Patent Application
20180324799
The present invention relates to the field of wireless communications technologies, and in particular, to a radio frame transmission method and a wireless network device.
With the evolution of wireless communications technologies, an important feature of a future 5G (the 5th generation mobile communications technology) system is adoption of more transmission antennas. An example is a distributed MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output, multiple-input multiple-output) system based on multi-cell coordination, or a massive MIMO system based on a large-scale antenna group. During downlink data transmission, performance of MIMO transmission depends on obtaining of a downlink channel state. That is, timelier obtaining of the downlink channel state leads to higher performance of MIMO transmission.
In a TDD (Time Division Duplexing, Time Division Duplex) system, an uplink channel and a downlink channel use a same frequency, that is, the uplink channel and the downlink channel are reciprocal, and the downlink channel state may be obtained by sending an uplink sounding signal (sounding signal). It should be understood that a shorter sounding signal sending interval indicates timelier obtaining of a channel state by a base station. However, the sounding signal sending interval in the current TDD system is relatively long, and the channel state obtained by the base station is not timely.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a radio frame transmission method and a wireless network device, to increase a quantity of subframes used for uplink transmission in a radio frame, thereby increasing subframes that carry a sounding signal, reducing a sounding signal sending interval, and making obtaining of a channel state by a base station timelier.
A first aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a radio frame transmission method. The method may be applied to a base station, and includes: sending radio frame configuration information to user equipment; and receiving a radio frame sent according to the radio frame configuration information by the user equipment, where the radio frame includes at least three special subframes. The radio frame configuration information is information that includes a configuration scheme of uplink subframes, downlink subframes, and special subframes in the radio frame. Optionally, the method may further be applied to another user equipment.
A second aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a radio frame transmission method. The method may be applied to user equipment, and includes: receiving radio frame configuration information sent by a base station; and sending a radio frame to the base station according to the radio frame configuration information, where the radio frame includes at least three special subframes. The radio frame configuration information is information that includes a configuration scheme of uplink subframes, downlink subframes, and special subframes in the radio frame. Optionally, the method may further be applied to another base station.
In a first possible implementation of the first or the second aspect, the radio frame includes 10 subframes from the first to the tenth, the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame are the special subframes, and the third, the fourth, the fifth, the eighth, the ninth, and the tenth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and the first and/or the sixth subframes/subframe are/is the special subframes/subframe; or the third, the fourth, the eighth, and the ninth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the fifth, the sixth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or the third and the eighth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or the third, the fourth, the fifth, the eighth, and the ninth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the sixth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe. It should be understood that the special subframe includes a downlink pilot timeslot, a guard period, and an uplink pilot timeslot. Correspondingly, the downlink pilot timeslot, the guard period, and the uplink pilot timeslot are arranged sequentially.
With reference to the first or the second aspect, or the first possible implementation of the first or the second aspect, in a second possible implementation of the first or the second aspect, at least one of the special subframes in the radio frame carries a sounding signal. Optionally, at least one uplink subframe in the radio frame carries a sounding signal. Further, after the receiving a radio frame sent according to the radio frame configuration information by the user equipment, the method further includes: obtaining a downlink channel state according to the sounding signal carried in the radio frame.
With reference to any one of the first or the second aspect, or the first or the second possible implementation of the first or the second aspect, in a third possible implementation of the first or the second aspect, the special subframes in the radio frame have at least two different configurations, and the configuration of the special subframe reflects a quantity of downlink pilot timeslots and a quantity of uplink pilot timeslots in the special subframe. Optionally, the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame are special subframes of a same configuration, and a special subframe other than the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame is a special subframe of another configuration.
With reference to any one of the first or the second aspect, or the first to the third possible implementations of the first or the second aspect, in a fourth possible implementation of the first or the second aspect, a configuration of the special subframe other than the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame is 12 downlink pilot timeslots and one uplink pilot timeslot. It should be understood that a larger quantity of special subframes in a radio frame means a smaller quantity of downlink subframes in the radio frame. This causes a loss to downlink transmission. To compensate for the loss, only one uplink pilot timeslot is configured for the special subframe, and a maximum of 12 downlink pilot timeslots are configured for downlink transmission.
With reference to any one of the first or the second aspect, or the first to the fourth possible implementations of the first or the second aspect, in a fifth possible implementation of the first or the second aspect, the configuration of the special subframe other than the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame is predefined, or is configured by using a system message or higher layer signaling, or is configured by using radio resource control layer signaling.
With reference to any one of the first or the second aspect, or the first to the fifth possible implementations of the first or the second aspect, in a sixth possible implementation of the first or the second aspect, the radio frame is configured by using a system message or higher layer signaling.
