odd-numbered slot, for a first antenna port, when an extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the second subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, the eighth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot and are arranged at the first subcarrier, the fourth subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in the at least one odd-numbered slot, for a second antenna port, when the extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

25. A wireless communication system comprising a communication device and a network, for arranging a shortened resource block (RB) without a direct current (DC) subcarrier, the wireless communication system comprising:

means for selecting a RB from a plurality of RBs comprising a plurality of available subcarriers, according to a configuration, wherein the RB comprises a plurality of subcarriers; and

means for removing the DC subcarrier from the plurality of subcarriers of the RB according to the configuration, to construct the shortened RB without the DC subcarrier, to solve misalignment of DC subcarriers of the communication device and a legacy communication device;

wherein the configuration is determined according to a carrier frequency of the communication device;

wherein a number of subcarriers of the shortened RB is less than a number of subcarriers of another RB in the plurality of RBs.

26. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein the communication device is a machine type communication (MTC) device.

27. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein the configuration is determined according to at least one of a carrier frequency of the communication device and a maximum bandwidth supported by the communication device.

28. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein the configuration is determined by the network, and is transmitted to the communication device via a higher layer signaling.

29. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein the configuration comprises determining the last subcarrier of the RB as the DC subcarrier, when a maximum bandwidth supported by the communication device is one of 1.4 MHz, 10 MHz and 20 MHz, wherein the bandwidths of 1.4 MHz, 10 MHz and 20 MHz correspond to orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols with fast Fourier transform (FFT) sizes of 128, 1024 and 2048, respectively.

30. The wireless communication system of claim 29, wherein an index of the shortened RB is determined according to the following equation:

31. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein the configuration comprises determining the first subcarrier of the RB as the DC subcarrier, when a maximum bandwidth supported by the communication device is one of 1.4 MHz, 10 MHz and 20 MHz, wherein the bandwidths of 1.4 MHz, 10 MHz and 20 MHz correspond to OFDM symbols with FFT sizes of 128, 1024 and 2048, respectively.

32. The wireless communication system of claim 31, wherein an index of the shortened RB is determined according to the following equation:

33. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein the configuration comprises determining a middle subcarrier of the RB as the DC subcarrier, when a maximum bandwidth supported by the communication device is one of 3 MHz, 5 MHz and 15 MHz, wherein the bandwidths of 3 MHz, 5 MHz and 15 MHz correspond to OFDM symbols with FFT sizes of 256, 512 and 1536, respectively.

34. The wireless communication system of claim 33, wherein an index of the shortened RB is determined according to the following equation:

35. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the third orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol, the fourth OFDM symbol, the sixth OFDM symbol and the seventh OFDM symbol in at least one even-numbered slot for a first antenna port, when a normal cyclic prefix (CP) is used in each OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot.

36. The wireless communication system of claim 35, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the third OFDM symbol, the fourth OFDM symbol, the sixth OFDM symbol and the seven OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot for a second antenna port, when the normal CP is used in each OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot.

37. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the third OFDM symbols and the fourth OFDM symbols in at least one even-numbered slot and at least one odd-numbered slot for a first antenna port, when a normal CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

38. The wireless communication system of claim 37, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the third OFDM symbols and the fourth OFDM symbols in the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot for a second antenna port, when the normal CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

39. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the sixth OFDM symbols and the seventh OFDM symbols in at least one even-numbered slot and at least one odd-numbered slot for a first antenna port, when a normal CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

40. The wireless communication system of claim 39, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the sixth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the sixth OFDM symbols and the seventh OFDM symbols in the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot for a second antenna port, when the normal CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

41. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the second subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, the eighth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in at least one even-numbered slot for a first antenna port, when an extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot.

42. The wireless communication system of claim 41, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the second subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, the eighth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot for a second antenna port, when the extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot.

43. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the fourth subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in at least one even-numbered slot for a first antenna port, when an extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot.

44. The wireless communication system of claim 43, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the fourth subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot for a second antenna port, when the extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot.

45. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the fourth subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in at least one even-numbered slot and are arranged at the second subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, the eighth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in at least one odd-numbered slot, for a first antenna port, when an extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

46. The wireless communication system of claim 45, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the first subcarrier, the fourth subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot and are arranged at the second subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, the eighth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in the at least one odd-numbered slot, for a second antenna port, when the extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

47. The wireless communication system of claim 25, wherein a first plurality of reference signals are arranged at the second subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, the eighth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in at least one even-numbered slot and are arranged at the first subcarrier, the fourth subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in at least one odd-numbered slot, for a first antenna port, when an extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.

48. The wireless communication system of claim 47, wherein a second plurality of reference signals are arranged at the second subcarrier, the fifth subcarrier, the eighth subcarrier and the eleventh subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in the at least one even-numbered slot and are arranged at the first subcarrier, the fourth subcarrier, the seventh subcarrier and the tenth subcarrier in the shortened RB of each of the fifth OFDM symbol and the sixth OFDM symbol in the at least one odd-numbered slot, for a second antenna port, when the extended CP is used in each OFDM symbol in both the at least one even-numbered slot and the at least one odd-numbered slot.