Systems and methods for configuring carriers using overlapping sets of candidate numerologies
It is possible to reduce the implementation complexity associated with dynamic carrier configuration by defining overlapping sets of candidate numerologies for at least some carriers in the network. A common numerology is included in sets of candidate numerologies pre-associated with two different carriers. This reduces the amount of numerologies that need to be supported by the corresponding user equipments (UEs) and base stations, which in turn reduces the complexity of those devices, e.g., less complex hardware, protocol stacks, and software, lower storage and processing requirements, etc. The common numerology specifies a common subset of physical layer parameters for both carriers. In one example, the common numerology specifies the same sub-carrier frequency spacing and symbol duration for both carriers. The common numerology may further specify the same cyclic prefix (CP) length for symbols communicated over both carriers.
1. A method comprising:
receiving, by an apparatus, a first indication identifying a first numerology of a first set of numerologies, wherein the first set of numerologies are predefined with a first range of carrier frequencies,
wherein the first set of numerologies include the first numerology and a second numerology different from the first numerology,
wherein the second numerology includes a same sub-carrier spacing, a same symbol duration, and a same cyclic prefix (CP) length as a third numerology of a second set of numerologies,
wherein the second set of numerologies are predefined with a second range of carrier frequencies different from the first range of carrier frequencies, and
wherein the second set of numerologies further include a fourth numerology, the fourth numerology being different from the first numerology and different from the second numerology; and
communicating, by the apparatus, a signal based on the first numerology.
2. The method of claim 1 , the first range of carrier frequencies being for a first carrier, and the first indication identifying the first numerology for the first carrier.
3. The method of claim 2 , the method further comprising:
receiving, by the apparatus, a second indication identifying the second numerology for a second carrier, wherein the apparatus is a user equipment (UE).
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first sub-carrier spacing of the first numerology is 30 kHz, and a second sub-carrier spacing of the second numerology is 60 kHz.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first indication explicitly indicates a value of the first sub-carrier spacing of the first numerology.
6. The method of claim 1 , the first indication identifying a first transmission time interval (TTI) length of the first numerology.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first TTI length is one of 3, 4, or 7 symbols.
8. A method comprising:
transmitting, by a base station, a first indication identifying a first numerology of a first set of numerologies, wherein the first set of numerologies are predefined with a first range of carrier frequencies,
wherein the first set of numerologies include the first numerology and a second numerology different from the first numerology,
wherein the second numerology includes a same sub-carrier spacing, a same symbol duration, and a same cyclic prefix (CP) length as a third numerology of a second set of numerologies,
wherein the second set of numerologies are predefined with a second range of carrier frequencies different from the first range of carrier frequencies, and
wherein the second set of numerologies further include a fourth numerology, the fourth numerology being different from the first numerology and different from the second numerology; and
communicating, by the base station, a signal based on the first numerology.
9. The method of claim 8 , the first range of carrier frequencies being for a first carrier, and the first indication identifying the first numerology for the first carrier.
10. The method of claim 9 , the method further comprising:
transmitting, by the base station to a user equipment (UE), a second indication identifying the second numerology for a second carrier.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein a first sub-carrier spacing of the first numerology is 30 kHz, and a second sub-carrier spacing of the second numerology is 60 kHz.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first indication explicitly indicates a value of the first sub-carrier spacing of the first numerology.
13. The method of claim 8 , the first indication identifying a first transmission time interval (TTI) length of the first numerology.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first TTI length is one of 3, 4, or 7 symbols.
15. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
a computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the at least one processor, the programming including instructions to:
receive a first indication identifying a first numerology of a first set of numerologies, wherein the first set of numerologies are predefined with a first range of carrier frequencies,
wherein the first set of numerologies include the first numerology and a second numerology different from the first numerology,
wherein the second numerology includes a same sub-carrier spacing, a same symbol duration, and a same cyclic prefix (CP) length as a third numerology of a second set of numerologies,
wherein the second set of numerologies are predefined with a second range of carrier frequencies different from the first range of carrier frequencies, and
wherein the second set of numerologies further include a fourth numerology, the fourth numerology being different from the first numerology and different from the second numerology; and
communicate a signal based on the first numerology.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , the first range of carrier frequencies being for a first carrier, and the first indication identifying the first numerology for the first carrier.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , the programming further including instructions to:
receive a second indication identifying the second numerology for a second carrier, wherein the apparatus is a user equipment (UE).
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein a first sub-carrier spacing of the first numerology is 30 kHz, and a second sub-carrier spacing of the second numerology is 60 kHz.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the first indication explicitly indicates a value of the first sub-carrier spacing of the first numerology.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 , the first indication identifying a first transmission time interval (TTI) length of the first numerology.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the first TTI length is one of 3, 4, or 7 symbols.
22. A base station comprising:
at least one processor; and
a computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the at least one processor, the programming including instructions to:
transmit a first indication identifying a first numerology of a first set of numerologies, wherein the first set of numerologies are predefined with a first range of carrier frequencies,
wherein the first set of numerologies include the first numerology and a second numerology different from the first numerology,
wherein the second numerology includes a same sub-carrier spacing, a same symbol duration, and a same cyclic prefix (CP) length as a third numerology of a second set of numerologies,
wherein the second set of numerologies are predefined with a second range of carrier frequencies different from the first range of carrier frequencies, and
wherein the second set of numerologies further include a fourth numerology, the fourth numerology being different from the first numerology and different from the second numerology; and
communicate a signal based on the first numerology.
23. The base station of claim 22 , the first range of carrier frequencies being for a first carrier, and the first indication identifying the first numerology for the first carrier.
24. The base station of claim 23 , the programming further including instructions to:
transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a second indication identifying the second numerology for a second carrier.
25. The base station of claim 22 , wherein a first sub-carrier spacing of the first numerology is 30 kHz, and a second sub-carrier spacing of the second numerology is 60 kHz.
26. The base station of claim 25 , wherein the first indication explicitly indicates a value of the first sub-carrier spacing of the first numerology.
27. The base station of claim 22 , the first indication identifying a first transmission time interval (TTI) length of the first numerology.
28. The base station of claim 27 , wherein the first TTI length is one of 3, 4, or 7 symbols.