A third aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a radio frame transmission method. The method may be applied to a base station, and includes: sending radio frame configuration information to user equipment; and receiving a radio frame sent according to the radio frame configuration information by the user equipment, where the radio frame includes 10 subframes from the first to the tenth, the second subframe in the radio frame is the special subframe, and only the third, the fourth, and the fifth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or only the third and the fourth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or only the third subframe in the radio frame is the uplink subframe, and at least one of the first, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe. It should be understood that the special subframe includes a downlink pilot timeslot, a guard period, and an uplink pilot timeslot. Correspondingly, the downlink pilot timeslot, the guard period, and the uplink pilot timeslot are arranged sequentially. Optionally, the method may further be applied to another user equipment.
A fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a radio frame transmission method. The method may be applied to user equipment, and includes: receiving radio frame configuration information sent by a base station; and sending a radio frame to the base station according to the radio frame configuration information, where the second subframe in the radio frame is the special subframe, and only the third, the fourth, and the fifth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or only the third and the fourth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or only the third subframe in the radio frame is the uplink subframe, and at least one of the first, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe. Optionally, the method may further be applied to another base station.
In a first possible implementation of the third or the fourth aspect, at least one of the special subframes in the radio frame carries a sounding signal. Optionally, at least one uplink subframe in the radio frame carries a sounding signal. Further, after the receiving a radio frame sent according to the radio frame configuration information by the user equipment, the method further includes: obtaining a downlink channel state according to the sounding signal carried in the radio frame.
With reference to the third or the fourth aspect, or the first possible implementation of the third or the fourth aspect, in a second possible implementation of the third or the fourth aspect, the special subframes in the radio frame have at least two different configurations, and the configuration of the special subframe reflects a quantity of downlink pilot timeslots and a quantity of uplink pilot timeslots in the special subframe. Optionally, the second subframe in the radio frame is a special subframe of one configuration, and a special subframe other than the second subframe in the radio frame is a special subframe of another configuration.
With reference to any one of the third or the fourth aspect, or the first or the second possible implementation of the third or the fourth aspect, in a third possible implementation of the third or the fourth aspect, a configuration of the special subframe other than the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame is 12 downlink pilot timeslots and one uplink pilot timeslot. It should be understood that a larger quantity of special subframes in a radio frame means a smaller quantity of downlink subframes in the radio frame. This causes a loss to downlink transmission. To compensate for the loss, only one uplink pilot timeslot is configured for the special subframe, and a maximum of 12 downlink pilot timeslots are configured for downlink transmission.
With reference to any one of the third or the fourth aspect, or the first to the third possible implementations of the third or the fourth aspect, in a fourth possible implementation of the third or the fourth aspect, the configuration of the special subframe other than the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame is predefined, or is configured by using a system message or higher layer signaling, or is configured by using radio resource control layer signaling.
With reference to any one of the third or the fourth aspect, or the first to the fourth possible implementations of the third or the fourth aspect, in a fifth possible implementation of the third or the fourth aspect, the radio frame is configured by using a system message or higher layer signaling.
A fifth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a radio frame transmission method. The method may be applied to a base station, and includes: sending radio frame configuration information to user equipment, where the configuration information includes information that indicates a downlink subframe for uplink signal sending in a radio frame; and receiving an uplink signal that is sent, in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending, by the user equipment according to the radio frame configuration information. Optionally, the method may further be applied to another user equipment.
A sixth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a radio frame transmission method. The method may be applied to user equipment, and includes: receiving radio frame configuration information sent by a base station, where the configuration information includes information that indicates a downlink subframe for uplink signal sending in a radio frame; and sending, according to the radio frame configuration information, an uplink signal to the base station in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending. Optionally, the method may further be applied to another base station.
In a first possible implementation of the fifth or the sixth aspect, the uplink signal includes a sounding signal. Optionally, at least one uplink subframe in the radio frame carries a sounding signal. Further, after the receiving an uplink signal that is sent, in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending, by the user equipment according to the radio frame configuration information, the method further includes: obtaining a downlink channel state according to the sounding signal carried in the radio frame.
With reference to the fifth aspect or the first possible implementation of the fifth aspect, in a second possible implementation of the fifth aspect, the receiving an uplink signal that is sent, in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending, by the user equipment according to the radio frame configuration information includes: receiving the uplink signal that is sent, in the last one or more symbols in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending, by the user equipment according to the radio frame configuration information.
With reference to the sixth aspect or the first possible implementation of the sixth aspect, in a second possible implementation of the sixth aspect, the sending, according to the radio frame configuration information, an uplink signal to the base station in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending includes: sending, according to the radio frame configuration information, the uplink signal to the base station in the last one or more symbols in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending.
