Method and Apparatus for Adaptive Bandwidth Usage in a Wireless Communication Network

A wireless communication device configured for operation in a wireless communication network and comprising:

• receiver circuitry configured for receiving signals from a serving node in the network, said receiver circuitry having a dynamically configurable bandwidth;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively associated with the receiver circuitry and configured to:
• operate the receiver circuitry with a first receiver bandwidth, including monitoring for the reception of an indication to change the receiver circuitry from the first receiver bandwidth to a second receiver bandwidth;
• reconfigure the receiver circuitry to operate with the second receiver bandwidth, in response to reception of the indication;
• and
• operate the receiver circuitry with the second receiver bandwidth until at least one of:
• reception of a further indication to revert back to the first receiver bandwidth;
• expiry of a reception inactivity timer that is started or restarted upon each instance of data reception;
• and
• reception of reconfiguration triggering or signaling from a network node of the network while operating with the second receiver bandwidth.

A network node configured for operation in a wireless communication network and comprising:

• communication circuitry configured for communicating directly or indirectly with a wireless device operating in the network;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication circuitry and configured to:
• determine that a second scheduling bandwidth is needed, based on an amount or type of data buffered for transmission to the wireless device;
• and
• initiate reconfiguration of a receiver bandwidth of the wireless device, to match the second scheduling bandwidth;
• wherein the second scheduling bandwidth is larger than a first scheduling bandwidth currently associated with the wireless device, and wherein the first and second scheduling bandwidths respectively define the bandwidth used for scheduling transmissions to the wireless device.

A network node configured for operation in a wireless communication network and comprising:

• communication circuitry configured for communicating directly or indirectly with a wireless device operating in the network;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication circuitry and configured to:
• operate with a first scheduling bandwidth for scheduling transmissions to the wireless device;
• decide to change from the first scheduling bandwidth to a second scheduling bandwidth for scheduling transmissions to the wireless device, in dependence on an amount or type of data to be transmitted to the wireless device;
• send reconfiguration signaling in response to the decision, said reconfiguration signaling triggering the wireless device to change a receiver bandwidth to match the second scheduling bandwidth;
• and
• subsequently operate with the second scheduling bandwidth for scheduling transmissions to the wireless device.

A method of a wireless communication device configured for operation in a wireless communication network, comprising:

• operating with a first receiver bandwidth, including monitoring for the reception of an indication to change from the first receiver bandwidth to a second receiver bandwidth;
• changing to operating with the second receiver bandwidth, in response to reception of the indication;
• and
• operating with the second receiver bandwidth until at least one of:
• reception of a further indication to revert back to the first receiver bandwidth;
• expiry of a reception inactivity timer that is started or restarted upon each instance of data reception;
• and
• reception of reconfiguration triggering or signaling from a network node of the network while operating with the second receiver bandwidth.

A method of a network node configured for operation in a wireless communication network, comprising:

• determining that a second scheduling bandwidth is needed, based on an amount or type of data buffered for transmission to a wireless device;
• and
• initiating reconfiguration of a receiver bandwidth of the wireless device, to match the second scheduling bandwidth;
• wherein the second scheduling bandwidth is larger than a first scheduling bandwidth currently associated with the wireless device, and wherein the first and second scheduling bandwidths respectively define the bandwidth used for scheduling transmissions to the wireless device.

A method of a network node configured for operation in a wireless communication network, comprising:

• operating with a first scheduling bandwidth for scheduling transmissions to a wireless device;
• deciding to change from the first scheduling bandwidth to a second scheduling bandwidth for scheduling transmissions to the wireless device, in dependence on an amount or type of data to be transmitted to the wireless device;
• sending reconfiguration signaling in response to the decision, said reconfiguration signaling triggering the wireless device to change a receiver bandwidth to match the second scheduling bandwidth;
• and
• subsequently operating with the second scheduling bandwidth for scheduling transmissions to the wireless device.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed on a processor of a wireless communication device, cause the wireless communication device to:

• operate with a first receiver bandwidth for receiving transmissions, including monitoring for the reception of an indication to change from the first receiver bandwidth to a second receiver bandwidth;
• change to operating with the second receiver bandwidth for receiving transmissions, in response to reception of the indication;
• and
• operate with the second receiver bandwidth for receiving transmissions until at least one of:
• reception of a further indication to revert back to the first receiver bandwidth;
• expiry of a reception inactivity timer that is started or restarted upon each instance of data reception;
• and
• reception of reconfiguration triggering or signaling from a network node while operating with the second receiver bandwidth.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed on a processor of a network node, cause the network node to:

• determine that a second scheduling bandwidth is needed, based on an amount or type of data buffered for transmission to a wireless device;
• and
• initiate reconfiguration of a receiver bandwidth of the wireless device, to match the second scheduling bandwidth;
• wherein the second scheduling bandwidth is larger than a first scheduling bandwidth currently associated with the wireless device, and wherein the first and second scheduling bandwidths respectively define the bandwidth used for scheduling transmissions to the wireless device.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising instructions that, when executed on a processor of a network node, causes the network node to:

• operate with a first scheduling bandwidth for scheduling transmissions to a wireless device;
• decide to change from the first scheduling bandwidth to a second scheduling bandwidth for scheduling transmissions to the wireless device, in dependence on an amount or type of data to be transmitted to the wireless device;
• send reconfiguration signaling in response to the decision, said reconfiguration signaling triggering the wireless device to change a receiver bandwidth to match the second scheduling bandwidth;
• and
• subsequently operate with the second scheduling bandwidth for scheduling transmissions to the wireless device.