With reference to any one of the fifth or the sixth aspect, or the first or the second possible implementation of the fifth or the sixth aspect, in a third possible implementation of the fifth or the sixth aspect, downlink data is not mapped to a resource element corresponding to the symbol used to send the uplink signal in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending.
With reference to any one of the fifth or the sixth aspect, or the first to the third possible implementations of the fifth or the sixth aspect, in a fourth possible implementation of the fifth or the sixth aspect, downlink data mapped to a resource element corresponding to the symbol used to send the uplink signal in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending is punctured.
With reference to any one of the fifth or the sixth aspect, or the first to the third possible implementations of the fifth or the sixth aspect, in a fifth possible implementation of the fifth or the sixth aspect, the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending is configured by using a system message or higher layer signaling.
A seventh aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a wireless network device, where the wireless network device may be a base station, and has a function of implementing the method provided in the first aspect, the third aspect, or the fifth aspect. The function may be implemented by using hardware, or may be implemented by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the function.
An eighth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a wireless network device, where the wireless network device may be user equipment, and has a function of implementing the method provided in the second aspect or the fourth aspect. The function may be implemented by using hardware, or may be implemented by executing corresponding software by hardware. The hardware or software includes one or more modules corresponding to the function.
A ninth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a communications system, including a first wireless network device and a second wireless network device. The first wireless network device and the second wireless network device are configured to implement, respectively, the methods provided in the first aspect and the second aspect, or in the third aspect and the fourth aspect, or in the fifth aspect and the sixth aspect.
It can be learned from the foregoing that, in the embodiments of the present invention, the user equipment and the base station implement uplink transmission of the radio frame, and the radio frame includes at least three special subframes, or the radio frame includes at least two special subframes, or the radio frame includes the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending. In this way, a quantity of subframes used for uplink transmission can be increased in the radio frame.
Technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention may be applied to various communications systems, such as a TDD system of LTE (Long Term Evolution, Long Term Evolution), a distributed MIMO system based on multi-cell coordination or a massive MIMO system based on a large-scale antenna group, a future evolved 5G (the 5th Generation, the 5th Generation mobile communications) system, an M2M (Machine to Machine, machine-to-machine) system, a D2D (Device to Device, device-to-device) system, or a multi-base-station coordination system.
In the embodiments of the present invention, various aspects are described with reference to a wireless network device. The wireless network device may be a base station. The base station may be configured to communicate with one or more user equipments, or may be configured to communicate with one or more base stations that have some user equipment functions (for example, communication between a macro base station and a micro base station, such as an access point). The base station may be a BTS (Base Transceiver Station, base transceiver station) in TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access, Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access), an eNB (Evolutional Node B, evolved NodeB) in LTE, or a base station in a future network. The wireless network device may alternatively be user equipment. The user equipment may be configured to communicate with one or more user equipments (for example, D2D communication), or may be configured to communicate with one or more base stations. The user equipment may also be referred to as a user terminal, and may include some or all functions of a system, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobile wireless terminal, a mobile device, a node, a device, a remote station, a remote terminal, a terminal, a wireless communications device, a wireless communications apparatus, or a user agent. The user equipment may be a cellular phone, a cordless telephone set, a SIP (Session Initiation Protocol, Session Initiation Protocol) phone, a smart phone, a WLL (wireless local loop, wireless local loop) station, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant, personal digital assistant), a laptop computer, a handheld communications device, a handheld computing device, a satellite wireless device, a wireless modem card, and/or another processing device configured for communication in a wireless system. In addition, the base station may also be referred to as an access point, a node, or another network entity, and may include some or all functions of these network entities. The base station may communicate with a wireless terminal by using an air interface. The communication may be implemented by using one or more sectors. The base station may further coordinate management of air interface properties, and may further be a gateway between a wired network and a wireless network. The embodiments of the present invention are described by using communication between a base station and user equipment as an example. It may be understood that the embodiments of the present invention may be applied to communication between a first wireless network device and a second wireless network device, for example, communication between a base station and user equipment, communication between a base station and another base station, or communication between user equipment and another user equipment. The following uses the communication between a base station and user equipment as an example for description.
Terms such as “module” used in the embodiments of the present invention are intended to indicate computer-related entities, and the computer-related entity may be hardware, firmware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software being executed. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to, a process that runs on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable file, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. In an example, an application that runs on a computing device and the computing device may both be components. One or more components may reside within a process and/or a thread of execution, and a component may be located on one computer and/or distributed to two or more computers. In addition, these components can be executed in various computer-readable media that have various data structures. These components may communicate by using a local and/or remote process and according to, for example, a signal having one or more data packets (for example, data from one component, where the component interacts, by using a signal, with another component in a local system or a distributed system, and/or interacts with another system across a network such as the Internet).
In the embodiments of the present invention, various aspects, embodiments, or features are demonstrated based on a system that can include a plurality of devices, modules, or the like. It should be understood that the system may include an additional device, component, module, or the like, and/or may not include all devices, components, modules, or the like discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, a combination of these solutions may also be used.
In the embodiments of the present invention, information (information), signal (signal), message (message), channel (channel) may sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that they express a same meaning when their differences are not emphasized. “of (of)”, “corresponding (corresponding, relevant)”, and “corresponding (corresponding)” may sometimes be used interchangeably. It should be noted that they express a same meaning when their differences are not emphasized.
A network architecture and a service scenario described in the embodiments of the present invention are intended for clearer description of the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, and do not constitute any limitation on the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention. A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand that with the evolution of the network architecture and the emergence of a new service scenario, the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of the present invention are still applicable to a similar technical issue.
The embodiments of the present invention may be applied to both a time division duplex (Time Division Duplexing, TDD) scenario and a frequency division duplex (Frequency Division Duplexing, FDD) scenario.
The embodiments of the present invention are described based on the TDD scenario in a wireless communications network. It should be noted that the solutions in the embodiments of the present invention may also be applied to another wireless communications network, and a corresponding name may also be replaced by a name of a corresponding function in the another wireless communications network. For ease of understanding the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, a radio frame (radio frame) specified in a prior wireless communications protocol standard is introduced herein. Referring to
S101: A base station determines radio frame configuration information.
The radio frame configuration information is used to indicate subframe types respectively allocated to 10 subframes in a radio frame, where the subframe types include uplink subframe, downlink subframe, and special subframe. The radio frame configuration information is generated during radio frame configuration.
Specifically, the base station obtains the radio frame configuration information generated during radio frame configuration, and sends the radio frame configuration information to user equipment. Optionally, the base station sends the radio frame configuration information to the user equipment by using a system message or higher layer signaling. For example, the radio frame configuration information is carried in a SIB1 message in a broadcast message.
S102: User equipment determines the radio frame configuration information.
Specifically, the user equipment receives the radio frame configuration information sent by the base station. Correspondingly, the radio frame configuration information may be notified by using the system message or the higher layer signaling. In a specific implementation process, the user equipment receives the radio frame configuration information that is sent by the base station by using the system message or the higher layer signaling.
S103: The user equipment implements uplink transmission of a radio frame according to the radio frame configuration information.
Specifically, the user equipment sends the radio frame to the base station according to the radio frame configuration information.
In an optional implementation, the radio frame sent according to the radio frame configuration information by the user equipment includes at least three special subframes. It can be learned from the foregoing that the second subframe of a prior-art radio frame is fixedly a special subframe, and the seventh subframe may be a special subframe. In other words, there are a maximum of two special subframes. However, the radio frame in this implementation includes at least three special subframes. In a specific implementation process, the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame sent by the user equipment are the special subframes. The third, the fourth, the fifth, the eighth, the ninth, and the tenth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and the first and/or the sixth subframes/subframe are/is the special subframes/subframe; or the third, the fourth, the eighth, and the ninth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the fifth, the sixth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or the third and the eighth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or the third, the fourth, the fifth, the eighth, and the ninth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the sixth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe.
It should be noted that, it can be learned from a comparison with Table 1 that the foregoing implementation may be understood as replacing some or all downlink subframes in prior-art radio frames whose configuration numbers are 0, 1, 2, or 6 with special subframes. Because a special subframe may be used for both uplink transmission and downlink transmission, an uplink transmission capability is improved while a downlink transmission capability is retained in this implementation. Further, to maximize the uplink transmission capability, all downlink subframes in the prior-art radio frames whose configuration numbers are 0, 1, 2, or 6 may be replaced by special subframes to obtain four types of radio frames whose configuration numbers are 7, 8, 9, and 10, as shown in Table 2.
It can be learned that in the four types of radio frames whose configuration numbers are 7, 8, 9, and 10, every subframe can be used for uplink transmission. This means that an uplink transmission interval may be reduced to 1 ms.
In another optional implementation, the second subframe in the radio frame sent according to the radio frame configuration information by the user equipment is a special subframe. Only the third, the fourth, and the fifth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or only the third and the fourth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or only the third subframe in the radio frame is an uplink subframe, and at least one of the first, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe.
Similarly, it can be learned from a comparison with Table 1 that this implementation may be understood as replacing some or all downlink subframes in prior-art radio frames whose configuration numbers are 3, 4, or 5 with special subframes. Correspondingly, to maximize the uplink transmission capability, all downlink subframes in the prior-art radio frames whose configuration numbers are 3, 4, or 5 may be replaced by special subframes to obtain three types of radio frames whose configuration numbers are 11, 12, and 13, as shown in Table 3.
It can be learned that in the three types of radio frames whose configuration numbers are 11, 12, and 13, every subframe can be used for uplink transmission. This means that an uplink transmission interval may be reduced to 1 ms.
It should be noted that neither the first implementation nor the second implementation changes the structure of the prior-art radio frame (for example, duration and a subframe quantity of the radio frame). The radio frame can be fully compatible with current communications protocols, and therefore feasibility is good.
It should be understood that a special subframe includes a downlink pilot timeslot (Downlink Pilot Time Slot, DwPTS), a guard period (GP), and an uplink pilot timeslot (Uplink Pilot Time Slot, UpPTS). The DwPTS, the GP, and the UpPTS are arranged sequentially. The DwPTS is used for downlink transmission, and the UpPTS is used for uplink transmission. It is obvious that the special subframe can be used for both uplink transmission and downlink transmission. Different from the prior-art radio frame, configurations of the special subframes in the radio frame in this embodiment of the present invention may be different. That is, the special subframes in the radio frame may have at least two different configurations. The configuration of the special subframe reflects a quantity of DwPTSs and a quantity of UpPTSs in the special subframe. Table 4 or 5 shows configurations specified in the prior communications protocol.
Further optionally, for the first implementation, the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame are special subframes of one configuration, and a special subframe other than the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame is a special subframe of another configuration. For example, the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame are special subframes corresponding to configuration 1 in Table 4, and the other special subframe is a special subframe corresponding to configuration 6 in Table 4. For the second implementation, the second subframe in the radio frame is a special subframe of one configuration, and a special subframe other than the second subframe in the radio frame is a special subframe of another configuration. For example, the second subframe in the radio frame is a special subframe corresponding to configuration 1 in Table 4, and the other special subframe is a special subframe corresponding to configuration 6 in Table 4.
Still further, for the first implementation, a configuration of the special subframe other than the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame is configuration 4 in Table 4, that is, the other special subframe includes 12 DwPTSs and one UpPTS. For the second implementation, a configuration of the special subframe other than the second subframe in the radio frame is configuration 4 in Table 4, that is, the other special subframe includes 12 DwPTSs and one UpPTS. It should be understood that a larger quantity of special subframes in a radio frame means a smaller quantity of downlink subframes in the radio frame. This causes a loss to downlink transmission. It can be learned from analysis of Table 4 and Table 5 that configuration 4 in Table 4 includes the largest quantity of DwPTSs, so that most timeslots of the special subframe are still used for downlink transmission, ensuring a minimum loss of downlink transmission.
Optionally, for the first implementation, the configuration of the special subframe other than the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame is predefined, or is configured by using a system message or higher layer signaling, or is configured by using radio resource control layer signaling (Radio Resource Control, RRC). For the second implementation, the configuration of the special subframe other than the second subframe in the radio frame is predefined, or is configured by using a system message or higher layer signaling, or is configured by using radio resource control layer signaling. Optionally, a specific implementation of configuring the configuration of the special subframe other than the second subframe in the radio frame by using the system message or the higher layer signaling, or by using the radio resource control layer signaling may be as follows: The base station sends information reflecting the configuration of the special subframe other than the second subframe in the radio frame to the user equipment by using the system message or the higher layer signaling, or by using the radio resource control layer signaling, and the user equipment receives the information and determines the configuration.
S104: The base station implements uplink transmission of the radio frame according to the radio frame configuration information.
Specifically, the base station receives the radio frame sent according to the radio frame configuration information by the user equipment.
Optionally, at least one special subframe in the radio frame carries a sounding signal. Still optionally, at least one uplink subframe in the radio frame carries a sounding signal. Correspondingly, after receiving a radio frame sent according to the radio frame configuration information by the user equipment, the base station obtains a downlink channel state according to the sounding signal carried in the radio frame. It can be learned that in this embodiment of the present invention, a quantity of subframes in which a sounding signal can be sent in the radio frame increases compared with that in a prior-art radio frame. This reduces a sounding signal sending interval, makes obtaining of the downlink channel state timelier, and therefore improves performance of radio transmission.
It should be noted that, for a case in which the radio frame includes only uplink subframes and special subframes, as shown in Table 2 and Table 3, the sounding signal sending interval may reach 1 ms. It should be understood that a shortest sounding signal sending interval in TDD is 5 ms, and that a shortest sounding signal sending interval in FDD is less than 5 ms. It can be learned that a configuration in FDD may even be used for configuration of the sending interval and an offset of the sounding signal.
For example, Table 6 shows a configuration in FDD, where I indicates an index number, and a value of the offset is used to indicate a subframe number increment of a start subframe that carries a sounding signal, relative to the first subframe. It is assumed that a configuration whose index number is 0 is used, that the sounding signal sending interval is 2 ms, and that the offset is 0. Then, the base station receives, every 2 ms starting from the first subframe in the radio frame, a sounding signal sent by the user equipment. It is assumed that a configuration whose index number is 3 is used, that the sounding signal sending interval is 5 ms, and that the offset is 1 (=3−2). Then, the base station receives, every 5 ms starting from the second subframe in the radio frame, a sounding signal sent by the user equipment.
For another example, Table 7 shows another configuration in FDD. Similarly, I indicates an index number, and a value of the offset is used to indicate a subframe number increment of a start subframe that carries a sounding signal, relative to the first subframe. It is assumed that a configuration whose index number is 1 is used, that the sounding signal sending interval is 2 ms, and that the offset is 1. Then, the base station receives, every 2 ms starting from the second subframe in the radio frame, a sounding signal sent by the user equipment. It is assumed that a configuration whose index number is 4 is used, that the sounding signal sending interval is 5 ms, and that the offset is 2 (=4−2). Then, the base station receives, every 5 ms starting from the third subframe in the radio frame, a sounding signal sent by the user equipment.
It can be learned from the foregoing that, in this embodiment of the present invention, the user equipment and the base station implement transmission of the radio frame, and the radio frame includes at least three special subframes, or the radio frame includes at least two special subframes. In this way, a quantity of subframes used for uplink transmission can be increased in the radio frame, and the sounding signal sending interval can be reduced. This makes obtaining of the downlink channel state timelier, and therefore improves performance of radio transmission.
S201: A base station determines radio frame configuration information.
The radio frame configuration information is information that records subframe types respectively allocated to 10 subframes in a radio frame, where the subframe types include uplink subframe, downlink subframe, and special subframe. The radio frame configuration information further includes information that indicates a downlink subframe for uplink signal sending, and the radio frame configuration information is generated during radio frame configuration.
Specifically, the base station obtains the radio frame configuration information generated during radio frame configuration, and sends the radio frame configuration information to user equipment. Optionally, the base station sends the radio frame configuration information to the user equipment by using a system message or higher layer signaling. For example, the radio frame configuration information is carried in a SIB1 message in a broadcast message.
S202: User equipment determines the radio frame configuration information.
Specifically, the user equipment receives the radio frame configuration information sent by the base station. Correspondingly, the radio frame configuration information may be notified by using the system message or the higher layer signaling. In a specific implementation process, the user equipment receives the radio frame configuration information that is sent by the base station by using the system message or the higher layer signaling.
S203: The user equipment implements transmission of an uplink signal according to the radio frame configuration information, in a downlink subframe for uplink signal sending.
Specifically, the user equipment sends the uplink signal to the base station according to the radio frame configuration information, in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending.
It should be understood that in a prior communications protocol, a downlink subframe is used only for downlink transmission, whereas in this embodiment of the present invention, by means of pre-configuration, the user equipment is allowed to send, to the base station, an uplink signal in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending.
Optionally, the user equipment sends, to the base station, the uplink signal in the last one or more symbols in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending, as shown in
It should be understood that, for a manner of selecting the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending (that is, a target downlink subframe shown in
S204: The base station implements transmission of the uplink signal according to the radio frame configuration information, in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending.
Specifically, the base station receives the uplink signal that is sent, in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending, by the user equipment according to the radio frame configuration information.
Optionally, at least one uplink subframe in the radio frame carries a sounding signal. Still optionally, the uplink signal carries a sounding signal. Correspondingly, after receiving the uplink signal that is sent, in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending, by the user equipment according to the radio frame configuration information, the base station obtains a downlink channel state according to the sounding signal carried in the radio frame. It can be learned that, in this embodiment of the present invention, a quantity of subframes in which a sounding signal can be sent in the radio frame increases compared with that in a prior-art radio frame. This reduces a sounding signal sending interval, makes obtaining of the downlink channel state timelier, and therefore improves performance of radio transmission.
It should be noted that, to reserve a symbol for uplink signal sending in the downlink subframe, during downlink transmission, downlink data, for example, a physical downlink shared channel (Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH), is not mapped to a resource element corresponding to the symbol, or downlink data mapped to a resource element corresponding to the symbol is punctured. Mapping means placing logical data into a resource element, for example, placing audio data into a resource element. Puncturing means invalidating logical data mapped to a resource element.
It can be learned from the foregoing that, in this embodiment of the present invention, the user equipment and the base station implement transmission of the radio frame, and the radio frame includes the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending. In this way, a quantity of subframes used for uplink transmission can be increased in the radio frame, and the sounding signal sending interval can be reduced. This makes obtaining of the downlink channel state timelier, and therefore improves performance of radio transmission.
The information determining module 310 is configured to determine radio frame configuration information.
The radio frame configuration information is used to indicate subframe types respectively allocated to 10 subframes in a radio frame, where the subframe types include uplink subframe, downlink subframe, and special subframe.
Specifically, if the wireless network device is a base station, the information determining module 310 is configured to determine the radio frame configuration information, and send the radio frame configuration information to user equipment; or if the wireless network device is user equipment, the information determining module 310 is further configured to receive the radio frame configuration information sent by a base station.
The radio frame transmission module 320 is configured to implement uplink transmission of a radio frame according to the radio frame configuration information.
Specifically, if the wireless network device is a base station, the radio frame transmission module 320 is configured to send the radio frame to the base station according to the radio frame configuration information; or if the wireless network device is user equipment, the radio frame transmission module 320 is configured to receive the radio frame sent according to the radio frame configuration information by the user equipment.
In an optional implementation, the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame are the special subframes. The third, the fourth, the fifth, the eighth, the ninth, and the tenth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and the first and/or the sixth subframes/subframe are/is the special subframes/subframe; or the third, the fourth, the eighth, and the ninth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the fifth, the sixth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or the third and the eighth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or the third, the fourth, the fifth, the eighth, and the ninth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the sixth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe.
Still optionally, at least one of the special subframes in the radio frame carries a sounding signal.
Yet optionally, the special subframes in the radio frame have at least two different configurations, and the configuration of the special subframe reflects a quantity of downlink pilot timeslots and a quantity of uplink pilot timeslots in the special subframe.
Further, a configuration of a special subframe other than the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame is 12 downlink pilot timeslots and one uplink pilot timeslot.
Still further, the configuration of the special subframe other than the second and the seventh subframes in the radio frame is predefined, or is configured by using a system message or higher layer signaling, or is configured by using radio resource control layer signaling.
Optionally, the radio frame is configured by using a system message or higher layer signaling.
In another optional implementation, the second subframe in the radio frame is the special subframe. Only the third, the fourth, and the fifth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or only the third and the fourth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or only the third subframe in the radio frame is the uplink subframe, and at least one of the first, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe.
Optionally, at least one of the special subframes in the radio frame carries a sounding signal.
Still optionally, the special subframes in the radio frame have at least two different configurations, and the configuration of the special subframe reflects a quantity of downlink pilot timeslots and a quantity of uplink pilot timeslots in the special subframe.
Further, a configuration of a special subframe other than the second frame in the radio frame is 12 downlink pilot timeslots and one uplink pilot timeslot.
Still further, the configuration of the special subframe other than the second frame in the radio frame is predefined, or is configured by using a system message or higher layer signaling, or is configured by using radio resource control layer signaling.
Optionally, the radio frame is configured by using a system message or higher layer signaling.
It should be noted that the foregoing is merely a brief description of the wireless network device in this embodiment of the present invention. For details about a specific implementation process, an implementation, and an example, refer to the embodiment described with reference to
The wireless network device in this embodiment of the present invention may alternatively be the base station in the radio frame transmission method described with reference to
The information determining module 310 is configured to determine radio frame configuration information.
The radio frame configuration information is used to indicate subframe types respectively allocated to 10 subframes in a radio frame, where the subframe types include uplink subframe, downlink subframe, and special subframe. The radio frame configuration information further includes information that indicates a downlink subframe for uplink signal sending.
Specifically, if the wireless network device is a base station, the information determining module 310 determines radio frame configuration information, and sends the radio frame configuration information to user equipment; or if the wireless network device is user equipment, the information determining module 310 receives radio frame configuration information sent by a base station.
The radio frame transmission module 320 is configured to implement transmission of an uplink signal according to the radio frame configuration information, in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending.
Specifically, if the wireless network device is a base station, the radio frame transmission module 320 is configured to send a radio frame to the base station according to the radio frame configuration information; or if the wireless network device is user equipment, the radio frame transmission module 320 is configured to receive a radio frame sent according to the radio frame configuration information by the user equipment.
Optionally, the uplink signal includes a sounding signal.
Further optionally, if the wireless network device is a base station, the radio frame transmission module 320 is specifically configured to receive the uplink signal that is sent, in the last one or more symbols in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending, by the user equipment according to the radio frame configuration information; or if the wireless network device is user equipment, the radio frame transmission module 320 is specifically configured to send the uplink signal to the base station in the last one or more symbols in the downlink subframe according to the radio frame configuration information.
Still optionally, downlink data is not mapped to a resource element corresponding to the symbol used to send the uplink signal in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending.
Yet optionally, downlink data mapped to a resource element corresponding to the symbol used to send the uplink signal in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending is punctured.
Still yet optionally, the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending is configured by using a system message or higher layer signaling.
It should be noted that the foregoing is merely a brief description of the wireless network device in this embodiment of the present invention. For details about a specific implementation process, an implementation, and an example, refer to the embodiment described with reference to
determining radio frame configuration information; and
implementing uplink transmission of a radio frame according to the radio frame configuration information, where
the radio frame includes at least three special subframes, or
the radio frame includes 10 subframes from the first to the tenth, and the second subframe in the radio frame is the special subframe, where
only the third, the fourth, and the fifth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or
only the third and the fourth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or
only the third subframe in the radio frame is the uplink subframe, and at least one of the first, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe.
Alternatively, the processor 401 is configured to invoke the program code stored in the memory 404 to perform the following operations:
determining radio frame configuration information; and
implementing transmission of an uplink signal in a downlink subframe for uplink signal sending according to the radio frame configuration information.
Optionally, if the wireless network device is a base station, a specific operation of the determining radio frame configuration information by the processor 401 is: determining the radio frame configuration information, and sending the radio frame configuration information to user equipment; or if the wireless network device is user equipment, a specific operation of the determining radio frame configuration information by the processor 401 is: receiving the radio frame configuration information sent by a base station.
Still optionally, if the wireless network device is a base station, a specific operation of the implementing uplink transmission of a radio frame by the processor 401 according to the radio frame configuration information is: sending the radio frame to the base station according to the radio frame configuration information; or if the wireless network device is user equipment, a specific operation of the implementing uplink transmission of a radio frame by the processor 401 according to the radio frame configuration information is: receiving the radio frame sent according to the radio frame configuration information by the user equipment.
Still optionally, if the wireless network device is a base station, a specific operation of the implementing transmission of an uplink signal by the processor 401 in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending according to the radio frame configuration information is: sending the uplink signal to the base station in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending according to the radio frame configuration information; or if the wireless network device is user equipment, a specific operation of the implementing transmission of an uplink signal by the processor 401 in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending according to the radio frame configuration information is: receiving the uplink signal that is sent, in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending, by the user equipment according to the radio frame configuration information.
An embodiment of the present invention further provides a communications system, including a first wireless network device and/or a second wireless network device. The first wireless network device may be the base station in the foregoing embodiments, and the second wireless network device may be the user equipment in the foregoing embodiments. Optionally, the first wireless network device and the second wireless network device may further be a base station and another base station, or user equipment and another user equipment.
The first wireless network device is configured to send radio frame configuration information to the second wireless network device.
The second wireless network device is configured to receive the radio frame configuration information sent by the first wireless network device, and send a radio frame to the first wireless network device according to the radio frame configuration information.
The first wireless network device is further configured to receive the radio frame sent according to the radio frame configuration information by the second wireless network device.
Optionally, the radio frame includes at least three special subframes.
Alternatively, optionally, the radio frame includes 10 subframes from the first to the tenth, and the second subframe in the radio frame is the special subframe, where
only the third, the fourth, and the fifth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or
only the third and the fourth subframes in the radio frame are uplink subframes, and at least one of the first, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe; or
only the third subframe in the radio frame is the uplink subframe, and at least one of the first, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth, the ninth, or the tenth subframe is the special subframe.
For a specific description, refer to the description in the foregoing embodiments, and details are not repeated herein.
Alternatively, the first wireless network device is configured to send radio frame configuration information to the second wireless network device;
the second wireless network device is configured to receive the radio frame configuration information sent by the first wireless network device, and send an uplink signal to the first wireless network device in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending according to the radio frame configuration information; and
the first wireless network device is further configured to receive the uplink signal that is sent, in the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending, by the second wireless network device according to the radio frame configuration information.
For a specific description, refer to the description in the foregoing embodiments, and details are not repeated herein.
It can be learned from the foregoing that, in this embodiment of the present invention, the user equipment and the base station implement transmission of the radio frame, and the radio frame includes at least three special subframes, or the radio frame includes at least two special subframes, or the radio frame includes the downlink subframe for uplink signal sending. In this way, a quantity of subframes used for uplink transmission can be increased in the radio frame.
A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand that all or some of the processes of the methods in the embodiments may be implemented by a computer program instructing relevant hardware. The program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program runs, the processes of the methods in the embodiments are performed. The foregoing storage medium may include: a magnetic disk, an optical disc, a read-only memory (Read-Only Memory, ROM), or a random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM).
What is disclosed above is merely example embodiments of the present invention, and certainly is not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, equivalent variations made in accordance with the claims of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201610028038.9 | Jan 2016 | CN | national |
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2017/071133, filed on Jan. 13, 2017, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201610028038.9, filed on Jan. 15, 2016. The disclosures of the aforementioned applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/CN2017/071133 | Jan 2017 | US |
| Child | 16034713 | US |
